Overnight Satellite

Lawson’s Andy Brown: ‘Single Is About Ex-Girlfriend Mollie King’

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:41:29 +0000

Wendy Strgar: Opening Up to Letting Go

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:37:05 +0000

“We need in love to practice only this: letting each other go. For holding on comes easily — we do not need to learn it.” — Rainer Maria Rilke

My parents’ marriage ended when my mother told my father she didn’t love him anymore and that she was not sure she ever did. Years later, after all of the ugliness of the divorce was done, something at my father’s core was never the same again. His belief in love was soured and distilled into an experience of abandonment that morphed to fit every ending that followed. Over the years of my loveology practice, I have heard many versions of this traumatic end-of-love story and have witnessed the wreckage of families and lives left in its wake. I know how the residual shame turns to suffering and sticks in us as an abandoned child long after the end of love. These stories have always left me wondering where does the love go? How does love end up disappearing from a heart so completely that you can’t be sure it ever existed at all? Is it really possible to lose your capacity to feel the love you have lived and shared?

I know that love is an action verb that weakens when we take it for granted and we don’t nourish it with our time and attention. I have seen love erode with unkind words, even those uttered in the form of a sarcastic joke. I have witnessed love wither in proportion to the breaking of promises and lack of truth in words. We know that love is fragile and is ultimately breakable, and when it breaks, everyone is in on it. Both people let go of love’s hold and the proclamation of love’s end is understood and mutually recognized. In fact, it often comes as a relief with the permission to finally let go. Releasing relationships that are done is painful for what is lost, but honest endings do not provoke shame.

The proclamation of love ended has less to do with the state of the relationship, than the person leaving. These breaks catch us off guard and shatter our faith in our ability to trust our reality and how we relate. When we endure personal failures, it is easy to feel cut off from ourselves and to lose our ability to love ourselves. Rather than tending to our inner brokenness, we blame the relationships closest to us. Our internal abandonment spreads like a contagion to everyone we have loved. We deny the good around us as a way to balance the awful weight inside of us. When our internal connections shred, we are unable to remember how to love.

Lacking emotional intelligence is the norm in our culture, and it is common behavior to hold our relationships hostage to our internal dissatisfaction and unhappiness. Tragically, it is too easy to buy into rejection and accept the blame. The shock of being told we are not loved, makes us believe we are not loveable, too flawed to be worthy of love. We get too lost in our pain to see the story for what it is, a projection of a broken spirit and an inability to feel our own heart. We don’t have the insight to decipher our own abandonment from that of our loved one, and we lack the language to call things by their true name.

Lucky for us, author Laura Munson, a new friend I had the privilege to interview, had the courage to face this end-of-love story in her own life and named it accurately and compassionately, “This Is Not The Story You Think It Is: A Season of Unlikely Happiness.” After years of writing rejections and the loss of her father, taught her how to not rely on outer circumstances for her happiness. When her husband proclaimed his disaffection for her, she had the guts to let go of the storyline. This allowed her to understand her husband’s pronouncement for the real inner pain that it was.

Letting each other go through our own dark nights of the soul without taking on the storylines that we use to protect and defend ourselves is the height of courage in love. We simultaneously have to embrace the groundlessness that comes with surrendering to not knowing the outcome, while holding onto our own internal center of trusting our capacity to love and be loved. It is odd that we are more willing to hang onto a storyline, even one that we don’t want, than give ourselves over to the freedom and possibilities that can only happen moment by moment.

This practice of surrendering our idea of controlling the outcome in life as in love is both terrifying and exhilarating because it is a true portal of gratitude. It is a practice that works by simply letting life be what it is, which is the only place where we are open enough to forgive, to let go, and to receive the goodness right in front of us.

For more by Wendy Strgar, click here.

For more on emotional wellness, click here.

A Bully Victim’s Poem Prompts Healing After 25 Years

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:37:01 +0000

By AP/The Huffington Post

ESCONDIDO, Calif. — A woman’s poem about being bullied in a California school 25 years ago has brought her former classmates to tears. Now, they’ve created a scholarship fund in her name and raised $800 to fly her back to California for a class reunion.

Former classmates say they were reduced to tears after reading Lynda Frederick’s poem, which she posted on the Orange Glen High School class of 1987′s 25th reunion Facebook page.

“This poem touched me so bad I could not sleep…I cried,” Frederick’s classmate, Lisa Wallace, told NBC News.

In the poem, Frederick, now a mother of three who lives in Seneca Falls, N.Y., described how the bullying she endured as a teenager “shattered her childhood.”

that little girl who came to school with the clothes she wore the day before

instead of asking why.. you picked on her

the little girl who had to walk to school while others rode the bus

instead of asking why.. you picked on her

the little girl who had bruises and was dirty

instead of asking why.. you picked on her

the little girl who was always crying

instead of asking why.. you picked on her

Classmate Kristi Malone told NBC News that she remembers how cruel the other kids were to Frederick.

“Looking at her being bullied horribly and thinking…I feel so bad for her,” said Malone. “But never thinking in my head that I could stand up for her, and not once did anyone back her up.”

Frederick’s poem has been a wake up call for many of her classmates, Malone said.

“Just people in tears, like ‘how could we have done this to her,’” she said. “[They] were just crying, saying ‘Why did I do that?’”

Many of Frederick’s classmates have since contacted her and apologized.

They have also raised money to fly her to Escondido, Calif., for the July class reunion and have set up a scholarship fund in her name.

“We are making a statement for all that bully anyone, it is not right and it feels bad on both ends,” wrote Wendy Bergin Gotte on the high school reunion’s Facebook page. “It just goes down the line and hurts everyone along the way.”

Frederick said she forgives her old classmates and has accepted the invitation to return for the reunion.

“I said, Christ forgave me..and I forgive you,” she said.

SOLD OUT: Ultra-Orthodox Jews To Hold Huge Rally Against The Internet

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:36:40 +0000

Its the hottest ticket in town. Originally available for $10, tickets to the ultra-Orthodox “anti-Internet” rally on May 20 at the 40,000-seat Citi Field in New York City are sold out. For those who simply have to be there, there are tickets online at ebay selling for three times the original amount.

The main goal of the rally is unclear. A report in Tablet Magazine details the muddled roots of this movement and the confusing intentions for the May 20 event.

On Monday in Lakewood, N.J., at a pep-rally for the main event, the need for widespread communal awareness of the dangers of the Internet was connected to a larger struggle faced by the Jewish people in a secular world.

Rabbi Malkiel Kotler, head of the influential Beth Medrash Govoha yeshiva in Lakewood, said that the entire community of Israel is obligated to be holy, as commanded in the verse from Leviticus chapter 19: “God spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the entire congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: You should be holy, because I, God, your God, am holy.”

One commenter in a discussion about “Kosher technology” on a Lakewood community website connected the temptations of the Internet to the temptations of idol worship 2,000 years ago. And though none of the comments in the thread explicitly mention pornography, it’s clear that computer programs like Guard Your Eyes, which is marketed to Haredi Jews, is meant to filter sexually explicit material.

Organizers, though, say that pornography is not the only virtual menace. As the New York Times explained:

Speakers at the rally in Queens will not seek to ban the Internet, but rather to raise awareness about how, unmonitored, it poses a grave risk to the community, said Eytan Kobre, a spokesman for the organizers. The risk, he said, comes not only from pornography, but also from social media and the addictive pull of the Internet, which can limit human interaction, reading and study.

Taking place in the week before Shavuot, a Jewish holiday that commemorates when the Jewish people received the Torah (the Five Books of Moses, upon which all Jewish laws and traditions are based), the rally’s organizers clearly think the Internet is one of the biggest threats to traditional Jewish life — if not the biggest.

Meanwhile, a group of Jews is planning a counter-rally at Citi Field to address the problem of child sexual abuse in the Orthodox Jewish world and to advocate for reform.

Monica Strawbridge: Thomas Keller’s 7 Yolk Pasta Dough

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:36:26 +0000

Eggs! And, eggs. Eight or nine eggs each day. It’s the two-sided coin of owning 11 chickens. On one side, I’m thrilled to have fresh eggs always available. On the other, the stream of eggs is so steady at this time of the year, you can be swimming in them in no time.

My kids do all of the fetching. It’s a “chore” that isn’t much like one at all for them. They are getting to know the process well. They even know the sounds that come from the coop that tell them there will soon be another egg to collect. They watch, they wait. They sometimes fight over who “just got to check!!” But, they keep bringing them in, and it’s my job (that I love), as the cook, to find things to make out of them.

After scrambled, fried, baked, en cocotte, hard-boiled, and poached (although I haven’t completely mastered that one yet), I decided to use them in a less obviously eggy way. Yes, my children’s “eggs? again?” looks factored greatly into this decision. Truthfully, even though I’m an egg lover, I’ve begun to feel that way too, so it was time to find something new. I decided to try Thomas Keller’s 7 yolk pasta. I tried it mostly because it uses seven eggs, but also because, having Italian roots, I felt like I needed to experience making pasta by hand at least once. And, could Thomas Keller, seemingly the most fastidious person alive, put out a recipe that didn’t work? Probably not.

As it’s written in the French Laundry Cookbook, you make this dough entirely by hand, starting with an egg filled flour volcano(!) on your kitchen counter. Who says cooking isn’t fun? You swirl and swirl the egg mixture, picking up flour gradually as you swirl, and then once it all comes together, you knead it for what seems like a lifetime, but really is about 20 minutes. I broke a sweat, my shoulders were burning, but I had a golden ball of silken dough! I wanted to set it on a shelf and sit back and admire the result of all that chicken/human labor. And I did for about 30 minutes (the time you let it rest after kneading), but then I came to my senses and remembered I was on the practical mission of dinner and got back to work.

I don’t own a pasta machine, but I had read accounts of grandmothers using broom handles to roll out the dough in order to get it as thin as it needs to be, so I just went with that. There are tons of how-tos out there on rolling out and cutting pasta by hand (this is how I did the cutting). The people in the videos usually have long rollers (see a gorgeous example of one here), but know that you can use a wooden broom handle and it all comes out very well with delicious bowls of pasta and not an “eggs, again?” look to be found.

Seven Yolk Pasta adapted from The French Laundry Cookbook

*Note: this recipe uses 7 yolk, but only 1 egg white, so you will have 6 egg whites leftover. I think lightening a fritatta like this one is a great way to use them. Also, once you have all this pasta, look for ideas to use it here.

1 3/4 cups (8 ounces) all-purpose flour
6 large egg yolks
1 large egg
1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
1 tablespoon milk

Start by mounding the flour on a clean surface, a wooden board if you have it. Make a well with an opening about 6 inches in diameter. Make sure all the walls around the opening are solid and about 1 inch wide.

Pour the egg yolks, egg, oil and the milk into the well. Break up the eggs with your fingers and once they are broken apart, start swirling the eggs around in a circular motion, making sure to keep them within the well and not spilling over. The swirling will gradually pull the flour from the sides. It’s important that the flour isn’t incorporated too quickly, or the dough will be lumpy. Take your time. You will need to push the sides of the well in, little by little, to maintain the gradual mixing in of flour, but still keeping the eggs inside the well. The mixture will thicken and eventually get too tight to keep turning with your fingers.

When the dough begins to thicken, use a pastry scraper (or a flat spatula) to lift the flour up and over the dough that is starting to form. Cut in the flour with the scraper. At this point, with your hands, bring the shaggy dough together and form it into a ball.

Knead the dough a few times by pressing it in a forward motion with the heels of your hands, not folding it over on itself like you would do with bread. Re-shape the dough into a ball and repeat the kneading motion several times. The dough will be moist, but not sticky. Let it rest for a few minutes while you clean your work surface.

Here is where the real kneading begins: Dust the work surface with flour. Knead the dough in the same manner as before, pushing it forward with the heels of your hands, and re-shaping it into a ball. Keep kneading in this way until the dough becomes silky smooth. The dough is ready when you can pull a finger across the top of it and it wants to snap back into place. This process will take from 15 to 20 minutes, but knead as a long as it takes to pass the pull test. If not, the dough could collapse when resting.

Double-wrap the dough in plastic wrap to ensure that it does not dry out. Let the dough rest for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour before rolling it through a pasta machine (or rolling out by hand). The dough can be made a day ahead, wrapped and refrigerated, but bring to room temperature before you continue.

Originally posted on Space and Thyme.

Photos by Monica Strawbridge

Car Bomb Targets Security Agencies

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:36:04 +0000

BEIRUT — A strong explosion shook Syria’s eastern city of Deir el-Zour Saturday, apparently targeting a security agency in the latest of a wave of blasts to hit the country in recent months, state media and opposition activists reported.

State TV said a car bomb caused casualties and severe damage to residential and state buildings nearby. The pro-government Ikhbariya TV said the blast happened inside a parking lot connected to a military complex.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the explosion, which it also identified as a car bomb, took place near where the city branches of the Military Intelligence Directorate and Air Force Intelligence are located. Amateur videos posted online showed thick black smoke hovering over the city.

Security agency compounds in several Syrian cities have been targeted by a wave of explosions in the past months. The blasts raise fears that al-Qaida-linked Islamist militants, possibly including fighters from neighboring Iraq, have made strong inroads into Syria’s rebel movement.

The most recent bombing targeted an intelligence building in Damascus on May 10. It struck during morning rush hour and the high death toll – some 55 people – made it the deadliest such attack since the uprising against President Bashar Assad’s regime began in March of last year.

Some of the tactics used in Damascus – a small blast drawing attention prior to a larger one – were reminiscent of al-Qaida attacks during Iraq’s insurgency.

Deir el-Zour is about 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the Iraqi border. Saturday’s blast came a day after the state-run news agency SANA reported that authorities foiled an attempt to blow up a car rigged with explosives in the city and detained those involved.

On Thursday, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he believes that “alarmingly and surprisingly,” al-Qaida must have been behind the May 10 attack in the Syrian capital.

“The recent terrorist attacks in Damascus suggest that these attacks were carefully orchestrated,” he said. “Having seen the scale and sophistication of these terrorist attacks, one might think that this terrorist attack was done by a certain group with organization and clear intent. I have strongly condemned these terrorist attacks.”

Bomb Blast At Italian School

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:36:01 +0000

ROME, May 19 (Reuters) – One person was killed and six people were injured when a bomb exploded near a school in Brindisi in southern Italy on Saturday, an official at the Civil Protection Authority said.

He said it was unclear if one or two devices had exploded in the incident but said: “Given the effect of the explosion, it appears that this was something quite powerful.”

No further details were immediately available. (Reporting By James Mackenzie; Editing by Tim Pearce)

Judge Weighs Multiple Gitmo 9/11 Trials

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:35:49 +0000

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A military judge is considering whether to split off one or more of the defendants and hold separate trials for five Guantanamo Bay prisoners charged in the Sept. 11 attacks, a lawyer for one of the men said Friday.

The judge, Army Col. James Pohl, proposed the change in a written order in part because of the difficulty trying to schedule hearings for five defendants and multiple lawyers at the U.S. base in Cuba, said James Connell, a civilian attorney for defendant Ali Abd al-Aziz Ali.

Pohl also questioned whether one trial for all five defendants would create a conflict with evidence that could help one defendant while hurting another, Connell said.

The judge’s order is sealed. As part of the order, the prosecution was ordered to show cause why the cases should not be severed.

The Pentagon will not release the order until it has passed through a security review, said Army Lt. Col. Todd Breasseale, a spokesman for the Guantanamo military commissions.

“There are some very specific ethical constraints that prohibit the prosecution from litigating cases in the press,” Breasseale said.

Previously, Connell had said he wanted his client’s case severed from that of the others, who include Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the self-proclaimed mastermind of the attacks, and the prosecution wanted them all tried together. Both sides are barred by the rules from disclosing their wishes at this point and will be filing legal motions by the end of the month.

The five men were arraigned together on May 5 on charges that include murder and terrorism. They could be sentenced to death if convicted. The next pretrial hearing in the case is scheduled for June but lawyers for several defendants have requested a postponement.

Syria Bomb: Car Bomb Explodes Near Security Agencies In Deir El-Zour

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:35:39 +0000

Italy School Bomb: Blast Kills One, Injures At Least 6

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:35:31 +0000

Guantanamo 9/11 Trial: Judge Weighs Splitting Off Trial

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:35:23 +0000

Chinese activist at Beijing airport

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:12:09 +0000

Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng is at Beijing Airport waiting for a flight to the U.S, CNN’s Steven Jiang reports.

Oregon bans Native American mascots

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:12:04 +0000

A new rule in Oregon bans the use of Native American symbols, names or images in school mascots.

Man accused of beating girlfriend’s kids

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:11:59 +0000

Two young children allegedly beaten by their mother’s boyfriend are in the hospital.

Janitors’ protest shuts down street

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:11:54 +0000

Janitors seeking higher wages and benefits led a protest that shut down a San Diego street, KGTV reports.

Jennifer Lopez’s Big Foot Pregnancy

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:11:21 +0000

Jennifer Lopez’s feet have never returned to their normal size since she was pregnant with twins Max and Emme, who she gave birth to in February 2008.

Tom Jones Would Shave Off Chest Hair For 7M

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:11:17 +0000

Sir Tom Jones would shave off his chest hair for $7 million after denying claims he had insured it for the same amount. Sir Tom Jones would shave his…

Rocket set to blast off, open new space era

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:11:07 +0000

A private company is on the verge of making history by launching a spacecraft to the International Space Station.

‘Coal Miner’s Daughter’ Lynn married at 15, not 13

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:10:38 +0000

Country music legend Loretta Lynn is three years older than she has led people to believe, an age change that undermines the story she told of being married at 13 in “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” documents obtained by The Associated Press show.

Youths in Philippines continue Lady Gaga protest

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:10:32 +0000

Christian youths in the Philippines are continuing to protest against Lady Gaga’s upcoming concerts despite organizers’ assurances that her performances will not threaten morality.

LA Lakers beat Oklahoma City in NBA playoff series

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:10:14 +0000

Kobe Bryant shot a perfect 18-of-18 from the free-throw line and had a game-high 36 points as the Los Angeles Lakers beat Oklahoma City 99-96 to hand the Thunder their first loss of the 2012 playoffs.

London 2012 Olympic torch relay starts

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:10:00 +0000

Sailor Ben Ainslie was the first torchbearer as the Olympic flame began its 70-day journey around Britain and Ireland on Saturday ahead of the 2012 London Games.

Car bomb explodes near security agencies in Syria

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:09:55 +0000

Activists and Syria’s state media say a strong explosion has shaken the eastern city of Deir el-Zour, apparently targeting a security agency.

Two arrested in US over Chinese student killings

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:09:46 +0000

US police and federal investigators arrested two men over the killings of two Chinese graduate students which shocked Los Angeles last month, officials said.

Brits Boil Over As ‘Desk Rage’ Is On The Rise

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:04:40 +0000

New research© published today shows workplaces across the UK are increasingly likely to contain Gordon Brown type characters, throwing printers across the room and abusing colleagues, rather than Davi

Justin Bieber, The Vampire Diaries And American Idol Lead Teen Choice Nominations

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:04:34 +0000

Kristen Stewart Wants To Be A ‘Psychopathic, Evil, C**t’

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:04:30 +0000

Cheryl Cole Urges Public To Forgive Chris Brown: ‘Rihanna Has It’s About Time We Do Too’

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:04:26 +0000

Zayn Malik’s Rumoured Girlfriend Perrie Edward Talks Bodies: ‘I’ve Got Small Perky Boobs’

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:04:22 +0000

Glee’s Lea Michele ‘Excited’ About Working With Sarah Jessica Parker And Kate Hudson

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:04:18 +0000

Gossip Girl Has Been AXED

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:04:14 +0000

American Idol Producers Tell Jennifer Lopez: ‘You Must Decide Your Idol Future’

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:04:10 +0000

WATCH SHOCKING OUTBURST: Will Smith Angrily Slaps Reporter On The Red Carpet

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:04:06 +0000

One Direction Prom Photos Revealed: Harry Styles And Louis Tomlinson Looking Extra Cute

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:04:03 +0000

Khloe Kardashian Tells Terrifed Kanye West To Get Used To Kim’s ‘Crazy’ Family

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:04:00 +0000

Kate Middleton Gets Giggly With Prince William And Harry At Diamond Jubilee Dinner

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:03:56 +0000

Miley Cyrus: ‘Some People Can’t Handle How Sexy I Am’

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:03:53 +0000

WATCH: Prince Harry Turns Pop Star For Diamond Jubilee Track

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:03:50 +0000

The Saturdays Vows To Find Mollie King A Boyfriend

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:03:47 +0000

Rihanna Won’t Be The Next Whitney Houston

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:03:43 +0000

Reality TV Stars ‘Don’t Get Much Respect’ Says Kim Kardashian

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:03:40 +0000

WATCH: Little Mix Cover Mentor Tulisa’s ‘Young’

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:03:37 +0000

Taylor Swift Enjoys Lunch Date With Foster The People Frontman

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:03:33 +0000

Vanessa Hudgens And Austin Butler Get Sweaty Together At The Gym

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:03:30 +0000

TOWIE’s Chloe Sims Takes 7-Year-Old Daughter Madison Out To Fashion Party

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:03:27 +0000

Charlize Theron Excited For Simon’s Dior Collection

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:03:09 +0000

Charlize Theron can’t wait to see Raf Simon’s first collection for Dior as she is such a huge fan of his work. Charlize Theron can’t wait to see Raf S…

Rachel Zoe Spent Sleepless Nights Over Karolina Kurkova’s Met Ball Dress

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:03:05 +0000

Rachel Zoe spent sleepless nights over the gold Met Ball dress she designed for Karolina Kurkova. Rachel Zoe spent sleepless nights over the Met Ball…

Weird and Wacky beauty treatments

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:03:02 +0000

Women have always tried to slow down the signs of ageing and make themselves appear more beautiful. But back in the old days, there was no such thing…

Jane Lynch To Host Fifi Awards

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:02:59 +0000

‘Glee’ star Jane Lynch will host next week’s Fragrance Foundation Awards (FiFis) and admits she’ll have to start swotting up on her perfume knowledge.

Tyra Banks: I Used To Get Told I Was Too Fat

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:02:56 +0000

Tyra Banks has spoken out in support Vogue magazine’s anti-eating-disorders campaign by revealing she used to get letters saying she was “too fat” whe…

Beauty buy: bronzed beauty face palette

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:02:52 +0000

If there is just one addition you make to your beauty collection this week it has to be this palette.
We absolutely love the different colours that it…

Nicole Sherzinger: Men in Black 3 promo tour

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:02:48 +0000

Nicole Sherzinger is currently on the promo tour for Men In Black 3 and pulling out all of the stakes in the fashion department.
The singer take…

Fashion tips for the over 50 for this season’s trends

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:02:45 +0000

With summer weather finally round the corner and women building themselves up to a wardrobe revamp, Julie Donnelly, head of buying at isme.com special…

We are the masters of reinvention

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:02:41 +0000

Madonna and Ann Widdecombe share a spot in league of inspiring transformations From big hair to short bobs and high waists to low rise – British…

Ollie Locke’s Unusual Job

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:02:33 +0000

‘Made in Chelsea’ star Ollie Locke once had to clean nightclub toilets despite his father’s family inventing the technology behind the long-haul fligh…

Emmerdale Star Gaynor Faye Almost Quit Acting

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:02:30 +0000

‘Emmerdale’ actress Gaynor Faye almost quit acting for script-writing. ‘Emmerdale’ actress Gaynor Faye almost quit acting.
40-year-old Gaynor said she…

Gabriella Ellis Pleased Chelsea Has Wrapped

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:02:26 +0000

Gabriella Ellis admits she is “pleased” the third series of ‘Made in Chelsea’ has finished filming because she can “breathe”. ‘Made in Chelsea’ star G…

Steve Coogan Reviving Alan Partridge

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:02:22 +0000

Steve Coogan is bringing back Alan Partridge to television in a new deal with Sky Atlantic. Steve Coogan is reviving his Alan Partridge character for…

‘America’s Next Top Model’ Reveals New Cast Members and Twist for Cycle 19

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:02:18 +0000

Johnny Wujek and Rob Evans will serve as a creative consultant and a third judge respectively, while audience can vote to determine who’s leaving the…

Pudsey To Star In Nelly Furtado Video

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:02:14 +0000

‘Britain’s Got Talent’ winner Pudsey is set to collaborate with Nelly Furtado for the video for her new song, his owner Ashleigh Butler has revealed.

Engelbert Humperdinck Heads To Azerbaijan

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:02:11 +0000

Engelbert Humperdinck is flying to the Azerbaijani capital Baku today (18.05.12) to begin rehearsals for the ‘Eurovision Song Contest’ next week. Enge…

The Voice Security Warned About Bo Bruce’s Dad

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:02:07 +0000

Bo Bruce has told ‘The Voice’ security to be on “high alert” to make sure her estranged dad, Lord Cardigan, doesn’t sneak in to see her performance on…

Stephanie Beacham Joins Trollied

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:02:04 +0000

Stephanie Beacham is set to star as supermarket manager Lorraine in the second series of Sky1′s ‘Trollied’. Stephanie Beacham has joined supermarket c…

Jewel: ‘Motherhood is magical’

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:01:53 +0000

Country singer Jewel says she very much enjoyed spending Mother’s Day with her ‘two favourite men.’ The songstress and her professional bull rider hus…

Pati Yang – Wires and Sparks EP

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:01:50 +0000

‘Wires and Sparks EP x 1′, released on the 9th of April was received with high appraisal and to show her appreciation to the 9,000 fans wh…

Lee Mitchell – Water EP

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:01:46 +0000

Lee Mitchell returns with the closing instalment of his 2-part EP releases ‘Whisky’ and ‘Water’. Just as its well-received pre…

Shake It Up – Live 2 Dance

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:01:43 +0000

They’ve been shaking up Chicago and the world — for nearly two seasons. Now, the talented stars of the Disney Channel Original Series Sha…

Hilary Duff Wants Husband To Be Stay-At-Home Dad

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:01:32 +0000

Hilary Duff wants her husband Mike Comrie to be a stay-at-home dad to their newborn son Luca when the 24-year-old beauty resumes her film career. Hila…

Rod Stewart To Guest Judge ‘the X Factor’

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:01:29 +0000

Rocker will be at two shows during the audition process. Rod Stewart is due to guest judge on ‘The X Factor’.
The 67-year-old rock star has been signe…

Maggie Gyllenhaal Has ‘no Idea’ How To Cope With Two Kids

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:01:25 +0000

‘Hysteria’ actress and husband are worried they won’t have time for work. Maggie Gyllenhaal has "no idea" how to deal with looking after two…

Chace Crawford Dating Tv Host Eight Years Older

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:01:22 +0000

The ‘Gossip Girl’ star has been on “a couple” of dates with the sports newscaster. Chace Crawford is dating an American television presenter eight yea…

Sir Ridley Scott Reteams With Blade Runner Writer for Sequel

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:01:16 +0000

Director SIR Ridley Scott is teaming up with writer HAMPTON FANCHER for asequel to his sci-fi classic Blade Runner.

Matthew Mcconaughey ‘stripping Is Like a Drug’

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:01:13 +0000

Matthew Mcconaughey relished his role as a raunchy stripper in new movie MAGIC MIKE, insisting shedding his clothes in front of a baying crowd waslike a “drug”.

Pamela Anderson Performs Public Lap Dance for Pals

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:01:09 +0000

Pamela Anderson showed off her saucy side by treating two male pals to a lap dance during a trip to a Los Angeles steakhouse on Thursday night (17May12).

Jackie Chan Ready to Move Away From Action Films

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:01:06 +0000

Martial arts legend Jackie Chan is ready to bow out of action movies so he can show off his acting skills.

Charlize Theron Hates Pretentious Actors

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:01:03 +0000

Charlize Theron detests fellow actors who take their craft too seriously,insisting she finds it infuriating when performers behave as if they are”curing cancer”.

Corey Feldman’s Terror Over ‘live-In Stalker’

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:01:00 +0000

Actor Corey Feldman has told of his terror after discovering a “stalker” living in his Los Angeles home.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Breaks Silence After Mary’s Suicide

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:00:56 +0000

Robert F.

Murderer Hailed As Star of Cannes Film Festival

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:00:53 +0000

A murderer serving life in prison in Italy is predicted to be the toast of this year’s (12) Cannes Film Festival in France.

John Travolta’s Lawyer Fires Back At Conaway’s Ex Over Groping Accusati

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:00:49 +0000

ONS John Travolta’s attorney has slammed reports suggesting his client attempted to grope his late Grease co-star Jeff Conaway during an awkward encounter in the early 1990s.

Jason Biggs ‘Breastfeeds’ In Time Magazine Mock-Up

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:00:46 +0000

Actor Jason Biggs proved he is abreast of current issues by mocking a controversial TIME magazine cover in a saucy snap with his wife.

Betty White Endures Celebrity Roast

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:00:42 +0000

American actress Betty White was grilled by stars at a celebrity roast hosted by the Friars Club in New York on Wednesday (16May12).

Naomi Watts ‘Absolutely Terrified’ By Princess Diana Role

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:00:37 +0000

Naomi Watts is “absolutely terrified” about playing DIANA, PrinceSS OF Wales in a new movie and she even considered turning down the job.

Russell Brand ‘I Still Love Katy Perry’

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:00:33 +0000

Russell Brand has opened up about his feelings for his soon-to-be ex-wifeKaty Perry, insisting he has nothing but love for the pop star despite their split.

Tia Mowry No Longer Playing the Game

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:00:30 +0000

Actress Tia Mowry is bowing out of hit TV show the Game.

Mila Kunis Suspected Stalker Charged

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:00:26 +0000

A man has been charged with stalking actress Mila Kunis.

iCarly to End With Big Finale in November

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:00:23 +0000

Hit kids show iCARLY is to end with a special episode in November (12).

David Beckham Delivers Olympic Torch to Britain

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:00:19 +0000

Soccer superstar David Beckham was in Greece on Thursday (17May12) to pick up the Olympic flame.

Celebrity Birthdays – May 19, 2012

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:50:20 +0000

Happy Birthday to: Star Wars’ Chewbacca, Peter Mayhew (1944) Singer Jordan Pruitt (1991) British model Lily Cole (1988) Actor Eric Lloyd (1986) Actor Drew Fuller (1980) Real Housewife of Atla…

Taste Test: The Best Brands Of French Roast Coffee

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:48:37 +0000

The Folgers jingle didn’t lie, coffee really “is the best part of waking up.” But is Folgers the best coffee to wake up to?

If coffee were to cease to exist tomorrow, roughly 80 percent of the population would be in dire straits. It’s an integral part of the smooth functioning of our lives, which is why it’s a good idea to make sure you get it right.

With so many different brands and roasts on the market, picking out the right coffee can be a bit of a challenge. But we’re here to tell you that if you like your coffee bold and full flavored, French roast is the right choice for you. It’s a dark roast (the same they use to make espresso), with bittersweet undertones yet none of the natural acidity that you get with lighter roasted beans.

We know that a bad cup of coffee can ruin your day, and since there are so many ways for this caffeine-loaded beverage to go wrong — weak, bitter, burnt, old — we decided to eliminate one step of the process where you can ruin your coffee … with the beans. Our panel of editors blind-tested 10 different brands of French roast to determine which brand roasts its beans right. Some brands we couldn’t get our hands on, such as Green Mountain Coffee, but we tested all brands available in our area. Click through the slideshow below to find out which coffee you should be brewing in the morning, and which isn’t worth the water that you’d filter through it.

How did your favorite French roast coffee rank? Leave a comment below, and make sure to add your favorites to our slideshow.

As always, our taste tests are in no way influenced by or sponsored by the brands included.

WATCH: How to Make Coffee At Home

The Ultimate Long Weekend Snacking Guide

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:48:20 +0000

Snacking: an occasional thing for some, but a necessity for the rest of us.

Long weekends often include cooking outdoors and trying to find the time to relax with family and friends. In honour of sitting around and doing nothing, we’ve put together a list of unexpected new beers — like ones that include apple cider, mojito and iced tea — and sweet and savoury snacks — say, popped potato chips and raspberry-flavoured chocolate — as part of our ultimate long weekend snacking guide.

And if you’re using your grill for the first time this year, try these 10 BBQ recipes, including grilled chicken, a BBQ sauce covered cabbage and spicy jalapeño cornbread.

Here are 10 snacks and drinks that will make your pants feel a little bit tighter by Monday:

Bud Light Lime Mojito
Wait, your favourite minty cocktail now comes a beer? You better believe it. Bud Light’s Lime Mojito is a blend of fresh lime and mint with a light beer taste.

Popped Potato Chips
If you’re looking for ways to stay away from potato chips this summer, popped chips are the answer. Light, crunchy and full of flavour, we recommend President’s Choice Dill Pickle flavour (but Sea Salt, shown, is pretty great too).

Peroni Beer
For those of you who are looking for a mini escape this weekend (even if you are stuck in your backyard), this Peroni Nastro Azzuro beer is the perfect pairing for pizzas and BBQ-ed burgers.

Kettlecorn Popcorn
A bag of popcorn that’s filled with lightweight and flavourful bites for the perfect picnic (or hiking) snack. We recommend sea salt and the gourmet version.

Steam Whistle Handy Case
Yes, we know, your hands will be full this weekend. Fortunately for you, Steam Whistle has created this custom handle to enjoy one of Canada’s favourite beers.

Camino Chocolate
Not only do Camino chocolate bars taste amazing, you’ll feel even better to find out that all Camino Chocolate is organic and Fairtrade certified.

Canadian Club Mixed And Ready
The drink you order at the bar now comes in a can form. Whisky makers Canadian Club has created a line of custom coolers that are both sweet and smooth. They might not be for the hardcore whisky lovers, but they’ll certainly be convenient.

Chocolate Covered Crunchy Peanut Butter Clusters
The name may sound fancy, but this is chocolate and peanut butter in its simplest and most delicious form. If you’re looking for a long weekend dessert, this is it.

Alexander Keith’s Original Cider
Alexander Keith’s Original Cider is crafted to treat those who love the flavour of fresh apples and the right balance of sweet and tart in a can of beer.

Peach Pie
You get the best pie results if you bake them in the oven — but since we’re sitting around and enjoying the weekend, Baker Street can do the baking for you (in apple, strawberry/rhubarb, peach or lemon meringue flavours).

Coors Light Iced T
If you’re looking to replace your Corona this season, Coors Light’s Iced T is a refreshing option for hot summer nights and those long afternoons.

Mixed Nuts
Beer’s best friend in a spicy and savoury flavour. Barnacles’ Mixed Nuts include peanuts, oat bran sticks, pumpkin seeds and cheddar whales.

Amazing Craft Alert: A Headdress Made Out Of Dozens Of Upcycled Laundry Detergent Bottles

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:48:05 +0000

The old adage rings true: One person’s trash really is another person’s treasure. In a stroke of creative genius, Flickr user Urban Woodswalker, aka Chicago-based artist Mary Anne Enriquez, turned empty plastic laundry detergent and softener bottles, yogurt bottles and fused plastic bags into this stunning headpiece. Since we’re obsessed with all things upcycling, we had to know more!

More…

François Hollande et Barack Obama blagueurs pour leur première rencontre à Washington

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:47:55 +0000

Retrait des troupes françaises d’Afghanistan, crise de la zone euro, relance, relation bilatérale… François Hollande et Barack Obama ont insisté sur leur convergences de vue à l’issue de leur première rencontre à Washington vendredi 18 mai.

» François Hollande: rencontre avec Obama et réaffirmation de sa volonté de rapatrier les soldats français d’Afghanistan

More…

PHOTOS: Jada Shows Some Major Skin

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:47:42 +0000

The Cannes Film Festival is known for its amazing and daring fashion moments — and so far this year we haven’t been disappointed.

In fact, Jada Pinkett Smith decided to don a bold design with an extremely low-cut neckline while dining with the co-stars of her children’s animated film “Madagascar 3.”

With a silhouette like that, we’re sure the 40-year-old actress was on major wardrobe malfunction watch. But thankfully there was no nip slip..or even belly button slip to report.

Between the plunging neckline and pointy shoulder details on Jada’s dress it’s clear where her daughter Willow gets her over-the-top style from.

Check out Jada’s sexy outfit and a look at a few more of her Cannes Film Festival fashions.

Marian Wright Edelman: No Holiday for Hunger

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:47:36 +0000

Summer is usually imagined as a carefree time for children and families — a lazy, relaxing season filled with cookouts, backyard picnics, and trips to the ice cream truck. We don’t usually equate “summer vacation” and empty stomachs. Did you know child hunger and food insecurity often peak in the summer? Hunger and poor nutrition are linked to health, mental health, and dental health problems and poor educational outcomes that don’t end when summer starts. At a time when food insecurity in this country is so high, an overwhelming majority of children who receive free or reduced-price meals at school aren’t as lucky once school lets out. As the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) explains:

The federally-funded Summer Nutrition Programs, which provide nutritious meals and snacks to low-income children during the summer months, are falling increasingly short of meeting the needs… The limited reach of the Summer Nutrition Programs meant that for the majority of those children, the end of the school year was the end of the healthy, filling meals on which they counted.

Public and private nonprofit schools, local governments, National Youth Sports Programs, and private nonprofit organizations that serve eligible children can all participate in one of the two Summer Nutrition Programs — the Summer Food Service Program and the National School Lunch Program, which continues to serve children in summer school programs. But according to FRAC, in July 2010 just 2.8 million children received lunch through the summer programs on an average day — which was only 15 children for every 100 low-income children who received lunch on an average day during the 2009-2010 school year. By that measure of need, only one in seven children who needs summer food is getting it.

As FRAC president Jim Weill explains, one of the biggest barriers is that although many kinds of programs are eligible for funding there simply aren’t enough programs available to serve all the children who need them. FRAC points out that the continuing fallout from the Great Recession has only made this worse as budget cuts have led many communities to slash funding for summer schools and summer youth programs making opportunities for providing summer meals even more limited. Some of the programs that do exist don’t run for the whole summer, and there also aren’t enough eligible programs providing robust activities and services in addition to meals that draw families in. Adding programs and services and keeping sites open longer could both reduce childhood hunger and help many communities create desperately-needed jobs — a win-win. This should be a priority in communities across the country.

Even where summer feeding programs are in place there isn’t always enough outreach to let all eligible families know about them. That was one of the obstacles Harvard Kennedy School student Tarah Barzanji found when she recently conducted research for the Children’s Defense Fund on the Summer Food Service Program. There are other challenges. Summer feeding programs tend to be available for shorter and more irregular hours than a regular school day which limits participation. Transportation often isn’t provided, so making these programs available where hungry children are is important. Some programs have had success providing mobile meals which can be especially helpful in rural communities.

Many organizations that provide summer activities for children may not even realize they’re eligible for funding to serve meals. Others find they would be able to participate with just a little help from local foundations or community donations to cover extra expenses like refrigerators or coolers. Sometimes the amount of paperwork required to run a site is a barrier. Small programs may have special difficulty running sites — for example, a church-based program serving fifteen children may not have the same infrastructure as a school running a summer school lunch program. These kinds of obstacles shouldn’t be standing in the way. We should be using the Summer Nutrition Programs as effectively as possible enabling many more sites to provide meals for needy children this summer — and helping many fewer children to go hungry.

How is your community helping hungry children this summer? Encourage civic and philanthropic leaders to visit programs to see firsthand what’s getting in the way of children being fed. Encourage creative publicity and outreach to help get children to existing sites, and encourage sites to stay open longer into the summer. Now is the time to act!

To learn more about how to open a summer feeding site, sponsor one, volunteer at one, or find one in your community, visit the Summer Food Service Program. To learn more about how we can make it a national priority to expand access to these programs and others with long records of success fighting hunger, come to CDF’s July 22nd-25th national conference in Cincinnati, Ohio this summer and register for the workshop End Child Hunger in Rich America Now.

Mother Punishes Daughter For Posting Booze Photos On Facebook

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:47:26 +0000

While the rise of social media has certainly created new ways for children to get themselves in trouble, it’s also given parents a whole new set of tools to reel in their kids. A recent Facebook post, first highlighted by BuzzFeed, serves as a wonderful example of this.

SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTO

After author ReShonda Tate Billingsley found her daughter posting alcohol-related photos to the social network, she came up with a very orignal, and no doubt effective, form of punishment.

Following up the post her mother deemed inappropriate is a new photo that features the young girl holding a hand-written sign that reads, “Since I want to post photos of me holding liquor I am obviously not ready for social media and will be taking a hiatus until I learn what I should + should not post. BYE-BYE.”

Rough.

But Billingsley isn’t alone in her parenting style.

Denise Abbott, a mother from Ohio, used the same method to punish her 13-year-old daughter Ava after she found her posting “disrespectful things” on Facebook.

“I do not know how to keep my [mouth shut]. I am no longer allowed on Facebook or my phone. Please ask why,” the text on the 13-year-old girl’s Facebook photo read.

Despite the embarrassment, Abbot told NBC she doesn’t regret her disciplinary action, saying she needed to find something that would “totally impact her.”

“You have to adapt your parenting skills with the times,” Abbott told NBC.

It could be worse, though. At least Billingsley and Abbot didn’t put a bullet through their child’s laptop and post the video on Facebook.

PHOTO:

Karin Kamp: Momtrepreneur Brings Jobs Back to US

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:47:16 +0000

While taking her children to school one day, Amy Davis’s daughter needed a tissue. She leaned over and searched for one on the passenger seat floor. “My car veered to the right and I nearly took out my neighbors fence,” she says.

Soon after she had the lightbulb moment that drives many entrepreneurs to come up with a new product. “I thought there must be a way to easily access a tissue while behind the wheel, which would keep drivers from becoming distracted,” Davis told The Story Exchange.

From there, Davis — who was an MBA student at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut — came up with the idea for the Kiss-u Tissue Tube, a refillable tissue dispenser that fits in the cupholder of a car. She then began looking for a company to produce a prototype, but it wasn’t easy.

“At the time (in 2008) it was very difficult to find an American company to make a prototype for my product,” she said. She contacted several companies in China who Davis says were “more willing to facilitate new concept development” and produce lower orders.

Davis chose a Chinese supplier, who delivered a successful prototype for the Kiss-u, which she then took to Walgreens, and they liked it. Her product was soon stocked in thousands of Walgreens and the orders were coming.

Coming to America

When Davis was able to offer American factories 60,000 units or more to produce, they became interested. And Davis was interested in them.

“Last spring the economy was terrible and I felt that if it were possible for me to produce in the U.S. and still make money then it was my responsibility to do so,” she told The Story Exchange.

She didn’t know how many factories were involved in manufacturing her product in China because “they take care of everything.” The only thing Davis had to do was to arrange shipping for her product from China.

When she decided to produce the Kiss-u in the U.S. she had to find five American factories for it to work (for the top, the cylinder, the plug for the bottom, tissues, and packaging/fulfillment.)

But they wouldn’t consider her unless she had a business loan (to help her gain financial legitimacy.) With help from the Women’s Business Development Council in Stamford, Conn., Davis was able to secure a line of credit with a major bank and she was ready to move forward.

The Kiss-u is now manufactured in the U.S., which is helping to employ people in facilities in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois and Connecticut.

Late orders, missed opportunities

But the challenges of coordinating production are nothing to sneeze at, especially since her orders are ad-hok. Davis says regular customers — who have items scheduled for production each week or month — get preference at the factories.

This has resulted in late order fulfillment, which may have cost Davis dearly.

“In China, because of the way the factories are structured with most of the factories housing the employees, people want to do the over time hours it takes to produce a product like mine [on time],” she said.

Last summer the Kiss-u tissues were supposed to be on Walgreens shelves in time for the back to school shopping season. But factory delays meant her product was not in stores until mid-October.

Davis says the delay had “a snow ball effect on everything” with her product getting lost amongst the the Halloween and Thanksgiving merchandise.

Staying Local

Still, Davis says she prefers working with US factories. “There are things about use and consumer preferences that are obvious to US factory managers that would not be obvious to Chinese factory managers,” she says. And she’s happy she no longer has to coordinate shipping from China: “it was a real headache and a lot of work.”

Davis plans to continue manufacturing in the U.S., although for orders less than 60,000 she still uses manufacturers in China. “I will always prefer to produce a product as close to the end users as possible… It’s an environmental issue as well as a moral issue for me.”

She says producing the Kiss-u products in American is a bit more expensive but she says it’s worth it.

“Bringing manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. has been incredibly satisfying.”

What’s been your biggest challenge you’ve faced in producing your product? Share your story here.

Kevin Hartnett: What Would You Do with an Extra $50,000 a Year?

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:47:02 +0000

This morning at breakfast, we watched out the window as our neighbor’s nine-year-old daughter Ava walked to school. She was bundled in a coat and scarf, which maybe was a touch warm for the weather, and carried her trumpet at her side.

We see Ava walk by most mornings, and Jay often plays with her in the afternoons when she comes outside to kick a soccer ball. And this morning I was struck by how nice her childhood seems. She has a ten-minute walk to school. She plays an instrument, she plays soccer, she’s a Girl Scout (who sold us those Thin Mints I’m always writing about), and her parents are around a lot. I don’t know her family very well, but in broad strokes, she’s got the kind of childhood I’d want for Jay and Wally.

Which got me thinking about how money influences the kind of childhood a kid experiences.

There’s still some uncertainty about what our adult standard of living will look like, but between Caroline’s academic salary and my less-predictable freelance income, we should be able to earn at least, say, $100,000 a year. And my sense is that that would be enough to give Jay and Wally a lifestyle that roughly resembles Ava’s. We could afford to live in our neighborhood, where homes sell for under $275,000, and we’d send our kids to the Ann Arbor public schools, which are perfectly good.

But what if we found a way to earn more than $100,000? It’s unlikely that we’ll ever be rich by the standard President Obama was pilloried for using — families that make more than $250,000 a year — but if we made it a priority, we could probably earn an additional $50,000 a year. What would that mean in terms of how Jay and Wally grew up?

To answer that question, Caroline directed me to a report put out annually by the U.S. Department of Agriculture called Expenditures on Children By Families. The report analyzes the amount of money that families at different income levels spend on their children.

The analysis is based on husband-wife households with two kids. It breaks those households into three income groups:

Families earning less than $57,600 a year (Average=$36,840)

Families earning $57,600-$99,370 a year (Average=$77,500)

Families earning more than $99,370 a year (Average=$174, 530)

The amounts of money families spend on their children increase as kids get older, though only by about 15% from age 2 to age 15. If you average over the course of a childhood (defined in the report as ages 0-17), this is how much money families at the three income levels spend on a child each year:

The most striking thing about the chart, to me, is the relative similarity between what low income and middle income families spend compared with what high income families spend. Put another way, high income families spend a lot more on their kids than other families do.

The following chart, recreated from page 18 of the report, breaks down expenditures on a child into seven categories. The chart is based on expenditure percentages in a middle income home, which are similar but not identical to the way expenditures break down in lower and high income homes.

One thing that leaps out at me from the chart is housing (which includes mortgage payments, property taxes, rent, maintenance, utilities and home furnishings like furniture and appliances). Housing is the biggest contributor to the expense of raising a child. It also seems to me to be one of the easiest places to save money without impacting the quality of life a child enjoys.

In Ann Arbor, for example, we could buy a house in our current neighborhood for $275,000 a year or we could buy one a mile away in Burns Park for $450,000. Both neighborhoods are quiet, leafy, and filled largely with two-parent families. Burns Park has nicer housing stock and is closer to campus. Living there would put a big pinch on our household budget but it’s hard for me to see how it would really improve Jay and Wally’s childhoods.

This next chart is the one you’ve been waiting for. It shows where the additional spending on a child goes as families move up the income scale.

High income families spend a lot more on their children over the course of their childhoods –almost double ($377,000) what middle income families spend ($226,920).

When I consider what that extra money gets you, I think in two categories: stuff and non-stuff.

Stuff includes housing, food, transportation and clothing, which comprise 67 percent of the cost of raising a child. Earning $150,000 a year versus earning $100,000 a year gets you more stuff, and better quality stuff, but I don’t think it does much to improve the quality of a kid’s childhood. What does it matter if your parents drive a Honda or a BMW, or whether your backpack costs $40 or $100? Once a certain minimum standard has been reached, each additional dollar spent on more or better stuff doesn’t add a lot. And that minimum standard can be reached easily with a family income of $100,000 a year.

What about non-stuff? That includes health care and child care/education, which together comprise 25 percent of the cost of raising a child.

One interesting aspect of the data is that middle and high income families spend similar amounts on their children’s health care ($18,420 and $21,150, respectively, from age 0-17). To me, this suggests two things: a) As families move from low to middle income, one of the first places they divert their increased income is to health care; and b) There’s only so much you can spend on health care, at least for children who tend to be pretty healthy.

The other non-stuff category is child care/education. Here’s where you see the single biggest gap between low, middle and high income families in terms of total dollars spent. Over the course of a childhood, low income families spend $22,710, middle income families spend $39,420 and high income families spend $84,870. That’s a pretty staggering difference and it’s pretty obvious what accounts for it: daycare vs. nannies when kids are young and public vs. private school when kids are older.

So, when Caroline and I think about how earning an additional $50,000 a year would impact Jay and Wally what we’re really thinking about is the value of private school. I don’t have any data that tries to quantify the value of private school but I’ll do some digging. Of course, the added value of private vs. public school varies a lot depending on the quality of the public schools where you live. In Philadelphia, where we lived until last August, the gap between the private and public schools was huge; in Ann Arbor I imagine it’s a lot smaller.

Before I wrap up, a few notes. First, this discussion only includes expenditures on children through age 17, so it doesn’t include support for college, post-graduate education and the transition to adulthood, which are obviously huge and consequential expenses. Second, the expenditure categories don’t capture things like vacations and summer camp, which are both places where I’d expect to see big gaps between middle and high income families. Third, I framed this post in deliberately simplistic terms in order to highlight top-level differences by income groups. I’d encourage people to read the USDA report and to raise questions in the comments section.

Overall, I’m interested in writing more about the tradeoffs that parents should consider as they think about how to organize family life. What would we gain by earning an additional $50,000 a year? What, if anything, would we have to give up to earn that money? And how does the organization of time and the availability of money effect a family culture and children’s outcomes?

I look forward to thinking about these questions in future posts.

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Laura Prudom: ‘Supernatural’ Finale Recap: Who Made It Out Alive?

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:46:46 +0000

Note: Do not read on if you have not seen Season 7, Episode 23 of The CW’s “Supernatural,” entitled “Survival of the Fittest.”

Reviewing a season finale is very different from reviewing a singular episode, and “Supernatural” finales are more challenging than most. The end of a season has to tie up loose story threads from the entire season preceding it, while still leaving enough dangling to create a compelling jumping off point for next year. Thankfully, despite a few (okay, more than a few) lackluster episodes this season, I think that the season finale managed to course-correct in a way that makes me truly optimistic for Season 8. The last couple of episodes didn’t build up much momentum going into the finale, in comparison with the stellar runs at the end of Seasons 1, 2, 4 and 5, but a finale still needs to stand on its own merits, and against the odds, I felt like “Survival of the Fittest” did so.

I think that my main criticism with Season 7 as a whole — and, in hindsight, with Season 6 too — was an overall lack of focus. The ideas behind the Leviathans and Eve were good in theory, but in practice, there seemed to be too many standalone episodes to create a truly cohesive through-line from premiere to finale. When a season works as a whole, there need to be multiple unmissable episodes which deepen the mythology and drive the story forward, and looking back at Season 7, I feel like we could’ve watched the first two episodes of the season, “How To Win Friends and Influence Monsters,” “Reading is Fundamental” and “Survival of the Fittest,” ignored the rest of the season, and still gotten the overall gist of the story.

I’m not sure if that was because of internal concerns that the Leviathans weren’t interesting enough to be the focal point of more episodes, or because the monster of the week stories just didn’t feel fresh or exciting enough (though I did enjoy “The Mentalists” and “Time After Time”) — but aside from Robbie Thompson, Sera Gamble and Ben Edlund, a number of writers seemed to struggle with pacing issues in their stories this year, with episodes either dragging in the middle or ending abruptly.

Although this sounds like a criticism of Gamble, I don’t really mean it as one; I think that any showrunner (perhaps even Eric Kripke) would’ve struggled to conceptualize a new arc for Season 6 after the original five-year story came to a close, especially since no-one knew at that point whether the show would be back for a seventh year. For a series as heavily serialized as “Supernatural,” conceiving two self-contained story arcs for the past two years must have been a herculean feat, so in many ways, I don’t blame the writers for having difficulties in making Seasons 6 and 7 coherent.

Similarly, the transition between Season 7 and Season 8 could prove equally challenging, since the series is once again changing showrunners, with Sera Gamble (who has written for the show since its first year) handing the reins to Jeremy Carver, who was with “Supernatural” from Seasons 3-5 before departing to launch the U.S. version of “Being Human” with his wife, Anna Fricke. I mourned the loss of Carver almost as much as I mourned the loss of Eric Kripke at the time, because I don’t believe there is a single writer who grasped Sam and Dean’s voices with as much style and confidence as he did, short of Kripke himself (alright, and Ben Edlund).

And while Kripke knew Sam and Dean, Carver knew story — so many of his episodes remain my all-time favorites: “A Very Supernatural Christmas,” “Mystery Spot,” “In The Beginning,” “Free To Be You And Me” and “The Point of No Return,” to name a few. They weren’t just well-written in terms of character, they were well-structured, too. Having a clearly defined beginning, middle and an end, and a coherent sense of pacing, is something that “Supernatural” has struggled with more in the past two seasons than it did in its first five years. I don’t know whether that sense of cohesion was due to Kripke’s influence or the product of a more experienced writing staff, but I’m hoping that Season 8 can recapture the lightning in a bottle that I haven’t truly felt from “Supernatural” since Season 4.

So, enough waffling about the backstory; let’s discuss “Survival of the Fittest.” I’ll admit, I never really connected to the Leviathans as adversaries after they left Castiel; I grew to appreciate Dick’s smarmy corporate exterior, but I never felt that sense of dread or intimidation that I got from Azazel, Lilith or Lucifer. I suppose it’s because those villains felt so otherworldly, so unconcerned with the trivialities of humanity, whereas Dick, by design, was a mirror of mankind’s corporate greed and the soulless march of capitalism. We instinctively fear the unknown, the unfamiliar, but Dick and his cronies were all too familiar to us, because those one-percenter values (or lack thereof) are being parroted back at us from the campaign trail on a weekly basis. A few of us might want to punch certain political figures in the face, and some of their opinions may instill a sense of dread in us, but it’s not really apocalyptic dread, is it?

It also doesn’t help that Dick was focused on humanity as a whole, while the Winchesters’ previous adversaries were focused on them (as any good TV villain should be). We’re not watching the “random dude in Iowa eating a turducken sandwich” show, we’re watching the Sam and Dean show, so the Leviathans viewing the Winchesters as an obstacle rather than the goal undeniably lowered the stakes for me. Sure, the Leviathans wanted to squash the boys like bugs, but how is that different from any other monster of the week they’ve had to face? I get that the writers wanted to give the boys another global challenge, to somehow up the ante from Lucifer however they could, but there’s no denying that Azazel, Lilith and Lucifer worked in large part because they were focused on the boys (or, really, on Sam) and personal stakes are so much more compelling than universal ones. That’s another area where Eve and her “turn humans into monsters” plan fell down, although Season 6′s issues were more widespread than simply having a disappointing villain.

Because of that, as fond as I’d grown of Dick’s snarkiness (and lord knows I would’ve been content to watch an hour of Dick and Crowley bantering) I was glad that Dean managed to take Dick down in the finale. They didn’t outright destroy all of the Leviathans, so they can still present a challenge next season, but I felt that their endgame had run its course. The beauty of this finale — especially this ending — is that it’s truly impossible to predict where the show might go from here, so we can spend the summer in rapturous speculation.

The Leviathans didn’t work for me, but seeing them gone did, and so did most of the rest of the finale. I voiced my advanced enthusiasm for this week’s episode in large part because it promised to utilize all of our favorite players — Bobby, Castiel, Crowley and Meg — and it delivered on that front. The episode was a fitting exit for Sera Gamble, who has always had a great grasp of Crowley’s particular brand of wit, and all of the scenes involving the boys and Castiel, Meg and/or Crowley crackled with energy.

It’s clear that the writers have been getting a lot of mileage out of Castiel’s current lack of marbles, and Misha Collins did an excellent job delivering some truly bizarre lines. His fascination with board games — Twister in particular — was thoroughly enjoyable, and while I’m a little disappointed that we missed out on seeing the angel appear naked on Dean’s car covered in bees, the mental image alone has a fair amount of value. I’m well aware that Castiel is a divisive character, so I’m sure there are some fans who dislike the fact that Dean and Castiel got zapped into purgatory without Sam, but to me, it’s a good idea from both a creative and technical standpoint.

We might like to ignore this fact when we’re selfishly enjoying one of our favorite shows, but Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles are pretty much the only actors on TV who don’t have a full-time supporting cast to lighten their filming load. Padalecki has recently become a father, and I can attest from set visits that “Supernatural” is one of the most labor-intensive shows to film, in terms of the cast and crew’s working hours, night shoots, stunts and special effects. The fact that these actors have managed seven years with practically no time off without having a meltdown is somewhat miraculous to me, and yet Ackles and Padalecki are still just as passionate and invested in the show as they were at the start. Splitting Sam and Dean up, as much as some fans may hate it, allows these hard working dudes a couple of extra days off a week to spend with their families, and if that keeps them from getting burned out and makes them more inclined to keep making the show for another couple of seasons, I’m all for it.

And from a creative standpoint: I’ve been with this show since the pilot in 2005, I adore the Sam and Dean dynamic and am wholly aware that the relationship between the brothers is the biggest part of “Supernatural’s” success. But they’ve been together for seven years now, and there are only so many ways to tell that fraternal story without retreading old ground (some fans feel we’ve already retrod old ground a couple of times as it is). The fact of the matter is, adding new characters — whether it’s Jo and Ellen, Ruby and Bela, Bobby and Rufus or Castiel and Gabriel — allow us to see Sam and Dean from new perspectives; they bring out new sides to the boys and force them to react in different ways than they’d react to each other.

We’ve seen Sam and Dean in sticky situations for years now, and we know how they respond when they’re up the creek without a paddle, but we’ve yet to see how Dean and Castiel would react to being stuck in a foxhole together, or how Sam truly functions as Sam (as opposed to the diet, soulless version of Sam we saw in Season 6) without his brother. I, for one, am eager to see how Sam goes about rescuing Dean from purgatory now that no demons want to make a deal with him, and I want to see Dean tied back into the mythology the way he hasn’t been since Season 4 — not just as Sam’s protector, but as someone who drives the mythology forward by acting instead of reacting (or drinking). The actors have recently expressed their desire to see Sam and Dean separated or old cast-members returned in various interviews, not because they hate each other, but because they want to explore new facets of characters that they’ve been playing for over half a decade. I think it’s natural and I think the writers should be applauded for taking that risk. I highly doubt that any real separation would go on beyond a couple of episodes anyway, but if it means shaking up the status quo and offering a new perspective on such beloved characters, I’d say it’s a worthwhile experiment.

That’s not to say that things couldn’t go wrong — since every time Sam is left to his own devices he seems to end up chugging demon blood or cozying up to sociopaths like Grandpa Campbell, and in that way, the season finale also found itself retreading old ground. Will Dean’s sojourn to purgatory be like his trip to hell at the end of Season 3? Time will tell, but Carver has a great track record with these characters so I’m more than willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

I was surprised (and pleased) that the episode chose to dispatch Bobby with comparatively little fanfare. Obviously, the character’s first and greatest farewell, in “Death’s Door,” should be his enduring legacy, but I was expecting the episode to make more of a meal over Bobby descending into darkness. I’m glad Gamble didn’t go that route, though — having Bobby leave on his own terms was a fitting and poignant resolution, perfectly played by Jim Beaver and in-keeping with the character. I think it was perfectly reasonable for Bobby to refuse to let the boys go (and thereby avoid dying on the Reaper’s terms) and for him to later nobly decide that he needed to leave before he ended up hurting someone and becoming the thing he once hunted.

It was nice that Sam got that moment with Bobby — and I thought it nicely mirrored the Season 1 finale, “Devil’s Trap,” when Dean was being attacked by Azazel in John’s body, before his father reasserted himself to avoid causing his son any further pain. Sam hasn’t had many moments like that with Bobby, so it was nice that he got at least one, allowing Bobby to illustrate his love for Sam before the older hunter said farewell. I also appreciated the decision not to show Bobby’s spirit burning up; the moment was far more resonant simply from witnessing Sam and Dean’s reactions, because Bobby isn’t some monster that we should relish seeing disintegrated. A part of me does feel like “Death’s Door” should have been the character’s last appearance, but I adore Jim Beaver so much that I was happy to take a little extra time, especially since the writers avoided compromising the integrity of the character.

And how fantastic was it to see the return of the Impala, triumphantly set to Steppenwolf’s “Born to Be Wild?” Absence certainly makes the heart grow fonder, and I just hope we’ll never have to be without Dean’s “baby” for such a long time again. I’m surprised he trusted Meg with it, though, even though she was playing the distraction. I don’t love Rachel Miner’s portrayal half as much as I adored Nicki Aycox’s (Aycox had a lot more subtlety) but I’m still intrigued to see what Crowley has planned for her. Whatever it is, I hope when we next see Meg, we’ll see the Meg of the first two seasons — it’s hard to reconcile the demon who possessed Sam and went on a killing and torture spree in the phenomenal “Born Under a Bad Sign” with the character we’ve seen in the past couple of years, and I’m far more enamored of the evil version.

I loved the pacing, the wit and the focus of “Survival of the Fittest,” but I did have two complaints: first, the bizarre and, frankly, disturbing decision to make Polly the hapless human guinea pig take off her dress before Dick stuck her with the toxin — it was narratively unnecessary and distractingly gratuitous, especially considering the episode was written by a woman. Second, the inclusion of Kevin the Prophet. Despite the racial stereotyping, I’ve actually enjoyed Kevin as a character, but I have to admit, he’s seemed a little extraneous since “Reading is Fundamental.” Once he translated the stone tablet, why was he useful to Dick? And why was he useful enough for Crowley to capture him? He didn’t get to accomplish much this week or last, and Crowley’s nabbing of him seemed abrupt. I wish the writers had found another way to decipher the Word of God (couldn’t Cas have done it?) so that the prophet wasn’t necessary at all — better to never introduce him than to just have him present for the sake of it. I’m sure the writers will find a way to tie him into Season 8 in a more meaningful way, but it still felt sloppy in an otherwise tightly-plotted hour.

When “Supernatural” episodes are at their finest, the hour seems to fly by, and that was the case with “Survival of the Fittest.” It was an engaging and tense hour from start to finish, with satisfying pay-offs for those of us that enjoy Castiel’s inclusion in the story and his “profound bond” with Dean; a delicious return for Mark Sheppard, who can chew scenery in his sleep and steal scenes with the mere quirk of an eyebrow; and a suitably messy send-off for Dick. I love the idea of purgatory as some wild, uncharted forest, and I’m intrigued to see how much further Carver will explore that untapped resource next season — hopefully allowing Sam and Dean to grow individually so that they’ll have fresh, unique dynamics to explore once they’re reunited. And, to close, I’d like to thank Sera Gamble for seven years of hard work and passionate writing, and congratulate the talented Jeremy Carver for getting the chance to continue Sam and Dean’s inspiring journey — I’ll certainly be along for the ride.

What did you think of “Supernatural’s” Season 7 finale? Were you pleased by the show’s shocking cliffhanger? Saddened to see Bobby go? Share your reactions and predictions for next season below!

“Supernatural” returns in the fall with Season 8 on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on The CW.

You Won’t Believe What This Headdress Is Made Of

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:46:29 +0000

Flickr photo by Urban Woodswalker

It turns out the headpiece is part of an entire ensemble, including a wearable dress, hand-held mask and ring Enriquez constructed for a 2011 fashion show of garments showcasing discarded items. We love that 95 percent of her pieces are made of reclaimed plastics, but even more impressive is the fact that Enriquez has no formal fashion design training at all, which is why her eye-catching headdress deserves being named our Highlight Of The Week.

To see the rest of her outfit, visit her Flickr stream.

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PHOTOS: LACMA Gets Down

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:46:18 +0000

The spare, modern courtyard at LACMA transformed into a bass-thumping hip hop venue Thursday night.

Rap trio 3MG (Murs, Eligh and Scarub) performed together for the first time in five years, drawing about 1,000 underground hip hop fans to the fine arts bastion.

The event was the first in a series of hip hop concerts called “Through The Mic,” a performance schedule focused on Los Angeles acts, curated by Murs. It’s also LACMA’s boldest attempt thus far to directly engage the local hip hop community.

On stage, LACMA program head Jason Gaulton began the evening by inviting the audience to check out Chris Burden’s Metropolis II installation in the Broad Contemporary Art Museum (BCAM) on the premises. He also encouraged them to sign up for free summer passes to LACMA after the concert. Gaulton proclaimed, “Tonight, hip hop graduates. Tonight it is fine art.”

It wasn’t a seamless transition. After some light applause among the pierced, tattooed and mostly quiet young audience, someone in the crowd jeered, “Who are you?!”

But no matter. Cheers and chronic quickly filled the air when 3MG bounded on stage, backlit by the museum’s iconic “Urban Light” installation. Scarub’s opening set quickly had hundreds of hands in the air and Eligh dazzled with rapid speed verses. Of course, it was Murs who led the audience in the most spirited exchange of the night.

His rendition of Easy-E’s 1986 classic “Boyz-N-The-Hood” transformed the crowd into a chorus, and his West Coast anthem “L.A.” had everyone — from the audience to Ray’s and Stark diners to security guards — throwing “W” signs up in the sky.

After the concert, about 200 people signed up for LACMA’s free summer membership, and several dozen sauntered over to BCAM to marvel at Metropolis II. Maybe Gaulton was right about that graduation. Of course, it probably helped that Murs did his fan meet-and-greet just a few feet away from the installation.

Through The Mic’s next event takes place June 21, and features Koreatown rapper Dumbfoundead and LA legend Medusa. Tickets cost $10 for LACMA members and $15 for general admission.

All photos by Micah Cordy.

Conor Mills: A Greenland Food Adventure in Ilulissat

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:46:12 +0000

As our small propeller-powered plane begins its descent into Ilulissat I’m glued to the small porthole-shaped window mesmerised by the breathtaking views. Once we break through the stationary clouds and snow-capped mountains, the sea reveals itself for the first time. Frozen, motionless like a snapshot in time, the first signs of cracks are beginning to appear across its glistening surface. Trapped within it is a mass congregation of icebergs waiting for the waters to melt so they can continue on with their journeys.

An ariel view of the descent into Ilulissat – (Pictures by Andre Schoenherr and Conor Mills)

With a population of 4,500, Ilulissat is the third largest town in Greenland; it is also home to the northern hemispheres most active glacier and is believed by scientists to be the birthplace of the iceberg responsible for sinking the Titanic. The plan is to stay in and around Ilulissat for the next three days. While I’m here my base will be Hotel Arctic, the Arctic Circle’s only 4-star hotel.

It is also home to Restaurant Ulo, one of Greenland’s most prestigious restaurants. Born in Denmark, head-chef Jeppe Ejvind Nielsen has been living and working in Greenland since 2001 and over the past decade has established himself as the country’s leading chef. His modern style of cooking combined with his dedication to Greenlandic produce has earned him huge acclaim throughout both Greenland and the wider Nordic region.

As I make my way down to the restaurant for dinner, it’s hard not to stop and stare in wonderment at the view outside. Hotel Arctic sits on top of a small hill on the periphery of Ilulissat and offers unrivalled panoramas across the small town and the frozen seascape. As the sun disappears slowly behind the icebergs obstructing the horizon, I wonder to myself if the northern lights might make a guest appearance at some point tonight.

The first course is poached stingray, fished locally and served with wasabi nuts. It is clear from the meticulous attention to detail and presentation on the plate that Nielsen has a huge respect for his ingredients. The stingray is one of the freshest, purest pieces of fish I’ve ever eaten; it is meaty, delicate and full of flavour.

A meal at Restaurant Ulo – (Pictures by David Trood, Andre Schoenherr and Conor Mills)

For the main course I’m presented with a fillet of lightly smoked musk ox which has been poached and then quickly pan-fried, accompanied by a selection of musk ox infused sauces, Greenlandic herbs and root vegetables from the south of the island. The slow-cooked meat practically falls apart on the plate and is full of smoky, gamey flavours, while the array of sauces each adds an extra layer of depth and flavour to an already exceptional piece of meat.

We finish with Danish pears poached in red wine, topped with another Greenlandic herb, angelica. It has a strong earthy flavour and I’m told it is one of the most abundantly used herbs in Greenlandic cuisine. It is another perfectly judged dish and completes a spectacular meal. Each course is pure simplicity, there are no unnecessary ingredients, but what is most impressive is that each unique flavour, taste and texture stands out so clearly.

After the meal I speak to Jeppe about his cooking and ask him what it is that he thinks makes Greenlandic food unique. “In Greenland, there is no such thing as farming” he tells me, “everything is wild, it’s all game. What makes Greenlandic food so special is the ingredients, not the recipes.”

“My theory” he goes on, “is that the Inuit people of Greenland were too busy hunting and catching food to have time to experiment with recipes. Food was often eaten raw and frozen due to the conditions, the last thing on peoples minds were coming up with complex recipes.”

Whether Jeppe’s thoughts are true or not, to me it all makes perfect sense. Simplicity is not a choice here; it’s a necessity, which would explain why Greenlanders perform it so competently.

