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Watch: X Factor USA Auditions (Episode 2)
first week of X-Factor USA auditions has come to a close and we have the most memorable performances for you here.
Viewers had the opportunity to see a lot of talented individuals over the 2, 2-hour episodes but there are three that stand out to me.
The first is Chris Rene. Viewers of the show will undoubtedly remember Chris Rene. He’s the 28-year-old recovering addict who performed a song he wrote the music and lyrics for called Young Homie. Immediately after he was featured on the show, he became one of the most searched terms on YouTube.
The second most memorable audition (in my opinion) is Stacy Francis. Stacy is a 42-year-old mom who’s ex-boyfriend told her she was too old to make it as a singer. She performed with soul and instantly touched the hearts of millions. She told Simon “I don’t want to die with this music in me, Simon.”
The last most memorable audition for me was likely not one that everyone remembers. The trio The Anser really struck a chord with me and I absolutely adored them. I know they didn’t have quite the story that some of the other contestants had but they seem like raw talent and a group that I would actually buy a record from. They performed a unique version of Adele’s Rolling in the Deep combined with Britney’s Til The World Ends and they nailed it.
Viewers had the opportunity to see a lot of talented individuals over the 2, 2-hour episodes but there are three that stand out to me.
The first is Chris Rene. Viewers of the show will undoubtedly remember Chris Rene. He’s the 28-year-old recovering addict who performed a song he wrote the music and lyrics for called Young Homie. Immediately after he was featured on the show, he became one of the most searched terms on YouTube.
The second most memorable audition (in my opinion) is Stacy Francis. Stacy is a 42-year-old mom who’s ex-boyfriend told her she was too old to make it as a singer. She performed with soul and instantly touched the hearts of millions. She told Simon “I don’t want to die with this music in me, Simon.”
The last most memorable audition for me was likely not one that everyone remembers. The trio The Anser really struck a chord with me and I absolutely adored them. I know they didn’t have quite the story that some of the other contestants had but they seem like raw talent and a group that I would actually buy a record from. They performed a unique version of Adele’s Rolling in the Deep combined with Britney’s Til The World Ends and they nailed it.
Anti-American Extremists Among Libyan Rebels US Has Vowed To Protect
WASHINGTON -- In 2007, when American combat casualties were spiking in the bloodbath of the Iraq War, an 18-year-old laborer traveled from his home in eastern Libya through Egypt and Syria to join an al Qaeda terrorist cell in Iraq. He gave his name to al Qaeda operatives as Ashraf Ahmad Abu-Bakr al-Hasri. Occupation, he wrote: “Martyr.’’
Abu-Bakr was one of hundreds of foreign fighters who flocked into the killing zones of Iraq to wage war against the “infidels." They came from Saudi Arabia, Syria, Oman, Algeria and other Islamic states. But on a per capita basis, no country sent more young fighters into Iraq to kill Americans than Libya -- and almost all of them came from eastern Libya, the center of the anti-Gaddafi rebellion that the United States and others now have vowed to protect, according to internal al Qaeda documents uncovered by U.S. intelligence.
The informal alliance with violent Islamist extremist elements is a coming-home of sorts for the United States, which initially fought on the same side as the Libyan fighters in Afghanistan in the 1980s, battling the Soviet Union.
According to a cache of al Qaeda documents captured in 2007 by U.S. special operations commandos in Sinjar, Iraq, hundreds of foreign fighters, many of them untrained young Islamic volunteers, poured into Iraq in 2006 and 2007. The documents, called the Sinjar documents, were collected, translated and analyzed at the West Point Counter Terrorism Center. Almost one in five foreign fighters arriving in Iraq came from eastern Libya, from the towns of Surt, Misurata and Darnah.
On a per capita basis, that’s more than twice as many than came from any other Arabic-speaking country, amounting to what the counter terrorism center called a Libyan “surge" of young men eager to kill Americans.
During 2006 and 2007, a total of 1,468 Americans were killed in combat and 12,524 were badly wounded, according to Pentagon records.
Today, there is little doubt that eastern Libya, like other parts of the Arab world, is experiencing a genuine burst of anti-totalitarian fervor, expressed in demands for political freedom and economic reforms. But there also is a dark history to eastern Libya, which is the home of the Islamic Libyan Fighting Group, an anti-Gaddafi organization officially designated by the State Department as a terrorist organization.
Gaddafi Defies Ceasefire As Forces Attack Rebel Stronghold Of Benghazi
Gaddafi's forces advance into Benghazi pre-empted an international meeting hosted by France on Saturday to discuss military intervention in Libya. The meeting will be attended by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Arab leaders.
"We saw Gaddafi's tanks, cars and missile trucks less than five km away," a rebel figher giving his name as Mohammed told Reuters.
Libya had declared a unilateral ceasefire on Friday after the U.N. Security Council authorised a no-fly zone over Libya.
But the United States accused Gaddafi of defying international demands for an immediate ceasefire, and France's U.N. envoy predicted military action within hours of the Paris meeting on Libya on Saturday.
Libyan rebels said they were being forced to retreat by Gaddafi's forces. Black plumes of smoke could be seen on the road to the west of the city, a Reuters witness said.
"They were 60 km (40 miles) away yesterday, today they are 20 kms away and they can be here in a half hour to 90 minutes," rebel fighter Khalid Ahmed told Reuters at a rebel base on the western edge of the city.
"We have no hope in the Western forces," Ahmed added as around him rebel forces pulled back from the advancing frontline.
Elsewhere in the city, rebels also reported skirmishes and strikes by Gaddafi forces.
