'Arthur Christmas,' a new Christmas classic?

“Arthur Christmas” is a surprise new holiday movie that may last more than one season. In it, Grandsanta, a 136-year-old has-been with false teeth and no sense of direction, comes from behind to show that it’s the old-time traditions that get the job done. He’s aided by his gawky bumbler of a grandson, Arthur.
It’s up to them to “save” Christmas by delivering a package that has been misplaced by the overly technological operation that has taken over at the North Pole.

Arthur, shown with Bryony the elf, fights the overly technological operation that has taken over the North Pole. (Sony Pictures via The Associated Press)

The film comes from England’s Aardman animation studio, the outfit that gave us those sly, weird “Wallace & Gromit” short subjects. The Claymation simplicity, though, has been replaced by computer animation, and everything is too hectic. The film is saved by a bevy of sight gags that neatly balance little adult hints with the unblushingly corny plot.
In this version, Santa serves one lifetime, 70 years or so – kind of like the pope. The current Santa (with the voice of Jim Broadbent) is expected to retire after this year. His gung-ho, macho son Steve (voice of Hugh Laurie) expects to take over. He already has an Armani-designed Santa suit. Steve has streamlined the North Pole to high efficiency, complete with a jet sled that needs no reindeer and super-robotic elves that run about like a SWAT team. He reasons that it’s the only way to get all the toys delivered in one night.
When one little girl in Cornwall, England, is forgotten, Steve writes it off as an acceptable margin of error.
Arthur, Santa’s youngest son, who has been relegated to the job of filing letters, won’t stand for it. Usually, he’s just ignored, but he joins forces with Grandsanta to dust off an old-fashioned sleigh and trot out the reindeer. (Rudolph is nowhere to be found, but Grandsanta, whose memory isn’t too good, names one of them Bambi.)
Their low-flying craft sets the world into a panic, with folks thinking it’s a close encounter of the alien kind.
In Idaho, a native takes a shotgun to them. In Africa, a pride of lions growls.
Grandsanta has the mischievous voice of Bill Nighy, while James McAvoy as Arthur is a long way from the romantics of “Atonement.” The fact that the script is co-written by Peter Baynham, who also wrote the “Borat” script, comes up as a warning, but Baynham is restrained to a PG level.
The movie runs a bit long and would benefit from fewer pit stops, but the gags are quick and often sharp. Indeed, the shift to a slower pace about halfway through is a welcome relief from the helter-skelter rush. (I skipped the 3-D version for a 2-D screening and, consequently, got brighter lighting and no headache.)
There are all kinds of little jabs. Santa’s wife is called Margaret and looks just like Margaret Thatcher – getting a jump on Meryl Streep. Steve stages a showy victory celebration by send Christmas Flowers to Canada billed as “Mission Accomplished.”
It’s a lively reminder that jets will never replace reindeer on this night.

Send Flowers Online - The Flower Hutch Has Something for Every Holiday

John Tatman knows the business of flowers. He's owned and operated the Flower Hutch in Bath Township for 42 years. And he's been in the industry since high school.
Tatman spent his after-school hours working for his aunt and uncle at their shop, Herwicks Floral Shop in Barberton.

That time set the course for his life. Tatman opened his shop on 1572 N  Cleveland-Massillon Rd. because at the time there wasn't an existing flower shop nearby. “The closest one was in Wallhaven [an Akron neighborhood],” he said. See, Send Flowers Online

The location has proved to be the right choice because of its easy access to Interstate 77. The Flower Hutch delivers to all zip codes in the Akron area.

“The nice part about this location is that you can get on the highway and be there in 15 minutes,” Tatman said.
The shop delivers to Peninsula, Cuyahoga Falls, Brecksville and Independence, to name a few. “If it's worth my while, I will go to Cleveland,” Tatman said.

The Internet also provides an easily accessible route for customers. Tatman noted that the computer allows his store to be open 24 hours a day, virtually at least. For no extra charge, customers can come to the Flower website and place orders at anytime of the day. One of his five employees will process the orders during the store's business hours, which are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and now on Sunday through Christmas from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

For those visiting the brick-and-mortar location, they are greeted with a splash of the holidays, always on  Christmas Flowers Japan There are floral centerpieces, pumpkins, Christmas trees, candles and pilgrims decorating the store. Half of one room is devoted to Thanksgiving.

“Thanksgiving tends to be the forgotten holiday,” Tatman said. “We try to avoid letting it be forgotten here.”
The store will put together flower arrangements and centerpieces that aren't the “ordinary,” Tatman said. They will mix fall flowers that include snapdragons and lillies, and avoid the more common carnations, mums and gladiolas because people tend to relate them to funerals.

The shop is getting a few more orders than usual lately because of the Thanksgiving holiday and, Tatman added,  because of  today's economy. Fewer people are flying home for Thanksgiving dinner and instead are sending flowers.

Earthquake Today: Central Mexico Struck by Quake

A 6.5-magnitude earthquake rocked Mexico’s Pacific coast Tuesday, however there was relief from aid agencies as no tsunami warnings resulted across the region.

Road get cracked by the impact of Earthquake in Mexico

There were also no reports of injuries, and only minor reports of damage from the earthquake that struck early in the morning. The Revillagigedo Islands, an uninhabited archipelago and nature preserve in the Pacific Ocean, was the epicenter, the Associated Press reported.

The earthquake comes on the heels of several other large earthquakes that recently struck around the world. Two small earthquakes shook China Tuesday. Initial reports indicated no casualties from the magnitude five quakes, but widespread structural damage was seen, according to reports.

A 6.9-magnitude earthquake hit Peru Oct. 28, injuring more than 100 people and damaging homes in the country.

A 4.7-magnitude earthquake stuck California Oct. 26. It was followed by smaller quakes in the following days.

A 7.2-magnitude earthquake also rocked Turkey Oct. 23, which left more than 500 dead and 4,000 injured.

The United States Geological Survey estimates there are about 50 earthquakes a year, though most are too small for people to feel. There are, however, more than 100 significant earthquakes per year, which measure at least 6.0, according to the federal agency.

Mexico, especially on the Pacific coast, has a higher than average number of earthquakes, the AP reported. The country sits where four tectonic plates merge.

The most damaging earthquake struck Mexico City on Sept. 19, 1985 and registered an 8.1 magnitude. The quake killed roughly 10,000 people and injured more than 40,000. The Mexico City metropolitan area has a population of more than 20 million.

Tuesday’s earthquake hit Jalisco and Nayarit, significantly less populated areas of the country. The two regions have an estimated population of less than half that of Mexico City.

Tremors could be felt in Mexico City and as far away as the Guatemala border. Some buildings swayed in the capital city but caused no damage, according to reports.