I’m stopped short on the walk back to my room as I glance out of the window only to see the sky illuminated by the green luminosity of the northern lights, it’s even more spectacular than I had imagined. A passing member of staff informs me that the Inuit Greenlanders believe it is the spirits of the dead playing football with the head of a walrus. It’s an abstract image but I can’t help thinking again how much the simplicity of it all somehow reiterates the innocence and honesty present in the cuisine and all aspects of life I’ve experienced so far.

The spirits of the dead playing football with the head of a walrus – (Picture by Andre Schoenherr)

Tomorrow night we’re having a home-cooked meal with Inunnguaq Hegelund, an Ilulissat local and one of Greenland’s youngest and most exciting new chefs. At only 26 he has already been named the nations top chef for the past two years and has since retired from the competition in order to give someone else a chance. He sounds like just the sort of person this country needs to help grow its reputation. I’m already looking forward to trying his food and hearing about his take on what the future holds for Greenlandic cuisine.

Karen Edwards: Travel Eye: Why You Have to See the Great Barrier Reef at Least Once in Your Life…

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:46:08 +0000

Snorkelling and swimming around the Great Barrier Reef is an experience I’ll never, ever forget. Yes, it took me the best part of three days to get there and hell, yeah, it didn’t come cheap – but my goodness, it was worth it…

My adventure to one of Australia’s natural wonders (luckily them, they have two – the other is the Uluru rock) began last year when I decided I needed a holiday. I wanted to explore Aus’ anyway and had some friends living in Sydney, so I was attempting to combine boozy Sydney times with an incredibly, eye-opening experience. That’s when I discovered The Whitsunday Islands.

A four-hour flight from Sydney (or about 3200 miles by land), The Whitsundays are a group of islands with white sandy beaches and lush green jungle. A few have been transformed into exclusive spa resorts and some are home to local Aussies who have set up B&Bs and campsites for budding travellers. But the most significant thing about these islands are that they are the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef – a World Heritage Site that boasts 2,900 individual reefs stretching over 1,600 miles. It’s so big that it’s the only living organism on earth visible from space – and it’s larger than the Great Wall of China. Impressive, huh?

Once there, you can watch brightly colourful fish hide amongst pretty coral structures made of polyps, see sharks graze the sea bed, swim with turtles and even – at certain times of the year – watch whales breaching. It certainly sounded special.

So I made The Whitsundays my destination and after a rather long three days of travelling (and a stopover in Seoul, South Korea), I reached Hamilton Island – the bustling tourist-happy Whitsunday Island with an airport.

However ‘bustling’ wasn’t quite what I was after, so I jumped on a boat and headed to the mainland hub of Airlie Beach – which is more of a backpacker and local hangout than the islands and is somewhere you can find cheaper accommodation suited to all budgets. Here, I found a cute B&B to stay in for under half the price of most places on Hamilton Island. Plus, they had some brilliant options on how best to see the Reef itself.

The best way to do the Great Barrier Reef:

I was offered several options on how to get out to sea and see this amazing place -

Firstly (and most-cheaply), there was getting a catamaran out to some of the islands and the reef surrounding them for a day. Of course, you could snorkel around the bays, there’d be food and drink provided and there’d be music; with 30 people or more on board. This was the party boat, for those who fancied a rave around the reef.

Then there was sailing option number two – taking an old tall ship. The Solway Lass had already been recommended to me by friends and now there seem to be a whole range of tall ships to choose from – all of whom gave you a sunbathing deck, snorkelling option, even a rope to swing yourself off if you fancied an impromptu swim. Plus, the ships looked incredible! But you had to spend a minimum of two nights on board – and I had limited time.

So I settled on quite a unique option – taking a sea plane to the outer reef, 100kms out to sea! There, not only would we get a chance to see the Reef from the sky, but the company running the service even had a tiny glass bottomed boat out at the 100km mark where they could transfer us over for a little boat trip. About ten minutes away from where the seaplane lands, the coral is beautiful and the fish more abundant – so that’s where we stopped the boat for a snorkel. And, there, my dream came true – I was swimming the Great Barrier Reef and taking in the brightly-coloured marine life (including a gorgeous turtle who popped up to say hello). Someone even spotted a shark near the sea bed. ‘He’s strictly vegetarian!’ we were told.

The great thing with taking that sea plane was that nothing could have prepared me for how stunning the Reef looked from the sky. We already knew that you could see this Wonder of the World from space – but to see that sight through your own eyes; all the glorious formations of polyps-filled coral placed in a swirl of turquoise water, it was incredibly special. And for that reason alone, I’d recommend that seaplane experience to anyone thinking of heading out there.

Plus during the four-hour flight, we flew over many of the Whitsunday Islands and ended up having lunch at the area’s most famous white-sand beach, Whitehaven. I also discovered that the heart-shaped reef that you always find on the front of greeting cards really exists in the Coral Sea. Stunning!

The deals:

It’s not easy to get out to Australia, let alone the Great Barrier Reef, but if you’re up for an adventure then I recommend it with all my heart.

I bought my flights through Korean Air – who, after much research, I found to be one of the cheapest carriers. Plus the service was brilliant, the staff friendly, the food varied and tasty and the plane wasn’t freezing cold. Flights start at around £870 from London Heathrow to Sydney with a stopover in Seoul depending on the time of year. Make sure you shop around before buying your flights. Internal flights with Jetstar Airways cost around £40.

Accommodation at Airlie Beach can range from £20 to £300 for a private room – depending on your tastes, but for those on an even tighter budget, you can share single sex dorms for as little as £10 a night. Magnums is the big Backpacker haunt in Airlie and Whitsunday Moorings is a cute B&B with rooms starting at around £100.

The seaplane experience: Yes, it was inevitably pricey (but not as pricey as some of the boat experiences). Flights range from £115 to £300 per person, depending on the time spent out there.
If I had had more time (i.e. if I was travelling properly rather than being on a holiday) I would have chosen one of the old tall ships for a sail around the area as well. Two nights on the Solway Lass costs £370 per person.

The verdict: If an Aussie adventure is what you want then you can’t get one much more special than this. The Great Barrier Reef is one of the most thrilling and stunning sights you will ever see – in fact, it’s definitely one of those ‘once in a lifetime experiences’ people talk about. If you can do it then it’s worth the long trip and certainly worth the hardcore saving you’ll probably have to do beforehand.

PICTURE CREDIT: Karen Edwards

Chris Fici: A Conflicted Hindu Response To Gay Rights

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:46:00 +0000

I was personally very impressed and moved by President Obama’s decision to come out openly and vocally in support of same-sex marriage. For all the guff we throw at him, and not withstanding the obvious political calculations that came along with the decision, his move was a courageous and truly historic gesture befitting the expectations that came along with his ascendancy to the presidency.

The cultural waters in terms of gay rights continue to move and shift in profound and irreversible ways. I see this as well in the religious communities that I am part of. Recently, my friend Bowie Snodgrass, who is one of the executive directors of the excellent Interfaith community Faith House here in Manhattan, presented a sampling of the liturgy, song, and scripture she and others in the Episcopal Church have been developing for a same-gender blessings marriage ceremony. (For more information, click here to visit the Episcopal Church’s “Same-Gender Blessings Project”)

Still, within my own tradition (the Gaudiya Vaisnava tradition of Hinduism), and within its contemporary cultural expressions, I feel a certain hesitancy to be so supportive of gay rights. Within my own heart and conviction, there is no conflict. But I wonder how I will be perceived by my immediate and extended religious community. Nevertheless, I use this platform on The Huffington Post to bring this conflict into a brighter light, because I think it is part of the larger question of establishing and defining the relevancy of my tradition in the world today.

It is an unfortunate aspect of my experience within the Vaisnava tradition that I have experienced prejudice towards the gay community. Some of this prejudice has been overt, some of it simply a matter of cultural conditioning and unfamiliarity, but in either case, it has always made me quite uncomfortable. I had many gay and lesbian friends when I was an undergrad at the University of Michigan. I imagine I will have many gay and lesbian friends when I began grad school at Union Theological Seminary in the fall. I am naturally comfortable with people of this sexual persuasion, because of the simple fact that, beyond sexual preference, I see no difference between them and me. Therefore when I encounter prejudice against gay people and gay culture, even if it is not with the intent of malice, it feels abhorrent in the fiber of my being and spirituality.

I feel comforted knowing there are many people of faith who feel the same way I do, and who are trying to come to grips and understand why the prejudice of homophobia can never be supported in any kind of genuine spiritual way. As always, I look to support from the timeless scriptures of the Vedas, the fount of universal wisdom. For example, in the Bhagavad-Gita, Krishna states:

The humble sages, by virtue of true knowledge, see with equal vision a learned and gentle brāhmaṇa, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater (outcaste).

From this passage we understand a very elevated spiritual principle that calls out to our everyday experience. The fact of the matter is that prejudice of any kind has no spiritual foundation. We are called as spiritual people to apply the principles of equality, and to understand how these principles of equality can be applied in the secular world in a common-sense way, so that people do not unnecessarily suffer because of who they are, and so they can be encouraged to understand their real spiritual nature, beyond any conceptions of the physical body.

One may make an argument that gay marriage is not supported by scripture or tradition, but is homophobia ever supported by scripture or tradition? Forgive my ignorance per se if this kind of prejudicial support exists, but even within the scriptural evidence of Hindu antiquity there is plenty to support a nuanced and inclusive culture towards people of same-sex persuasion. To explore such an example, I suggest taking some time to read an excerpt from the book “Tritiya-Prakriti: People of the Third Sex-Understanding Homosexuality, Transgender Identity and Intersex Conditions Through Hinduism” by Amara Das Wilhelm, which is available at the website of GALVA (The Gay And Lesbian Vaisnava Association).

In his book, Wilhelm explores the reality of the “third sex” (tritiya-prakriti) and its various permutations as we know them today in the LGBTQ community. He reveals how individuals of the “third sex” naturally fit into traditional Hindu/Vedic culture, and how they were not excluded from traditional social customs like marriage and religious customs as well. It was an enlightening read for me, and I imagine it might be for you as well.

In future editions of this blog, I want to continue to explore the issue of prejudice against the LGBTQ community within my own tradition, and how these issues relate to and expand outwards within the spiritual quilt of our humanity. I do no want to shy away from this conflict as I see it, even if it brings upon me misunderstandings and doubts from others.

‘Exorcist’ Author To Sue Georgetown University In Catholic Court

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:45:56 +0000

By Daniel Burke
Religion News Service

(RNS) The author who turned Georgetown University into a horror scene in “The Exorcist” plans to sue the school in church court, charging that his alma mater has strayed so far from church doctrine that it should no longer call itself Catholic.

William Peter Blatty, who graduated from Georgetown in 1950, says the “last straw” was the university’s speaking invitation to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

Sebelius, who addressed graduating public policy students on Friday (May 18), has been criticized by conservative Catholics for approving a mandate that requires many religious institutions to cover employees’ birth control costs. The Archdiocese of Washington called the Sebelius invitation “shocking.”

Blatty, 85, credits a Georgetown scholarship with fostering his writing career, which includes an Academy Award for “The Exorcist,” a blockbuster based on his best-selling 1971 novel. In the book and movie, a Jesuit priest at Georgetown, the nation’s oldest Catholic university, struggles to save a demon-possessed girl. Now retired, Blatty lives in Bethesda, Md.

“What I owe Georgetown, however, is nothing as compared to what Georgetown owes to its founders and the Christ of faith,” Blatty said in a statement.

The author says that Georgetown has violated church teaching for decades by inviting speakers who support abortion rights and refusing to obey instructions the late Pope John Paul II issued in 1990 to church-affiliated colleges and universities.

Georgetown should amend its ways or stop calling itself a Catholic or Jesuit institution, Blatty said.

A media spokesperson for Georgetown did not respond Friday to a request for comment. On its website, the university says, “Catholicism’s rich and diverse intellectual tradition is central to Georgetown’s academic life.”

In response to criticism of the Sebelius speech, Georgetown president John J. DeGioia said this week that the university is “committed to the free exchange of ideas” even if it does not agree with all of them.

Blatty’s “indictment” against Georgetown charges the school with failing to recruit Catholic teachers and students, neglecting to instruct students in Catholic morality and failing to act in accord with church doctrine. He expects the suit to be filed in the Archdiocese of Washington’s court of canon law this fall.

Blatty recently founded The Father King Society, named after a former Georgetown theology professor, to enlist fellow alumni in his cause.

A similar church suit was brought against Georgetown in 1991 for authorizing university funding for a student group that supported abortion rights. According to Cardinal Newman Society President Patrick Reilly, the case reached the Vatican before Georgetown agreed not to fund the group.

The conservative Cardinal Newman Society has assisted Blatty’s cause.

Watch This Guy Carve A Cow

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:45:46 +0000

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Just as more restaurants, eateries and ordinary consumers embrace Meatless Mondays, Old Town food emporium Society Fair is going whole hog — or at least cow — in the other direction on the first day of the work week.

Society Fair’s chef, butcher and charcutier, Julien Shapiro, will be leading special 90-minute “Beast” artisan butchery sessions on Mondays once a month, where up to 10 people can sign up to watch him demonstrate his skills. Those who attend get to sample some of the meat along the way and have first dibs on specialty cuts.

This season’s sessions, which kick off this Monday, will focus on the Randall Lineback heritage breed, but later iterations of Beast might feature other animals, like lamb.

The Beast sessions are $45 per person and must be reserved in advance by emailing CircusActs@SocietyFair.net. There’s a limit of 10 seats per session, so act fast if you want in on this Monday’s session.

Society Fair, a food market at 277 S. Washington St. that includes a wine shop, test kitchen, exhibition space and bakery, opened late last year and is owned by the duo behind Restaurant Eve, The Majestic, Eamonn’s and Virtue Feed and Grain — chef Cathal Armstrong and his wife Meshelle.

WATCH: Paula Deen Opens Up About Her New Diet

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:45:36 +0000

Food Network star Paula Deen opened up to ET’s Nancy O’Dell at her Savannah, Georgia home about keeping her controversially-revealed diabetes under control.

“It’s probably around 30 pounds,” Deen says about the weight she’s lost, by making small changes like eating extra servings of salad and veggies and smaller portions of carbs, she says. She’s also been trying to walk 30 minutes a day.

Her sugar levels are good, ET reports, but her indulgent, comfort-food recipes aren’t off limits. “I’m a Southern girl, and that’s who I am, that’s what I know,” she says, although admits she can’t eat them as often as she might like to. “I is what I is,” she says.

Watch the video above for some dramatic before and after shots of Deen and to hear what she has to say about the reaction to her taking her diagnosis public.

For more on diabetes, click here.

For more on diet and nutrition, click here.

Chen Guangcheng, Blind Chinese Activist, En Route To United States

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:45:14 +0000

BEIJING — A blind Chinese activist whose escape from a rural village set off a diplomatic tussle between Beijing and Washington said Saturday that he was at an airport waiting to leave for the United States.

Chen Guangcheng told The Associated Press that he had left the hospital where he’d been staying and was at Beijing’s international airport. He said he expected to leave for the U.S. later Saturday.

Perez Reviews: Hands On A Hardbody The Musical

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:45:04 +0000

Hands On A Hardbody is Broadway-ready! And it was a special treat to see the new musical, based on the cult documentary, at the lovely La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego. A theater with leg room in the rows! You never get that in NYC!

We went into the show expecting to see a satire, along the lines of Book Of Mormon or Avenue Q. The documentary, after all, is about a group of colorful Texans that try and win a “hard body” truck by seeing who can win a contest to keep their hand on it for as long as possible.

The show could have gone in the direction of camp or mockery, but – instead – we were so pleased to see it be a bittersweet tale of humanity. People doing and trying and hoping and believing. A show with great laughs but also sincerity. It’s a show with so much heart!

And at the center of the show’s heart are three standout performances from Keala Settle, Hunter Foster and Connie Ray.

Keale Settle easily gives one of THE BEST performances we have ever seen in the theater! And we see lots and lots and lots of shows!!!

This woman was not acting. She was being! Settle so effortlessly embodied her character. She brought an infectious sense of warmth and and passion! And her voice? Wow!

She was a revelation and stole the show!

Hunter was sooooooo good too! That Foster family is just so damn talented!

Hunter played the show’s antagonist, but he did it in such a way that his character was so damn likeable. You should have been rooting against him but you were rooting for! He played the arc of his character so beautifully! At the end of the show… just wow!

The man is amazing!

And the mom from The Torkelsons!!! Carly Rae!!! She was giving us some Meryl Streep fierceness!!! We just wish she had a song!

Speaking of songs, the music was written by Trey Anastasio. Yes, the dude from Phish! He and the show’s lyricist, Amanda Green, did a fabulous and well-rounded job!

There are some truly beautiful and outstanding musical theater songs, pop songs and country songs in the show!

Kudos to book writer Doug Wright and director Neil Pepe, who both did a great job. Especially great were the many inventive ways they used the truck and made the show feel not claustrophobic.

Hands On A Hard Body is hard not to love and good for your body!

Watch: Medical Mysteries: Misophonia

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:37:27 +0000

Part 1: Taylor loves her mother – she just can’t stand the sound of her.

CORRECTED-Aramco launches Jizan, bidders revise Rabigh offer

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:11:39 +0000

(Corrects paragraph 5 to make clear packages linked to Jizan
refinery)

Chen says he is set to leave China for U.S.

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:11:18 +0000

Chinese human rights activist Chen Guangcheng says he is at Beijing airport Saturday and is getting ready to fly to New York.

Upcoming solar eclipse to project ‘ring of fire’

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:11:13 +0000

Thousands of people are planning viewing parties for the upcoming annular solar eclipse, in which the sun will appear as a thin ring behind the moon.

Last four teams battle for World ice hockey final berth

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:10:27 +0000

Finland, Russia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia are preparing to do battle for a place in the ice hockey world championship final, guaranteeing the title for a European nation after the USA and Canada crashed out.

Lakers avoid 0-3 hole as Sixers tie series

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:10:15 +0000

(Reuters) – Kobe Bryant refused to let a second successive game slip through his fingers as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 99-96 in a cliffhanger on Friday to avoid going down 3-0 in their NBA playoff series. Bryant endured a 9-for-25 shooting night to score 36 points, including eight of his team’s final 10 points, helping the Lakers get the home win needed in the second-round West matchup. Kevin Durant tallied 31 points, but missed a long, potential game-tying three-pointer in the final seconds, while Russell Westbrook and James Harden each had 21 in the loss. …

Blind Chinese activist prepares to leave for US

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:10:03 +0000

A blind Chinese activist whose escape from a rural village set off a diplomatic tussle between Beijing and Washington said Saturday that he was at an airport waiting to leave for the United States.

Sri Lanka rejects call to pull troops in ex-war zone

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:09:57 +0000

Sri Lanka’s president on Saturday rejected international calls to withdraw troops from the island’s former war zone as he marked the third anniversary of crushing Tamil rebels.

India bus crash inferno kills 16

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:09:50 +0000

Some 16 people died when a bus carrying Muslim pilgrims exploded in a ball of fire after colliding head-on with a truck in northern India, according to officials.

Indonesia calls off search for jet crash victims

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:09:44 +0000

Indonesian officials have called off the search for victims of a Russian jet crash, the operation’s head said on Saturday as experts continue their probe into why it flew into a dormant volcano.

China activist Chen Guangcheng says at Beijing airport

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:09:37 +0000

Blind Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng said on Saturday he was at Beijing’s international airport and that he believed he would be flying to New York.

Blind China activist preparing to head to US

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:09:31 +0000

A blind Chinese activist whose escape from a rural village set off a diplomatic tussle between Beijing and Washington says he is at an airport waiting to leave for the United States.

Leinster look to Kearney brothers for Euro rugby glory

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:09:20 +0000

Rob and Dave Kearney are dreaming of joining the elite band of “Brothers in Arms” who have celebrated European rugby glory fighting for the same cause.

Christine Negroni: What Airlines Can Learn From Unintentional Heroes

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:44:42 +0000

One never knows where the path called life will lead, witnessed Chesley Sullenberger, who I wrote about earlier this week. One day he’s an anonymous airline pilot worried about his kids and his investments, the next, he’s landing a crippled USAirways airplane in the Hudson and becoming an international icon of discipline and leadership. Three years later, the mucho macho airline captain’s 15 minutes of fame are far from over. Sully’s well into promotion of book No. 2, Making a Difference, which I suspect will be snapped up like free first class upgrades based on the length of the line at his book signing in New York on Monday.

But will another airline-created celebrity fare as well? Do you remember Dave Carroll, the Canadian singer-songwriter whose guitar was crippled by United Airlines? His hilarious music video “United Breaks Guitars” became an international sensation on You Tube.

Carroll wrote three music videos about the event and he has even more to say in his new book, United Breaks Guitars: The Power of One Voice in the Age of Social Media, which has just been published.

I can’t keep up with the books I need to read since I am thoroughly caught up reading the excellent China’s Wings by Gregory Crouch (thanks, Cliff Jenks, for the recommendation). So with the predicate that I haven’t read Carroll’s book yet, let me say that he and Sully aren’t too different in the way they are elevating a personal experience to something larger than themselves.

How successful either will be in actually achieving lofty goals remains to be seen. But I am skeptical that Carroll’s book has done what one jacket review claims, that he has “taught corporate America how to treat people better.” I’d like to see some evidence of that.

To the contrary, last week, after reporting for the New York Times about new challenges in air travel based on the increasing size of air travelers, I received a call from a reader making it clear that some airlines remain tone-deaf to passenger issues despite Dave Carroll’s catchy You Tube songs.

Dr. Alan Langer was traveling from Chicago to Denver last month on American Airlines Flight 3766. He was recovering from foot surgery that required him to get wheelchair assistance at the airport. On board the regional jet, he was seated on the aisle next to a passenger who was so large, “his arms came over the armrest and his right leg was so far over it went beyond the seat pocket where the safety instructions are located. The result was I could not sit facing directly forward with my feet forward,” Dr. Langer wrote in a complaint to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The 6-foot-1 Dr. Langer says when he asked the flight attendant how he was to make the flight since his seat was not fully available to him, he was told to put his legs into the aisle and that is exactly how he made the two and a half hour flight. Not unexpectedly, the flight attendant tripped over him, causing pain to his already injured foot, according to the FAA complaint.

American, not an airline known for its customer service, offered a $100 flight credit to Dr. Langer who says that’s not the point. And he’s right. How does a company wind up with employees who are either not free to accommodate or not conscious of the need to accommodate passengers who have an obvious medical issue? Where the resolution to a problem includes telling a passenger to suck it up and put their feet in the aisle, to not only create a problem for the specific passenger but potentially cause injuries to everyone else on the flight?

Perhaps the answer to the question of how large companies can treat customers as if they were more than small nuisances can be found in Dave Carroll’s book. And perhaps the interviews with various leaders interviewed by Sully will direct airline executives to find their higher purpose and then communicate it down to the employees they are supposed to be leading. These are worthy goals. A round of applause and healthy book sales to the men whose very different starting points have led them try and achieve them.

Olympic Flame Arrives In Britain

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:44:35 +0000

ROYAL NAVAL AIR STATION CULDROSE, England — Even the wind cooperated at this normally blustery naval station, remaining calm as David Beckham lit a celebratory cauldron and signaled the start of the 2012 London Olympics torch relay.

There was a hushed “oooooh” as the former England national team captain and current star for the Los Angeles Galaxy took center stage as the flame arrived in the United Kingdom from Greece on the eve of a 70-day relay. Then, as the fire roared to life in the gold and white cauldron, there was an “ahhhh” of relief. Even the vagaries of British weather wouldn’t interfere this time.

“This is a big acceleration of the heartbeat,” London Mayor Boris Johnson said as he summed up the moment. “This is the final furlong for us.”

The flame is a symbol of peace and unity that harkens back to the origins of the games in ancient Greece. But in 2012, it was Beckham that gave it star power. The 37-year-old star was excited about the chance to welcome the world to his “hood.” He’s from east London, where the main stadium is located.

Beckham been involved in the London Games since the organizing committee launched its successful bid in 2005. His star power – the kind that sends children into shrieks of hysteria and turns diplomats’ wives in Athens into paparazzi – is part of the reason that the International Olympic Committee took notice of the London bid over Paris, the favorite.

While Beckham the celebrity isn’t shirking the attention the Olympic torch brings, Beckham the soccer star really, really wants to take part on the field.

“I’ve never played in an Olympic Games,” he said. “Obviously, I’d love to.”

“I’ve always made it clear that I love representing my country,” he added. “I’ve done that quite a few times.”

He’s done that 115 times, to be precise, with the England team. But the Olympics have eluded him. He said that being at the flame handover ceremony Thursday night in Athens reminded him of the ancient ties to the games and that he “got goose bumps just being part of it.”

Beckham has been included in coach Stuart Pearce’s 80-man shortlist that will be whittled down to 18 players in the coming weeks to form Britain’s first Olympic soccer squad since 1960. If chosen, he would be one of the three players over age 23 allowed in each Olympic squad.

Many cameras turned to the photogenic Beckham when the flame arrived at a Royal Navy air station in Cornwall on Friday night. The flame, traveling on the gold-painted British Airways Flight 2012, was carried off by Princess Anne, the head of the British Olympic Committee and herself a former Olympian.

On the plane itself, the flame got seats 1A and 1B. There were actually four little lanterns – just in case – and all were guarded by the Metropolitan Police’s special torch security team.

This was a flight like no other. Every detail was considered. Airline passengers arriving in Britain often have to wait in long lines to clear border checks – but here some border guards flew with the passengers so they could check passports while still on board the plane before entering Britain.

London’s Olympic organizers are hoping that the flame’s arrival can generate excitement about the Games.

The torch will be carried all over the British Isles by 8,000 chosen volunteers, mostly local heroes. Its 8,000-mile (12,875-kilometer) journey will linger on the iconic sites – Big Ben, Stonehenge, the white cliffs of Dover – and speed past less appealing areas. It ends up July 27 at the Olympic Stadium in London.

“There is an emotional connection with this that I’m not sure other torch relays got,” organizing committee chairman Sebastian Coe said. “When the torch goes through a town, people are going to recognize a lot of those torchbearers. I know a lot of the local authorities in towns who are making extra precautions for the numbers that are going to be out there.”

Beckham is one of the bookies’ favorites to open the Olympics by lighting the cauldron in London – and he told reporters while visiting an Athens school that he’d love the job. Other favorites include miler Roger Bannister, rower Steve Redgrave, Coe, Queen Elizabeth II or other members of Britain’s royal family.

But no word on that – Coe says the decision hasn’t even been discussed yet. For the moment, Beckham’s just thrilled to be a part of the torch relay.

“Being here today just makes it all that real,” he said in Athens. “Being handed the torch is the start of the games.”

Which Soaps, Biscuits And Booze Are Fit For Royalty?

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:44:05 +0000

When you’re in the public eye, shopping isn’t as simple as ducking into the nearest store and picking out something you like, because everything you touch gets scrutinized and promoted based on your selection. And when you’re royalty, that gets taken to a whole other level.

Royal Warrants, given to companies that supply royal families with goods and services, have been around for centuries, and are used extensively in nations where monarchy still reigns, such as Denmark and Thailand. In Great Britain, the 850 or so Royal Warrants are considered such a great honour that companies create crests and logos specifically to indicate their coveted position, though the reputation has been tarnished slightly in recent years.

Right now, Royal Warrants can only be handed out by Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip and Prince Charles — they expire five years after death, so any company to which the Queen Mother granted a warrant can only now cross their fingers that they’ll be loved by the court once again. Or perhaps, by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, whose time to dole out tributes will come when Prince Charles takes the throne.

So which products that we know and love are also used in Buckingham Palace? Check out these options below — and feel a little bit like royalty the next time you pour yourself a gin and tonic.

Aston Martin
You already knew this one, thanks to Wills’ smooth moves driving around dad’s car after the wedding. Aston Martin was granted the Royal Warrant in 1982 by Prince Charles, though he’s currently putting one of his models up for sale.

Heinz
Heinz in Canada means ketchup, but in the UK, it’s more often affiliated with beans in a can. They got their Royal Warrant from the Queen in 1951.

Fulton Umbrellas
The Queen understands the importance of keeping her hair intact when it’s raining — as well as still letting the public see her — so the birdcage umbrellas from Fulton are obvious choice for her royal nod (granted in 2008).

McIlhenny Tabasco Sauce
It might be a staple in Louisiana (and everywhere wings are sold), but McIlhenny Tabasco Sauce also has a spot at Bucking Palace — the Queen granted the company a Royal Warrant in 2009.
“We’re absolutely delighted to know that TABASCO Sauce has a place at Her Majesty’s table,” said Paul McIlhenny, President and CEO of McIlhenny Company, and fourth generation family member, at the announcement.

Moet et Chandon Champagne
Though Queen Victoria reportedly loved Moet et Chandon champagne back in the 1890s, HM Queen Elizabeth II made it even more official in 1955 with a Royal Warrant. The Royal Household has also approved Diamond Jubilee bottles created just for this year, sold at stores in the UK.

Prestat Chocolates
Another chocolate maker for the Queen, Prestat Chocolates got their Warrant in 1975 — and are honouring their monarch this year with some truly gorgeous packaging for their Diamond Jubilee Box.

Angostura Bitters
Bitters are currently making waves in the cocktail world, but that trendsetter the Queen has known about their importance since 1955. Angostura Bitters is releasing a special Diamond Jubilee bottle, with £1 from sales going toward the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust.

Asprey Jewellery
Asprey has held Royal Warrants for every monarch since Queen Victoria, including the pearl necklace commissioned for Queen Mary and given to Princess Margaret for her 18th birthday in 1948 (shown here), and was once the place to go for crowns and sceptres. Helen Asprey , a member of the family, is now Kate Middleton’s personal private secretary.

Peter Reed
Luxurious linens fit for a queen — that’s apparently what Peter Reed has on offer, with their warrant granted in 2008.

Bulmers Cider
Every Queen must have her cider – Bulmers was originally granted the Warrant in 1911, and renewed in 1955 by the Queen.

Charbonnel et Walker
An official chocolatier of the royals since 1970, when the Queen granted their warrant, Charbonnel et Walker have spread out all over the world. They released this Union Jack Fine Chocolate Selection in honour of the Diamond Jubilee year, as well as the London Olympics.

Carlsberg
Of course the monarchy of Great Britain must have a royal ale. A well-known Royal Warrant holder in Denmark (often called HOF, the Danish word for court). But The Queen also granted Carlsberg UK a Warrant in 1962 — we can raise a pint to that!

Hunter Boots
Walking through those muddy grounds day after day calls for an official waterproof footwear, which is just the purpose Hunter Boots serve for the royals. Appointed by Prince Philip in 1973, and the Queen in 1987, we wonder how pleased they are at the mass availability of these boots in recent years.

Steinway & Sons Pianos
Steinway & Sons has been making beautiful music with the royal family for over a century, with the first Warrant granted in 1890 by Queen Victoria, with Queen Elizabeth II granting it once again in 1955.

Tanqueray
After her much-publicized ‘gin and Dubonnet’ preference, it should be no suprise the Queen granted Tanqueray its own Royal Warrant in 1955. She learned this, of course, from her mother, whose note about gin was auctioned off for more than $25,000.

Twinings Tea
Though it hasn’t been without its controversy, Twinings Tea has been holding Royal Warrants since 1837 — and its tea has spread all over the world.

Walkers Shortbread
The easy-to-recognize Scottish shortbread company has held a Warrant since 2002. They’re obviously planning to honour her Diamond Jubilee the best way they can — with a giant image of her face on a tin. We wouldn’t have minded the iconic plaid along with it.

Yardley Of London
Both the Queen and Prince Charles are fans of this soap company — HRH granted them a warrant in 1955, and Prince Charles came around in 1996. Both are said to be fans of the Yardley’s lavender products.

Selfridges (Or, Holt Renfrew)
Holt Renfrew was originally given a Royal Warrant when it was a furrier, back in the mid-19th century. Now, owned by George Weston Limited, the same company that owns Selfridges, it’s like it has a Royal Warrant by proxy — after all, Selfridges was given a warrant as a supplier of food and household goods by the Queen in 2001.

They Found Who Killed Chinese USC Students In Cold Blood

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:43:57 +0000

LOS ANGELES — Two young men were arrested Friday in the killings of two University of Southern California graduate students from China who were shot in an apparent robbery attempt last month near campus, police said.

Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said Javier Bolden, 19, and Bryan Barnes, 20, were arrested on suspicion of the murders, which sent shockwaves through the university where nearly 1 in 5 students is from overseas. The victims’ parents filed a lawsuit this week accusing USC of misrepresenting the campus’ safety.

Ming Qu, of Jilin, and Ying Wu, of Hunan, were shot April 11 while sitting in a BMW about a mile away from the USC campus. Both students were 23 years old.

The motive for their killings was still under investigation, Beck said, but the “evidence points to a street robbery,” and investigators believe the killings were part of a larger string of crimes the two men committed in Los Angeles.

“Forensic evidence recovered at the scene linked them to two other attempted homicides,” Beck said. Evidence directly linked both suspects to the victims, he added.

Beck said neither suspect had a long criminal history and neither suspect is a documented gang member but police suspect they may have a gang affiliation.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa congratulated the city’s police force, which cooperated with the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to investigate the killings and make the arrests Friday.

He praised officers for “diligence in following every lead and investigating every detail.”

Beck declined to provide details of how the suspects were pinpointed but said, “This was a crime that shocked this city, and we absolutely left no stone unturned.”

Barnes was arrested at a home about five miles from campus Friday afternoon, and Bolden was arrested a few hours later in Palmdale, Beck said. Both were being held without bail and are set to be arraigned Tuesday.

The shooting sent shockwaves through USC, which has the largest number of international students of any U.S. university. Roughly 19 percent of the school’s 38,000 students are from outside the U.S., including 2,500 from China.

The campus is located in an urban center a few miles south of downtown. It is across the street from county museums and not far from the Staples Center arena and a gentrifying area of Victorian homes. Yet it is also known as an area that had faced high crime and gang activity.

Beck said neither suspect had a long criminal history and neither suspect is a documented gang member but police suspect they may have a gang affiliation.

The victims’ parents filed a lawsuit Wednesday alleging the school made false claims about safety in the “frequently asked questions” section of its online application.

The 15-page lawsuit accuses USC of hiding behind the word “urban” and not saying the school is in a high-crime residential area. It also notes that Chinese students in particular would interpret urban to mean USC is in a safe area.

“The `urban’ representation misled Chinese students, including Ming Qu, into believing the area is safe since in China, the more urban the area, the safer the area,” the lawsuit states, claiming USC understood this is how Chinese students would interpret the description.

USC lawyer Debra Wong Yang said the university was deeply saddened by the deaths but found the lawsuit to be baseless.

The school and city police announced new security measures after the slayings and promised more video cameras, escorts and patrols.

The additional security will include sending over 30 more officers to the department division that handles the USC area, and the university will pay for four additional officers to patrol the student residential neighborhoods, Beck said.

In a statement Friday, USC President C.L. Max Nikias praised law enforcement and city officials.

“The arrest of the suspects in the tragic deaths of our graduate students, Ying Wu and Ming Qu, begins the process of healing and of closing a painful chapter in the life of our community,” Nikias said.

_______

Associated Press researcher Henry Hou in Beijing contributed to this report

"Community" Showrunner Canned

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:43:44 +0000

Sony Pictures Television has declined to renew its contract with producer Dan Harmon, ending his tenure as showrunner of NBC’s “Community.”

Daniel Fienberg at HitFix explains the move:

In a traditional Friday news dump, word of Harmon’s exit — you can call it “firing” or just “Sony Pictures TV opting not to renew his deal” — hit the Internet late evening Eastern Time along with the added information that “Happy Endings” and “Aliens in America” veterans David Guarascio and Moses Port will take over as showrunners for next season.

Under Harmon, “Community” became an Internet favorite. However, ratings were subpar throughout its first three seasons, leading many to speculate that the show might be cancelled by NBC. Additionally, New York magazine’s Vulture blog reports frequent clashes between Harmon and Sony, and persisting questions about his managerial style. A high-profile spat with Chevy Chase, one of the show’s stars, as well as “defections” on the show’s writing staff, only intensified that scrutiny.

Vulture’s Josef Adalian writes:

According to multiple people familiar with the production of Community, Harmon’s flaws as a showrunner were at least partially responsible for much of the turnover the past few years. As one person familiar with Harmon’s strengths and weaknesses told Vulture, “Dan is a brilliant at ideas, but he’s terrible at [management].”

“Community,” has been renewed for a fourth, and possibly final, season. NBC has ordered 13 episodes to air on Friday nights.

Blind Activist Finally Headed To U.S.

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:43:38 +0000

He said his wife and two children were with him, but that the three did not yet have their passports. Also with him were hospital and border control staff.

“Thousands of thoughts are surging to my mind,” said Chen, who escaped illegal house arrest in his village last month and sought the protection of U.S. diplomats at the American Embassy in Beijing.

He left the embassy on May 2 and was hospitalized. Since then, he has been awaiting permission to travel to the U.S. to study.

The State Department has said that U.S. visas for Chen, his wife and children are ready for them to travel to America.

Chen has an invitation to study law at New York University.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Saturday that it had no comment on Chen’s planned departure.

Chen Guangcheng, Blind Chinese Activist, En Route To United States, Says Advocacy Group

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:43:27 +0000

BEIJING, May 19 (Reuters) – China has allowed blind legal activist Chen Guangcheng to leave a hospital in Beijing for the United States, a U.S.-based Christian advocacy group said on Saturday.

Chen Guangcheng told Bob Fu, the president of Texas-based ChinaAid, that he and his family were heading to the Beijing airport now, according to an emailed statement from the group.

Chen and his family “were informed to pack up and get ready to leave China” for the United States on Saturday, the statement said.

Chen could not immediately be reached for comment.

Chen Guangcheng’s escape from house arrest in northeastern China last month and subsequent refuge in the U.S. embassy caused huge embarrassment for China, and led to a serious diplomatic rift between the two superpowers while U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was visiting Beijing. (Editing by Daniel Magnowski)

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Dan Harmon Out: "Community" Showrunner Exits After 3 Seasons

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:43:13 +0000

Sony Pictures Television has declined to renew its contract with producer Dan Harmon, ending his tenure as showrunner of NBC’s “Community.”

Daniel Fienberg at HitFix explains the move:

In a traditional Friday news dump, word of Harmon’s exit — you can call it “firing” or just “Sony Pictures TV opting not to renew his deal” — hit the Internet late evening Eastern Time along with the added information that “Happy Endings” and “Aliens in America” veterans David Guarascio and Moses Port will take over as showrunners for next season.

USC Students Killed: Arrest Made By LAPD For The Murder Of Two Chinese USC Students (PHOTOS)

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:43:07 +0000

Chinese activist Chen on way to airport, bound for U.S.

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:12:13 +0000

BEIJING (Reuters) – China has allowed blind legal activist Chen Guangcheng to leave a hospital in Beijing for the United States, a U.S.-based Christian advocacy group said on Saturday.

UPDATE 2-Manulife, Metlife submit bids for ING Asia sale -sources

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:11:57 +0000

* Shortlisted bidders will be notified by end-May – sources

Police: British Columbia man straps explosives to body, storms ex’s house

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:11:45 +0000

A British Columbia man who held authorities at bay after strapping bombs to his body is presumed dead after the house he was holed up in exploded, police said.

Ian Thomsen: Celtics blow big lead, big opportunity vs. Sixers

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:11:31 +0000

The 76ers rallied to stun the Celtics 92-83 to square their second-round series 2-2. In blowing an 18-point lead, Boston just could not get out of its own way, as Ian Thomsen explains.

Iguodala, 76ers tie series

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:11:27 +0000

The Sixers trailed 18-3. And still won. Evan Turner and Andre Iguodala led a second-half surge as Philadelphia rallied to topple Boston 92-83 and tied their second-round series 2-2.

Safe At Home

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:11:22 +0000

The Lakers needed a home triumph to get back in the series. Check. Kobe Bryant scored 36 points as Los Angeles toppled Oklahoma City 99-96 in Game 3 of their second-round series.

Five Chelsea-Bayern Munich match thoughts

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:11:18 +0000

In his five thoughts previewing the Champions League final, Grant Wahl looks at how suspensions will affect the game, the most influential players and more, including a prediction.

Sixers shock Celtics, knot series 2-2

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:11:14 +0000

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Andre Iguodala squared up for a 3-pointer from the wing like he had hundreds of times in his career.

Verlander tosses one-hitter, Ks 12; Tigers cruise

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:11:10 +0000

DETROIT (AP) — Two outs were all that separated Justin Verlander from yet another rare achievement – and an exclusive club
that includes Cy Young , Nolan Ryan and only three other pitchers.

SEC, Big 12 will pit champions in bowl

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:11:06 +0000

(AP) — The Big 12 and the Southeastern conferences have announced a deal that will pit their football regular-season champions against each other in a bowl game for five years beginning in 2014.

Heat cancel practice, media availability after loss

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:11:03 +0000

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Miami Heat canceled practice and their media availability one day after a blowout loss in Game 3 to the Pacers.

Kyle Busch captures pole for Sprint All-Star race

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:10:59 +0000

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kyle Busch captured the pole for the Sprint All-Star race for the second straight year.

Report: Saints guarantee Brees’ long-term deal

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:10:56 +0000

Major league teams working on social media message

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:08:59 +0000

Bridget Houlihan rifled through her gift bag and pulled out a gray T-shirt with a circular Chicago Cubs emblem on the front and FOLLOWER emblazoned across the back, resting on a row of logos from the top social media websites. “This is awesome,” she said.

Teen’s Anti-Cursing Crusade Causes Her Friend To Cry Foul

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:08:48 +0000

DEAR ABBY: I’m 19 and have a dear friend, “Emily,” who is offended by cussing. She literally has never said a curse word in her life. When I’m around her I never use swear words because I respect her and her friendship.My issue is that Emily gets very upset if people swear around her. There have been nights that she ended up in tears because someone used foul language. She also angrily confronts people on this issue.I commend my friend on her decision not to curse, but I think it’s unrealistic of her to expect everyone in the world to bend to her morals. …

Kobe leads Lakers past Thunder in 99-96 thriller

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:08:20 +0000

Kobe Bryant made 18 free throws without a miss and scored 14 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter, and the Los Angeles Lakers rallied late for a 99-96 victory over Oklahoma City in Game 3 on Friday night, cutting the Thunder’s second-round series lead to 2-1.

N.Koreans free ‘some’ kidnapped Chinese

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:08:10 +0000

A number of Chinese fishermen kidnapped earlier this month by unidentified North Koreans have been freed, Chinese state media said, as diplomats worked to secure the release of the remainder.

Assange stands ‘real chance’ of election in Australia

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:08:03 +0000

Controversial WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange stands a real chance of winning an upper house seat in his native Australia if he presses ahead with plans to stand for election, according to a poll.

73-year-old Japanese woman scales Mount Everest

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:07:59 +0000

A 73-year-old Japanese woman has climbed Mount Everest, smashing her own record to again become the oldest woman to scale the world’s highest mountain.

Thailand’s ‘Red Shirts’ to rally in Bangkok

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:07:54 +0000

Tens of thousands of “Red Shirt” supporters were expected to bring central Bangkok to a standstill Saturday on the second anniversary of a deadly crackdown on street protests, according to city police.

Chelsea, Bayern face off in Champions League final

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:07:42 +0000

Bayern Munich and Chelsea were gearing for their Champions League final showdown Saturday as the Bavarian capital buzzed with anticipation ahead of the biggest game in club football.

Dan Harmon Officially No Longer Community Showrunner

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:07:20 +0000

Community may be coming back, but showrunner Dan Harmon won’t be.

E! News reported on Monday that Harmon’s exit from the show was possible, but now Sony Pictures Television has…

Indie Lee: If You Knew the Danger, Would You Buy it?

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:40:57 +0000

Can you pronounce 4-phenylenediamine? What about triethanolamine? Neither can I. Now, can you say high fructose corn syrup? Chances are you read your food labels carefully to avoid that particular sweetener. You probably also buy organic produce and dairy products. What surprises me is that many consumers pay so much attention to the ingredients that go into their food but so little attention to what goes on their skin, their largest organ. Many of us look at food labels every day, but how many of us look at labels when shopping for personal care products?

About 1,100 ingredients have been banned by the European Union since 2003 (Cosmetics Directive 76/768/EEC). These ingredients were cited as causing or suspected of causing cancer, genetic mutations, birth defects or reproductive harm. The United States has banned fewer than 12, and we have not seriously touched the regulations that govern personal care products and cosmetics since 1938. Despite growing consumer awareness, scientific evidence and international precedence, the Safe Cosmetic Act has met stiff resistance in Congress. Money, political influence via lobbyists and the free reign of large corporations to protect their own activities have effectively prevented the necessary update to depression era laws.

Most consumers believe their government proactively monitors the beauty and personal care product industry. I was afforded no such luxury. My awakening to the dangers of unregulated beauty had a more dramatic tale.

It was not until Earth Day 2009, when I was given another chance at life, that I gained a new perspective on beauty. I awoke from brain surgery to discover that a potentially fatal tumor had been successfully removed. Having learned that environmental toxins may have been the likely culprits, I began devoting myself to leading a healthier lifestyle and starting a line of all-natural skin care products.

My experience showed me the truth behind the lack of regulation in the beauty industry. I too, bought blindly. I believed that the FDA would surely recall any personal care or cosmetic products found or suspected to be toxic. I believed that the government required products be tested for safety in advance of arriving in stores. I believed labels told the entire truth of the product within. Sadly, this could not have been farther from the truth. Except for about a dozen ingredients here in the U.S., the industry is pretty much allowed to put whatever they want in their beauty products. Worse still, subtle marketing campaigns and fancy packaging encourage consumers to buy into a product’s efficacy and safety even though those products might very well be inefficacious and unsafe.

I recently had dinner with a friend who was shocked to find out that U.S. personal care companies will create product formulations to adhere to the European Union safety standards, yet continue to manufacture the same product, but with known toxins included, stateside. Why? Because they can. Because profit margins are higher when products are made outside the E.U. safety standards and, sadly, because consumers in the U.S. will buy these products.

The truth is we have put the fox in charge of the hen house. And, until the government steps in, we as consumers need to be our own watchdogs. We need to learn how to read labels and challenge the use of ingredients in products. The choice is ours to make. We have more power than we give ourselves credit for. A little knowledge on ingredient toxicity and we can use our purchasing power to demand higher quality and healthier products. I now tell consumers, “Chances are if you cannot pronounce it, it is not good for you.” After all, how many syllables are needed in each ingredient of our moisturizers? Using the principle that less is more does not mean that you sacrifice quality, efficacy or your health. Being healthy does not mean that you need to throw out every product you own. Healthy living means that the choice should be yours. Personally, I choose to get my hair highlighted every six months. I know the risks; I make the choice. I also choose to use skin care that is all-natural. My daily facial moisturizer is made of one ingredient (i.e., Organic Squalane). My weekly body scrub has six. And guess what? I can pronounce them all.

A little knowledge can go a long way. We can empower ourselves to make healthier choices; less is definitely more.

Indie Lee is the Founder and CEO of Indie Lee & Co., an upscale all-natural skin care company. Indie speaks and writes about natural beauty and is an advocate for more effective governmental regulation and oversight in the beauty industry. Indie is a true believer that green can be sexy.

Find out more about Indie and her natural beauty products at www.indielee.com. Follow her on www.twitter.com/indie_lee and www.facebook.com/ilikeindielee.

For more on beauty and skin, click here.

PHOTOS: A Royal On The Red Carpet

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:40:45 +0000

While most of the royals from around the world were day-drinking at Windsor Castle today (seriously, most of them), one of Monaco’s royal darlings was at a different party, hanging out south of London at a wee little film festival called Cannes.

The celebs were out in full force today in the south of France, taking time out from their packed roster of indie film screenings to catch a little light-hearted flick around noon: DreamWorks’ “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted.”

Some celebs, however, went to see a more erudite flick: a re-release of the Sergio Leone’s 1984 film “Once Upon A Time In America,” sponsored by the Gucci Film Foundation. Gucci girls Gemma Arterton and Natasha Poly were in attendance, as well as Jane Fonda, Naomi Watts and Salma Hayek, who looked lovely in a sparkly — you guessed it — Gucci dress..

But the lady that most caught our eye on the red carpet was Charlotte Casiraghi, the 25-year-old daughter of Princess Caroline of Monaco and granddaughter of Princess Grace of Monaco, who gave the premiere a little royal flair in her deep green ruffly Gucci fall 2012 dress. And in her long wavy hairdo, we can’t help but think Charlotte resembled another royal who did some socializing today.

Casiraghi, a model who’s covered Vogue Paris, is also the fresh new face of Gucci.

Check out photos of Charlotte — and all the celebs — below!

Photographer’s Magical Tribute To Her Mother

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:40:36 +0000

Kirsty Mitchell is a former fashion designer who worked under both Alexander McQueen and Hussein Chalayan as a student. However, she found her ultimate calling in photography. Her imaginative series ‘Wonderland’ takes you to alternate worlds where umbrellas drip with lavenders, backs sprout wings and limbs get lost in tree branches. Yet this faraway world was inspired by someplace very close to Mitchell’s heart. Scroll down for a slideshow of her work.

Mitchell’s fondest childhood memories are of her mother Maureen, a schoolteacher, reading fairy tales aloud. These tales of imagination, beauty and love followed Mitchell throughout her life as she attended art school and began working in fashion. Her mother passed away of a brain tumor in 2008, leading Mitchell on a creative journey through ethereal lands and personal memories. The photographer has created a new world in her mother’s memory, rich with intricate detail and drama. Her work reminds us that the real world is not the only world if you allow your imagination to take hold. Mitchell shared her story with us, as beautiful and inspirational as the works themselves.

HP: In your interview with the Daily Mail, you said, “I found myself retreating further into an alternative existence through the portal of my camera.” Do your photographs tell specific stories or revive certain memories, or are they fully a product of your wild and wonderful imagination?

KM: The scenes just grew in my dreams, and took on a natural progression, until eventually they fell into a very definite story, which I have remained faithful to and doggedly reproduced one after another without compromise. The series is currently unfinished; there are still about 10 more pictures to come that will give Wonderland a proper ending for all the people that have been following it over the years. Imagining the scenes came naturally, the really hard part was to then try and build everything out of nothing, and spend months making the costumes and props (whilst working a full-time job)!

HP: How did working in Alexander McQueen’s studio influence or affect your experience as an artist?

KM: Alexander McQueen was the reason I finished my costume studies at the London College of Fashion, and walked straight back into education to re-train for a further three years in fashion design. I found his way of blurring the lines between historical dress and modern clothing utterly inspiring and his showpieces in particular made me completely accept his work as wearable art. All the theatre of his catwalk shows, and the boundaries he pushed were more important to me than any film or art exhibition at the time. His ‘dark romantic’ edge, and gothic use of nature were the very thing I truly loved and wanted to be around. There are lots of little touches of his influence in my work, most aren’t obvious to anyone, but my ‘White Queen’ costume (the dress made from wooden fans) is undoubtedly my humble little nod to his Spring/Summer 1999 collection.

HP: In your artist statement about your photos, you write, “People mattered, how they sat, how they slept, how they looked when they thought no one else cared.” What do you mean by this, exactly?

KM: I wrote this about an entirely different stage in my life when I first picked up a camera. I had been incredibly ill with chronic insomnia, and literally had not slept for four months. I had been prescribed heavy sleeping pills that didn’t work and instead spent weeks moving through life like a zombie. After a lot of counseling and hypnotherapy, my sensitivity slowly came back, but it felt like it had returned in a more acute and heightened way. It’s hard to explain without sounding clichéd, but I felt like I was suddenly seeing everything for the first time, and it was this ‘hyper-awareness’ that made me pick up a camera. All I had was a cheap little point and shoot I kept in my handbag, but I used it to photograph people on the trains and buses during my daily commute to London. I found myself lost in their details –- unbrushed hair, a cardigan button done up in the wrong hole… I loved the irregularities, and the softness of their faces when they fell asleep against the windows.

Some people get angry about street photography, thinking you are invading peoples privacy, but for me it was a strange little celebration of how I felt about them. I saw beauty in all types and I felt my camera gave me an enriched empathy and compassion I had never experienced before. I hope that makes sense, photography has always been deeply emotional for me.

HP: Do you have any advice for others coping with loss?

KM: I don’t think anyone can really give much advice as it is so painfully different for all of us. I suffered terribly as my mother was my best friend. I remember going to the doctors and her saying to me “You will get through this, I know right now it feels impossible, but you will…” then over two years later found myself saying the same words to a friend who lost her father. The thing about grief is you have no choice, and no matter what happens time will keep pushing you through each and every day that follows. When you think you can’t go on, the sun will rise and set and put another 24 hours between you and that first initial pain. Slowly, those hours layer like a cushion, until you find you can breathe a little better, or you can say their name without falling apart. Telling someone it gets a little easier with time is true, although its not a quick process, you will have good days and very bad days and it will come in waves. My mother died over three years ago, and it is still so hard, but I’m getting much better, and doing this series for her, feels like I’m doing something to cherish the gift of imagination she gave me, and that helps a bit.

HP: Who is an artist or what is a work of art that inspires you?

KM: Alexander McQueen is probably my greatest inspiration, [but] I’m also heavily influenced by film and music –- usually these affect me more than anything else. My favorite albums are Jonsi and Alex ‘Riceboy Sleeps,’ Clem Leek ‘Lifenotes,’ and Epic45‘s ‘May your heart be the Map.’ Films would to be ‘Pans Labyrinth,’ ‘The Village’ and ‘The Piano.’

See more of Kirsty’s work here.

PHOTO: Sharon Stone Shows Off Bikini Body

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:40:22 +0000

Looking good, Sharon Stone!

The actress, 54, wasn’t shy about showing off her beach body on Wednesday in Venice Beach, Calif. Stone hit the beach with a pal and, according to RadarOnline, talked with a tarot card reader.

Sounds like a fun day to us! Stone joins Elisabetta Canalis, Kelly Bensimon, Kelly Rowland and Kate Upton, who have all shown off their beach bods recently.

Check out a photo from Stone’s beach day below:

WATCH: Baby Prince Harry’s Adorable Christening In 1984!

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:40:07 +0000

Prince Harry and Prince William might pair up these days for a good-natured polo tournament or hit the red carpet together with Duchess Kate. (Can someone say third wheel?)

But back in the day, keeping track of the royal brothers seemed to be quite the handful. In this vintage vid from YouTube user mileyandhayden1418 (above), which according to its title was filmed in 1984, Charles and Diana try to keep their attention focused on baby Harry in his christening gown as William, who was about 2 years old in this video, runs around the church like a blond whirlwind. (When Diana asks him if he’s going to sing in church, stubborn baby Will retorts, “No.”)

Also making an appearance: Zara Phillips, the queen’s granddaughter and Anne’s daughter, who would have been only slightly older than William; Princess Anne herself, who tries her best, bless her heart, to get toddler Wills to calm down; and the Queen Mother in a beautiful purple suit, who cradles baby Harry.

Watch above for your Friday dose of adorableness.

Want more? Be sure to check out HuffPost Style on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and Pinterest.

Charlize: I Had No Teeth Until Age 11

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:39:56 +0000

These days, Academy Award winner Charlize Theron is a red carpet dream. Tall and leggy, the blonde South African stunner has a covetable wardrobe and a killer smile.

But Charlize’s features weren’t always so picture-perfect. Nope, according to the actress herself, her smile was totally toothless until age 11.

In a new interview with Britain’s newspaper The Sun, Theron reveals that she never had “milk teeth,” a Britishism for baby teeth.

Theron apparently had jaundice as a baby, which required her family to put her on a hefty course of antibiotics. Her teeth rotted as a result, and they had to be removed, leaving her with “fangs” that had to be cut out of her mouth.

“That was tough, you know, being in school having photos taken while I was pretending I had teeth. It was hideous,” she says.

Charlize also mentions in the interview that since adopting her son, she’s learned to survive on four hours of sleep! (As big sleep fans, we obviously can’t condone skipping so much of your beauty rest.)

We’re sure the Dior spokesmodel and beauty who pulls off stunning sheer dresses looked beautiful either way.

Click over to the Sun to read more of Charlize’s interview, including revelations about her tumultuous home life as a kid.

See Charlize’s style evolution!

PHOTOS: Why We’re Loving Freida Pinto

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:39:43 +0000

Unlike the Oscars, Met Gala or other major red carpets, the Cannes Film Festival is a marathon, not a sprint. This year’s fashion-filled film fest is 11 days long (May 16-27), meaning the same stars will pop up again and again — but in different outfits every time.

So who stands out as this year’s Cannes fashion star? That’d be Freida Pinto, who’s been doing two-a-days on the Cannes red carpet since the fest began. The Indian actress is there to promote her new film, “Desert Dancer,” but she’s made sure to support her peers at premieres for “Moonrise Kingdom” and “De Rouille et D’os” with plenty of parties in between.

And with each appearance, the fashion gets better and better. Pinto kicked things off with a playful, multicolored Michael Angel gown with a high slit and frothy peplum, then got sleek and chic in two different Versace gowns. Today, we’re loving her preppy Ferragamo cropped top-and-skirt combo.

See why Freida’s the best-dressed star of Cannes 2012 (so far — this is marathon, after all). Which look is your fave?

Royals In Canada: A Look Back

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:39:37 +0000

Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, are gracing Canada with their presence this weekend. And although their visit will be less of a spectacle than that of Kate and William’s last summer, a royal visit is still a royal visit.

To celebrate their arrival, we’ve taken a look back at some iconic images from past Canadian layovers. Grace and elegance gush out of these images — just look at some of those black and white shots!

Here are some of the best photos we could track down from past visits.

Want more? Be sure to check out HuffPost Canada Style on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

Dr. Susan Taylor: Do You Need An Intravenous Infusion for Glowing Skin?

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:39:33 +0000

There have been several recent reports in the media of intravenous infusions of different solution or fluids used to enhance one’s appearance or performance. One report was of amino acid intravenous drips used to improve test-taking ability by Asian students. In the US, infusions have been reportedly used by celebrities to impart a youthful, glowing and dewy appearance of their skin. Other reports are of an Intensive VitaInfusion Facial consisting of Vitamins C and B as well as magnesium and calcium, again to improve the skin’s appearance and to provide energy boost.

I was really stunned to learn about these infusions. Sometimes I wonder what people will come up with next. I think that the trend of intravenous infusions is potentially very dangerous. Intravenous infusions should only be given in a medical setting and for a real medical problem. The two most common reasons to give an intravenous infusion are to re-hydrate a dehydrated person or to administer antibiotics or other medications to someone who is ill.

An intravenous infusion involves, first, inserting a small catheter through the skin into a vein, and then inserting plastic tubing into the catheter to allow fluid to drip into the vein. Even in a hospital setting, there are concerns about the possibility of an infection involving the skin, the vein into which the catheter is inserted, or the blood stream. A blood stream infection can be catastrophic and result in death. A skin or vein infection may result in hospitalization and the need for antibiotics.

As for the Intensive VitaInfusion Facial, which purportedly gives the body a vitamin boost though both internal, intravenous vitamins and external vitamins applied to the skin, you can get similar benefits by taking a multi-vitamin tablet with vitamin B and C, daily, and eating a healthy balance diet (without the risk of infection). Fortunately, neither vitamin would pose a danger because each would be excreted through the urine so dangerously high levels would not occur. The infusion also includes calcium and magnesium which do, unfortunately, have potential side effects. According to the medical literature, magnesium intoxication could result in serious consequences such as a decrease in blood pressure, paralysis, and cardiac and central nervous system depression. Excessive calcium could result in a decrease in blood pressure. They should definitely be avoided in this type of setting.

As for amino acid infusions, they are used in medicine for people who are unable to eat or drink (think coma or on a respirator) and thus, cannot maintain adequate nutrition. If you can eat or drink, you do NOT need this infusion. Will the infusion make you smarter and do better on an important test? Only studying hard will do that. What about radiant skin? If you want glowing, dewy skin, which the infusion promises, drinks a glass or water, or two.

Dr. Susan B. Taylor

PHOTO: Vanessa Hudgens Looks Leggy In Super Short Shorts

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:39:29 +0000

Vanessa Hudgens was looking more than a little leggy in super-tight spandex shorts that she wore to the gym on May 17.

Both the 23-year-old actress and her younger sister Stella looked ready to break a sweat while sporting the tiny shorts, which showed off their toned legs.

Though the shorts definitely show a lot of skin, they are nothing compared to the neon bikinis that Hudgens wore for a month straight on the set of “Spring Breakers,” along with co-stars Selena Gomez and Ashley Benson.

And the former “High School Musical” star wasn’t the only ex-Disney starlet to flaunt her legs yesterday. Hudgens’ pal Miley Cyrus proved she’s also a fan of hot pants, and drew quite a crowd when she was spotted leaving her Miami hotel wearing a tight black tube top and high-waisted white booty shorts.

PHOTO:

DEBATE: Should Pippa Really Move To New York? Our Experts Weigh In

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:39:21 +0000

New York, get ready — here comes Pippa! Maybe.

Oh, you don’t know who Pippa Middleton is? She’s a pretty big deal in Britain. Paparazzi’s like to photograph her and pundits like to pontificate over the size of her tush as compared with her sister, the future Queen of England, Kate Middleton.

But Pippa never wanted to be a royal, did she? An international sensation? She just wants to write party planning books called “Celebrate”, for which Penguin paid her a $600,000 advance. See – she’s just like us!

Earlier this month there was a report that suggested Pippa would be moving to New York. If she was previously considering moving to Paris, that whole gun-toting Playboy scandal might have turned her off a bit. So now she’s looking to hop the pond and start anew (maybe she started watching “Girls” and said “It’s like this show is about my life!”). Could New NYC be just the thing for this royal in-law? This almost-Queen? Or does she truly belong at home, among her people, tending to her royal sister in Britain? And where would she live if she came to New York? Would she hang out at Cabin? We’ve enlisted two veritable Pippa experts on both sides of the Ocean to tackle these very serious set of questions — Jessica Misener, Huffpost’s US Style Editor, and Felicity Morse, an editorial assistant for HuffPost UK.

The Feminist Ryan Gosling Meme Becomes A Book!

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:38:58 +0000

Well it’s about a time!!

We’ve been saying Ryan Gosling deserves his own book for what feels like centuries now! And a kingdom… and a planet… HA!

Fortunately, someone else feels the same. And now that glorious Feminist Ryan Gosling meme has become a book! You know what we’re talking about… handsome photographs of RyGos with a “Hey Girl” printed in the corner and an encouraging feminist theory following said greeting??

Yeah. That one. Our favorite one.

Welll… now you can find those a-mazing memes in Feminist Ryan Gosling! With 120 full-color photos and captions, readers will find 70-80 percent new material.

Perfect gift for the coffee table in your RyGos-loving life?? We think so!!

[Image via Lu Chau/WENN.]

WRAPUP 6-Obama presses ailing Europe to focus on growth

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:12:35 +0000

* President to isolated Merkel: “You have a few things on
your mind”

UPDATE 2-German IG Metall, employers agree 4.3 pct wage deal

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:12:18 +0000

SINDELFINGEN, Germany, May 19 (Reuters) – Germany’s largest
industrial union IG Metall reached a deal for a 4.3-percent pay
increase with employers just before dawn on Saturday that is
believed to be the largest annual increase for the sector in
more than a decade.

Facebook stock finishes flat in debut

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:09:36 +0000

In the hours before Facebook’s stock began trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market for the first time, CEO Mark Zuckerberg reminded the company’s 3,500 employees not to get caught up in the hoopla surrounding its long-awaited initial public offering.

Facebook stock finishes flat in debut

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:09:36 +0000

Japan eye women’s volleyball Olympic berth

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:09:01 +0000

Hosts Japan are hoping home advantage in the final Olympic women’s volleyball qualifying tournament starting Saturday will help them secure a berth at London 2012 as they bid to end a 28-year medal drought.

Japan eye women’s volleyball Olympic berth

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:09:00 +0000

‘Adopted’ French minister sparks Korean soul searching

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:08:52 +0000

The appointment of Fleur Pellerin as France’s first South Korean-born minister has prompted soul searching over social values in the country of her birth where she was adopted at the age of six months.

‘Adopted’ French minister sparks Korean soul searching

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:08:51 +0000

West Ham will handle play-off pressure: Allardyce

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:08:43 +0000

Sam Allardyce insists his West Ham stars can cope with the pressure of facing Blackpool with a lucrative place in the Premier League on the line in Saturday’s Championship play-off final at Wembley.

West Ham will handle play-off pressure: Allardyce

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:08:41 +0000

Chelsea, Bayern stars eager to make amends

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:08:35 +0000

Bayern Munich host Chelsea in Saturday’s Champions League final with both sides looking to erase painful memories of recent defeat at the last hurdle on Europe’s top domestic stage.

Chelsea, Bayern stars eager to make amends

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:08:33 +0000

Bayern Munich host Chelsea in Saturday’s Champions League final with both sides looking to erase painful memories of recent defeat at the last hurdle on Europe’s top domestic stage.

Hibs, Hearts end 116-year Scottish Cup final wait

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:08:24 +0000

Hearts manager Paulo Sergio insists the fact his side are facing rivals Hibernian in Saturday’s Scottish Cup final doesn’t give the game greater importance.

Hibs, Hearts end 116-year Scottish Cup final wait

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:08:23 +0000

Hearts manager Paulo Sergio insists the fact his side are facing rivals Hibernian in Saturday’s Scottish Cup final doesn’t give the game greater importance.

G8 leaders broadly united on Iran and Syria: U.S. official

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:08:11 +0000

CAMP DAVID, Maryland (Reuters) – Group of Eight leaders agreed in their initial discussions at Camp David on Friday that Iran needs to disclose more about its nuclear ambitions and that it was time to focus on a political transition in Syria, a U.S. official said. The leaders, including newly elected French President Francois Hollande and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, also stressed North Korea needed to adhere to international norms on nuclear issues and said it would face more isolation if it “continues down the path of provocation,” the official said. …

G8 leaders broadly united on Iran and Syria: U.S. official

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:08:11 +0000

Blind Guardian "Memories Of A Time To Come – Best Of"

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:40:20 +0000

Over the last 25 years few other bands have marked the international music scene as sustainably as BLIND GUARDIAN. While other groups find their formula for success on th …read more

Starts: 2012-05-19
Ends: 2012-06-03

ENTER TO WIN

PHOTOS: Ann Taylor LOFT Has Some Fun With Photoshop

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:39:08 +0000

We appreciate Ann Taylor LOFT‘s restraint when it comes to design (they’re our go-to for simple, colorful tees). But the store tends to get a bit overexcited with the Photoshop, as we found while perusing the site this morning.

The company’s latest Photoshop Fail? Sticking thumbs where they don’t belong.

In the product shot for the Marisa Cargo Pants in White Cotton Poplin [ed. note: cargo pants are back in?], the model seems to have a stubbier-than-usual thumb sticking out of her pocket. Even more jarring is the shot for the Linen Twill Shorts, where the model appears to have a thumb emerge directly out of her arm, above the wrist.

Of course we already knew Ann Taylor to be a bit overzealous with airbrushing, having entirely removed a model’s arm on its website a year ago.

We suppose the thumb incident is slightly less egregious… better to have too many limbs instead of too few, right? Right?

Check ‘em out below… and, if you’re not freaked out by a few misplaced fingers, do some AM online shopping at LOFT.com.

See more Photoshop Fails!

PHOTOS: Kate, Charlene & All The World’s Royals Party With Queen Elizabeth II

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:38:53 +0000

We love a good royal get-together, when all the world’s monarchs (and there are more than you’d think) throw on their best crowns and gather together for some awesome photo opps.

We usually have to wait for a royal wedding for such moments. But thanks to Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee, the British royal family are partying it up with their international peers at today’s Sovereign Monarchs Jubilee Lunch in Kensington.

Who flew in to England to fete Queen Elizabeth II’s sixtieth year on the throne? Almost everyone. Queen Anne Marie and King Constantine of Greece, King Albert and Queen Paola of Belgium and the super adorable Empress Michiko and Emperor Akihito of Japan made the trip, as did royals from Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway and Jordan (Queen Rania!).

A few guests are a bit more notorious. King Mswati III of Swaziland and King Hamad al-Khalifa of Bahrain, as well as royalty from Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, made the list, stirring up some controversy over their countries’ human rights abuses.

“The queen has invited royal tyrants to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee,” human rights activist Peter Tatchell told CNN. Anti-monarchy groups concerned with democracy also voiced their opposition. “The British people strongly support the struggle for democracy in the Middle East and around the world — this is a catastrophic error of judgment that has already prompted a fierce backlash,” Graham Smith, chief executive of anti-monarchy group Republic, told The Guardian.

And then there were the notable absences. Queen Sofia of Spain declined her invitation over a planned trip by Prince Edward and Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, to Gibraltar, a UK territory also claimed by Spain.

But for those in attendance at Windsor Castle this afternoon seemed to be having a fine time. Catherine and Princess Charlene, both clad in springy pastels (Kate’s by Emilia Wickstead), chatted with drinks in hand; and Prince William and Prince Harry enjoyed a few laughs nearby.

Check out the royals in all their glory, below. How good does Charlene’s newly-shorn hair look? What do you think she and Kate talked about? Did anyone get day-drunk? The mind reels.

The Best & Worst TV Fashion This Week

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:38:42 +0000

We’re as shocked as you probably were, but Lindsay Lohan looked good on this week’s “Glee“!

And she wasn’t alone — props to Robin on “How I Met Your Mother” for bringing us pretty close to tears with that wedding dress reveal; Maggie Q for making simple look sexy on “Nikita“; and Jessica Sanchez for nailing her “Idol” look in addition to her performance. (Well, one of them at least.)