"Fighter jets bombed the road to the airport and there's been an air strike on the Abu Hadi district on the outskirts," Mohammed Dwo, a hospital worker and a rebel supporter, told Reuters.
He was speaking at the scene of an apparent firefight between rebels and what they claimed were two mercenaries who had infiltrated the city and were driving in a car which they said contained a crate of handgrenades.
The two men, in civilian clothes, had been shot and killed and rebels produced blood-soaked identity papers they said showed them to be of Nigerian nationality.
"We were sitting here and we received gunfire from this vehicle then we opened fire and after that it crashed," rebel fighter Meri Dersi said.
LANDING BY BOAT
Jamal bin Nour, a member of a neighbourhood watch group, told Reuters he had received a call to say government forces were landing by boat, but it was impossible to confirm the information.
The city has been so rife with rumours and hearsay that it is virtually impossible to verify due to lack of communications.
A unilateral ceasefire declared on Friday by the Libyan government appeared to have done little to convince outside powers to hold off on plans for air strikes to force an end to an increasingly bloody civil war.
Within hours of President Barack Obama saying the terms of a U.N. resolution meant to end fighting in Libya were non-negotiable, his U.N. envoy, Susan Rice, asked by CNN whether Gaddafi was in violation of these terms, said: "Yes, he is."
Gaddafi said there was no justification for the U.N. resolution.
"This is blatant colonialism. It does not have any justification. This will have serious consequences on the Mediterranean and on Europe," he said in comments reported by Al Jazeera television.
France, which along with Britain has been leading a drive for military intervention, will host a meeting on Saturday on Libya which will be attended by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Arab leaders.
"So I guess that after this summit, I think that in the coming hours, I think we will go to launch the military intervention," the French ambassador to the United Nations ambassador Gerard Araud told BBC's Newsnight.
Obama made clear any military action would aim to change conditions across Libya -- rather than just in the rebel-held east -- by calling on Gaddafi's forces to pull back from the western cities of Zawiyah and Misrata as well as from the east. "All attacks against civilians must stop," Obama said, a day after the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution authorising international military intervention.
"Gaddafi must stop his troops from advancing on Benghazi, pull them back from Ajdabiya, Misrata and Zawiyah, and establish water, electricity and gas supplies to all areas. Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to reach the people of Libya ...
"Let me be clear, these terms are not negotiable... If Gaddafi does not comply ... the resolution will be enforced through military action."
In Tripoli the government said there had been no bombing since it announced the ceasefire.
"We have had no bombardment of any kind since the ceasefire was declared," Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaim told journalists when asked about reports of continued government operations in Misrata and other parts of the country.
Kaim said Libya was asking China, Germany, Malta and Turkey to send observers to monitor its adherence to the ceasefire.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said on Friday everything was ready to launch military strikes in Libya.
The United States, after embarking on wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, had insisted it would participate in rather than lead any military action. Obama said the United States would not deploy ground troops in Libya.
Wonder Woman' Adrianne Palicki in Costume- What do you think?
We now have our first look at Adrianne Palicki in costume for David E. Kelley’s upcoming Wonder Woman TV series. The look? None more pleathery. While I assumed that the TV show would go with a more natural looking costume along the lines of Jim Lee’s recent redesign, it appears that the show will go with a more old-school/we-bought-this-off-the-rack-at-Party-City approach. However, unlike the traditional Wonder Woman costume, this one will have pants. They’re tight, clearly uncomfortable pants that probably squeak every time she moves, but it’s a step up from the granny panties of Lynda Carter’s costume of the 1970s TV series. The costume for the new TV series also, ahem, “lifts and separates.”
Hit the jump to check out Palicki in costume. The pilot, which also stars Elizabeth Hurley and Carey Elwes, is currently filming.
The pilot was written by Kelley, who also serves as executive producer with Bill D’Elia (Boston Legal, The Practice, Harry’s Law). Jeffrey Reiner (The Event) is directing. Based upon DC Comics characters, Wonder Woman is from David E. Kelley Productions and Warner Bros. Television. 2011 NBC/Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. Photo Credit: Justin Lubin.
Michigan Crushes Tennessee 75-45, Advances To Second Round
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Michigan coach John Beilein was so worried about rebounding a day before facing Tennessee he joked he was going to box out a reporter in the hallway.
His undersized but plucky and relentless team got the message and then some – enough to send Volunteers coach Bruce Pearl to an early offseason of uncertainty.
Zack Novak scored 14 points, including two 3-pointers in a decisive spurt to start the second half, and Michigan beat listless Tennessee 75-45 on Friday in the West region to end a season of distractions for the Volunteers.
In only their second NCAA tournament appearance since 1998, the eighth-seeded Wolverines (21-13) turned a four-point halftime lead into a rout when they got hot from the outside and found a way to stop Tennessee freshman Tobias Harris.
After scoring 19 points and not missing a combined 13 shots from the field and foul line in the first half, Harris went scoreless on 0-of-5 shooting as ninth-seeded Tennessee was outscored 42-16.
Stu Douglass, Matt Vogrich and Tim Hardaway Jr. all scored 11 points for Michigan, which shot 52 percent from the field and held a 36-26 rebounding edge in its 10th win in 14 games.
The loss was the eighth in 12 games for the Volunteers (19-15) as Pearl's future as coach is in question after he admitted lying to NCAA investigators.
Pearl has since served an eight-game suspension, forfeited $1.5 million in pay over the next four seasons and is working without a contract.
Athletic director Mike Hamilton, who had strongly supported his coach, wavered this week in a radio interview in which he said "the jury is still out" on whether Pearl will return.
Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl Rips, Rebuffs 'Glee'
Dave Grohl don't wanna be "Glee's" monkey wrench. And Ryan Murphy isn't his hero.