San Francisco Earthquake: Second Quake Hits Almost Exactly 22 years After Quake of '89

San Francisco earthquake: A reader board announces that trains will be halted for one minute at the Montgomery Street BART station as part of a statewide earthquake preparedness drill in San Francisco, Thursday, the same day two earthquakes actually hit the city.

Two earthquakes in the United States have taken place on the same day Thursday. The first one took place in Texas, the epicenter of the quake being near rural Karnes County, 47 miles southwest of San Antonio. The quake was a 4.8 magnitude, which was eye-opening because it was a record breaker.

The second one took place in California, the epicenter being two miles southeast of Berkeley near San Francisco. The quake was a 3.9 magnitude, causing a sharp jolt but no immediate signs of damages or injuries.

The quake struck at 2:31 p.m. local time and was at a depth of about 6.1 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The quake was felt as a sharp jolt in the East Bay area, and across the bay in San Francisco. It came almost 22 years to the day after the Loma Prieta earthquake struck the Bay Area during the 1989 World Series.
The quake also came on the same day Californians took part in an annual earthquake preparedness drill at 10:20 a.m. Thursday. More than 8.5 million people signed up to participate in the 2011 Great California ShakeOut.

Urban Combat in Sirte, Libya: Gaddafi called to protest by "Millions"

The forces of the new Libyan authorities Thursday bombed heavily committed in Sirte and dangerous street fighting against supporters of Muammar Gaddafi. The former leader still at large, for its part called on Libyans to show "millions" against the new government, the National Transitional Council (CNT), in an audio message released Thursday by the chain Arrai based in Syria.

Rebels Sighted on Sirte

"I tell them not afraid of anyone, you are the people you belong to this land. Make your voice heard against the employees of NATO, "said the" Guide "fallen in this post where it was barely audible. "Some speak of the CNT as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people, but where does the legitimacy of the election by the people of Libya?", He pretended to consider.

Intense Fighting in the Northeast of the City

On the run since the fall of August 23 his headquarters in Tripoli, he has still not been located. His last audio message was dated September 20: he was then called "masquerade" current events in Libya, calling on the Libyans to "not believe" that regime change had occurred there. On the ground, his supporters were shown a stubborn resistance in Sirte, symbolic city located 360 km from Tripoli, forcing the pro-CNT to engage in street battles brought together, under the threat of snipers.

Intense fighting raged in the northeast of the city, where loyalist forces have attempted in the night to loosen the stranglehold imposed for more than three weeks by the pro-CNT. By late afternoon, the CNT forces tried to take a strategic avenue in the east of the city, reported an AFP journalist. This axis runs from the university "Mauritanians district" in the city center, a stronghold of forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi.

"We will try tonight to get hold of this avenue to prevent enemy movement. The area is too dangerous here in the middle of homes, we must take this route, "said an officer told AFP the CNT, Nagib Mismar. The fighters of the new authorities have made progress in the day than a kilometer to the city center, entering on foot in the intertwining of homes.

Bombing

The Conference Centre in Ouagadougou, where there were highs and now pan-African stronghold of supporters of the old regime, was also still the target of heavy bombing, as well as the University and the "neighborhood of Mauritanians" where mercenaries would fight many naturalized Libyans but from that country, according to an AFP journalist.

A 130 km southwest of Tripoli, violent clashes between pro-and anti-Gaddafi to unfolded Ragdaline the hands of the faithful of the former regime, according to a military official of the CNT, Smail Atouchi. The fighters pro-CNT "face some 900 soldiers of the former regime," he said.

Moreover, a thousand men and a hundred military vehicles of the strengths of CNT Gargarech left Thursday morning, 10 km from Tripoli to Bani Walid (170 km southeast of the capital), where pro fighters Gaddafi-resistant for weeks, said a military commander. "We will first negotiate a peaceful surrender of pro-Gaddafi and try to remove the 10% of civilians who are still in the city before launching an attack," said Ali Moussa told AFP Younis, commander of Jado brigade, who runs the operation.

According to him, "Seif al-Islam (one of Gaddafi son) is located in Bani Walid and perhaps Muammar Gaddafi but there are doubts about 50% of presence (the deposed president). There are many close to Gaddafi in Bani Walid, but to Sirte, "birthplace of the" Guide, "he said. Despite nearly a month of fighting, the pro-CNT forces fail to make progress in this vast oasis in the rugged, due to the fierce resistance of pro-Gaddafi, but also a lack of coordination and resources.

In Brussels, U.S. Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta, said the conflict "is nearing its conclusion, after the fall of the regime" of Muammar Gaddafi. "But there are still serious fights and threats against civilians." Before deciding to discontinue its operations, NATO, who took the reins of the international coalition on March 31, will consider four factors, he said: "The developments in Sirte, means that retain the strengths of the former regime to attack civilians, maintaining the ability to control these forces Gaddafi and the ability of the new authorities to ensure Security. "

Steve Jobs Passed Away at 56 - A Revolutionary Genius Stuck in a Garage

Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press and put the man to read and write books and Steve Jobs created the Mac, Ipod, Iphone and the Iphone and revolutionized the way that man writes and designs on the computer and listening to music, talk by phone and surf the Net This is the impact that transcends borders and Jobs has changed forever stamped "Made in the USA".

Today when any American visiting Beijing inhabitants do not ask him about the cowboys or the Coca Cola but the Chinese want an iPhone in his hand. Jobs is the best you can give the world the United States. A genius, an innovator, a visionary and a man who never gave up his subordinates not to squeeze and make the best of their minds. The inventor of Cupertino, Calif.,tonight has succumbed to pancreatic cancer to be done with your life and your body but can do nothing to erase his legacy as one of the greatest geniuses of the twentieth century and the years of century.

He did not need a college education nor much money to create inside a garage along with Stephen Wozniak in 1976, a computer company called Apple. In 1984 introduced its Macintosh, a computer often, fast and modern love forever its users with its programs to write texts and graphics and drawings.

Apple was on the verge of disappearing when he was not in its management team and building for over a decade. In the ensuing dedicated to innovation and after buying a small business of computer graphics director George Lucas's full of software engineers and artists and created Pixar Studios.Where did in 1995, Toy Story, again revived the cartoons as six decades before Walt Disney had done with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Savior

Since 1996, when he returned to Apple to save it, changed forever the way we all listen to music or use the phone or walked on the Web.

In 2001 he presented his iPod, a CD player capable of storing all your favorite songs in the palm of the hand. And in 2007 changed the mobile phone with the Iphone. "Today Apple is reinventing the phone: the iPod, phone and Internet communicator. The Ipod, phone and the network he is caught ... These are not three different devices is a single device," he said when he showed, amid applause, the world.

Then in 2010 came with the Iphone, an experience like no other for browsing the Internet and traveling the virtual world with your fingers.