But as we know, they can’t all be fashion winners, and “Real Housewives of New Jersey” bully Joe Giudice and Hannah on HBO’s “Girls” are representing the “worst” end of the style spectrum this week.

Click through the gallery below to see all our best and worst TV fashion picks of the week, then share your own in the comments.

Will Durst: And Lukewarm Was His Name-O

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:38:28 +0000

You don’t need a psychoanalyst to detect the latent theme running through the endorsements currently showering Mitt Romney like broken rain gutters pouring down on a concrete toadstool. And that premise is ennui. “Mitt? Really? Yeah. OK. Whatever.” Makes tepid sound like a crazed bellow. With wild enthusiasm as MIA as World Series trophies in the Wrigley Field display case. Within the last 104 years, that is.

Someone should warn NASA because we are approaching stratospheric heights of apathy here. The only thing these highly solicited testimonials have accomplished is given a face to listless. The guy needs industrial strength hip waders to slog through the thigh high lethargy.

George W. Bush carved a precious three seconds out of his busy schedule to make a momentous announcement from the inside of an elevator telling an ABC news crew, “I’m for Mitt Romney” as the doors closed on him. Not that the candidate-in-waiting was particularly lusting after 44′s imprimatur, which some might call the Kiss of Campaign Death. But it effectively does nail down the eminently sought- after spoiled rich kid vote.

Rick Santorum got around to his ringing endorsement 13 paragraphs into a 16 paragraph email sent out to supporters after midnight. The only subterfuge he neglected to employ was to disguise it in semaphoric code. And these are Romney’s big- time Republican buddies. You’d think they were having their teeth pulled with families held at gunpoint on a listing catwalk yawning over an erupting caldera.

It’s been like that ever since the nominee became presumptive. Politicians oozing from the woodwork with the same kind of energetic frenzy fifth grade school girls normally reserve for haggis-flavored ice cream studded with garlic pickle chips.

You got to know this is just the beginning of a series of sluggishly recalcitrant pledges of approbation. Here’s some other passion-challenged tributes we can expect over the coming weeks.

“Mitt Romney. Had to go with somebody, right?”
“Not the brainwashed Romney. That was his dad.”
“Only two of Mitt Romney’s five sons think he’s a soulless Cyborg.”
“May be out of touch with the mainstream but looks pretty good tanning on the embankment.”
“Mitt Romney. Hey, it could be worse.”
“Not the kind of guy who would hold you down and cut your hair, unless you really were asking for it.”
“Pretty down to earth for someone building a 57 room mansion with a car elevator.”
“Will do for America what he did for Bain Capital.”
“Survived the mean streets of Bloomfield Hills.”
“Hardly ever sneaks out at night to kick homeless guys. Anymore.”
“A man who stands by his previous statements, no matter what they are.”
“Mormons are just like Christians, aren’t they?”
“Mitt Romney. Not that bad, when you consider the alternatives.”
“He’s no John McCain.”
“Going to make the world safe for rich people.”
“Mitt Romney. When good things happen to bland people.”
“He’s Oxymormonic!”
“Hasn’t strapped a dog to the roof of his car in over 28 years.”
“Mitt Romney. He’s got gas money.”
“Never ridden a bus in his entire life.”
“Looks more like Gordon Gekko than Michael Douglas ever did.”
“Mitt Romney. A man who feels strongly about both sides of many issues.”

The New York Times says Emmy- nominated comedian and writer Will Durst “is quite possibly the best political satirist working in the country today.” Check out the website: willdurst.com to find out about upcoming standup performances.

Such as… Every Tuesday. Elect to Laugh! The Marsh. San Francisco. themarsh.org.

Ginny Sloan: Justice Department Should ‘Step Up’ on Flawed Forensic Evidence

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:38:15 +0000

Last month, a series of investigative reports in the Washington Post revealed that a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) task force had spent nine years reviewing cases in which it was alleged that some forensic evidence prosecutors used in obtaining convictions was flawed. Despite warnings that problems were potentially widespread, the task force focused its review on a limited number of cases involving hair and fiber evidence and on the work of a single scientist in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) lab. The review revealed that in many cases, flawed forensic evidence played a role in convicting defendants, at least a handful of whom have since been proven to be innocent.

Disturbingly, for more than a decade, DOJ kept the findings of the review hidden from the public, and more damning, from many of those convicted based on faulty forensic evidence. (The Post gained access to case files and memos under the Freedom of Information Act.) As a result, according to the Post‘s Spencer Hsu, “Hundreds of defendants nationwide remain in prison or on parole for crimes that might merit exoneration, a retrial or a retesting of evidence using DNA because FBI hair and fiber experts may have misidentified them as suspects.”

The U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia has acknowledged the faulty evidence in at least one case, that of Santae Tribble, who served 28 years in prison for a murder the prosecutors now admit he most likely did not do. In an extraordinary step, federal prosecutors asked the courts to overturn Tribble’s conviction, and agreed to review all District convictions based on hair evidence.

It’s a small step in the right direction. But it’s not nearly enough. If the DOJ thinks there may be problems with hair evidence in District of Columbia cases, why should we believe there are not similar problems with hair evidence compiled by the FBI lab and used to obtain convictions in other jurisdictions? To think this kind of potentially flawed evidence or testimony is confined to single location makes no sense.

At a minimum, the DOJ must conduct a comprehensive review of all cases in which the Department knows or has reason to believe that one of its forensic analysts failed to follow established protocols, overstated the reliability of his or her findings, or otherwise misused the findings. This comprehensive review cannot be done alone or in secret. The DOJ must work with other experts, such as independent forensic scientists, the American Bar Association and ethics authorities.

Moreover, a process must be established to identify and review any forensic technique that is debunked or called into serious question to determine what cases and what kinds of evidence warrant review. This process should include, but not be limited to, hair analysis (the subject of the DOJ task force’s original investigation) in jurisdictions beyond just the District of Columbia.

In addition, Congress must act to address the concerns raised by the National Academy of Sciences about the integrity and reliability of forensic evidence. The American people have a right to expect that the forensic scientists on whom federal prosecutors rely are trained and fully competent; that they work in accredited laboratories; and that their findings and opinions are consistent with peer-reviewed research. Shockingly, these basic standards are not guaranteed today.

Perhaps even more frightening than the failure of the forensic evidence is the DOJ’s decision not to directly notify defendants and their attorneys about these potential flaws. As many as half of the defendants whose hair evidence the task force called into question were never told about the review. The Post‘s stories about DOJ’s nondisclosure of potentially favorable evidence come on the heels of the release of a report exposing serious prosecutorial misconduct in the case against the late senator Ted Stevens and are further evidence of a culture of nondisclosure within the Department that must be remedied.

No longer can the DOJ explain away every constitutional and ethical violation as a regrettable, but unintentional, mistake by the individual prosecutor involved. The revelation that DOJ failed to take responsibility for informing individuals after discovering that they were convicted using seriously flawed forensic evidence exposes a more systemic problem. Something has to give-and that something is the culture of nondisclosure that has developed among some DOJ prosecutors. Congress needs to pass pending legislation to ensure that future defendants have access to all information to which they are constitutionally entitled.

When there is reason to believe that criminal convictions are unreliable, whether because of improper testimony by examiners or because forensic science is no longer believed to be credible, the government absolutely has a duty to reexamine those convictions to ensure that no individual has lost his or her liberty or rights unfairly. Further, the government has a duty to conduct such a review in a transparent manner, sharing the results openly and promptly with defendants. Knowing what it knows now, the DOJ should step up and demonstrate its commitment to accuracy and transparency, as well as fairness, in criminal convictions.

Hernan Vera: The Silent Casualties of Immigration Scams

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:38:09 +0000

With 11 million undocumented immigrants in this country, the need for comprehensive immigration reform is not going away.

In the meantime, however, there are untold casualties who are suffering in ways that few are discussing. Our nation’s refusal to make immigration reform a priority has created the perfect storm for a silent problem to fester: immigration scams. Each year, undocumented immigrants are targeted, conned, and exploited by ruthless scam artists who promise the American dream but deliver only despair and financial ruin.

It has become such a persistent and growing problem that the federal government has created a database with over 6 million immigration fraud complaints, and for the first time last year created a joint task force to fight the scourge of “notario fraud” through a collaboration between the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice and the Federal Trade Commission. But enforcement efforts at the state and federal level can reach only the tiniest tip of the iceberg.

The story of Maria Gutierrez Aragon illustrates the ugly reality of what is happening every day. Maria is an indigenous Mexican woman from Oaxaca who has been in the United States for over 20 years, working at a dry cleaner and washing dishes at a restaurant. After years of abuse by her husband, Maria said enough is enough and reported the violence to the authorities.

As a victim of domestic violence, Maria is eligible for immigration relief under the U visa program that is intended to protect victims of crime. Taking advantage of her vulnerable situation, a family friend approached her and offered to help her. This “friend” told her that he would act as her personal representative, and that he would work with an immigration law firm to file a visa application on her behalf.

None of it turned out to be true. There was no immigration case, and the man eventually took $80,000 from her over nearly a decade.

How could it go on so long? To make this deception credible, the alleged scam artist forged numerous letters and documents from various government agencies and law firms threatening her with deportation or arrest if she told anybody about what was happening. Maria worked 14-hour days and borrowed large sums from family members to meet his ever growing demands.

Adding to this scheme of extortion, the “friend” coordinated a lengthy series of intimidating phone calls from third parties – all of which threatened deportation or incarceration if she failed to comply with the demands.

Unlike the vast majority of victims, Maria’s story has a happy ending. Working with Public Counsel in Los Angeles, she now has an immigration case pending, and the Los Angeles District Attorney has filed criminal charges for grand theft against the alleged perpetrator. Maria talked about her ordeal to Univision.

Unfortunately, arrests like these are rare. That’s what the federal task force on notario fraud is meant to help change. Until that happens, here are some steps you can take to avoid becoming a victim:

Make sure to consult an attorney, not a notario: If you are undocumented and need legal advice regarding your situation, avoid any notario, immigration consultant, or other so-called “professional” who is not a licensed attorney in your state. Request receipts for payments, request copies of all documents filed on your behalf, and make sure you have a representation agreement in writing. If anything doesn’t feel right, get a second opinion.

There is free or low-cost legal help available for people who think they have been defrauded: The Board of Immigration Appeals has a website with referrals to local immigration attorneys or non-profits that can provide services for low or no cost.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association provides referrals to attorneys in different areas of immigration law.

The American Bar Association has another service that provides referrals in this area.

While America debates the need for immigration reform, rampant fraud committed against immigrants is a hidden shame that affects millions of people. Maria’s story shows there is something we can do to enforce our nation’s promise of fairness — not as citizens, legal permanent residents and undocumented people, but together.

The best and most direct way to eliminate the breeding ground for these immigration scams is to pass comprehensive immigration reform and put our brothers and sisters on the path to citizenship. It’s time for our nation to have the courage of Maria and say enough is enough.

Romney Embraces Growth, Leaving Austerity To Europe

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:37:50 +0000

WASHINGTON -– Austerity is out. Growth is in. And Mitt Romney’s campaign has taken notice.

Politicians in Europe and in President Barack Obama’s administration can’t get enough of the G word these days. “Growth must be a priority, at the same time as we put in place some fiscal compact to improve our finances,” said the new French President Francois Hollande, during a visit with Obama in the Oval Office on Friday.

Hollande defeated incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy earlier this month, riding a backlash in France against programs that have sought to reduce sovereign debt by cutting government spending. Voters in Greece have rebelled even more fiercely against cuts to government jobs and benefits, placing their country on the verge of an exit from the European Union and a potential collapse.

Obama’s national security adviser, Tom Donilon, told reporters this week that the administration “welcomed the evolution of the discussion in Europe towards growth and jobs — but you see that now being discussed much more broadly in Europe.”

White House press secretary Jay Carney said that Obama “has long made clear … that he believes that an approach that takes into account the need for further growth and job creation, a balanced approach that includes not just austerity but growth and job creation, is the right approach.”

Romney campaign officials used rhetoric that was strikingly similar in conversations this week about Europe.

“There’s a need to make sure you have both austerity and growth,” said Glenn Hubbard, the dean of the Columbia University Business School and a senior adviser to Romney on economic issues.

But the verbiage papers over a few key differences between the Romney campaign and the Obama administration. For one, their definitions of austerity differ, and they will likely fight in the coming months over what, exactly, should be considered austere.

The Romney campaign will say their proposals to dramatically overhaul Medicare -– much like Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) has proposed -– and to pare back federal non-defense spending are fiscally responsible.

“I hesitate to call it austerity, I think austerity is pretty severe,” a top adviser to Romney, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said in an interview. “I think when you talk about fiscal responsibility, that is part and parcel of a pro-growth approach to the economy,”

The president will argue that Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, wants to cut back severely in the same way that has caused heartburn in Greece, Italy, France and elsewhere.

The second major difference between Romney and Obama is that Romney’s advisers are focused largely on the long-term economic picture, which they said they believe will do the most to alleviate short-term pain.

“The work that people like Alberto Alesina at Harvard and others have done shows that if you have fiscal consolidations on the spending side that are more of this glide path variety, you can actually increase growth, because you tell investors that future taxes will be lower and that there won’t be this uncertainty in the size of government,” Hubbard said.

The “glide path” that Hubbard refers to is mostly a reference to entitlement spending in programs like Medicare and Medicaid, and to a lesser extent Social Security. It also refers to rates of government spending and taxation. These are the biggest points of disagreement between Obama and Romney.

A focus on the long view means Romney’s campaign considers calls for more government-fueled stimulus measures off-base.

“They seem to be congenitally against anything that could be called stimulus and could help boost jobs and growth in the short run,” said Jared Bernstein, who was Vice President Biden’s top economic adviser for the first three years of the administration. “I’ve argued with these people. They view it as counterproductive, a sort of sugar high at best and destructive at worst.”

The other part of the Romney campaign’s long-term view is that European leaders have erred in trying to impose immediate, draconian cuts.

“You don’t have to do it all today. And I think in Europe there’s been so much discussion on today without saying, well maybe what we need are structural long-term reforms. And then give these economies breathing room,” Hubbard said.

The unnamed Romney adviser put it more bluntly.

“I think where the European leaders have made a mistake is in focusing on the austerity,” he said. “I just don’t think that these guys have really framed the discussion in the right way.”

Of course, having a debate about the long-term picture is more possible in the U.S. than it is in Europe. The U.S. economy is still struggling to achieve the kind of growth that would put it on the path toward recovering its economic health. But it is not currently in crisis as Europe is.

And so the conversation in the U.S. has some time yet -– though some believe it’s not a lot of time -– to focus on how the government will restructure major programs like Medicare to keep them solvent over the long term, and to reassure the bond market in order to keep borrowing costs under control.

The Supreme Court will have its say next month when it rules on Obama’s health care overhaul. And then voters will decide in the fall between Romney’s proposal to move toward a more market-based health care model that puts more of a burden on consumers in hopes that they will demand price transparency in a way that drives down costs, and Obama’s mixture of government-regulated exchanges to encourage cost-effective strategies among providers.

Hubbard and the anonymous Romney campaign official both said that if the former Massachusetts governor is elected, he would move quickly to enact some version of the Medicare reform and the tax reforms he has proposed. Romney’s prospects for success would hinge, of course, on whether Republicans retain control of the House and whether they are able to wrest control of the Senate away from Democrats.

“We have to do something pretty significant on entitlement reform soon,” the anonymous adviser said. “I don’t know if it’s a day one thing, but it’s certainly a first few months thing.”

Hubbard said he sees similar priorities: “Whoever the president is has to deal with that and in my mind it starts with the spending restraint and glide path changes in entitlement programs, and then tax reform,” he said.

“What has to be articulated well is how are we going to do this in a way that’s both gradual and fair, gradual in the sense that it gives people time to adjust, and fair in the sense that most of the burden of adjustment will be born by the well to do,” Hubbard said. “I think people are persuadable.”

Elizabeth Warren Plagiarism Allegations Debunked

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:37:37 +0000

National Review writer Katrina Trinko ended up with egg on her face Friday evening after accusing Democratic senate candidate Elizabeth Warren of plagiarism — a charge that was quickly debunked.

Trinko published an item early Friday evening bearing the accusatory title, “Plagiarism In Elizabeth Warren’s 2006 Book.” The article, which appeared on the Review’s “Corner” blog, made the following claim about “All Your Worth,” a personal finance guide Warren published with her daughter:

["All Your Worth"] includes a passage that appears to include parts of two paragraphs directly lifted from a book published in 2005, Getting on the Money Track by Rob Black.

Soon after Trinko’s piece went up, Salon’s Alex Pareene examined the evidence and came to this conclusion about Trinko’s allegations:

The passages line up perfectly. The wording and even the punctuation are identical. It’s plagiarism all right. Except it looks very much like Warren is actually the victim. [Emphasis Pareene's]

In fact, while “All Your Worth’s” paperback version was released in 2006, the original hardcover edition first appeared in bookstores in March 2005. Black’s book was released sometime later that year. Trinko quickly issued a correction and apology — noting her confusion over the dates — and removed the original article from the Review’s website.

“I can see how they got this wrong,” Pareene went on to tell the New York Observer’s Hunter Walker, “but honestly, five more minutes of Googling it would have disproven it before they even published it.”

Breitbart.com made similar charges earlier on Friday, suggesting that Warren plagiarized a set of recipes she submitted to a cookbook published in 1984.

Warren’s campaign has been beset with controversy recently. In particular, critics have seized on the revelation that Warren once, for a number of years, claimed Native American heritage in law school directories — and suggested she might have therefore received preferential treatment from schools or employers. Records records show this was not the case, though that hasn’t stopped Republican Sen. Scott Walker, whom Warren hopes to unseat in this November’s election, from using the episode for fundraising.

Polls currently show Warren and Walker neck-and-neck.

Europe Austerity Backlash Holds Lesson For Romney: Focus On Growth

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:37:26 +0000

WASHINGTON -– Austerity is out. Growth is in. And Mitt Romney’s campaign has taken notice.

National Review’s Elizabeth Warren Plagiarism Claim Quickly Debunked

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:37:18 +0000

National Review writer Katrina Trinko ended up with egg on her face Friday evening after accusing Democratic senate candidate Elizabeth Warren of plagiarism — a charge that was quickly debunked.

["All Your Worth"] includes a passage that appears to include parts of two paragraphs directly lifted from a book published in 2005, Getting on the Money Track by Rob Black.

Read More…
More on Video

Another Peter Pan Movie Is On The Way!

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:37:08 +0000

WOO HOO!!!

Who doesn’t love Peter Pan?

Disney is adapting Peter and the Starcatchers for the big screen and has already hired a writer to start working on the screenplay.

The 2004 children’s novel is a prequel to the classic story and was recently adapted into a hit Broadway production which was nominated for nine Tony Awards.

Since there have been four sequels published already, this could very well turn into the next big franchise for the studio.

Although this is a rehash of old material, at least we’re going to see the titular character embark on a brand new adventure.

Ex-Facebookers: About Ideas, Not Wealth

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:33:39 +0000

Facebook’s stock market debut seems to be creating a frenzy everywhere but Facebook. Shares have been fluctuating between $40 and $42, as of 2 p.m. ET since opening Friday morning, amid reports that Nasdaq was experiencing some technical hiccups. Gizmodo reported shares were trading at…

UPDATE 1-CFTC opens probe into JPMorgan trading loss – source

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:13:33 +0000

* CFTC may reveal probe in Senate testimony on Tuesday-NYT

UPDATE 1-G8 leaders: Iran must disclose more about nuclear program

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:13:27 +0000

CAMP DAVID, Md., May 18 (Reuters) – Group of Eight leaders
agreed in their initial discussions at Camp David on Friday that
Iran needs to disclose more about its nuclear ambitions and that
it was…

G8 leaders: Iran must disclose more about nuclear program

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:13:22 +0000

UPDATE 1-Colombia says will increase natgas flow to Venezuela

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:13:02 +0000

CARACAS, May 18 (Reuters) – Colombia said on Friday it would
send 50 percent more natural gas this year to neighboring
Venezuela, which has yet to start producing the fuel
commercially despite huge reserves.

Dewey to consider bankruptcy filing – source

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:12:57 +0000

* New crop of creditors pressuring Dewey to seek bankruptcy
- source

After flat debut Facebook awaits market verdict

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:12:28 +0000

Facebook stumbled on its first trading day as shares ended barely above the starting price, raising questions about what will happen to the share price when the Nasdaq reopens on Monday.

Motorola Mobility smartphones face US import ban

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:12:19 +0000

A US commission sided with Microsoft by moving to ban the import of Android-powered Motorola smartphones based on patent infringement complaints by the software colossus.

‘Da Vinci Code’ author Dan Brown speaks in NH

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:11:58 +0000

Best-selling author Dan Brown made a rare public appearance in New Hampshire on Friday, saying very little about his next novel other than he’s well into the writing process.

Philadelphia 76ers rally to beat Celtics in NBA series

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:11:43 +0000

Andre Iguodala finished with 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists as the Philadelphia 76ers rallied to beat the Boston Celtics 92-83 in game four of their Eastern Conference series.

76ers fight back to tie series with Celtics

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:11:36 +0000

(Reuters) – The Philadelphia 76ers roared back from a 14-point deficit to start the game to defeat the Boston Celtics 92-83 and tie their Eastern Conference semi-final series at 2-2 on Friday. Andre Iguodala scored five consecutive points to break a 83-83 tie and Jodie Meeks finished off the visiting Celtics with four free throws in succession as Boston failed to score in the final 98 seconds. Iguodala and Evan Turner each had 16 points for Philadelphia, who travel to Boston for Game Five on Monday. Paul Pierce topped the Celtics with 24 points but Kevin Garnett scored only nine. …

76ers stun Celtics 92-83 in Game 4 to even series

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:11:23 +0000

Andre Iguodala snapped a tie game with five straight points in the final 90 seconds to help the Philadelphia 76ers storm back from 15 points down in the first half and stun the Boston Celtics 92-83 on Friday night in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Canada pleased with Chinese smuggler’s sentence

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:11:15 +0000

The Canadian government says it is pleased that a high-profile Chinese smuggler who had been extradited from Canada has received a life sentence, and not the death penalty.

East Timor marks 10th anniversary, gets new president

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:11:09 +0000

East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta prepared for a handover of power to his successor late on Saturday ahead of celebrations to mark the country’s first decade of independence from Indonesia.

WFP distributes food vouchers in Senegal region

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:11:01 +0000

The UN World Food Programme launched the distribution of cash vouchers for the purchase of food in Senegal’s Ziguinchor region, for people hit by poor harvests and high food prices.

Guantanamo tribunal weighs separate 9/11 trials

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:10:51 +0000

A special US military tribunal at Guantanamo is weighing whether to hold separate trials for five accused plotters of the September 11 attacks, a defense lawyer said.

TV Upfronts Roundup: Everything You Need to Know About the 2012-13 Network Season

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:10:31 +0000

In case you didn’t notice, the past couple weeks have been a nonstop rush of TV news about returning shows, canceled shows and the new shows coming in fall 2012. Are you sure you…

Kim Kardashian Attends The ‘Quick Trim’ Launch In London

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:40:20 +0000

Kim Kardashian has been very busy during this recent trip to London. She was at the FiFi Fragrance Awards the other night and tonight she was seen arriving at the Quick Trim Launch held at the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London.

Kim, who wore a very form fitting black dress with cut-outs, recently had her extensions removed and I think I like her better with her hair this length.

No sightings of Kanye West so far, but he and Kim have been so inseparable lately I’m sure he’s not too far away.

Visit the Gallery (13 Images)

Photos by UK/FameFlynet Pictures

Lionsgate Releases A New ‘Magic Mike’ Trailer (VIDEO)

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:40:13 +0000

Ohlalalalala this is definitely one way to start the weekend! Lionsgate just released a new trailer today for ‘Magic Mike‘ it’s male stripper movie starring Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matthew McConaughey and Joe Manganiello.

When I first watched it I thought it was very similar to the first trailer but this trailer gives us a little more glimpse into the story of how Alex Pettyfer’s character got into the exotic dancing business. There is also more of Channing Tatum’s abs, so that’s good too:)

‘These Crimes We’re Talking About Are Really Tremendously Awful’

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:38:02 +0000

This article comes to us courtesy of California Watch.

By Shoshana Walter

Last year, California Attorney General Kamala Harris joined attorneys general across the country in declaring war against Backpage.com, a free classified website run by Village Voice Media. The officials threatened legal action if the site didn’t stop running ads for adult services, some of which have been linked to underage sex trafficking.

But while Harris took a confrontational tone with Backpage – which has since balked at shutting down its adult pages – a more cooperative dynamic has emerged this year between the attorney general and online companies.

Harris recently announced an agreement with mobile and tech companies that requires their apps to better display their privacy policies. While Harris said she will not rule out legal action against sites such as Backpage, her office has begun to build more alliances with online firms. And as companies such as Facebook have matured, they have become more willing to cooperate with government leaders and law enforcement.

This week, representatives from Facebook and Microsoft will be among 50 law enforcement and nonprofit leaders who are meeting as part of a new Department of Justice task force on human trafficking in the state. By the end of the summer, the government task force plans to issue a report containing best-practice guidelines for law enforcement, tech companies and service providers combating human trafficking locally and online.

“Having everyone at the table, it makes them more vested in being part of the process and finding solutions,” said former special assistant attorney general Suzy Loftus, who organized the meetings. “These public-private partnerships are one tool at our disposal.”

But industry observers say tech companies’ increasing cooperation with government leaders and law enforcement is less a sign of goodwill than of self-preservation. As online companies come to dominate the marketplace, they’ll look for ways to keep the upper hand. And many say the cooperation could lead to problems for consumers.

“This is very basic economics. If you’re a company and you’re trying to undermine your competition, you look for the best return on your investment. And sometimes that means working with the government,” said Eric Goldman, an associate professor at the Santa Clara University School of Law and director of the High Tech Law Institute.

“If the industry and the government are getting cozy together, the industry might get a seat at the table that’s helping to shape regulation. Why wouldn’t they want to be a part of that?”

Some privacy advocates say partnerships between tech companies and governmental agencies threaten the rights of Internet users. Civil rights attorneys have criticized Facebook and other companies for signing on in support of CISPA, a bill that would allow private companies to share with the government any user information that constitutes a homeland security or cyber threat.

“It’s a civil liberties nightmare,” said Rainey Reitman, director of activism for the Electronic Frontier Foundation. “It’s under the guise of something everybody wants to get behind – internet security – but the actual implication of this bill would be to undo decades of privacy law.”

Facebook already shares personal account information with law enforcement agencies upon subpoena, court order and sometimes request, and runs every single photograph uploaded onto the site through a federal child pornography database run by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The social networking company advertises a national hotline for sex trafficking victims on the site, and lists information about help for victims in its FAQ.

At least one issue the task force has discussed is whether Facebook has the right to screen users’ search terms for words that might identify them as potential victims of human or sexual trafficking. The websites could then show the user ads for helpful organizations or a national trafficking hotline, something that Google, for example, already does when users enter “suicide” into the search bar. A suicide hotline appears at the top of the list.

“I haven’t got much problem with that, because at that point you don’t have much data going outside of Google,” said Reitman. “I think you get into a different situation when you have data going from users to the government, without them understanding what’s happening.”

While many websites have joined in efforts to clamp down on the distribution of child pornography, trafficking is a newer issue. In a span of just a few years, the Internet has quickly entered the forefront in conversations about combating human trafficking.

In 2007, two years after California lawmakers made human trafficking a felony, the attorney general’s office convened a similar task force and released a report on trafficking in the state. The Internet was not mentioned.

Then in 2010, the State Department called together a meeting with researchers in Washington, D.C., to discuss the intersection of trafficking and technology.

Facebook and other tech companies attended the discussion, and Mark Latonero, director of research at the USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership & Policy, and his colleagues decided to study the issue. They released a report, “Human Trafficking Online,” in 2011.

Previously, state leaders weren’t “really thinking about technology as a tool to help,” said Latonero, a member of the task force.

Attorneys general have also put pressure on Craigslist, Tagged and Myspace to alter policies and services. “We know technology can be used for good and bad,” Latonero said. “We also want to understand how technology can be used not only to facilitate trafficking but also monitor and combat it.”

In February, Attorney General Harris decided to follow suit, inviting many of the same organizations and tech companies to the first task force meeting in close to five years. Google, with which Microsoft is at war over everything from monopolizing the market to search engine algorithms, was invited to participate in the second task force meeting last month, but declined.

Microsoft, which helped develop the PhotoDNA technology used by Facebook and other websites to identify known child pornography images, recently awarded grants to researchers on the topic of sex trafficking and technology. They are helping to build a searchable database of information mined from known and publicly accessible sex-trade websites for law enforcement agencies across the country. Researchers plan to analyze patterns in the data to understand how human traffickers operate online.

Samantha Doerr, a member of the task force and Microsoft’s digital crimes unit, said researchers are not violating privacy protections because the data they are looking at is publicly available online. She said companies can build technology, such as PhotoDNA, that is more “exact” and that allows companies to detect illegal activity or images without impinging on users’ privacy rights.

“A lot of information out there is extremely publicly available and visible,” she said. “And these crimes we’re talking about are really tremendously awful.”

Shoshana Walter is an investigative reporter for California Watch, a project of the nonprofit Center for Investigative Reporting. Find more California Watch stories here.

Man’s Defibrillator Stops Knife During Attack

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:37:59 +0000

SAN DIEGO — A man’s implanted heart defibrillator may have saved his life in an unexpected way – by stopping a knife.

San Diego police say the 57-year-old got into an argument with an acquaintance early Thursday near some elevators at the trolley station for the Fashion Valley shopping mall.

Police say the acquaintance pulled a folding knife and stabbed the man in the chest. The knife hit the man’s defibrillator, a device that shocks the heart if it gets dangerously out of rhythm.

Police say the man was taken to a hospital with serious injuries. His name hasn’t been released.

Authorities arrested 60-year-old Richard Kiley at another trolley station on suspicion of attempted murder. He remained jailed Friday.

3-Day-Old Girl Killed In Dog Attack At Grandma’s Home

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:37:56 +0000

LIMA, Ohio — A 3-day-old infant died hours after she was attacked by a family dog while sitting in a swing at her grandmother’s home in northwest Ohio, a sheriff’s deputy said Friday.

The baby girl, Makayla Darnell, suffered a head injury at the home near Beaverdam in northern Allen County at about 6:30 p.m. Thursday, said Chief Deputy Jim Everett of the Allen County Sheriff’s Office in Lima.

The grandmother, Janette Myers, 44, of Monroe Township, told investigators that the baby’s mother had put the infant in a swing while she prepared to feed her, Everett said. The mother, Audrianna Myers, 22, also of Monroe Township, and the grandmother apparently were in the kitchen when they heard a whimper from the infant, according to the deputy.

The two women would only have been a few feet away from the child who apparently was in the living room near the doorway to the kitchen, Everett said. They took the baby to a nearby hospital, and she was then flown to a hospital in Toledo, where she died at about 11 p.m.

The women could not be reached for comment Friday. Their phone numbers were not immediately available.

Lucas County Deputy Coroner Dr. Cynthia Beisser said Friday that an autopsy showed that the infant died from blunt force injury to the head. She said the injury was “consistent with the story I was told of a dog biting down on the head.”

The dog is in the custody of the Allen County dog warden while the investigation continues.

Dog Warden Julie Shellhammer said she could not say whether the dog is a purebred pit bull, but says it is at least a pit bull mix. The dog is a male, about 4 years old, Shellhammer said

Pit bulls will no longer be labeled as “vicious” dogs under a bill scheduled to become Ohio law next week.

The bill signed by Gov. John Kasich in February changes current law that defines a vicious dog as one that has seriously hurt or killed a person, killed another dog or is among those commonly known as pit bulls. The new measure removes the reference to pit bulls from the definition and requires evidence to prove pit bulls are actually vicious.

Some dog wardens have opposed the measure because of frequent pit bull attacks. Others have said pit bulls are not inherently vicious.

Clemens Accuser: ‘I Mispoke’ About Evidence

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:37:52 +0000

WASHINGTON — Roger Clemens’ lawyer jabbed his left index finger and hammered away, relentlessly attacking Brian McNamee over his personal life and accusing the government’s chief witness of “making up this stuff on the fly.” The attorney finally sprung his trap and pointed out what appeared to be a flaw in McNamee’s story about the collection of evidence that turned up in a beer can.

McNamee’s explanations: “I misspoke; I’m sorry” and “It’s never been asked that way to me.”

Clemens’ longtime strength coach endured a fifth day Friday of questioning – he’s now spent some 24 hours in the swivel chair between jury and judge in the perjury trial of the 11-time All-Star pitcher.

Clemens is charged with lying to Congress in 2008 when he said he never used steroids or human growth hormone. McNamee is the only witness who will claim firsthand knowledge of Clemens using performance-enhancing drugs, and he never wavered from that central accusation during Hardin’s cross-examination.

McNamee will return to the stand Monday in a trial moving so slowly that U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton – for the first time in more than three decades on the bench – imposed time limits to speed things up: Only 90 minutes per side for witnesses after McNamee and closing arguments limited to two hours apiece.

“I just can’t let this case meander on forever,” the judge said.

The trial was supposed to last four to six weeks, but it’s just wrapping up its fifth week – and the government said Friday it still has nine witnesses to call, down from the 14 it estimated the previous day. If the trial isn’t done by June 8, Walton said he may have to call a recess for about a month because of various scheduling conflicts.

“And then we’ll have some real unhappy jurors,” Walton said.

Clemens’ attorney Rusty Hardin spent three-plus days of cross-examination portraying McNamee as a chronic liar who frequently changes his story. Toward the end, Hardin raised numerous unsavory personal details: McNamee tampered with a dead body when he was a New York City policeman, he lied to investigators looking into a Florida incident in 2001, he had two driving-under-the-influence arrests in 2002, he got caught up in an Internet fraud investigation after ordering diet pills over the Web in 2004.

“Would you agree that you had a severe drinking problem?” was among the many accusatory questions from Hardin. McNamee answered “No, sir” to that one.

The aim was to take McNamee down little by little, and his weariness showed as he hung his head more than once. During one of many pauses in testimony, a juror reached over and handed McNamee a tissue so the witness could wipe his nose. McNamee also indicated, reluctantly, that he was hypoglycemic, thus explaining why he needed frequent breaks to elevate his low blood sugar.

But Hardin also aimed for a classic “gotcha” moment while asking McNamee about the Miller Lite beer can. McNamee says he put the needle and other waste from a 2001 steroids injection of Clemens into the can, but he also says the can contained remnants from injections related to other players.

When Hardin talked McNamee through a timeline of events dealing with the can, it became apparent that McNamee had not accounted for the actual moment at which he put the items from the other players into the can.

Hardin angrily demanded to know how materials from other players “flew” or “showed up magically” in the beer can. When prosecutors objected, the lawyer said: “Well, how did they get in there?”

“I put them in the can that night” after injecting Clemens, McNamee said.

McNamee went on to say “I misspoke; I’m sorry” when explaining the apparent gap in the story. When Hardin asked whether McNamee ever told government investigators that he put the other players’ material in the beer can that night, McNamee said: “It’s never been asked that way before.”

“Isn’t this,” concluded Hardin, “a classic example of you making up this stuff on the fly?”

Even though McNamee never backed down from his core testimony that he injected Clemens with performance-enhancing drugs from 1998 to 2001, but prosecutors have their work cut out for them as they try to rebuild their key witness in front of the jury. The judge said he would allow only 90 minutes of follow-up questioning from prosecutors, and they used up 20 minutes of that allotment before court adjourned for the weekend.

To bolster McNamee’s credibility, the government hopes to win an argument to include previously barred evidence that shows McNamee supplied drugs to other players who have since acknowledged that they were users. Hardin claimed that would open up a “bunch of minitrials” over each player associated with McNamee and could extend the trial for months.

The judge said he will rule on the matter Monday morning.

Late Friday afternoon, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and its chairman, Rep. Darrell Issa, filed a motion to quash Clemens’ subpoenas for Issa’s testimony and committee documents. That committee held the hearing that Clemens testified before in 2008; Issa, a California Republican, was not chairman at the time.

The motion argues that the subpoenas are barred by the Constitution’s speech or debate clause, which protects elected officials from being questioned in a lawsuit about their legislative work.

“In particular, the subpoena to Chairman Issa should be quashed because high-ranking government officials may not be compelled to testify absent extraordinary circumstances, including that the official is uniquely able to offer that testimony, unlike here,” the House general counsel’s office said in its motion.

___

Associated Press writer Frederic J. Frommer contributed to this report.

___

The Biggest Hub For Mexican Heroin Cartels Is… Where?

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:37:42 +0000

Santa Clara might not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking about hotbeds for international drug trafficking.

But the South Bay county’s problems with drug gangs were highlighted earlier this week after law enforcement authorities announced the arrest of 12 people allegedly tied to a heroin smuggling ring.

“Santa Clara County is a major distribution hub for narcotics nationally,” Deputy Santa Clara District Attorney Patrick Vaneir told CBS San Francisco. “The cartels have local cells that are based here…[Drugs are refined and repacked here and then] delivered to various locations throughout the United States.”

The investigation into the drug ring allegedly headed by Carlos Jose Moreno, termed “Operation Middle Man,” started in 2009 after $5 million worth of heroin was seized in East Palo Alto. Over the course of the multi-year undercover operation, undercover agents bought over three pounds of heroin from the gang.

This week’s arrests occurred in Hayward, East Palo Alto and Oakland.

Local authorities teamed with with the U.S. Department of Justice and the ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations unit on the bust. “By combining our resources, authorities and expertise, we’ve succeeded in dismantling a drug ring suspected of funneling significant quantities of heroin into the Bay Area and onto our streets,” said ICE Special Agent Clark Settles in an interview with the Mountain View Voice.

“Transnational gangs have become a top public safety threat as they increasingly traffic guns, drugs and human beings into California,” California Attorney General Kamala Harris told PoliticalNews. “I commend the members of the South Bay Metro Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations for their work in identifying and arresting these gang-affiliated suspects.”

Operation Middle Men isn’t the only large-scale gang bust to occur in the South Bay in recent memory. Late last year, authorities in Gilroy carried out Operation Garlic Press, which netted over 100 arrests over a three-day period.

Boy Who Murdered Dad’s Pregnant Fiancee When He Was 11 Heads To Jail

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:37:38 +0000

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — A 14-year-old Pennsylvania boy accused of killing his father’s pregnant fiancée and her unborn child will be sent to an undisclosed juvenile facility where he could remain in state custody until his 21st birthday.

Jordan Brown, who was 11 at the time of the slayings, was ordered by a Lawrence County judge on Friday to be transferred to a treatment center. The teenager is to be evaluated every six months to determine if he should be released.

The judge last month found Brown delinquent, the juvenile court equivalent of a guilty verdict, in the February 2009 deaths of 26-year-old Kenzie Houk and her unborn son.

Houk, who was 8 1/2 months pregnant, was shot in the back of the head with Brown’s .20-gauge youth model shotgun as she slept. At the time, she was engaged to Jordan Brown’s father, Christopher Brown, and pregnant with his son.

The shooting occurred after the boy’s father left for work, with only Jordan Brown and Houk’s two daughters, ages 7 and 4, inside the New Castle house. State police investigators say they found a spent shotgun shell dropped along a path that Brown walked with Houk’s older daughter to catch a bus to school minutes after the shooting.

Defense attorney Stephen Colafella said no decisions have been made on whether to appeal.

Judge John Hodge approved a recommendation from the Lawrence County Juvenile Probation Department for Brown’s placement and treatment. Prosecutor Anthony Krastek said the specifics will not be released.

The criminal case drew attention to Pennsylvania laws governing juvenile homicide suspects and prompted two Superior Court appeals, including an unsuccessful attempt by western Pennsylvania newspapers to open the trial to the public even though the judge had the discretion to close the case because the defendant was under 12 when the killings occurred.

Grandma Gets Life In Prison For First-Time Drug Offense

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:37:32 +0000

Few will argue that Elisa Castillo — a 56-year-old grandmother — is a high-level drug cartel kingpin, but she’s spending more time in prison than many who are.

The Houston Chronicle reports that Castillo is serving life in prison without parole for a first-time drug offense.

She maintains she was tricked by a Mexican resident who wanted to start a bus company running trips between Houston and Mexico. The prosecution insists she must have known that the buses were being used to transport drugs because, as the Chronicle explains, significant amounts of money and drugs were repeatedly found on the vehicles.

The Chronicle points out that Castillo is “serving a longer sentence than some of the hemisphere’s most notorious crime bosses — men who had multimillion-dollar prices on their heads before their capture.”

Castillo was convicted of conspiracy to smuggle at least a ton of cocaine on tour buses from Mexico to Houston.

When asked whether his client is a threat to society, the attorney handling her appeal, David Bires, told The Huffington Post, “Heck, no. That’s just not right”

A blogger on the American Civil Liberties Union site said Castillo got hit with a life sentence “because she didn’t have a card to play.”

From the ACLU:

… Castillo maintains that she didn’t know she was being used as a pawn in a cocaine trafficking operation between Mexico and Houston. Given her alleged role as a low-level player in the conspiracy, it makes sense that she was not privy to — and therefore could not provide — any valuable information to federal agents that could lead to the arrest and prosecution of the leaders or other high level members of the alleged conspiracy. Since she was of no help to the government, Castillo received the harshest sentence of the approximately 68 people involved in the scheme …

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, which prosecuted the case, declined to directly answer questions about whether Castillo deserved her sentence or whether she poses a danger to the public, instead offering this emailed response:

“Ms. Castillo elected to exercise her right and proceed to trial,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. “After hearing all the evidence as presented from both the government and defense in this case, the jury found her guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. As a result, the court sentenced her to the applicable term of imprisonment after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.”

But, as Bires points out, those sentencing guidelines are not mandatory and don’t have to be followed in every case.

“Here’s this grandma who gets hammered with a life sentence,” Bires said. “Take your guidelines and stuff them.”

ACLU of Texas spokesperson Dotty Griffith told HuffPost that Castillo’s life sentence is a prime example of why drug laws need to be changed.

“Castillo’s case shows that we have a long way to go to reform drug laws in this country,” Griffith wrote in an email. “Long-term incarceration of offenders who pose no threat to public safety does not make our cities or neighborhoods more secure nor does it lower crime rates. That policy does cost taxpayers a lot to build, maintain, staff and run jails; and often lines the pockets of private prison corporations with a stake in putting as many people in jail for as long as possible.”

These types of harsh sentences aren’t just unnecessary, they’re corrosive, according to Griffith. “Over-incarceration ruins lives, tears apart families, renders individuals unemployable and exacts too high a price on our society,” Griffith said. “Tough on crime isn’t always smart on crime.”

Anderson Cooper Wins Big

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:37:15 +0000

WASHINGTON — CNN’s Anderson Cooper, playing on behalf of an organization that provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for LGBT youth, won Friday’s “Jeopardy!” Power Players, beating New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman and NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell.

The Trevor Project, Cooper’s sponsored charity, won $50,000.

The 2012 Power Players series was taped last month at D.A.R. Constitution Hall in the nation’s capital.

It was certainly a star performance by Cooper — there was even one category titled “A.C.”

Despite missing a Daily Double question about James Jones’ “From Here to Eternity,” Cooper answered a another Daily Double correctly and had a considerable lead heading into Final Jeopardy — but not a complete runaway.

All three of Friday’s Power Players missed the Final Jeopardy question about cotton gin inventor Eli Whitney, though Cooper said he knew the answer was the inventor of the cotton gin but just couldn’t think of Whitney’s name.

Kelly O’Donnell and Friedman both won $10,000 on behalf of their charities, the Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation and Conservation International, respectively.

Who’s showed their smarts on Jeopardy’s “Power Players Week” episodes?

Zooey Deschanel’s Brother Gets A Siri Ad!

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:37:02 +0000

Jooey Deschanel Siri Ad – watch more funny videos

Finally!

We’ve been waiting for Zooey Deschanel‘s brother, Jooey Deschanel, to have his chance in the spotlight!

Just as quirky and ‘adorkable’ as his sister’s spot, Jooey’s Siri commercial is a must-see!

LOLz!

Check out the ad (above)!

Pauly D Fires Back At Deadmau5! Again!

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:36:55 +0000

Pauly D recently took to twitter to ask the innernets what they thought about his new music video (above).

DJ Pauly D: “So how do you like the video? http://youtu.be/_0JErGktWvA Make sure to grab the song on iTunes… http://fb.me/15SKt3MbX”

He got a little more than he asked for when Deadmau5 responded and started ripping his video apart.

Deadmau5: “@DJPaulyD well since you asked, i didn’t really enjoy it. it looked like it cost about $150 to make, and nothing really creative about it.”

After Deadmau5 went on a rant, (which you can read HERE) he said he was going to bed.

Then Pauly D got his chance to fire back!

Pauly D: “Wonder If I Could Get @Deadmau5 To DJ My Birthday ?? Now That Would Be The #NightOfMyLife.”

Pauly D: “Maybe He Just Needs Some Cheese To Go With His Whine … #WheresMyMau5Trap”

Pauly D: “Well @DeadMau5 Today Was A Pleasure , Hope U Had Fun Too , But I Got Show To Watch Tonight #PaulyDProject U Should Tune In@MTV.”

Oh snapppp!!!

This is the most catty guy fight ever!

We wonder what Deadmau5 will say??

Julianne Hough To Play It Safe With Josh Duhamel!

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:36:46 +0000

Ryan Seacrest out…Josh Duhamel in?

That’s what it’s sounding like for who’ll be taking up the role of Julianne Hough’s leading man!

Well…on the silver screen, of course!

Reportedly, Ryan’s beau and Rock Of Ages star Julianne is currently in talks to play the lead role in a film based on the Nicholas Sparks novel, Safe Haven!!

The actress would be taking on the character Katie Feldman, a mysterious young woman who moves to small town in North Carolina, where the residents start becoming suspicious of her and her shady past!

This would definitely be an interesting role for the Footloose actress!

We reported back in March that Keira Knightley was in talks for the role, as well.

The flick is slated to premiere in theaters February 8, 2013!

[Image via WENN.]

Judge Judy’s Verdict On Gay Marriage? She’s A Fan!

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:36:41 +0000

YEAH! Gay marriage has gained a formidable supporter in the form of Judge Judy!

The Judge chatted with the Ladies of The View recently about family, marriage, and parenting.

AND she revealed her feelings on the hot-button marriage equality issue!

Watch the full interview (above) but cue to 2:15 to hear The Judge’s stance on same-sex marriage.

Times they are a changing!!

Rock of Ages ‘Any Way You Want It’ music video with Mary J. Blige (#movies)…

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:32:31 +0000

‘The Dictator’ is a crudely funny guilty pleasure (#movies)…

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:32:28 +0000

‘Terminator 3′ star Nick Stahl missing (#Hollywood)…

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:32:24 +0000

Tom Cruise & Robert Downey Jr. may team for ‘El Presidente’ (#movies)…

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:32:21 +0000

‘Hulk’ TV series hopes to debut on ABC in 2013 (#TV)…

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:32:17 +0000

Microsoft’s Bing gets a new look, offers new functions (#Bing)…

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:32:10 +0000

Netflix clocks 42B API requests per month (#Netflix)…

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:32:06 +0000

PayPal set to unveil newest retail partners for in-store payments push (#PayPal)…

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:32:03 +0000

General Motors pulls $10 million worth of ads from Facebook (#advertising)…

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:32:00 +0000

New study shows Google+ engagement is on the rocks (#Google)…

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:31:57 +0000

Facebook rolling out new ‘Pages Manager’ app for iPhone (#apps)…

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:31:50 +0000

Google launches Schemer app for iPhone (#apps)…

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:31:47 +0000

BATTLESHIP FREE for iPhone (#apps)…

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:31:43 +0000

Apple releases QuickTime 7.7.2 for Windows (#QuickTime)…

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:31:40 +0000

Microsoft tunes up Windows 8 multi-screen (Windows8)…

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:31:37 +0000

Google patents augmented reality Project Glass design (#Google)…

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:31:29 +0000

Samsung loses $10 billion in market value due to an Apple rumor (#Samsung)…

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:31:26 +0000

China Mobile ‘actively talking’ to Apple about iPhone cooperation (#iPhone)…

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:31:21 +0000

Aaron Sorkin to pen screenplay for Steve Jobs biopic (#movies)…

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:31:16 +0000

Why Apple, RIM, Nokia and Motorola are arguing over the next SIM card design (#mobile)…

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:31:12 +0000

CFTC opens probe into JPMorgan trading loss -NYT

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:12:47 +0000

* CFTC may reveal probe in Senate testimony on Tuesday -NYT

Protesters decry unity plans in Bahrain

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:12:37 +0000

Protesters in Bahrain marched through the streets Friday to criticize government plans to boost cooperation between the island state and Saudi Arabia.

Feeling Right At Home

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:12:26 +0000

The Lakers hope a change in venue will change their fortunes. The Thunder look to take a three-game lead in their Western Conference semifinal series. Follow Game 3′s festivities here.

Crazy season gives way to crazier playoffs

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:12:22 +0000

A strange NBA regular season has given way to an even stranger postseason. With veteran stars failing and upstarts prevailing, the usual rules no longer apply, says Ian Thomsen.

Philadelphia Freedom

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:12:18 +0000

The Sixers trailed 18-3. And still won. Evan Turner and Andre Iguodala led a second-half surge as Philadelphia rallied to topple Boston 92-83 in Game 4 of their second-round series.

Lakers’ Blake, wife target of attacks on Twitter

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:06:04 +0000

Lakers guard Steve Blake and his wife received multiple online threats after he missed a big shot late in Game 2 of Los Angeles’ second-round playoff series with Oklahoma City.

Morgan Stanley made big bet on Facebook

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:06:00 +0000

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Lead Facebook Inc underwriter Morgan Stanley took a bet earlier this week when it increased the size of the social networking firm’s $16 billion initial public offering and it boosted the price. Thanks to massive hype surrounding Facebook’s historic public offering, the wager looked safe. But a rocky first day of trading has raised questions about whether it paid off. After a delayed start to trading, Facebook’s shares spent much of the day struggling to stay above the $38 IPO price – and ended with just a 23-cent gain. …

Braves deny Shields seventh win of season

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:05:30 +0000

(Reuters) – The Atlanta Braves handed Tampa Bay a rare home loss when they chased top pitcher James Shields after six innings in a 5-3 victory over the Rays on Friday.

Ellen Pompeo Stocks Up On Books

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:40:57 +0000

Well I think it’s safe to say we know how Ellen Pompeo is going to spend her hiatus from Grey’s Anatomy – reading!

The show’s star was seen leaving a bookstore in West Hollywood today with a few bags full of books. Ellen is a woman after my own heart, I could spend all day (and a lot of money) in a book store.

Speaking of Grey’s Anatomy did you watch last night’s season finale!? OMG I was glued to my seat for the entire hour and I can’t believe we have to wait until September to find out what happens! After a season that kind of bored me that finale made sure I will definitely be tuning in next season!

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Photos by LRR/FameFlynet Pictures

The Stars Walk The Red Carpet For The Premiere Of ‘Madagascar 3′ In Cannes

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:40:45 +0000

Today was another star studded day at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes as Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted premiered at the film festival.

Earlier in the day the movie’s stars attended a photocall with Jada Pinkett Smith and Jessica Chastain looking lovely in their dresses, but they both brought the fashion up a notch on the red carpet! Jessica looked beautiful in her white Georgio Armani gown, and Jada looked super hot in her orange Atelier Versace gown that showed off her amazing legs and arms. Wow!

Stars such as Jennifer Connelly, Salma Hayek and Naomi Watts were all on hand to walk the red carpet as well. There are so many gorgeous dresses on this red carpet – which is your favourite?

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Photos by Pictures Flynet UK/FameFlynet Pictures

Pregnancy Nightmare: Mom Recalls Night Cop Kicked Her In The Stomach (EXCLUSIVE)

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:37:55 +0000

All Raven Dozier could think about was why her baby wasn’t moving.

“Is my baby OK?” she recalls asking at that terrifying moment five months ago.

The 20-year-old Georgia woman was in her third trimester in December when a police officer in boots kicked her in the stomach, leaving her on the ground, gripping her belly in agony. “The baby would normally move a lot, but after the kick he wasn’t moving,” said Dozier in an exclusive interview with The Huffington Post.

Dozier was nine months pregnant on the day the Dekalb County Police Department responded to a domestic disturbance involving her brother. At the time, she weighed around 180 pounds and describes herself as “huge.”

“My stomach was big, my face was swollen,” Dozier said. “I think the police officer should have been able to tell I was pregnant. I was clearly showing.”

Click here for previous coverage of Raven Dozier’s story.

In the incident report filed Dec. 12, police officer Jerad Wheeler — now under criminal investigation for kicking Dozier — wrote that he gave “three verbal commands of ‘Get back’” as she charged toward him.

But Dozier said she never charged the officer — and wonders how she possibly could at nearly nine-months pregnant.

“I asked him, ‘Why did you tase my brother?’ said Dozier, who admits that her brother, Darius Usher, was acting “belligerent” during a custody dispute with the mother of his child. “I was on the left side of the officer, and he stepped back and kicked me.”

In his police report, Wheeler wrote that “when Ms. Dozier was about three feet from me, I kicked her in the stomach to push her back. The kick was a front push kick to the abdomen as I was taught to do in the academy.”

But Dozier’s attorney, Mark Bullman, said that his client never charged at Wheeler, that she was attempting to calm her brother and that at such a late stage of pregnancy, it’s more likely that she was “waddling like a penguin.”

“Either the man couldn’t tell the woman was pregnant — in which case, you wonder why someone that stupid is allowed to carry a badge and a gun — or he is lying,” Bullman said. “I guess at this point we can’t tell.”

Wheeler wrote in the Dec. 12 police report that he didn’t realize her condition. “I could not tell by the sight of her at the time that she was pregnant.”

Police charged Dozier with obstruction and disorderly conduct, a move Bullman said was done to justify the use of force. Those charges have since been dropped.

Two weeks after the incident, Dozier prematurely delivered her child by cesarean section. Doctors said that leaking fluids in her uterus were threatening her son’s life.

Today, Dozier’s little boy, Levi, is healthy and about 4 months old. “That’s all I was worried about,” she said. “That’s all I was thinking about.”

Dozier is not sure if she trusts police after her experience. She’s now suing the county as the district attorney investigates Wheeler’s actions. “Why would he kick me?” she said. “The police are supposed to protect, I don’t know if something happens in the future that I want them to protect me.”

Requests for comment from the Dekalb police were not immediately returned.

WARNING: The photos below contain some content that may be considered unsuitable for some audiences.

Top Judge Charged In Serious Case

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:37:52 +0000

PITTSBURGH — State Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin was charged Friday with illegally using her taxpayer-funded staff in her campaigns for a seat on the state’s highest court in a scheme that ensnared her sister, a senator awaiting sentencing on similar charges.

Orie Melvin said outside court that she will vigorously defend herself against the nine criminal charges, which a grand jury report called a “tale of corruption” that she “actively condoned and even promoted.”

“I am a woman of faith,” Orie Melvin said. “My faith will see me through this. And I will not resign because of these politically motivated charges.”

The high court relieved her of judicial and administrative duties Friday, but she remains a Supreme Court justice, on the payroll with a $195,000 salary and full benefits. The court also ordered Orie Melvin’s Pittsburgh office sealed to secure records, files and equipment that are property of the court.

The charges come two months after her sister Republican state Sen. Jane Orie was convicted of 14 counts of theft of services, conflict of interest and forgery charges. Orie is scheduled to be sentenced in June, and her attorney has said in court filings that she will resign before then.

The grand jury report said Orie Melvin and her staff used personal email accounts to shield the actual email addresses that generated the messages, hiding the fact that political activities were being handled by the staffers while they were on the state payroll. Orie Melvin also used her state-paid telephone line to solicit support from hundreds of Republican committee members around the state, the report said.

Lisa Sasinoski, a former law clerk, told the grand jury that Orie Melvin’s aide and sister Janine Orie ordered her to work the polls for Orie Melvin in the 2003 election. Sasinoski testified that she told Orie Melvin after the election that the illegal campaign activities needed to end; the next day, she was fired.

The grand jury found evidence that “Superior Court personnel, court-provided facilities, and court-supplied office equipment” were used in the 2003 and 2009 elections.

The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts said this is apparently only the second time a sitting justice has faced criminal charges. Justice Rolf Larsen was accused in 1993 of using the names of court employees to fraudulently obtain prescription drugs. He was removed from the bench when the charges were filed and was convicted the following year.

Gov. Tom Corbett said that while the charges against Orie Melvin will be resolved in court, “her arrest should serve as a reminder to public officials that no one is above the law.”

The grand jury investigation began in 2009 when an intern in Sen. Orie’s office complained to the district attorney’s office that she’d seen the lawmaker’s staff doing campaign work for Orie Melvin just days before she was elected to the high court.

The absence of Orie Melvin, a Republican, leaves the court evenly divided between the parties, with review of the politically charged legislative reapportionment matter potentially returning before the court. The Supreme Court in January by a 4-3 vote threw out the last set of district maps and the reapportionment commission has not yet had a final vote on a new version.

___

Associated Press writer Peter Jackson contributed to this story from Harrisburg.

WATCH: Naked Woman’s Impromptu Shopping Spree Attracts The Eyes Of The Law

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:37:45 +0000

A nude woman who calmly walked into two New York businesses this week shocked employees and attracted the gaze of more than one startled shopper.

Temperatures may have only been in the 60s in Saratoga Springs on Tuesday, but that did not stop 49-year-old Barbara Lafleur from stripping down to her birthday suit while she went shopping along Route 67, authorities said.

“It was bizarre. It was a very bizarre case. We’ve never had anything like this happen,” Saratoga County District Attorney James Murphy III told The Huffington Post.

Lafleur’s first stop was Curtis Lumber, where surveillance cameras captured her strolling casually through the store. Contacted by HuffPost Friday, store manager Bob Eakin said he was no longer allowed to comment on the incident. In an earlier interview with the Times Union, Eakin said Lafleur asked a couple of employees what time it was, told them to “Have a good day,” and then walked out.

“No one wanted to say much to her,” Eakin told the newspaper. “It’s not a situation you want to be involved in.”

After leaving the lumber yard, Lafleur allegedly walked a short distance to a Stewart’s Shops convenience store, where police say she again did little to protect the modesty of the shopping public.

“The clerk said, ‘Excuse me, ma’am, did you know you have no clothes on?’ and she said, ‘Oh yeah I’m totally fine with that,’” Murphy explained.

Stewart’s Shops spokesman Tom Mailey said the manager of the store was initially concerned about the woman.

“When something like that happens, I think your first concern is, is something wrong, so he chatted with her briefly and [then] asked her to leave,” Mailey told HuffPost.

The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office was called and the woman was picked up and taken for a mental evaluation.

“A psychiatrist examined her and said she is perfectly fine, so that was a different kind of response than we had anticipated,” Murphy said. “She was not on any drugs or medications we are aware of.”

So why the nude shopping spree?

“She is just a person who believes in the freedom of nudism. That was her explanation,” Murphy said.

Lafleur was released pending a future court appearance. If convicted on a misdemeanor charge, she could face a fine and a maximum sentence of 90 days in jail.

“This [incident] was a first for us,” Mailey said. “I’m probably not in favor of it happening more, but it certainly has created some noise, that’s for sure.”

LISTEN: Coworker Says Zimmerman Targeted Him With ‘Achmed The Terrorist’ Remarks

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:37:32 +0000

Within a collection of evidence officially released by the State Attorney’s Office on Thursday, was an audio recording of a 15-minute interview with George Zimmerman’s former co-worker. During the interview, the man, whose name was not given, says that Zimmerman racially targeted him and bullied him at work, ThinkProgress.com reports.

According to the witness, Zimmerman singled him out because he was Middle Eastern, calling him a “fucking moron” and mocking him with the voice of “Achmed the terrorist.” He said Zimmerman would also tell stories and make jokes about “bombing” and other “Middle Eastern stuff.”

Editor’s Note: Some readers may find the language in this audio offensive.

LISTEN:

Zimmerman has been charged with shooting 17-year-old Trayvon Martin on the evening of Feb. 26 in a gated community in Sanford, Fla. Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer called 911 and told a police dispatcher that the teen, who was returning from a trip to a nearby convenience store, “looked suspicious.” After an altercation, Zimmerman shot Martin in the chest, subsequently telling local police that he acted in self-defense.

In addition to the second-degree murder charge he’s facing, Zimmerman could also face federal hate crime charges. If convicted of second-degree murder, Zimmerman could serve a maximum sentence of life in prison. However, if he is found guilty of a federal hate crime charge, he could face the death penalty.

The witness said that he never felt physically threatened by Zimmerman or had any violent interaction with him. He said that he complained to management about Zimmerman’s behavior, and Zimmerman was eventually “fired for calling the HR hotline so many times.”

Complaints about Zimmerman’s behavior aren’t new. In the past, his neighbors complained about his aggressive tactics as a neighborhood watchmen and public records show he was arrested in Orange County in 2005 on charges of resisting arrest with violence and battery on a law enforcement officer.

Since his arrest, Zimmerman has been released on bond. The case is expected to go to trial.

Alaska Militia Members Accused Of Frightening Plot

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:37:28 +0000

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Schaeffer Cox carries himself with youthful swagger as he spreads a message to his many admirers of an out-of-control federal government bulldozing individual freedoms.

Federal prosecutors portray him quite differently: as a dangerous Alaska militia leader who with others amassed a huge cache of illegal weapons while plotting a strategy to one day kill judges, state troopers and other government officials.

According to prosecutors, Cox, the 28-year-old head of the Alaska Peacemakers Militia, believed his group would eventually need to take up arms against the government, and “be sufficiently armed and equipped to sustain a take-over of the `government’ or become a new government in the event of a `government collapse.’” So he and others allegedly hatched a plan intended to kill two government officials for every one militia member who was killed – a strategy known within the group as “241″ or “two for one.”

The federal trial of Cox and two Alaska men – Coleman Barney, 37, and Lonnie Vernon, 56 – began last week and could last another month. Defense attorneys plan to argue that the government badly overstepped its authority, ensnaring the men via an informant who encouraged weapons purchases and pushed for violence. Their clients are not dangerous men but devout Christians who only intended to defend loved ones in case that ever became necessary, the defense has argued.

Norm Olson, the founder of the Michigan Militia who now lives in the Alaska community of Nikiski and is commander of the Alaska Citizens Militia, is among those who support Cox. He said that any so-called plot against the government was just “testosterone talking.” As for the “241″ concept, it’s about defensive planning, not striking first, Olson said.

“So I don’t understand what’s going on here,” he said. “But the feds want to push it, I think, because Schaeffer is such an outstanding spokesperson for the constitution.”

Besides the Peacemakers group, Cox also led a group called the Second Amendment Task Force in Fairbanks and ran unsuccessfully for the state House in 2008. He began to attract notice of law enforcement after the turn of the decade.

In March 2010, he was accused of choking his wife during an argument in a car and convicted of misdemeanor reckless endangerment. He told supporters that he blamed the incident on a bothersome mother-in-law, who never liked his conservative values.

Weeks after that arrest, a Fairbanks homeowner contacted Cox to complain that police were making an unauthorized search of her property. Police said they were responding to a 911 hang-up call.

As a member of a “Liberty Bell” network, Cox sent out mass notifications when people believe their rights are violated. In the Fairbanks incident, he tried to go inside the home while police were interviewing people. An officer noticed a knife in Cox’s front pocket, patted him down and found a .380-caliber semiautomatic pistol. Alaska law requires people who come in contact with a law enforcement officer while carrying a concealed firearm to immediately notify the officer.

During a pretrial hearing on the weapons charge, he denied the legitimacy of the Alaska state court system. He believes all people are sovereigns, and no one is required to obey laws unless they directly harm other sovereigns.

“I am a sovereign, a man of peace, but capable of war,” he said during a rambling 20-minute speech, as reported by the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

“There’s a lot of people that would just as soon come and kill you in the night than come in your courtroom and argue during the day,” Cox told Judge Jane Kauvar during the hearing.

He then stated he wouldn’t attend further proceedings.

But Cox did go to one more. At a December 2010 hearing to set a trial date, Cox – who refused to remove his newsboy hat – attempted to serve paperwork on District Court Judge Patrick Hammers. “You’re now being treated as a criminal engaged in criminal activity, and you’re being served in that manner,” Cox said.

Cox also told a state trooper after the hearing the militia had troopers “outmanned, outgunned and we could probably have you all dead in one night,” the News-Miner reported.

An arrest warrant was soon issued when he didn’t appear for court in February 2011.

Cox told The Associated Press at the time that his absence was in response to a judge’s order barring “any discussion of, reference to, or argument with respect to the defendant’s position on the validity of, `sense’ of, or constitutionality of the law.”

Said Cox: “The judge, by signing an order forbidding all reference to the constitution, has divested himself of all authority vested in him by that constitution and the law requires me to now resist by all means necessary or else be an enabler of lawlessness.”

In March 2011, Cox and the other defendants were arrested on charges of conspiring to commit murder, conspiracy to commit kidnapping and weapons charges.

Vernon also faces federal charges of threatening the murder of U.S. District Court Judge Ralph Beistline and a family member of a federal judge. Beistline is overseeing the Vernons’ federal tax case. Federal attorneys filed liens on their home in south of Fairbanks.

Cox and the others initially faced state charges as well, but those counts were thrown out when a judge ruled the FBI recordings captured during a six-month investigation were made without a warrant, a violation of the Alaska Constitution. The FBI has wider authority to obtain warrants, and there is greater leeway in federal court.

BRIEF DISGUISE: Robber Wears Underwear On Head During Idaho Burglary

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:37:25 +0000

BOISE, Idaho — Police in southwest Idaho say a man chose briefs over boxers to wear on his head as he held up a coffee shop and stole a safe.

Coffee shop owner Jason Wilson tells the Idaho Statesman says he believes the man was likely not prepared when he entered Big Star Coffee in Fruitland with an accomplice on Tuesday morning.

Wilson asked: “Who robs something with underwear on their head?”

Investigators say the two burglars made off with about $500 in cash that was inside the safe. Their actions were captured on surveillance cameras inside and outside the shop.

___

Woman Gets Life For Helping NFL Player Kill Her Millionaire Boyfriend

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:37:22 +0000

SANTA ANA, Calif. — A Southern California woman was sentenced to life in prison Friday for helping her lover, former NFL linebacker Eric Naposki, murder her live-in millionaire boyfriend for financial gain nearly two decades ago.

Nanette Ann Packard, 46, was convicted of murder earlier this year in the cold case slaying of William Francis McLaughlin, who made his fortune in medical technologies and was shot dead in his kitchen in December 1994.

Packard was living with the much older McLaughlin when he was murdered, but the divorced mother of two was also dating Naposki, a former linebacker for the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts who worked as a bouncer at a nearby nightclub.

Packard convinced Naposki to kill McLaughlin, gave him a key to the victim’s house and told him when he would be home, prosecutors said.

She stood to collect $1 million on a life insurance policy and receive $150,000 and free rent for a year at one of his homes if McLaughlin died, authorities said.

Packard ended up stealing at least $500,000 from McLaughlin’s estate both before and after his death, Matt Murphy, deputy district attorney, said during trial.

She pleaded guilty to grand theft in 1996 and was sentenced to a year in jail, but the murder case went cold.

Investigators long suspected Packard and Naposki, however, and new technology to identify the weapon along with a new witness allowed prosecutors to file murder charges in 2009, prosecutors have said.

McLaughlin’s adult daughters spoke at the sentencing hearing Friday in Orange County Superior Court.

“The fact that you, Nanette, destroyed so many lives, including my Dad’s, is vile. … You had absolutely no right to take him from us for your own selfish reasons. He was incredibly good to you for four whole years,” said daughter Kim McLaughlin Bayless.

Naposki, 45, was convicted of first-degree murder last July.

His sentencing has been postponed until Aug. 10.

Man Fatally Crushed At Newsprint Plant

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:37:19 +0000

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. — A railroad engineer near Philadelphia has been killed by a roll of newsprint that fell out of a boxcar and crushed him.

Officials say the death occurred Friday morning at a plant that produces the Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News.

A newspaper company spokesman says the engineer was in his 40s and worked for Brandywine Valley Railways. The spokesman, Mark Block, says the worker was below the platform to offload the 1,800-pound rolls when one fell out, apparently after shifting in the boxcar.

The printing plant is located in Upper Merion. The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office is investigating.

The victim has been identified as 43-year-old Jefferson Troester from Claymont, Del.

Randi Weingarten: Schools and Communities: Stronger Together

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:36:58 +0000

It’s time to stop ignoring poverty and the realities that disadvantaged students face. We must instead address the factors that can and do impede student achievement and well-being.
Read More…
More on Teachers

Chris Weigant: Friday Talking Points — Good Enough for My Money

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:36:50 +0000

It was a somewhat eclectic week in politics. The House — in one of their rare moments when they actually meet and attempt to get something done — passed a bunch of bills which have exactly zero chance of becoming law. Well, at least they had fun, right?
Read More…
More on Financial Crisis

Jada Pinkett Smith’s Cannes Film Festival Dress Has Extreme Plunging Neckline (PHOTOS)

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:36:38 +0000

The Cannes Film Festival is known for its amazing and daring fashion moments — and so far this year we haven’t been disappointed.

In fact, Jada Pinkett Smith decided to don a bold design with an extremely low-cut neckline while dining with the co-stars of her children’s animated film “Madagascar 3.”

With a silhouette like that, we’re sure the 40-year-old actress was on major wardrobe malfunction watch. But thankfully there was no nip slip..or even belly button slip to report.