Song play on words aside, the Foo Fighters won't be on "Glee" anytime soon.
Grohl, the band's lead singer, spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about the high school choir dramedy's penchant for using current pop music. He's not a fan of the pressure the show's creator puts on bands to give permission to use their songs.
"It's every band's right, you shouldn't have to do fucking 'Glee,'" Grohl told The Hollywood Reporter. "And then the guy who created 'Glee' is so offended that we're not, like, begging to be on his f**king show... f**k that guy for thinking anybody and everybody should want to do 'Glee.'"
The rocker went on to mention the dispute Murphy and Kings of Leon had earlier in the year; Murphy was upset that the band didn't want their music on the show, and their drummer, Nathan Followill, struck back.
"F--- you, Kings of Leon," Murphy told The Hollywood Reporter in January. "They're self-centered assholes, and they missed the big picture. They missed that a 7-year-old kid can see someone close to their age singing a Kings of Leon song, which will maybe make them want to join a glee club or pick up a musical instrument. It's like, OK, hate on arts education. You can make fun of Glee all you want, but at its heart, what we really do is turn kids on to music."
In response, Followill said, "Dear Ryan Murphy, let it go. See a therapist, get a manicure, buy a new bra. Zip your lip and focus on educating 7yr olds how to say f**k."Those comments were seen as homophobic by some -- Murphy is openly gay -- and following the criticism, Followill apologized for the words, though not for refusing the show.
Ironically, it was a dispute that "Glee" guest star Gwyneth Paltrow helped mediate, and "Glee" cast members have since been seen at Kings of Leon shows.
Still, it doesn't seem like that's in the cards for the Foo Fighters -- Grohl revealed that he's no fan of the show himself.
"I watched 10 minutes. It's not my thing," he told THR.
For much more on Grohl's dispute with "Glee," click over to The Hollywood Reporter
'Supermoon' Visible This Weekend
A supermoon is a new or full moon that happens to coincide with a close approach of the moon to the earth. Saturday's full moon will be the closest it has been to Earth in 18 years, according to Spaceweather.com.
The distance between the Earth and the moon during the event will be about 221,567 miles, as compared to the average distance of 238,000 miles, according to Space.com.
That may not seem like much of a difference (and compared to the distance it's not), but the diameter of the moon is only 2,159 miles. That means the moon will be over 7.5 diameters closer to Earth than average.
While many believe the 'supermoon' can be linked to natural disasters (namely the Japan earthquake), Space.com says that's not the case.
It was astrologer Richard Nolle who linked the full moon of March 19 to natural disasters. He claimed that this "supermoon" would trigger massive earthquakes, volcanoes and powerful storms when it arrived. But scientists assure that this is not the case.
[Noted NASA scientist Jim] Garvin, for example, said the moon's effects on Earth have been the subject of extensive studies.
Britney Spears ‘Good Morning America’ Concert Teaser
Odd Future & Wiz Khalifa To Perform AT MTVU Woodie Awards
Wiz Khalifa and Odd Future will take to the stage to perform at the 2011 mtvU Woodie Awards. Should be a crazy show with Wiz Khalifa who is up for Woodie of The Year, given to the years best act. OFWGKTA is emerging from the new LA rap scene and should definitely follow up with a crazy performance. The 2011 mtvU Woodie Awards will air live on MTV, MTV2 and mtvU from the South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday, March 16, at midnight ET/PT.
UN Security Council allows 'all necessary measures' to protect Libyan civilians
The United Nations Security Council voted Thursday to approve a resolution authorizing international military intervention in Libya to protect civilians from harm.Forces loyal to Col. Muammar Qaddafi have been overrunning one opposition stronghold after another and are close to crushing the rebellion that has threatened his 41-year reign. Now the rebels have the backing of the international community, including the United States, if it is not too late.
The resolution, which was drafted by France, Britain, and Lebanon, goes beyond a no-fly zone. It authorizes states to take “all necessary measures” to enforce a ban on flights and protect civilians from harm. That could include targeted air strikes on Libyan military forces, but excludes a ground invasion or occupation force. The resolution passed by a vote of 10 to 0, with five nations abstaining: Russia, China, Germany, India, and Brazil.
IN PICTURES: Qaddafi: A look back
Initially, the United States was reluctant to support even just a no-fly zone over Libya, until the Arab League came out in support of one last Saturday. Once an international consensus began to form, the US did an about-face. In deliberations at the UN, the Obama administration had called for the authority to use force by land, sea, and air, on the condition that Arab governments be centrally involved.
Speaking in Tunisia, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Thursday that a no-fly zone would include “certain actions taken to protect the planes and the pilots, including bombing targets like the Libyan defense systems.”
“Qaddafi must go,” she added.
The Security Council voted as Mr. Qaddafi’s forces prepared for a major offensive against the rebel stronghold of Benghazi in eastern Libya. Thursday evening, Qaddafi went on state television and warned rebel forces, “We are coming tonight.”
Even as the Security Council took action, concerns grew that the measure was too late to stop Qaddafi from fully reasserting control over the country.
France, however, insisted it was not too late. Its prime minister said action could come within hours of the vote, according to the Associated Press.
And in Benghazi itself, the mood shifted in an instant to one of triumph as the Libyan opposition lit up the sky with celebratory gunfire within 2 minutes of the resolution passing.
Michael Gough, Batman's Alfred, dies aged 94
The actor had not been well for the past year and passed away at home surrounded by family, his agent said.
Gough appeared in more than 150 films and TV shows during his 65-year career.