Jobs has died of cancer with which he has fought for several years and that ruined his body but did not dare get into his mind. Wake up, great and full of dreams until the end of his days. He was 56.

Norwegian Cruise Line files for an IPO - again

This item was written by Johanna Jainchill, who covers cruising for Travel Weekly. Jainchill is serving as Guest Editor of The Cruise Log while USA TODAY Cruise Editor Gene Sloan is away.
Norwegian Cruise Line, the smallest of the three major North American cruise brands, has filed to become a public company – again.
Under a new parent company name, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., the company filed for an initial public offering in the United States, nine months after it filed an IPO as NCL Corporation Ltd., with an offering of up to $250 million in shares.

PHOTO GALLERY:  Tour the Norwegian Epic

In today's filing, called an S-1 registration, Norwegian said that it expects to list its shares on NASDAQ under the symbol NCLH, and that it intends to use the proceeds from the share sale to pay down some of its debt.
In a statement, Norwegian said it withdrew its prior S-1 registration under NCL Corporation Ltd., and that Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. will be the name of the new parent company upon completion of the offering.

Norwegian's first filing for an IPO came last October, the day after it announced a new, two-ship order for delivery in 2013 and 2014 that will expand its capacity by more than 30%.
Norwegian is privately owned by Asian cruise and gaming company Genting HK (which has a 50% stake) and two financial firms, Apollo Management (37.5%) and TPG Capital (12.5%).
The cruise line, far smaller than North America's two largest cruise companies, Carnival Corp. and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., has undergone major changes since Apollo purchased it in 2008.
Many of Norwegian's top executives were replaced and the new management made sweeping changes to the line's itineraries, onboard service and amenities. One the most extreme was the downsizing of Norwegian's once four-ship strong plantar warts Hawaii program, a money-losing operation that is now down to one vessel, the Pride of America.

Charlie Sheen Dead: Internet Rumors

The internet is all a buzz this morning with the rumor that Charlie Sheen is dead. This is however just a rumor and Charlie Sheen is alive and kicking. His character off of the hit show ‘Two and a Half Men’, Charlie Harper, may not have the same good fortune. With the firing and replacement of Sheen with Ashton Kutcher it looks as though the producers have decided to kill off Harper and create a new character for Kutcher.

For all of you Sheen fans, don’t worry Charlie Sheen is not dead. Also it has been reported that he will be back on the air with a new show. Sheen and producer Joe Roth and Lionsgate media have apparently partnered to create a new sitcom based on the 2003 movie ‘Anger Management’. If all goes according to plan the show will be released early in 2012.
Yesterday on Twitter is where the Charlie Sheen dead rumor all began. Even though Sheen was tweeting throughout the day the rumor steam rolled in to something big. The actual story was about his character Charlie Harper dieing and how that would happen, nothing to do with the real life person Charlie Sheen.
Another rumor we will clear up is about Hugh Hefner. Shortly before the Charlie Sheen dead rumors engulfed the internet, rumors of Playboy creator Hugh Hefner dying also came about. Just like Sheen’s rumor being false, so is Hugh Hefner’s he too is alive.

'Jackass' star Ryan Dunn dies in fiery Pa. crash

"Jackass" star Ryan Dunn, who along with his cast mates made Americans cringe and snicker through vulgar stunts in their multimillion-dollar TV and movie franchise, was killed early Monday in a fiery car crash. He was 34.

Dunn, a daredevil who gained notoriety for diving into a sewage tank and performing other unsavory stunts, was driving his 2007 Porsche in suburban Philadelphia when it careered off the road, flipped over a guardrail and crashed into the woods before bursting into flames. A passenger was also killed, and speed may have been a factor in the crash, West Goshen Township police said.

The force of impact shattered the vehicle into several twisted and blackened pieces, leaving the Porsche 911 GT3 unrecognizable except for a door that was thrown from the crash and not incinerated. A 100-foot-long tire skid marked where the car left the roadway.

Both Dunn and his passenger were severely burned. Police said they were able to identify Dunn through his tattoos and hair, but the identity of his passenger was still unknown.

Dunn appeared on MTV shows "Jackass" and "Viva La Bam" and the three "Jackass" big-screen adaptations. He also was the star of his own MTV show, "Homewrecker," and just began hosting the show "Proving Ground" on the G4 cable network.

G4 spokesman Dave Welch said "Proving Ground," which premiered June 11 with the second episode slated to air Tuesday, was being pulled for now until the network can discuss the show's future.
Dunn's longtime friend and fellow "Jackass" daredevil Johnny Knoxville tweeted on Monday afternoon, "Today I lost my brother Ryan Dunn. My heart goes out to his family and his beloved Angie. RIP Ryan, I love you buddy."

Dunn also starred in the yet-to-be-released film "Living Will." The film's website describes Dunn's character as a "party bum slacker (who) returns from the dead as a mischievous and perverted ghost."

In a statement, MTV praised Dunn's humor and enthusiasm and said he would be missed.
"We are devastated by the tragic loss of Ryan Dunn — a beloved member of the MTV family for more than a decade," said Van Toffler, president of MTV Networks Music/Films Group. "The Jackass brotherhood will never be the same."

Dunn was born in Ohio and moved at age 15 to Pennsylvania, where he met Bam Margera on his first day of high school, according to a biography posted on his website.

Dunn, Margera, Christopher Raab (known as Raab Himself) and Brandon DiCamillo, under the moniker CKY for "Camp Kill Yourself," started making videos that featured them skateboarding and performing stunts.
Dunn was working as a welder and at a gas station when Knoxville, a friend of Margera's through the skateboarding circuit, asked the crew to allow their videos to be part of the series "Jackass," which became a hit on MTV and ran from 2000 to 2002.

Perhaps his most famous stunt, in 2002's "Jackass: The Movie," involved inserting a toy car into his rectum and going to an emergency room, where he made up a story that he was in mysterious pain after passing out at a fraternity party. Dunn's X-ray from the hospital became a popular T-shirt for "Jackass" fans.
That first movie, filmed on a budget of just $5 million, went on to make more than $60 million in the United States alone. The most recent installment, released in 3-D in 2010, brought in $50 million on its opening weekend alone.

In a 2000 stunt, he dived into a tank at a raw sewage plant wearing flippers, a mask and a snorkel.
A few hours before the 3 a.m. crash, Dunn tweeted a picture of himself drinking with two friends. The photo has since been removed.

Autopsies were to be conducted Monday, though it was unclear when the results would be released.
According to court documents, Dunn was charged in April 2005 with driving under the influence after crashing his car in West Whiteland Township, about 2 miles north of Monday's crash site. The documents show he successfully completed a program designed for first-time, nonviolent offenders that allows charges to be dismissed after defendants finish the program.