Olympic Torch Relay: David Beckham Welcomes Flame To Britain Ahead Of 2012 London Games (PHOTOS)

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:36:30 +0000

“This is a big acceleration of the heartbeat,” London Mayor Boris Johnson said as he summed up the moment. “This is the final furlong for us.”

Read More…
More on London Olympics 2012

John Mayer Is Already Working On A New Album, And He May Be High

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:36:15 +0000

The new, improved and enlightened John Mayer is just days away from releasing his new album, Born and Raised.

The musician, who spent the past two years in hideout, reflecting on his troubled past and ripping off Johnny Depp‘s style, is excited to release his long-awaited album. He “soberly” told guests at a recent listening party:

“You forget anyone is ever going to hear it because it seems so far off.”

That’s deep bro. LOL!

John revealed that he’s currently writing on his next album, and hopes to start recording as soon as this summer. The artist announced:

“I’ve been thinking I’ll record in July and August. I’m already writing – I’ve got nothing else to do. Like any other job, you finish a project – you start another project.”

The ~~stoned~~ profound musician explained the importance of writing a new album ASAP:

“Whether or not I can sing, there’s a way I can see the world right now that I won’t again. And if you’re a writer, you write the way you can see the world at that moment.”

Excited to hear how is new state of mind has affected his music??

You don’t have to wait long! The record comes out May 22.

[Image via Retna LTD.]

Laurie Reveals House Finale Secrets!

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:36:12 +0000

Watch the video above, stat!

After ~~twenty-three~~ eight seasons on the air, everyone’s favorite crotchety doctor hangs up his stethoscope for good on Monday.

Many sources report Dr. House will kick the proverbial bucket in the finale episode and when Hugh Laurie stopped by The Tonight Show, Leno grilled him for ~~supper~~ answers.

~~In an embarrassingly fake British accent,~~ Hugh gives strong indications that he might not live through House’s final episode.

What do U think might kill him?

We cast our vote for a rare flesh-eating virus!!

[Video via NBC.]

Shonda Rhimes Talks Shocking Grey’s Anatomy Death! More Deaths To Come!?!

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:36:04 +0000

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

Everyone is buzzing about the death in the Grey’s Anatomy finale. It was in-sane!

Show creator Shonda Rhimes thinks so too! (So why did she do it??)

Fortunately, the epic drama writer has revealed her thoughts on the finale, which at least gives us more insight…

ON THE POSSIBILITY OF MORE DEATHS FROM THE PLANE CRASH:

Everyone is still so immersed in ‘Who died?’ and no one is talking about the thing that I actually think is important and was the point of the episode – which is they are still out there. They’re still out there in the forest, and we don’t know if they are going to be OK. We left it open for a reason because…I hate to say this, but just because you saw people alive at the end of the finale doesn’t mean they’re going to be alive when the season starts up. We are completely jumping off into the unknown next season.

ON WHY CHYLER LEIGH (LEXIE GREY) HAD TO LEAVE:

Stuff that happens inside our family is stuff that happens inside our family. I have so much respect for Chyler, and the decision was really, it was very hard for everybody involved and I want to respect her privacy on that.

ON WHETHER CHYLER CAN RETURN VIA PARANORMAL ACTIVITY:

We saw Denny as a ghost, and people didn’t really like that, did they? It was a really hard decision to let that character die versus send her off into the sunset somewhere. It was really difficult. It was not made lightly. I don’t think we’re going to see Lexie Grey ever again. That’s not the intention, to see her again. It’s a big loss. It’s a big loss for the characters and it’s a big loss for the show. We’re busy feeling that loss.

ON LEXIE/MCSTEAMY’S RELATIONSHIP PANNING OUT IF SHE HADN’T LEFT:

I always felt like Mark and Lexie were meant to be together. If things had not turned out the way they had this season, I had a completely different thing planned for them. I was one of the people who loved Mark and Lexie together; I had a completely different thing planned for them. The introduction of Julie was part of planning a completely different storyline for them. So for me, there was a lot of heartbreak in that. There were so many moments and so many things that I had wanted to happen with those characters that we’re never going to get to see. When Mark and Lexie say “meant to be,” it wasn’t about servicing the fans. That’s how I felt. That’s what was supposed to happen, and that’s what I wanted to see. It was heartbreaking.

INTENSE STUFF!!

Every time we watch Grey’s, we end up almost suffering a heart attack by the end of it.

Srsly, Ellen Pompeo and Patrick Dempsey better do house calls with all the suspense they give us! We mean, shiz!

Matthew Morrison: ‘It Was The First Time I Saw A Vagina’

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:35:55 +0000

LOLz!

The stories Jimmy Kimmel gets his guests to tell!

Matthew Morrison, AKA our pal Mr. Schue from Glee, was on the show to talk about his new movie What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Of course they pretty much talked about everything but that… yet they managed to land on a story about Matthew’s father.

The story about the first time Matthew had seen a vagina!

HA!

Check out the video (above) and learn more about Matthew than you’ve ever wanted to know! (JK, that’s impossible!)

Safer for Misophonics: 20/20′s Misophonia Coverage

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:33:57 +0000

ABC News created a special version of our misophonia story that is stripped of some of the sounds that commonly trigger reactions from those who suffer from the condition. Watch parts 1 and 2 of the piece below.

Trayvon: Does Self-Defense Depend on Who Started Fight?

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:33:41 +0000

Hundreds of pages of documents released yesterday in the Trayvon Martin case shed new light on a number of important aspects of the investigation . Maybe most importantly, it seems clear that George Zimmerman took a beating. Probably a pretty bad one. Bloody lacerations on his head, grass stains on…

How Spam Meat Has Survived Spam E-Mail

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:33:18 +0000

Despite its association with something everyone hates, Hormel’s lunchmeat has not only survived, it’s thrived

UPDATE 1-Arizona towns at risk as wildfires hit U.S. Southwest

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:13:59 +0000

PHOENIX, May 18 (Reuters) – An Arizona wildfire threatened
two more towns on Friday, with high winds on the way, even as
firefighters made progress against the largest of a string of
blazes spreading…

WRAPUP 5-Obama presses ailing Europe to focus on growth

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:13:53 +0000

* President to isolated Merkel: “You have a few things on
your mind”

George Clinton, Black Eyed Peas end song lawsuit

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:13:35 +0000

May 18 (Reuters) – The funk pioneer George Clinton has
settled a lawsuit in which he accused the pop and hip hop group
Black Eyed Peas of using part of one of his songs in remixes of
its hit song “Shut Up” without permission.

Guatemalan mother seeks ‘stolen’ daughter’s return from U.S.

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:13:26 +0000

In Missouri, they call her Karen. In Guatemala, she is known as Anyeli. The 7-year-old is at the center of an international custody fight.

Oregon bans Native American school mascots, images

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:13:21 +0000

Public schools in Oregon must discontinue the use of Native American names, symbols or images as mascots following a State Board of Education vote.

Alabama governor signs revised anti-illegal immigration law

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:13:16 +0000

Alabama’s governor Friday signed legislation he says will “simplify and clarify” the state’s controversial anti-illegal immigration law.

Violin prodigy overcomes childhood burns

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:13:08 +0000

Affiliate WEHT’s story of a girl overcoming childhood burns, surgeries and skin grafts to become talented violinist.

Dr. Oz: High costs in health mistakes

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:13:03 +0000

Dr. Oz explains to CNN’s Piers Morgan why the most expensive aspect of medicine is bad health care.

Lebanese give their messages to the U.S.

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:12:57 +0000

Lebanese at the American University in Beirut step up to CNN’s Open Mic and give their messages to the United States.

Indian clinic’s stem cell therapy real?

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:12:52 +0000

A clinic in India claims its use in experimental stem cell therapy that’s banned in the U.S. works. Drew Griffin reports.

Cameras capture violent shootout

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:12:45 +0000

Cameras capture a violent shootout that left three people dead in Louisville, Kentucky. WDRB has more.

Verlander nearly throws 3rd no-hitter for Tigers

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:07:14 +0000

Justin Verlander came within two outs of his third career no-hitter, allowing only Josh Harrison’s ninth-inning single in the Detroit Tigers’ 6-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.

Pettitte leads Yanks over Reds 4-0

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:07:07 +0000

Andy Pettitte pitched eight shutout innings for his first regular-season win since July 2010, leading the New York Yankees over the Cincinnati Reds 4-0 Friday night.

Bill Murray, President?! Watch Funnyman as FDR in Hyde Park on Hudson Trailer

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:06:42 +0000

Now here’s a new deal for Bill Murray.

In a role that seems tailor-made for awards season, the Lost in Translation star plays President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in Hyde Park on the…

Kristin Cavallari Grabs Some Lunch

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:40:20 +0000

Kristin Cavallari’s bump is definitely coming along, isn’t it! The reality star was seen grabbing some lunch at M Cafe in Beverly Hills today and as always she was looking gorgeous.

Kristin wore white capris and loose fitting pale blue button down and tied her hair back into a simple ponytail. This is a little more casual than we’ve seen Kristin looking lately but she looks so great she can pull off anything.

It was recently revealed by a teammate of Kristin’s fiancé, Jay Cutler, that the couple are expecting a boy, although there has been no official confirmation. Looks like we won’t have too much longer to wait to find out for sure!

Visit the Gallery (10 Images)

Photos by VM/FameFlynet Pictures

Who wrote the book of rock? No. 10 the Rolling Stones

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:40:11 +0000

Music columnist Bernard Perusse counts down the top 10 acts that created the musical language we know as rock ’n’ roll

Laura Prudom: Who Died In The ‘Nikita’ Finale?

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:37:21 +0000

Note: Do not read on if you have not seen Season 2, Episode 23 of The CW’s “Nikita,” entitled “Homecoming.”

It’s been a revelatory season for The CW’s “Nikita.” This year, the show shed the last vestiges of its procedural beginnings and wholeheartedly embraced its compelling mythology, drawing fans deeper into Percival Rose’s treacherous web of politics and bloodshed, keeping our heroes on the run, outgunned, but never quite outmatched. We’ve seen allies become enemies, Oversight dismantled, Zetrov returned to safe hands, Amanda deposed and finally, Percy fallen once and for all.

It’s easy to forget, in the halcyon glow of the show’s renewal, that this episode could easily have been “Nikita’s” series finale — would you have been satisfied if it had been? From a storytelling standpoint, the narrative truly has come full-circle; this season has been focused on the concept of “home,” and as both Nikita and Percy pointed out in this episode, Division is the only home Nikita has ever known.

“I grew up here, I learned right from wrong here, and I fell in love here,” our heroine pointed out, effectively scuttling Michael’s plans for retirement on a desert island, but also embracing the idea that Division had a hand in shaping her into the honorable, powerful woman she is today.

Yes, Division took away her life, but it also inadvertently provided her with a new one, with a destiny that’s far more important than the one she left behind. Nikita was on Death Row, she was an addict with no friends and no future, and so — in ways she’s probably reluctant to acknowledge — Percy’s twisted agenda changed her life for the better, albeit by making her suffer through the worst. That doesn’t excuse what he forced her and the other recruits to do over the course of their careers, of course, but it’s a silver lining to one man’s depraved cloud.

Just as last year’s finale brought all of the seemingly disparate elements from Season 1 together to reveal the extent of Percy’s Machiavellian scheming, this season’s closer beautifully wove the threads of Nikita’s Season 2 journey into a cohesive tapestry, illustrating that, in the end, running Division was not only the obvious choice, it was the only real choice for Team Nikita to make.

From Nikita’s mentor, Carla, and the faith she had in the idea of Division as a place for rehabilitation and second chances, to Owen and his belief that Nikita’s unique skill-set should be used for protection as much as aggression, Nikita’s path this year has been inexorably leading her towards this outcome.

In our recent interview, Shane West pointed out that “Team Nikita has been put together for a reason,” and clearly, that reason was to force Nikita into a leadership role that she never would’ve chosen on her own; to help her realize that she is capable of taking command without abusing that position of power, and to prove that, in learning to trust others and let her loved ones in, she’s no longer making decisions for everyone else — she’s allowing them to demonstrate their faith in her by risking their own lives for her cause.

Alex, Sean, Ryan, Birkhoff, even Michael, all could’ve walked away from her at many points this season, but they stayed because they believed in Nikita and her ability to know right from wrong and to make hard choices without ever sacrificing innocent lives. Division truly has a chance to fulfill Carla’s original aspirations for it with Nikita, Michael and Ryan at the helm, and I’m glad that the writers chose restoration over destruction when it came to solving the problem of Division and all of the equally helpless recruits that Percy and Amanda manipulated over the years.

The outcome of “Homecoming” was just another illustration of the grace that Nikita never could’ve discovered without going through everything she had to endure this season: almost losing Michael, Birkhoff and Ryan; actually losing Carla; being betrayed and manipulated by Percy and the man she had hoped was her father; facing Amanda and her own darkness after being captured by Brandt — all instances of our heroine being thrust into the fire again and again, forging her into the person that Division truly needed to lead it.

While it was bittersweet to see Percy and Roan die (and aren’t you impressed by all of the cast’s misdirection in teasing the show’s deaths?), their stories have run their course. As integral as Percy has been to “Nikita’s” story for the past two years — and as phenomenal as Xander Berkeley has been in playing such a memorable and formidable villain — Nikita (both the woman and the show) need to evolve. It would have undermined Nikita’s strength to have such a major adversary remain on the board after everything he’s done to her, especially with Amanda still at large. I also assume that the enigmatic “Group” that Percy was trying to get into will feature heavily next season, so there are still plenty of battles for our heroes to fight. Having Percy end up back in his glass prison was a poetic touch, and I loved the image of him falling through the glass, shot from below — one of many fascinating visual flourishes from director Eagle Egilsson in “Homecoming.”

I loved that, in typically Percy fashion, he managed to turn the tables and force Nikita to work with him one last time in escaping Division — the pair have such a dynamic, antagonistic rapport that it served as a fitting send-off for an iconic character. I’m sure that one of his final lines — “I brought you into this world, I can take you out of it” — will keep conspiracy theorists speculating whether he truly was Nikita’s birth father, as some suspect. It was also surprisingly touching to see just how affected Roan was by his commander’s demise, and I’m glad that he got to go out with a bang (literally) following another stunning fight scene with Alex and Sean.

I was especially pleased with the way writer Carlos Coto toyed with the audience’s expectations during the episode. From the outset — with Sean’s attempts to ask Alex out on a real date — those endearing emotional beats seemed to be positioning Sean as one of the episode’s casualties, building up to the possibility of a tragic demise that would serve to motivate Alex next season. There was an undercurrent of tension in all of the pair’s scenes together as the possibility of his death loomed — further played up by Coto’s decision to have Alex and Sean split up, to go against every horror movie scenario ever committed to celluloid. Even in their joint fight with Roan, Sean seemed poised to go out in a blaze of glory, defending the woman he loved before tragically dying in her arms. The fact that Coto so knowingly subverted that classic action trope only made the episode more delicious, even if it came at the expense of Roan. And Alex continued the trend of getting her arm broken during dramatic fight scenes; was that the same arm that Nikita broke at the beginning of the season, continuity buffs?

While the episode undoubtedly placed Nikita in a leadership role, it did the same for Ryan, and now that Noah Bean is officially a regular next season, it will be interesting to see how the dynamic evolves between him and Nikita. We saw the mild-mannered analyst truly stepping up to the plate this week; he effortlessly took command of Team Nikita early in the episode, directing Birkhoff and Alex and Sean in their tasks while Nikita and Michael took care of Division. As the team’s only trustworthy link to the government left, I’m intrigued to see how Ryan will adjust to straddling the line between answering to the president and looking after Team Nikita’s interests.

I was also pleased to see Michael interacting with the Division agents he’d trained when he and Nikita stormed the castle — even as an “outsider,” it was obvious that he found it easy to fall back into old authoritative habits, and Shane West perfectly portrayed Michael’s confidence and resolve once he was back on the home field. I wonder if he’ll be back to wearing a power suit when we see him next. We had a brief, obscured moment of friction between Michael and Ryan when they were debating Division’s future, so I’m curious to see if that will continue next year. When we spoke, West also pointed out that their new living situation is ripe with possibilities for conflict between Nikita and Michael: “They’re different; Michael’s very conservative and Nikita’s very liberal … When you see how it ends and what their current destiny is going to be, they’re going to have different opinions on how to handle the situation.” Whether that means trouble for “Mikita,” we’ll have to wait and see.

Even though she was the show’s calm, steely center last season, I think Maggie Q has truly come into her own in Season 2, and it’s clear that episodes like the phenomenal “Wrath” have given her new confidence in portraying Nikita, just as the character herself seemed to reach a new level of self-possession after the events of that episode. She has such admirable poise now, clearly buoyed by the support of her team, that I can’t wait to see how the character faces next season’s challenges. But as thrilling as her rousing speech to the Division personnel was, I think my favorite moment of the episode was her quiet, sunset conversation with Michael regarding their future. It was an understated, but heartfelt moment between two characters who have suffered more than their fair share of heartbreak, and I was impressed by the understated, but potent emotion on Q’s face.

That segued into Birkhoff finally getting some action with Sonya (and a welcome cameo from showrunner Craig Silverstein, who could be spotted talking to Ryan in the background) before Nikita effectively ruined yet another romantic moment between Sean and Alex, who really do need to have a proper date over the summer.

Having the finale end where the show began, with Nikita and Alex steeling themselves to change the course of Division’s destiny all over again, proved a fitting punctuation mark, while still leaving the door open for more thrilling adventures next season. I, for one, can’t wait to see where “Nikita” takes us next.

What did you think of “Homecoming”? Were you glad to see Percy and Roan exit while Team Nikita got to fight on for another day? Share your reactions and predictions for Season 3 below!

“Nikita” returns in the fall with Season 3 on Fridays at 9 p.m. ET on The CW.

The Occupy Movement Descends On Chicago For NATO Summit

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:37:15 +0000

Busloads of Occupy activists have been arriving in Chicago to protest the summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

“We’re trying to bring a critical mass of people back to the Occupy movement,” said Nicole Powers, an activist and managing editor of Suicide Girls, a website that has extensively chronicled the Occupy movement since it began on Wall Street. “We want to get mass involvement back into the Occupy movement as we move into an election season.”

Protestors plan to gather in Daley Plaza on Friday and on Saturday for a march to the home of Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Sunday brings the climatic event: a march from Grant Park to the McCormick Place convention center, where NATO delegates will be meeting throughout the weekend.

The list of targets is smaller than it used to be. The Group of Eight was originally supposed to meet in Chicago this weekend, but White House officials scrapped the idea after word of the Occupy plans got out. Now the G8 is meeting in the seclusion of Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland. Occupy protesters have happily taken credit for the move.

Many in Chicago have invoked the historical echoes of earlier protests — the melee at 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago, and the protests of international organizations like NATO that rattled cities around the world in the late-’90s and early-2000s. “I think that this is a historic weekend in Chicago,” said Stephen Weber, an activist who helped organize bus trips for hundreds of activists from eight cities. “The fact that the G8 was supposed to be here and they moved to Camp David is indicative of the power of the narrative and the visibility of discontent in this country and around the world.”

Protesters are not alone in anticipating something akin to the 1968 Chicago riots. The police department has supplied officers with pepper spray and $1 million worth of new riot gear. Cops arrested 20 participants in preliminary protests.

Weber, who helped start the group 99% Solidarity, an offshoot of the Occupy movement, said he opposed NATO because it fights wars and because governments fund those wars with money they should spend elsewhere.

“There’s definitely a connection between the two and I think they’re very important,” Weber said. “My hope is 30 years from now, we won’t have a need for marches like this.”

Anderson Cooper Outsmarts Thomas Friedman

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:37:05 +0000

The Trevor Project, Cooper’s sponsored charity, won $50,000.

The 2012 Power Players series was taped last month at D.A.R. Constitution Hall in the nation’s capital.

It was certainly a star performance by Cooper — there was even one category titled “A.C.”

Kelly O’Donnell and Friedman both won $10,000 on behalf of their charities, the Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation and Conservation International, respectively.

Who’s showed their smarts on Jeopardy’s “Power Players Week” episodes?

PHOTOS: Filthy Fake Muni Ads Popping Up All Over Town (Warning: NSFW)

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:36:48 +0000

Now that’s its been scientifically proven that time on Muni moves slower than on the rest of the planet (one Muni minute can equal up to 119 Earth seconds), it’s important for people riding on San Francisco’s beleaguered public transit service to have something to do.

Other than masturbate, steal iPhones and masturbate, the most common activity for onboard time-wasting is reading the advertisements.

(SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOS)

We know, they’re riveting.

However, those ads just got a whole lot more interesting this week after an unidentified prankster (or group of pranksters) started posting gloriously filthy fake ads on buses all across the city. Naturally, our friends over at Muni Diaries have been following the developments with aplomb.

Ads in the series have trumpeted Cum Tums (“For the frequent c*cksucker”), Fartine Bakery Cafe, Du Beers (“Staging Bl*wjobs since 1923″) and one asking patrons if they’ve “been down on a Marine lately?“.

As SFBay notes, a version of the Marine ad previously appeared on Muni four years ago.

Have you seen any more ads in the series first-hand? Let us know in the comments, and in the mean time, take a look at the four fake ads below (warning: NSFW content):

Congressmen Seek To Legalize Propaganda For Use On Americans

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:36:45 +0000

An amendment that would legalize the use of propaganda on American audiences is being inserted into the latest defense authorization bill, BuzzFeed has learned.

WATCH: Paul Krugman Wonders If Republican Leaders Are ‘Manchurian Candidates’

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:36:37 +0000

Appearing on “Martin Bashir” Friday afternoon, New York Times columnist Paul Krugman said that Republican leaders’ economic policy is so destructive that “sometimes you do wonder if these guys are moles –Manchurian Candidates – for I don’t know who.” (Watch above.)

Krugman also called lawmakers who think austerity programs will jumpstart the economy “completely deluded.”

Throughout his appearance, the Nobel Prize-winning economist proffered a philosophy familiar to readers of his column: Governments should spend more, not less, during tough times. He called the austerity programs that have been put into place in Europe and the U.S. a “massive unethical human experiment,” and argued that “even if you don’t care at all about the people…cutting spending right now now is a way to make the budget, too.”

Responding to a clip of Congressman Paul Ryan comparing American economic malaise to that of Greece, Krugman outlined the many differences between the two countries, then attacked the Republican rising star. “About Paul Ryan–you should really look at Paul Ryan’s budget, and what’s really in it, as opposed to the empty promises,” Krugman said. “His budget would actually increase the budget deficit. He wants to slash taxes on the rich, cut benefits for the poor, but it adds up to an increased budget deficit, not a reduced one.”

Bashir then asked what Krugman thought of John Boehner’s recent assertion that he would once again force a showdown over the U.S. debt ceiling.

Krugman compared Boehner and his ilk to Manchurian Candidates, whose “real job is to bring down America.” Republicans have become so extreme, he said that their strategy at the negotiating table is simply to “threaten to destroy the economy unless they get what they want.”

Cesar Millan: Should Microchipping Dogs Be Mandatory?

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:36:25 +0000

Many communities are proposing making microchipping all dogs mandatory. Besides finding your dog, there are two good reasons to make microchips mandatory.
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More on Dogs

Laura Prudom: ‘Nikita’ Finale Recap: Deaths And New Life In ‘Homecoming’

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:36:16 +0000

It’s been a revelatory season for The CW’s “Nikita.” The show shed the last vestiges of its procedural beginnings and wholeheartedly embraced its compelling mythology, drawing fans deeper into Percival Rose’s treacherous web of politics and deceit.
Read More…
More on TV Recaps

LACMA Hip Hop Concerts: Murs Of 3MG Kicks Off Summer Series (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:36:00 +0000

The spare, modern courtyard at LACMA transformed into a bass-thumping hip hop venue Thursday night.

Rap trio 3MG (Murs, Eligh and Scarub) performed together for the first time in five years, drawing about 1,000 underground hip hop fans to the fine arts bastion.

Amy Shiner: Submission: My Health Choice

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:35:50 +0000

A part of my life I sometimes struggle with is my need of submission. I have had discussions more than once with people on this and have been told that it’s a phase, it’s OK, or as my mother sometimes puts it “be your own woman!” Submission, in my opinion, is sometimes a struggle but other times selfless and rewarding in ways that aren’t always tangible. To that extent, I ponder an age-old question that is asked again and again: “What do you get out of it?”

Service submission, which is submission that is usually platonic and (for me) focused on benefiting my partner more than I, was how the lifestyle was introduced to me and now is a part of my life. I had begun experimenting with kink my second year of college, it sounded interesting, and was a foot in the door. After focusing my attention in other areas, and after a disastrous attempt the first time, I decided to try again.

The next partner, who started this search of self-identity, asked “why” during a work day near the end of the relationship. We had decided to pay someone for extra help, he was working on his house, and I was working for no compensation and really no tangible reward. I was unable to answer why I had the need, knowing that I really was not attracted to his form of control. Fortunately the relationship was already suffering and I wasn’t getting anything intangible out of it either.

Desmond Hatchett: Man With 30 Kids Requests Child-Support Break

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:35:39 +0000

A 33-year-old Knoxville, Tenn. man with 30 children appeared in court this week to ask the state for child-support help, Memphis news station WREG reported Wednesday.

Desmond Hatchett has fathered 30 children — which is believed to be the record in Knox county, according to the Los Angeles Times — with 11 different women. His youngest children are toddlers and his oldest is 14.

Hatchett reportedly asked the court to give him a break on his payments, claiming that he’s struggling to make ends meet with his minimum-wage job. Currently, the state requires him to divide 50 percent of his earnings among the 11 women, some of whom receive as little as $1.49 a month, WREG reports.

Read More…
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Meet Raquel Lancaster, The Newest Character On Single Ladies

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:35:27 +0000

Single Ladies (Season 2) – Single Ladies Season 2

Raquel Lancaster is the newest character to be introduced on Single Ladies, and she’s beautiful, passionate, and ready to take on the world. Those are also traits that describe the actress playing her, Denise Vasi is all of those things, too, but in this brand new clip that was shot on location with Denise, she tells us that they have plenty of differences. “We have different views on a couple things in life,” Denise says. “Raquel is the hopeless romantic, gives everyone the benefit of the doubt. I’m not necessarily like that.” To see more clips from the show and the full interview with Denise, watch the video above.

Ryan Reynolds Could Should Be The Next Highlander

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:35:19 +0000

Holy Mary, Mother of sweet awesomeness!!

Lionsgate will reboot the Highlander franchise and they’re very close to asking Ryan Reynolds to lead Clan MacLeod.

As you already know, there can be only one perfect candidate and we’re pretty sure it’s RyRy.

Reynolds is buff, charming, and we’ve already seen him wield a sword as Deadpool.

For those of you uninitiated, Highlander tells the story of an immortal race of warriors who live secretly amongst the humans and occasionally they have sword fights that end in decapitation!

Ahmaaaazing, right???

We have no clue whether the film will be a reboot or a sequel to the TV series and movies, but we DO know Juan Carlos Fresnadillo is set to direct.

The Spaniard made a few solid films already, including 28 Weeks Later and Intacto.

We cannot wait for them to get to work on this one!!

We will most def keep U posted on ALL the developing deets!

[Image via Ramey Pix.]

Watch A Brand New Magic Mike Trailer!

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:35:12 +0000

And the drooling continues! LOL!

The second Magic Mike trailer is here and we’re liking what we see! Yes, there are a lot more half naked men, but there’s also more plot too.

The first trailer focused on the romance between Channing Tatum and newcomer Cody Horn, but the second (above) tells us a little bit more about Alex Pettyfer‘s character.

As an experienced stripper, Mr. Mike takes Pettyfer under his wing to show him the ropes and, based on what we saw in the last trailer, proceeds to fall in love with his pupil’s sister.

So basically, as much as this is a romantic comedy, it looks like it’s a bromantic one too!

Phillip Phillips Needs To Drop Out Of American Idol

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:35:07 +0000

But he’s not gonna do it! No matter what his doctor said!

As we previously mentioned, American Idol contestant, Phillip Phillips has been having some serious kidney problems.

He has a blockage caused by kidney stones and, even though he got a minor surgery to help alleviate the condition until he can go have a real surgery, he’s still in an incredible amount of pain.

The problem is, he doesn’t care about the pain cuz all he cares about is competing in Idol. What a trooper!

His doctor said a temporary fix isn’t going to cut it and he needs to get surgery NOW, but Phillip refuses to drop out of the competition! He’s so dedicated!

His doc said he MUST go into surgery immediately after the finale.

We liked Phillip before but now… wow! He’s so strong, and dedicated, and maybe reckless but it just shows that his music means more to him than even his own health!

Idol is allowing him to miss field productions, such as commercial shoots, because they don’t want to stress his body too much.

So nice they’re being so caring.

Best of luck and feel better!!

[Image via Ramey Pix.]

The Camp David Showdown

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:31:32 +0000

The president brings together world leaders to discuss the European economic crisis. Our “World News” report:

-Jake Tapper

Ex-Facebook Employees Say Company Celebrates Ideas, Not Wealth

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:31:19 +0000

Flesh-Eat Victim’s Brave Call: ‘Let’s Do This’

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:31:07 +0000

Aimee Copeland, who lost her leg to a flesh-eating infection after a zip-line injury, learned that she will also lose her right foot and hands.

What Trayvon Witnesses Saw and Heard

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:30:54 +0000

UPDATE 7-Historic Facebook debut falls flat

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:10:59 +0000

* Analysts blame large float, advertising revenue concerns

EPA report outlines potential Pebble mine risks

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:10:42 +0000

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, May 18 (Reuters) – Large stretches of
salmon-spawning streams and thousands of acres of wetlands would
be wiped out if a large-scale mining project were to be built in
southwestern Alaska’s copper-rich Bristol Bay region, according
to a report issued Friday by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency.

Three shipwrecked fishermen lived on clams, seaweed for 10 days

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:10:32 +0000

Three shipwrecked fishermen lived on clams and seaweed for 10 days while stranded on a remote island off Canada’s Pacific coast until a sailboat rescued them.

Munich and Champions League Final

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:10:25 +0000

Journalist Raphael Honigstein shows off his home town of Munich, home to the Champions League Final.

Eastern Intrigue

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:10:13 +0000

The Sixers need a triumph to avoid falling into a two-game deficit. Another Boston victory would mean a chance to oust Philadelphia come Monday. The Celtics lead 24-12 after one quarter.

At 35, no one playing better than Garnett

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:10:10 +0000

Who is better than Kevin Garnett?

Champions League Final

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:10:06 +0000

Suspensions have left Bayern Munich and Chelsea shorthanded for Saturday’s Champions League final. Jonathan Wilson examines how each side should compensate for the losses.

Pick Up Skills, Tips, and Tricks for Building a Successful Joomla! Website with Packt’s New Beginner’s Guide

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:06:54 +0000

Packt is pleased to announce the release of Joomla! 2.5 Beginner’s Guide book, an update to the popular Joomla! 1.5 Beginner’s Guide book for web designers to create a website within an hour. Written by Eric Tiggeler, this practical guide is designed to be placed alongside the computer as a mentor to design and manage content on a website with easy navigation by help of step-by-step tutorials and screenshots.Birmingham, UK (PRWEB) May 19, 2012 Packt is pleased to announce the release of Joomla! 2.5 Beginner’s Guide book, an update to the popular Joomla! 1. …

Historic Facebook debut falls flat

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:06:46 +0000

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – The historic initial public offering of Facebook Inc did not go as planned on Friday, as the social networking company’s sky-high valuation combined with trading glitches left the stock languishing near its offering price at the market close. Facebook shares began trading late Friday morning and opened 11 percent above the $38 offering price, but after peaking at about $45 slid rapidly at the end of the day to close at $38.23. The IPO was the third-largest in U.S. history and valued eight-year-old Facebook at $104 billion. …

Historic Facebook debut falls flat

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:06:46 +0000

Historic Facebook debut falls flat

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:06:43 +0000

Highlights from Facebook’s debut

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:06:34 +0000

Facebook’s debut on the stock market was preceded by epic hype, delayed by a technical glitch and tracked minute-by-minute by investors around the world. In the end, the fuss was over a gain of 23 cents.

Highlights from Facebook’s debut

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:06:34 +0000

Highlights from Facebook’s debut

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:06:34 +0000

Cubs RHP Kerry Wood retires after 13-plus seasons

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:05:56 +0000

Kerry Wood arrived in the majors 14 years ago, a fresh-faced kid with No. 34 on his back, slinging fastballs at 100 mph, delivering breaking pitches that were often unhittable and striking out 20 batters in just his fifth start.

Cubs RHP Kerry Wood retires after 13-plus seasons

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:05:56 +0000

Clippers try to dig out of 2-0 hole against Spurs

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:05:51 +0000

Down 2-0 against the San Antonio Spurs, the Los Angeles Clippers face the tough task of needing two victories at home to keep pace with the NBA’s hottest team. Making things worse are injuries to Chris Paul and Blake Griffin that have robbed the superstars of their effectiveness.

Equatorial Guinea government resigns

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:05:40 +0000

The government of Equatorial Guinea’s prime minister Ignacio Milam Tang resigned in line with a constitutional reform approved in November, the country’s communications minister said Friday.

Equatorial Guinea government resigns

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:05:40 +0000

The government of Equatorial Guinea’s prime minister Ignacio Milam Tang resigned in line with a constitutional reform approved in November, the country’s communications minister said Friday.

Equatorial Guinea government resigns

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:05:40 +0000

The government of Equatorial Guinea’s prime minister Ignacio Milam Tang resigned in line with a constitutional reform approved in November, the country’s communications minister said Friday.

Men in Black 3: See Will Smith, Josh Brolin and More Work the Red Carpet!

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:05:23 +0000

It’s time to suit up and smile for the camera.

We’re eager to see what Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin—and maybe even Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber—will don…

WWF Star Chyna Faints During Expo but Not Rushed to Hospital

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:05:13 +0000

Despite reports claiming WWF star Chyna (real name Joan Marie Laurer) was rushed to the hospital today after fainting during the Exxxotica Expo in Miami, she exclusively tells E! News this is not…

WWF Star Chyna Faints During Expo but Not Rushed to Hospital

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:05:13 +0000

Despite reports claiming WWF star Chyna (real name Joan Marie Laurer) was rushed to the hospital today after fainting during the Exxxotica Expo in Miami, she exclusively tells E! News this is not…

WWF Star Chyna Faints During Expo but Not Rushed to Hospital

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:05:12 +0000

Despite reports claiming WWF star Chyna (real name Joan Marie Laurer) was rushed to the hospital today after fainting during the Exxxotica Expo in Miami, she exclusively tells E! News this is not…

Nick Stahl’s Wife "Extremely Worried" About Missing Actor

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:05:04 +0000

Nick Stahl has been missing for more than a week now, and his loved ones want nothing more than for him to come home.

“Everyone is extremely worried about him,” Rose Murphy…

Nick Stahl’s Wife "Extremely Worried" About Missing Actor

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:05:04 +0000

Nick Stahl has been missing for more than a week now, and his loved ones want nothing more than for him to come home.

“Everyone is extremely worried about him,” Rose Murphy…

Nick Stahl’s Wife "Extremely Worried" About Missing Actor

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:05:03 +0000

Nick Stahl has been missing for more than a week now, and his loved ones want nothing more than for him to come home.

“Everyone is extremely worried about him,” Rose Murphy…

Jonah Hill Steps Out With A Friend In L.A.

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:40:41 +0000

Actor Jonah Hill was spotted out and about with a female friend in Los Angeles on Friday afternoon.

The big screen star looked like his regular self in a blue short-sleeve shirt and jeans. Since he’s friends with big A-listers now like Brad Pitt, I wonder if he’s going to get an invite to Brad and Angelina Jolie’s summer wedding? I’m sure a lot of people in Hollywood would love to be at that soiree!

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John Becker: Bristol Palin, Bullying Victim? An Open Letter

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:40:22 +0000

Spare me the line about how your anti-gay views are unassailable because they’re your firmly held religious beliefs. It’s utterly hollow. Hate wrapped in the name of God is still hate.
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Turnstyle: Fusebox: The Writer’s Room with Robert Faires

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:40:15 +0000

This podcast features writer Robert Faires, talking about his creative space. Faires is the Arts Editor for The Austin Chronicle and has been active in the city’s theatre scene as a writer, actor, and director since 1980.

It’s part of a series spun out of Fusebox Festival’s The Writer’s Room, A Home Studio Tour curated by Elizabeth Doss and Annie La Ganga.

Anderson Cooper Wins ‘Jeopardy!’ Power Players Game On Behalf Of Trevor Project

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:40:05 +0000

The Trevor Project, Cooper’s sponsored charity, won $50,000.

The 2012 Power Players series was taped last month at D.A.R. Constitution Hall in the nation’s capital.

Sex Trafficking In California: State And Tech Companies Build Alliances To Combat Crime

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:37:05 +0000

This article comes to us courtesy of California Watch.

By Shoshana Walter

Turnstyle: Gas, Break, Pedal: A New Way To Cycle

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:36:59 +0000

By: Denise Tejada

With just a ten millimeter wrench and a screwdriver, Brian Simmons has built and sold more than 100 motorized bicycles in Oakland, CA, under the label Rebelbikes. The company has been around for three years. The two-man shop based out of the comfort of his living room.

Ethan Rome: More Hypocrisy From GOP’s Crack Team of Health Care Con Artists

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:36:51 +0000

The Republican leaders in Congress have mostly defined themselves by what they’re against, but now they’ve announced what they’re for — the most popular parts of the Affordable Care Act. I can only imagine the political identity crisis this is causing within the GOP.
Read More…
More on Republicans

Paula Deen Opens Up About Diabetes And New Diet (VIDEO)

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:36:42 +0000

Food Network star Paula Deen opened up to ET’s Nancy O’Dell at her Savannah, Georgia home about keeping her controversially-revealed diabetes under control.

Claudia Bicen: Why the Foie Gras Debate Misses the Mark

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:36:34 +0000

The biggest question for me is to what extent an abject disregard for the welfare of sentient beings can ever be justified in the name of luxury.
Read More…

Defibrillator Stops Knife During Attack

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:36:26 +0000

SAN DIEGO — A man’s implanted heart defibrillator may have saved his life in an unexpected way – by stopping a knife.

San Diego police say the 57-year-old got into an argument with an acquaintance early Thursday near some elevators at the trolley station for the Fashion Valley shopping mall.

Obama Raises $25.7 Million, 43% From Small Donors

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:36:15 +0000

WASHINGTON — The reelection campaign of President Barack Obama reported raising $25.7 million in April, down from $35 million raised in March.

While the campaign raised fewer dollars last month than the previous one, its support from small donors remained high with 43.7 percent, or $11.23 million, coming from donors giving less than $200 in total.

Big donors were still a source of support with donors giving $2,500 and above contributing $3.69 million in April.

Occupy Chicago Protestors Rally Against NATO

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:36:08 +0000

Busloads of Occupy activists have been arriving in Chicago to protest the summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Hibaaq Osman: The Burqa That We Are All Wearing

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:35:59 +0000

The history of women’s rights across the globe demonstrates time and again the propensity of conservatives to adopt “women-centric” agendas that do everything to scapegoat women’s freedoms in order to bolster their own platforms.
Read More…
More on Civil Rights

Chris Fici: A Hindu Response To Gay Rights

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:35:51 +0000

It is an unfortunate aspect of my experience within the Hindu tradition that I have experienced prejudice towards the gay community. It has always made me quite uncomfortable.
Read More…
More on Hinduism

Fake Muni Ads Popping Up All Over Town (PHOTOS)

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:35:39 +0000

Other than masturbate, steal iPhones and masturbate, the most common activity for onboard time-wasting is reading the advertisements.

(SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOS)

Makayla Darnell Dead: Newborn Killed After Dog Attack At Ohio Home

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:35:31 +0000

LIMA, Ohio — A 3-day-old infant died hours after she was attacked by a family dog while sitting in a swing at her grandmother’s home in northwest Ohio, a sheriff’s deputy said Friday.

Charlize Theron Embarrasses Kristen Stewart During Spanish Interview!

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:35:12 +0000

HA!!!!

Charlize Theron must LUURVE pushing her shy Snow White and the Huntsman co-star, Kristen Stewart, out of her comfort zone!

She keeps embarrassing the shiz outa KStew in interviews!

The actresses appeared as guests on the famously wacky Spanish talk-show El Hormiguero yesterday. While Charlize hammed it up for cameras, dancing and jumping around and cracking really weird jokes, Kristen blushed and bit her nails.

Eventually, Stewie could no longer take Theron’s antics, so she LITERALLY laid down on the floor and covered her head. LOL!

PRESS PLAY to see her red face (above)!

New Couple Alert: Chace Crawford Is Totally Dating Erin Andrews!

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:35:08 +0000

TV stars in LURVE!!!

Chace Crawford is ~~doing~~ dating Erin Andrews!!

The Gossip Girl star and his new ESPN reporter / former Dancing with the Stars contestant gal have gone on a few dates together, and really seem to be hitting it off!

For now, the couple is keeping their love on the DL… for now. A insider tells us that at the moment:

“They’re getting to know each other.”

Sigh…

The 26-year-old actor and the 34-year-old ~~cougar~~ sportscaster have been spotted at parties and restaurants around NYC.

We srsly hope this works out! We cannot wait to see them together!

[Image via WENN.]

Headcase Bottle Opener Phone Case for iPhone 4/iPhone 4S (black)

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:30:56 +0000

Editor’s Rating:

User Rating:

Good: The affordable Headcase Bottle Opener Phone Case for iPhone 4/4S offers durable protection and two ways to open a bottle or can. You can choose among a range of colors and college logos.
Bad: It’s bulky and ungainly, and unless you’re mighty thirsty, you’re not going to need it 99 percent of the time. Although secure, the case is hard to remove. Enthusiastic can openers could splash liquid into the iPhone’s headset jack.
Bottom Line: With its protruding bottle opening mouth, the Headcase Bottle Opener Phone Case for iPhone 4/4S isn’t for anyone seeking a low profile. It is, however, a usable tool for a very specific purpose. [Read more]

LG Optimus Slider (Virgin Mobile)

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:30:49 +0000

Editor’s Rating:

User Rating:

Good: The LG Optimus Slider has a spacious keyboard, little to no bloatware, and a responsive touch screen.
Bad: The LG Optimus Slider is bulky, even as a slider phone. Camera quality is poor.
Bottom Line: If you like a real keyboard on a no-contract, reasonably priced handset, the LG Optimus Slider is a good contender. Just remember its low specs and boxy build. [Read more]

Sony comes clean on worldwide Android 4.0 tablet update

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:30:20 +0000

Sony must stay on top of Android updates for its tablets to remain relevant to consumers.

(Credit:
Sony)

One must wonder why Sony cannot get out of the habit of playing a fragmented and behind-the-curve Android release schedule for its devices.

Finally putting speculation to rest, a Sony representative confirmed with Crave today (and subsequently on Twitter) that Sony tablet owners in “all regions will have Android 4.0 by end of May.” And on a related note, a Sony Japan statement announced a May 24 drop date for Android 4.0 landing on both Tablet S and Tablet P devices specifically in that country, perhaps a timeframe we should expect elsewhere.

To recap, see if you can keep up with this:

Currently, Sony offers Android 4.0 software for the Tablet S in the U.S. (since April), while Europe, Japan and other countries only have official access to Android 3.2.1 for both the Tablet P and the Tablet S. You read that correctly — Sony’s home country and Europe still pick away at Honeycomb while Americans enjoy Ice Cream Sandwich.

… [Read more]

Related Links:
Sony’s Tablet S flavored with Ice Cream Sandwich
Kindle vs. Nook vs. iPad: Which e-book reader should you buy?
Ice Cream Sandwich slated for slew of Samsung devices
HBO Go coming soon to Android tablets
Top tablets with HDMI connections

Turn photos into sketches on iOS

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:30:06 +0000

(Credit:
CNET)

Everyone who uses Instagram, EyeEm, or other photo-sharing apps knows how easy it can be to add effects to photos and make them look even better than the original. But there’s another group of apps at the iTunes App Store that add something more to your images, taking a mostly mundane photo and turning it into a work of art.

This week’s collection of iOS apps turns your photos into hand-drawn works of art. The first offers one-of-a-kind effects to make your photos look like sketches. The second is an old favorite of mine for the incredibly realistic line drawings you can create. The third takes a different tack, turning your photos into super-realistic paintings in the style of some of the greatest painters ever.

PowerSketch has some interesting effects not found in other apps.

(Credit:
Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET)

PowerSketch (99 cents) has excellent options for turning your photos into sketches, but the interface can be so confusing at times that you’ll need patience to appreciate what’s good about the app. Like most photo-editing apps, you can start with PowerSketch by se… [Read more]

UPDATE 3-PJM secures capacity at base price of $136 per MW

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:16:43 +0000

May 18 (Reuters) – U.S. power grid operator PJM said Friday
its capacity auction secured a record amount of new generation,
demand response and energy efficiency resources for the
2015/2016 delivery…

UPDATE 1-Obama, Hollande agree on much – but not Afghanistan

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:16:36 +0000

WASHINGTON, May 18 (Reuters) – New French President Francois
Hollande told President Barack Obama on Friday that he will
stick by his pledge to withdraw France’s troops from Afghanistan
at year’s…

UPDATE 1-At ‘bridge to nowhere,’ Romney slams Obama on economy

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:16:30 +0000

HILLSBOROUGH, N.H., May 18 (Reuters) – Republican
presidential candidate Mitt Romney returned to his economic
message on Friday, highlighting a “bridge to nowhere” rebuilt by
stimulus money and…

Ford to start shipping Focus Electric to dealers

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:16:09 +0000

DETROIT, May 18 (Reuters) – Ford Motor Co, the
second-largest U.S. automaker, will start shipping its first
electric passenger car to dealers this weekend, people familiar
with the matter said.

UPDATE 2-US says will bar some Motorola Mobility phones

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:16:04 +0000

WASHINGTON, May 18 (Reuters) – Some Motorola Mobility
smartphones infringe on a Microsoft patent and
will be barred from importation to the United States, a U.S.
trade panel said on Friday.

Solow lawsuit over Citigroup disclosures dismissed

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:16:00 +0000

* Investor said Citigroup hid risk during 2008 financial
crisis

AEP seeks coal for U.S. plants, burns more gas

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:15:56 +0000

May 18 (Reuters) – Ohio power company American Electric
Power Co Inc said on Friday it seeks up to two million
tons of Northern Appalachian coal per year to supplement its
existing commitments.

Prosecutors in Sandusky case present new, graphic details

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:15:44 +0000

Prosecutors laid out graphic details in the case against Jerry Sandusky, the ex-Penn State coach accused of sexually assaulting children.

Biden looks at inmate’s 40% vote tally

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:15:37 +0000

Joe Biden responds after an inmate wins 40% of the vote in the West Virginia Democratic primary in May

How to explain the Facebook flop?

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:15:32 +0000

After all the buzz and all the hype, how can we explain the rather routine flop on Facebook’s first day?

How much will your gas be this summer?

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:15:27 +0000

The Iranian Finance Minister tells CNN’s Fareed Zakaria how much he thinks oil will be sold for this summer.

Is Obama taking a page from Newt?

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:15:22 +0000

Is Obama taking a page from Newt Gingrich’s playbook?

What will Greeks use if it ditches euro?

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:15:16 +0000

What would be Greece’s new currency if it leave the Euro? CNN’s Jim Boulden explores the possibility.

Anti-theft bags deter lunch thieves

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:15:08 +0000

HLN’s Vinnie Politan discusses with his panel anti-theft lunch bags.

Conn. man survived flesh-eating bacteria

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:15:02 +0000

A Connecticut man survives the flesh-eating bacteria. WTNH has more.

One Million Moms: ‘GAP Should Learn From JCP Mistakes.’ (GAP: We Just Did)

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:08:03 +0000

One Million Moms, the anti-gay group that propelled shoppers into JC Penney with its boycott of JC Penney for hiring Ellen DeGeneres, is now attacking GAP for an advertising series featuring Broadway’s “Book Of Mormon” actor Rory O’Malley and his boyfriend Gerold Schroeder. No doubt GAP is praying for the One Million Moms effect. LGBT shoppers and our allies actually formed shopping days and shopping flash mobs that drove thousands of buyers into JC Penney.

“In Los Angeles, CA, GAP has a billboard located downtown that reads: “GAP- BE BRIGHT- BE ONE” with two homosexual men pressed together under a shared t-shirt. They are hugging each other and facing the camera cheek-to-cheek. “BE ONE” is in large letters which emphasizes the same-sex relationship,” the One Million Moms website says, ignorantly ignoring the fact that the “two homosexual men” are a famous actor — who is also an LGBT activist — and his boyfriend.

GAP Inc. Brands, including Old Navy, Banana Republic, Piperlime, and Athleta, does not deserve, nor will it get, money from conservative families across the country. Supporting GAP is not an option until they decide to remain neutral in the culture war. GAP needs to seriously consider how their immoral advertising affect the youth of our nation.

Christians should urge for the removal of GAP’s offensive billboard in Los Angeles and any other city where it is located. GAP will also need to cancel any plans to use the “Be One” ad campaign elsewhere including store-front posters, its website, and in print magazine ads.

So, when Christians say they don’t impose their world view on anyone, remember this.

Ridiculously, One Million Moms, who actually have a mere 47,035 Facebook fans, are taking credit for losses at JC Penney. JC Penney attributes its first quarter losses to “the Company’s continuing efforts to reduce inventory levels to align with its new strategy, restructuring and management transition charges and non-cash qualified pension expense,” but the American Family Association, the certified anti-gay hate group that uses One Million Moms as its email list builder and low-cost fundraising arm, never lets facts get in the way.

“Sales have dramatically dropped since JC Penney’s showed their ‘bold new marketing strategy’ included pushing a lesbian spokesperson and same-sex couples in their advertising,” the One Million Moms site reads. In reality, JC Penney’s new marketing strategy lowered prices dramatically while ending markdowns and sales.

“JC Penney’s current marketing plan has done incalculable amounts of damage to this once family-friendly store,” One Million Moms continues. ”If they would quit pushing a deviant and unhealthy lifestyle and focus on product quality and value along with excellent customer service, their bottom line would be not be struggling.”

Ellen DeGeneres, the “lesbian spokesperson,” is the most popular entertainer and personality in America, and has several million fans on Facebook, well over nine million followers on Twitter, and is seen in millions of homes throughout America and around the world every day.

“Hopefully JC Penney’s (and other retailers) will listen to their long time customers now as JCP is reporting a bigger-than-expected loss and plummeting profits in the first quarter. The retailer lost $163 million in the quarter ending April 28. Numbers do not lie.,” One Million Moms says, but what they don’t say is that they do. Their boycott drove shoppers — many first-time shoppers — into the store.

LGBT people and our allies organized JC Penney shopping days across the country to show support for Ellen.

Images via Facebook: top, bottom.

One Million Moms Attacks Toys R Us: Remove Gay Archie Comic Books

Watch: Ellen’s JC Penney Ad That Spawned A Boycott. No, Seriously.

JC Penney Responsible For More Women Getting Breast Cancer Says Fischer

Ellen: One Million Moms Are Wrong To Demand My Firing Because I’m Gay

Facebook stock closes nearly flat in debut

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:07:33 +0000

It was barely a “like” and definitely not a “love” from Facebook investors as the online social network’s stock failed to live up to the hype in its trading debut Friday.

Cameron, France’s Hollande clash on Tobin tax

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:06:59 +0000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Prime Minister David Cameron and new French President Francois Hollande clashed on Friday over the need for a financial transactions tax to fund growth but played down other differences over how to respond to the euro zone debt crisis. Both leaders said after a first 35-minute meeting at the British ambassador’s residence in Washington that they backed measures to cut deficits and spur growth in Europe, glossing over differences between Hollande’s pro-growth stance and Cameron’s emphasis on reducing debt. …

Half of Florida high school students fail reading test

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:06:51 +0000

MIAMI (Reuters) – Nearly half of Florida high school students failed the reading portion of the state’s new toughened standardized test, education officials said on Friday. Results this year from the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test showed 52 percent of freshman students and 50 percent of sophomores scored at their grade levels. Students in the 10th grade must pass the exam in order to eventually graduate but can retake it if they fail. The results came days after the Florida State Board of Education voted to lower the standards needed to pass the writing part of the test, known as FCAT. …

Oregon bans American Indian team names, mascots for schools

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:06:47 +0000

PORTLAND, Oregon (Reuters) – The Oregon state board of education has banned public schools from using American Indian names and mascots for their athletic teams, out of a concern they disparage native American people. The move is believed to be one of the nation’s most sweeping prohibitions of its kind in favor of native Americans who say their culture is stereotyped by a number of sports teams. It follows years of controversy surrounding a range of teams, from the Cleveland Indians in Major League Baseball to the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. …

TV Upfronts Roundup: Everything You Need to Know About the 2012-2013 Network Season

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:06:35 +0000

In case you didn’t notice, the past couple weeks have been a nonstop rush of TV news about returning shows, canceled shows and the new shows coming in Fall 2012. Are you sure you…

Underachievement Award

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:06:28 +0000

And to top it off, she was also granted internship at Vivid Entertainment!

via i am bored

What the Heck Happened to Matthew Fox?

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:06:19 +0000

Um, this is definitely not the Matthew Fox we remember.

Today we got our first glimpse of the Lost star’s insane body transformation in the Rob Cohen-directed adaptation Alex Cross,…

So True? So False? Did Justin Bieber Break Up With Selena Gomez Via Twitter?!

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:06:13 +0000

Is this some kind of cruel joke?!

Our jaws dropped when we read that Justin Bieber decided to call it quits with longtime girlfriend Selena Gomez, and over a tweet no less! (Way worse…

Rumor: Did Tom Cruise Promise To Make Katie Holmes “A Big Star”?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:44:41 +0000

According to In Touch Weekly, the once perky and bubbly Katie Holmes has been “left devasted” after her husband Tom Cruise failed to make her “a big Hollywood star” as he promised her almost seven years ago when the two first met. Sources close to Katie say the actress is feeling the strain of their marriage and is exhausted with having to keep up with him and his career while she is forced to stay in the background. Here’s what the mag writes:

As Katie Holmes walked around a bustling New York City on April 26, she hardly looked like the beaming starlet who accepted Tom Cruise’s romantic marriage proposal just a few years ago. “She looked really tired,” an onlooker tells In Touch of the gray-speckled 33-year-old. “She seemed sad.”

Indeed, katie doesn’t have much to smile about these days, as her husband, TomCruise, reignites his career — and fogets the promise he made to help make his wife a big star. While Tom works nonstop — he just finished filming Oblivion in New Orleans and is promoting Rock of Ages — dedicated mom Katie looks after their 6-year-old daughter, Suri. “Katie thought that being married to a huge star like Tom would open doors for her,” says a source, although both stars’ reps obviously deny the story. “But she’s not being offered the roles Tom vowed to get her.” Now she feels neglected. “This isn’t the life she signed up for, and she feels depressed.”

I’m not sure how true this story is, but I guess we can agree that Katie has seen better days. There’s no doubt that she’s a talented actress so hopefully her career will pick up soon. Almost everyone in Hollywood has their ups and downs when it comes to the movies they make. Keep your head up high, Katie!

Visit the Gallery (9 Images)

Quote Of The Day: Carrie Underwood Says Her Relationship With Chase Crawford Was “Like A Publicity Stunt”

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:44:28 +0000

“In my heart, I knew it wasn’t right. You never really know why someone is with you. I feel like it was more of a publicity stunt.”

-Carrie Underwood to the UK’s NOW Magazine, while explaining her relationship with Gossip Girl hottie Chase Crawford.

Visit the Gallery (9 Images)

Gregory Linton: Will Sergeant – From the Rock Stage to the Gallery

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:44:05 +0000

Some artists never stop creating. Will Sergeant has spent 30 years as the lead guitarist for Echo and the Bunnymen, and now he is coming to Los Angeles for his first U.S. art show.
Read More…
More on LA Around Town

Michael Varrati: Saving a Theater With Film: Julia Marchese’s Fight for the New Beverly

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:44:00 +0000

Movies are big affairs, and because of this, so too are the screens on which they are meant to be seen.
Read More…

Robert Bullen: Writers’ Theatre’s A Little Night Music Captivates

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:43:49 +0000

There’s something magical happening up in Glencoe, Ill. It’s a sparkling new production of a Little Night Music — a sophisticated, romantic comedy set in 20th century Sweden.
Read More…
More on Chicago Around Town

Joan Burge: Building a Better Relationship With Your Work Partner

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:43:44 +0000

While every boss would like to think he or she is the best manager in the country, the fact is many try — but fail.
Read More…

Fracker Range Resouces Sues Over YouTube Of Burning Well

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:43:38 +0000

Steven Lipsky shot video of methane- fueled flames shooting from a hose hooked up to his well in Weatherford, Texas, and sent it to Sharon Wilson, a blogger who posted it on YouTube. And he hired Alisa Rich to test the water in his well and alert the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Jonathan Kesselman: The Funny Or Die World Premiere of ‘Sexy Daddy’

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:43:32 +0000

When I was a miserable little young man in high school and college, The Kids in the Hall changed the way I looked at comedy. On behalf of everyone who worked on the film, I am proud to present “Sexy Daddy.”
Read More…

Doug Lebda: Taking the Plunge: Considerations for First-Time Homebuyers in Today’s Housing Market

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:43:23 +0000

The housing market today is unpredictable which raises the question: how will the unstable housing market affect first-time homebuyers as they enter the market?
Read More…
More on Housing Crisis

Obama Campaign Spending: Text Messages, Online Ads, Planned Parenthood And Apple Computers

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:39:54 +0000

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama’s reelection campaign spent more than $14.6 million in April, ending up with more than $115 million cash on hand, according to a filing it made with the Federal Election Commission on Friday afternoon.

The numbers show a campaign taking in far more money than it is spending, though that may change with massive television ad campaigns beginning in May. The filing also shows that the campaign is banking on person-to-person contact and staff-oriented campaigning to help overcome what it expects will be bigger spending by Mitt Romney’s campaign on television advertising.

The Obama campaign spent more than $2.45 million in April on payroll, not including the $1.19 million in payroll taxes the campaign paid. The campaign also paid just under $150,000 in rent during the month, picking up the tabs for the Democratic Party in battleground states and in non-battleground states that include South Carolina, Oregon, Washington, Louisiana and Vermont.

Dew-Soaked Bugs Are ‘Small Monsters’ In Ondrej Pakan’s Macro Photo Series (PHOTOS)

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:39:42 +0000

Ondrej Pakan gets up and personal with some of nature’s smallest critters in his incredible macro photo series.

According to Treehugger, the Slovakian photographer used macrophotography to capture the bugs on camera just moments after a downpour of rain.

The captivating images feature a wide variety of insects and spiders “glistening to hundreds of dew drops,” Environmental Graffiti observes.

Tara Solomon: The Art of Being Social

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:39:34 +0000

How fitting that the launch party for Miami’s glossy new magazine, Vault, was held at the decadent former Versace mansion on Ocean Drive (and not just because Vault‘s creator and founder, Barton G, owns it).
Read More…
More on Miami Around Town

Congressmen Seek To Lift Propaganda Ban

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:39:25 +0000

An amendment that would legalize the use of propaganda on American audiences is being inserted into the latest defense authorization bill, BuzzFeed has learned.

Margaret Fuhrer: Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet at the Joyce Theater

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:39:20 +0000

Fluid and changeable, they flatter dancers: Each beautiful position bleeds into the next one, so that mistakes and flaws don’t have time to crystallize. Not that it’s hard to make Cedar Lake’s dancers — ballet’s cool kids — look good.
Read More…

Chyna Collapses At Porn Convention

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:39:10 +0000

Former WWE superstar Chyna collapsed in front of the main stage at a XXX convention in Miami moments ago … TMZ has learned.
Former WWE superstar Chyna collapsed in front of the main stage at a XXX convention in Miami moments ago … TMZ has learned.

Marisa Moore: Women’s Health Week: 7 Simple Tips for Heart Health

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:39:00 +0000

While breast cancer gets a lot of attention in the media and is certainly a concern, heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States and a leading cause of disability among women. Here are seven simple changes you can make to begin nurturing your heart at any stage of your life.
Read More…
More on Black Voices Life

Kat Cohen: The Truth About Planning a Productive Summer

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:38:51 +0000

There are many ways to have a productive summer and improve your chances of college admission at the same time. With these summer options, you’re bound to find a way to make the summer both engaging and enriching.
Read More…
More on College Admissions

Donald Glover Joins Season 2 Of Girls?!

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:38:35 +0000

If Donald Glover is great at one thing, it’s branching out. Otherwise, he’s INCREDIBLE at everything else!

It’s looking like Donald is joining the second season of the HBO show Girls!

We don’t know if he’ll be a series regular or what, but what we do know is that we love him, and he was spotted on set!

The first season of Girls was met with critical success, but one of the major flaws that people saw in it was the lack of diversity — so we’re sure people are going to think that’s why Donald was brought on.

We disagree — we think Donald’s being brought on because he’s a brilliant comedian and has a ridiculous amount of talent to offer the show. In fact, we wish he was in more things!

We wonder if Childish Gambino will helping out with the soundtrack for season two as well…

[Image via Pacific Coast News.]

Raven Symone Addresses Those Sexual Orientation Rumors!

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:38:27 +0000

And girl doesn’t need to divulge to anyone who she loves or who she fuc**!

After a National Enquirer article claimed former Disney star Raven Symone was dating America’s Next Top Model contestant AzMarie Livingston and that they were living together in NYC, Raven took to Twitter to straighten some things out.

Is she a secret lesbian in love? Well…

It’s nobody’s business! Raven expresses in a series of tweets:

“I’m living my PERSONAL life the way I’m happiest. I’m not one, in my 25 year career to disclose who I’m dating. and I shall not start now.

My sexual orientation is mine, and the person I’m datings to know. I’m not one for a public display of my life.

However that is my right as a HUMAN Being whether straight or gay. To tell or not to tell. As long as I’m not harming anyone.

I am a light being made from love. And my career is the only thing I would like to put on display, not my personal life. Kisses!”

YES. SO well tweeted (hah!).

Plus, sexual orientation is such a fluid thing!

Like men? Cool. Like Women? Awesome. Like both? Then you’re one lucky duck! Be as private or as public with it as you want, but that should ALWAYS be your decision to make.

We ADORE you Raven! And you totally KILL it in Sister Act!

[Image via WENN.]

Fifty Shades Of Grey Boosts Vaginal Ball Sales!

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:38:22 +0000

Cup your sex some more, ladies!! Fun Factory‘s Smart Balls are just for you!!

At least that’s what a lot of sexually empowered women are thinking after reading Fifty Shades of Grey, ha!

In only a month, sales for the vaginal-tightening exercise balls have gone up a whopping 300 percent!!

One of the company’s reps even wrote the publisher to thank them:

Thanks to the book, we are getting emails and calls from around the world asking about our Smart Balls. Yesterday, the Fun Factory office received an email from a 74-year-old woman in Dubai who read the book while vacationing in the USA.

A-mazing!! Beautiful… just beautiful!!

If U haven’t read the book yet, Christian Grey uses Kegel balls on his college sex slave. Yep, you’re totally going to buy that book now. LOL!!

[Image via Apega/WENN.]

Despite Lung Cancer, Donna Summer Was NOT A Smoker!

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:38:14 +0000

Donna Summer passed away on Thursday after a 10-month battle with lung cancer, but her family wants the world to know that the Queen of Disco was NOT a smoker!

Her family released a statement that says her cancer “was not related to smoking.” In fact, she took very good care of herself.

A source who worked with Summer in 2008 has said:

“She was healthy, she was taking care of herself. She was healthy and energetic when I worked with her.”

We probably won’t learn too many other details surrounding her cancer and treatment because her family’s statement continues:

“Ms. Summer was a non-smoker. Obviously, numerous factors can be attributed to the cause of cancer in general, but any details regarding the diagnosis and subsequent treatment of Ms. Summer’s case remain between her family and team of doctors.”

Rightfully so! We don’t need anymore information because it won’t bring her back. All we want to do is remember and honor her legacy!

The world will miss you, Donna! Rest in peace.

[Image via WENN.]

Magic Mike Cast Gets Wet And Shirtless Together…OFF Set!

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:38:03 +0000

Sweet GOD of everything that is seksi, deliciously dripping man meat!!!!

Seriously.

Be still our ~~beating~~ THROBBING hearts!!!!

So we recently gave you a taste of the cast of Magic Mike‘s cover of Entertainment Weekly, as well as some interview tidbits…but this…THIS is just making us thirsty for more!

Please, do yourself a favor after a long week and check out even MORE pics of Channing Tatum, Matt Bomer, Matthew McConaughey and Joe Manganiello just waiting for you to feast your eyes upon (below)!!!!

If you want to pin these salacious shots beside your bed, the mag will hit stands May 25!

As for seeing the boys in all their stripping glory on the big screen?? Magic Mike premieres June 29!!!

[Images via Entertainment Weekly.]

‘Unavoidable’ Bird Strike Killed 2 Marines

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:31:50 +0000

(Image Credit: Lance Cpl. Christopher O'Quinn/U.S. Marine Corps)

A “likely unavoidable” bird strike was responsible for a helicopter crash that killed two Camp Pendleton Marines in September, according to a Marine Corps investigation.

Capt. Jeffrey Bland, 37, and 1st Lt. Thomas Heitmann, 27, were killed on Sept. 19 when their AH-1W Cobra helicopter collided with a female red-tailed hawk near Fallbrook, Calif.

The bird, which investigators estimated had a 4-foot wingspan and weighed 3 pounds, hit the top of the helicopter and damaged the pitch change link, according to a report obtained by the San Diego Union-Tribune through a public records request.

Vibrations in the main rotor caused the helicopter to fall to the ground in three separate pieces, the report stated.

The two Marines were killed on impact, while the wreckage ignited a brush fire that spread over 120 acres.

UK’s Cameron, France’s Hollande clash on Tobin tax

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:14:09 +0000

WASHINGTON, May 18 (Reuters) – British Prime Minister David
Cameron and new French President Francois Hollande clashed on
Friday over the need for a financial transactions tax to fund
growth but…

UPDATE 2-S&P upgrades Bolivia to BB-minus from B-plus

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:14:05 +0000

NEW YORK, May 18 (Reuters) – Standard & Poor’s upgraded
Bolivia’s long-term sovereign credit rating on Friday to
BB-minus from B-plus, citing improved government finances and
stronger external…

UPDATE 5-Troubled Brazil economy shrinks again in March

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:13:58 +0000

* March IBC-Br activity index down 0.35 percent, below
forecast

Analysis: New facilities spotlight next-generation biofuels

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:13:42 +0000

(Reuters) – After a decade of promise, advanced biofuels makers are entering a crucial make-or-break period with the first of a new generation of production facilities about to come on line.

UPDATE 2-Vale sees iron ore price rising in 2nd half of 2012

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:13:33 +0000

* Tight credit, political demands forcing project reviews

Investors flee to bonds again on Greece fears -EPFR

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:13:28 +0000

NEW YORK, May 18 (Reuters) – Investors sought safe-haven
U.S. bonds in the latest week on fears of a chaotic exit by
Greece from the euro zone and a possible unraveling of the
currency union, data from EPFR Global showed on Friday.

Wall St Week Ahead: The market is oversold, but major signs say "sell"

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:13:19 +0000

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Normally a big decline would set up Wall Street for a technical rebound. But that may not be the case next week, even after the market posted its worst weekly loss for the year and the S&P fell for six straight sessions.

Hollande sticking to Afghanistan withdrawal by year’s end

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:13:10 +0000

France’s President Francois Hollande said Friday that he is sticking to his campaign pledge to remove his country’s forces from Afghanistan by year’s end.

Poulter stays on track as three major champions go out in Spain

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:13:04 +0000

Defending champion Ian Poulter eased into the last 16 of the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain as three major champions exited Friday.

Djokovic and Nadal heading for showdown; Serena marches on in Rome

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:12:59 +0000

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal stayed on course for another final showdown in Rome as they conjured up straights sets victories Friday.

FBI: Husband in bride’s stabbing death was heading to Mexico

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:12:54 +0000

The suburban Chicago husband sought in the stabbing death of his new bride in a cocktail dress was heading to Mexico, where his parents live, the FBI said.

Can you still make money off Facebook?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:12:45 +0000

With Facebook’s share price back to where it opened, Ali Velshi asks three professional investors whether it still makes sense for the regular investor to buy.

Student debt: How much is too much?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:12:37 +0000

Roland Martin, Aaron Smith and Christine Romans help you determine how much educational debt is right for you.

Who’s winning the war for women?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:12:29 +0000

Margaret Hoover, Hilary Rosen and Christine Romans discuss the war between Democrats and Republicans for the women’s vote.

Guatemalan mom seeks ‘stolen’ daughter

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:12:22 +0000

CNN’s Rafael Romo reports on a Guatemalan woman trying to bring her daughter home after she was kidnapped and adopted.

Pakistani Amb. on tensions with U.S.

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:12:17 +0000

Pakistani Ambassador to U.S. Sherry Rehman talks to CNN’s Wolf Blitzer about reopening supply routes to Afghanistan.

This Is Your Child’s Brain on Exercise; How to Make Schools Healthier

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:09:05 +0000

Discovered: Kids brains look different than adults brains when exercising, how to make schools healthier and how thunderclouds are contributing to climate change. This is your child’s brain on exercise. It looks different than your adult brain, finds research. When kids exercise they change the way their brains work. ”In the last several years there have been data suggesting that neurobiological changes are happening — [there are] very brain-specific mechanisms at work here,” explains researcher David Bucci. …

A debate: Should you jump in on Facebook debut?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:08:53 +0000

Facebook begins selling stock to the public Friday in the most talked-about market debut in years. Two Associated Press business writers are debating whether the stock is a smart buy.