He continued to work with Burton, starring in Sleepy Hollow and also providing voices in Corpse Bride and Alice in Wonderland.
"Tim Burton was a huge fan of Mick from the Hammer Horror films of the 60s, so he tried very hard to include him in everything he did," said Gough's agent.
"We've lost a very treasured and beloved friend and somebody who made a magnificent contribution to the world of theatre and films," she added.
Born in Kuala Lumpur, Gough started his career in the 1946 television movie Androcles and the Lion.
Gough starred as the Celestial Toymaker in a 1965 episode of Doctor Who opposite William Hartnell
In the early 1960s he starred in a number of TV series including The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Count of Monte Christo and The Saint.
The next two decades saw him appear in more cult series including The Avengers, The Champions, Colditz and Blake's 7.
He was also known to Doctor Who fans after appearing in a 1965 episode entitled The Celestial Toymaker and again in the 1980s in an episode opposite the fifth Doctor, played by Peter Davison.
But Gough will be best remembered for his role as Alfred Pennyworth in the four-film Batman franchise, starring opposite Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer and George Clooney.
He is survived by his fourth wife, Henrietta, daughter Emma and sons Simon and Jasper.
Yale killing suspect admits murder, gets 44 years
A Yale University lab technician pleaded guilty Thursday to murder and attempted sexual assault in the killing of graduate student Annie Le in 2009.
Raymond Clark III will be sentenced to 44 years in prison as part of the plea agreement.
In court Thursday, prosecutors described injuries to the victim and evidence of attempted sexual assault.
Le, 24, was strangled to death. She had a broken jaw and collarbone, the prosecution said. Clark's DNA was "all over" the crime scene, including in her underwear, the state charged.
Le's body was discovered inside a wall of a Yale lab building four days later after an extensive search by the FBI and police.
Clark, 26, admitted the facts as the prosecution presented them but pleaded guilty under a legal precedent that allows him to do so while still officially protesting his innocence.
He entered Judge Roland Fasano's packed courtroom handcuffed, winking at his father as he walked in. His handcuffs were removed for the proceedings.
2009: Slain Yale student remembered
2010: Yale student murder evidence
RELATED TOPICS
* Annie Le
* Raymond Clark
* Murder and Homicide
* Yale University
"This is not the Ray we know," Clark's father said tearfully outside the court after the hearing.
"I want you to know Ray has expressed remorse from the beginning," he added, saying how difficult it was "to imagine your child did the unthinkable."
"My family and I send deepest sympathy to the Le family," said Clark's father, also called Raymond.
Clark pleaded guilty under the Alford doctrine, which allows a defendant to assert that he is innocent but plead guilty when he "intelligently concludes that his interests require a guilty plea and the record strongly evidences guilt."
Clark had pleaded not guilty in January 2010.
Le was pursuing a doctorate in pharmacology at Yale when she went missing September 8, 2009.
She had planned to marry Columbia graduate student Jonathan Widawsky on the day her body was found.
Clark was not a Yale student but had worked as a lab technician at the university since 2004, after graduating from high school. He lived with his girlfriend, who also is a Yale lab technician, according to police.
A Yale faculty member described Clark's job as maintaining colonies for animals used in research.
NCAA Tournament First Round 2011: March Madness Live Updates
March Madness is finally here! The first round of the 2011 NCAA tournament kicks off Thursday at 12:15 ET with the No. 5 West Virginia going up against No. 12 Clemson. At 12:40, No. 9 Old Dominion squares off against No. 8 Butler. You can watch the games on CBS and TruTV. Vote on which teams will come out of the East, West, Southwest and Southeast regions. We will be providing live updates from the first round action so get your brackets ready!
[UPDATE] 5 Die in Long Beach Plane Crash; Irvine Real Estate Executive May Have Perished
LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Two prominent Long Beach, Calif., real estate developers and a bicycle advocate are among five people killed in the fiery crash of a twin-engine plane at the city's airport.
Mike Murchison, who's a local business consultant and spokesman for developer Tom Dean, says Dean, developer Jeff Berger and bicycle advocate Mark Bixby were killed in the crash. The identities of the other two people who died weren't immediately available.
Murchison says another passenger, Mike Jensen, is hospitalized in critical condition.
The Long Beach Airport director says the Beechcraft King Air turboprop had taken off but was circling back when it crashed and burst into flames at about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Stick it, Glenn Beck! Bronx Museum of the Arts touts borough's positive stories
First came an "American Idol" contestant groaning about growing up in the Bronx with all its "gangs, drugs, violence."
Then Fox News pundit Glenn Beck railed against Co-Op City as a failed socialist experiment.
And a nationwide study released earlier this month ranked the Cross Bronx Expressway the second-most gridlocked highway in the country.
It seems the hits just keep on coming. But at the Bronx Museum of the Arts, they are looking to quash all that trash talk.
The museum is presenting Bronx Talks: Bronx Stories, a free storytelling event designed to highlight positive images of the borough at 6 p.m. tomorrow at the museum, located at 1040 Grand Concourse.
"The goal is to challenge the stereotypes of the Bronx," said the museum's Bridget Bartolini, who brainstormed the idea.
The event is the latest push to invoke Bronx pride.
Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. called on Bronxites to defend their borough after Beck's comments and the "American Idol" segment. Online, the blogosphere lit up with pro-Bronx music videos and calls of "Bronx pride!"
The museum event will feature a special screening of the documentary "Richie Perez Watches 'Fort Apache: The Bronx'" and four storytellers sharing their Bronx experiences. The audience will be invited to share their stories.
Museum volunteer Miriam Tabb plans to talk about her time at Bronx Community College in the mid-1990s. The Bronxite, who has been boycotting "Idol" since January, hopes her love for the borough comes through.