Source: http://tv.yahoo.com/news/article/tv-news.en.ap.org/tv-news.en.ap.org-20110620-us_obit_ryan_dunn

Tattle: Hey, golden girls! Hef's back on the market

PEOPLE SAID it would never last, but at least most of them thought it would start.
Alas, Hugh Hefner's fiancee, Crystal Harris, has called off the wedding five days before she was to say "I do."
TMZ.com sources say that Crystal and Hef had a nasty phone argument over the weekend and soon after Crystal moved out of the Playboy Mansion.
Life & Style chimed in with a reminder that it had broken the news months ago that Crystal had been dating Jordan McGraw on the sly.
Jordan was Crystal's songwriting partner, and it was believed that in addition to making music, they also made sheet music.
Jordan is the son of Dr. Phil, who perhaps should counsel his boy on not taking advantage of the elderly.
"Crystal informed me of the news this morning and that the decision to call off the wedding was mutual," Crystal's manager, Michael Blakey, told Life & Style. "The split was amicable and I'm happy to say that Crystal and Hef will remain close friends."
Sure they will.
Wonder feted at Apollo
Stevie Wonder was honored at Harlem's famed Apollo Monday during the theater's spring gala. Wonder, who first performed at the Apollo as a child, was inducted into the Legends Hall of Fame, alongside Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, Ella Fitzgerald and James Brown.
As part of the show, Wonder performed with a cast of friends and admirers including Tony Bennett, Chick Corea, Paul Shaffer and Doug E. Fresh. The tribute concert also featured Raphael Saadiq, Yolanda Adams, Kim Burrell, Melanie Fiona, ?uestlove and others.
Bennett gave the honor to Wonder, who in turn lauded his presenter for his commitment to the Apollo and to civil-rights causes.
"As much as I may never see the color of his skin, I'm able to feel the color of his spirit," Wonder told the audience. "When it was not fashionable to hang out with the brothers and sisters, you did."
The Apollo spring gala raised more than $1.2 million. The funds will be used for its educational programs and to preserve the historic theater's legacy, organizers said.
Cage in court
Nicolas Cage met with a judge yesterday to settle a lawsuit filed by his ex-girlfriend Christina Fulton over money and a house that she claims Cage promised her.
Cage and his attorneys were in Superior Court Judge Teresa Sanchez-Gordon's chambers for roughly 90 minutes before Fulton and her attorneys were called before the judge.
The judge ruled that Fulton couldn't sue Cage for breaching an oral contract to transfer ownership of the L.A. house to the ex-actress, saying that the claim was barred by a statute of limitations.
Fulton sued Cage in December 2009 for $13 million, claiming that he had broken a promise to care for her and their now-adult son.
Fulton's attorney, K. Lee Crawford Boyd, said Cage had promised to provide the home and support payments to her client so he could become a star.
"If Nicolas Cage had to step in and be a parent, he could not be Nicolas Cage," she told the judge.
Fulton also sought yesterday to amend her lawsuit and add some claims against Cage, but Sanchez-Gordon rejected that
effort.
The judge urged the parties to try to settle before trial and not treat the case as a rehash of the private paternity case they previously settled.
Fox Business host Eric Bolling said Monday that he was sorry for what detractors have called racist insults directed at President Obama.
In a brief mea culpa on his broadcast, Bolling said that he "got a little fast and loose with the language." He said that he's sorry his remarks were interpreted as disrespectful.
On Friday's show, Bolling criticized Obama's recent meeting with Gabon President Ali Bongo, who is viewed by some as a corrupt leader.
Well, "some" people view every leader as corrupt.
Bolling went on to say that it's not the first time that Obama has had "a hoodlum in the hizzouse."
He added, "What's with all the hoods in the hizzy?"
* Candy Spelling, widow of TV producer Aaron Spelling, has sold her 57,000-square-foot mansion, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The asking price was $150 million, but the final purchase price was not disclosed.
Who could buy a $150 million home in this housing market? A 22-year-old heiress, of course.
She's Petra Ecclestone, another winner of the genetic lottery, whose 80-year-old daddy, Bernard Ecclestone, runs Formula One racing and is one of the richest men in Great Britain, and whose mom, Slavica, Bernie's ex-wife, was a model for Armani.
Slavica wasn't just 27 years younger than her 5-foot-2 husband, but a foot taller - and fortunately for Petra, she has mom's looks to go with dad's money.
Amazingly, the $150 million California home won't even be Petra's primary residence. She also has a $91 million home in London, and will split her time between the two.
* Arnold Schwarzenegger's
former housekeeper Mildred Patty Baena has finally opened her mouth about having a child with the ex-governor, saying that her son learned only about a year ago who his father was.
In an interview with the U.K.'s Hello! magazine, Baena said that her son Joseph's response to the news was: "Cool!"
Maria Shriver's response was a little less enthusiastic.
Daily News wire services contributed to this report.

Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/20110615_Tattle__Hey__golden_girls__Hef_s_back_on_the_market.html#ixzz1PKWUQotb
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Game Of Thrones episode 9 review: Baelor

This review contains spoilers.
9. Baelor

For those of us familiar with the books, we knew that the shocking death of Ned Stark was on the horizon. We all held our tongues, not wanting to ruin the shock twist for those who were new to Westeros and the Seven Kingdoms. But watching the show, I could almost hear the collective gasps of surrounding households as the former King's Hand was executed.

Throughout the show's marketing campaign, HBO have had Sean Bean front and centre. For those unfamiliar with the books, he was a recognisable face that would draw in curious viewers as well as those who were fans of the likes of Sharpe and Lord Of The Rings. His presence was reassuring and comforting, and despite the outbreak of war, many assumed that Ned Stark would rise to defeat those that had wronged his family and ride off into the sunset back to Winterfell.

However, George R. R. Martin doesn't do happy endings, and such a resolution would be far from the bitter reality of war, even in a land with zombies, direwolves and (formerly) dragons.
It's war that's causing all the men of Westeros to re-evaluate their lives. For Jon, he's torn between his vows to the Night's Watch and his desire to aid his family. For Robb, his duty to his family and the North means he has to sacrifice the lives of his men as well as marry one of Walder Frey's (Harry Potter's David Bradley) unsightly daughters. And for Tyrion, it seems like war is just his father's way of attempting to finally be rid of him.

Thankfully, there's plenty of wine, the comfort of a good whore and Bronn's drinking games to pass the time before battles. Now, I've sung Peter Dinklage's praises enough already, and while he was excellent (again), this episode, with his heart-breaking account of his first marriage, inspires me to talk about Jerome Flynn.
I never watched Soldier, Solider, and for me, Jerome Flynn was just one half of Robson & Jerome, that duo that were at number one for weeks, with their awful cover of Unchained Melody. However, he's fantastic as Bronn, the flippant and carefree sellsword (that's mercenary, to most people) that's always been one of my favourite characters in the books. His dry one-liners and banter with Tyrion have provided the show's best moments, and this week was no exception. As the twosome prepare for battle, Bronn's words of wisdom to the nervous Imp are simply, "Keep low."