Sudden wealth part of Silicon Valley’s everyday

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:08:41 +0000

In Silicon Valley, where sudden wealth is hardly something new and CEOs favor hoodies over bespoke blazers, Facebook’s IPO on Friday didn’t bring everyday life to a halt.

Flame for London Games arrives in Britain

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:08:15 +0000

CULDROSE, England (Reuters) – The flame for the London Olympics burned brightly on British soil on Friday after David Beckham stepped off a special flight from the Games birthplace of Greece to light a cauldron with a golden torch. The British Airways ‘Firefly’ Flight 2012 from Athens landed on time at the Culdrose naval air station with Britain’s Princess Anne, Games chairman Seb Coe and the former England soccer captain among the delegation. …

Madagascar strongman says ready for accord with rival

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:07:59 +0000

Madagascar’s strongman leader Andry Rajoelina said Friday he was ready to make a political agreement with the president he ousted ahead of new elections.

N.Irish police charge five dissidents with ‘terror’ offences

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:07:51 +0000

Northern Irish police charged five dissident republicans with “terror” offences on Friday.

APNewsbreak: 5 Irish dissidents charged

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:07:45 +0000

Five dissidents were arrested and charged with a range of serious and rarely invoked terror offenses, Northern Irish police said Friday.

Largest protests yet in Syria’s biggest city

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:07:37 +0000

Syrian forces on Friday fired on protesters holding the largest opposition marches yet in Aleppo, a sign of rising anti-regime sentiment in the country’s biggest city, which has largely remained supportive of President Bashar Assad throughout the 15-month uprising.

Obama, Hollande agree on much – but not Afghanistan

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:07:28 +0000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – New French President Francois Hollande told President Barack Obama on Friday that he will stick by his pledge to withdraw France’s troops from Afghanistan at year’s end, a note of discord in an otherwise convivial first meeting between the two leaders. “I reminded President Obama that I made a promise to the French people to the effect that our combat troops would be withdrawn from Afghanistan by the end of 2012,” Hollande said after Oval Office talks with Obama. “That being said, we will continue to support Afghanistan in a different way,” he said. …

Obama presses ailing Europe to focus on growth

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:07:21 +0000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama pressed Europe on Friday to shift toward a more pro-growth policy and away from austerity to tackle a crisis that threatens to push Greece out of the euro zone and send economic shockwaves worldwide. Setting the tone for a weekend G8 summit, Obama made clear he was aligning himself with the new French president’s drive for more economic stimulus in the recession-plagued euro zone instead of emphasizing belt-tightening programs spearheaded by Germany. …

Jurors in John Edwards’ campaign corruption trial deliberate for hours, will resume Monday

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:07:15 +0000

GREENSBORO, N.C. – A jury deliberated for about five hours Friday in John Edwards’ campaign corruption trial involving money from wealthy donors that was used to hide his pregnant mistress during his 2008 White House bid. Talks will resume Monday, but the jury has already made several requests for evidence and office supplies, a sign they may be settling in for detailed discussions.

Advice to would-be Romney running mates: Run for the hills

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:07:05 +0000

Nothing is easier to mock in politics right now than the apparent reluctance of leading Republicans to sign on as Mitt Romney’s second banana. A few weeks ago, Jon Stewart summarized the way that Rob Portman was plugging his Senate colleague Marco Rubio, who in turn was passing the baton to Jeb Bush, with the line, “Doesn’t anyone want the rock in crunch time?”

Obama, France’s Hollande hunt for Afghanistan compromise

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:06:59 +0000

Visiting French President François Hollande told President Barack Obama on Friday that France’s combat troops would leave Afghanistan by year’s end and pledged to find a way “for our allies to pursue their mission” in talks at a looming NATO summit. The two leaders also bonded over jokes about fast food, a move that recalled [...]

Joe Ricketts gave money to every 2012 GOP candidate

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:06:53 +0000

Billionaire political donor Joe Ricketts clearly has President Barack Obama in his line of fire this election season, as we learned this week. But when it comes to Ricketts writing checks, apparently all Republicans—and even some libertarians—are welcome.

Report: Loretta Lynn Indeed a Teen Bride, but Not as Underage as She Previously Claimed

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:06:39 +0000

Celebrities not being forthcoming about their age? Say it ain’t so?!

But count us gobsmacked that one of those offenders is Loretta Lynn, especially given her legendary life…

Alanis Morissette: I Will Breastfeed "Until My Son Is Finished"

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:06:34 +0000

Despite all the jokes about the 3-year-old on the breastfeeding cover of Time magazine being destined for a therapist’s couch, Alanis Morissette thinks that kind of closeness is what’s…

Deadmau5 Ignites Twitter Feud With DJ Pauly D

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:45:27 +0000

Whoa! It looks like someone here isn’t a DJ Pauly D fan. Canadian DJ DeadMau5 ignited a Twitter feud with the Jersey Shore cast member when he said not-so-nice things about his new music video for his song, “Night of My Life.”

When Pauly D asked his fans what they thought of the video DeadMau5 retorted with: “Well since you asked, I didn’t really enjoy it. it looked like it cost about $150 to make, and nothing really creative about it.”

Pauly D responded with, “T-Shirt $40 Jeans $120 Hair Gel $12 Being Hated On By Deadmau5 #Priceless.”

Oh, but it didn’t end there. DeadMau5 added: “Hating? the f***? you clearly don’t know me enough if you thought that was ‘hating’. was just some friendly-ish advice. I just thought it was a piece of sh**, in short. typical bottlepopping playpressing garbage im sure everyones sick of. Well, now that Jersey (and quite possibly the rest of the eastern seaboard) ‘came at me bro’ i guess its time for bed soon,” asking, “k, where the f*** is @snooki at?”

Check out the video below and tell us what you think.

The 2012 Speculatron Weekly Roundup For May 18, 2012

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:39:51 +0000

What began in Indiana continued in Nebraska this week, as long-shot state Sen. Deb Fischer scored an underdog victory in Nebraska’s GOP primary for th…

Romney On Stimulus: ‘The Largest, One-Time Careless Expenditure Of Government Money’

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:39:19 +0000

WASHINGTON, D.C. — At a campaign event in New Hampshire on Friday, Mitt Romney once again sharply condemned the stimulus package passed during the pr…

Kelly Cogswell: The Dyke March Hits 20!

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:39:10 +0000

It’s that time of year again, when lesbians all over the world huddle in back rooms, plotting global domination, civilization’s end, and their annual Dyke March.
Read More…
More on Lesbian

Jim Higley: Can Five Backyard Grillers Win the Memphis in May World Championship Cooking Contest?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:39:05 +0000

Having Chris Lilly on your grilling team is the same thing as having Texas Rangers Josh Hamilton teach your kids a thing or two about baseball. Or having Beyonce and Jay Z swing by for your weekly singing lesson.
Read More…

Jordan Brown, 11-Year-Old Murderer, Sent To Juvenile Detention

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:38:57 +0000

Youth Radio — Youth Media International: Teen Ambivalence Towards Pregnancy Points To Social Problems, Says Study

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:38:46 +0000

By: Robyn Gee

A new report by Melissa Kearney and Philip Levine at the University of Maryland, suggests that common ideas about teenage pregnancy might be backwards.

Teenagers in the United States are more likely to become teen parents than teenagers in other western countries. They aren’t having more sex — they’re using less contraception, according to a study in 2011. The study suggests that this phenomenon is due to limited access to healthcare and contraceptives and also less social acceptance of teenage sexuality.

Youth Radio — Youth Media International: Best-Kept Secrets Of Student Loan Borrowing

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:38:36 +0000

By: Robyn Gee

Story after story about college students graduating with mountains of debt permeate the news every day. Headlines like, “A Generation Hobbled by the Soaring Cost of College,” suggest that today’s 18 – 34 year olds can’t pursue their dreams without shouldering years of debt repayment. President Obama has urged Congress to prevent the interest rate on Federal Subsidized Stafford loans from doubling this July.

Amidst all this doom and gloom, what’s a young borrower to do?

Ed Felker: Dogged: How Perseverance (and Facebook) Saved 11 Puppies

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:38:28 +0000

“Network” is such an overused word that it feels like it’s lost some of its meaning. But on the third night of the puppies’ saga, a network of supporters came together to collect a dog and transport her hundreds of miles to her hungry charges.
Read More…
More on Social Networking

Aitan Goelman: Peter Beinart Is Wrong About American Jews

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:38:20 +0000

Contrary to Peter Beinart’s thesis in The Crisis of Zionism, American Jews need not — and most have not — checked their liberalism at the door in order to maintain unwavering support for the Jewish State.
Read More…
More on Israel

Natalie Thomas: Why I Took a Facebook Hiatus

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:38:13 +0000

Facebook is addictive. You feel inclined to read, stalk and share. Only in this forum would stalking be the more acceptable practice of the three. In this case, it’s the sharing that’s the problem.
Read More…
More on Facebook

Rob Asghar: From Home Runs to Bunts: The Real Reason Managers Get Nothing Done

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:38:05 +0000

Catch most managers in a moment of honesty, and they’ll admit they feel less effective than they’d expected to be. The reason, they’ll say, is that they’re too busy to do the big things they’d hoped to do.
Read More…
More on Business

Andy Gipson, Mississippi GOP Lawmaker, Blasts Gays, Cites Bible Passage Calling For Their Death

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:37:53 +0000

Mississippi state Rep. Andy Gipson (R) weighed in on President Barack Obama’s gay marriage decision last week, invoking a bible passage that calls for gay men to be “put to death.”

In a May 10 Facebook post, Gipson called homosexuality a “sin,” citing Leviticus 20:13 and Romans 1:26-28:

Akilah Bolden-Monifa: The First Gay President?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:37:46 +0000

President Obama helped move marriage equality forward, and his courageous statement will go down in history. “It is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married,” he told ABC News. And he didn’t leave it there. He went on to make a persuasive case for it. He cited gay and lesbian friends, neighbors, staff members with children, and people in the armed forces, and he talked about his children not being able to understand the discrimination against gay or lesbian parents.

Many people, including some in the black community, remain uncomfortable with marriage equality. That’s why it was risky and gutsy of Obama to speak out. His position was the focus of recent sermons in black churches. Many folks believe the black community to be more homophobic than the larger community, and they blamed the black church for the passage of Proposition 8 in California, which ended same-sex marriages there. But many black churches actually stood in support of the president. It seems unlikely that Obama’s position will significantly lesson his appeal within the black community.

Beyond the tremendous symbolic importance of Obama’s statement, his support of same-sex marriage won’t instantly change the laws on the books. And the president did say that individual states should decide the fate of same-sex couples wishing to marry. At the moment 29 states prohibit same-sex marriages, most recently North Carolina. Six states and the District of Columbia allow for same-sex marriages. And 15 states are silent on the issue in that there is no specific constitutional prohibition but de facto only opposite-sex marriages are allowed.

Marcia G. Yerman: Sen. James Inhofe Seeks to Destroy Landmark EPA Ruling

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:37:37 +0000

For parents and health administrators who thought that 2011 had ended in a victory for clean air, 2012 is yielding a new surprise from an elected representative who is determined to put a stranglehold on the EPA.
Read More…
More on EPA

Elisa Castillo Gets Life In Prison For First-Time Drug Offense

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:37:26 +0000

Few will argue that Elisa Castillo — a 56-year-old grandmother — is a high-level drug cartel kingpin, but she’s spending more time in prison than many who are.

The Houston Chronicle reports that Castillo is serving life in prison without parole for a first-time drug offense.

Read More…
More on Video

Dave Johnson: Will Conservatives Support American Companies … Or Chinese?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:37:17 +0000

Which is better for an economy: millions of future jobs and trillions of future dollars, or a few people making a quick buck today by selling out their country? For decades America’s 1%-backed conservatives have chosen the latter course, and we can see the results all around us. Now the Obama administration has imposed stiff tariffs on Chinese solar panels because China was “dumping” — selling below cost — to drive American manufacturers out of business. Will conservatives support their country and our companies or will they continue to side with our country’s competitors?

US Imposes Stiff Tariffs

The Commerce Department yesterday concluded that Chinese solar panel companies are “dumping” product – selling below the cost of production – into the US market, and imposed stiff tariffs. NY Times, U.S. Slaps High Tariffs on Chinese Solar Panels,

Karman Kregloe: AfterEllen.com’s Best Lesbian Week Ever: May 12-18

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:37:09 +0000

We pride ourselves on knowing all kinds of Sapphic pop-culture facts. Each week we’ll share some of the best tidbits on The Huffington Post in our new series, “Best Lesbian Week Ever.” Here’s who and what was on our raging gay radar this week.
Read More…
More on Lesbian

Jackie Chan Is Quitting Action Movies!!

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:36:50 +0000

Oh no!!

Jackie Chan is quitting action movies??

That’d be like Russell Brand quitting comedies!

After promoting his 100th movie, Chinese Zodiac, Jackie told reporters:

“This will be my last action movie. I tell you, I am not young any more … I am really, really tired.”

Awww! That’s so sad!

He continued:

“I don’t just want to be an action star … I want to be a true actor. I want to be an Asian Robert De Niro. I want to get rid of my image. So, for the last ten years I’ve done other films like ‘The Karate Kid’ where I’d rather play an old man. I want the audience to know I’m not just about fighting or comedy, also I can act.”

We guess he’s gotten tired of kicking his own butt (as well as the butts of millions of henchmen) and he wants to show people his real talent.

We’ll be sad to see you leave the business of butt kicking but we support you in following your happiness!

[Image via WENN.]

Bill Murray & Wes Anderson: Playboys In France!

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:36:44 +0000

ATTEN: Ladies of France!

Be on the look out for these two tigers on the prowl!

Bill Murray and his pal, directer Wes Anderson are in Cannes premiering their latest flick Moonrise Kingdom — AND looking for ladies!

The two gentlemen were seen at a bar talking up some lovely females from 1 AM to after 3:30 AM Thursday. We hear Mr. Murray was especially enjoying himself, and the booze, flirting with women and singing with the bars piano player!

According to our source:

“The actor was heard telling the object of his affection that he planned to give her a kiss at midnight, before realizing it was already the wee hours of the morning.”

The former SNL cast member finished the ~~evening~~ morning by singing Sweet Home Chicago before scampering off to bed.

Sounds like Lost in Translation wasn’t too far from reality!

[Image via Ramey Pix.]

Chris Brown Pops The Question To GF Karrueche?!

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:36:35 +0000

Chris Brown is showering his girl in diamonds!

Despite collaborating with ex Rihanna on her song Birthday Cake, it seems like Chris’ current girl Karrueche Tran got more than just icing on her special day!

The model tweeted the Instagrammed pic (above) of the ring Brown had gotten her for her 24th birthday this week!

The message along with the pic read:

“Kind of speechless right now…”

And then Karrueche further tweeted:

“you’ve made me the happiest birthday girl EVER.”

But don’t think Karrueche’s birthday celebration just consisted of getting gifted with a diamond ring — supposedly, Chris dropped $10,000 for her party!

Of course, that couldn’t be an engagement ring…could it? It’s not even on the right finger, but the couple HAVE been getting pretty close lately…

Who knows, wedding bells just may be in Chris and Karrueche’s future…!

[Image via Karrueche Tran's Instagram]

172 Days to Go, Sleepover for World Leaders, 2 Candidates Named Roy, Biden Doesn’t Blame WV (PM Note)

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:32:37 +0000

Story of the Day – Candidates With Same Name Run for Same Office - http://abcn.ws/L5y7Mz

Obama Campaign Launches Bid to Save USPS – $1.5 Million spent on postage, per FEC reports just released. (Hartfield)

Elevator Endorsement – Romney Calls Bush to say ‘Thanks’ – http://abcn.ws/LkYhkc

172 Days to Go – 2 important points from Amy Walter’s lay of the land -

1. ” It feels like we have hit a turning point in the campaign. Not that long ago, both sides saw Obama as a heavy favorite. Today, it is dawning on Democrats and Republicans alike that this thing is going to be a nail-biter.”

2. “The two states that will decided this election: Colorado and Virginia.”

Read her entire assessment, including which states are technically lean Democratic, but seem more swingy lately – http://abcn.ws/J7AbnP

Romney’s 2008 Contribution to his own campaign – $42,000,000 http://abcn.ws/JpJnm2

Romney’s 2012 Contribution to his own campaign – $150,000 (symbolic, clearly) http://abcn.ws/LfkRo4

Campfire Summit – Obama is hosting what sounds a lot like a slumber party for world leaders – http://abcn.ws/JYjsWX

The bunk allocation system is classified, according to National Security Advisor Tom Donilon. Back when Clinton tried to broker Mideast Peace there, During a photo session, Ehud Barak and Yasser Arafat jovially wrestle to insist the other be first to enter a cabin, according to our timeline at the time. Imagine covering that in the age Twitter - http://abcn.ws/JpJq0Y

FLASHBACK: Inside Camp David – George W. Bush tells Charlie Gibson about Prez Vacay Spot – Live from the @abcworldnews archive – http://abcn.ws/LkWtI6

At Abandoned Bridge, Romney Hits Obama on Spending – http://abcn.ws/KKqmyS

Biden on Votes for W.Va. Felon Over Obama: ‘I don’t blame people. They’re frustrated, angry’ – http://abcn.ws/KKcbKg

The Palin Effect Revisited – If you’re an upstart Republican running for your life in a primary in the middle of the country and hoping beyond hope to gain traction against the “establishment” candidate, who you gonna call? Sarah Palin could be the answer. Shush Walshe has an in-depth look at Palin’s senate primary picks, what they tell us and what they don’t – http://abcn.ws/JomswV

Obama Talks Fries With French Leader (And Eurozone, Afghanistan) – More from Mary Bruce – Hollande spent the summer of 1974 driving across the U.S. studying American fast food chains, many of which had not yet made it to France. The new president recently told the New York Times he “could have made a fortune in cheeseburgers, but I finally chose politics.” While the experience did not leave Hollande with millions, it did instill in him a love for hamburgers. “I just want [you] to remember that cheeseburgers go very well with French fries,” Obama reminded Hollande with a smile. “No declaration about French Fries,” Hollande joked in response. http://abcn.ws/LkXbF7

Afghanistan Notwithstanding - Olivier Knox writes this – Obama and his guest, the first Socialist French president in 17 years, seemed far closer on other issues: Both cited the need to stimulate the sputtering global economy. “Growth must be a priority, even as we get our public accounts in order,” said Hollande, whose calls for jobs initiatives is a break from predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy’s austerity agenda. Obama and the French president were to meet hours later at Camp David with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has called for stricter fiscal discipline, at a summit of the Group of Eight industrialized nations. http://abcn.ws/LkYhkd

Obama and Cash in the City – Fundraiser Hosted by Sarah Jessica Parker – http://abcn.ws/JTpt5u

Barack’s Hollywood Buddies – http://abcn.ws/JY2Hej

Obama Pledges $3 billion Private Sector Pledge to Fight Hunger in Africa - http://abcn.ws/Jok1ua

ABC’s Supreme Court Watcher Ariane de Vogue reports: The challenge to the Affordable Care Act and Arizona’s strict immigration law have dominated this Supreme Court term, and they probably won’t be decided before the end of June. But there are several other compelling cases that will be decided in the coming weeks. Read her full rundown – http://abcn.ws/LfkRo9

But here are some bullets on the cases:

FCC v. Fox (and the F Word): Fleeting expletives and partial nudity – Involves Cher, Nicole Richie and ‘NYPD Blue’. Remember NYPD Blue??? http://abcn.ws/zQEIOH

U.S. v. Alvarez: Stolen Valor Act - Is Faking a Medal of Honor Free Speech? – What’s Your Verdict? – http://abcn.ws/JmPQRd

Reichle v. Howards: Lawsuit against former Vice President Cheney’s security detail – Man approached Cheney at rally in 2006 – The agents and the Colorado man have very different versions of this story - http://abcn.ws/sQxvQf

Miller v. Alabama and Jackson v. Hobbs: Life without parole for juveniles? – http://abcn.ws/M2qetR

Al Gore’s New Girlfriend – http://abcn.ws/JVAl3N

John Boehner: All Options on Table for ‘Fast and Furious’ Investigation

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:32:32 +0000

House Speaker John Boehner said “all options are on the table” when I asked him if the House would move to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt should he refuse to fully comply with the ongoing congressional investigation into the “Fast and Furious” operation.

“We want to hold everyone at the Department of Justice and the administration accountable for what happened or what didn’t happen in ‘Fast and Furious.’ All options are on the table,” Boehner said today in an interview for “This Week” to air in full this Sunday.

The House GOP leadership sent a letter to Holder today that cited a “lack of full cooperation from the Department of Justice” in terms of the current investigation. ABC News’ John Parkinson reported that the letter was sent after a group of freshmen GOP representatives urged Speaker Boehner to bring a Contempt of Congress resolution to the House floor for a vote.

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, however, dismissed the idea that Holder may be in contempt.

“I don’t believe he’s in contempt of Congress. No,” Pelosi told me in a “This Week” interview. “My understanding is that the attorney general has handed over … thousands of paperwork on the – ‘Fast and Furious,’ that some that is withheld relates to criminal prosecution and other – whether – executive privilege or whatever. But whatever he can hand over, I think he should.”

Interviews with both Boehner and Pelosi will air Sunday on “This Week.”

Obama Hosts G-8 Slumber Party At Camp David

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:32:27 +0000

Leaders of eight of the world’s largest economies are meeting at Camp David this evening for the G-8 Summit, marking the biggest gathering of heads of state at the president’s country retreat in history.

The rustic estate in Maryland’s Catoctin Mountains, however, presents something of a logistical challenge for the White House as it seeks to accommodate all of the leaders and their staffs.

Before your mind wanders to those summer camp memories of bunk bed-filled cabins, the Obama administration assures there are “adequate facilities” for each delegation. But who sleeps where? And how were the arrangements decided?

“The allocation system, of course, is classified,” National Security Advisor Tom Donilon jokingly told reporters Thursday.

“The summit is intended to be small and intimate, and the President made a conscious decision to host the G8 meeting at Camp David for this reason. Each head of state or government will have his or her own cabin and they’ll have the opportunity, obviously, to meet informally on the margins of the meetings and to take full advantage of the grounds at Camp David,” he said.

President Obama was originally slated to host the summit in his hometown of Chicago, but announced in March that he was moving the meetings to Camp David.

The country retreat, known formally as the Naval Support Facility Thurmont, is a large complex, but not all of the buildings are the same size. Several of the scattered cabins are just one room and a bathroom.

Donilon assured reporters that the delicate arrangements were carefully planned. White House deputy chief of staff Alyssa Mastromonaco and George Mulligan of the White House Military Office were enlisted to help with the details, he said.

“There are adequate facilities there for each delegation, each head of state to have his or her cabin, as I said, and for each to be accompanied by a key staff person and in some cases two or three staff people,” Donilon said.

“Maybe we could get… a deeper briefing on this stuff,” he added laughing. “I’m as interested in it as you are.”

The president himself does not visit his country home often. Today will mark his 23^rd visit to Camp Dave, according to unofficial White House historian CBS’ Mark Knoller.

Camp David, named after President Eisenhower’s grandson, has hosted foreign dignitaries in the past. The 1978 summit that President Jimmy Carter held for Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin resulted in what are now known as the Camp David Accords.

Asked if it was a little rustic for heads of state, Donilon quipped “I grew up in Providence, Rhode Island. I never had a lawn bigger than three feet in front of my house, so… I’m not really the one to comment on rustic.”

While the G-8 leaders are busy tackling global issue like the European debt crisis at Camp David, First Lady Michelle Obama will host their spouses at the White House for a tour and “intimate lunch” catered by famed celebrity chef Jose Andres, according to the White House.

Obama and Hollande Talk Afghanistan, Eurozone Crisis and French Fries

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:32:22 +0000

In his first meeting with President Obama, newly minted French President Francois Hollande stood by his campaign pledge to withdraw French troops from Afghanistan by the end of the year.

“I reminded President Obama that I made a promise to the French people to the effect that our combat troops would be withdrawn from Afghanistan by the end of 2012. That being said, we will continue to support Afghanistan in a different way,” Hollande told reporters. Obama welcomed his French counterpart to the White House in advance of the G-8 and NATO summits this weekend.

The new president expressed confidence that France could “find the right means” to “continue and comply” with its international obligations in Afghanistan.

Obama, who plans to remove U.S. combat troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014, said they agreed that “even as we transition out of a combat phase in Afghanistan that it’s important that we sustain our commitment to helping Afghans build security and continue down the path of development.”

Much of today’s discussion also centered on the debt crisis in Europe, which both leaders agreed is “an issue of extraordinary importance not only to the people of Europe but also to the world economy,” Obama said.

“We’re looking forward to a fruitful discussion later this evening and tomorrow with the other G-8 leaders about how we can manage a responsible approach to fiscal consolidation that is coupled with a strong growth agenda,” Obama said.

Hollande shared the same view “that Greece must stay in the eurozone and that all of us must do what we can to that effect. There will be elections in Greece, and we wanted to send a message to that effect to the Greek people,” he said.

Both leaders affirmed the alliance and friendship between their two nations and seemed to bond over their love of classic American cuisine. The president noted that Hollande spent some time in the U.S. studying American fast food. “Although he decided to go into politics, we’ll be interested in his opinions on cheeseburgers in Chicago,” Obama said of the upcoming NATO Summit in his hometown.

“I would like to thank President Obama for the knowledge he has of my life before I took office. I will say nothing against cheeseburgers, of course,” Hollande replied.

Hollande spent the summer of 1974 driving across the U.S. studying American fast food chains, many of which had not yet made it to France. The new president recently told the New York Times he “could have made a fortune in cheeseburgers, but I finally chose politics.” While the experience did not leave Hollande with millions, it did instill in him a love for hamburgers.

“I just want [you] to remember that cheeseburgers go very well with French fries,” Obama reminded Hollande with a smile.

”No declaration about French Fries,” Hollande joked in response.

Mary Kennedy’s Body Released Amid Family Feud

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:32:01 +0000

Maingear F131 (Core i7 3770K, May 2012)

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:31:15 +0000

Editor’s Rating:

User Rating:

Good: The Maingear F131 comes in an attractive, surprisingly roomy chassis, and it posted some of the fastest gaming performance to grace CNET Labs.
Bad: The $3,000 price tag puts this desktop out of reach for all but the most enthusiastic PC gamers.
Bottom Line: Maingear’s new F131 hits all the notes I expect from a $3,000 system, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it for high-end single-monitor PC gaming. [Read more]

Sony KDL-46HX850

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:31:10 +0000

Editor’s Rating:

User Rating:

Good: The Sony KDL-HX850 delivers excellent picture quality for an LCD, with deep blacks and plenty of detail in shadows. Blooming was minimal, and both uniformity and viewing angle were very good. The Gorilla Glass front adds both toughness and good looks.
Bad: The HX850 is expensive compared with like-performing plasmas, and color tended somewhat toward blue.
Bottom Line: The Sony HX850 is a smart-looking Smart TV with sparkling picture quality, making it a front-runner for plasma-phobic videophiles. [Read more]

Sony KDL-55HX850

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:31:04 +0000

Editor’s Rating:

User Rating:

Samsung Focus 2 review: Great value Windows Phone

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:30:31 +0000

(Credit:
Josh Miller/CNET)

The way I see it, there are three major draws to AT&T’s Samsung Focus 2, a Windows phone that goes on sale May 20. First, there’s the glossy white design. Second there’s the LTE compatibility, and third, and for some, most importantly, there’s the $49.99 price.

The cameras and processor do a good job rounding out the mid-range features, but there are a few ups and downs with the smartphone that you may want to keep in mind as you decide if this is one of the many Samsung Windows phones, or of AT&T’s Windows phones, for you.

Check out the video, photos, and pros and cons in my full Samsung Focus 2 review.

Sprint aggressively promotes iPhone 4S unlimited plan

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:30:16 +0000

(Credit:
Josh Miller/CNET)

Sprint today is shouting its unlimited iPhone 4S data plan from the rooftops, hoping to attract Verizon customers who are hopping mad at losing their unlimited data.

Starting today, you can trade in your current non-Sprint iPhone for the carrier’s own model, and get at least $100 off when you sign a new two-year contract.

5G Wi-Fi (802.11ac) explained: It’s cool

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:30:03 +0000

The world's first 802.11ac router, Buffalo's AirStation WZR-D1800H, being tested at CNET Labs.

(Credit:
Dong Ngo/CNET)

Now that you can actually buy the first wireless networking products that use 802.11ac, Buffalo’s router and media bridge, it’s time you learned about the this new wireless standard. While the “ac” designation definitely does not mean “air conditioning,” I can say for sure that 802.11ac is cool.

And by cool, I mean fast. That’s the biggest difference about 802.11ac compared with previous wireless standards. But first let’s see how similar it is.

802.11ac supplements 802.11n

Netgear's first 802.11ac router, the WiFi 6300, is set to be available for purchase this month.

(Credit:
Dong Ngo/CNET)

802.11ac (aka 5G Wi-Fi) is the next step after 802.11n (aka N or Wireless-N, which is currently is the most popular Wi-Fi standard). It’s backward-compatible with N, meaning that a 5G Wi-Fi router will support N clients and 5G Wi… [Read more]

Priest Conspired To Hire Hit Man To Kill Boy Who Accused Him Of Rape

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:17:50 +0000

A Catholic priest was found guilty Thursday of conspiracy after trying to pay a hit man $5000 to kill a 16-year old boy who had accused him of rape at gunpoint. The hit man turned out to be an undercover police officer. John Fiala, the priest (now an ex-priest), still faces sexual assault charges.

A 2010 CNN article reported the background:

The youth met Fiala in 2007, according to [Tom Rhodes, the teen's attorney]. The attorney said the priest started “grooming him,” buying him gifts including a computer and a car. In early 2008, when the boy was 16, under the guise of providing private catechism lessons, Fiala “gained access to him and began to sexually abuse him once or twice a month, including on church grounds,” Rhodes said.

At the time, Fiala was administrator of Sacred Heart of Mary in Rocksprings, Texas, which is in Edwards County. The alleged abuse occurred in two counties — Edwards and Howard — and included the youth’s rape at gunpoint, the attorney said.

Fiala allegedly threatened to kill the youth if he told anyone — threats he repeated in daily text messages, Rhodes said, and Fiala also threatened to kill himself, telling the teen they would “go to heaven together.”

The teen, after struggling with the abuse, told a school counselor, who notified authorities, Rhodes said. He filed suit in April against Fiala, as well as the archdioceses of San Antonio, Texas, and Omaha, Nebraska — where Fiala was before Texas — and Fiala’s religious order, the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity, the attorney said.

Yesterday, via The Dallas Morning News:

John Fiala, who faces up to life in prison, showed no outward emotion as the verdict was read. The jury of nine women and three men that convicted him after a few hours of deliberating will decide his punishment.

Testimony in the punishment phase of the trial is underway.

Fiala testified this morning that he told a purported hit man to kill his accuser because he thought his own life was in danger.

He said his friend and neighbor Scottie Fisher told him the hit man was his brother. The brother would likely turn on Fiala if he wasn’t convinced the hit was on, Fiala said Fisher told him.

“I knew that if I didn’t do this, I’d be the one on the list, marked to be killed, according to what Scottie said,” Fiala said.

But the man Fiala met with in November 2010 and instructed to murder his accuser in exchange for $5,000 was actually an undercover police officer. And the entire conversation was surreptitiously video recorded and played for the Dallas County jury yesterday.

Fiala’s attorney asked him why he gave specific instructions to the undercover cop, including to “chop off his head.”

“That was what Scottie told me to say,” Fiala said.

The Raw Story notes that “Fiala is also facing four counts of sex crimes against children in Edwards County, Texas,” an adds:

Investigators found photos of young men or boys exposing themselves on Fiala’s computer after his arrest. Testimony at the trial also revealed that Fiala used a Facebook account under the name “Ziggy the Great,” owned a Sponge Bob Square Pants calendar and collected other toys.

Video below, and image, above, via KWES.

TEXT-S&P cuts Clayton Williams Energy ratings

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:13:58 +0000

TEXT-S&P raises Bolivia’s ratings to ‘BB-’

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:13:51 +0000

Overview
— Bolivia’s general government has registered low fiscal deficits and
stronger nominal GDP growth during the past five years.
— We are raising our sovereign rating on Bolivia…

TREASURIES-Bonds fall on profit-taking as worries linger

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:13:47 +0000

* Investors book profits before $99 bln in supply
* Greece, Spain crisis worries underpin prices
* Benchmark yields fall for 9th straight week; longest slide
since 1998
* Unwind of curve…

UPDATE 1-MF Global to get $168 mln back from JPMorgan

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:13:39 +0000

* JPMorgan to return “excess collateral” to broker-dealer
estate – trustee

SpaceX test flight to space station seen as milestone

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:13:29 +0000

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) – An Obama administration plan to cut the cost of space flights faces a key test on Saturday when a privately owned rocket lifts off for a practice run aimed at the first private docking at the International Space Station.

EMERGING MARKETS-Latam stocks log worst week since September

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:13:13 +0000

SAO PAULO/MEXICO CITY, May 18 (Reuters) – Latin American
stocks closed out their worst week in nearly eight months on
Friday, as investors worried Greece and Spain’s woes could
spread to other euro zone countries even as leaders worked on
contingency plans in case Greece exits the euro.

EMERGING MARKETS-Latam stocks log worst week since September

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:13:07 +0000

TEXT-S&P cuts Clayton Williams Energy ratings

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:13:01 +0000

May 18 – Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services said today that it lowered its
senior unsecured debt ratings on Midland, Texas-based exploration and production
company Clayton Williams Energy Inc. to ‘B-’ (one notch below the
corporate credit rating) from ‘B’. We simultaneously revised the recovery rating
on these issues to ’5′, indicating the expectation of modest (10% to 30%)
recovery in the event of a payment default, from ’4′.

The revised recovery rating reflects the recent increase in the c

TEXT-S&P cuts Clayton Williams Energy ratings

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:12:52 +0000

The revised recovery rating reflects the recent increase in the c

UPDATE 2-GM passes on running TV ads during 2013 Super Bowl

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:12:50 +0000

DETROIT, May 18 (Reuters) – General Motors Co will
not advertise in next year’s Super Bowl because it is too
expensive, the top marketing executive for the U.S. automaker
said three days after the company announced it was dropping paid
ads on Facebook Inc.

UPDATE 2-GM passes on running TV ads during 2013 Super Bowl

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:12:45 +0000

RPT-Scramble for Facebook stock ends in "Face-flop"

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:12:44 +0000

NEW YORK, May 18 (Reuters) – On Monday, 74-year-old Betty
Tanguilig told her financial adviser to liquidate a $400,000
account and put all the proceeds into Facebook Inc IPO
shares.

SEC to look at Facebook trade glitches

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:12:39 +0000

WASHINGTON, May 18 (Reuters) – The Securities and Exchange
Commission will review the Nasdaq trading glitches
surrounding the initial public offering of Facebook Inc
on Friday, an agency spokesman said.

GLOBAL MARKETS-World stocks erase year’s gain; Brent at 2012 low

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:12:31 +0000

NEW YORK, May 18 (Reuters) – World stocks erased the year’s
gains o n F riday as investors fled risky investments for
safe-haven assets on concerns about the euro zone’s deepening
debt woes, while U.S. stocks lost ground after the debut of
Facebook’s failed to ignite optimism.

Why Facebook isn’t like MySpace & AOL

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:12:30 +0000

Dave Morin, an early member of the Facebook team and co-founder of Path, tells Ali Velshi that the Facebook platform will be a major driver of the company’s future success.

UPDATE 2-Under pressure, Chesapeake cuts director pay

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:12:25 +0000

May 18 (Reuters) – Chesapeake Energy Corp, under
growing pressure from shareholders to improve corporate
governance, reduced the compensation for its outside directors
by 20 percent and eliminated their use of its aircraft for
personal travel, the company said on Friday.

CNN iReport Awards: Commentary

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:12:24 +0000

Check out the nominees for the 2nd annual CNN iReport Award for commentary.

UAW president sets goal to stem money losses by 2014

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:12:18 +0000

NEW YORK, May 18 (Reuters) – The United Auto Workers aims to
break even by mid-2014, as the American union looks to bolster
its political and bargaining clout.

Campaign ad wars could get nasty

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:12:16 +0000

CNN’s Wolf Blitzer talks to the Republican National Committee chairman about the Rev. Wright political ad.

Swatch loses to Bloomberg LP over analyst call

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:12:11 +0000

May 18 (Reuters) – A federal judge has dismissed Swatch
Group SA’s lawsuit accusing the news service Bloomberg
LP of secretly recording a conference call with securities
analysts and providing a transcript to clients without
permission.

Is the NFL protecting its players?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:12:09 +0000

NFLPA Exec. Dir. DeMaurice Smith sits down with CNN’s Jamal Anderson to discuss player needs in the current NFL.

UPDATE 1-Ultra Clean to buy private co for $99 mln

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:12:03 +0000

May 18 (Reuters) – Semiconductor gear maker Ultra Clean
Holdings Inc said it would buy privately held American
Integration Technologies LLC (AIT) for about $99 million in a
cash-and-stock deal to expand its operations and add customers.

Undercover video shows horse abuse

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:12:02 +0000

Undercover video obtained by the Humane Society shows alleged abuse of horses.

Jane’s healthy adventure: Ali Vincent

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:11:55 +0000

Ali Vincent, a winner from The Biggest Loser, talks to Jane about her weight loss and her new book.

Obama’s likeability a factor in election

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:11:42 +0000

Despite the heated campaign, lackluster performance on the economy and negative feelings many conservatives have toward President Obama, many voters still like Obama as a person.

Postal Service’s next deadline: Aug. 1

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:11:35 +0000

The next deadline facing Congress to save the U.S. Postal Service is Aug. 1. That’s when the agency won’t have enough money to make a $5.5 billion payment to a retirement fund mandated by law.

GM won’t advertise in the 2013 Super Bowl

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:11:32 +0000

General Motors will not advertise during this year’s Super Bowl game, the automaker said Friday.

New York penthouse sells for a record $90 million

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:11:28 +0000

An unnamed buyer paid more than $90 million for a Midtown Manhattan penthouse, the highest price ever paid for a New York apartment, according to the building’s developer.

Nasdaq glitch confuses investors of Facebook IPO

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:11:15 +0000

Some investors who thought they had bought Facebook shares at the opening of trading were left without knowing for hours whether they had received the shares.

Facebook stock debut fails to sizzle

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:11:08 +0000

It was barely a “like” and definitely not a “love” from Facebook investors as the online social network’s stock failed to live up to the hype in its trading debut Friday.

U.S. says will bar some Motorola Mobility phones

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:11:01 +0000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Some of Motorola Mobility’s Android phones infringe on a Microsoft patent, a U.S. trade panel said on Friday in ordering that the devices be barred from importation into the United States. The order by the International Trade Commission has been sent to the president, who has 60 days to consider whether to overturn it for policy reasons. (Reporting By Diane Bartz; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)

Historic Facebook debut falls short of expectations

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:10:52 +0000

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – The historic initial public offering of Facebook Inc did not go as planned on Friday, as the social networking company’s sky-high valuation combined with trading glitches left the stock languishing near its offering price at the market close. Facebook shares, which opened up 11 percent, closed at $38.23 after a nail-biting last half hour of trading when the shares dipped to their $38 IPO price. Most investors had predicted a first-day pop. More than 576 million shares changed hands, setting a trading volume record for U.S. market debuts. …

Make your mind up J.Lo, says "American Idol" producer

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:10:34 +0000

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Jennifer Lopez and “American Idol” producers played a cat-and- mouse game on Friday over the singer’s future on the TV talent show that revived her career and sent her to the top of a global celebrity power list. “American Idol” producer Nigel Lythgoe said on Friday that Lopez must decide whether to sign up as a judge for a third year or go off in a new direction. …

"Vampire Diaries," Justin Bieber lead Teen Choice nominees

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:10:28 +0000

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – TV show “The Vampire Diaries” earned a leading six nominations for the annual Teen Choice awards on Friday, with Justin Bieber and talent show “American Idol” coming a close second with five nods apiece. “Vampire Diaries, which airs on the CW network, pushed aside blockbuster movies like “The Avengers” and “The Hunger Games” to gain the most nominations in an awards show that ranges from film to music, fashion and favorites celebrities. …

Twitter Announces NASCAR Partnership; More Deals to Come?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:10:20 +0000

Longtime informal social media buddies Twitter and NASCAR are making things official for next month’s Pocono 400 race. It’s Twitter’s first official partnership with a sports league, and may hint at a larger shift to come for the microblogging platform that has become a hit with sports fans in particular.

Avalanche sign veteran forward Hejduk to one-year deal

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:10:10 +0000

(Reuters) – Veteran forward, team captain and three-time All-Star Milan Hejduk has signed a one-year contract to stay with the Colorado Avalanche through the 2012-13 season, the National Hockey League (NHL) team said on Friday. The softly spoken 36-year-old Czech Republic native, who helped Colorado win the Stanley Cup in 2001, has played for the club for the last 13 years. A triple Olympian, Hejduk recorded 11 straight 20-goal seasons in Colorado from 1999-00 to 2010-11, and is just nine games short of becoming the first player in the franchise to appear in 1,000 games. …

Women’s Professional Soccer folds after 3 years

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:10:05 +0000

The Women’s Professional Soccer league has folded after three seasons.

Cubs P Kerry Wood retires after 13-plus seasons

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:09:56 +0000

Kerry Wood, who electrified baseball with a 20-strikeout game as a rookie in 1998 before his career was slowed by injuries, is retiring.

Key witness in Clemens trial says he mixed evidence

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:09:48 +0000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The key witness in former baseball pitching ace Roger Clemens’ perjury trial testified on Friday that evidence he turned over to federal investigators showed Clemens had used performance-enhancing drugs but that it also included items used by other players.

David earns meeting with Massaro

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:09:36 +0000

Nicol David overcame an early scare to reach the semi-finals of the British Open on Friday and earn a meeting with Laura Massaro, the player who has been the nearest thing to a rival over the past 18 months.

Afghan leader in Chicago for key NATO summit

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:09:30 +0000

Afghan President Hamid Karzai arrived in Chicago on Friday ahead of talks with US President Barack Obama and other NATO leaders at a key summit for Afghanistan’s future, an alliance official said.

Convicted of hate crime, former Rutgers student gets gay support

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:09:19 +0000

NEW YORK (Reuters) – The former Rutgers University student convicted of hate crimes for spying on his roommate’s gay tryst is drawing support from a surprising group before his sentencing on Monday: gay advocates. Tyler Clementi, 18, committed suicide in 2010 after learning that Dharun Ravi used a computer-mounted camera to see him kissing his older man in their dorm room and used social media to encourage others to watch. …

Raven-Symoné: Straight or Gay, "That Is My Right as a Human Being"

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:09:01 +0000

Raven-Symoné has come out on the side of privacy.

The former Cosby Show cutie and That’s So Raven star has responded to a National Enquirer report that she has a live-in…

Will Smith Accosted on Red Carpet by Kiss-Happy Male Reporter

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:08:56 +0000

No one gets fresh with this prince and gets away with it.

While walking the red carpet today in Moscow for that city’s premiere of Men in Black 3, Will Smith found himself on the…

Rebound Alert? Sean Penn, Petra Nemcova Get Cozy at Dinner in Cannes

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:08:51 +0000

Petra Nemcova and Sean Penn sure looked smitten Thursday night.

The supermodel and actor-activist were all smiles at a dinner at Cannes’ Tetou Restaurant. The duo, who dated briefly…

Teen Choice Award Nominations: Did The Hunger Games Top Twilight?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:08:40 +0000

Can we even call The Hunger Games’ Katniss-Peta-Gale question a love triangle anymore if it’s not called out to compete against Twilight’s famed love triangle?

The Twilight…

Jackie Chan Quits Action Movies—but Will He Go Right Back to Work Like These Stars Who Fake-Retired?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:08:34 +0000

Jackie Chan made a surprising announcement Friday: He’s retiring from action films.

“This will be my last action movie,” the 58-year-old actor said at a press conference for…

Grey’s Anatomy Boss Shonda Rhimes Talks Shocking Finale and Cast Departures: Don’t Assume Everyone Else Will Live

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:08:27 +0000

Whhhhhhyyyyy????

If you’re a Grey’s Anatomy fan, you probably found yourself screaming this at your TV last night, as creator Shonda Rhimes killed off a fan favorite and sent yet…

Olympics 2012: David Beckham Brings Torch to London

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:08:22 +0000

Mission accomplished!

David Beckham arrived in the U.K. on Friday with the Olympic torch in tow.

His landing at the naval base in Cornwall completed the trek he started on…

Kris Humphries Dines At Boa Steakhouse

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:51:52 +0000

Kim Kardashian‘s ex-husband Kris Humphries was spotted dining at Boa Steakhouse in Beverly Hills, Calif. with some of us pals on Thursday evening.

Kris is reportedly upset that his former wife has publicly moved on so quickly with her new beau, Kanye West, which to be honest with you, I’m not understanding why. It’s been over six months since they’ve separated so surely Kim can date anyone she wants now, right? Maybe Kris is still bitter about their 72-day marriage. If that’s the case, it’s time to move on!

Visit the Gallery (6 Images)

Update: Donna Summer Died From Lung Cancer

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:51:45 +0000

I’m sure that everyone was saddened and shocked when they heard the news that legendary singer Donna Summer passed away on Thursday, especially since there were no previous reports of her being sick. Well now sources close to the late singer say she died of lung cancer.

A source tells People Magazine:

“She had lung cancer. She got it about a year ago. She was not a smoker. It’s not like she was in bad shape. She was healthy, she was taking care of herself,” says the source, who worked with Summer in 2008. “She was healthy and energetic when I worked with her.”

The singer’s family announced Donna’s death Thursday, saying in a statement that they “are at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her continued legacy.”

Photo via FameFlynet

Bill Rancic Says Wife Giuliana Will Be “The Disciplinarian”

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:51:37 +0000

It looks like Bill Rancic can’t wait to become a father! Giuliana’s hubby recently opened up to Parade Magazine where he talked about the couple’s plans to renew their vows this summer, who is going to be the “disciplinarian” parent for their child and how they are keeping their marriage strong. Here are some snippets:

On their plans to have a vow renewal this summer...
“We had a crazy year and we’ve tested our vows. Our outlook on life is different so we want to tweak our vows a little and have more fun with it. It’s going to be a celebration of life and as I told her, it’s the year of the Rancics.”

On who will be the disciplinarian…
“I hate to say it but she’s going to be the tough one, believe it or not. I’m the softie. When we’re around my nephews, I’m a pushover. She lays down the law. She’s tough. Her parents were very strict. She was never allowed to sleepover at people’s homes. They ran a really tight operation in her house so I think she will surprisingly be the disciplinarian.”

On baby names…
“We’re still playing with names. You won’t see any juniors. I think you have to earn that title. If one day we have a son and he chooses to name his son after me, then I’ve earned it! I did a good job as a father and I made him proud. I don’t think it’s something you force on someone. It’s got to be earned. I would never do that. Although Giuliana would like to see a Giuliana Jr., I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

On keeping their busy marriage strong…
“Although we travel a lot we try to limit it and we’re starting to do more projects together. We’re doing more work things together to limit our time apart. When we’re apart, we’re on the phone a lot and use FaceTime. Recently, both of our flights had Wi-Fi and we were FaceTiming each other from our seats on our separate planes. I was talking very quietly and the person next to me was watching a movie.”

Photo via FameFlynet

Spotted: Rihanna In A Tiny Tube Top & See-Through Skirt In LA

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:51:20 +0000

It must have been scorching hot in Los Angeles last night because Rihanna wasn’t wearing very much clothing. Oh, that’s right. She’s often scantily clad.

Christine Negroni: The Miraculous Phenomenon That Is Sully

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:51:12 +0000

Three years after his heroics on the Hudson River, Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger still has the Big Apple eating out of his hand. He still says all the right things and amazingly he thinks his greatest accomplishments lie ahead.
Read More…

Bess Rowen: Star Power: Peter and the Starcatcher

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:51:05 +0000

I am not saying that cross-dressing can’t be funny, but I am saying that it is not a joke in and of itself. It is also simply old hat to laugh at a male character who seems emasculated. Haven’t we moved past this?
Read More…
More on New York

Jeff Burbank: With Eurovision 2012 Around the Corner, Azerbaijan Gets Much Unwanted Attention

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:50:56 +0000

As this year’s host of Eurovision, Azerbaijan may well impress visitors with its beautiful, entertaining capital city of Baku and friendly, considerate people, but not with how its government treats the people.
Read More…
More on Europe

Malaika Bobino: Giants Find the Runs for Win Over Cards

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:49:35 +0000

The bats came alive and if you weren’t there to see it, you maybe in disbelief. It’s been no secret the Giants offense has struggled in producing hits and runs. Not sure if this is a turning point in a new direction, but it’s definitely a good start.
Read More…
More on San Francisco

Myrdith Leon Mccormack: She’s Got Game: Legendary Kym Hampton is Revealed

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:49:26 +0000

Kym Hampton was not only a gifted athlete; she has a phenomenal voice and has always wanted to sing. Her love for singing came at an early age but was shy about singing before others which caused her to push that particular gift to the back burner.
Read More…
More on Black Voices Life

Kevin Hartnett: What Would an Extra $50,000 a Year Mean for How my Kids Grow Up?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:49:16 +0000

How does the organization of time and the availability of money effect a family culture and children’s outcomes?
Read More…
More on Income Inequality

Romney On Stimulus: "The Largest, One-Time Careless Expenditure Of Government Money"

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:49:06 +0000

WASHINGTON, D.C. — At a campaign event in New Hampshire on Friday, Mitt Romney once again sharply condemned the stimulus package passed during the president’s first month in office, calling it “the largest one-time careless expenditure of government money in American history.”

The former Massachusetts governor has offered the line before. But this time he chose a backdrop to drive home the point: He delivered the indictment in front of a veritable “bridge to nowhere” — a 19th-century bridge no longer used for traffic that received $288,000 in restoration funds.

Romney has long made the stimulus a top example of government waste incurred under the leadership of the current president. But his position on the bill was, at the time of its passage, much more nuanced. Romney opposed the measure, going so far as to counsel congressional Republicans to vote no and push a preferred alternative. But he also hedged his political bets, arguing that the stimulus package crafted by Democrats would do some good.

‘Glee’ Season 3 Finale: Gloria Estefan As Santana’s Mom And More Sneak Peeks At Season 3 Last Episode

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:48:53 +0000

The “Glee” Season 3 finale (Tuesday, May 22 at 9 p.m. ET on Fox) will be emotional and that’s partly due to Gloria Estefan, who guest stars as Santana’s (Naya Rivera) mom Maribel in the season finale. (Take a look at Estefan in her new role in the slideshow below.)

“She needed a supportive mom,” Gloria Estefan told TVGuide.com about Santana coming out to her abuela earlier this season, which didn’t go well … at all. “That bugged me.”

The season finale sees many members of McKinley High’s New Directions prepare to move on as their senior year comes to a close. And that means Santana has to say goodbye to her girlfriend and fellow Cheerio Brittany (Heather Morris).

Shorter University’s ‘Personal Lifestyle Statement’ Which Bans Gay Employees Leads To Faculty Exodus

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:48:41 +0000

A Georgia college’s controversial “personal lifestyle statement” which includes rejecting homosexuality has led to an exodus of faculty members.

Inside Higher Ed cites an anonymous survey which found that a mere 12 percent of the faculty said they planned to stay at Shorter University, a 139-year-old Baptist school located in Rome, Ga. In addition, more than two dozen staff members had already resigned before their new contracts — which included the “pledge,” condemning homosexuality, premarital sex and public drinking — were even distributed.

Read More…
More on Photo Galleries

Sean Penn Holds Haiti Fundraiser At Cannes Film Festival

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:48:33 +0000

CANNES, France — Sean Penn tried to turn the conversation at the Cannes Film Festival to Haiti, hosting a fundraiser for the earthquake-ravaged and poverty-stricken country.

It was the first time the festival has used its glitzy, global spotlight to attract attention for a cause not connected with a movie.

Edward Wyckoff Williams: The Romney Hypocrisy: Bain, Job Creation Fallacies and the Working-Class White Vote

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:48:24 +0000

Perhaps Mitt Romney insists on making the 2012 campaign a referendum on President Obama’s record, in an effort to ignore his own. The stark contrast between Barack’s legacy and Mitt’s lies could not be more apparent.
Read More…
More on Power & Politics

Stephanie Brandt Cornais: What Nursing a Toddler Really Looks Like

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:48:16 +0000

Although I do not like the cover photo TIME magazine chose, the magazine has at least started a national conversation about extended breastfeeding.
Read More…
More on Moms

Daniel Heimpel: Foster Care Counts

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:48:05 +0000

It is “Foster Mother’s Day” and Gabbi is one of 2,200 foster children and their families who will cycle through Anthony and Jeanne Pritzker’s 1.24-acre home and garden on Los Angeles’ West Side.
Read More…
More on Photo Galleries

Organic Eaters Might Be Meaner Than Their Counterparts, Study Finds

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:47:54 +0000

Eating organic food may make people develop a holier-than-thou complex, according to a new study in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science.

Researchers divided subjects into three different groups. One was shown pictures of organic food, like apples and spinach, and another comfort food, like brownies and cookies. The remaining group, which served as the control, was shown foods that weren’t organic or comfort foods, like rice, mustard and oatmeal.

Afterword, the subjects were asked to pass judgment on a variety of moral transgressions. The results were stark: People in the organic food group judged the issues much more harshly than the others.

Raven Dozier, Pregnant Woman Kicked By Dekalb County Police Officer, Recalls Incident (INTERVIEW)

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:47:44 +0000

All Raven Dozier could think about was why her baby wasn’t moving.

“Is my baby OK?” she recalls asking at that terrifying moment five months ago.

Read More…
More on Video

Obama Divorce Story: New Book Claims Michelle Nearly Left Barack in 2000

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:47:31 +0000

The controversial new biography of President Barack Obama claims that his wife, Michelle Obama, planned to leave the future president in 2000.

Is the divorce story real? Is anything in the book?

The unauthorized biography, which Klein claims is based on nearly 200 interviews, has been dismissed by presidential spokesperson Eric Schultz.

“Ed Klein has a proven history of reckless fabrication in order to sell books,” he said. “Nobody in their right mind would believe the nonsense in this one.”

Nevertheless, the Obama divorce story is the latest revelation in the book – which also discusses his ex Genevieve Cook – to generate major buzz.

In The Amateur: Barack Obama in the White House, out this week, Klein claims the divorce nearly happened eight years into the Obamas’ marriage.

After Obama failed to listen to his wife’s warnings in challenging Bobby Rush for his U.S. House seat in 2000 and got creamed, their relationship cooled.

“During the dark days that followed his defeat, he turned to Michelle for comfort. But she was in no mood for sympathy,” Klein reportedly writes.

“He had refused to listen to her warnings about taking on Rush.”

The primary left them in debt and Barack depressed, Klein claims. “Michelle actually had divorce papers drawn up,” he writes, citing one of her friends.

“Obama was so depressed that some of his friends worried that he was suicidal,” the book adds, without elaboration on that particular point.

Obama, of course, was still in the Illinois State Senate, and went on to win a U.S. Senate seat in 2004 that helped establish his national credentials.

But Michelle almost vetoed the Senate race, too.

Northwestern University professor Steven Rogers told Klein that Obama talked about his ambition after they met at a golf fund-raiser.

“My wife will not allow me to run for the Senate until I clear up the debts from my unsuccessful run for Congress,” Obama said, according to Rogers.

[Photo: WENN.com]

Will Smith Shoves Mouthy Reporter in Moscow

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:47:26 +0000

He didn’t drop any condoms on the red carpet, but Will Smith experienced his own unusual situation during a movie premiere press line this week.

The actor was in Moscow on behalf of Men in Black III when a reporter from the Ukraine embraced the star with a hug… and then tried to follow that up with a kiss on the lips.

“He’s lucky I didn’t sucker punch him,” Smith is heard telling someone else soon afterward, though he responds very well from the saliva-based attack and is quickly seen below laughing about it.

It’s hard to blame Smith for his initial, surprised reaction, though, isn’t it? Watch it all unfold now:

Will Smith Shoves Reporter

Biden Doesn’t ‘Blame People’ For Voting Felon Over Obama in W.Va.

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:33:54 +0000

Vice President Joe Biden said Thursday that it’s understandable why 40 percent of Democrats in this month’s West Virginia presidential primary opted for a convicted felon serving time in a Texas prison over incumbent President Barack Obama.

“When you’re out of work, man, it’s a depression. And a lot of people are still hurting because of this god-awful recession we inherited that cost 8.4 million jobs before we could really get going. And so I don’t blame people; they’re frustrated, they’re angry,” Biden said in an interview with WTOV-TV in Martin’s Ferry, Ohio.

“At the end of the day, they’re going to decide, is the way back to their employment, is the way back to them being able to have a job and raise a family, is it under the value-set and the ideas of Romney, or is it under ours?” he said. “And we feel confident we’ll do just fine.”

Biden’s response – that he doesn’t “blame people” for supporting the felon – diverges from the case that some national Democrats made in the wake of the vote, suggesting that the outcome likely reflected racial opposition to Obama. It also seemed to part with efforts by top Democratic leaders to project a sense of party unity as the campaign heads toward November.

While Obama has never been widely popular in West Virginia, the fact that Keith Russell Judd — an inmate at the Beaumont Federal Correctional Institution in Beaumont, Texas — scored roughly 49,000 votes to Obama’s more than 67,000 raised some eyebrows.

Judd is serving time for extortion and threats made at the University of New Mexico in 1999. Neither he nor Obama campaigned in the state ahead of the May 8 vote.

Obama campaign officials have pointed out that in spite of Judd, Obama won more overall votes in the primary than did Mitt Romney, who won roughly 51,000.

You can watch the full Biden interview with WTOV-TV HERE.

Sarah Jessica Parker to Host Obamas for Fundraiser

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:33:48 +0000

(credit: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images )

Get ready New York. A “starmageddon” of presidential fundraisers is about to hit town.

The Obama campaign announced today that actress Sarah Jessica Parker will next month host President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and an expected star-studded cast of donors for an event dubbed “A New York Night” at her private Manhattan home.

Joining the crowd will be several lucky grassroots supporters and winners of an online sweepstakes by a contribution of “$3 or whatever you can,” Parker said in a fundraising email.

“As a woman, a mother, and an entrepreneur, I need to believe our country can be a place where everyone has a fair shot at success,” she wrote.

See More of Obama’s Celebrity Fundraisers

“This November’s election will determine whether we get to keep moving forward, or if we’re forced to go back to policies that ask people like my middle-class family in Ohio to carry the burden — while people like me, who don’t need tax breaks, get extra help.”

Parker says of the event, “it should be fabulous.”

Earlier this month, the Obamas attended a similar event at the Los Angeles home of actor George Clooney. Ticket sales for the event and the online sweepstakes raised more than $12 million for the 2012 campaign. It was the president’s single most lucrative fundraiser ever.

The 150 tickets sold for the event went for $40,000 apiece. The online haul for the Clooney event alone was in the “millions,” an Obama campaign official said.

The campaign has regularly promoted contests to court grassroots cash, including chances to win an all-expenses-paid trip to have lunch or dinner with the president. The initiatives are reportedly highly lucrative.

The Developer Behind a $90 Million Penthouse

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:33:25 +0000

Gary Barnett builds luxury buildings for the global elite

Epic Tech IPOs: Triumphs, a Travesty, and a Tragedy

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:33:20 +0000

A look back at some of the most successful tech IPOs ever, and some that didn’t go as well

3D epic ‘Gravity’ pushed back to 2013 (#movies)…

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:32:58 +0000

‘Big Bang Theory’ star welcomes baby girl (#TV)…

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:32:55 +0000

NZXT Cryo E40

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:32:31 +0000

Editor’s Rating:

User Rating:

Good: The NZXT Cryo E40 adds movable fans to the usually bland world of laptop cooling desks.
Bad: The smallish size means it’s not good for big, hot desktop replacement laptops. The fans need to be positioned carefully to avoid rattling.
Bottom Line: For under $30, the NZXT Cryo E40 provides efficient cooling through its movable fans, and its metal body makes it look like a more expensive accessory. [Read more]

The House of Marley Bag of Rhythm

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:32:26 +0000

Editor’s Rating:

User Rating:

Good: The House of Marley Bag of Rhythm has a unique design and plays loud for its size, offering good detail and tight bass. It’s equipped with a snap-on carrying bag, an integrated iPod/iPhone dock, and has a battery option for mobile use.
Bad: Fairly expensive; no wireless option (Bluetooth or otherwise); no rechargeable battery (must use six D-cell batteries for mobile use).
Bottom Line: Although it’s fairly pricey, the House of Marley Bag of Rhythm is a quality portable boom box that throws out a lot of sound for its size. [Read more]

HP Photosmart 7510 e-All-in-One

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:32:21 +0000

Editor’s Rating:

User Rating:

Good: Investing in the HP Photosmart 7510 multifunction printer opens the door to cloud printing and downloading apps straight to the color touch screen, at a reasonable price.
Bad: There’s no Ethernet port for a tethered wireless connection and the touch screen suffers intermittent precision issues.
Bottom Line: The HP Photosmart 7510 e-All-in-One boasts quick output speeds, multiple connectivity options, cloud printing, and a growing number of apps in the HP Web store, earning our recommendation to those hunting for a flexible imaging machine. [Read more]

CalArts wins grant for arts-and-technology program

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:31:50 +0000

A member of the Karmetic Machine Orchestra, based at CalArts.

(Credit:
Karmetic Machine Orchestra)

With technology making itself all but unavoidable in an increasing number of areas, a special university program designed to get undergraduate art majors up to speed with computer science and programming has received a grant from the National Science Foundation.

The California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) — founded by Walt Disney in the early ’60s and now one of the nation’s top art schools — announced this week that it had received nearly $112,000 to put toward its STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) curriculum.

“As artists increasingly employ technology, it is essential that arts institutions provide courses offering students the tools with which to conceptualize and generate new ideas, new artistic approaches, and potentially new technologies,” CalArts President Steven D. Lavine said in a release.

Motorola clarifies Ice Cream Sandwich update schedule

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:31:31 +0000

Good news for some Motorola users, terrible for others.

(Credit:
Motorola)

At some point within the next four to six weeks, Motorola plans to deploy Android 4.0 to the Droid Razr, Droid Razr Maxx, and Xoom 3G/4G LTE.

According to the company’s recently updated owner’s forum, the three models will see Ice Cream Sandwich by the second quarter of this year. Also, in the second half of the year, Motorola now expects to issue the update to the Droid Bionic, Droid 4, and Xyboard tablets.

It’s not all good news, however, as Motorola indicated that the Droid X2 and Droid 3 will remain on Android 2.3 Gingerbread. This has to sting quite a bit to those wh… [Read more]

UPDATE 1-Facebook IPO averts ‘odd lot’ question

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:16:09 +0000

* High-priced stock boosts trading in lots of 99 shares or
less

Scramble for Facebook stock ends in "Face-flop"

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:16:04 +0000

NEW YORK, May 18 (Reuters) – On Monday, 74-year-old Betty
Tanguilig told her financial adviser to liquidate a $400,000
account and put all the proceeds into Facebook Inc IPO
shares.

UPDATE 1-Argentines withdraw dollars slowly amid crackdown

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:15:59 +0000

* Deposits had been steady after sinking in November

(Updates with data through May 11, capital outflows)

BRIEF – Moody’s cuts American Rock Salt rating

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:15:51 +0000

May 18 (Reuters) – Moody’s cuts American Rock Salt corporate family rating
to B3 from B2

BRIEF – Moody’s raises NV Energy ratings

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:15:47 +0000

May 18 (Reuters) – Moody’s raises NV Energy ratings

Judge invalidates Conservative win in one Canadian seat

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:15:43 +0000

* Conservative candidate notes judge said he followed rules

BRIEF – Moody’s disclosures on credit rating of Citigroup

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:15:36 +0000

May 18 (Reuters) – Moody’s disclosures on credit rating of Citigroup

Top Republican woman in Congress becomes a force

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:12:00 +0000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – In the last three weeks, she has sparred on national television with Democrats over Republican policies toward women, been called a “lying mouthpiece” by a liberal blog, and chided former House speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Romney warns economy is on ”path of California”

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:11:55 +0000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney warned on Friday that the U.S. economy faced a huge fiscal hole and high taxes like the state of California if he did not win November’s election against President Barack Obama.

Wanted: A dog to marry Lucky and help others in need

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:11:45 +0000

NEW YORK (Reuters) – In a midtown Manhattan hotel, a very special bride-to-be named Lucky, decked out in a frilly pink dress, recently celebrated her impending nuptials with friends over champagne,…

BRIEF – Moody’s disclosures on credit ratings of Alcoa

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:11:38 +0000

May 18 (Reuters) – Moody’s disclosures on credit ratings of Alcoa

BRIEF – Moody’s raises AMERIGROUP senior debt to Ba2

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:11:33 +0000

May 18 (Reuters) – Moody’s raises AMERIGROUP Corp senior debt to Ba2
from Ba3

US STOCKS-Messy Facebook debut marks weak day on Wall Street

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:11:29 +0000

NEW YORK, May 18 (Reuters) – U.S. stocks fell on Friday
after a sloppy debut by Facebook Inc spoiled hopes that a
spectacular open for the most-anticipated stock sale in years
would brighten the mood in what has been a gloomy month for
equity markets.

UPDATE 2-Speculators go net short in cotton – CFTC

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:11:25 +0000

May 18 (Reuters) – Speculators turned net short in cotton
futures and options on ICE Futures U.S. in the week to May 15,
as the market sank to its lowest level in nearly two years, U.S.
Commodity Futures Trading Commission data showed on Friday.

UPDATE 1-Under pressure, Chesapeake cuts director pay

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:11:20 +0000

Messy Facebook debut marks weak day on Wall Street

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:11:11 +0000

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Stocks fell on Friday after a sloppy debut by Facebook Inc spoiled hopes that a spectacular open for the most-anticipated stock sale in years would brighten the mood in what has been a gloomy month for equity markets.

Private space travel: A new era begins?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:11:00 +0000

Meg Urry says don’t lament the dawn of private flights to the Space Station as an end to U.S. dominance in space. Saturday’s poineering SpaceX flight will free NASA for new innovation and exploration

Georgia woman loses hands, remaining foot to flesh-eating bug

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:10:51 +0000

The rare, aggressive bacteria that have infected a University of West Georgia graduate student have taken a further toll: Doctors have amputated both hands and the remaining foot of 24-year-old Aimee Copeland, according to a blog on the school’s website.

Dr. Oz takes Morgan’s blood pressure

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:10:44 +0000

Joining Piers Morgan in studio, Dr. Oz takes the host’s blood pressure, and explains what that means for his health

New video shows Trayvon Martin

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:10:38 +0000

Surveillance video from a 7-11 shows Trayvon Martin just minutes before he was shot and killed by George Zimmerman.

Teen vanishes after fight with boyfriend

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:10:33 +0000

A 19 year old Texas woman is missing who was last seen leaving her apartment after a fight with her boyfriend.

Mom of 5 found stabbed in bedroom

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:10:26 +0000

A CA mom of five was found stabbed to death in her bedroom, and police are now calling her husband a person of interest.

Honda creates ‘sitting Segway’

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:10:20 +0000

The “Morning Express” team looks into Honda’s new invention offering a way for you to get around while sitting down.

13 years old and taking care of mom

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:10:04 +0000

At 13 years old, Nickolaus Dent is his mother’s primary caregiver.

GOP Lawmaker: ‘Leviticus 20:13′ And ‘Disease’ Reasons To Oppose Gay Marriage

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:09:51 +0000

Andy Gipson, a Republican state Representative from Mississippi earlier this month on Facebook wrote that gay marriage is “sin,” and the “only opinion that counts is God’s: see Romans 1:26-28 and Leviticus 20:13.” Gipson later expanded upon the post in a response, by saying same-sex marriage is “morally wrong,” “horrific social policy,” “Unnatural behavior which results in disease,” “Confusing behavior which is harmful to children,” and weakens “our culture,” and the “social order and prosperity.”

Leviticus 20:13 reads:

If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.

Romans 1:26-28 reads:

²⁶For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: ²⁷And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. ²⁸And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

Gipson’s comments in full, emphasis ours:

Sorry I’ve been busy and not had a chance to reply. David, in addition to the basic principal that it is morally wrong, here are three social reasons it’s horrific social policy: 1) Unnatural behavior which results in disease, not the least of which is its high association with the development and spread of HIV/AIDS; 2) Confusing behavior which is harmful to children who have a deep need to understand the proper role of men and women in society and the important differences between men and women, and fathers and mothers; and 3) Undermines the longstanding definition of marriage as between one man and one woman, a definition which has been key to all aspects of social order and prosperity. Anytime that definition is weakened our culture is also weakened. And yes, that is also true for other conduct which weakens marriage’s importance in society.

And

Jeramy, our State government is in the business of making laws which reflect policy of the State. Carrying your logic to the next level, we would have no laws or policies. A point to remember is, Mississippi already has a policy in our State as defined in our State constitution which defines marriage as between a man and a woman. The people of Mississippi voted on that issue in the year 2004, if I am not mistaken. Many people voted because of their religious convictions and beliefs on the subject. So what we have here is a President who is offering his opinion that that our State policy is wrong, or incorrect. My point is, he is wrong.