"I just love all the diversity of people here," she said. "I really love my borough, but it gets a bad rap all around."
Writer/performer Michele Carlo will be sharing from her memoir, "Fish Out of Agua: My Life on the Neither Side of the (Subway) Tracks."
"I'm telling a story from my teenagehood. It's about discovery and loss and growing up. It's bittersweet," she said.
RIGA, Latvia -- New dinosaur species found in Angola
Police said Wednesday they have smashed a huge international pedophile ring, rescuing 230 children from abuse and arresting 184 suspects -- including teachers and police officers.
The three-year investigation code named Operation Rescue uncovered 670 suspects and identified and safeguarded children in more than 30 countries by arresting people accused of abusing them, said Rob Wainwright, director of the European Union police agency Europol.
The ring was centered on an Amsterdam-based online forum called boylover.net, which Wainwright described as "probably the largest online pedophile network in the world."
"These are very serious crimes on a truly global basis," he added.
The heavily encrypted forum, whose administrator appeared in a Dutch court on Tuesday charged with sex offenses, had up to 70,000 members.
The investigation was led by Britain's Child Exploitation and Online Protection Center but also involved law enforcement agencies as far afield as Australia, the United States and Thailand.
Peter Davies of the British child protection center said there would be more arrests as the investigations continue.
"Those who have been members of the site can expect a knock on the door in the very near future," he said. In Britain, police said, the children involved were ages 7 to 14.
Wainwright said the website was intended as a discussion forum where pedophiles could "share their sexual interest in young boys."
Europol released parts of online conversations and other posts including a discussion between two suspects, identified only as X and Y, about their attraction to boys wearing diapers.
Y said he had convinced one boy he needed to wear a diaper every weekend from the age of nine to 13. "They were the happiest four years of my life," he said.
After making initial contact on the forum, members would use e-mail and other electronic channels to share images and video of children being abused, Wainwright said.
Justin Timberlake & Mila Kunis Get Naked
The rumored couple get naked their new romantic comedy called "Friends With Benefits." Justin and Mila both said that they saw pretty much all of their co-star due to the large number of sex scenes inthe movie. It's also rumored that filming the movie might have broken up Justin and long time girlfreind Jessica Biel. Kunis and Timberlake will be out promotng the film togther soon so we'll be able to see their chemistry off screen as well.
New seismic fault revealed near California nuclear plant
SAN FRANCISCO - An unknown seismic fault has been detected on the ocean floor a half-mile from Pacific Gas & Electric Co.'s nuclear power plant in Diablo Canyon in central California. A company report on the discovery says the plant could safely withstand a magnitude- 6.5 quake on the fault.
The fault zone was detected more than two years ago by scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey working with the utility and was promptly reported to the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission, but its existence did not become widely known until Tuesday.
William Ellsworth, the USGS scientist who developed the method used to determine the fault's dimensions, said it is "not a major fault." The Shoreline Fault Zone runs for 14 miles offshore in three segments, roughly from the vicinity of a coastal feature called Point Buchon northwest of the plant to well out in San Luis Obispo Bay.
Ellsworth said the USGS and the utility have long had a standard cooperative agreement to work jointly on seismic research. He said the fault was found by scientists gathering seafloor data to assess probabilities for major quakes in the Bay Area.
The fault, Ellsworth said, runs vertically about 6 miles beneath the seafloor and is known as a "strike-slip" fault, which means that in its motion one side would slip past the other.
The fault lies about 3 miles inshore from the well-known Hosgri Fault, whose discovery in 1971 by scientists forced PG&E to upgrade the plant's design.
The Situation Bombs At The Roast Of Donald Trump On Comedy Central (VIDEO)
Maybe comedy ain't my game right now." Truer words were never spoken, neither by man nor meathead.
The question was not whether Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino would be funny on the Comedy Central Roast of Donald Trump. (You had one of the most laughable personalities in the history of television on stage next to real comedians...whatever happened, it would be funny.) The question is whether or not The Sitch (let's face it, the man is in dire need of a diminutive) knew why people were laughing at him or not.
In case you missed it, let us sum it up this way: The Situation bombed so hard at The Roast of Donald Trump, he was nearly booed off stage until Jeffrey Ross came to his rescue (presumably for the sake of the show, not the "Jersey Shore" star's dignity...which like the Easter Bunny, doesn't exist).
What stands out most about The Situation's performance is simply the lack of perspective. He seems to be laboring under the notion that whatever he wants to do, he can. And why not? Being a guy with no real ambition beyond some kind of bizarre tanning, working out and laundry ethos has paid off for him handsomely so far. Why shouldn't he think, "oh, yeah, I can do comedy"? Why shouldn't Snooki write a novel, for that matter?
One would hope that the reaction The Situation got would give him pause to reconsider his life choices, but one would be wrong. According to Lisa Lampanelli, when he returned to his seat on the dais he said he thought it went pretty well. I guess it depends on your criteria for judgment. Did he do "pretty well" compared to how the actual comedians surrounding him did? Not by a long shot. Did he do "pretty well" compared to his fellow non-comedians, Marlee Matlin, Larry King and Snoop Dogg did? No way. In fact, Matlin and Snoop had two of our favorite sets of the night. But did he do "pretty well" compared to how someone from the cast of "Jerseylicious" might have done? Maybe.
Demi Lovato Explains Her New Tattoo
The 18 year old Sonny with a Chance star just got two new tattoos on her wrist after leaving rehab and tells us the reason why below. She explained that was inspired by all the fan support she received while in rehab for emotional and physical issues after a fight with a backup dancer.