Battles are also a hard thing to show in shows like this. Over two seasons, Rome very rarely showed its large scale conflicts, often cutting to the characters in the aftermath. In fact, it wasn't till halfway through season two that it spent a large portion of its budget on the epic Battle of Philippi. It's the same for Game Of Thrones.
This week saw the Battle of Whispering Wood, where Jaime is captured and Robb decimates a Lannister army. But the budget simply wasn't big enough to show it. It's a shame, as it would have been pretty spectacular, although, by having a battle that would rival Gladiator's opening skirmish, one imagines you would handicap the production for the rest of the series. Let's hope HBO ups the budget for season two, when the Clash of Kings really gets going.

So, we have one week left, and for those of you haven't read the books, it must seem like all bets are off. If Sean Bean can die, who's safe? Will Jon Snow leave The Wall to fight with his family? Is Khal Drogo destined to join Ned Stark in the afterlife? What will this mean for Daenerys? Will Littlefinger get his comeuppance? Will anyone slap that grin off Joffrey's face?

I expect we'll all be tuning in next week to find out. The question is what will we do afterwards? My bet is book shops and sellers are going to see a lot of orders for Martin's continuing books.
Read our review of episode 8, The Pointy End, here.

Lockheed Strengthens Network Security After Hacker Attack

Lockheed Martin said on Sunday that it had stepped up its investigation into a sophisticated hacking attack on its computer networks and bolstered security measures for gaining remote access to its systems.

Lockheed and RSA Security, which supplies coded access tokens to millions of corporate users and government officials, said they were still trying to determine whether the attack had relied on any data that hackers had stolen from RSA in March or if it had exploited another weakness.
Lockheed, which is based in Bethesda, Md., said on Saturday night that the attack, which occurred on May 21, was “significant and tenacious.” Lockheed officials said they had stopped the attack shortly after hackers got into a system, adding that no customer or company data was compromised.
Sondra Barbour, Lockheed’s chief information officer, sent a memo to the company’s employees on Sunday, saying that its systems remained secure. She said Lockheed had quickly shut down remote access to its network after the attack began.
Still, the attack was significant enough that it was described in briefing materials provided to President Obama, the White House spokesman, Jay Carney, said on Sunday. He said the damage was “fairly minimal.”
Government officials have said Lockheed Martin, the nation’s largest military contractor, and other military companies face frequent attacks from hackers seeking national security data.
Officials at Lockheed and RSA Security, a division of the EMC Corporation that provides the SecurID brand of electronic access tokens, said they were working with federal officials to investigate how the attack occurred and who was behind it.
Ms. Barbour said Lockheed also had accelerated a plan to increase network security. The company has upgraded the SecurID tokens supplied by RSA and is resetting all user passwords. Lockheed also switched to eight-digit access codes from four-digit codes, which are randomly generated by the tokens.
Lockheed officials said on Friday that the attack on its systems might have been linked to one on the RSA network in March. At the time, RSA said it had sustained a data breach that could have compromised some of its security products. Its announcement shocked computer security experts, particularly because its systems are widely used.
Shortly after RSA announced that breach, Lockheed, like many other large companies, said it had added an additional password to the process employees used to connect to its system from remote locations.
One Lockheed executive, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of security issues, said on Sunday that investigators “cannot rule out” a connection between the attacks on the RSA and Lockheed networks.
EMC said in a statement on Sunday that it was “premature to speculate” on the cause of the Lockheed attack.
Some blog items and articles have suggested that customers would back away from using RSA’s SecurID tokens. But Lockheed said it planned to continue using them, and EMC said it remained confident in the tokens.

Homer propels Mavericks into final

PORT ST. LUCIE -- Archbishop McCarthy’s seniors graduated Monday morning, but they weren’t about to let their baseball season come to an end the same night.
Coming into their state semifinal ranked No. 1 nationally in the USA Today Super 25 and No. 4 nationally by ESPN RISE, and coming in as the defending state champions, their game against unheralded Crawfordville Wakulla seemed to be just another step to Tuesday’s state championship game.

But the War Eagles pestered the Mavericks all night, and a McCarthy victory was only assured when Jose Brizuela launched a three-run homer over the right-field wall in the bottom of the sixth inning.
That blast gave the Mavericks 4-2 win at Digital Domain Park on Monday night, advancing them to the state title game Tuesday at 4 p.m. against Tampa Jesuit.
“I was just trying to stay inside the ball and drive it,” said Brizuela, who also struck out the side in the seventh to earn a save. “Now we have one more game left, and we’re going to go get them.”
The game was very much in doubt before the homer, as McCarthy stranded runners throughout.
McCarthy (27-3) loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth, but Brizuela grounded into an easy out to the Wakulla (18-10) second baseman.
In the fifth inning it was more of the same, as runners on second and third base trotted back to the dugout instead of sprinting through home plate.
When the sixth came around, though, Wakulla starter Ryan Zimba finally showed some signs of getting tired. He walked the Mavericks’ eighth and ninth hitters – his seventh and eighth walks of the game – to bring up Brizuela with the season and a potential mythical national championship on the line.
Brizuela, who had a poor night at the plate to that point, came through with a high fly ball the just kept sailing until it plopped onto the grassy hill to the left of the right-field foul pole.
“We’ve come back so many times that we really believe,” coach Rich Bielski said. “There was no panic, there was no ‘This could be our last game.’”
For a while, Wakulla’s fourth inning looked like it was going to be the difference.
Two errors brought one War Eagle home, and it might have been much worse if Mavericks catch Garrett Kennedy hadn’t made a great defensive play.
Wakulla’s Dillon Norman hit what looked like a sacrifice fly into right field, but McCarthy’s Adam Duarte was on target with a throw home. Kennedy caught the relay, turned, was clobbered by opposing catcher Tylor Hudson and held his grip on the ball on for a huge out.
“He’s going to lay it all on the field and put his body at risk for us,” starting pitcher Andre Martinez said. “That was a big sign in Jose Brizuela’s head when he was up to bat. He was thinking of all the people that fight for him.”
But the inning wasn’t over, and a single by the next War Eagle scored a runner from third to put Wakulla up 2-1.
Martinez (11-2) earned the win, striking out seven in six innings. Zimba (3-6) took the loss.
McCarthy only had about 18 hours in between their win and Tuesday’s state championship game. Martinez hopes the tight turnaround won’t be a factor.
“We enjoy this win for about 20 minutes, go eat and then go to bed because we’ve got to go back to work,” Martinez said.