Unity Mississippi offers a point-by-point rebuttal. A few excerpts:

Disease is a ridiculous argument. Being gay does not equal disease just like being straight does not equal disease-free. A heterosexual person with HIV or terminal cancer can still get a marriage license, but a loving gay couple of 20+ years cannot. To argue that disease is a legitimate reason to deny marriage to loving same-sex couples is absurd. Humans spread disease not sexual orientation.

Research shows children who grow up in households with gay parents have normal self-esteem. Also, churches, governments, and individuals telling children and adults they are unnatural is what’s harmful to children.

A culture divided by bigotry is a weakened culture. When the LGBT community has full equality under the law, our society and culture will be stronger. Our youth will recognize that all Americans are equal and respected by our government. It’s really quite simple.

And adds:

Mr. Gipson needs to realize he represents all of his constituents. He should not cherry-pick which constituents he wants to work for. He should also realize his positions are neither popular nor Republican. LGBT individuals, couples, and families help pay Gipson’s salary. It’s important that he remember that.

We called Rep. Gipson’s office and spoke with his secretary but Rep. Gipson has not yet returned our call.

Hat-tip: Towleroad

Wheat jumps again on worries about dry weather

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:09:32 +0000

Wheat futures are soaring again as more concerns about dry weather hit the market.

Facebook falls flat in public debut

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:09:19 +0000

After all the hype, Facebook’s first day as a public company ended where it began. Its stock closed at $38.23, up 23 cents, after pricing Thursday night at $38 per share.

Facebook falls flat in public debut

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:09:13 +0000

After all the hype, Facebook’s first day as a public company ended where it began. Its stock closed at $38.23, up 23 cents, after pricing Thursday night at $38 per share.

A Super Sappy Thank You to Facebook; Just the King’s Stutters

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:09:06 +0000

We realize there’s only so much time one can spend in a day watching new trailers, viral video clips, and shaky cell phone footage of people arguing on live television. This is why every day The Atlantic Wire highlights the videos that truly earn your five minutes (or less) of attention. Today: A very hilarious and embarrassing tribute to Facebook, things get meta with Conan O’Brien on the the Late Show, and a sensual reading of 50 Shades of Grey with Gilbert Gottfreid.

Nasdaq to resolve early Facebook orders through matching process

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:08:55 +0000

(Reuters) – Nasdaq OMX said it intends to reach a resolution for Facebook Inc orders entered from 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. ET through an “offline matching process.” Firms that had questions regarding executions would have to submit requests to Nasdaq by 5 p.m. (Reporting By David Gaffen)

Spirited singing fails to enliven Mozart opera

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:08:46 +0000

All the lovely singing fails to save the Vienna State Opera’s new production of Mozart’s “La Clemenza di Tito.”

Ballplayers say it’s their choice how to slide

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:08:19 +0000

Taking batting practice and infield practice are rituals in baseball.

Cubs P Kerry Wood expected to retire

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:08:12 +0000

Has Kerry Wood pitched his final game?

Students defiant as Quebec unveils law to quell strikes

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:08:01 +0000

(Reuters) – Angry Quebec student leaders on Friday vowed to fight a tough new law to quell 14 weeks of strikes against tuition hikes, threatening to escalate their protests into a broad campaign of civil disobedience. The Quebec government, seeking to end demonstrations it says could harm the economy, says anyone organizing a protest of more than 25 people must give police eight hours’ advance notice, something critics see as an assault on civil liberties. …

Hurdler Liu seeks Olympic sparkle in Shanghai

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:07:53 +0000

Chinese superstar Liu Xiang faces a huge test of his Olympic credentials when he lines up against reigning 110m hurdles world champion Jason Richardson at Shanghai’s Diamond League meeting on Saturday.

China embassy in US cold-shoulders Tiananmen leader

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:07:46 +0000

One of the exiled leaders of the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989 got the cold shoulder from the Chinese embassy in Washington on Friday when he tried to turn himself in to return home.

French Afghan pullout in 2012 ‘not negotiable’: Hollande

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:07:39 +0000

French President Francois Hollande said Friday that a promised withdrawal of his troops from Afghanistan by the end of the year was “not negotiable.”

US votes to sell Taiwan 66 new fighter jets

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:07:32 +0000

The House of Representatives voted Friday to require the United States to sell 66 new fighter-jets to Taiwan, with lawmakers saying the deal would close a growing military gap with China.

N. Irish police charge three dissidents with terror offences

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:07:21 +0000

Northern Irish police on Friday charged a man with directing dissident republican terrorism in Northern Ireland, and charged two others with a range of terror offences.

King of Bahrain attends British queen’s jubilee lunch

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:07:13 +0000

The king of Bahrain, whose regime has been accused of rights abuses, was among nearly 50 foreign royals at a lunch on Friday to mark the diamond jubilee of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.

Beckham confirms Olympics dream

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:07:04 +0000

David Beckham said Friday that he wants to continue playing for at least another two years and that he is keen to be included in this summer’s Great Britain Olympic squad.

Flame arrives in Britain for 2012 torch relay

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:06:57 +0000

The Olympic flame arrived in Britain from Greece on Friday to start a 70-day relay which will culminate in the opening ceremony of the London Games.

Gay marriage spawns big spike in online videos

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:06:47 +0000

President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign didn’t produce a video publicizing his endorsement of gay marriage. But Obama’s announcement last week has resulted in a record number of searches on YouTube for gay marriage and a rush of the site’s users uploading videos on the subject. Gay marriage was also the most popular topic on YouTube’s news and politics category this week.

Retail rent on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue soars

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:06:36 +0000

NEW YORK (Reuters) – The price for staking ground on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue jumped 22 percent in the past year, spurred by a record number of tourists spending their dollars at top U.S. and international retailers on America’s most coveted shopping ground. The asking rent for street-level stores on Fifth Avenue between 50th and 59th streets rose to $2,750 per square foot this spring, the Real Estate Board of New York said in a report released Friday. …

Jury deliberations in Edwards trial to resume next week

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:06:25 +0000

GREENSBORO, North Carolina (Reuters) – Jurors weighing whether former U.S. Senator John Edwards illegally used campaign funds to conceal an extramarital affair when he ran for president headed home on Friday and will resume deliberations next week. A judge let the jury go for the weekend after 5-1/2 hours of discussions. Earlier Friday, jurors asked to review more than a dozen prosecution exhibits. Among the evidence they requested were notes from Rachel “Bunny” Mellon, a wealthy donor to Edwards’ campaign, and testimony from her lawyer, Alex Forger. …

New Magic Mike Trailer: Channing Tatum and Alex Pettyfer Show Off Some Serious Skin!

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:06:14 +0000

“Dude, you’re a stripper?!”

So says Alex Pettyfer in the newly released trailer for Magic Mike and, thank gawd, the answer is yes! If you didn’t get enough hotness from…

Mila Kunis’ Alleged Stalker Pleads Not Guilty; Order of Protection Issued

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:06:04 +0000

Mila Kunis’ gym rat better get used to that cage he’s in. Because it looks like he’ll be there awhile.

Stuart Lynn Dunn, the man accused of harassing the Black Swan star,…

Cannes 2012: Sean Penn Shocks, but Who Else Stole the Spotlight?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:05:59 +0000

Talk about Gallic gall!

It’s been three days since the 65th Cannes Film Festival teed off, and already the French fete has scored its fair share of whoppers, shockers and plain…

A Fine Bromance: Shia LaBeouf Talks Teaming Up With Tom Hardy in Lawless

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:05:54 +0000

Shia LaBeouf is such a huge fan of Tom Hardy that he actually reached out to him about working together.

The two stars eventually did pair up in the forthcoming Lawless, which is…

Margie Omero: Mother’s Day Is Over, And Many Moms Still Struggling

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:41:07 +0000

New Gallup polling suggests the joys of motherhood can bring added challenges. Employed women without kids at home experience less worry, sadness, stress, and anger than moms of kids at home, be they currently employed or not. Moms, by contrast, report more struggles.

But the most striking finding is how much stay-at-home moms in particular suffer. They are particularly more likely to experience worry, sadness, stress, anger, and depression than both employed moms and women without kids at home. And when asked about the previous day, stay-at-home moms were the least likely of the three groups to say they smiled or laughed a lot, learned something interesting, or experienced enjoyment or happiness. Unsurprisingly and unfortunately, stay-at-home moms are more likely to say they are struggling than the other two groups of women.

These findings don’t seem to be driven by income. Gallup took care to make sure their stay-at-home mom definition did not include those unemployed but looking for work. And when Gallup looked just at women from households earning less than $36,000, stay-at-home moms continued to struggle more on all dimensions than the other two groups.

That all moms face difficulties is consistent with what my firm has seen in bipartisan qualitative and quantitative work on Walmart moms. (Read more about this work here and here. Walmart is the sponsor of all Walmart mom research, conducted jointly by Momentum Analysis and Public Opinion Strategies.) The moms we’ve talked to (both stay-at-home and working) often feel overwhelmed by the daily struggles and worries that come with parenthood, leaving them little time to focus on politics. And recall other recent Gallup findings show stay-at-home moms tend to be politically independent. Taken altogether, these data suggest candidates hoping to reach moms will need to reach out to them more frequently, and specifically address how policies can directly improve their lives.

Top Dems Fought Petty Turf War

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:41:02 +0000

WASHINGTON — From unpopular wars to the ailing economy, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner had their pick of major issues during the first weeks of the Obama administration. But, according to a new book by author and journalist James Mann, the two senior cabinet officials spent the first weeks after Obama’s inauguration in a petty turf war.

In The Obamians, an upcoming book about the evolution of Obama’s foreign policy obtained by The Huffington Post, Mann wrote that Clinton and Geithner clashed over the lead role in yearly talks with China. Under former President George W. Bush, then-Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson led the American delegation at the talks, known as the Strategic Economic Dialogue. Geithner, a Mandarin speaker with policy experience on China, expected to do the same under Obama.

But Clinton, according to Mann, claimed that “the dialogue with China had focused too much on economic policy” and that she should take the lead. But when she and Geither agreed to discuss the issue, the turf battle turned oddly, comically literal. Mann wrote:

Geithner and Treasury officials insisted that they should host the get-together at the Treasury Department. No, replied Clinton, you come to us at the State Department. Finally Geithner relented and agreed to have lunch on Clinton’s home turf. Even then, the wrangling persisted. How many State and Treasury officials would be on each side in the meeting? There was talk of inviting as many as twenty officials, perhaps ten per side, a full-bore interagency shoot-out. In the interests of harmony, the session was scaled back to a smaller lunch, and then to just the two secretaries, a more intimate meeting. So the State Department set up a small table, just big enough to accommodate only Clinton and Geithner.

At the one-on-one lunch, reportedly marked by “little warmth” between the sparring secretaries, Clinton prevailed. She was named co-chair of the American delegation at the newly renamed Security and Economic Dialogue, with the “and” indicating that economics would no longer be the main focus of the talks. Geithner, Mann wrote, could not compete with the Secretary of State’s argument or political power.

Despite Clinton’s victory in her opening battle, however, she was soon attempting to “overcome the sense of being kept in check by Obama’s inner circle.” While keeping her disagreements out of the public light, according to Mann, Clinton nevertheless “chafed at the limits put on her.” Among those limits was her lack of control over ambassadorial appointments, in which her choices were almost all ignored by the White House.

Miles Mogulescu: Wall Street to Obama: Thanks for Saving Our Jobs and Bonuses, Now F*** Off

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:40:55 +0000

Now that President Obama’s views on gay marriage have “evolved,” it’s time for his views on Wall Street to likewise “evolve” and for Obama to forcefully campaign to break the stranglehold of Too Big To Fail banks on the economy.

For its part, Wall Street’s view of Obama has certainly “evolved” since 2008 when Wall Street bankers seemed to have fallen in love with Obama.

As New York Times reporter Nicholas Confessore recently wrote:

“By the beginning of the year, it had… become obvious to many on Wall Street that Obama’s campaign was going to take a populist turn. Some bankers believed that the administration’s strategy was to talk tough in public and play damage control in private, and they were sick of playing along… One former supporter, [hedge fund manager] Dan Loeb, compared Obama to Nero… Stephen A. Schwarzman, a founder of [private equity firm] Blackstone, said that an Obama proposal to raise taxes on “carried interest” [which taxes hedge fund and private equity managers like Schwarzman and Mitt Romney at 15% instead of 35%]… reminded him of ‘when Hitler invaded Poland in 1939.’

‘I think it’s an unfixable relationship,’ one Democrat involved in planning the March 1 [New York Obama] fundraisers told me this spring. ‘They hate him. They really, really do.’”

Having contributed more money to candidate Obama in 2008 than to John McCain or Hillary Clinton — and having been rewarded by a President Obama who largely protected their interests — Wall Street banks and hedge funds now seem determined to throw Obama under the bus and contribute the overwhelming majority of their massive campaign funds to one of their own, former Bain Capital Chairman Mitt Romney and Republican super PACS run by the likes of Karl Rove.

It’s not enough for Wall Street that President Obama appointed a pro-Wall Street economic team led by Tim Geithner and Larry Summers. It’s not enough that Geithner successfully lobbied Sen. Chris Dodd to remove a provision from the 2009 stimulus bill banning bonuses to bank executives whose financial institutions were bailed out by the Federal government. It’s not enough that the Obama administration insured that the Dodd Frank financial reform bill was relatively weak — the Obama administration lobbied Democrats in Congress to vote down amendments that would have limited the size of Too Big to Fail banks or that would have reinstituted the Glass-Steagall Act, which for half a century separated federally insured commercial banks from investment banks that could gamble trillions of dollars in the global financial casino. It’s not enough that in 2010 Obama allowed all of the Bush-era tax cuts — including those for the richest Americans — to be extended. It’s not enough that the Obama administration allowed bank lobbyist to delay the implementation, and water down the regulations, in the already weak Dodd Frank bill. It’s not enough that in the past 3 years under Obama’s presidency, the Dow is up over 60% and corporate profits have soared, increasing the wealth of the top 1% while the income of the rest of America stagnates.

No. Wall Street has already gotten what it wanted from Obama — a president who, in the wake of the financial meltdown of 2008, would deflect the pitchforks of angry Americans. Now Wall Street is treating Obama like a cheap hooker. They paid their money, got their services, and they’re ready to send him back out on the streets.

In its infinite greed, the moderate, centrist Barack Obama who saved their butts is no longer enough for most of Wall Street. It believes it can use its wealth — further unleashed by the Citizens United decision allowing unlimited contributions to super PACS — to install one of its own, private equity multi-millionaire Mitt Romney, in the White House, someone who promises to repeal even the modest regulations of Dodd Frank and to insure that millionaires and billionaires won’t pay a single dime more in taxes from their untold fortunes.

So Obama has a choice. He can continue to talk like a bit of a populist in public and send emissaries to Wall Street in private to assure the bankers and hedge fund managers that they have nothing to fear from him, in the hope that Wall Street will continue to send campaign cash his way as insurance in case he gets reelected.

Or Obama can take a cue from FDR’s landslide 1936 reelection campaign, in which FDR proclaimed,

“We know now that Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob.

Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me — and I welcome their hatred.”

He can then propose a program to make the big banks Small Enough to Fail, without their failure so threatening the economy that the taxpayers will again have no choice but to bail them out when the next financial bubble bursts. This includes:

• Call all his top regulators — the Treasury Secretary, the Fed Chairman, the Comptroller of the Currency, the head of the SEC, the head of the Securities Futures Trading Commission, the head of the FDIC — into the Oval Office and make it clear that he expects regulators to promptly promulgate regulations that strongly enforce the letter and spirit of the Dodd-Frank act, including the strongest possible version of the Volker Rule closing loopholes that might allow federally insured banks to engage in anything that looks or smells like proprietary trading.

• Call for the passage of a new Glass-Steagall Act which will cleanly separate federally insured commercial banks from risky investment banks. As JPMorgan Chase’s massive trading losses on recent hedges (which may not have violated the Volker Rule) shows, Wall Street banks will inevitably find loopholes in something as complex as the Volker Rule, whose proposed regulations run thousands of pages. KISS = Keep It Simple Stupid. If you want to gamble in the global financial casino, you can’t take federally insured deposits, and vice versa.

• Break up Too Big To Fail banks. Call for the passage of the Brown-Kaufman Amendment (which the Obama administration previously opposed) that would limit the size of any single bank to 10% of the total insured deposits in the banking system.

• Call for real principal relief for underwater homeowners and use all of the tools already at the disposal of the executive branch to bring this about.

• Unleash the Justice Department and SEC to civilly and criminally prosecute bankers who gamed the system and caused the 2008 financial crash.

• Place a 0.1% tax on all financial transactions. This would, as former Clinton Labor Secretary Robert Reich points, out, bring in more than $250 billion over 10 years while slowing speculators and reducing the wild gyrations of financial markets.

There’s nothing really radical about this kind of program. It’s in the clear tradition of the New Deal which saved capitalism from its own worst excesses. The Dallas Fed, one of the most conservative branches of the Fed, recently called for breaking up the biggest banks in order to make capitalism safer, a call which was joined this week by the President of the St. Louis Fed.

Wall Street would of course freak out and pour even more millions into Romney’s campaign and super PACS. But with Wall Street already hating him, Obama can’t win the money war with Wall Street, anyway.

What he can win is the popular war for the hearts and minds of the American people. Americans hate Wall Street and they hate the bankers who were bailed out by taxpayers and put the money in their pockets in continue multi-million dollar bonuses. Obama can make clear in his campaign that he stands with the American people and not with Wall Street who is funding Mitt “Mr 1%” Romney’s campaign to put one of their own in the White House.

Either Obama can continue to privately suck up to Wall Street behind the scenes in the hope of competing for their campaign cash, acting like a battered housewife who keeps doing her husband’s bidding in the futile hope that he’ll stop beating her. Or he can become the actual populist reformer that Wall Street fears him secretly to be. He can channel his inner FDR and welcome the hatred of organized money in the name of standing up for the American people.

Biden: ‘I Don’t Blame’ Dems For Voting For Convicted Felon

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:40:46 +0000

Vice President Joe Biden said this week that he doesn’t “blame people” who voted for a Texas inmate and convicted felon over President Barack Obama in West Virginia.

In a local news interview with Ohio’s WTOV-TV, Biden responded to a question about surprising results in West Virginia’s Democratic primary earlier this month that left Keith Judd, also known as Prisoner 11593-051, with 41 percent of the vote:

“Look, I come from a household where whenever there’s a recession, somebody around my grandpop or my dad’s table lost their job — a brother, a sister, a friend, a neighbor,” Biden said. “When you’re outta work, man, it’s a depression. And a lot of people are still hurt because of this God-awful recession we inherited that cost 8.4 million jobs before we could really get going. And so I don’t blame people. They’re frustrated. They’re angry.”

Judd’s performance has underscored Obama’s struggles with popularity even among Democrats in Appalachia and areas of the Midwest. While Biden’s sympathetic response to their protest votes may have come as a surprise to some, the vice president did manage to shift gears, framing their votes in a general election context.

“At the end of the day they’re going to decide: is the way back to their employment, is the way back to being able to have a job and raise a family, is it under the value set and the ideas of Romney, or is it under ours?” said Biden. “And we feel confident we’ll do just fine. “

Biden has a history of giving somewhat flat answers to questions about dissatisfaction with the Obama administration and its policies. Last fall, the vice president also raised eyebrows during a local interview with a Florida reporter, when he suggested that it was understandable that Floridians blamed them for the lagging economy.

“There’s a lot of people in Florida that have good reason to be upset because they’ve lost jobs,” Biden said. “Even though 50 some percent of the American people think the economy tanked because of the last administration, that’s not relevant. What’s relevant is, we’re in charge. And right now, we are the ones in charge, and it’s gotten better but it hasn’t gotten good enough. And in states like Florida it’s even been more stagnant because of the real estate market.”

Continued Biden, “And so I don’t blame them for being mad. We’re in charge, so they’re angry.”

Barbara & Shannon Kelley: Game Change: How About a War FOR Women?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:40:26 +0000

You know the saying, “the best defense is a good offense?” I’m thinking that instead of expending our energy on the war on women, why don’t we wage a war for women? Right?

I sometimes wonder if we women — roughly half the population and half the workforce, too — have been so busy defending ourselves from recent assaults that we’ve become too distracted and too exhausted to regain our forward momentum.

After all, the biggest victories for civil rights in our country have been proactive — think LBJ’s work to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or, for that matter, President Obama’s recent pronouncement of support for gay marriage. Ours is a civil rights issue every bit as important as the fight for equality in any other realm. But what’s baffling to me is the fact that so many Americans — many of them married to women, the children of women or the parents of women — find things like equal pay or family-friendly workplaces a subversive idea. Huh?

I first got to thinking about this after hearing President Obama’s talk at a Women’s Leadership Forum fundraiser back in April, when he reminded the audience, as he often does, that the first act he signed into law was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009. He also reminded the audience that we, as women, still have work to do.

My second nudge was his commencement speech at Barnard, a woman’s school, where he told the new grads:

After decades of slow, steady, extraordinary progress, you are now poised to make this the century where women shape not only their own destiny but the destiny of this nation and of this world.

But how far your leadership takes this country, how far it takes this world — well, that will be up to you. You’ve got to want it. It will not be handed to you. And as someone who wants that future — that better future — for you, and for Malia and Sasha, as somebody who’s had the good fortune of being the husband and the father and the son of some strong, remarkable women, allow me to offer just a few pieces of advice. That’s obligatory. Bear with me.

My first piece of advice is this: Don’t just get involved. Fight for your seat at the table. Better yet, fight for a seat at the head of the table.

A few minutes later, he added this:

You need to do this not just for yourself but for those who don’t yet enjoy the choices that you’ve had, the choices you will have. And one reason many workplaces still have outdated policies is because women only account for 3 percent of the CEOs at Fortune 500 companies. One reason we’re actually refighting long-settled battles over women’s rights is because women occupy fewer than one in five seats in Congress.

Washington Post writer Dana Milbank calls Obama the first female president. Like it.

Some folks suggest that when our president comes out in defense of women’s rights, he’s simply trolling for votes. I could care less. Because what I see is that, for whatever reason, he is putting women’s rights front and center: He’s issuing a rallying cry, one we can get behind. With plans, actions, proposals of our own. Which is, after all, where change comes from.

When you think about where we stand when it comes to equal pay (still 77 cents to a man’s buck, thank you. Even less for women of color, as we found when we were doing the reporting for Undecided), our representation — or lack of same — in government or the C-suites, or our lack of public policy or workplace structures to accommodate families, well, I think it’s downright silly. No, not just silly. Insane. Especially when you consider that women now make up the majority of college graduates, and yet, we’re still lacking in rights and representation.

Let’s take the Equal Rights Amendment, for example. Have you heard of it? Probably not. Because guess what: It was passed in the Senate and the House back in 1972, but to this day has not been ratified because three states apparently found it too, um, radical. It was reintroduced in 1982 and every year since. It still has not been ratified. But before you judge, let’s look at what it really says:

Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex. Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.

Back to my war for women. Can’t you just hear what’s coming next? We girls are just a bunch of angry feminists. We’re out to destroy the traditional family. And the big one: man haters.

Even in 2012, there are still those who equate advocacy for women with hatred toward men, as if we’re all fighting for the same piece of the pie. I have had a number of female students, in fact, tell me that they are reluctant to come out as feminists for fear of the reaction — but that when they do, they feel compelled to also mention that they indeed have boyfriends. (Just as I feel compelled to tell you now that I have been married to the same man for decades and that we happily raised two daughters.)

Anyway, we could spend our energy defending ourselves — and the hundreds of thousands of other women who are openly or secretly feminist. But that would take our time away from the work we still have to do. Which, when you think of it, has been one of the most insidious effects of the Republicans’ so-called war on women.

Instead of keeping us busy in the kitchen, they’ve kept us busy playing defense.

Afternoon Links With Irina Shayk In Madrid

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:40:20 +0000

John Travolta’s top ten moments in his career. (The Celebrity Cafe)

Noah Wyle’s son is proud that his father was arrested. (She Knows Entertainment)

Candice Swanepoel shows off her wings. (Popoholic)

Pamela Anderson got jiggy with it… at a steakhouse? (ICYDK)

Mindy Kaling in “The Mindy Project.” (Popbytes)

I’m not digging the yellow cape here, but I’m loving the purple short dress. (Trendmill)

Visit the Gallery (10 Images)

CAPTION CONTEST: Our Favorite Joe Biden Photos Of The Week

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:40:15 +0000

This week, Vice President Joe Biden made a campaign swing through Ohio. In addition to stump speeches, Biden visited restaurants and even stopped at a Dairy Queen for some ice cream. The appearances made for some great photos.

Here are a few of our favorites. Tweet your best captions using the hashtag #BidenPhotoCaptions, or write your best captions in the comments section.

Jack Johnson Honored By The National Wildlife Foundation

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:40:05 +0000

Singer/songwriter Jack Johnson was feted by officials at the National Wildlife Federation on Thursday night as he was honored with a top award for his environmental achievements. The Better Toget…

Progressive Bicycle Dinner Sponsored By The Hub Of Detroit This Sunday

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:39:56 +0000

Progressive dinners offer meals with each successive course prepared and eaten at a different location. They’re great for those who like to eat and run. But what about those who like to grab a bite and a bike?

The Hub of Detroit, a local non-profit bike space, is answering that question Sunday by holding a progressive bicycle dinner fundraiser.

The bike dinner will feature a five-course meal put together by several local cottage industry food services, including Native Kitchen, Detroit Vegan Soul, Organaman and local cook Scott Grenerth.

Read More…
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Newsprint Roll Crushes, Kills Brandywine Valley Railways Engineer

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:39:48 +0000

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. — A railroad engineer near Philadelphia has been killed by a roll of newsprint that fell out of a boxcar and crushed him.

Officials say the death occurred Friday morning at a plant that produces the Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News.

Gordon Klingenschmitt, Former Navy Chaplain, Slams Obama’s Gay Marriage Stance

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:39:37 +0000

Yet another right-wing pundit has come forward with puzzling declarations in an effort to denounce President Obama’s support of same-sex marriagesupport of same-sex marriage last week.

Former Navy Chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt took to “The David Pakman Show” in an interview set to air May 21, slamming Obama for being “on the wrong side of history” before claiming that he believes everyone is born straight, but some people become gay as a result of marketing.

“Ultimately history will be decided by God, who is the judge of all mankind,” Klingenschmit says. “People who side with homosexual sin will be judged by God for promoting that sin, including our own president, Barack Obama.”

Read More…
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Crossroads GPS Unveils Bob Kerrey Attack Ad In Nebraska

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:39:27 +0000

A new political ad is on the air in Nebraska attacking the state’s former Democratic Sen. Bob Kerrey, who is running for his old seat again this year.

Crossroads GPS, a right-leaning group backed by Karl Rove, will spend $260,000 on the statewide ad campaign knocking Kerrey for supporting a $700 billion bank bailout in 2008.

The ad campaign comes days after the Nebraska primary. Democrats had recruited Kerrey to help keep the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Ben Nelson. Kerrey coasted to an easy victory, while rural rancher and State Sen. Deb Fischer pulled off an upset in the Republican primary, emerging from relative obscurity to beat out her better-known opponents, Attorney General Jon Bruning and State Treasurer Don Stenberg.

Flavorwire » Extremely Silly Photos Of Extremely Serious Writers

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:39:21 +0000

Every writer, no matter how serious, needs to let off a little steam now and then. Those oh-so-important mental health days might be filled with hobbies (from baking to beekeeping) or drinking (every writer’s default hobby), or just plain goofing around with friends.

Girl’s Happy, Inspirational Answers To Writing Exercise Make Mom Proud (PHOTO)

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:39:14 +0000

Remember “Daily Affirmation Jessica?” Well, this little girl might just be her soul sister.

Reddit user caffeinesleep posted an image of her daughter’s adorable writing exercise, saying she couldn’t be more proud of the 8-year-old’s answers.

SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTO

Kourtney Kardashian: Pregnant! And Betrayed! Twice!

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:39:04 +0000

Well, at least she’s no longer pregnant and abandoned.

However, according to a pair of tabloid cover stories this week, Kourtney Kardashian is pregnant… and betrayed! It’s a darn shame, isn’t it?

Naturally, Kris Jenner has already spoken out against rumors that Kourtney kicked out baby daddy Scott Disick and that E! cameras caught the blowup for an upcoming Keeping Up with the Kardashians episode.

“None of it is true,” Kris tells E! News of talk that Disick is actually hiding sex tapes from his girlfriend and skipped out on her baby shower May 12 because the couple was fighting.

One thing is for certain: we’ll be hearing a lot more about this when season seven of this scripted series premieres on Sunday. Another thing is also for certain: if you care one iota, you need to take a very long look in the mirror.

Amber Portwood Released From Jail, Has a Lot on Plate

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:38:57 +0000

Amber Portwood has been released from jail. She got sprung yesterday.

The troubled Teen Mom star was placed back behind bars last week after violating the terms of her probation by failing to appear in an Indiana court.

The 22-year-old allegedly lied about a medical condition to get out of a drug test. Her probation officer called the bluff, asking her doctor directly.

Some very sleepy-eyed Amber Portwood mug shots soon followed.

How’s the reality star feeling now that she’s back on the other side?

“OK,” Amber told E! News. “Just hustling. I’ve got a lot on my plate.”

Naturally.

According to her brother, Shawn Portwood, Amber’s “new goal is to join the military.” Yes, apparently he’s serious. “She was going to work hard to get her charge reduced,” added Shawn. “She’s been doing so well.”

The Teen Mom trailer would suggest otherwise, but here’s hoping.

Beth Ditto & Her Future Wife Heat Up The Red Carpet!

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:38:48 +0000

Lady LOVE!!!

The Gossip front woman, Beth Ditto proudly planted some kisses on her ~~girlfriend~~ fiancé Kristen Ogata on the Cannes red carpet.

The singer just announced she and her long-time woman plan to tie the knot next year!

We couldn’t be more happy for the BEAUTIFUL couple!

[Image via WENN.]

Jennifer Lopez Is Still ‘Undecided’ About Idol

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:38:35 +0000

It really is all about the benjamins, baby!

A few days ago Jennifer Lopez was DONE with American Idol for good!! She had too much going on with the Enrique Iglesias tour, etc.

Yesterday, reports surfaced that the real reason Jennifer wanted off the show was because she was insulted by the amount of dough Simon Cowell was throwing at Demi Lovato and Britney Spears on X Factor.

And now the pop star is singing a different tune altogether!!

Check out her ~~Twat~~ Tweet:

Hmmm.

So where did she suddenly find the time?

An insider offers their opinion:

“When $20 million is on the line, you make time. Jennifer is the hardest working woman in show business and is used to juggling many projects as well as being an amazing single mom. Plus, after the audition rounds, the schedule is easy. It’s four hours, two nights a week in L.A. Most entertainers would kill for a schedule like that.”

So all the posturing was just a negotiation tactic? The chica definitely has business savvy!

The insider continued:

“If there’s one thing that Jennifer does better than being a star, it is the business of being a star… [She] isn’t about to walk away from ‘Idol’ money just because she has a busy tour. ‘Idol’ has put her back on top…The exposure it gives her every week is something she is very aware of.”

Well played, gurl!!

We suspect U will get what U deserve!!

P.S. CLICK HERE to “follow” Perez on Twitter!

P.P.S. CLICK HERE to “like” Perez on Facebook!

[Images via WENN/Twitter.]

John Travolta Alan Carr Gropes Kim Kardashian’s Big Booty On Television!

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:38:31 +0000

Kim Kardashian is famous for a lot of things. In tonight’s episode of the UK’s Alan Carr: Chatty Man, she openly admits singing or dancing is not one of them, but her voluptuous body is!

The HIGHlarious host, Alan Carr, was quick to bring up her bodacious bum and joked:

“I would love a bum like yours. If I had a bum like yours I would walk in to a room backwards. How honored are you when people say you have the best bum in the world?”

She shared that she maintains her famous asset by “working out all the time,” but credited her Armenian roots too. And for the record, her bottom is all natural with “no implants!”

To prove it, she even let the comedian cop a feel after taunting, “You know what a real butt feels like, right?”

Would anyone ever pass up that opportunity? We doubt it.

Alan Carr has just fulfilled nearly every living man’s fantasy! Although, we’re sure nearly every living man might want to take things a bit further. LOL!

[Image via Channel 4.]

Eddie Murphy Sells Ballin’ House For Under HALF Of His Asking Price

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:38:24 +0000

Eddie Murphy just made an easy $12 million! Unfortunately for him, he originally was aiming for $30 million.

The Norbit actor just sold a massive mansion in Englewood, New Jersey after YEARS of being on the market and had to dip below HALF of his asking price.

The east coast estate, known as “Bubble Hill”, went on sale in 2004 for a listed $30 million, but dropped to $22 million in 2006.

Seven years later, Murphy has finally hawked off the 25,000 sqaure feet Colonial style home to someone who can truly appreciate it. And eventually sell it for $30 million once the economy improves. LOL!

This place truly is impressive too. The property boasts 32 rooms, including eight bedrooms, 8 full bathrooms, an indoor swimming pool with an arched glass roof, two lane bowling alley, a paneled billiard room, full sized racquetball court, a professional recording studio, a carriage house with a home gym, at least three fireplaces, garaging for at least 5 cars and a movie theater.

The actor has owned the house since 1985 so there is a chance he recorded a demo of Party All The Time in that professional recording studio. Whoever bought this mansion might own a piece of music history!

[Image via WENN.]

Bono Is The Richest Rocker In The World, After Today

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:38:17 +0000

Don’t cry Paul McCartney!

Friday, the Beatle will lose his title of World’s Richest Rock Star, to Bono.

Thanks to a wise investment, Bono now owns 2.3% of Facebook shares.

THAT MEANS, by the end of the day a $90 million investment the U2er made 2 years ago, will magically turn into $1.5 billion.

Sir Paul only has a little over $1 billion, the poor chap!!

Since he earned most his money from the stock market, this officially makes Bono better at investing than music. LOL!

Either way, we bet the billionaire is gonna have a VERY special night tonight!

[Image via WENN.]

Mitt and Ann Romney Donate $150K to Campaign

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:37:51 +0000

MANCHESTER, N.H. – Mitt and Ann Romney have given a combined $150,000 from their personal fortune to aide the candidate’s bid for the White House.

This is the first time the candidate or his wife has contributed monetarily to their 2012 campaign.

“If Mitt Romney’s asking donors to contribute the maximum, then the least he and Ann can do is make the same contribution,” a senior adviser to Romney told ABC News.

Both the candidate and his wife gave $75,000 – the maximum amount allowed under Federal Election Commission guidelines – to the Romney Victory Fund, the joint fundraising account formed by the Romney campaign and the Republican National Committee.

The contributions were first reported by CNN.

Up until this point, the Romneys had not donated to the campaign. Romney is said to be worth approximately $230 million, according to Forbes. During his 2008 presidential campaign, Romney reported giving more than $44 million to his campaign. That’s about $9 of his own money for each vote he got.

The Romney campaign announced earlier this week that it has raised, in a joint effort with the RNC, $40.1 million in the month of April.

Ariz. Sec. of State Wants to See Proof of Obama’s Citizenship

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:37:46 +0000

Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett wants you to know that he is not a birther, but he says he wants proof of Barack Obama’s citizenship before putting his name on the Arizona ballot.

In a radio interview today, Bennett said he is just doing his job of making sure “that those people whose names are on the ballot have met the qualifications for the office they are seeking.” He says he has been trying for eight weeks to get documents from Hawaii.

In a statement just released, Bennett says:

“First, I have been on the record since 2009 that I believe the president was born in Hawaii. I am not a birther. At the request of a constituent, I asked the state of Hawaii for a verification in lieu of a certified copy. We’re merely asking them to officially confirm they have the president’s birth certificate in their possession and are awaiting their response.”

Matt Roberts, Bennett’s spokesman, said in an email that Bennett had not asked for Romney’s Michigan birth certificate because “This was simply in response to some constituents asking us to ask Hawaii,” he said.

Memorial Day 2012: Summer Grilling Guide

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:37:35 +0000

Fire up the grill and try some of our delicious recipes from “Good Morning America.”

Does Zimmerman’s Self Defense Claim Depend on Who Started the Fight?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:37:24 +0000

Miss. Highway Shooting Suspect Caught

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:37:15 +0000

The man arrested in connection to two Mississippi highway murders was linked to the crimes after he allegedly kidnapped and raped a woman who managed to get away and contact authorities for help.

Aimee Copeland on Amputations: ‘Let’s Do This’

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:37:04 +0000

Aimee Copeland, who lost her leg to a flesh-eating infection after a zip-line injury, learned that she will also lose her right foot and hands.

CDC to Boomers: Get Tested for Hep C

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:36:54 +0000

Baby boomers account for 2 million of the 3.2 million Americans infected.

Photos: Today in Pictures: May 18, 2012

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:36:36 +0000

Today in Pictures: May 18, 2012

Remnants of Haiti’s Army March in the Capital

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:36:28 +0000

Ex-soldiers and wannabe soldiers march in Haiti’s capital despite gov’t orders to disband

Emergency Law Faces Vote in Quebec Student Protest

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:36:19 +0000

Emergency law faces vote in Quebec as thousands of students protest tuition

APNewsbreak: 3 Irish Dissidents Arrested

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:36:11 +0000

APNewsBreak Police: Irish dissidents arrested on terror offenses ahead of Olympic torch relay

Judge Weighs Multiple 9/11 Trials at Gitmo

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:36:03 +0000

Judge in 9/11 case at Guantanamo considers splitting up defendants

Tom Cruise talks turning 50, addressing rumors (#TomCruise)…

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:36:03 +0000

Masseur drops charges against John Travolta (#JohnTravolta)…

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:36:00 +0000

‘The Amazing Spider-Man movie trailer (#movies)…

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:35:54 +0000

Journalist Kidnapped in Northern Mexico

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:35:50 +0000

Police: Journalist kidnapped in northern Mexico

Facebook and Twitter ad spending to double by 2016 (#advertising)…

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:35:44 +0000

Torrent-busting ‘Pirate Pay’ may be illegal (#piracy)…

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:35:36 +0000

Aimee Copeland Shed No Tears on Amputations

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:35:32 +0000

BBC to stream 24 HD Olympic Games channels online (#Olympics)…

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:35:29 +0000

Verizon LTE expansion continues with 28 more cities (#LTE)…

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:35:21 +0000

Facebook IPO Closes With Thud

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:35:19 +0000

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO and founder of Facebook, rang the opening bell from company headquarters in Menlo Park, California.

Enough Facebook! Buy Google or Apple (#stocks)…

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:35:16 +0000

Flipboard 1.9 for iPhone/iPad (#apps)…

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:35:05 +0000

Android 5.0 will launch this fall with five Nexus devices (#Android)…

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:35:01 +0000

Mozilla readies app marketplace for public beta (#Mozilla)…

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:34:58 +0000

‘Swiss Army knife for QuickTime’ Perian turning off the lights (#software)…

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:34:55 +0000

Tomb Raider: Underworld coming to Mac on May 31 (#games)…

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:34:51 +0000

NASA training astronauts for asteroid mission (#NASA)…

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:34:43 +0000

Tim Cook meets with Speaker of the House John Boehner (#politics)…

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:34:38 +0000

Consumers less happy with BlackBerrys (#RIM)…

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:34:33 +0000

Remote control iPad interface reportedly outlined for rumored Apple HDTV (#Apple)…

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:34:29 +0000

Netgear unveils 802.11 ac USB adapter (#WiFi)…

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:34:25 +0000

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX150 (Black)

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:34:03 +0000

Editor’s Rating:

User Rating:

Good: The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX150 is a very fast, 10x zoom ultracompact with lots of automatic shooting options, and very good photo and video quality.
Bad: The WX150′s 18-megapixel resolution is of little use and its small, lightweight body can make it difficult to keep the zoom lens steady.
Bottom Line: The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX150 is an excellent little camera that doesn’t sacrifice features and performance for size. [Read more]

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX150 (Silver)

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:33:55 +0000

Editor’s Rating:

User Rating:

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX150 (Blue)

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:33:49 +0000

Editor’s Rating:

User Rating:

iSkin’s Fuze cases: full iPhone protection in a sexy package

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:33:13 +0000

The Fuze SE, which has an integrated screen cover, ships soon and is on sale till May 24 for $49.99.

(Credit:
iSkin)

Otterbox has built a booming business out of its ultraprotective iPhone cases but today has a lot more competition — and it’s only getting fiercer.

Case in point: iSkin’s just-announced Fuze case, which also comes in a special-edition model, the Fuze SE. What’s nice about these is that they offer full protection, including an integrated screen cover, in a relatively low-profile case.

The standard Fuze model comes in multiple colors.

(Credit:
iSkin)

While they don’t offer the same level of protection as the $80 Lifeproof case, which is waterproof, the overall concept and design is somewhat similar.

iSkin says the new Fuze cases took months to develop and are thin enough to be used with speaker docks and the Apple Universal Dock (with cradle adapters removed). The step-up SE model has a brushed aluminum front plate.

The new cases aren’t shipping quite yet but <… [Read more]

UK’s Cameron urges action on euro, opposes Tobin tax

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:18:06 +0000

WASHINGTON, May 18 (Reuters) – British Prime Minister David
Cameron called on euro zone countries on Friday to take decisive
action to stem a debt crisis and said Greeks must decide if they
want to…

YOUR MONEY – Collectors don’t like Facebook memorabilia

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:18:02 +0000

CHICAGO, May 18 (Reuters) – Mark Zuckerberg may be worth an
estimated $19 billion, thanks to Facebook’s initial
public offering. But on eBay, he’s worth exactly $375 -
that is, if you choose to…

UPDATE 4-Troubled Brazil economy shrinks again in March

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:17:55 +0000

* March IBC-Br activity index down 0.35 percent, below
forecast

TEXT-S&P may raise Media General rating

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:17:50 +0000

Overview
— U.S. diversified media company Media General has signed an
agreement to sell all of its newspaper assets, with the exception of the Tampa
group, for $142 million of cash.
–…

MF Global trustee recovers $168 mln from JPMorgan

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:17:45 +0000

May 18 (Reuters) – The trustee for MF Global Holdings Inc’s
brokerage unit said he has received $168 million in
cash from JPMorgan Chase & Co, which had been the
commodities and futures brokerage…

UPDATE 4-Troubled Brazil economy shrinks again in March

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:17:41 +0000

* March IBC-Br activity index down 0.35 percent, below
forecast

Spain’s banks need recapitalisation – Hollande

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:17:36 +0000

WASHINGTON, May 18 (Reuters) – French President Francois
Hollande said on Friday Spain’s banks should be recapitalised by
Europe’s bailout funds and everything must be done to keep
Greece in the euro…

UPDATE 2-Greek-German row erupts on referendum talk

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:17:31 +0000

ATHENS, May 18 (Reuters) – A Greek-German row broke out on
Friday after Greece’s government spokesman said Chancellor
Angela Merkel raised the idea of Athens holding a referendum
about its euro zone…

New Issue-Mastros Restaurants sells $102 mln notes

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:17:27 +0000

May 18 (Reuters) – Mastro’s Restaurants, LLC and RRG Finance
Corp. on Friday sold $102 million of senior secured notes in the
144a private placement market, said IFR, a Thomson Reuters
service.
…

New Issue-Kaiser Aluminum Corp sells $225 mln notes

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:17:23 +0000

May 18 (Reuters) – Kaiser Aluminum Corp on Friday
sold $225 million of senior notes in the 144a private placement
market, said IFR, a Thomson Reuters service.
The size of the deal was increased…

Attacks over Bain Capital don’t stop Romney’s rise in polls

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:17:08 +0000

WASHINGTON/TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) – Is Mitt Romney an out-of-touch elitist and bully who led a rapacious business that killed common folks’ jobs?

House Republicans top Democrats in April fundraising

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:17:02 +0000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Republican Party’s fundraising arm working to elect its candidates to the U.S. House of Representatives raised $6.9 million in April, slightly more for the month than its Democratic counterpart.

Tea Partiers yearn for a "truly red" Tennessee

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:16:57 +0000

NASHVILLE, May 17 – When conservative Tea Party activists helped Republicans extend their majority in Tennessee’s legislature in 2010, they expected to get the legislation they wanted.

Health secretary urges contraception compromise

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:16:51 +0000

Afghanistan fundraising goal eludes as US heads to NATO summit

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:16:45 +0000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – On the eve of this weekend’s NATO summit, the United States remains short of its goal of raising $1.3 billion in security funds from its partners in Afghanistan, after a money-raising blitz failed to garner immediate contributions from allies coping with fiscal and political pressures.

Leader of Greece’s left: Merkel is used to treating us "like a protectorate"

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:16:29 +0000

Leader of Greece’s left: Merkel is used to treating us “like a protectorate”

Via: guardian.co.uk – Tagged: EU Mess
View on Counterparties.com →

The Greek exit becomes increasingly expensive over time

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:16:22 +0000

The Greek exit becomes increasingly expensive over time

Via: soberlook.com – Tagged: EU Mess
View on Counterparties.com →

An argument that principal reductions won’t help the mortgage mess

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:16:12 +0000

An argument that principal reductions won’t help the mortgage mess

Via: brookings.edu – Tagged: Wonks
View on Counterparties.com →

Speculators return to net short cotton position- CFTC

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:16:05 +0000

May 18 (Reuters) – Speculators turned net short in cotton futures and
options on ICE Futures U.S. in the week to May 15, while they cut their net
short positions in raw sugar, cocoa and arabica coffee, U.S. Commodity Futures
Trading Commission data showed on Friday.

Selected categories from the CFTC weekly Commitment of Traders report:

US SMALL/MIDCAPS-Mid caps to post worst week in 8 months

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:16:00 +0000

NEW YORK, May 18 (Reuters) – Mid cap stocks were on course
for their worst week in eight months and a broad measure of U.S.
stocks turned negative for the year on F riday as Facebook’s IPO
stumbled and investors continued to be cautious about Europe’s
ongoing debt crisis.

Facebook windfall to be shared with Menlo Park city

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:15:56 +0000

SAN FRANCISCO, May 18 (Reuters) – It’s not just employees of
Facebook Inc and its original investors who are expecting
a big payday from the No. 1 social network’s much-anticipated
initial public offering.

Canada corporate earnings schedule – May 21-June 8

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:15:51 +0000

May 18 (Reuters) – The following is a list of earnings reporting dates for
some major companies listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Previous earnings per
share figures may vary due to restated earnings, or stock splits, or
consolidations. EPS estimates, if available, courtesy of Thomson Reuters
I/B/E/S.

DATE EDT COMPANY NAME PERIOD SYMBOL No. of EPS YR AGO
Estimates Estimates

23-May BMO Bank of Montreal Q2 1

GLOBAL MARKETS-World stocks fall into negative territory for year

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:15:47 +0000

REFILE-US STOCKS-Wall St falls before G8 leaders meet on euro zone

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:15:43 +0000

NEW YORK, May 18 (Reuters) – U.S. stocks fell on Friday as
investors turned cautious before leaders of the Group of Eight
nations met about the euro zone debt crisis and after a shaky
market debut by Facebook Inc.

TEXT-S&P affirms America Movil S.A.B. de C.V.

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:15:37 +0000

– Mexican wireless telecommunications company America Movil
will grow through higher mobile data usage and broadband and cable TV adoption,
which could partly offset declines in the traditional fixed line services.

Brazil c.bank sells all FX swaps offered at auction

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:15:33 +0000

SAO PAULO, May 18 (Reuters) – Brazil’s central bank sold
$654 million of swap contracts at auction on Friday, which
helped stem a sharp loss in the local currency amid renewed
market concerns over Greece.

CORRECTED-Facebook IPO averts ‘odd lot’ question

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:15:28 +0000

* High-priced stock boosts trading in lots of 99 shares or
less

TEXT-S&P revises Bemis Co outlook to stable

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:15:23 +0000

Overview
— Stable operating trends at Neenah, Wis.-based Bemis Co. Inc. (Bemis)
continue to support credit quality and our expectations for the current
ratings.
— We are revising the outlook to stable from positive to reflect our
expectation that the company will not be able to materially improve its
financial profile in the near term.
— The stable outlook indicates our expectation of gradually improving
operating trends, strong liquidity, good free flow generation,

Wall Street falls before G8 leaders meet on euro zone

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:15:11 +0000

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Stocks fell on Friday as investors turned cautious before leaders of the Group of Eight nations met about the euro zone debt crisis and after a shaky market debut by Facebook Inc .

Donna Summer died of lung cancer not related to smoking

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:12:21 +0000

Donna Summer died of lung cancer, but the singer wasn’t a smoker, and the cancer wasn’t related to smoking, her family’s representative said Friday.

Cee Lo Green on his late mother

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:12:13 +0000

Singer Cee Lo Green details the influence his mother has had on his life, even though she passed away many years ago.

Cee Lo Green on his late mother

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:12:11 +0000

Singer Cee Lo Green details the influence his mother has had on his life, even though she passed away many years ago.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta on Donna Summer

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:12:04 +0000

In the wake of Donna Summer’s death, Sanjay Gupta explores the idea that her cancer may have been tied to 9-11 exposure

Dr. Sanjay Gupta on Donna Summer

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:12:04 +0000

In the wake of Donna Summer’s death, Sanjay Gupta explores the idea that her cancer may have been tied to 9-11 exposure

Effect of new card on credit score?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:11:58 +0000

The Help Desk is all about getting answers to your financial questions! Send an e-mail to CNNHelpDesk@CNN.com

Effect of new card on credit score?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:11:56 +0000

The Help Desk is all about getting answers to your financial questions! Send an e-mail to CNNHelpDesk@CNN.com

Use 401(k) to pay off debt?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:11:50 +0000

The Help Desk is all about getting answers to your financial questions! Send an e-mail to CNNHelpDesk@CNN.com

Use 401(k) to pay off debt?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:11:49 +0000

The Help Desk is all about getting answers to your financial questions! Send an e-mail to CNNHelpDesk@CNN.com

Gov. mistakenly says Facebook invented in Calif.

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:11:36 +0000

Apparently, California Gov. Jerry Brown forgot to rent “The Social Network.”

Historic Facebook IPO marred by trading glitches

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:11:26 +0000

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – For a company that is dramatically upending business strategies and social relationships around the world, Facebook Inc made a surprisingly modest debut on the Nasdaq on Friday as a sky-high valuation and trading glitches capped the stock’s rise. In late trading, Facebook shares were only a few cents above the company’s initial public offering price of $38, after opening 11 percent higher, rapidly heading south to touch their initial price and then rebounding by several dollars. …

Historic Facebook IPO marred by trading glitches

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:11:25 +0000

Facebook IPO averts "odd lot" question

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:11:16 +0000

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Facebook Inc’s modest debut on Friday may have averted a potential headache for the company and regulators, and kept at bay a debate over the role of “odd lots” in the marketplace. Shares of Facebook traded as high as $45.00, near the price of $50 that would keep many retail investors from placing a typical “round lot” order of 100 shares, because the total cost will be $5,000 – considered a threshold for many investors. An order for less than 100 shares is called an odd lot. …

Facebook IPO averts "odd lot" question

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:11:16 +0000

Italy "dog and cat tax" muzzled after uproar

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:11:07 +0000

ROME (Reuters) – A proposal to levy a tax on cats and dogs that stunned Italy on Friday turned out to be all bark and no bite after a wave of popular anger saw it withdrawn on the same day it was made public. Italy was abuzz for hours after local media reported that a parliamentary commission had proposed a tax on domestic “animals of affection” to raise revenue for debt-strapped cities and towns. …

Italy "dog and cat tax" muzzled after uproar

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:11:05 +0000

Man with record-breaking 14-foot mustache has some grooming tips

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:11:02 +0000

Ram Singh Chauhan of India has the world’s longest mustache, 14 feet, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Chauhan had received attention long before entering the world record books. According to the London Telegraph, his famous facial hair was featured in the 1983 James Bond film “Octopussy” and he has made cameos in [...]

Man with record-breaking 14-foot mustache has some grooming tips

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:11:00 +0000

Photographer “blows away” subjects

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:10:56 +0000

Click image to see more photos. (Tadao Cern) An eye-popping photo series shows that perhaps there is no “good side” when your face is getting blasted by powerful gusts of wind. Lithuanian photographer Tadas Cerniauskas, who also uses the name Tadao Cern, created the work entitled “Blow Job.” He took the photos during a design [...]

Photographer “blows away” subjects

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:10:54 +0000

Italy "dog and cat tax" muzzled after uproar

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:10:51 +0000

Italy "dog and cat tax" muzzled after uproar

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:10:49 +0000

Postal employee on workers’ comp caught running Boston Marathon

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:10:45 +0000

A U.S. District Court in Florida convicted a former Florida postal worker of health care fraud after she was caught participating in more than 80 long-distance races, including the Boston Marathon, all while taking workers’ compensation for a back injury. Jacquelyn V. Myers, 55, was also convicted of making false statements and faces up to [...]

Postal employee on workers’ comp caught running Boston Marathon

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:10:44 +0000

Fashion agenda: Fashion Rio, 20th Vienna Life Ball

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:10:32 +0000

As the glitz continues at the Cannes Film Festival, other glamorous events taking place across the globe include Brazil’s Fashion Rio event and the 20th Vienna Life Ball, which will feature a special anniversary fashion show presenting some of the most extravagant Life Ball designs of years gone by. Read about this and other important upcoming fashion events here.

Fashion agenda: Fashion Rio, 20th Vienna Life Ball

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:10:32 +0000

Man pleads not guilty to stalking Mila Kunis

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:10:18 +0000

A man charged with stalking Mila Kunis pleaded not guilty Friday to two felony charges and was denied a request to leave jail without having to post bail.

Hawks decide to keep Drew on as head coach

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:10:09 +0000

(Reuters) – The Atlanta Hawks have re-signed head coach Larry Drew back for a third season after he steered the injury-hit team to the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference, the National Basketball Association team said on Friday. Despite losing several key players for stretches of the lockout-shortened season, the Hawks made the playoffs for a fifth straight year before losing to the Boston Celtics in the first round of the postseason. …

Cubs P Kerry Wood plans to retire

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:10:00 +0000

Kerry Wood, who electrified baseball with a 20-strikeout game as a rookie in 1998 and then became a reliever after his career was slowed by injuries, is expected to retire after pitching one more time for the Chicago Cubs.

Loomis: Brees deal has to be right for both sides

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:09:55 +0000

Saints general manager Mickey Loomis says he isn’t taking any of Drew Brees’ recent complaints about slow contract negotiations personally.

GM passes on running TV ads during 2013 Super Bowl

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:09:49 +0000

(Reuters) – General Motors Co will not advertise in next year’s Super Bowl because it is too expensive, the top marketing executive for the U.S. automaker said three days after the company said it was dropping paid ads on Facebook. The 2013 Super Bowl will be broadcast by CBS Corp, which is selling 30-second ads for as much as $4 million. Spots on NBC’s broadcast of this year’s National Football League championship game, the most heavily watched annual event on U.S. television, cost about $3.5 million per 30-second spot. …

Argentina’s Kirchner eyes deals with Angola

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:09:37 +0000

The leaders of Argentina and Angola said Friday they plan to sign new cooperation agreements soon, though Argentinian President Cristina Kirchner wrapped up a visit to Luanda with no news on an oil-for-food pact.

11 on trial for Qaeda links in Ethiopia

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:09:31 +0000

Five of 11 people accused of links with Al-Qaeda and Somalia’s Shebab rebels and of plotting to overthrow Ethiopia’s government appeared in court Friday.

Briton wins battle to head European development bank

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:09:21 +0000

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on Friday selected British top civil servant Suma Chakrabarti as its president to 2016, replacing German incumbent Thomas Mirow after a shock vote.

Obama presses Europe for shift to growth focus

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:09:11 +0000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama pressed Europe on Friday to shift toward a more pro-growth policy and away from austerity to tackle a crisis that threatens to push Greece out of the euro zone and send economic shockwaves worldwide. Setting the tone for a weekend G8 summit, Obama made clear he was aligning himself with the new French president’s drive for more economic stimulus in the recession-plagued euro zone instead of emphasizing belt-tightening programs spearheaded by Germany. …

Iran may seek "tactical gain" with U.N. nuclear deal

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:09:04 +0000

VIENNA (Reuters) – Iran and the U.N. nuclear watchdog are making headway towards a framework deal on how to tackle concerns about its atomic activity, diplomats say, a potential bargaining chip for Tehran in next week’s negotiations with world powers. Iran says such an agreement is needed before it can consider a request by U.N. inspectors to visit the Parchin military site where they believe explosives tests relevant for developing nuclear weapons may have been carried out. …

Syria forces kill two in Damascus as thousands rally

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:08:57 +0000

BEIRUT (Reuters) – Forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad shot two protesters in the capital Damascus on Friday and fired in the air to break up thousands of anti-government demonstrators in the commercial hub of Aleppo, activists said. It was the second consecutive day of street protests in Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, where a visit by U.N. ceasefire monitors a day earlier saw demonstrators mass outside the gates of the Aleppo University before security forces drove them off. …

Poll shows Greece electing pro-bailout government

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:08:43 +0000

ATHENS (Reuters) – Greek voters are returning to the establishment parties that negotiated its bailout, a poll showed on Thursday, offering potential salvation for European leaders who say a snap Greek election next month will decide whether it must quit the euro. The poll, the first conducted since talks to form a government collapsed and a new election was called for June 17, showed the conservative New Democracy party in first place, several points ahead of the radical leftist SYRIZA which has pledged to tear up the bailout. …

Chinese entities world’s biggest economic spies-Pentagon

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:08:32 +0000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Pentagon said on Friday it believes China spent up to $180 billion on its military buildup last year, a far higher figure than acknowledged by Beijing, and it accused “Chinese actors” of being the world’s biggest perpetrators of economic espionage. The Pentagon, in its annual report to Congress on China’s military, flagged sustained investment last year in advanced missile technologies and cyber warfare capabilities and warned that Chinese spying threatened America’s economic security. …

Hopes fading for swift U.S., Pakistan deal on Afghan supply routes

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:08:29 +0000

CHICAGO (Reuters) – The Obama administration may be not be able to strike a long-awaited agreement with Pakistan to help supply Western soldiers in Afghanistan as hoped in time for a major NATO summit in Chicago this weekend, a U.S. official said. “There’s a distinct possibility that we may not see an agreement before the end of this weekend,” the U.S. official said on condition of anonymity. “But talks are progressing and we do expect to reach a deal in the near future. …

Italy court upholds ruling clearing Berlusconi

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:08:22 +0000

ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s highest appeals court on Friday upheld a decision that cleared former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in a fraud and embezzlement case related to his private broadcaster Mediaset. Milan magistrates who wanted Berlusconi to be indicted lodged an appeal after a judge ruled last October that there was not enough evidence for a trial for the former prime minister. …

Refloat of Italy’s Concordia wreck to be biggest ever

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:08:19 +0000

ROME (Reuters) – Salvage crews will employ huge cranes and air tanks to refloat the half-submerged Costa Concordia cruise liner in the largest ever operation of its kind, according to a plan unveiled on Friday. Estimated to cost at least $300 million, the work is expected to begin within a few days and last about a year, said the ship’s operator Costa Cruises, owned by Carnival Corp & Plc. The 290-metre-long (11,417 feet) cruise liner capsized off the Tuscan island of Giglio after hitting rocks on January 13. At least 30 people died and two are still unaccounted for. …

Police detain 400 "Blockupy" activists in Frankfurt

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:08:13 +0000

FRANKFURT (Reuters) – German police said they detained 400 anti-capitalist protesters in Frankfurt on Friday for defying a ban on demonstrations against austerity policies implemented to tackle the intensifying euro zone debt crisis. The demonstration in the German financial capital was part of a four-day-long “Blockupy” protest, due to run until Saturday, against capitalism and austerity measures. “Hungry? Eat a banker,” read one banner protesters held up outside the Messeturm skyscraper housing Goldman Sachs’ offices. Reuters’ Frankfurt office is also in the building. …

Ten militants killed in Yemen as government advances

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:08:09 +0000

ADEN, Yemen (Reuters) – Yemeni troops killed 10 suspected Islamist militants on the outskirts of the city of Jaar, an army official and residents said on Friday, in a new U.S.-backed offensive meant to reassert control in the south of the country. Residents and a military official said fighting erupted overnight between insurgents and the Yemeni army backed by tribesmen on the northern outskirts of the city, which is held by al Qaeda linked militants. The clashes continued until Friday morning, killing ten militants, they said. …

Jurors in Edwards trial will resume talks Monday

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:07:57 +0000

A jury deliberated for about five hours Friday over whether John Edwards broke campaign finance laws and the panel made several requests before being sent home until Monday, suggesting they were settling in for detailed discussions about money from wealthy donors used to hide the candidate’s pregnant mistress during his 2008 White House bid.

Police: 3 Irish dissidents arrested on terror offences ahead of Olympic torch relay

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:07:53 +0000

LONDON – British police say they have arrested 3 senior Irish dissidents and charged them with a range of terror offences.

Several hurt, arrested in new Mauritania opposition protest

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:07:47 +0000

Several people were hurt and arrested in Mauritania on Friday as police fired tear gas and beat back protesters demanding that President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz step down in a fresh anti-regime protest, an AFP journalist witnessed.

Obama Focuses on Education in Florida, Nevada TV Ads

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:07:40 +0000

President Obama’s re-election campaign is courting voters in Florida and Nevada with a new, positive 30-second TV ad on higher education. The spot, which began airing Friday, features pictures of a young Obama with his mother and at school as the narrator paints a picture…

Which Canceled Show Will You Miss the Most?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:07:28 +0000

The bloodbath is over, TV fans.

The five networks have announced their lineups for the fall, which include a lot of their shiny new shows. Sure, it’s an exciting time…except…

Gam Bit

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:07:21 +0000

Kathie Lee and Hoda weren’t in on the montage–they were just on their seventh glass of chablis.

Facebook to Make Bono the Richest Musician Out There? The Irish Rocker Doesn’t Seem to Think So

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:07:12 +0000

Don’t worry, Paul McCartney. It looks like your “Richest Rock Star” title is safe.

According to Bono, at least.

In the days leading up to Facebook going public,…

Donna Summer’s Family Extinguishes Reports That Smoking Caused Disco Queen’s Death

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:07:07 +0000

The surviving members of Donna Summer’s family are looking to clear the air on the cause of her death—and quick.

Just one day after the music world mourned the loss of the…

Kimye’s Cannes Invasion: Kim Kardashian, Kanye West Headed for Film Festival

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:07:02 +0000

Ooh la la: Kimye’s headed to France!

E! News has learned exclusively that Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, currently in London together, will head to the Cannes Film Festival next…

Bono Set To Become The World’s Richest Musician By 4 Pm Today

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:41:15 +0000

U2 (and Bono) haven’t released a new album today, so what will make his net worth skyrocket so that he’ll become the richest musician in the world today? He’s an investor in Facebook, and with the company’s IPO being released today, it will make for quite a payoff for Bono’s investment. TMZ explains:

Bono owns 2.3 percent of Facebook shares, through his investment group, Elevation Partners. The investment will be worth an estimated $1.5 billion by 4 PM ET — not bad for a $90 million investment back in 2009.

Goodness! Everyone truly is involved in Facebook- LOL. This is a great TGIF for Bono, though, isn’t it? Paul McCartney has been considered the world’s richest musician with a net worth estimated at $1 billion.

Visit the Gallery (10 Images)

Photos by WENN

Jada Pinkett Smith Smolders At Cannes ‘Madagascar 3′ Premiere

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:41:00 +0000

Tons of celebs have amassed in Cannes, France, this week for the yearly film festival. After making the European rounds with her husband Will Smith for "Men In Black III" last week, Jada Pinkett Sm…

MK802 Android 4.0 Mini PC: At Just $74, Itty-Bitty Computer Undercuts Its Pint-Sized Rivals

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:40:43 +0000

In the tech world, smaller is better. Whether it’s an iPad Mini or nano-technology used create faster hard drives, the demand is for smaller gadgets and computers with increased processing power.

Chinese retailers recently began selling the MK802 Android 4.0 Mini PC — the newest device in the USB-sized family. Housed in a 3.5-inch plastic case, the Android PC, contains an AllWinner A10 single-core 1.5GHz ARM CPU, a Mali 400 GPU, and 512MB of RAM.

But the defining characteristic of this tiny PC is not the processing power, but the price. At $74, the Android PC is one of the most inexpensive on the market for its size.

David Hasselhoff: ‘Baywatch’ Slow-Motion Running Origins Revealed

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:40:30 +0000

When TV fans think of “Baywatch,” this is most likely the image conjured up: The sun is shining, the waves are crashing and busty woman in a red, high-cut swimsuit is running by in slow-motion.

David Hasselhoff, the man who helped make “Baywatch” a household name, has revealed why the lifeguards of “Baywatch” ran so slowly all the time. Jiggling enjoyment aside, Hasselhoff told Men’s Health the slow-motion running came about because of budgetary reasons.

“That came about organically because we had no money,” he said. “We didn’t have enough financing to finish the show. So we found a way to fill the hour by shooting people in slow motion. We said, ‘Well, girls in bathing suits look good running in slow motion, let’s just shoot that.’ And we found out that the audience kinda liked it.”

Joe Biden: ‘I Don’t Blame’ West Virginia Democrats Who Voted For Keith Judd Over Obama

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:40:19 +0000

Vice President Joe Biden said this week that he doesn’t “blame people” who voted for a Texas inmate and convicted felon over President Barack Obama in West Virginia.

‘Symphony Of The Soil’: New Documentary Connects Soil Health To Human Health

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:40:09 +0000

Jack Algiere has no qualms about letting his kids eat their veggies straight out of the ground from the fields and greenhouses he manages in Pocantico Hills, N.Y.

He knows the rich, organic soil will provide Sedge and Ojiah with delicious, nutrient-rich food. Not to mention a possible boost to their immune systems.

His sons have their favorites. “Carrots are up there and consumed after a brush with the shirt sleeve. But spinach in winter seems to be the prize,” said Algiere, the farm manager at Stone Barns Center For Food and Agriculture. “With most greens, they prefer to graze — no hands — rather than pick.”

Alvin Reed Lovely, Ex-Marine, Gets 15 Years For Drug Money Death Of Comrade Stephen Serrano

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:38:54 +0000

SANTA ANA, Calif. — A former Camp Pendleton-based Marine has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in the shooting death of another Marine in a dispute over drug money.

An Orange County judge on Friday sentenced 24-year-old Alvin Reed Lovely of Dallas for the killing of 20-year-old Stephen Serrano, who was shot in a secluded area of San Clemente in 2008.

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David Edmund Moody: Can a Chimp Outwit a Scientist?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:38:44 +0000

Scientists are mistrustful of anthropomorphism, the tendency to attribute human qualities to animals and other non-human entities. But what about the equal danger of the insistence that certain abilities are unique to humans?
Read More…
More on Health

Joe Biden Photos: Our Favorite VP Pictures Of The Week (CAPTION CONTEST)

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:38:28 +0000

Here are a few of our favorites. Tweet your best captions using the hashtag #BidenPhotoCaptions, or write your best captions in the comments section.

Todd Sears, Out On The Street Founder, Has Wall Street’s Attention

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:38:19 +0000

NEW YORK — Todd Sears was just a little over a week into his first job on Wall Street more than a decade ago when his boss, a managing director, called a colleague “a f—— faggot” right in front of him.

Sears, who had just graduated from Duke University, had been openly gay since freshman year. He was so rattled by the comment — the fact that a supervisor had used that sort of language so casually — that he decided to do something he hadn’t done since high school: pretend to be straight.

“My first thought was, Oh my God, I have to get back in the closet quick.” He made up a girlfriend and pretended to be straight, but the ruse was painful, he said. After eight months he left his analyst position at the firm, vowing to never hide his sexuality again.

Mitt Romney Offers Ill-Timed Praise For Meg Whitman

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:38:08 +0000

GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney took some time, in an interview with National Review published Thursday, to praise Hewlett-Packard chief executive Meg Whitman, who lost her 2010 bid to become governor of California. If Whitman, a Republican, had defeated Democrat Jerry Brown, Romney argued, California’s finances wouldn’t be in such dire shape now and an $8.5 billion tax hike wouldn’t be on the table:

The governor [Brown] is taking them in the wrong direction. I wish Californians had elected Meg Whitman. She would have been more successful and explained to Californians the need to cut back on spending and eliminate unnecessary programs. There are other states that have very different records. I think it’s interesting that the state with the highest or among the highest tax rates in the nation also has the worst or near the worst deficit.

5 More Ways Recycling Can Benefit Your Community

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:37:59 +0000

We all know recycling is good for the environment, but many don’t realize the ways recycling can positively impact their own community. These days, there are more than just moral incentives for communities to establish recycling options and encourage participation.

Richard Komaiko: How Effective is Excelerate for Chicago Startups?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:37:53 +0000

Excelerate has been very successful in finding, funding and supporting young Chicago companies. With the announcement its third class, I’m applying data-driven comparison to the largest startup incubator in the second city.
Read More…

My First Playboy

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:37:48 +0000

You can never forget your first Playboy. This was mine. Purchased in Montreal when I was 12.

Belinda Carlisle On Her Home Design Collection (VIDEO)

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:37:37 +0000

Belinda Carlisle appeared on Good Day New York to talk about her next act: home decor designer.

Don’t worry “We Got The Beat” fans — Carlisle hasn’t completely given up her run as lead singer of the 80s all-girl group The Go-Go’s. The ladies, who are “really like family,” still get together, says Carlisle. They are even on tour this summer. Belinda Carlisle’s new home design collection — inspired by her time in India — is available at Bergdorf Goodman.