Nate Dogg Dead: Rapper Nathaniel D. Hale Reportedly Dies At 41
Nate Dogg is dead, according to a report in his hometown Long Beach Press Telegram, which cited a family announcement.
Friend and collaborator Snoop Dogg appeared to confirm the news by tweeting, "RIP NATE DOGG" and later "We lost a true legend n hip hop n rnb. One of my best friends n a brother to me since 1986 when I was a sophomore at poly high where we met."
TMZ says they have confirmed the report but did not indicate how.
The legendary musician, whose real name was Nathaniel D. Hale, was part of the west coast rap scene and collaborated on hit songs with many top recording artists including Warren G, 50 Cent and Eminem.
He was 41 and had battled health complications. On Sunday, Warren G tweeted, "For those that dont know awhile back nate had 2 strokes he is in therapy thanks again for your support."
Ke$ha's Bikini Malfunction
The blood-drinking singer just hit the beach in a high waisted bikini today in Adelaide, Australia. Ke$ha's choice of bikini's has been criticized in the past and her newest choice is no different. The black bikini was less than flattering and her yoga posses were very strange and awkward for passer-bys. In related news, she will be traveling to Japan and South Korea soon for a few concerts before heading back to the U.S.
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. (born October 20, 1971), better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American entertainer, rapper, record producer and actor. Snoop is best known as an MC in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school. Shortly after graduation, he was arrested for cocaine possession and spent six months in Wayside County Jail. His music career began in 1992 after his release when he was discovered by Dr. Dre. He collaborated on several tracks on Dre's solo debut, The Chronic and on the titular theme song to the film Deep Cover.
Snoop's debut album, Doggystyle was released in 1993 under Death Row Records. Doggystyle went quadruple platinum and spawned several hit singles, including "What's My Name" and "Gin & Juice". In 1996, Snoop Dogg was cleared of charges over his bodyguard's 1993 murder of Philip Woldemariam. His third album, 1996's Tha Doggfather, was his last release for Death Row before he signed with No Limit Records, where he recorded three albums from 1998 to 2001. Snoop then signed with Priority/Capitol/EMI Records in 2002, which released his album Paid tha Cost to Be da Boss, and then he signed with Geffen Records in 2004 for his next three albums.
In addition to music, Snoop Dogg has starred in motion pictures and hosted several television shows: Doggy Fizzle Televizzle, Snoop Dogg's Father Hood and Dogg After Dark. He also coaches a youth football league and high school football team. He has run into many legal troubles, some of which caused him to be legally banned from the UK and Australia, the UK ban was later reversed after a long legal battle.[1] He is the cousin of emcees Nate Dogg, Daz Dillinger, RBX and Lil' ½ Dead and the cousin of R&B singers Brandy and Ray J. Starting September 2009, Snoop was hired by EMI as the chairman of a reactivated Priority Records.[2] His tenth studio album, Malice n Wonderland, was released December 8, 2009.
Cops: Kacey Jordan Tries to Commit Suicide
Kacey Jordan -- a porn star who partied with Charlie Sheen during his cocaine binge back in January -- tried to kill herself last night ... this according to police.
We're told when cops got to the hotel, Kacey was sitting on her bed -- with prescription pill bottles, broken glass and alcohol all over her room.
Law enforcement sources tell us Jordan had cuts and scrapes to her wrists and arms ... but insisted the suicide messages were merely a publicity stunt.
While Kacey was talking to police, we're told the porn star grabbed a corkscrew bottle opener ... tried to run out of the room ... and attempted to cut herself.
Cops eventually subdued Kacey before she could further harm herself and took her to a nearby hospital for a mental evaluation.
We're told cops reported the incident as a non-criminal suicide attempt.
Justin Bieber Rocks London
The pop singer just performed at O2 Arena to a very raucous crowd and even brought Graid David out on stage. After the show @JustinBieber tweeted, "AMAZING SHOW 2nite at the O2!! Brought out Craig David which was crazy because I grew up listening to him. 2 more shows at the O2 this week...and the surprises are just getting bigger!" He was also swarmed by fans as he tried to make his way back to hotel.
Check out his London performance below
UCLA is 'lethal' on the break, MSU's Tom Izzo says
UCLA. Early Monday afternoon, he was ready to talk about what he'd seen.
"It's as good a matchup as we can be in this weekend," Michigan State's coach said. "I think (UCLA) is a very good team. It's hard to see certain things on film."
The Bruins' athleticism, he said, "is hardest to see on film."
UCLA, the Southeast Regional's No. 7 seed, will play No. 10 seed MSU at about 9:20 p.m. Thursday in Tampa.
The Bruins are led by 6-foot-8 slashers Reeves Nelson and Tyler Honeycutt and 6-5 shooting guard Malcolm Lee. All three made the All-Pac-10 first team (which had 10 players).
"That's an incredible feat for them," Izzo said.
But that doesn't even include UCLA's most imposing player: 6-10, 305-pound Josh Smith, who averages 10.6 points. The freshman center possesses nimble feet and soft hands, not unlike MSU center Derrick Nix, who will get plenty of minutes guarding Smith.
"I'm up for the challenge," said Nix, about 6-9, 290. "I will be prepared."
Izzo said Nix has shown maturity in recent weeks. Nix said that compliment is partly because he apologized to Izzo for his inability to stay in shape -- Nix would like to play at 270 -- and partly because he recently has displayed dedication to the free-throw line and exercise after practice.
MSU will need minutes from Nix to bang with the Bruins' massive force down low. But the Spartans also will need Draymond Green, Durrell Summers and Delvon Roe to slow the wing players.