Thor 3D [Review]

The summer officially begins with a cosmic ride through Norse mythology and the four-colored imaginations of Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and the minds behind Marvel Studios with an enthusiastic, energetic and fun (yes, FUN) entry into superhero cinema: Kenneth Branagh’s Thor. Move over Iron Man, Thor is claiming the throne. The Dark Knight might still be the best serious adaptation of comics-to-film, but Thor is the most lively and colorful...and genuinely funny. Full of mythology and epic scale, Thor brings one of the more challenging superhero concepts to the big screen in spectacular fashion with dashes of Shakespearean conflict, exciting action, romance and humor. Marvel Studios have officially proven that Iron Man was not a fluke and continue to build their shared universe franchise, leading with heated anticipation to 2112’s Avengers film. The movie is full of Easter eggs and nerdy references to make any comic fan geek-out but it also an exceptional heroic story and fantasy film that any movie fan can embrace. Well done.


The film’s story concerns the lessons learned and maturity earned by its lead character, Thor (Chris Hemsworth). Living in one of the nine realms called Asgard, Thor is set to become King, inheriting the role from his father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins). When the Frost Giants break into the Asgardian armory to steal a powerful historical relic, Thor, along with his closes allies (The Warriors Three, Lady Sif, and his brother Loki), crosses his father’s high commands and confronts the Frost Giants on their own turf, nearly taking Asgard to war in the process. Angered by Thor’s childish immaturity and bold disobedience, Odin casts Thor out of Asgard banishing his to Earth. Humbled and powerless with only the help of a fair human mortal (Jane Foster, played by Natalie Portman), Thor must find his way back to Asgard to save his kingdom from both an Asgardian traitor and the Frost Giants' plot to kill Odin. Even with enough mythology and epic scale to compete with Lord of the Rings, Thor’s plot wisely focuses on the emotions and relationships rather than getting buried in the mythology itself. At its core, it’s about Thor and his father, his brother, his closest friends, his new found love and even himself. It anchors the film, enabling all the high fantasy elements to live and breath on their own. It works. It’s remarkable.
Much of the success of Thor is due to the star-making performance by Chris Hemsworth as Thor. Previously seen as Captain Kirk’s father in the opening scenes of J.J. Abrams Star Trek reboot, Hemsworth is incredible in the role of Thor, showing a wide range of emotions and depth along with the chiseled brawn, handsome smile, and heroic feats. In the beginning, he’s arrogant, stubborn, and dogmatic, almost to the point of being childish. Through his adventures, he becomes humble, compassionate, and inspiring - he becomes a true hero. Hemsworth brings it all together and brings Thor to the big screen - totally believable, bringing human qualities to mythological gods. He even sells the outlandish costume, Shakespearean-laced dialog and humor. As much as Robert Downey, Jr. is Tony Stark, Chris Hemsworth is, and will always be, the mighty Thor.
Hemsworth has plenty of help too in making Thor a blast with the rest of the film’s cast. Tom Hiddleston plays Thor’s brother Loki, bringing the most mischievous of mischievous villains to life. He plays Loki just right, never overplaying the villainous actions and always keeping the audience wondering what he’s really up to - his true motivations and intentions. He is the Lord of Lies for a reason. In a role that could have sent the whole picture into camp if played too overtly, Hiddleston keeps it cool and close to the chest. It’s a brilliant performance - a subtle one, one that can easily get overlooked with all the high action surrounding him. Anthony Hopkins is perfect as Odin, bringing authority and honor to the role of King of Asgard. The scene of Odin banishing his son to Earth is heart-breaking, frightening, and awe-inspiring all at once. The film is full of well-cast Agardians: Ray Stevenson as Volstagg, Tadanobu Aano as Hogun, Josh Dallas as Fandral, Jamie Alexander as Sif and Rene Russo as Frigga. The most impressive supporting role, however, is Idris Elba as Heimdall, the guardian of BiFrost and the rainbow bridge. His performance brings honor, strength, and humor to the role that leaves a huge impression in the short amount of time his character is on screen. Together they all bring Asgard to life, full of mythology, beauty and history, leaving the audience wanting more.
Midgard has its share of actors to appreciate as well, lead by Natalie Portman as Jane Foster. She leads a team of scientist that run across Thor as he arrives on Earth. Stellan Skarsgård plays Erik Selvig and Kat Dennings plays Darcy Lewis, the intern. Clark Gregg continues his role as Agent Coulson from the Iron Man movies. Each brings more to their role than the character is given, most notably Natalie Portman as Thor’s love interest. One weakness that the movies has is the romance between Thor and Jane - it’s underdeveloped and forced, but Portman sells it. She brings enough drive and wonder to the character that the idea she’d fall for overly handsome, hulking brute; believable enough to support the romance without sacrificing the character. Kat Dennings steals nearly every scene she is in with comic timing and wide-eyed innocence, even taking a picture of Thor eating breakfast to post on Facebook. Clark Gregg continues building the character of Agent Coulson, witty and sarcastic and fun, but it’s time to bring some depth to the role if he’s to maintain interest as a character instead of just a connection between movies. Stellan Skargard is fatherly in his role as scientist Erik Selvig and proves more oddly important to the franchise in the final reel (yes, wait for the after credits scene) than in most of the movie. He does have a fantastic and charmingly warm scene with Thor in a pub. Great characters all played well by an exceptional cast.
Kenneth Branagh proves with Thor that he is more than capable of directing an action picture - and Thor is the perfect picture for Branagh who is closely associated with Shakespearean films. The mythology and classic conflicts blend nicely with his experience from these films - it helps add depth to the Asgardian landscapes, politics and relationships. This is particularly obvious in the scenes between Thor and Odin and, later, Thor and Loki, but it is also key to the way Heimdall is portrayed and filmed. He also handles the conflict between the Frost King, Laufey, and Odin with similar authority and expertise. This all plays well contrasted against the mundane Earthly locales, characters, and scenes. He also manages to bring a great deal of humor to Thor as well which serves the film well by keeping the movie from becoming dry and absorbed in its own politics. It’s a delightful mix of emotions, comedy, action, fantasy and adventure - a real achievement. He also captures the source material as well with a variety of angled shots from Thor rising into a maelstrom swinging his hammer above his head to a simple shot of the local diner. Well done!
Branagh also plays close attention to the 3D process, making Thor one of the more successful post-conversion 3D films to date. Using the 3D, Branagh is able to display a great deal of depth to the landscapes throughout the film. He places key characters in the foreground - with dramatic profiles or action laden heroic stances - making them stand out even further than they should. It’s one of the better examples of how to film for 3D. However, it is rarely used to significantly enhance the film itself. The 3D use is subtle. The landscapes, both Asgard and Nevada, are vast and stretch far into the horizon. There is no strain to the eyes during the action. The process was obviously well thought out and executed. Branagh never seems to use 3D to bring things into the foreground but rather to provide depth and richness to the background and landscape. As a result, the 3D fails to leave a lasting impression on the viewer regardless of how well it is done. While it never harms the film (although some have pointed out some key night scenes are blurry), it never makes the difference between the 3D and the 2D version noteworthy. There’s no reason to have to see it in 3D.
Thor is one of the best comic book adaptations to date, capturing the spirit, adventure, and heroism of the source material. The movie is pure fun; it is a joy to watch and experience, full of drama, romance and humor. Branagh hits a home run with the direction displaying a keen eye for detail, action, and respect for the material. The cast is superb with Chris Hemsworth bringing one of the more challenging heroes to life with confidence, charisma and charm. It’s brilliant with only a few missteps - a forced romance and unremarkable 3D - to keep if from being perfect. Thor is a magnificent start to the summer season of 2011 and should not be missed - it’s a great time at the theater.