Carlisle also talks about her pioneering early days with the Go-Go’s and her plans to return home to Los Angeles after years living abroad. Check out the interview for more.

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Bloomberg’s Budget Cuts And The After-School Crisis

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:37:27 +0000

Some of the poems were about love and some were about clouds, but what really mattered about the P.S. 63 poetry reading on Wednesday night was the time.

A decade ago most of the 8- and 9- and 10-year-old poets in attendance might have been home playing video games or getting into trouble or doing nothing at all. But that was before New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration built the country’s largest after-school system — a system that critics say the mayor is now about to dismantle.

Marcia G. Yerman: Rally Held at City Hall to "Dump the Dump"

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:37:18 +0000

Why the rally? Because this year the city has plans to demolish the East 91st Street Garbage Station, which has been closed for years, in order to build a 10-story Garbage Marine Transfer Station on the same site.
Read More…
More on Environment

Phillip Phillips: Urged to Seek Medical Help

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:37:04 +0000

Might the success of Phillip Phillips on American Idol be jeopardizing his health? Without a doubt, YES, according to the singer’s doctors.

TMZ reports that the finalist’s physicians are adamant: Phillips needs surgery to repair a kidney issue as soon as possible. His family doctor even spent the entire day last Saturday – during Phillip’s Idol-sponsored trip home to Georgia – by the contestant’s side.

But Phillips would be sidelines for six weeks if he underwent the recommended procedure, so he is choosing to soldier on through at least next Thursday’s American Idol finale.

In the meantime, Phillip is simply taking medication, but that’s also resulting in dry mouth and possibly impacting his singing. Either way, though, win or lose, the talented young man’s journey will come to an end in one week.

Who do you think should win American Idol?

Sean Penn Rips "The Whole F–king World" For Abandoning Haiti

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:36:57 +0000

Sean Penn isn’t a fan of us right now. Or you, or anyone else.

On Friday at the Cannes Film Festival, the actor-activist slammed the media and public for abandoning Haiti after the devastating earthquake in 2010.

“It’s not only celebrities who went for a day,” Penn told reporters of his perceived injustice. “It’s the whole f–king world. It’s all of you. The reason we have ‘Haiti fatigue’ is because there was never a commitment in the first place.”

A vocal proponent of humanitarian aid, Penn also called upon President Barack Obama to meet with Haiti’s newly elected president Michel Joseph Martelly.

“It’s time our elegant, formidable president stood side by side [with Martelly],” he said.

The outspoken actor was part of a news conference with Petra Nemcova and director Paul Haggis, all of whom work with nonprofit organizations in Haiti.

The trio joined forces for a benefit for the country at the famed cinema gathering.

[Photo: WENN.com]

Facebook IPO: Stock Falters, Still Raises $16 Billion

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:36:52 +0000

Call it the most disappointing $16 billion raised in investment history.

Facebook stock is off to a rocky start after its highly anticipated initial public offering (IPO), jumping more than 10 percent in the first few minutes of trading before sellers swept into the market and that gain evaporated.

“The stock is trading right at the IPO price,” one expert told the L.A. Times. “They didn’t want that in a million years. A traditional IPO is up 10% or 15%.”

The stock most recently hovered at about $40, only $2 above what shares were priced at late Thursday. Shares touched $38 multiple times during trading.

Investors also had to deal with a nearly three-hour delay for the stock to open. The Nasdaq kept the stock halted as it processed a crush of buy and sell orders.

The inauspicious opening after the Facebook IPO suggests that retail investors paid close attention to reports of soft financials and big selling by insiders.

Still, Facebook raised $16 billion in what will go down as the third-largest public offering in U.S. history and the biggest ever for a technology company.

Could be worse, right? Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg rang the Nasdaq opening bell from company headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif.

Eduardo Saverin, one of the company’s co-founders, made news this week by giving up U.S. citizenship as a means of limiting his tax liability.

Enjoy Some Pics Of The Set And Crew Of Single Ladies

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:36:45 +0000

The people who work behind the scenes on a television show often work incredibly long hours, perform feats of physical labor, and stretch their minds beyond the limits to create amazing stories for us. The crew behind Single Ladies is no different, and to give you guys a glimpse of some of the backstage magic, we put together a gallery of some great shots of the set and the people who pull the show together. The shots above, of Kesha’s bedroom set (left) and show creator Stacy A. Littlejohn and the rest of the crew (right) are just a couple of the great shots taken during production, click here to see them all.

The Jury Is Deliberating John Edwards’ Fate!

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:36:36 +0000

It’s all but over for John Edwards!

His campaign finance trial has concluded so now he can only sit and wait to find out whether the jury finds him innocent or guilty as they begin deliberations today.

If found guilty of the six charges that include conspiracy to violate the Federal Election Campaign Act, accepting contributions that exceeded campaign finance limits, and causing his campaign to file a false financial disclosure report, the former presidential candidate could receive up to 30 years in prison!

In the defense’s closing arguments, Edwards’ lawyer argued that he may have lied to his wife and the rest of the country, but he didn’t break the law:

“This is a case that should define the difference between a wrong and a crime … between a sin and a felony. John Edwards has confessed his sins. He will serve a life sentence for those. But he has pleaded not guilty to violating the law.”

From everything we’ve heard about this case, it sounds like he broke the law on top of his wife’s heart! Do U think the jury will find him guilty or innocent?

[Image via WENN.]

Alexander Skarsgard Makes Us Sweat In The Official What Maisie Knew Trailer!

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:36:29 +0000

If we had ovaries, we might be feeling an inner explosion right about now! Ha!

Alexander Skarsgard is fatherly perfection in What Maisie Knew — a film about a little gurl whose mother marries ASkars.

And while the mama (Julianne Moore) turns out to be a horrible parent, ASkars fulfills his destiny and becomes the greatest step-daddy in the world!!

Sexiness. Sentiment. Skarsgard.

Does it really get any better than that?? We think not.

PresSsSs that a-mazing PLAY button (above) to see what we mean!!

ASkars, please adopt a baby with us.

Call Me Maybe vs Payphone!!!!

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:36:16 +0000

This is soooooooooo good!!!!!!!

Check out this brilliant mashup from our boy band, IM5, of Call Me Maybe vs. Payphone!

We think both Carly Rae Jepsen and Maroon 5 will love!!!

Plus, the video is soooo cute!

Check it out (above)!

CLICK HERE to subscribe to IM5 on YouTube!

CLICK HERE to like IM5 on Facebook!

CLICK HERE to follow IM5 on Twitter!

The Carrie Diaries Gets Awesomely Eighties In New Promo Pics!

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:36:07 +0000

We’re definitely looking forward to the Sex And The City prequel, The Carrie Diaries premiering this fall!

The series will star AnnaSophia Robb as Carrie Bradshaw and also Austin Butler, AKA Vanessa Hudgen’s real-life BF!

We’re SO ready to get transported back to the ’80s and this newly released pic (above) is building our anticipation even MORE!!

Want to see more of young Carrie??? Check out the other recent shot (below)!!!

LOVE it!!!

Forever and always a fashionista!

[Image via CW.]

Miley Cyrus Revisits Niley Heartbreak…5 Years Later!

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:35:59 +0000

Oh shiz!

Miley Cyrus sat down for an upcoming interview on Lifetime’s ~~The Talk~~ ~~The View~~ The Conversation, hosted by Amanda de Cadenet and spilled some confessions from her early teen years!

Amanda took a page out of the book of Oprah and asked Miley what she would tell her fourteen year old self…and she opens up about her BIGGEST heartbreak!

Check out the clip of a more mature Miley (above)!!

Though the nineteen year old doesn’t name names — Nick Jonas — how could we ever forget that the two teens dated back in their early Disney days?!

Ah, young love…and broken hearts!

Former Facebook Employees Say Company Celebrates New Ideas, Not New Wealth

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:33:28 +0000

Facebook’s stock market debut seems to be creating a frenzy everywhere but Facebook.

Shares have been fluctuating between $40 and $42, as of 2 p.m. ET since opening Friday morning, amid reports that Nasdaq was experiencing some technical hiccups. Gizmodo reported shares were trading at a record-breaking 2.7 million per second within the first 30 seconds of trading.

But after founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg and a throng of cheering employees rang the Nasdaq opening bell from the company headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif., at 9:30 a.m. ET Friday, the campus became a ghost town.

“Nightline” anchor Bill Weir talked with Justin Mitchell, a Facebook engineer, and Donna Gutman, who worked in Facebook’s user operations, in New York City’s Times Square shortly after trading began. Both said they had been with the company for more than four years but had recently quit, taking stock options with them.

On Thursday night, Facebook priced its initial public offering at $38 a share, selling $16 billion worth in equity and valuing the company at $104 billion. It’s the largest tech IPO of all time.

All Facebook employees are stock holders, Mitchell told Weir. So why isn’t he out buying a Ferrari?

“It’s not the company culture to go out and celebrate this type of stuff,” Mitchell said. “The culture of the company is very much of not showing off money, not being ostentatious but instead, really just making good products, and that comes from the top.”

One of the big questions is, now that Facebook has gone public, it have to tailor the user experience to meet shareholders’ expectations. But Mitchell said he thought Facebook’s IPO filing would have little effect on how it does business.

“My hunch is that it’s not going to change the company culture that much,” he said. “Once we filed for the IPO people put up signs that said, ‘Stay focused, Keep shipping.’ I think it’s that type of mentality that you’ll see continue on in the future.”

Last night, Facebook celebrated its newfound wealth with a wild bash at company headquarters that only Facebook could throw — a “Hackathon,” an all-night, a code-writing rager, where Facebook employees worked on their own special projects until the morning light. They do one every couple of months, according to the company’s blog. Those projects are what Facebook deems important, Gutman said.

“I think that the company needs to keep doing what its doing and the work people did last night shows that’s what people are focused on,” Gutman said.

ABC News’ Susanna Kim and Alex Stone contributed to this report

Obama Unveils $3B Private Sector Pledge to Fight Africa Hunger

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:33:16 +0000

President Obama today announced a $3 billion private sector pledge to support agriculture and help feed Africa’s starving populations, saying the U.S. has a “moral obligation to lead the fight.”

“When tens of thousands of children die from the agony of starvation, as in Somalia, that sends us a message we still got a lot of work to do. It’s unacceptable. It’s an outrage. It’s an affront to who we are,” the president said at the Symposium on Global Agriculture and Food Security in Washington.

Arguing that food security is a moral, economic, and security imperative, Obama urged the world’s biggest economies to fulfill their promises to aid the cause financially. The president said additional nations and non-governmental organizations need to “step up and play a role” because government cannot solve the problem alone.

The new shared commitment, which Obama outlined today, aims to raise 50 million people out of poverty over the next 10 years.

Obama also pushed back against criticisms that the new private sector alliance is a way for governments to shift the burden. “As president, I can assure you that the United States will continue to meet our responsibilities so that even in these tough fiscal times, we will continue to make historic investments in development,” he said.

The president spoke to an eclectic crowd, including singer and activist Bono, celebrity chef Jose Andres and a host of African leaders, in his speech kicking off this weekend’s G8 summit.

172 Days to Go: Romney’s Odds Improve

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:33:11 +0000

The zeitgeist: After a bruising and often demoralizing primary season, GOP insiders are starting to feel much more optimistic about Mitt Romney’s chances this fall. The uptick in enthusiasm is driven by, among other things, strong polling numbers for the GOP nominee-to-be in traditionally blue states like Wisconsin; a strong April Federal Election Commission report by team GOP; and the lack of firepower on the Democratic super PAC side.

This isn’t to say that GOPers are confident of a Romney win. But there was a time not so long ago when many GOPers were confident that Romey wouldn’t/couldn’t win.

For their part, Democrats remain cautiously optimistic. They still see Romney’s record at Bain Capital as a huge liability and consider their own ground game far superior. And, as we saw with the Jeremiah Wright/super PAC flare-up this week, there are plenty of opportunities for the Romney camp to get thrown off stride and off message.

Gut Check: It feels like we have hit a turning point in the campaign. Not that long ago, both sides saw Obama as a heavy favorite. Today, it is dawning on Democrats and Republicans alike that this thing is going to be a nail-biter.

Numbers of they Day: 44.6 percent to 44.5 percent. That is the Pollster.com aggregate of Obama -Romney match-ups in the most recent national polls.

Electoral College Update: Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are currently in the lean Democratic category, but my gut says they are closer to a toss-up. White, working class voters have always been a tough demographic for Obama. Now add a bad economy that hits noncollege educated workers hardest, and you have a recipe for serious erosion for the president in this group. Furthermore, Romney can perform better in the Philadelphia-burbs than someone like a McCain or Bush. Unless, of course, the Obama campaign succeeds in painting him as an “extremist” on issues like contraception, abortion and other hot points on the social-cultural front.

The two states that will decided this election: Colorado and Virginia.

Week Ahead:

Sunday, May 20: Presidential campaigns and most of the big super PACs are required to file their fundraising reports with the FEC. Though, as we’ve seen in recent months, most wait until late in the day – or late at night – to get their reports in.

Tuesday, May 22: Voters are still voting the GOP primary.

Kentucky – 45 delegates ; Arkansas – 36 delegates

There aren’t enough delegates on the table to put Romney over the top. That is still likely to happen on May 29 with the Texas primary.

Secy Sebelius Speaks at Catholic College Despite Protests

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:33:05 +0000

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius barely got out two sentences today before a protester at the Georgetown University Public Policy Commencement sprung to his feet calling her a “murderer.”

The audience began booing the protester to drown out his cries, making the rest of his outburst inaudible.

The secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, however, barely missed a beat. After her initial surprise she continued her talk, saying “having spent my entire life in public service, ” drawing laughter from the audience, which was clearly on her side.

After he was escorted out, the same protester could be heard running up the hall outside the auditorium and attempting to reenter. All while screaming what sounded like “Judah,” probably in reference to Genesis 38, where Judah orders a woman to be burned to death, despite the fact she was three months pregnant.

Debate from Sebelius’ stemmed from her speaking at a Catholic and Jesuit university after the March 14 “statement on religious freedom and HHS mandate” which the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) strongly opposed.

In a statement from the university president, John DeGioia, said the invitation is not a “challenge” to the USCCB, as some interpreted it to be.

Clarifying that the invitation came prior to the January 20 announcement by the Obama administration of modifications to healthcare regulations, and that her “presence on our campus should not be viewed as an endorsement of her views” and that the university “disassociates itself from any positions that are in conflict with traditional church teachings.”

The Cardinal Newman Society, a conservative watchdog group, and their President Patrick J. Reilly, however, condemned the choice and urged the president to “withdraw the invitation” and called the move to invite her “scandalous and outrageous.”

They also sent an online petition with more than 25,000 signatures to DeGioia, which according to their blog “is part of CNS’ ongoing efforts to promote a renewal of Catholic identity in Catholic institutions of higher learning.”

The students selected the secretary in the “spirit” of her experience and career in public policy.

“We expect that her remarks will not be a political statement, but will reflect the experiences she has had throughout her life in public service,” a student letter to the president explained.

The faculty of the public policy institute also issued a letter to the president Thursday saying the university “cannot permit outside protests to dictate who will and will not be allowed to address out community” and that “speech should be answered by speech, not by efforts to shut down discussion and free exchange.”

The five or six protesters outside the commencement held signs stating “Abortion is Murder.”

Sebelius drew off her own experiences and offered the new graduates two key pieces of advice.

Her first “hope” was to “always hold on to your commitment to work for the common good. If you let that focus guide you, you will never go off course,” she said.

While her aecond piece of advice was to not “wait.”

“Go ahead and do it yourself – because if you don’t, it might never happen,” she said.

Today in Pictures: Rebirth Ceremony, Olympic Torch, and Occupy Protests

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:32:59 +0000

A Thai woman lays inside a coffin at Wat Prommanee during a rebirth ceremony, May 18, 2012 in Nakhon Nayok, Thailand. The resurrection service follows an hour of prayer lead by Thai monks and then a person stepping into a coffin for a few minutes to arise reborn. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

Click to see the rest of ABC’s Today in Pictures

Facebook IPO Price Disappoints

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:32:48 +0000

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO and founder of Facebook, rang the opening bell from company headquarters in Menlo Park, California.

Zuckerberg’s Social Graph

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:32:32 +0000

From board members and employees to fellow CEOs, Facebook alumni, and others

The 404 1,057: Where we’d rather have an IPA (podcast)

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:31:28 +0000

(Credit:
Jeff Bakalar)

Sorry about the rather short show today, but the Facebook IPO just started trading and we have to make way for a special edition of Reporter’s Roundtable featuring our own “Aunt” Jill Schlesinger, Andy Rachleff of Wealthfront, and Tom Merritt. Check it out for in-depth discussion about the offering!

We’ll be back on Monday with a week of new episodes, but you can stay in touch on our Instagram page–look us up @the404.

Video voice mail: Alhambra from Jose watches the Kings.

Ep. 1057: Where we’d rather have an IPA

Episode 1,057

Listen Now:
Download Today’s Podcast
[Read more]

UPDATE 4-Colombia adopts reserve requirement on new consumer loans

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:25:15 +0000

* Credit costs may rise

(Adds comment from central bank chief)

U.S. test flight seen as giant leap for commercial space

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:25:05 +0000

TEXT-Fitch affirms RPM International ratings

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:13:34 +0000

May 18 – Fitch Ratings has affirmed RPM International Inc.’s (RPM)
Issuer Default Rating (IDR) and senior unsecured debt ratings at ‘BBB-’.

The Outlook is Stable.
A full list of affirmed ratings follows at the end of the
press release.

RPM’s ratings reflect the company’s conservative financial management and
balanced portfolio of specialty chemical products including paints and coatings,
roofing systems, construction chemicals, sealants and adhesives. Approximately
two-th

UPDATE 2-US gas drillers halt cutbacks as prices rebound

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:13:29 +0000

NEW YORK, May 18 (Reuters) – Energy companies increased the
number of rigs drilling for natural gas this week for the first
time since mid-April, suggesting some producers are betting the
month-long recovery in prices is here to stay.

CANADA STOCKS-TSX rally fades as resources retreat

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:13:25 +0000

TORONTO, May 18 (Reuters) – Toronto’s main stock index gave
up its gains on Friday as resource shares sank on worsening
problems in Greece and Spain while a late tumble in U.S.
equities spurred further selling in commodity markets.
The Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index
turned negative, down 19.59 points, or 0.2 percent, at
11,311.09.

UPDATE 2-Kraft cuts Maxwell House coffee prices in U.S.

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:13:19 +0000

May 18 (Reuters) – Kraft Foods said on Friday it
lowered prices on many of its U.S. coffees, including its
flagship brand Maxwell House, citing lower green coffee costs
since prices peaked last year, making it the second major U.S.
roaster to lower its coffee prices this week.

UPDATE 1-Mexico’s Slim eyeing Telekom Austria stake-report

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:13:14 +0000

* Mexican tycoon already eyeing bigger stake in Dutch firm

WRAPUP 1-EBRD-East Europe wary of fresh euro bank crunch

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:13:09 +0000

LONDON, May 18 (Reuters) – A new banking crunch in the euro
zone risks another sharp retreat by western parent banks from
vulnerable economies in central and eastern Europe, a process
that must be slowed to preserve growth, officials from the
region said on Friday.

US WCoast Products – Gasoline’s retreat continues

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:13:04 +0000

HOUSTON, May 18 (Reuters) – Gasoline completed a week-long
retreat on Friday, down 32.5 cents a gallon since Monday,
primarily due to the restart of BP Plc’s 225,000
barrel-per-day (bpd) Cherry Point, Washington, refinery, which
shut three months ago by a fire.

US crude down, hits biggest 3-week loss since Aug 2011

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:13:00 +0000

NEW YORK, May 18 (Reuters) – U.S. crude oil futures fell
more than 1 percent on Friday, down for the sixth straight
session, as worsening problems in Greece and Spain raised
worries of contagion in the euro zone and as a late tumble in
U.S. equities spurred further selling in oil markets.

UPDATE 2-Briton wins EBRD presidency for first time

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:12:56 +0000

LONDON, May 18 (Reuters) – European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development shareholders elected senior civil servant Suma
Chakrabarti as the bank’s first British president on Friday, in
a process lauded for its open selection.

US CFTC OKs reporting rules for historical swaps

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:12:51 +0000

WASHINGTON, May 18 (Reuters) – The Commodity Futures Trading
Commission finalized rules that spell out reporting and
record-keeping requirements for old and expired swap contracts.

NYSE stocks turn negative for year

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:12:41 +0000

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Stocks fell on Friday, with the NYSE composite stock index turning negative for the year as Facebook Inc stumbled in its market debut and investors were cautious ahead of a G8 summit on the weekend expected to address Europe’s debt crisis.

Elecciones Presidenciales 2012- 2016: El Partido de La Liberación Dominicana finaliza campaña electoral.

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:12:34 +0000

Vista fotografica del cierre de campaña para elegir el proximo presidente de la República Dominicana el proximo 20 de mayo.

En la plaza Juan Barón fue el escenario para concentrar el cierre.

PLD cierra campaña con multitudinaria, colorida y con sabor Dominicano la marcha caravana.

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:12:29 +0000

Una multitudinaria marcha caravana fue realizada el pasado jueves por el Partido de la Liberación Dominicana (PLD) en su cierre oficial de campaña.

Estuvieron presentes los candidatos presidenciales y vicepresidenciales de la organización, Danilo Medina y Margarita Cedeño, así como el presidente del país y del Partido de la Liberacion Dominicana, Leonel Fernández.

La marcha arrancó a las 5:00 de la tarde en la intersección de las avenidas Duarte y Pedro Livio Cedeño. Tras recorrer toda la avenida Duarte, en dirección Sur, los manifestantes se dirigieron a la avenida George Washington, donde finalizaron la movilización alrededor de las 7:15 de la noche.

Fue visible la participación de las agrupaciones aliadas y los movimientos del llamado sector externo.

Mario Monti: "minds are focused"

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:12:21 +0000

TIME magazine calls him “the most important man” in Europe. Mario Monti on EU.

Mario Monti, "EU improved from Greece"

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:12:15 +0000

TIME magazine calls him “the most important man” in Europe. Mario Monti on EU.

Star tributes to Donna Summer

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:12:10 +0000

Stars pay tribute to Donna Summer, Van Halen pulls summer tours, and ‘iCarly’ is being canceled.

‘My son doesn’t see black and white’

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:12:05 +0000

‘The Bert Show’ host Bert Weiss talks about his son painting his face black to portray Muhammad Ali for a school project.

Behind the 2nd Annual iReport Awards

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:11:57 +0000

CNN iReport’s Katie Hawkins-Gaar talks about the 2nd Annual iReport Awards with Jonathan Mann of CNN International.

Anti-social: Zynga tumbles after Facebook IPO

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:11:43 +0000

Social media stocks just aren’t feeling the love, despite Facebook’s highly-anticipated stock market debut.

Ian Thomsen: Strange NBA regular season gives way to even crazier postseason

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:11:38 +0000

A strange NBA regular season has given way to an even stranger postseason. With veteran stars failing and upstarts prevailing, the usual rules no longer apply, says Ian Thomsen.

Indiana-Miami series is now Pacers’ to lose

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:11:31 +0000

Showing more balance and toughness than the Heat, Indiana rolled to a 94-75 victory in Game 3. The Pacers know they are good, writes Chris Mannix, and it’s their series to lose now.

Schlafly: ‘Liberals Seek To Destroy’ American Ozzie And Harriet Families

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:10:03 +0000

Conservative icon Phyllis Schlafly is the mother of the anti-feminism movement, and her Eagle Forum conservative interest group is very upset by the news that minority births in the U.S. are now the majority. As The New York Times reported yesterday, “the Census Bureau has made it official: White births are no longer a majority in the United States.” Referring to the Times article, Schlafly’s Eagle Forum Legislative Alert says that it “goes on to quote experts who say that this is a wonderful thing, except for the facts that the Hispanic immigrants are uneducated and do not vote Democrat often enough.”

Michele Bachmann and Phyllis Schlafly

The Times article of course does not say that. It says, “The United States has a spotty record educating minority youth; will older Americans balk at paying to educate a younger generation that looks less like themselves?”

Because that’s the “funny” thing about “uneducated” Hispanic immigrant children: you have to educate them, just like you have to educate non-Hispanic native-born children. In other words, you have to educate children. It’s not like caucasian children are born with a degree from Harvard in their hands.

“It is not a good thing. The immigrants do not share American values, so it is a good bet that they will not be voting Republican when they start voting in large numbers,” the Eagle Forum alert adds.

The Alert continues:

The NY Times liberals seek to destroy the American family of the 1950s, as symbolized by Ozzie and Harriet. The TV characters were happy, self-sufficient, autonomous, law-abiding, honorable, patriotic, hard-working, and otherwise embodied qualities that made America great. In other words, the show promoted values that NY Times liberals despise.

Oh my God. They were TV characters! From 60 years ago! Yes, they may have been a “real-life” family, but they were acting! In a TV show! See: The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.

And it’s just plain stupid to claim that liberals hate “happy, self-sufficient, autonomous, law-abiding, honorable, patriotic, hard-working” values.

Liberals, like conservatives, are and embrace the values of being happy, self-sufficient, autonomous, law-abiding, honorable, patriotic, and hard-working. The right doesn’t own that franchise.

Instead, the USA is being transformed by immigrants who do not share those values, and who have high rates of illiteracy, illegitimacy, and gang crime, and they will vote Democrat when the Democrats promise them more food stamps.

Really? Immigrants are some of the hardest-working people you’ll ever meet. And, if they are undocumented — which is of course who you’re really talking about — they are some of the least-complaining people you’ll ever meet. Undocumented workers need — really need — a job, and aren’t going to complain because they know the consequences. To claim that they are lazy is false. To claim they are illiterate is a function of conservatives slashing education budgets and trying to keep immigrants from accessing education. And do you even know how much money someone on foodstamps gets?

The Alert continues:

Update: This post was criticized by two left-wing blogs, the Daily Kos and Right Wing Watch. Apparently they like it when the NY Times celebrates Ozzie and Harriet no longer being a national archetype, but they are upset when I express a contrary view. Why do they hate Ozzie and Harriet so much? Draw your own conclusions. I say that they despite [sic] the mere concept of a national archetype that extols traditional American values.

The fact is that “Ozzie and Harriet” is a myth. America never really was like that. And it certainly is not now.

But it’s the height of intolerance and oppression to complain that America is no longer like it was 60 or 70 years ago, and try to force people back into that mold.

By the way Schlafly’s home-schooling activist son Andrew is the founder of the virulently homophobic Conservapedia.

Hat-tip: Think Progress

Rocket, weather look good on eve of new space era

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:09:42 +0000

NASA hasn’t seen this much prelaunch jitters since the space shuttle program ended last summer.

US forecasters say heat will stay on this summer

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:09:34 +0000

And the heat goes on. Forecasters predict toasty temperatures will stretch through the summer in the U.S. And that’s a bad sign for wildfires in the West.

Japan launches rocket with first foreign satellite

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:09:27 +0000

A rocket has lifted off in Japan in the country’s first commercial launch of a foreign satellite — one from South Korea designed to monitor the environment.

Facebook investors left guessing after Nasdaq glitch

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:09:12 +0000

(Reuters) – Individual investors were left guessing for more than two hours on Friday about whether their buy and sell orders for newly issued Facebook shares were actually executed. Exchange operator Nasdaq OMX Group had problems sending electronic messages back to the brokerages that handle orders from individual, or “retail,” investors orders, said sources with direct knowledge of the situation. Because the acknowledgements didn’t come back from the exchange, the brokers were unable to tell their clients that trades had been executed. …

Facebook’s IPO averts questions over "odd lots"

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:09:08 +0000

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Facebook Inc’s modest debut on Friday may have averted a potential headache for the company and regulators, and kept at bay a debate over the role of “odd lots” in the marketplace. Shares of Facebook traded as high as $45.00, near the price of $50 that would keep many retail investors from placing a typical “round lot” order of 100 shares, because the total cost will be $50,000 – considered a threshold for many investors. An order for less than 100 shares is called an odd lot. …

Ultra-Orthodox plan huge NYC meeting on Net risks

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:09:03 +0000

Ultra-Orthodox Jews who believe that the Internet threatens their way of life have rented the New York Mets’ stadium for an unprecedented gathering on how to use modern technology in a religiously appropriate way.

Facebook stock climbs in public debut

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:08:56 +0000

Facebook updated its status to “public company” on Friday.

APNewsBreak: Loretta Lynn married at 15, not 13

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:08:35 +0000

Chelsea want to win the final for Di Matteo, says Lampard

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:08:20 +0000

MUNICH (Reuters) – Roberto Di Matteo has been faultless in his three months as temporary coach of Chelsea and the players will go all out to give him the Champions League trophy his efforts deserve, midfielder Frank Lampard said on Friday. Di Matteo took over when an underachieving Andre Villas-Boas was sacked in March and has sparked a remarkable turnaround, winning the FA Cup and guiding the team into Saturday’s Champions League final against Bayern Munich. …

Drogba denies Barcelona move

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:08:13 +0000

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba denied reports linking him with Barcelona on Friday as he prepared for the Champions League final showdown with Bayern Munich.

Key witness in Clemens trial says mixed evidence

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:08:01 +0000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The key witness in ex-baseball pitching ace Roger Clemens’ perjury trial testified on Friday that evidence he turned over to federal authorities that allegedly showed Clemens had used performance-enhancing drugs also included items used by other players. With the defense questioning the credibility of the evidence, Brian McNamee, Clemens’ former trainer, appeared to back away from his courtroom statements in more than 20 hours of testimony at U.S. District Court that the waste came only from drug use by Clemens, one of baseball’s greatest pitchers. …

Hollande sticks to Afghan pledge in Obama talks

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:07:50 +0000

France’s President Francois Hollande used his White House debut Friday to restate his intention to get French combat troops home from Afghanistan this year — breaking with NATO’s 2014 schedule.

Sri Lanka’s jailed ex-army chief closer to freedom

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:07:43 +0000

A Sri Lankan court granted jailed ex-army chief Sarath Fonseka bail on Friday, paving the way for the implementation of a presidential pardon.

Chinese embassy in US cold-shoulders Tiananmen leader

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:07:36 +0000

One of the leaders of the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989 went to the Chinese embassy in Washington on Friday in a bid to return home, only to find no one inside wanted to see him.

Malawi president urges repeal of gay ban

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:07:26 +0000

Malawi’s new President Joyce Banda urged parliament on Friday to repeal the country’s ban on homosexuality along with unpopular laws that allow newspaper bans and warrantless arrests.

Lawyer doubts Libya ‘able or willing’ to try Kadhafi son

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:07:19 +0000

A lawyer for Moamer Kadhafi’s son Seif al-Islam said Friday he doubted Libya was able or willing to try his client, as he asked the International Criminal Court to report the matter to the UN.

Nigeria, Senegal, Burkina Faso troops head to G.Bissau

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:07:10 +0000

A military force being deployed to stabilise Guinea-Bissau after an April 12 coup will be drawn from Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Senegal, the west African bloc ECOWAS said on Friday.

UN envoy calls off W. Sahara trip amid Morocco dispute

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:07:03 +0000

UN envoy on Western Sahara Christopher Ross has called off plans to carry out his first official trip to the disputed territory, the UN said Friday after Morocco launched a strong attack on him.

Somali fishermen beg end to anti-piracy air strikes

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:06:56 +0000

Somali fisherman pleaded Friday for international navies protecting shipping to halt air strikes on coastal villages, after the EU Naval Force struck a pirate base for the first time.

Northern Irish police charge three men over militant attacks

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:06:48 +0000

BELFAST (Reuters) – Three Irish nationalists were charged in Northern Ireland on Friday for involvement in “terrorist acts” including conspiracy to murder and cause explosions, police said following a high-profile investigation. The men were arrested in security operations in the town of Lurgan near Belfast on Monday and according to security sources are suspected of being “high-profile” members of dissident group the Real IRA. The group is one of several opposed to a 1998 peace deal that have waged a campaign of bombings and shootings in recent years aimed mainly at security forces. …

Ton-up Strauss gives England edge over Windies

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:06:42 +0000

England captain Andrew Strauss ended his 18-month wait for a Test century as he led his side into a first innings lead on the second day against the West Indies at Lord’s on Friday.

Ban has no proof of Al-Qaeda role in Syria: spokesman

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:06:33 +0000

UN leader Ban Ki-moon has no “hard” proof that Al-Qaeda was behind bomb attacks in Syria but is very concerned that terrorist groups are taking advantage of strife in the country, his spokesman said Friday.

Bahrain protesters decry unity plans with Saudis

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:06:26 +0000

Tens of thousands of protesters chanting “Bahrain is not for sale” jammed a major highway Friday to denounce proposals for closer unity between the unrest-torn Gulf kingdom and neighboring Saudi Arabia.

Iran diplomacy gathers pace with surprise IAEA visit

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:06:19 +0000

The head of the UN atomic agency will visit Iran Monday, the IAEA said in a surprise announcement that raised hopes of a deal on closer cooperation just days ahead of major talks with world powers.

Romney, GOP guvs have differing takes on economy

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:06:07 +0000

In Virginia, Gov. Bob McDonnell runs TV ads hailing the state’s business growth. Ohio Gov. John Kasich tells anyone who will listen that 100,000 jobs have been created or retained on his watch. And Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder promotes a state budget that’s on solid ground for the first time in a decade.

New Ted Says Video! Leave Britney Spears and Demi Lovato Alone!

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:05:55 +0000

The shade! The shade of it all!

After Britney Spears and Demi Lovato made their splashy N.Y. appearance as official judges on The X Factor (which we first told you here on E!), tongues…

Teen Mom’s Amber Portwood out of Jail: "I’ve Got a Lot on My Plate"

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:05:42 +0000

Amber Portwood’s out of the slammer.

The Teen Mom star told E! News Thursday she’d been released from jail. (She was placed back behind bars last week after violating the terms…

Jennifer Lopez Quitting Idol: "I Don’t Think That’s True," Says Nigel Lythgoe—but Does He Have Backup Plan?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:05:37 +0000

Is Jennifer Lopez really leaving American Idol?

That’s the question on everyone’s mind heading into next week’s season 11 grand finale, which could very well be Lopez’s…

Van Halen Postpones Summer Tour—Is the Band Feuding Again?!

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:05:32 +0000

Will Van Halen finish what they started?

The reunited rockers have postponed more than 30 dates of their upcoming summer tour with frontman David Lee Roth in support of A Different Kind…

So You Think You Can Dance Shocker: Season Nine to Have Two Winners!

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:05:27 +0000

So You Think You Can Dance is shaking things up in season nine!

We chatted with executive producer Nigel Lythgoe on the red carpet at the Fox upfront presentation in New York City, where…

Miley Cyrus Thanks Critics For Thinking She’s Sexy

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:47:41 +0000

I have to check out this Lifetime show, ‘The Conversation with Amanda de Cadenet’- a lot of people are giving interviews there! Miley Cyrus sat down for an interview with Amanda, and here’s what she had to say about critics who criticize her for being a sex symbol.

“If people find that [I am], I take it as a compliment. Thank you for thinking I’m sexy! People are so scared of seeing a woman being like, ‘This is who I am and you’re not going to change it.’”

Miley meant what she sang in her song ‘Can’t Be Tamed,’ which she released in her last year of playing the squeaky-clean Hannah Montana on Disney.

“Even just the title of that, for a woman to say she can’t be tamed. . . for a woman in the world with my face saying ‘I can’t be tamed’ when that’s really all people wanted to do, I think proves how sexist people still really are.”

Miley has a point, although I also think people were responding to the fact that her fan base consisted of a lot of kids! It’s tough to make the transition from child to adult star, but child actors have to do it if they want their careers to continue. Miley made her transition by embracing an “adult” image, but yeah, that led to some backlash.

Visit the Gallery (8 Images)

USA Network bets big on comedy

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:47:34 +0000

USA Network, which has found ratings success with its quirky dramas such as White Collar, Necessary Roughness and Burn Notice, is making an aggressive push into comedy.

Sean Penn Blames The ‘Whole F’n World’ For Abandoning Haiti

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:47:21 +0000

Sean Penn has blasted his peers and the global media for turning their back on Haiti at a glitzy Cannes Film Festival gala. The Oscar winner was among the guests of honor at the black-tie Haiti: …

Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears Defends Donna Summer’s Legacy

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:47:16 +0000

Jake Shears has urged the world to pay its respects to disco queen Donna Summer, insisting controversial comments she allegedly made about homosexuals should not overshadow her contribution to musi…

Kate Moss Is Still Sexy In A Black Silk Blouse, Bikini Bottoms

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:47:11 +0000

Kate Moss shows off her sexy self in the June issue of Harper’s Bazaar. The model wears bikini bottoms and a Salvatore Ferragamo 38 blouse designed by creative director Massimiliano Giornetti.

Elisabeth Braw: Russian Opposition Leader Alexey Navalny: "Putin Won’t Last for Another Six Years’

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:46:58 +0000

The task Alexey Navalny has set himself, exposing corruption in Russia, seems too big for one person. But Russians are sick of corruption — and this could topple Putin, Navalny says.
Read More…
More on Vladimir Putin

Wedding Disaster: Drunken Guest Takes Off His Pants And Gets Arrested

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:46:45 +0000

You might want to reconsider that open bar at your wedding reception — because you could end up with a belligerent, pants-less wedding guest on your hands.

That was the case for a pair of UK newlyweds, who ended up calling the local police when the brother of the bride, 20-year-old Jason Ellis Brealey, became disorderly at their April 29 wedding.

According to the Buxton Advertiser, police arrived at the reception to find an intoxicated Brealey on a table — without his pants — being restrained by another guest. The local paper reports that Brealey was “verbally abusive, shouting and swearing” and that he “wouldn’t calm down,” despite the fact that young children were present at the reception.

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Peter Brown Hoffmeister: The Art of the Hand-Sell, Part I

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:46:36 +0000

As long as bookstores exist, people will keep buying books because the person next to them puts it in their hands. Literally.
Read More…
More on Amazon

Peru Prison: From Pot Smoke To Pottery Class

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:46:26 +0000

LIMA, Peru — Salsa blares from the cells and the pungent smell of cannabis smoke hangs in the air.

In the crowded, dingy corridors, prisoners cook lunch on tiny electric stoves, play cards and shoot the breeze. Tattooed, shirtless men hurry by, barely stopping as they exchange greetings.

‘Dancing With The Stars’: William Levy Will Win, Predicts Carrie Ann Inaba (VIDEO)

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:46:09 +0000

There are only three contestants left on “Dancing With The Stars“: William Levy, a Cuban-American actor and model, Donald Driver, a wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers, and Katherine Jenkins, a Welsh opera singer.

“DWTS” judge Carrie Ann Inaba sat down for an interview with “Good Morning America” (weekdays, 7 a.m. ET on ABC) host Lara Spencer, and gave her prediction of who will win Season 14′s Mirror Ball Trophy … sort of.

“Well just judging on how the audience reacts when William Levy walks into the room, I’ve seen nothing like it in seasons past,” Inaba said. “I think he’s got a great shot because I think those fans are in love, love, love with him.”

Regina Weinreich: Bono Rocks the Apollo

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:46:03 +0000

Bono was simply one of many headliners in “A Great Night in Harlem,” orchestrated by SNL‘s Hal Willner.
Read More…

Madonna’s ‘MDNA’ Failure: William Orbit Reveals How He Wishes Album Would Have Fared On Facebook

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:44:53 +0000

Hopes that Madonna would re-claim her pop crown from Lady Gaga with “MDNA” were dashed when the album plunged on the charts shortly after its March release — a victim of weak single choices and, some say, a lack of promotion on the Material Girl’s part.

Now one high-profile producer is opening up about the experience on Facebook, saying he wishes “MDNA” would’ve turned out differently and blaming the album’s failure on rush marketing and timing.

“[Madonna] was on form and better than ever with her singing and writing and musicality, and was having a great time,” writes William Orbit, who previously collaborated with the pop star on her 1998 album “Ray of Light,” which won four Grammy awards. “We had songs lined up that were breathtaking.”

Read More…
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Ben Rawlence: The Ethiopian Engima

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:44:47 +0000

The G-8 Summit invitation to Meles Zenawi demonstrates that whatever the Obama administration has learned from the Arab Spring, it doesn’t apply to Africa. It should. Cosseting autocratic regimes rarely ends well for anybody.
Read More…

Taste Test: The Best Store-Bought French Roast Coffee

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:44:35 +0000

The Folgers jingle didn’t lie, coffee really “is the best part of waking up.” But is Folgers the best coffee to wake up to?

Read More…
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Christopher Atamian: In Memoriam: Aris Sevag — Making a Great City Greater

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:44:27 +0000

Over the years, Aris Sevag was the most humble of voices as he penned numerous articles, translations, commentaries and essays — many devoted specifically to the lives of Armenian-Americans.
Read More…
More on Immigrants

Linda DeMarco: No More Alphabet Soup

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:44:17 +0000

We have realized that employing the alphabet soup can be disempowering, as it excludes many people whose sense of identity is fluid. We want everyone to feel as if they are part of our community, not as if they do not count because “their letter” is not there.
Read More…
More on LGBT

Netflix Users Returning, Subscriptions Rebounding As Customers Forgive ‘Qwikster’ Debacle

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:44:06 +0000

Is the rebound from the Qwikster debacle going qwikly for Netflix?

Based on two new pieces of Netflix news, it appears that all of the customers that Reed Hastings and company had angered are starting to forgive the company for its infamous price hike in July 2011 and aborted Qwikster launch in October.

First, we have a customer satisfaction survey from customer analytics firm ForeSee, which found that Netflix’s satisfaction levels are creeping up from lows the company experienced in 2011. Considering that ForeSee measured Netflix as the “biggest loser in customer satisfaction” of all online retailers in 2011, the company’s gains, however modest, have to be taken as good news.

Shira Hirschman Weiss: Feminism: All Grown Up, But What Have We Gained?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:44:01 +0000

The women in my neighborhood always seemed to be complaining of some injustice or another and I wanted them to stop. “Why bring attention to yourself like this?” I remember thinking at age 10.
Read More…

Divorce Sale: Woman Holds ‘X-Husband Sale,’ Spray Paints His Truck (PHOTOS)

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:43:51 +0000

Talk about airing your dirty laundry.

A Superior, WI woman caused a traffic jam earlier this week by holding an “X-husband” sale in her front yard, the Superior Telegram reported Wednesday. She placed signs reading “X-HUSBAND SALE” and “FREE” in front of her house accompanied by piles of her ex’s belongings.

But what really stopped cars was the GMC Yukon SUV parked out front, its tires flat and its once-green exterior marred with the word “cheater” and various obscenities in bright-colored spray paint.

Colin Delany: Winning in 2012: How to Mobilize Donors, Voters and Volunteers with Online Tools

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:43:44 +0000

But to get someone to act, first you almost always have to ask — and their answer determines whether or not you’ve succeeded. Therein lies the complexity — how, when and what do we ask of people to help them realize their true political potential?
Read More…

Teen Choice Awards 2012: Nominations Revealed!

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:43:27 +0000

The 2012 Teen Choice Awards will, once again, arbitrarily celebrate the hottest teen icons in television, music, film, sports, fashion, comedy and the web!

In a star-studded event Sunday, July 22, the hottest of the hot will be feted.

The Vampire Diaries leads the way with six nominations, with American Idol and Justin Bieber garnering five nominations a piece. Not shabby totals.

Starting today, fans ages 13-19 can vote once each day per category for their favorite nominees at the official Teen Choice Awards website. Go to it!

Host(s), performers, presenters and more nominees will be announced soon, but expect a who’s-who of entertainment and celebrity gossip staples.

New categories added this year include Choice Book, most likely because of The Hunger Games, and Choice Electronic Dance Music (EDM) Artist.

Read the full list of Teen Choice Awards nominees after the jump:

MOVIES

Choice Movie: Action
“Abduction”
“Act of Valor”
“Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol”
“Red Tails”
“Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows”

Choice Movie Actor: Action
Tom Cruise, “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol”
Robert Downey, Jr., “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows”
Tom Hardy, “Warrior”
Taylor Lautner, “Abduction”
Logan Lerman, “The Three Musketeers”

Choice Movie Actress: Action
Salma Hayek, “Puss in Boots”
Milla Jovovich, “The Three Musketeers”
Paula Patton, “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol”
Noomi Rapace, “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows”
Zoe Saldana, “Colombiana”

Choice Movie: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
“The Avengers”
“The Hunger Games”
“Mirror Mirror”
“The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1”
“Wrath of the Titans”

Choice Movie Actor: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Robert Downey, Jr., “The Avengers”
Chris Hemsworth, “The Avengers”
Josh Hutcherson, “The Hunger Games” and “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island”
Taylor Lautner, “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1”
Robert Pattinson, “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1”

Choice Movie Actress: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Lily Collins, “Mirror Mirror”
Vanessa Hudgens, “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island”
Scarlett Johansson, “The Avengers”
Jennifer Lawrence, “The Hunger Games”
Kristen Stewart, “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1”

Choice Movie: Drama
“Drive”
“The Help”
“The Lucky One”
“The Vow”
“We Bought a Zoo”

Choice Movie Actor: Drama
Matt Damon, “We Bought a Zoo”
Zac Efron, “The Lucky One”
Ryan Gosling, “Drive”
Channing Tatum, “The Vow”
Justin Timberlake, “In Time”

Choice Movie Actress: Drama
Sandra Bullock, “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”
Viola Davis, “The Help”
Scarlett Johansson, “We Bought a Zoo”
Rachel McAdams, “The Vow”
Emma Stone, “The Help”

Choice Movie: Comedy
“21 Jump Street”
“American Reunion”
“Crazy, Stupid, Love.”
“The Muppets”
“What to Expect When You’re Expecting”

Choice Movie Actor: Comedy
Jason Biggs, “American Reunion”
Ryan Gosling, “Crazy, Stupid, Love.”
Jonah Hill, “21 Jump Street”
Chris Rock, “What to Expect When You’re Expecting”
Channing Tatum, “21 Jump Street”

Choice Movie Actress: Comedy
Cameron Diaz, “What to Expect When You’re Expecting”
Alyson Hannigan, “American Reunion”
Jennifer Lopez, “What to Expect When You’re Expecting”
Emma Stone, “Crazy, Stupid, Love.”
Reese Witherspoon, “This Means War”

TELEVISION

Choice TV Show: Drama
BONES
“Gossip Girl”
“Pretty Little Liars”
“Revenge”
TOUCH

Choice TV Actor: Drama
Penn Badgley, “Gossip Girl”
David Boreanaz, BONES
Ian Harding, “Pretty Little Liars”
Kiefer Sutherland, TOUCH
Ed Westwick, “Gossip Girl

Choice TV Actress: Drama
Emily Deschanel, BONES
Sarah Michelle Gellar, “Ringer”
Lucy Hale, “Pretty Little Liars”
Leighton Meester, “Gossip Girl”
Emily VanCamp, “Revenge”

Choice TV Show: Fantasy/Sci-Fi
FRINGE
“Once Upon a Time”
“Supernatural”
“True Blood”
“The Vampire Diaries”

Choice TV Actor: Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Jensen Ackles, “Supernatural”
Joshua Jackson, FRINGE
Jared Padalecki, “Supernatural”
Ian Somerhalder, “The Vampire Diaries”
Paul Wesley, “The Vampire Diaries”

Choice TV Actress: Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Nina Dobrev, “The Vampire Diaries”
Ginnifer Goodwin, “Once Upon a Time”
Kat Graham, “The Vampire Diaries”
Anna Paquin, “True Blood”
Anna Torv, FRINGE

Choice TV Show: Action
“Chuck”
“CSI: Miami”
“Hawaii Five-O”
“NCIS: Los Angeles”
“Nikita”

Choice TV Actor: Action
LL Cool J, “NCIS: Los Angeles”
Daniel Dae Kim, “Hawaii Five-O”
Zachary Levi, “Chuck”
Adam Rodriguez, “CSI: Miami”
Shane West, “Nikita”

Choice TV Actress: Action
Lyndsy Fonseca, “Nikita”
Linda Hunt, “NCIS: Los Angeles”
Grace Park, “Hawaii Five-O”
Maggie Q, “Nikita”
Yvonne Strahovski, “Chuck”

Choice TV Show: Comedy
“2 Broke Girls”
“The Big Bang Theory”
GLEE
“Modern Family”
NEW GIRL

Choice TV Actor: Comedy
Ty Burrell, “Modern Family”
Chris Colfer, GLEE
Neil Patrick Harris, “How I Met Your Mother”
Ashton Kutcher, “Two And a Half Men”
Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory”

Choice TV Actress: Comedy
Miranda Cosgrove, “iCarly”
Kaley Cuoco, “The Big Bang Theory”
Zooey Deschanel, NEW GIRL
Lea Michele, GLEE
Sofia Vergara, “Modern Family”

Choice TV: Animated Show
“Beavis and Butt-head”
BOB’S BURGERS
FAMILY GUY
“Robot Chicken”
THE SIMPSONS

Choice TV: Male Personality
Nick Cannon, “America’s Got Talent”
Simon Cowell, THE X FACTOR
Cee Lo Green, “The Voice”
Gordon Ramsay, HELL’S KITCHEN
Steven Tyler, AMERICAN IDOL

Choice TV: Female Personality
Christina Aguilera, “The Voice”
Tyra Banks, “America’s Next Top Model”
Carrie Ann Inaba, “Dancing With The Stars”
Jennifer Lopez, AMERICAN IDOL
Jessica Simpson, “Fashion Star”

Choice TV: Reality Competition Show
AMERICAN IDOL
“America’s Next Top Model”
“Survivor: One World”
“The Voice”
THE X FACTOR

Choice TV: Reality Show
“Dance Moms”
“Jersey Shore”
“Keeping Up With The Kardashians”
“Punk’d”
“Tia & Tamera”

Choice TV: Male Reality Star
Paul “DJ Pauly D” DelVecchio, “Jersey Shore” and “The Pauly D Project”
Rob Dyrdek, “Fantasy Factory” and “Ridiculousness”
William Levy, “Dancing With The Stars”
Scotty McCreery, AMERICAN IDOL
Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, “Jersey Shore”

Choice TV: Female Reality Star
Lauren Alaina, AMERICAN IDOL
Melanie Amaro, THE X FACTOR
The Kardashians, “Keeping Up With The Kardashians”
Tia & Tamera Mowry, “Tia & Tamera”
Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, “Jersey Shore”

MUSIC

Choice Male Artist
Justin Bieber
Drake
Bruno Mars
Pitbull
Blake Shelton

Choice Female Artist
Adele
Jennifer Lopez
Katy Perry
Rihanna
Taylor Swift

Choice Music Group
Selena Gomez & The Scene
Gym Class Heroes
Lady Antebellum
LMFAO
The Wanted

Choice R&B/Hip-Hop Artist
Beyonce
Flo Rida
Nicki Minaj
Pitbull
Kanye West

Choice Rock Group
The Black Keys
Foo Fighters
Foster The People
fun.
Linkin Park

Choice Rock Song
“Lonely Boy,” The Black Keys
“Paradise,” Coldplay
“Pumped Up Kicks,” Foster The People
“We Are Young,” fun. featuring Janelle Monáe
“Somebody That I Used To Know,” Gotye featuring Kimbra

Choice Electronic Dance Music (EDM) Artist
DeadMau5
David Guetta
Calvin Harris
Kaskade
Skrillex

Choice Single by a Group
“We Are Young,” fun. featuring Janelle Monáe
“Hit The Lights,” Selena Gomez & The Scene
“Ass Back Home,” Gym Class Heroes featuring Neon Hitch
“Party Rock Anthem,” LMFAO featuring Lauren Bennett & GoonRock
“Moves Like Jagger,” Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera

Choice Single by a Female Artist
“Set Fire to the Rain,” Adele
“Stronger,” Kelly Clarkson
“Dance Again,” Jennifer Lopez featuring Pitbull
“Part of Me,” Katy Perry
“Eyes Open,” Taylor Swift

Choice Single by a Male Artist
“Boyfriend,” Justin Bieber
“Take Care,” Drake featuring Rihanna
“Good Feeling,” Flo Rida
“It Will Rain,” Bruno Mars
“Give Me Everything (Tonight),” Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo, AfroJack & Nayer

Choice Male Country Artist
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Hunter Hayes
Scotty McCreery
Blake Shelton

Choice Female Country Artist
Lauren Alaina
Miranda Lambert
Kellie Pickler
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

Choice R&B/Hip-Hop Song
“Love on Top,” Beyonce
“Take Care,” Drake featuring Rihanna
“Wild Ones,” Flo Rida featuring Sia
“Without You,” David Guetta featuring Usher
“Starships,” Nicki Minaj

Choice Country Song
“Tattoos on This Town,” Jason Aldean
“Crazy Girl,” Eli Young Band
“Storm Warning,” Hunter Hayes
“God Gave Me You,” Blake Shelton
“Sparks Fly,” Taylor Swift

Choice Country Group
The Band Perry
Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum
Rascal Flatts
Thompson Square

FASHION

Choice Fashion Icon: Female
Miley Cyrus
Zooey Deschanel
Jennifer Lopez
Nicki Minaj
Katy Perry

Choice Fashion Icon: Male
Justin Bieber
Chris Colfer
Cee Lo Green
Justin Timberlake
will.i.am

Choice Female Hottie
Miley Cyrus
Selena Gomez
Katy Perry
Rihanna
Kate Upton

Choice Male Hottie
Justin Bieber
Ryan Gosling
Liam Hemsworth
Robert Pattinson
Ian Somerhalder

SPORTS

Choice Female Athlete
Kelly Clark (Snowboarding)
Maria Sharapova (Tennis)
Hope Solo (Soccer)
Lindsey Vonn (Skiing)
Serena Williams (Tennis)

Choice Male Athlete
David Beckham (Soccer)
Kobe Bryant (Basketball)
Albert Pujols (Baseball)
Tim Tebow (Football)
Shaun White (Snowboarding/Skateboarding/Surfing)

OTHER

Choice Book
“The Hunger Games” trilogy, Suzanne Collins
“The Giver,” Lois Lowry
“The Twilight Saga,” Stephenie Meyer
“Divergent” trilogy, Veronica Roth
“The Lucky One,” Nicholas Sparks

Choice Comedian
Ellen DeGeneres
Jimmy Fallon
Andy Samberg
Daniel Tosh
Kristen Wiig

Choice Twit
Justin Bieber
Miley Cyrus
Jimmy Fallon
Demi Lovato
Ryan Seacrest

Miley Cyrus to Sexist Clothing Critics: Thank You!

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:43:21 +0000

Miley Cyrus isn’t one to dress conservatively, and, for that, the singer isn’t about to apologize. Quite the opposite, in fact.

During an interview on Lifetime’s The Conversation With Amanda de Cadenet,” when asked about her the reception she’s received in the past for provocative attire, Miley said:

“I take it as a compliment. Thank you for thinking I’m sexy!”

Cyrus adds that she was shocked by the backlash when she started donning skimpier outfits, highlighted by outrage over a Vanity Fair photo shoot in 2008.

“People are so scared of seeing a woman being like, ‘This is who I am and you’re not going to change it,’” she said.

That attitude also led to the release of “Can’t Be Tamed” and its accompanying, R-rated music video.

“Even just the title of that, for a woman to say she can’t be tamed… for a woman in the world with my face saying ‘I can’t be tamed’ when that’s really all people wanted to do, I think proves how sexist people still really are,” she believes.

That’s certainly an interesting take. Miley, meanwhile, has found herself the talk of the gossip world again this week: Do you think she’s too thin?

Trayvon Martin Surveillance Video: 7-Eleven Cameras Show Teen Just Before Shooting

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:43:15 +0000

Surveillance video of some of Florida teen Trayvon Martin’s final moments before being fatally shot by George Zimmerman have just surfaced online.

In his infamous hoodie, Martin can be seen in a video released by 7-Eleven, where he purchased Skittles and an iced tea before walking home Feb. 26.

He was shot by Zimmerman after an altercation on his way back to the home of his father’s fiancé, where he was staying, triggering a media firestorm.

Trayvon Martin Surveillance Video Footage at 7-Eleven

The video below doesn’t change anything about the controversial case, as the shooting – which Zimmerman claims was self-defense – is obviously not shown.

Zimmerman has been charged with second-degree murder but remains free on bail. Martin’s family yesterday criticized a series of leaks in the case.

Without video of the altercation itself, it remains to be seen who instigated what, and if the charge against the assailant will stand up in court.

The Mob Wives’ Funniest Quotes Of The Season

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:42:51 +0000

All season long, the Mob Wives cast has upped the ante for reality show drama, emotion, and yes, hilarity. These women are fast on their feet and they come up with some of the greatest one-liners (and the occasional monologue) on TV, and we’ve been spending the season trying to capture them with our recaps and screengrabs. Here are our favorites.

Part one of the Mob Wives reunion special airs this Sunday at 8 p.m ET/PT.

Sex, Lies & Uncles On Mob Wives Reunion

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:42:42 +0000

Find out who’s being real and who was cheating on who in this sneak peek of Sunday’s Mob Wives Reunions Special.

Top 20: Can Nicki Kiss Her Way To #1?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:42:38 +0000

See this week’s Top 20 Countdown nominees including Nicki Minaj’s collab with Chris Brown, “Right By My Side.”

Jack White Vows To Break New Guinness World Record For…

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:42:31 +0000

…. Most metaphors in a single concert!!!

Jack White has made a VERY serious vow. LOL!

The musician really wants his name in the record books. So, he has vowed that he will:

“Every night on stage attempt to break the world record for most metaphors in a single concert.”

Jack’s supportive (and humorous) record label said:

The attempt may prove very exhausting and at times even dangerous, but the results could prove to be glorious and possibly even vainglorious. We are certain that the extremely scientific and intricate analysis of the metaphors that occur will be examined in accordance with Guinness’ usually very thorough methods probably, or at the very least if somebody answers the phone at the pub.

Third Man Records encourages all attendees of said concerts to please not interfere or interject with any metaphors that they witness occur during the show as to not disqualify or worse yet, trivialize the metaphor in question. In addition all concert attendees are encouraged to entice as many metaphors to occur during the show that they possibly can as long as they don’t endanger themselves or Mr. White.

HA!

Clearly this is a joke.

Besides, there is no way in HELL Jack, or anyone, could sing more metaphors than Bob Dylan!!

[Image via WENN.]

Grey’s Anatomy Kills Off A Major Character!

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:42:28 +0000

It’s not exactly the first time (rest in peace, 007), but somehow Shonda Rhimes manages to shock us every time a catastrophe swallows the lives of Seattle Grace.

On the Grey’s Anatomy season finale Thursday night, the doctors struggled to save their lives after enduring a CRAZY plane crash!

We knew one of the major characters was getting the ax from earlier Shondastic interviews. But we didn’t full grasp it ’til we actually saw the DEPRESSING death happen right in front of us (on tv).

Wanna know who met the reaper?? We’ll tell you …AFTER THE JUMP!

LEXIE GREY!!! AHHHHH!!!! WTF!!!!!

Okay. We kinda guessed this based on storylines but still… shocking!!

And of course it just had to happen after McSteamy promised a life full of love and babies!! AHH!!

In case U missed it, catch the gruesome first six minutes with us (above)!!

Mark Zuckerberg Rings NASDAQ Bell! And Gets Paid $20 Billion!

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:42:21 +0000

Uhh… Where can we sign up for this job??

Facebook finally went public today and we have video (above) of the countdown and CEO Mark Zuckerberg ringing in ~~the New Year~~ more money than most people can possibly fathom.

Sadly, NASDAQ provides no literal bell to be rung but ~~Jessie Eisenberg~~ Zuck partook in a figurative opening of the floodgates for what will undoubtedly be an unprecedented trading frenzy.

Not everyone is laughing all the way to the bank, though.

Many “average Joes” are pissed because there’s only an infinitesimal chance of them actually procuring these shares for cheap before the big kahunas scoop them all up!

But something tells us that, after the dust settles on the largest IPO in history, Zuck will sleep like an extremely wealthy baby tonight.

He already knows, you don’t get $20 billion ~~friends~~ dollars without making a few enemies!

[Video via CBS.]

Piers Morgan Tonight Gets Lowest Ratings In 15 Years For CNN!

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:42:12 +0000

Piers Morgan Tonight is not doing so hot these days on CNN and the ratings are continuing to plummet.

In fact, the talk show has garnered the worst ratings for the news network in 15 years during the 9pm time slot!

Last Tuesday, Piers Morgan was only able to draw 39,000 viewers in the adults 25-54 demo, which is the least amount of viewers since (at least) March, 1997.

What’s the deal?

Maybe karma is kicking him for constantly bashing Madonna for no reason.

He should get on bended knee and apologize before it’s too late! LOL!

[Image via WENN.]

Chris Hemsworth Talks S&M Phenomenon Fifty Shades Of Grey!!

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:42:05 +0000

ATTN WORLD: CHRIS HEMSWORTH IS TALKING FIFTY SHADES OF GREY! ATTENTION PLEASE!!!

The hunky new father is about to blow our minds in Snow White and the Hunstman, but he recently talked about the S&M sensation Fifty Shades. And needless to say, we’re VERRY intrigued!!

When it comes to his interest in Christian Grey’s sexcapades, he says:

We were in an [Avengers] interview and someone said to Chris Evans, ‘We heard you’re attached and you’re going to play (Grey)’ and he said, ‘Ah, no someone mentioned it to me.’ I was like, ‘What is it? I dunno, maybe I’m interested!’ I’ve heard it’s some sexual, romantic, trashy — I’m not going to say anything because I haven’t read the book. I keep kind of getting in trouble for even entering into a conversation about it!

We obviously want Alexander Skarsgard or Ian Somerhalder to score the scandalous role, but if Chris were to be chosen, well… let’s just say our world wouldn’t exactly be ruined, ha!

As for the role he DID land in Charlize Theron‘s Snow White, he says:

I enjoyed the transition, I kind of liked the room for error you have sort of with the drunk and mess…he’s allowed to be un-liked. There is a sort of risky element, but good! I like the idea of then having to win the audience back or the character back and it’s more fun. It’s not confined to one thing.

Welp!

Come June 1, we know we’ll be confined to the Arclight when we go to see it, that’s for sure!!

[Image via WENN.]

Dad Who Sewed Son’s Butt Shut Takes Plea Deal

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:37:43 +0000

A Waukegan, Ill., man avoided prison time for a January 2008 do-it-yourself surgical procedure in which he sewed together part of his son’s buttocks, the Lake-County News Sun reported.

Randy Swopes, 52, took a plea deal that offered him two years of probation and 250 hours of public service.

Swopes’ son has Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disorder where the body’s immune system attacks the gastrointestinal tract.

At the time of the incident, Swopes’ son, who was 14 at the time, suffered a complication of the disease called fistula. Fistula, which affects an estimated 25 percent of people who have Crohn’s, is an abnormal connection of two organs. In the teenage boy’s case, there may have been an abnormal connection between the anal canal and anal skin.

Depending on the severity, proper treatment of a fistula may involve a combination of taking antibiotics and draining the abscess, according to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.

Rather than take his son to the hospital, Swopes chose to sew the buttocks area shut himself, Assistant State Attorney Danielle Pascucci told the Lake-County News Sun. The teenager spent nearly a month in the hospital because the wound became infected, she said.

Swopes, who was charged with aggravated battery, could have spent at least two years in jail for the incident before agreeing to the plea deal.

Attempts by ABC News to reach Swopes for comment were unsuccessful.

Men, Meat and Masculinity Linked

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:37:38 +0000

Image credit: Getty Images

Is there any summer activity manlier than slapping a thick steak on the grill and chowing down? According to a new study, nope.

The report published in the Journal of Consumer Research found that people associate meat with masculinity, a fact that may make healthier, vegetable-heavy diets seem wimpy and unappealing.

“To the strong, traditional, macho, bicep-flexing, All-American male, red meat is a strong, traditional, macho, bicep-flexing, all-American food,” the authors wrote. “Soy is not. To eat it, they would have to give up a food they saw as strong and powerful like themselves for a food they saw as weak and wimpy.”

Researchers conducted a series of studies testing metaphors associated with food. They found that people from Western cultures typically link manliness with meat, especially meatier muscle like steak. They also found that people associated meat with more masculine words and that meat-eaters are considered manlier than those who steer clear of or don’t dine on swine or cattle.

Interestingly, the researchers found that meat was associated with the male gender in 23 languages that assign gender to certain words.

Maybe the association comes from thoughts of strength and power in the muscle that meat comes from, the researchers speculated,or maybe it comes from thoughts of macho activities like hunting. Whatever the case, the study suggested that men seem to feel uneasy about picking a portobello mushroom over a pork chop.

The health risks associated with meat-heavy diets are becoming increasingly evident. One study found that eating a single serving of red meat every day was linked to an increased risk of early death.

Dr. Ulka Agarwal, chief medical officer for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a non-profit group that promotes preventive medicine, animal rights and plant-based diets, said the “meat is macho, veggies are lame” mindset is really an outdated way of thinking about eating.

“The face of plant-based diets is changing as they become more mainstream,” Agarwal said. “It’s not just hippies, but also professional athletes who are following plant-based diets now.”

PCRM is already working on promoting the pros of plant-eating to men. The group that was behind controversial billboards in Chicago proclaiming that “hot dogs cause butt cancer” now promotes a program featuring masculine celebrities such as NBA players, firefighters and ultramarathoners discussing the benefits of eating a plant-based diet and how it helps them perform.

Agarwal said an easy way to start on a plant-based diet is to avoid eating meat for one day a week.

“Easing people into these changes can really help them develop a taste for plant-based foods,” she said.

So go ahead, guys. Slap some soy cheese on that black bean burger and bask in your masculinity.

Super PAC Mocks Obama References to Presidential History

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:37:28 +0000

Conservatives are ribbing President Obama for adding factoids about himself to the end of presidential biographies on the White House website and for past statements ranking his administration among the greatest in U.S. history.

A new web video by the pro-Republican super PAC American Crossroads playfully tweaks Obama for the moves, clearly suggesting that he does not deserve to be held in such high esteem.

Over a soundtrack of grandiose, Baroque music, a British-accented narrator mockingly heralds “another great moment in presidential history.”

“America has seen its share of great presidents with historic accomplishments. But did you know that Barack Obama is SO great his name has been added to the bottom of biographies of 13 presidents? It’s right there on his White House website,” he says.

A clip of Obama from a December 2011 “60 Minutes” interview then appears inside a gold-trimmed frame with the placard “Undisputed Debt King”: “I would put our legislative and foreign policy accomplishments in our first two years against any president with the possible exceptions of Johnson, FDR, and Lincoln,” Obama told CBS’ Steve Kroft.

(Obama at the time did qualify his comment by saying that he had more work to do on improving the economy and had “five more years of stuff to do.”)

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Vice President Joe Biden, both praised publicly by Obama as historic figures, are also mentioned in the video.

“America’s fourth greatest president, second greatest treasury secretary and 47^th greatest vice president. Together, only they could raise the debt limit to 16 trillion and keep 13 million Americans out of work,” the narrator says, highlighting what has been the focus of Republicans’ case against a second Obama term.

There is no mention of the role George W. Bush played in contributing to mounting debt and deficits with two wars and massive tax cuts, or his presiding over the start of the 2008 financial crisis.

White House sources have said the additions to presidential biography pages, which include hyperlinks to other Obama-related content, are common practice on the internet to direct traffic to other pages on the site. They also note that the references to not alter the historical bios but are simply innocuous, related factoids.

Crossroads, a group co-founded by Republican strategist Karl Rove, also launched a $25 million TV ad campaign against President Obama earlier this week, attacking him for “broken promises” during his first term.

Al Gore’s New Girlfriend

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:37:21 +0000

Joe Kohen/Getty Images for Current TV | Jon Clark/Rancho Santa Fe Review

It’s been nearly two years since Al and Tipper Gore announced their separation after 40 years of marriage, and now Mr. Gore has a girlfriend.

The Nobel Laureate and former vice president is seriously dating Elizabeth Keadle, a friend close to Liz confirms to ABC News. She’s described by The Washington Post as a “well-heeled Democratic donor from Southern California in her 50s with a background in science and a devotion to environmental causes.”

It’s not clear when the couple first starting dating, but the two have similar interests and seem to have been running in the same circles for years.

Keadle has long been a supporter of Democratic causes, donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to Democratic candidates at all levels of government. She and her ex-husband, Lyle Turner, were reportedly among the early investors in a venture that eventually became Gore’s cable channel CurrentTV.

According to a 2002 San Diego Reader article, Gore attended a fundraiser held in San Diego by the Friends of Albert Gore, Jr., Inc. PAC – to which Turner and Keadle were major donors. In 2008, Keadle was one of California’s electors in the electoral college pledged to the Obama/Biden ticket.

This year, according to Huffington Post’s Fundrace 2012, Keadle has donated $5,000 to Democratic candidates.

Gore is perhaps most famous in his post-White House years for his environmental work, for which he won a Nobel Peace Prize. His film “An Inconvenient Truth,” directed by Davis Guggenheim, won an Academy Award. Keadle, who has listed her occupation on donation forms as biochemist, is actively involved in environmental work as a member of the San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy’s President’s Council in San Diego County. She was one of a large group of celebrities, environmentalists and scientists who traveled with Gore to Antarctica in January this year.

For her part, Tipper Gore has been largely out of the spotlight since the split, apparently focusing on her photography and charitable work. Most recently, she was the honorary chair at an event hosted earlier this week by the Flawless Foundation, a charity her daughter Karenna is also involved in.

Despite evidently leading separate lives, the Gores have been seen together since announcing their separation, and don’t seem to have taken any steps towards divorce.