"Honeycutt is an NBA prospect," Izzo said. "The glue of the team may be Nelson -- a very good passer, a good rebounder, a poor man's (Kevin) Love. The most lethal part of their game is on the break."
MSU guard Kalin Lucas is salivating about that. After two months banging against teams familiar with every play they run, the Spartans will get out in the open floor Thursday night. This often happens at tournament time. MSU slugs its way through the Big Ten, then gets in the tournament and starts running.
It's a chance to remind the country that MSU possesses some speed and athleticism -- that the Spartans aren't just, as ESPN analyst Doug Gottlieb said, "Kalin Lucas and a bunch of other dudes."
The Bachelor' 2011 spoilers: Emily Maynard favored to win Brad Womack's final rose over Chantal
Brad Womack will not reveal whether he has given the final rose to Emily Maynard or Chantal O'Brien on the season finale of "The Bachelor," but he doesn't mind revealing who he wants to be the next bachelorette.
After Monday night's "Bachelor" finale, the next star of "The Bachelorette" will be announced on ABC during "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" -- and Womack has a particular brunette in mind.
"Everyone thinks I'm crazy, but Madison. Yep, I said it!" the 38-year-old Texan recently told Extra TV.
Madison Garton took herself out of ABC show's competition at the beginning of the 15th season -- during the 3rd rose ceremony -- to the shock of the 25-year-old model's cast mates.
"She left on her own accord. She's very driven, very determined to be who she is," Womack told the entertainment show. "She is very multi-dimensional. I like Madison. I'm a Madison fan."
As for Womack's final rose, rumor has it that Emily Maynard, the 24-year-old hospital event planner from Morgantown, W. Va., will be the lucky winner. The widow of a NASCAR driver, she has a 5-year-old daughter and took a while to open up to Womack.
Her competition, Chantal O'Brien, is a 28-year-old executive assistant and dog lover from Mercer Island, Wash., who claims she has a "ridiculous connection" with Womack.
Womack, who returned to the show this yearn after refusing to make a choice in season 11, said he found “my girl” and will “hopefully” get married after the show concludes.
"That’s always been the goal for me. Find a girl, settle down, get married and have 20 babies," he told Extra.
Vanessa Hudgens Making Out With Alexa Nikolas
Brand new scandalous photos of Vanessa Hudens making out with fellow actress Alexa Nikolas have just leaked. The new photos show Hudgens kissing Nikolas and Nikolas making out with several other young women. Alexa is one of the stars of the hit Nickelodeon show Zoey 101 and we all know Vanessa from High School Music and her past nude leaked photos.
Head over to Egotastic for the more risque shots of Vanessa Hudgens and Alexa Nikolas!
Mathematicians celebrate Pi Day
Mathematicians around the world are celebrating “Pi Day” and promoting efforts to solve the numerical puzzle that has been leading researchers in circles for centuries. Pi, the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter, is celebrated each year on March 14th (3/14) in honor of it’s first digits, 3.14.
Research into the highly important concept dates can be seen in texts dating as back as far as the ancient Egyptian, Babylonian and Indian civilizations. In modern times, Pi Day was the brainchild of theoretical physicist Larry Shaw, who created the day in 1989 while working at the San Francisco Exploratorium.
In 2009, House lawmakers enshrined the day as a national holiday across the United States.
Celebrations range from college parties to a catering gift from researchers at Raytheon. Raytheon celebrated by delivering “hundreds of apple pies to math and science teachers at public middle and high schools located within a 3.14-mile radius of the company’s headquarters in Waltham, Massachusetts.”
Sucker Punch - Official Trailer [HD]
From your movie director regarding Watchmen and also 3 hundred, Zack Snyder, will come one more graphic meal actions motion picture, Sucker Punch. The particular imaginative filmmaker continues to be lauded regarding his / her awesome images inside his / her motion pictures, yet that is regarded as being his / her many authentic motion picture. The particular account with the motion picture will be published by Snyder, in addition to Charlie Shibuya. The particular sci-fi actions will be motion picture delivers a great all-female forged right after he previously completed the particular testosterone-filled 3 hundred inside 2007. The particular collection contains Emily Lightly browning (Lemony Snicket’s Some Unlucky Events), Abbie Cornish (Bright Star), Jena Malone (Into The particular Wild), Jamie Chung (Sorority Row), and also Vanessa Hudgens (High University Audio. ) Watch Sucker Punch to find out them doing his thing.
Inside Sucker Impact, a new lady known as Babydoll has been provided for the particular emotional establishment inside the 1950s simply by the girl step-father right after the girl mommy perished. Babydoll acquired any outrageous creativeness and also the lady makes use of these to attempt to avoid fact. There are occasions even though that there are simply no showing among creativeness and also fact because the traces acquire fuzzy. Yet the lady adores that since the lady can easily move everywhere in which the girl brain will take the girl since the girl tips usually are not certain simply by area and also moment. Right after possessing recently been closed apart in opposition to the girl can, she actually is established to be able to escape this kind of establishment just before the lady receives lobotomized. Great huh? Can’t hold out to look at Sucker Impact On the web?
The lady next persuades several some other women to participate the girl with this outrageous quest. Babydoll, in addition to Explode, Blondie, Silpada, and also Nice Pea, need to combat with each other contrary to the handbags regarding Glowing blue, Madam Gorski, as well as the Large Roller. The particular all-female combating staff must struggle in opposition to mythic critters and also villainous samurais. They need to figure out how to compromise assured regarding keeping still living. The particular group will be next aided by way of a Smart Person on the awesome journey on the avoid.