Osama Bin Laden Dead: The Navy SEALs Who Hunted and Killed Al Qaeda Leader

The Navy SEAL team of military operatives who killed Osama bin Laden in a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan on Sunday night was made up of some of the best-trained troops in the world. SEAL Team Six, the "Naval Special Warfare Development Group," was the main force involved in Sunday's firefight.
The daring operation began when two U.S. helicopters flew in low from Afghanistan and swept into the compound where Osama bin Laden was thought to be hiding late Sunday night Pakistan time, or Sunday afternoon Washington time. Twenty to 25 U.S. Navy SEALs disembarked from the helicopters as soon as they were in position and stormed the compound. The White House says they killed bin Laden and at least four others with him. The team was on the ground for only 40 minutes, most of that was time spent scrubbing the compound for information about al Qaeda and its plans.
The Navy SEAL team on this mission was supported by helicopter pilots from the 160th Special Ops Air Regiment, part of the Joint Special Operations Command. The CIA was the operational commander of the mission, but it was tasked to Special Forces.


U.S. Navy Sea, Air and Land Teams, commonly known as SEAL Teams, are the best of the best. Their creed is to be "a special breed of warrior ready to answer our nation's call."

"We are reminded that we are fortunate to have Americans who dedicate their lives to protecting ours," President Obama said today. "We may not always know their names, we may not always know their stories, but they are there every day on the front lines of freedom and we are truly blessed."
"There are other operations going on around the globe constantly," said Capt. Duncan Smith, a SEAL spokesman who spoke with ABC News.
In 2009, another SEAL team was instrumental in rescuing the American captain of the cargo ship Maersk Alabama from armed pirates off the coast of Somalia. On that mission, SEAL snipers fired perfect shots -- from the deck of a heaving ship -- to neutralize three pirates, with three bullets, simultaneously. The SEALs began their work in 1942, when military leaders decided to set up an elite team to scout beaches suitable for landing troops in World War II.
These men have done all of this in anonymity. It is standard procedure never to identify members of Team Six.
"A lot of those missions -- a majority of those missions -- are ones that the public will never know about... and that's a good thing," Smith said.
Navy SEALs toil in the dark of night, tasked with the most daring, dangerous and important missions. To become a SEAL, those men completed some of the most brutal training regimens ever devised, designed to push the boundaries of even the most able service members. Only one third of recruits eventually become SEALs.
"You have to be able to endure a lot of physical pain and sometimes emotional pain, and you just have to dig deep. It's an elite organization and so it can't be for everybody," said Paul Tharp, master chief of the Naval Special Warfare Preparatory School and a SEAL for 24 years.
"What sets SEALs apart is our diversity in terms of the environments in which we operate," said Smith, also a SEAL for 24 years. "We operate at 10,000 feet in the Hindu Kush Mountains. We operate in desert regions in Iraq and elsewhere. We operate in jungles throughout the world."
As of 2009, there were 2,500 active duty SEALs. With the expanding war on terror and missions in 30 countries, the Navy needs more, but finding young men who can meet the SEALs' standards is a challenge.
"We are not looking for cocky kids," said Senior Chief Hans Garcia, a SEAL recruiter. "The perfect person would be a candidate who is remarkably physically fit, but is pretty humble, an analytical thinker, a problem solver -- someone who is very value-oriented, patriotic, puts service above self."

ABC News' BRIAN ROSS (@brianross) , JAKE TAPPER (@jaketapper) , RICHARD ESPOSITO, ALICE MAGGIN and NICK SCHIFRIN (@nickschifrin) contributed to this report.

Prince William and Kate Middleton to have private honeymoon in the sun

Prince William and his new wife Kate Middleton are to seek some privacy and seclusion on a honeymoon in the sun after their wedding was watched by an estimated two billion people. 

 

The newly-wed Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are due to set off on their honeymoon to a mystery location on Saturday after the splendour and pageantry of the Royal wedding.

Prince William has taken a fortnights leave from his job as an RAF Search and Rescue pilot for the holiday with his new wife Kate Middleton.

The couple's destination has been a closely guarded secret but Royal sources have said the pair were aiming to relax somewhere "hot and sunny".

Among the destinations believed to be favoured by the Duke and Duchess is Jordan, where the couple will take in some of the country's most famous sites, including the ancient city of Petra and the Wadi Rum desert valley.

The couple were understood to be considering several options for their honeymoon break, but the Middle-Eastern country was their preferred foreign destination.