Trayvon Martin Case: Does Zimmerman’s Self Defense Claim Depend on Who Started the Fight?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:37:10 +0000

By DAN ABRAMS

Hundreds of pages of documents released yesterday in the Trayvon Martin case shed new light on a number of important aspects of the investigation . Maybe most importantly, it seems clear that George Zimmerman took a beating. Probably a pretty bad one. Bloody lacerations on his head, grass stains on his back, a “swollen” or “broken” nose and more than one witness claiming to have seen what must have been Martin on top of Zimmerman during the altercation, all support Zimmerman’s longstanding claim. But it is also pretty clear from the other evidence we know of — the 911 call where Zimmerman ignores instructions not to follow Martin, and the account of Martin’s friend who was on the phone with him immediately before the incident- that Zimmerman likely followed Martin and initiated whatever altercation eventually ensued. While these facts remain in dispute, if Martin was effectively defending himself from Zimmerman, then started punching out Zimmerman, can Zimmerman still claim he killed Martin in self defense under Florida’s stand your ground law? Maybe.

I started thinking about this more in depth last night after receiving an email from a well respected attorney who suggested that I misstated an aspect of the law during a television appearance. In particular, he believed I was wrong to say that “under Florida Law you can’t start a fight, start losing a fight and then claim you were standing your ground.”

The Florida Stand your Ground Law passed in 2005 reads as follows:

A person who is not engaged in an unlawful activity and who is attacked in any other place where he or she has a right to be has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground and meet force with force, including deadly force or herself or another or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony.

So the law is pretty clear that if Zimmerman was attacked by Martin, he could use deadly force “if he. . . reasonably believes it is necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself.” Who was the aggressor becomes a, and probably the, crucial legal question. But its not the only question. While the law also states that the defense “is not available to a person who initially provokes the use of force against himself,” there are 2 exceptions. First, if:

“in good faith, the person withdraws from physical contact with the assailant and indicates clearly to the assailant that he or she desires to withdraw and terminate the use of force, but the assailant continues or resumes the use of force.”

There is nothing yet to suggest that Zimmerman will claim he tried to withdraw but since he was the only witness to the events just preceding the altercation, it could still become an issue. But the second exception is far more likely to be relevant. The law also states that the initial aggressor is permitted to invoke the law and claim self defense if in response to his own aggression,

“Such force is so great that the person reasonably believes that he or she is in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm and that he or she has exhausted every reasonable means to escape such danger other than the use of force which is likely to cause death or great bodily harm to the assailant.”

So in theory this could mean that Zimmerman chases down Martin, Martin defends himself and starts pummeling Zimmerman and Zimmerman could still claim he was “standing his ground” because he now feared for his life. Essentially Wild West rules would apply, whoever shoots best and last wins. When asked about this potential issue, the law’s sponsor Florida Rep. Dennis Baxley said, “That scenario was never discussed.”

I think its beyond a leap to suggest that “losing a fight” as I described it is akin to exhausting “every reasonable means to escape” and some in the legal community have argued that provoking the incident immediately eliminates any opportunity to invoke the defense. In particular, I think the defense would have trouble arguing that after getting your butt kicked by someone you chased down and provoked, that you could then argue that you were in any way shape or form “reasonable” in your effort to escape. But there is at least an argument, and probably more than one, that Zimmerman could make to try to invoke the Stand Your Ground Law even if he were to concede (or it was proven) that he was the aggressor. So if I have more time maybe I should say “under Florida law you can’t start a fight, then start losing a fight, and then, without reasonably trying to escape first, shoot and kill someone?”

Regardless, this law is incredibly protective of the defendant and for everyone who has pointed fingers of blame at the police and prosecutors in connection with this case, now that we know a lot more about the evidence, I think any fingers would have been far more accurately pointed at the Florida legislature.

Houston Family Spends $1.5M on College For 5 Daughters

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:37:05 +0000

It’s graduation day–a day that’s getting quite familiar to Marc and Beverly Ostrofsky of Houston.

Today, they’ll attend two graduation ceremonies, one for their daughter Shelly, 22, from Washington University in St. Louis and another for their daughter, Mary Grace, 18, from Kincaid High School. Mary Grace will head to Boston University. Kelly, 22, graduated last Sunday from Duke University. Tracy, 20, is a sophomore at University of Denver. The oldest, Maddy, 23, graduated from Berklee College of Music last year.

So what’s the cost of putting five daughters through college? Ostrofsky told ABC News $60,000 to $70,000 a year, “easy—that’s really conservative,” Beverly Ostrofsky said.

In total, the family will spend about $1.5 million on college after taxes and that’s not including graduate school. One daughter informed Marc that she now wants to seek her PhD. Marc is the best-selling author of “Get Rick Click,” and a multi-millionaire from Internet businesses.

“We’re fortunate that we can take care of it,” Beverly said. “We decided a long time ago we didn’t want the girls to take out college loans, so that was our commitment to them.”

Marc and Beverly married five years ago, blending their respective daughters into one big family of college-ready girls and creating a prime illustration of the rising cost of college for families with multiple children. The Ostrofsky family said their advice to parents is to start planning and saving from the day children are born.

Beverly said they wanted their daughters to have a choice of where they wanted to go to college, but having their children spread throughout the U.S. created another expense–flying all of them home for holidays and visits. Just this week, Marc flew to North Carolina for Kelly’s graduation, then to St. Louis for Shelly’s graduation and hopes to make it back just in time to Houston for Mary Grace’s graduation tonight.

Though the greatest expense is room and board, the family also picks up the tab for many other miscellaneous expenses such as food, clothing and three of the girls have cars.

“I’ve got five daughters so let’s put a separate line item for shoes,” Marc said. “At one point we had four different colleges going at the same time. It’s a little bit hectic.” Marc added he also picks up the cost of other activities such as sorority participation and athletics such as snowboarding.

With the last child leaving home for college, Marc says he and Beverly are going to “take a breather.”

“It’s like wipe the sweat off the brow now—it’s time think about what can mom and dad do,” he said.

The Global News Quiz – May 14-18

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:37:00 +0000

QUESTIONS

1) What is meant by the term “Grexit”?

2) What group was blamed for the slaughter of 49 people whose headless, handless bodies were recovered near a highway that leads from Monterrey, Mexico to the South Texas border?

3) Why did a car crash in South Korea make news around the world?

4) Who attacked suspected pirate havens in Somalia?

5) Why did Roman authorities dig up the tomb of notorious crime boss Enrico De Pedis?

6) Ichibara City, Japan boasted this week that it had the world’s biggest what?

7) Dozens of U.S. troops are operating at al-Annad air base. What country is al-Annad in?

What 70-year-old military commander went on trial for war crimes?

9) What do the “Islamic Defenders Front” in Indonesia and a Christian youth group in Manila have in common?

10) Why did the opening of a café in Vienna make news this week?

11) How and why did Spain’s Queen Sophia snub Queen Elizabeth?

12) What was the latest sign of change in Myanmar?

ANSWERS

1) It’s the word coined for the possibility that Greece will leave the Eurozone, reverting to its own currency and raising the possibility that other debt-ridden economies may do the same. This week global economist Nouriel Roubini tweeted: “Grexit path: election, default, exit, capital controls, deposit freeze, drachmatization of euro claims, depreciation, return to growth/jobs.”

2) The Zetas drug gang. They disputed the charge.

3) The crash – captured in a video posted on YouTube – revived attention in the phenomenon known as “sudden acceleration”. Such incidents plagued Toyota in 2009; this one involved a Hyundai Sonata. The South Korean Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs launched an investigation.

4) A European Union naval force carried out its first air strikes against pirate targets in Somalia. No casualties were reported in the raid, which occurred along Somalia’s central coastline.

5) De Pedis’ demise had been linked to the disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi, a 15-year-old who disappeared nearly 30 years ago. The Vatican approved the move in an effort to stop endless rumors of the Vatican’s involvement in the unsolved mystery of the girl’s disappearance.

6) The world’s largest public toilet. The city spent roughly $120,000 on the toilet, which sits in a transparent booth on a 200-square-meter plot of land. As our Akiko Fujita reported, it’s “slightly misleading — it is in fact the largest plot of land for a single toilet…”

7) Yemen.

Ratko Mladic.

9) They both protested coming performances by Lady Gaga.

10) It was billed as Europe’s first “Cat Café”. A place where customers can have drinks while playing with cats.

11) Queen Sofia cancelled a visit to the UK because of disputes over Gibraltar. A Spanish government statement said it was “hardly appropriate” for Queen Sofia, 73, to attend a lunch to commemorate the Queen Elizabeth’s jubilee.

12) Myanmar held its first public gay pride event. Gay relationships are still a crime there and discrimination is rife – but the event was allowed to go on.

Facebook Portrait Project: Photographer Sets Out to Meet Her 600-Plus ‘Friends’

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:36:55 +0000

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is set to earn billions by today’s end, with the company’s launch of its IPO. So as our friend counts continue to grow, one photographer, Tanja Alexia Hollander, set out to find just how many of her FB friends are actual friends. With her FB friend list set at 626 friends (it’s grown higher since), Hollander decided to meet face-to-face with each of her contacts and photograph them through a series of environmental portraits called “Are you really my friend? The Facebook Portrait Project.”

Samantha Appleton, Washington, D.C.

All photos Tanja Alexia Hollander

Click here to contribute

Hollander was inspired to explore the idea of friendship in the digital age one day when she was writing an old-fashioned, snail-mail letter while also IM’ing with a friend. She began in February of 2011 and to date has photographed 251 “friends”, including former lovers, distant acquaintances and a few people she had never actually met (some of whom she now calls friends).

Mary Bok with Surely & Honey the dogs, Camden, Maine

Not quite halfway through her project, Hollander, who quit her full-time paralegal job to pursue the project, is almost out of funding. She has had good luck with gallery and museum interest but is now searching for ways to continue with other expenses, such as travel overseas, to continue the portraits. She’s based in Maine, and her furthest travel to date has been California.

Alicia Sindel Vega, Juan Pablo & Sofia Vega, Clayton, Missouri

Hollander says working on the project has really shown her the power of photography. While shooting a portrait in St. Louis, she was commissioned by a young woman to do a family photograph that included her now divorced parents. Hollander said it was amazing to see how everyone was willing to set aside their differences and come together for a picture.

Erica Hodgkinson, Boston

She said she has also seen her own personality change intensely. “It’s turned me into a much nicer person!” she said. “I used to be one of those that hated small talk. Now I am much more engaging and enjoy having conversations.” Her friend count has also grown immensely–in real life, not just on Facebook.

Emily Sunderman, Michael and Carter Lee West, Cornwall, Vermont

Daryl Fort, Portland, Maine

Emma Hollander, Boston

Ben Waxman, Washington, D.C.

Philippe Gagnon and Saul Cruz

Flo Lunn, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Science, tech fuel artist’s varied and vivid ouevre

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:35:36 +0000

Radiometer chandelier.

(Credit:
Luke Jerram)

Yes, artist Luke Jerram‘s most widely known piece may perhaps be “Play Me, I’m Yours” — an artwork that temporarily distributes actual full-size pianos on the streets of major cities for anyone to play. After all, it’s been featured in hugely populated towns like New York City and Los Angeles. But his body of work displays a particular fascination with science and technology.

One sculpture, for instance, is based on the seismogram generated by the 2011 Japan earthquake. Others draw from data visualization as well: charts of the ups and downs of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the New York Stock Exchange. Microbiology, optics, and the history of sound recording have also inspired compelling pieces.

Artist thinks ‘science’ and ‘tech’ with varied works (images)

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UPDATE 1-Obama says G8 should focus on growth in Europe

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:12:18 +0000

WASHINGTON, May 18 (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama
said after meeting French President Francois Hollande at the
White House on Friday that the Group of Eight should focus on
ways to promote…

UPDATE 1-EBRD appoints UK’s Chakrabarti as president

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:12:12 +0000

LONDON, May 18 (Reuters) – The European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development said on Friday it appointed
senior UK civil servant Suma Chakrabarti as the bank’s first
British president for the next…

Putin seeking control in Russian cabinet selection

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:12:07 +0000

MOSCOW, May 18 (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin will
likely name allies to key economic posts when he unveils his new
cabinet on Monday, asserting control over the government in a
move that…

UPDATE 1-US House backs $642.5 billion defense budget for ’13

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:12:03 +0000

WASHINGTON, May 18 (Reuters) – The Republican-led House of
Representatives voted on Friday to authorize $642.5 billion in
defense spending next year, defying a White House veto threat by
adding…

California teens eat fewer calories in school

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:11:47 +0000

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – High school kids in California, a state that limits the junk food sold in vending machines, eat fewer calories in school than kids in states without such regulations, according to a new study.

UPDATE 1-Social media stocks knocked as Facebook debuts

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:11:39 +0000

NEW YORK, May 18 (Reuters) – Social media stocks, led by
Zynga Inc, dropped in volatile trading as traders used
the securities to hedge or bet against the day’s star of the
sector, Facebook Inc, which went public in a somewhat
disappointing debut on Friday.

Lesbian couple can file for divorce in Maryland, court rules

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:11:30 +0000

Maryland’s highest court has ruled that a lesbian couple married out-of-state can legally file for divorce.

Surprise: The Internet hates rich people

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:11:25 +0000

It’s no shock that people love to hate Facebook.

Facebook hits Wall Street, web ponders its fate

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:11:20 +0000

As the stock market opened Friday with a ring of the bell by Mark Zuckerberg, all eyes were on Facebook — the social media Megalodon he nursed from a dorm-room project to one of Wall Street’s hottest prospects ever.

Coding and Red Bull: Facebook holds all-night hacking session

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:11:15 +0000

At some companies, the night before a multibillion-dollar stock offering might come with lavish parties and champagne.

Mario Monti, Prime Minister, Italy

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:11:06 +0000

: TIME magazine calls him “the most important man” in Europe. Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Monti on the state of Europe.

Krugman on Obama

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:11:01 +0000

Paul Krugman’s thoughts on President Obama. You may be surprised to hear his response. Listen in.

Adam Kaufman: What really happened?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:10:54 +0000

In Session’s Vinnie Politan explains the circumstances leading up to the murder trial of Adam Kaufman.

Protesters drown out Sebelius

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:10:48 +0000

Protesters boo Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius during a commencement speech at Georgetown.

Michelle Malkin: ‘The Gay-Marriage Mob Slimed Manny Pacquiao’

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:09:29 +0000

Michelle Malkin, the caustic conservative Tea Party Fox News Hot Air hypocrite, today published an op-ed titled, “Bigoted Anti-Bigots,” which claims “the gay-marriage mob slimed Manny Pacquiao.”

What, exactly, is “the gay-marriage mob,” Michelle? Is it USA Today? Is it L.A. Weekly? Is it The Village Voice? Tell us, Michelle, who is a part of this vast left wing conspiracy known (in your mind) as ”the gay-marriage mob.”

(And, as an aside, Michelle, isn’t your new enterprise, Twitchy, all about sliming people?)

Malkin, an expert at fact-twisting, writes that “left-wing media outlets are guilty — of stoking false narratives that shamelessly demonize religion in the name of compassion.”

Really, Michelle? Because, if I read that right, that would mean that you support the Leviticus passage that calls for gays to be put to death and I don’t think you really, really want to got there, do you?

And, “compassion”? What compassion is there in Leviticus, or in threatening “Sodom and Gomorrah of Old,” Michelle?

The left wing and mainstream media outlets I read were only initially focused on the Leviticus quote — which certainly seemed to have, although we learned it did not, come from Pacquiao — and his references to the Old Testament, which served to reinforce the assumption.

Also reinforcing the assumption — which was made independently by national media outlets and left wing progressive organizations alike — was that neither Pacquiao nor his representative bothered to return emails. Had The New Civil Rights Movement ever gotten an email response (we have yet to) from Pacquiao’s marketing agent, the story would have been nipped in the bud sooner rather than later.

And let’s not forget, Michelle, the entire reason this episode occurred: Granville Ampong is a poor writer, and the Examiner apparently doesn’t exercise much editorial oversight. Root-casue, Michelle. No one was looking for this story. No one conspired to create a firestorm. But you, as a journalist, should be looking at your industry and offering solutions — not false attacks.

But what I really love, Michelle, is your selective attention to your cherry-picked facts.

Malkin claims “left-wing media outlets” are to blame. Really? Is USA Today — often labeled the nation’s top-circulated print newspaper — a “left wing media outlet,” MIchelle? Because that’s the first media outlet that reported Manny Pacquiao had quoted Leviticus. It was followed by L.A. Weekly — hardly a bastion of progressive politics — and The Village Voice (I’ll give you that one.)

“Feckless professional journalists” is what Malkin calls the trio. She adds:

The politically correct bloodhounds were in full hunting mode.

The Courage Campaign, a community-organizing outfit that claims to have 750,000 members and is funded by the radical Tides Foundation, immediately called on Pacquiao sponsor Nike to drop him over his “hate speech against gays.” The group took to Twitter to demand that the athletic-shoe company “Drop Manny,” the “homophobic boxer.” Think Progress, an online character-assassination squad backed by George Soros, amplified the call for “justice.”

Gotta get that “George Soros” hit in there for your base, right Michelle? Ohhhhh… G E O R G E S O R O S. Run!

Puhleese.

Now comes the classic Malkin broad-brush.

This bigoted anti-bigot brigade mimics a wave of similar campaigns against both social and fiscal heretics who refuse to conform to “progressive” values. Targets include Rush Limbaugh, the American Legislative Exchange Council, Mitt Romney donors, Wisconsin’s union-reforming governor, lieutenant governor, and GOP state legislators, Catholic health-care providers, and now black church leaders and boxers who dare to state their religious views publicly.

Let this be a teachable moment on pernicious “community organizing” and brazen liberal hypocrisy. There is nothing more intolerant and chilling than the self-appointed, self-unaware tolerance police.

See?

Malkin gets in that “pernicious community organizing’ jab at Obama in the end. Touché, Michelle!

Because the Pacquiao story happened — everything else that progressives do is “bigoted” and wrong.

It’s like a get out of jail free card, right, Michelle?

Rush Limbaugh never called Sandra Fluke a slut because Granville Ampong is a bad writer.

ALEC never pushed anti-women pro-gun laws into states because Granville Ampong is a bad writer.

Foster Frieze never said aspirin — between your knees — was an effect method of birth control because Granville Ampong is a bad writer.

Governor Scott Walker never betrayed the trust of Wisconsin, never promised a “divide and conquer” strategy, and never tried to break up unions because Granville Ampong is a bad writer.

The list goes on and on and on in Michelle Malkin’s right wing fantasy.

Did Michelle Malkin Lie About White House And Tucson Memorial?

This Tea Party Leader is Allowed To Marry And Raise Kids And I’m Not?

Michelle Malkin: NAACP Is The “National Association for the Advancement of Coddled People”

Postal employee on workers comp caught running Boston Marathon

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:09:03 +0000

A U.S. District Court in Florida convicted a former Florida postal worker of health care fraud after she was caught participating in more than 80 long-distance races, including the Boston Marathon, all while taking workers compensation for a back injury. 55-year-old Jacquelyn V. Myers was also convicted of making false statements and faces up to [...]

Cloak and dagger world of spies exposed in NYC show

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:08:59 +0000

NEW YORK (Reuters) – The mysterious cloak and dagger world of international espionage and its real-life heros and villains are exposed in a new exhibition, the first to be sanctioned by U.S. intelligence agencies. “Spy, the Secret World of Espionage,” which opens at the Discovery Times Square on Friday, includes hundreds of artifacts, some from the vaults of the CIA and FBI and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). …

Private family funeral planned for Donna Summer

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:08:40 +0000

Donna Summer’s funeral will be a private one for family and close friends.

‘Psychic’ animals bid to emulate Paul the Octopus

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:08:27 +0000

Ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final and with Euro 2012 just around the corner, animals of all shapes and sizes are queuing up to succeed Paul the Octopus, the famous clairvoyant cephalopod from the 2010 World Cup.

Di Matteo calls up Chelsea teenagers "just in case"

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:08:24 +0000

MUNICH (Reuters) – Teenagers Todd Kane, 18 and Nathaniel Chalobah, 17, who have never played for Chelsea’s senior side, have been called into the squad for Saturday’s Champions League final against Bayern Munich, caretaker coach Roberto Di Matteo said on Friday. The youngsters have been brought in as possible cover because of suspensions to John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic, Ramires and Raul Meireles and the slight injury concerns over defenders Gary Cahill and David Luiz. “Luiz and Cahill have trained all week,” Di Matteo told a news conference at the Allianz Arena. “So we are very hopeful. …

Big 12, SEC have deal for football champs to play

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:08:18 +0000

The Big 12 and the Southeastern conferences have announced a deal that will pit their football regular-season champions against each other in a New Year’s Day bowl game for five years beginning in 2014, positioning themselves for the expected switch to a four-team playoff.

S.African trade trend is towards emerging markets: minister

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:08:03 +0000

South African exports to Europe and other developed countries remain below their 2008 peaks while trade with emerging economies has boomed, trade minister Rob Davies said Friday.

Obama turns to private sector to feed world’s poor

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:07:57 +0000

US President Barack Obama on Friday reached out to the private sector in hopes of lifting 50 million people in the developing world from poverty, as wealthy nations grapple with a budget crunch.

S.Leone to compensate Togo families of chopper crash victims

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:07:47 +0000

Sierra Leone’s transport minister said Friday that relatives of 19 Togolese football fans who died in a helicopter crash in 2007, including Togo’s sports minister, would receive compensation.

EBRD bank picks Briton Chakrabarti for president

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:07:38 +0000

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on Friday selected British senior civil servant Suma Chakrabarti as its president to 2016, replacing German national Thomas Mirow.

Sectarian clashes injure 3 in Lebanon: official

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:07:30 +0000

Shelling between two pro- and anti-Syrian neighbourhoods in the north Lebanon port city of Tripoli on Friday left three people wounded, a security official and hospital sources said.

Jurors ask to look at exhibits in Edwards trial

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:07:21 +0000

A jury deliberating whether John Edwards broke campaign finance laws made a request for evidence and office supplies Friday, suggesting they are settling in for detailed talks about the money from wealthy donors that was used to hide the candidate’s pregnant mistress during his 2008 White House bid.

1 arrested in Miss. highway shootings; no fake cop

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:07:14 +0000

Police said Friday they have arrested a suspect in two fatal highway shootings in Mississippi that prompted warnings a fake officer might be pulling over victims.

Jury in ex-Senator Edwards’ trial begins deliberations

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:07:02 +0000

GREENSBORO, North Carolina (Reuters) – Jurors in the trial of former U.S. Senator John Edwards asked on Friday to review more than a dozen prosecution exhibits as they deliberated whether he illegally used campaign funds to conceal his extramarital affair while he ran for president. The North Carolina federal court jurors began deliberating on Friday morning and submitted their request about 2-1/2 hours later. Among the evidence they asked to review were notes from wealthy donor Rachel “Bunny” Mellon and testimony from her lawyer, Alex Forger. …

U.S. health secretary urges contraception compromise

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:06:56 +0000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Obama administration’s top health official on Friday took the debate over whether healthcare coverage should include contraceptives to the campus of a Catholic university that has been deeply divided over the administration’s policy. U.S. Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, in a speech at Georgetown University a few miles from the White House, praised the new U.S. healthcare law requiring coverage and called for “conversation and compromise. …

Appeals court affirms minority voting rights law

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:06:52 +0000

(Reuters) – A federal appeals court on Friday upheld a key provision of the landmark U.S. voting rights law aimed at protecting minorities in states and local areas with a history of racial discrimination. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in a 2-1 decision said Congress did not exceed its power by renewing a requirement that nine states, mostly in the South, and dozens of local governments with a history of racial discrimination get federal permission to change their election procedures. …

All baby boomers should get hepatitis C test -CDC

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:06:46 +0000

(Reuters) – All baby boomers should be tested at least once for the liver-destroying hepatitis C virus, according to proposed guidelines from U.S. health officials released on Friday. The often-undiagnosed virus is transmitted through contaminated blood. While infection rates have dropped dramatically since the early 1990s – due in part to the introduction of blood and organ screening – many older adults are still at risk, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which released the draft guidelines. …

Nurses to kick off Chicago NATO summit with rally

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:06:40 +0000

CHICAGO (Reuters) – This weekend’s NATO summit is attracting raucous rallies and protests to Chicago that have little to do with the mission of the military alliance, including a large rally of nurses angry about the resources devoted to healthcare in the United States. Hundreds of red-clad nurses from National Nurses United gathered in a downtown Chicago plaza across from city hall for what was expected to be the largest protest to date surrounding the summit, which heads of state including President Barrack Obama will attend. …

Police arrest suspect in Mississippi highway shootings

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:06:31 +0000

TUPELO, Mississippi (Reuters) – Mississippi police have arrested a man they believe is responsible for two highway killings this month, the Department of Public Safety said on Friday. The suspect, James Willie, 28, of Sardis, Mississippi, was arrested Tuesday morning in Tunica, the department said in a statement. Police had responded to a reported rape. Willie is charged with aggravated assault, kidnapping and rape. He will be charged with two counts of capital murder on Friday, the statement said. …

Kraft lowers Maxwell House coffee prices in U.S

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:06:24 +0000

(Reuters) – Kraft Foods said on Friday it lowered prices on many of its U.S. coffees, including its flagship brand Maxwell House and some of its instant coffees, citing lower green coffee costs since prices peaked last year. The move comes three days after trend-setter J.M. Smucker Co. cut the cost of well-known brands Folgers and Dunkin’ Donuts by an average of 6 percent. It is the second cut to coffee prices since August 2011 for both companies. “These changes reflect sustained decreases in the cost of green coffee,” Kraft spokeswoman Bridget MacConnell told Reuters in an email. …

U.S. test flight seen as "giant leap" for commercial space

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:06:20 +0000

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) – An Obama administration plan to cut the cost of spaceflight services faces a key test on Saturday when a privately owned rocket lifts off for a practice run to the International Space Station. If successful, Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, would become the first private company to reach the $100 billion outpost, which flies about 240 miles above Earth. …

After stinging report, Pope softens tone for U.S. nuns

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:06:17 +0000

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Benedict on Friday held out an olive branch to American Roman Catholic nuns, who are reeling from a stinging Vatican report that criticized them as being feminist and politicized. “I wish to reaffirm my deep gratitude for the example of fidelity and self-sacrifice given by many consecrated women (nuns) in your country,” he said in an address to visiting U.S. bishops. …

International House Of Pornography

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:06:02 +0000

When satin sheets and candle wax no longer inflame your desires, try breakfast in bed.
Little known fact: Aunt Jemima’s first passion was lube.

via i am bored

Kate Middleton Raises a Glass (So Much for Bumpwatch!) With Princes William and Harry in Honor of Queen Elizabeth

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:05:52 +0000

To be young, beautiful and royal is a feat worth celebrating, and that’s just what Kate Middleton, Prince William and Prince Harry, along with the sovereigns of 26 countries, did…

Brooke Hogan Follows in Dad Hulk’s Footsteps, Lands TNA Wrestling Gig

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:05:47 +0000

Brooke Hogan is joining the family business: professional wrestling!

The 24-year-old reality star has signed up for Spike TV’s weekly wrestling program, TNA’s Impact Wrestling….

Hot New Trailer: Will Ferrell & Steve Carell In ‘Anchorman 2′

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:41:22 +0000

Here it is, our first glimpse of Will Ferrell (and Steve Carell) in ‘Anchorman 2.’ It’s airing as one of the previews for Sacha Cohen Baron’s new movie, ‘The Dictator,’ which opens this week. Looks pretty funny, don’t you think?

Between ‘Anchorman 2′ and ‘The Campaign,’ Will’s movie career is obviously going strong!

First Look: ‘Keeping Up With The Kardashians’ Season 7 (Video)

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:41:15 +0000

Now, I know some of you may roll your eye at Yet Another Kardashian posting, but obviously they have fans since they got a $40 million deal to continue their reality TV empire!

The seventh season of ‘Keeping Up With The Kardashians’ is about to premiere, and it looks as full of drama as ever. There’s even a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it glimpse of Kanye West. For those of you who do watch the show, are you excited about the new season?

Entire ‘Glee’ Cast To Return For Fourth Season

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:41:00 +0000

TV boss Ryan Murphy has decided not to axe regulars from the Glee cast as the stars have become "like a family." The series’ co-creator previously announced he would write out characters played b…

Filipino Christians Try To Ban Lady Gaga Concerts Over ‘Judas’

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:40:55 +0000

Lady Gaga’s tour of Asia has been hit with another blow after protest groups in the Philippines called on officials to follow Indonesia’s lead and ban the pop star from performing. Dozens of hard…

Morgan Spurlock’s ‘Mansome’ Gets Worst Reviews Of His Career

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:40:50 +0000

Morgan Spurlock shot onto the documentary scene with Super Size Me, but his career has been hit or miss ever since – and movie critics are saying his latest film, Mansome is defintely one to miss.
…

The Center for Public Integrity: Can $250,000 buy a senator?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:40:40 +0000

By Michael Beckel

iWatch News

In the aftermath of Tuesday’s Republican U.S. Senate primary in Nebraska, campaign finance watchdogs are concerned about the role businessman Joe Ricketts played in helping underdog state Sen. Deb Fischer secure the GOP nomination.

Ricketts, the founder of the Omaha-based online brokerage firm TD Ameritrade, was behind a $250,000 last-minute super PAC ad buy designed to boost Fischer’s prospects in a three-way race that also featured frontrunner Jon Bruning, the state’s attorney general, and state Treasurer Don Stenberg, the favored candidate of the conservative Club for Growth and tea party-aligned Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.).

Thanks to this spending surge and an eleventh-hour endorsement from former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, Fischer garnered more than twice as many votes as Stenberg — and beat Bruning by 5 percentage points. Her upset came after she raised only about one-eighth of Bruning’s $3.6 million haul.

If she prevails in November against Democrat Bob Kerrey, a former Nebraska governor and U.S. senator, watchdogs worry Ricketts’ influence would be considerable.

“I don’t think there is any doubt Ricketts will get more access to Fischer than regular Nebraskans,” said Adam Smith, communications director at Public Campaign. “This is about electing politicians that will benefit his bottom line and the TD Ameritrade lobbyists will know they have a likely champion if she’s elected in November.”

This concern is echoed by Meredith McGehee, policy director at the Campaign Legal Center, which, like Public Campaign, favors campaign finance regulations.

“Washington is responsive to the people who got them in power,” said McGehee. “You know the old saying, ‘He who pays the piper calls the tune’? That’s the system we have.”

Ricketts’ super-sized contributions to a political group that ran ads advocating against Bruning and for Fischer are legally allowed in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United ruling. Previously, individuals were limited to giving just $5,000 per year to groups that made “independent expenditures,” the Federal Election Commission’s term for messages that explicitly tell people to vote for or against a candidate.

Continue this story and read more investigations at iWatch News

Ruth Neubauer: BERNICE: My ‘Writing’ Life, Way Back in 1998

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:40:33 +0000

One year and three chemotherapy treatments later, she still has a wicked sense of humor, albeit a slowed-down delivery. And although only a tuft of hair has grown back, she is still beautiful.
Read More…
More on Writing

Ruth Neubauer: BERNICE: My ‘Writing’ Life, Way Back in 1998

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:40:32 +0000

Defense Budget That Breaks Spending Agreement Passed By House

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:40:24 +0000

WASHINGTON — The House passed a defense budget Friday that exceeds the deal cut by Congress and President Barack Obama last summer, and that would have to be paid for with cash taken from poverty programs, health care and the federal workforce.

The National Defense Authorization Act permits $642 billion in defense spending next year. The White House has threatened to veto the bill, citing more than 30 changes to the budget it was seeking.

But the measure also adds $8 billion more than called for in the Budget Control Act that Congress agreed to last summer in exchange for raising the nation’s debt limit.

Defense Budget That Breaks Spending Agreement Passed By House

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:40:22 +0000

The National Defense Authorization Act permits $642 billion in defense spending next year. The White House has threatened to veto the bill, citing more than 30 changes to the budget it was seeking.

But the measure also adds $8 billion more than called for in the Budget Control Act that Congress agreed to last summer in exchange for raising the nation’s debt limit.

Scott Walker Group’s Donations Being Flagged As Potential Fraud By Capital One

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:40:14 +0000

When MaryAnn Nellis tried to pay for groceries on April 14, her credit card was declined. Later, she said, she found out why: Her credit card company, Capital One, had flagged an earlier purchase as potentially fraudulent. The problem? A $5 donation to Friends of Scott Walker, the Wisconsin governor’s campaign committee, Nellis said.

Scott Walker Group’s Donations Being Flagged As Potential Fraud By Capital One

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:40:14 +0000

Democratic Attorney General Candidates Talk Foreclosure, Republican Rivals Remain Silent

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:40:07 +0000

NEW YORK — The nation’s attorneys general flexed their legal muscles earlier this year when they signed off on a $25 billion national mortgage settlement. Often overlooked in the commotion of the presidential contest, attorney general races in 10 states this year will decide who continues the work, at least at the state level, of investigating banks for financial misdeeds.

The campaigns could also serve as litmus tests of voter anger at corporate greed.

Over the past two years, it was the investigations opened by state attorneys general that pushed the federal government toward crafting the national settlement.

Democratic Attorney General Candidates Talk Foreclosure, Republican Rivals Remain Silent

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:40:05 +0000

The campaigns could also serve as litmus tests of voter anger at corporate greed.

Over the past two years, it was the investigations opened by state attorneys general that pushed the federal government toward crafting the national settlement.

The Week’s Best Style Moments: Gabrielle Union, Tichina Arnold And Maya Rudolph PHOTOS)

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:39:58 +0000

With tons of star-studded events and the Cannes Film Festival in full swing it was bound to be a week filled with fabulous fashion moments.

We’re used to laughing at Maya Rudolph’s comedic genius on “Up All Night,” but all we could do was cheer after seeing the actress in a sassy leopard print dress and bold red lip this week at NBC’s Upfront presentation.

“Happily Divorced” actress Tichina Arnold stepped out in a bold orange dress to attend an event honoring Betty White.

J.L. Sirisuk: This Saturday: The Echo Park PDA Art Walk

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:39:50 +0000

This Saturday May 19th is the Echo Park PDA (public display of art) Art Walk. Over 70 venues participate in this wonderfully eclectic and unique community, saturated with a diverse group of people, boutiques, galleries, coffee shops and cafes.
Read More…
More on LA Events

Marlo Thomas: Maria Shriver’s Amazing Commencement Speech

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:39:44 +0000

I wanted to share a wonderful speech by my friend Maria Shriver from her daughter’s graduation from my alma mater USC. There is wonderful wisdom in her words. She is right that all too often in our own lives we are not living in the moment, always for something tomorrow, next week or next year.
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Rev. Dr. Martha R. Jacobs: Are You Making Decisions About Your Health Care in a Vacuum?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:39:37 +0000

Knowledge is power. There is no knowledge more important than to have knowledge about what all of your options are as you approach the end of your life or as you make decisions about life-changing conditions.
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How Lincoln Used Words To Get His Way (EXCERPT)

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:39:25 +0000

Excerpted with permission from Words Like Loaded Pistols: Rhetoric from Aristotle to Obama by Sam Leith (Basic Books, $26.99). Available from Basic Books, a member of The Perseus Books Group. Copyright © 2012.

THE SIXTEENTH PRESIDENT OF the United States of America did not, as you might imagine, speak in a rich chocolaty baritone. He had a high, squeaky voice and a strong Kentucky accent. Nor—coming from a humble background—could he automatically be expected to have a confident grasp of classical rhetoric. That would have mattered. We may think of the American Revolution as a bold and unprecedented new beginning, the casting off of a European yoke, but it would be hard to overstate quite how deeply immersed in the traditions of classical rhetoric the framers of the US Constitution and their inheritors were. Every town in Massachusetts had a grammar school, and from the age of eight, pupils there would be taught the classics from eight in the morning until dark fell.

But as the largely self-educated son of a Kentucky farmer, he wasn’t able to tap into the knowingly arcane by-ways of classical history with which his predecessors were able to signal their patrician credentials. Lincoln was a clever, gangly, pugnacious, provincial lawyer.

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Swiss Alps Landslide: Mountainside Collapses In Preonzo, Switzerland (VIDEO)

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:39:11 +0000

A landslide in the Swiss Alps caused 300,000 cubic meters of rock to slide down a mountainside, reports CNN. The collapse happened in intervals over the course of several hours.

Astounding footage of the landslide, which was provided by Swiss Broadcasting, shows rocks cascading down the hillside into the valley below.

The incident took place Monday near Preonzo in southern Switzerland. So far, no casualties have been reported, according to EuroNews.

Read More…
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Poland To Press For Afghanistan Mission End In 2014

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:39:02 +0000

WARSAW, Poland — Poland’s president says he will press NATO leaders at an upcoming summit to stick to plans to end its military mission in Afghanistan in 2014, and for member states to offer financial support to the nation after troops have left.

Bronislaw Komorowski said Friday he will press for NATO to confirm U.S. President Barack Obama’s plans for the withdrawal at the summit in Chicago from May 20-21. Poland has some 2,500 troops in Afghanistan, and has been reducing its contingent.

Pa. Art Collection Completes Controversial Move

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:38:56 +0000

PHILADELPHIA — The Barnes Foundation is no longer the greatest art collection you’ll never see.

Art aficionados and academics might never stop debating whether Dr. Albert C. Barnes’ jaw-dropping cache should have been uprooted from its cozy confinement in suburban Merion and transplanted to a modernist box on the museum-studded Benjamin Franklin Parkway. But like it or not, the Barnes’ long, strange trip has reached its final destination.

Pamela Anderson Gives Male Dinner Companion A Lap Dance (VIDEO)

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:38:49 +0000

Most people go to Boa for steak … Pam Anderson goes to Boa to lap dance … and the crotch-grinding was all caught on tape.

Sanjay Sanghoee: Capitalist Revolution: Forget the Deficit and Learn From Europe

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:38:40 +0000

Before we go wild with our deficit-cutting scythe, let’s make sure that we are not hacking away at our own feet in the process.
Read More…
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Estrella Carrera Case: Arnoldo Jimenez Wanted For Murder

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:38:28 +0000

A manhunt is underway nationally for fugitive Arnoldo Jimenez, the man charged with the murder of his bride, Estrella Carrera, in Chicago, Ill.

The FBI issued a federal warrant for Arnoldo Jimenez, the Chicago Tribune reports.

“The warrant was issued on the fact that Jimenez will or has fled the boundaries of the State of Illinois,” Burbank police said in a news release.

Carrera was stabbed to death in her bathtub last weekend, still wearing her wedding dress. Jimenez has been charged with first-degree murder.

The federal warrant reveals more clues about what happened to Carrera.

“On May 13, 2012, Jimenez spoke with his sister by telephone, telling her he and Carrera had a bad fight and he left her bleeding,” according to the warrant.

A “close associate” of Jimenez also told authorities that Jimenez said “he was leaving the state of Illinois and if questioned by law enforcement, the associate should tell law enforcement he went to Mexico.”

Burbank Police Capt. Joe Ford told the Tribune that authorities have received more than 300 tips regarding the case, most of which have been car sightings. Jimenez was last seen driving a black Maserati sedan.â¨â¨

Jimenez is the father of Carrera’s 2-year-old son. Estrella Carrera, the slain bride, also had a 9-year-old daughter from a previous relationship.

The AP reported earlier this week that authorities encouraged Jiminez to “turn himself in for the sake of his family and especially his children.”

Van Halen Tour Dates: Postponed

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:38:23 +0000

Right now… is apparently a good time to disappoint fans.

Multiple sources are reporting that Van Halen has postponed many summer tour dates it announced in December.

An insider close to the iconic rock band told The Associated Press that the group will not meet a few of its upcoming commitments, and band’s website lists active tour dates only through June 26.

Originally, dozens of performances had been on the docket well into July.

No word has been given for the postponements and no representatives from Van Halen has spoken on the topic yet.

[Photo: WENN.com]

The Mob Wives Reunion Sneak Peek: Ramona Lights Drita’s Fuse And It’s About To Go Off

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:38:17 +0000

Here’s a helpful hint: If you want to stay friends with Drita D’Avanzo and not be on the receiving end of her right hook, don’t mention anything about her being a mother. Because as you can see in this sneak peek from this Sunday’s Mob Wives reunion episode, the moment Ramona tells her “I may not like you, but you’re still a mother,” Drita’s eyes go from brown to black like a shark’s, and she’s ready to go full Jaws on Ramona, with the goal of tearing her to pieces.

And in a second sneak peek, below, Carla gets into it with Karen which leads Karen to drop a bomb that shocks Renee and causes her to walk out. Just when you thought everyone was getting along, right??

Part one of the Mob Wives reunion airs this Sunday at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Perez Goes Down In Gay Film!

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:38:09 +0000

Doing a little more acting!

This was actually shot a while ago but is just coming out now – in select theaters.

Check out Perez’s cameo (above) in the gay film Going Down In La La Land, opening this weekend.

Fun movie! Fun time shooting it!

It’s fun to have fun and not take yourself too seriously!

Justin Bieber Tweets Goodbye To Selena! Jelena Over?!?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:38:02 +0000

Could this be?!?!?

Say it ain’t so…no really, we don’t think our hearts can handle this!!!

That screen cap (above) is of a fake? real? tweet that Justin Bieber supposedly sent out into the Twittersphere last night…and then quickly deleted.

Sidenote: vor 20 Sekunden translates to 20 seconds ago…

Suspicious…mysterious…all of the above!!!

Now, we’re NOT saying this is true or even confirmed but what if Justin and Selena really DID call it quits?!

Neither the Biebs OR Selenita have tweeted anything about it since…BUT Selena has deleted her Instagram account…and Facebooked a pic of her at a shooting range on Wednesday with the caption: “released some stress today”…por que?!

And we can’t even look to an appearance at the Billboard Awards for confirmation this Sunday, because Selena has been filming in Bulgaria and probably won’t be there. Justin, however, has been hard at work in Vegas rehearsing for his performance at the show.

What IS going on?!

[Image via Ramey Pix.]

Chris Pine Officially Debuts His Girlfriend On The Cannes Red Carpet!

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:37:57 +0000

Sure, they may have been dating since last year, but it’s not Hollywood official until you walk the red carpet together. Think of it as the Facebook Status of the stars, ha!

So when Chris Pine waltzed the royal red with Dominique Piek, we finally accepted the fact he’s no longer single.

The gorgeous couple strutted the Cannes red carpet this week like the fabulous hotties they are. Domz wasn’t so ready for all the flashing lights, though.

She tweeted:

Nothing could have prepared me for the crazy red carpet experience. Thank goodness I made it in one piece up the stairs!

Yeah, gurl!! What a dramatic night it would have been if you had fallen and Chris went to your rescue!!

Can U imagine!?!

[Image via Getty Images.]

Facebook Co-Founder Renounces Citizenship To Avoid Taxes

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:37:51 +0000

At least that’s what the popular opinion is!

Remember the guy Andrew Garfield played in The Social Network? He’s causing all sorts of outrage right now!

Eduardo Saverin, a co-founder of Facebook, renounced his U.S. citizenship last fall and the government thinks it’s to avoid paying taxes on the billion dollar fortune he accumulated as an American.

Since he owns about 4% of Mark Zuckerberg‘s company, his stock is estimated to be worth $3 billion to $4 billion as of today and he won’t have to pay $600 million in capital gains tax in the future.

In response to what many consider a slap in the face of America, two senators have proposed a new bill that would slap him back with a mandatory 30% tax on future capital gains AND bar him from reentering the country.

Senator Chuck Schumer of New York told sources:

“This is a great American success story gone horribly wrong. Eduardo Saverin wants to defriend the United States of America just to avoid paying taxes. We aren’t going to let him get away with it.”

The young billionaire swears he didn’t renounce his citizenship for any reason other than moving to Singapore. He released a statement reading:

“My decision to expatriate was based solely on my interest in working and living in Singapore, where I have been since 2009. I am obligated to and will pay hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes to the United States government. I have paid and will continue to pay any taxes due on everything I earned while a U.S. citizen. It is unfortunate that my personal choice has led to a public debate, based not on the facts, but entirely on speculation and misinformation.”

We’re not tax experts and we can’t read minds either, so we really have no idea what he was thinking. Maybe he’s telling the truth and government officials are overreacting. Or maybe they caught on to his scheme and he’s just trying to play it off.

Do U think the senators’ reaction is appropriate or should they wait to see if Saverin will pay the tax he owes?

Kanye West Is Debuting A Short Film Inspired By Latest Album At Cannes!

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:37:47 +0000

Kanye West can do it all and he’s out to prove it with his latest form of artistic expression.

The rapper-turned-filmmaker is debuting a “short art film” inspired by his upcoming G.O.O.D. Music compilation at Cannes this Wednesday.

Cruel Summer, which will also be the name of the record label’s first album, is described as “a fusion of short film and art installation.”

According to a press release, it boasts an “immersive ’7 Screen Experience’ for the eyes and ears unlike anything West has attempted before.”

After the May 23 premiere, screenings will be open to the public at the French film festival on Thursday and Friday.

Is this a sign of Kanye shifting gears and taking on more directing projects? This guy wants to do anything and everything, so we wouldn’t be surprised if he has a movie in theaters sometime within the next few years.

A THIRD Masseur Alleges He Was Sexually Assaulted By John Travolta

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:37:39 +0000

Gloria Allred might have another client ready to hop aboard the John Travolta lawsuit bandwagon.

A third masseur has come forward with allegations that he was sexually assaulted by the Grease star. The anonymous New Yorker is technically the fourth masseur to accuse Travolta of getting freaky, but the last guy openly admitted that the sexual rendezvous was both consensual and enjoyable.

The latest deets in this developing scandal took place two years ago during a massage at a five star hotel. Here is how a source explains what went down:

“The latest masseur says that around two years ago he received a call to do an in-room massage in a five star hotel in New York City. When he arrived at the room he claims that he began to massage Travolta. The man alleges that there was unwanted groping that he endured and that Travolta also indicated that he wanted much MORE than a massage. He also claims that there was alcohol present in the room and that Travolta encouraged the man to drink with him during the time of the massage. The masseur is currently assessing what his legal options are.”

We’re sure Okorie Okorocha would love to represent him, but we’re willing to bet this guy goes with Gloria if he decides to sue.

Since this many people are coming forward with accusations, we have to ask: Have U ever been sexually assaulted by John Travolta!? LOL!

[Image via WENN.]

The Best Pizza Tips for National Pizza Party Day

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:33:56 +0000

(Image Credit: Getty Images)

Grab your chef’s hats, aprons and turn up your ovens: it’s National Pizza Party Day. Whether you prefer four cheese, pepperoni or everything but the kitchen sink, these tips will ensure a tasty result.

1. Get the oven hot: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. This is the secret to a crispy crust and not a soggy one.

2. Semolina: A sprinkle of semolina on the dough before placing it on the pizza stone keeps it extra crispy and helps it from sticking to the stone after baking.

3. Don’t over-sauce: Keep the sauce to a minimum. More sauce means a soggier crust.

4. Don’t go overboard: Practice restraint with toppings. Thin crusts can’t handle the weight of a ton of toppings.

5. Make it gourmet: Sprinkle fresh herbs, red pepper or olive oil on top of the pizza when it’s out of the oven for better-than-restaurant results.

Make one of these pizza recipes for your next pizza party:

Tebow’s Pizza Pie

‘Pavarotti Pizza Man”s Famous Antipasti Pizza

Wolfgang Puck’s Barbecue Chicken Pizza

Guy Fieri’s S’more Pizza, Not Just For Kids

Daphne Oz’s Baked Spicy Pizza Chips

Rocco DiSpirito’s Individual Crispy ‘Loaded’ Pizza

Donna Summer Died of Lung Cancer but Didn’t Smoke

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:33:49 +0000

Donna Summer died of lung cancer but her condition was “not related to smoking,” according to a statement released by her publicist today.

“Although she lost her battle to lung cancer at the age of 63, it was not related to smoking,” the statement said. “Ms. Summer was a non-smoker. Obviously, numerous factors can be attributed to the cause of cancer in general, but any details regarding the diagnosis and subsequent treatment of Ms. Summer’s case remain between her family and team of doctors.”

Summer, popularly known as the Queen of Disco, died at her Naples, Fla. home on Thursday.

Lawyer Advises Client to Lie?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:33:44 +0000

ABC News’ Ali Galante reports:

“She sounded just like Cruella Deville.”

Who could be so villainous to deserve this comparison?

At Stacks Pancake House in Paramus, N.J., Traci impatiently waits for her attorney. They’re meeting before her trial to discuss details before her case is tried in court.

Traci is nervous and has a minor ankle sprain. But to add insult to injury, the lawyer has some odd advice for her client, leaving Traci confused about her counsel.

“You need to say there was water near you. You tracked through it and slipped on it,” Meghan tells Traci.

“But I didn’t slip on water…you want me to lie?” she asks.

“Listen, don’t think of it like lying. It’s gaming the system,” she says. “Trust me.”

When the crafty attorney leaves the room, a nearby diner, Alycia Staine, takes a stand.

“Can I just say that was straight-up psycho? She sounded just like Cruella Deville,” Alycia exclaims. “Lawyers don’t care about the truth. It’s never about the truth in court. It’s guilt or not guilty.”

But what Alycia doesn’t know is that six “What Would You Do?” hidden cameras are recording her reaction. And the conflicted client and attorney are just actors, hired by us. But before we let Alycia in on our little secret, she leaves Traci with some advice of her own.

“You can play the game like everybody else plays, but you don’t have to,” Alycia said. “…”I would have told her to go [expletive] herself.”

Watch the full scene play out on “What Would You Do?” tonight at 9 p.m. ET.

Letterman and Conan Bash Leno on ‘Late Show’

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:33:37 +0000

Credit: Jeffrey R. Staab/AP Photo.

On Thursday’s “Late Show with David Letterman,” Conan O’Brien made his first appearance on the show in 13 years. Conan’s short-lived stint as host of NBC’s “The Tonight Show,” from which he got booted in favor of Jay Leno, was a topic of discussion.

Letterman was famously skipped over by NBC when Johnny Carson retired from “The Tonight Show” in 1992. Leno got the job and that damaged the relationship between the two late night hosts. It seems Leno’s situation with O’Brien brought up some old feelings for Letterman.

When O’Brien first came out and sat down, he and Letterman didn’t say anything to each other, but just smiled. Finally, Letterman blurted out, “I think the longer we just sit here, the more uncomfortable it will make Jay.” O’Brien laughed, and said, “You know Jay’s watching,” and then, imitating Leno said, “Dave doesn’t look happy … I think he’s gonna pack it in, soon.”

During the lengthy segment, Letterman said he’s known Leno since the 1970s, when they were both young comics in L.A., and remembered Leno being “the funniest guy … the guy you always wished you could be.” But Letterman quickly added, “He was also a bit of a brat.” Letterman told Conan that when the O’Brien/”Tonight Show” mess happened he thought to himself, “Oh, there’s the Jay I know.”

O’Brien stepped down as host of “The Tonight Show” in January 2010 and was soon replaced by Leno. Letterman recalled relishing the criticism Leno got at the time from other comics who rallied to O’Brien’s side. “I was delighted by everything that happened,” Letterman told O’Brien, “except you losing your job … I refer to that period as the golden age of broadcasting.”

Star-Studded 2012 Billboard Music Awards Set for Sunday in Vegas

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:33:28 +0000

Credit: D Dipasupil/Getty Images.

This year’s Billboard Music Awards, set for Sunday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, will be quite the star-studded affair. The telecast, which will air on ABC, will feature performances from Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Justin Bieber, LMFAO, The Wanted, Nelly Furtado, Usher, Linkin Park and Chris Brown.

In addition, Katy Perry will be debuting a new song, “Wide Awake,” on the telecast, and Whitney Houston will be posthumously honored with the Billboard Millennium Award. Jordin Sparks and John Legend will perform a tribute to Whitney, and her daughter Bobbi Kristina and sister-in-law, Pat Houston, will be on hand to accept the award.

As if that weren’t enough, Stevie Wonder will also be be presented with the prestigious Icon Award during the ceremony and will be saluted with an all-star tribute during the show.

Of course, there also will be some awards handed out — lots of them, since Billboard has so many different charts. Adele, LMFAO, Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Lil Wayne are the top nominees for the awards, with Adele leading the pack as a finalist in 18 award categories, including Top Artist, Top Female Artist and Top Billboard 200 Artist. LMFAO are finalists in 17 categories, while Rihanna is nominated in 13 categories and Lady Gaga and Lil Wayne are each nominated in 10 categories.

Taking a look at just a few of the top categories, the nominees for Top Artist overall are Adele, Gaga, Wayne, Katy Perry and Rihanna. The nominees for Top Billboard 200 album are Adele’s 21, Michael Buble’s Christmas, Lady Gaga’s Born This Way, Drake’s Take Care and Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter IV. The nominees for Top Billboard Hot 100 song are “Rolling in the Deep,” “Party Rock Anthem,” “Give Me Everything,” “Moves Like Jagger” and “E.T.”

Competing for Top Female Artist are Adele, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Rihanna and Nicki Minaj. The Top Male Artist category pits Bruno Mars and Chris Brown against Drake, Justin Bieber and Lil Wayne.

The nominees for Top Duo/Group are Coldplay, Lady Antebellum, LMFAO, Maroon 5 and The Black Eyed Peas, and the Top New Artist nominees are Foster the People, Wiz Khalifa, Big Sean, Scotty McCreery and Bad Meets Evil, featuring Eminem and Royce da 5’9.

Presenters at Sunday night’s awards include Taio Cruz, Gavin DeGraw, Gladys Knight, Natasha Bedingfield, Julianne Hough and actor Jeremy Sisto. The show will be hosted by Modern Family stars Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell.

The 2012 Billboard Music Awards air Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

World’s First Wikipedia Town to Go Live

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:33:16 +0000

(Image credit: Monmouthshirecc/Wikimedia Commons)

The world’s first “Wikipedia town” will launch on Saturday in the small town of Monmouth in Wales.

The town now has more than 1,000 ceramic plaques on every important building, school and on hundreds of shops. The plaques each have a unique QR bar code — a square, black-and-white bar code that can be scanned with a smartphone that will be directed to a web page.

When users scan these codes, they will be taken to a Wikipedia article about the place they are visiting in whatever language their phone is programmed to.

The project, called “Monmouthpedia,” has been in the works for six months. The whole town has a free wireless Internet network and on Saturday, the “the entire town will be bedecked with banners declaring Monmouth as the first Wikipedia Town in the world,” according to its website.

The town’s residents contributed by writing and editing stories about Monmouth, and volunteers have been translating them to dozens of languages including Hungarian, Indonesian and Hindi.

“I started Monmouthpedia because I think that knowledge can give us context and allow us to appreciate the things around us more,” John Cummings, the Monmouthpedia project leader, said in a video on the project’s website.

“The project is a collaboration between Wikimedia UK, Monmouth City Council, the museums, the library, the University of Wales and Cardiff Met [Cardiff Metropolitan University], but, most importantly, it’s the individual contributors — the local community groups and people not just from Monmouth but all over the world that correct the content and are making this happen,” he said.

iPhone 5: Reports of New Design, Bigger Screen

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:33:09 +0000

Mockup of iPhone 5. Image Credit: iLounge

And the next iPhone chatter keeps on rolling.

Over the last week the Wall Street Journal, Reuters, and Bloomberg have reported that the next iPhone will have a bigger screen. As previously reported by others, the WSJ and Reuters agree that the display will measure 4 inches diagonally; the current iPhone has a 3.5-inch display.

The new phone is also said to have a different design, and according to Bloomberg, the design was worked on by Steve Jobs before his death. According to their source, Apple has been working on this next iPhone even before the current iPhone 4S.

Analysts also predict that the new iPhone will be available with Verizon and AT&T LTE. The new iPad, which was released in March, was the first Apple product to provide access to the faster cellular networks.

Apple is expected to release the next iPhone in the second half of the year, perhaps in September, close to a year after the iPhone 4S was released. Apple has not said anything publicly about the next version of its iPhone.

Apple is also expected to show off the next version of the iPhone software — iOS 6 — at its WWDC conference in June. It is also expected to release new MacBook Pros with Retina displays during that time frame.

Bush and Romney Talk After Elevator Endorsement

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:33:02 +0000

George W. Bush and Mitt Romney have connected.

Bush and Romney spoke with each other after the former president offered his fleeting support for the Republican candidate in an elevator this week, a person on Romney’s campaign tells ABC News.

The Romney aide wouldn’t disclose details of the call and wouldn’t say if Romney thanked Bush for his endorsement.

The 43rd president, who has been in self-imposed political exile since leaving office, emerged on the campaign scene on Tuesday with a four-word endorsement of Romney. “I’m for Mitt Romney,” he told ABC News as the doors of an elevator closed on him following a speech he gave in Washington on human rights.

The Romney campaign offered no official press release of Bush’s support, signaling that the former president still carries too much baggage to help the current GOP candidate win voters.

The Obama campaign, on the other hand, jumped at the endorsement and tried to raise money off of it, asking supporters for donations. Obama’s team argues that Romney’s economic plan is the same as Bush’s plan.

The day after Bush’s impromptu plug, Romney didn’t mention the former president’s name once on the stump, even as he referred repeatedly to President Obama’s “predecessor.”

People close to Bush doubt that he is planning on campaigning with Romney. Bush’s brief public appearance on Tuesday was rare for an ex-president who, unlike Bill Clinton, has chosen to spend his post-presidential life in private.

Watch: Woman Explains Why She Eats Rocks

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:32:49 +0000

Rocks are Teresa Widener’s favorite snack.

Watch: Teen Reacts to Bizarre Lyme Symptoms

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:32:40 +0000

Elaina, 16, said the person she sees in videos is “a girl who is not me.”

I’ll Have Another Takes Aim at Preakness Win

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:32:31 +0000

Derby winner I’ll Have Another aims at Preakness win, setting up Triple Crown try in Belmont

Is New China Stealth Fighter Rival to Troubled US F-22 Raptor?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:32:19 +0000

Defense Secretary restricts U.S. F-22 missions amid safety concerns.

Facebook Shares Pop Then Fade in Debut

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:32:06 +0000

Minority Births Enrage White Hate Groups

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:31:58 +0000

With news from the U.S. Census Bureau that the birth of minority children outpaced that of white children for the first time in 2011, the Southern Poverty Law Center is keeping an eye on radical hate groups whose members react angrily toward shifting demographics.

Bush, Romney Talk After Endorsement

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:31:49 +0000

George W. Bush and Mitt Romney have connected. A person on Romney’s campaign tells ABC News that Bush and Romney spoke with each other after the former president offered his fleeting support for the Republican candidate in an elevator this week. The Romney aide…

Pinterest Stake Fuels Rakuten’s Quest to Be a Global Player

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:31:35 +0000

Rakuten’s spending spree continues with a $100 million stake in photo-sharing site Pinterest

WRAPUP 3-Europe thinks the unthinkable on Greece

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:25:24 +0000

BRIEF-Moody’s downgrades credit linked note of UBS AG

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:25:19 +0000

May 18 (Reuters) – Moody’s downgrades a CLN of UBS AG linked to the
subordinated debt of BBVA, S.A

(Reporting By Hilary Russ)

UPDATE 1-Shorting Facebook on first day: Only for the brave

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:25:13 +0000

NEW YORK, May 18 (Reuters) – Shorting the Facebook IPO on
its first day of trading is not for the faint of heart, but some
traders are trying.

BRIEF-Moody’s continues Santander Brazil review

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:25:08 +0000

May 18 (Reuters) – Moody’s continues to review Banco Santander (Brasil)’s
ratings for downgrade

(Reporting By Hilary Russ)

BRIEF-Moody’s continues Unipol Group’s review for downgrade

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:25:01 +0000

May 18 (Reuters) – Moody’s continues the review for downgrade of Unipol
Group’s ratings

(Reporting By Hilary Russ)

Europe stocks suffer worst week since September

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:24:55 +0000

* Banks rally on speculation of renewed short selling ban

Salini proposes ex-Goldman banker for Impregilo chair

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:24:51 +0000

MILAN, May 18 (Reuters) – Italian builder Salini has
proposed Claudio Costamagna, a former Goldman Sachs banker, as a
candidate to be chairman of Impregilo, in its battle
to win control of its rival…

TEXT-S&P takes rating actions on Money Partners Securities

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:24:45 +0000

May 18 – OVERVIEW

— We have carried out our credit and cash flow analysis, applying our
December 2011 U.K. RMBS criteria.
— Delinquencies in these transactions remain at high levels…

CANADA STOCKS-TSX climbs as resource shares rally

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:24:41 +0000

* TSX up 62.11 pts, or 0.5 pct, at 11,392.79
* Gold miners, energy shares lead gains
* Moody’s downgrade of Spanish banks weighs

By Jon Cook
TORONTO, May 18 (Reuters) – Canada’s…

METALS-Copper flat; still eyes third weekly loss

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:24:36 +0000

* Shanghai copper stocks drop by 13,635 tonnes on week
* European trade thinned by long weekend
* Prices seen steadying into next week

By Melanie Burton
LONDON, May 18 (Reuters) -…

EURO GOVT-Greek contagion fear pins German yields to new low

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:24:25 +0000

LONDON, May 18 (Reuters) – German government bond yields hit
record lows on Friday and were expected to fall further as a
mass credit downgrade of Spanish banks by Moody’s heightened
fears that a…

UPDATE 3-Troubled Brazil economy shrinks again in March

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:24:20 +0000

* March IBC-Br activity index down 0.35 pct, below forecast

Facebook’s debut is modest, high volumes cause problems

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:24:12 +0000

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Facebook Inc shares rose less than expected on their first day of trade on Friday and huge order volume caused technical problems that marred the coming out party of the No. 1 online social network.

Phillies manager Manuel, umpire banned by MLB

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:24:03 +0000

(Reuters) – Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel and umpire Bob Davidson were each banned for one game by Major League Baseball (MLB) on Friday following their nose-to-nose shouting match during a game earlier this week.

The real-time Mark Zuckerberg Wealth-O-Meter widget

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:16:31 +0000

The real-time Mark Zuckerberg Wealth-O-Meter widget

Via: blogs.wsj.com – Tagged:
View on Counterparties.com →

Learning how to walk through the revolving door: the top lobbyist producing colleges

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:16:24 +0000

Learning how to walk through the revolving door: the top lobbyist producing colleges

Via: opensecrets.org – Tagged: Politicking
View on Counterparties.com →

TEXT-Fitch raises Thomas & Betts ratings

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:16:18 +0000

May 18 – Fitch Ratings has upgraded Thomas & Betts Corporation’s (TNB)
Issuer Default Rating (IDR) and long-term ratings to ‘BBB+’ from ‘BBB’ and
removed the ratings from Rating Watch Positive. The ratings for TNB’s senior
unsecured bank credit facilities have been withdrawn. The Rating Outlook is
Stable.

TNB announced earlier this week the completion of its acquisition by ABB Ltd
(ABB). The rating actions reflect Fitch’s IDR of ‘BBB+’, Stable Outlook, for ABB
which was affirmed in

UPDATE 1-CFTC set to approve CME’s 21-hour grain cycle-sources

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:16:14 +0000

CHICAGO, May 18 (Reuters) – The Commodity Futures Trading
Commission is set to approve later on Friday CME Group’s
plan to expand electronic trading for grain futures and options
to 21 hours per session, sources close to the matter said.

TEXT-S&P revises CMS Energy outlook to positive

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:16:09 +0000

Overview
— Michigan-based CMS Energy Corp. has demonstrated effective
management of regulatory risk amid a gradually improving state economy.
— We expect that the Michigan regulators are unlikely to raise the
existing 10% customer choice cap on electricity sales over the intermediate
term.
— We have revised the rating outlook on holding company CMS Energy Corp.
and its utility subsidiary Consumers Energy Co. to positive from stable.
— We affirmed the ratings on

Wall Street flat after Facebook IPO fizzles

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:16:01 +0000

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Stocks were little changed on Friday, reversing earlier gains after Facebook Inc stumbled in its market debut after a delayed opening.

Occupiers from NYC arrive to a early evening march in Chicago

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:15:55 +0000

Part of the 99% Solidity bus trip funded by the nurses union 3 of the 4 NYC buses arrived around 8:40 Thursday night and after a brief walk to their location came across a march of people they where going to meet up with.

About 220 people from NYC are in Chicago for the Occupy Nato rallies starting saturday.

The Gladiator Fire Marches On

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:15:52 +0000

The Gladiator Fire continued to grow on Thursday, May 17 reaching an estimated 8,100 acres by nightfall. Warm, dry, and windy conditions fanned the blaze and pushed it towards the small community of Pine Flat. The nearby town of Crown King also remains under threat with evacuation orders still present at this hour.

Conditions are not expected to improve on Friday due to forecasts of strong wind gusts and low humidity. Such conditions have prompted the arrival of 140 more firefighters on the scene.

Containment stands at 5 percent as of Thursday night. Firefighters are optimistic about the status of Crown King but worry that the fire could quickly approach Bull Flat. Containment lines have been dug around Crown King in anticipation of a shift in the winds.

Southeast of here, the Sunflower fire grew to roughly 14,500 acres and stands at 15 percent containment. 610 fire personnel are on the scene there.

Tags: Gladiator_Fire Arizona

Obama hosts G8, NATO leaders

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:15:45 +0000

U.S. President Barack Obama is hosting G8 and NATO summits this weekend.

UEFA chief Platini throws down gauntlet to German Chancellor Merkel

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:15:41 +0000

UEFA president Michel Platini is confident German Chancellor Angela Merkel would attend the final of Euro 2012 in Ukraine — if Germany reach the final.

Kenya PM: Sudan conflict threatens world oil prices

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:15:36 +0000

The spiraling conflict between Sudan and South Sudan poses a threat to world oil prices, the prime minister of neighboring Kenya has warned.

Mary Kennedy’s funeral set for Saturday

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:15:31 +0000

The Kennedy family will gather for a wake and funeral for Mary Kennedy, the estranged wife of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. She was found dead Wednesday.

Father hails daughter’s courage over limbs lost to flesh-eating bug

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:15:22 +0000

The father of a University of West Georgia graduate student infected with rare “flesh-eating” bacteria has told in heartbreaking detail of the moment when his daughter learned she would lose her hands.

Help for a ‘hidden population’ of caregiving kids

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:15:16 +0000

At 13 years old, Nickolaus Dent is his mother’s primary caregiver.

More details emerge in Trayvon Martin investigation

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:15:11 +0000

Trayvon Martin’s girlfriend, talking to him on the telephone, heard the teenager saying, “get off, get off” in the moments before his cell phone cut off and he was shot dead, according to a recording of the girl’s interview with a prosecutor released Friday.

Shooting suspect arrested in Mississippi highway slayings

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:15:06 +0000

The suspect in the shooting deaths of two motorists in Mississippi will be charged with capital murder Friday, a police spokesman said.

Platini: Bayern, Chelsea worthy of final

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:14:58 +0000

UEFA president Michel Platini talks to Pedro Pinto about the Champions League final, financial fair play and Euros.

‘Queen of Soul’ talks ‘Queen of Disco’

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:14:51 +0000

Aretha Franklin talks exclusively to CNN’s Piers Morgan as she remembers her friend Donna Summer.

Thrilled and bummed by Google’s self-driving car

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:14:37 +0000

My first ride in Google’s self-driving car was, all at the same time, thrilling, fascinating and a little disappointing.

Enough on Facebook! Buy Google or Apple

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:14:34 +0000

Facebook is finally trading. And even though the stock didn’t explode out of the gate, the company is still worth more than $100 billion. It shouldn’t be.

Facebook: 70 mutual funds already have a stake

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:14:29 +0000

Whether you do or don’t like Facebook, you may already own a piece of the social media site: over the past year, nearly 70 mutual funds have snapped up pre-IPO shares on private markets.

Zynga price falls 13.3% as Facebook IPO trades flat

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:09:42 +0000

Shares of online social game maker Zynga plunged 13.3 percent and triggered a trading halt Friday as Facebook’s IPO fell flat with investors.

Zynga, LinkedIn, Yelp All Down After Facebook IPO Debut

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:09:38 +0000

Facebook’s long-awaited IPO appears to have dragged down other social media stocks.

Facebook stock up slightly in public debut

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:09:25 +0000

Facebook is trading up 8 percent Friday, as investors seek to put a dollar value on the company that turned online social networking into a global cultural phenomenon.

Man who fathered 30 kids says he needs a break—on child support

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:09:16 +0000

And you thought Octomom had her hands full—a Tennessee man who has fathered 30 children is asking the courts for a break on child support. Desmond Hatchett, 33, of Knoxville has children with 11 different women, reports WREG-TV. The state already takes half his paycheck and divides it up, which doesn’t amount to much when [...]

Somerset sign big-hitting Levi for T20 campaign

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:08:41 +0000

English county Somerset on Friday signed big-hitting South Africa batsman Richard Levi for their domestic Twenty20 campaign.

UK surveillance program could expose private lives

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:08:32 +0000

British officials have given their word: “We won’t read your emails.”

Cavendish sprints to third Giro stage win

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:08:24 +0000

Britain’s world champion Mark Cavendish sprinted to victory on the 13th stage of the Tour of Italy on Friday, but Spain’s Katusha rider Joaquim Rodriguez maintained the overall lead.

IAEA chief Amano to visit Iran on Monday

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:08:15 +0000

The chief of the UN nuclear watchdog, Yukiya Amano, will visit Iran on Monday and meet Tehran’s chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, the IAEA said.

Bahrainis demonstrate against Saudi union plan

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:08:09 +0000

Thousands of Shiites took to the streets on Friday to demonstrate against a proposal to unite the Sunni-ruled kingdom with neighbouring Saudi Arabia, also a Sunni monarchy, witnesses said.