Jordan would have great nostalgic appeal for Kate as her family spent two years there when she was a child.
There were reports that the couple have booked a tailor made private tour of southern Jordan, including a visit to the ancient city of Petra.
The 'rose-red city half as old as time’ was carved out of a deep sandstone cleft in the desert 26 centuries ago by the Nabateans, an Aramaic people.
Spread over seven miles it is Jordan’s star attraction, approached through a half mile-long entrance gully, and renowned for its amazingly preserved tombs.
They are also expected to take part in a riding excursions to Wadi Rum, where it is thought they will stay in a luxury tented camp.
Several travel companies offer honeymooning couples private trips “in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia” across the region, which is where army officer T E Lawrence led the Bedouin revolt against the Ottomans in 1917 which was immortalised in the classic film.
Desert Guides Company, which specialises in tailor-made holidays to Jordan, provides luxury five-star tented accommodation on tours of the Wadi Rum, including candlelit tents and five-star hotel accommodation in Petra.
There was also speculation that the couple may spend part of their break at one of the Royal estates, such as Balmoral, the Queen's estate in Scotland.
The Duke is known to have a deep affection for Africa and Kenya has a symbolic meaning to the couple as it is where the Prince proposed to his wife last year.
After conducting their nuptials under the intense glare of the world's media and the public, the couple may also seek to escape prying eyes on a secluded Caribbean island.
Bequia and Necker Island all have the benefit of being easily secured, as does the ultra-exclusive Mustique, where the Duchess's parents Carole and Michael Middleton are frequent visitors.
Lizard Island, off the coast of Queensland, Australia, has also emerged as a contender.
However, with the Duke resuming his pilot duties in two weeks, the significant jet lag likely from such a far-flung trip could rule it out.
They may also be tempted by Chile, as they both spent time in the South American country during their gap years before university.
A Royal aide said they would not be revealing the destination.
He said: "The most important thing is that they want some privacy. We know there is an army of photographers out there waiting to find out where they are going.
"If it was your own honeymoon you would want some privacy."
Thirty years ago, the Duke's parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, spent the first stage of their honeymoon in Romsey in Hampshire, where they stayed at Broadlands, the family home of the Mountbattens.
The second part of their holiday was spent on board the royal yacht Britannia. They boarded at the Rock of Gibraltar before cruising to Algeria, Tunisia, Sicily, the Greek islands and Egypt.
Finally, they went to Scotland to spend time with the Royal Family in Balmoral.
On Friday night the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were joined by 300 close family and friends to celebrate their marriage until the early hours of Saturday morning at Buckingham Palace.
Guests at the party included the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall and even the Duke's uncle Earl Spencer was said to have been there for part of the event.
Kate changed for the evening dinner and dance from her stunning wedding gown by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen into another stylish dress by the same designer.
The royal looked glamorous in a strapless white satin gazar evening gown with a circle skirt and diamante embroidered detail round the waist. She also wore a white angora bolero cardigan.
Earlier, the Duchess said of the wedding: "I am glad the weather held off. We had a great day."
In an unexpected move that delighted the crowds the couple drove between Buckingham Palace and Clarence House in the Prince of Wales's blue Aston Martin with the prince at the wheel.
The sports car was decorated with red, white and blue ribbons, with balloons tied to the back and a rear number plate which read "JU5T WED", all thanks to best man Prince Harry and other family and friends.

Prince Harry plans a morning-after breakfast

The best man plans breakfast
Prince Harry - who became known over the years for his party-loving antics - is only to help plan and evening reception for Kate. As reported the Daily Mail, 300 of the closest friends of the couple were invited to bash, which will last well beyond midnight at the end of most British weddings. In fact, Harry expects the party to take so long that it also plans a special breakfast the next morning. The dubbing is "Breakfast of survival," the Mass is scheduled for 6 pm, when the chefs cook the sandwich and fry the bacon-ups (the British term for an English breakfast) for those who can stand on their feet until the morning. young royals will not have to worry about bothering the queen - Her Majesty and Prince Philip at Windsor Castle will be held for the night.

Prince William may be the royal in the relationship, but that hasn’t stopped Kate from becoming Queen of the Internet.  As Yahoo! has announced, Kate is searched three times more than her husband-to-be in the U.K., making her the most-searched royal.  Her search tally also means she beats out the likes of Sir Elton John and Lady Gaga for Britain’s top searched individual, falling only behind the British television personality Katie Price.  Things are a little different across the pond, however, where Prince Harry’s full head of hair and baby blues garner him six times more views than his future sister-in-law. Earlier this month, trend tracking company Global Language Monitor said Kate’s name has been searched almost 40 million times this year alone.
Facebook rant gets palace guard sacked from wedding duty
Just in case Facebook users needed another reason to make their profiles private, a palace guard has been relieved of his royal wedding duty because of offensive statements he allegedly posted to the social media site. As the Daily Mail reported, Cameron Reilly, 18, posted an online rant, calling princess-to-be Kate a “posh b***h” and a “stuck-up cow.”  The outrage came after Mr. Reilly thought he had been snubbed by the Royal couple in a drive by in March.  Mr. Reilly’s Facebook page also included offensive statements about Pakistanis and slurs about other groups.  Before his removal, Mr. Reilly was just one of the hundreds of Scots Guards who will be involved with the Royal Wedding this Friday.
A royal snub
With the final guest list for Friday’s wedding having been released, people are reacting to their not-invited status.  British singer Lily Allen took to her Twitter account to show her displeasure for the snub.  In the tweet, Ms. Allen makes reference to the 2007 Concert for Diana, in which both she and Joss Stone performed to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of the princess’ death. Sir Elton John, who was also a performer at the concert, will be attending the wedding with his husband, Canadian David Furnish.
Former British prime ministers and Labour Party leaders Tony Blair and Gordon Brown also failed to receive an invite to the wedding.  The Mirror reported that Buckingham Palace has been accused of being anti-Labour, after two of the men’s Conservative predecessors, Margaret Thatcher and Sir John Major, were invited.  Labour MP Denis MacShane told the Mirror: “Palace courtiers look down at anybody Labour.”
Bahrain’s crown prince turns down royal invite
The crown prince of Bahrain has declined his Royal Wedding invite as unrest continues in his kingdom.  As the BBC reports, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa’s attendance at the wedding had been petitioned against by local human rights campaigners, who have criticized his government’s treatment of protesters.  The campaigners were outraged over the royal’s invite, criticizing the Queen for failing to acknowledge the ongoing conflict in the area.  As human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said: “The invitations are a massive misjudgment by the monarch.  They show the Queen is out of touch with the humanitarian values of modern, liberal Britain. She’s putting royalty before human rights.”

Female boxer shot by stepdad before bout in Berlin

In this photo taken on Friday, April 1, 2011, German female boxer Rola El-Halabi is being taken to an ambulance after she was shot when preparing to fight Irma Balijagic Adler of Bosnia for the vacant IBF lightweight title, in Berlin Germany. El-Halabi's career is in doubt after she was shot by her stepfather and former manager before a title fight on Friday. (AP Photo/dapd, Andreas Markus)

BERLIN - An undefeated boxer from Germany was in her dressing room by her stepfather before a title fight shot and left him with injuries to the hands, knees and feet.
Rola El-Halabi was almost a man who was once manager made. Violation of the boxer 25 years is not life threatening, but can be endangering his career.
El-Halabi was waiting for a match with Irma Adler Balijagic vacant IBF title in Bosnia easy Friday night, when her stepfather of 44 years was in her dressing room and shot her.
He shot two security guards before he was arrested, the police said in Berlin. The three victims were taken to hospital for surgery.
Sunday edition of Bild newspaper that the shooter Roy El-Halabi identified and reported that 800 people were evacuated from the arena.
"Pope rushed into the room," said Rola El-Halabi newspaper. "He was threatened with a gun in his hand and cried:" All out! "Then he shot in the arm to three meters. I cried and cried."
Image reported that El-Halabi separated from her step-father as manager in January.
"If I had problems, I could talk to him about everything when it comes to boys," said El-Halabi. "It was a taboo."
He won Halabi WIBF and WIBA world title in 2009. She has a 11-0 record with six knockouts.