Philosophy:
Snyder provides explained the particular motion picture since “Alice inside Wonderland together with equipment guns”, which includes dragons, B-25 bombers and also brothels. Snyder’s better half and also creating spouse Deborah Snyder Inside Nov 2010, Warner Bros. introduced the state summary for your motion picture. ends, “in the conclusion, it’s concerning this girl’s tactical and also just what the lady has to carry out in order to manage. ”
Emerge The particular 1950′s in to the brilliant creativeness of your younger lady put with a emotional establishment simply by the girl step-father time right after the girl mommy perished, together with simply the girl desires offering the greatest avoid coming from the girl deeper fact. Unrestrained from the limits of energy and also spot, she actually is absolve to move in which the girl brain will take the girl, and also the girl extraordinary escapades blur the particular traces among what’s genuine and also what exactly is fabricated.
Sucker Impact furthermore celebrities Oscar Isaac, Carla Gugino, Jon Hamm, and also Scott Glenn because the Smart Person. The particular motion picture will be created by Zack Snyder and also his / her better half Deborah. It’ll be introduced inside theaters this kind of Goal twenty-five. You can even Watch Sucker Punch Online the following at no cost.
Usher's Sex Tape Leaks
TMZ reports that someone approached the them with a video and a few screenshots of a sex tape starring Usher and ex-wife Tameka Foster. Apparently, the tape was taken from Usher during a December 2010 robbery in which he reported $1,000,000 in valuables were stolen from his SUV in Atlanta. He reportedly lost jewelry and a few laptops in the robbery which could have stored the sex tape.
Charlie Sheen admits: I’m losing my mind
HELLRAISER Charlie Sheen finally confirmed yesterday what the world has known for weeks… as he admitted: “I’m losing my mind.Actor Sheen, 45, made the admission as he launched a ?100million lawsuit over his sacking from US telly sitcom Two And A Half Men.
The star said in an interview: “I’m really starting to lose my mind. I’m ready to call anyone to help.
“I’m really trying to contain myself right now. My lawyer wants to come over to my house and take the bullets out of my gun.”
Sheen’s sacking followed months of bizarre behaviour, which continued this week with a machete-waving rant from a Los Angeles roof.
Erratic ... Charlie Sheen was sacked from show following months of bizarre behaviourErratic … Charlie Sheen was sacked from telly show following months of bizarre behaviour
He is now suing TV giant Warner Bros and Two And A Half Men creator Chuck Lorre, demanding damages for wages he and the crew lost when the series was cut short.
Sheen who lives with two 24-year-old lovers, porn star Bree Olson and ex-nanny Natalie Kenly, was also seen brandishing kitchen knives for his new “cooking show” on a comedy website.
“Yes, I’m doing a cooking show. Why? Because if you haven’t noticed I’m winning television right now. My plan is to be the first person to have made an appearance on every television network.”
Sheen – who has also been accused of anti-semitism – added: “If you eat like me, you can be like me. This won’t be a kosher meal. Not because I’m anti-semitic, but because my tiger blood needs meat.”
Japanese Nuclear Power Plant Rocked by Second Explosion in Quake's Aftermath
A second explosion occurred Monday at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on Friday, the Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported. Eleven people were said to have been injured.
Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said the blast, believed to be a hydrogen explosion, occurred at 11:01 a.m. in the No. 3 reactor of the power plant, NHK said. But radiation levels around the plant, about 170 miles north of Tokyo, remained within acceptable levels. On Saturday, a hydrogen explosion occurred in the No. 1 reactor at the same power plant.
The Japanese government was making efforts to allay fears of large releases of radioactive materials. ''We judge that the possibility of a large amount of radioactive materials flying off from there is low,'' Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said at a news conference, according to the Kyodo news agency.
Getting an accurate assessment of the loss of life and the damage to property will take time. Authorities reported that 1,647 were confirmed dead and 1,720 were reported missing after the 8.9 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami hit on Friday. But Kyodo reported that 2,000 bodies had been found Monday in the prefecture of Miyagi.
Officials predicted that the death toll in Miyagi, which is the state at the epicenter of the quake, would "certainly be more than 10,000," the Japanese network NHK reported.
Concerns were also rising that the triple disaster would disrupt Japan's economy. On Monday the Japanese stock prices plunged with the Nikkei index falling 6.18 percent.
On Sunday Japan's prime minister, Naoto Kan, said the earthquake and tsunami had confronted the nation with its most "severe crisis" since World War II.
"We Japanese people have overcome all kinds of hardships and were able to create a prosperous society," Kan said in an address televised nationwide. "In the face of the earthquake and tsunami we should be able to overcome these hardships, we believe we can overcome this."
However, he said, "The current situation of the earthquake, tsunami and the nuclear plants is in a way the most severe crisis in the past 65 years since World War II."
More than 300,000 people have been evacuated to emergency shelters, many of them residents in areas near stricken nuclear power plants, and millions of Japanese are confronted with food shortages, loss of power and other basic services.
The government ordered 100,000 troops to engage in rescue and recovery efforts, the largest such mobilization since the last world war.
Two of the nuclear power plants whose cooling systems had failed in the wake of the quake may experience at least partial meltdowns and the same problems loomed over four others, according to the New York Times.
While the magnitude of the situation at the nuclear plants has been likened to the Chernobyl disaster in Russia 25 years ago, where the plant's nuclear core was exposed and radioactive fallout spread over a wide area, the Times said Japanese nuclear safety officials and other experts believe that the release of radiation likely would be much smaller because of design differences in the plants.
"We're in a key period now," nuclear expert Joe Cirincione said on "Fox News Sunday." "The next 12 to 24 hours will tell us whether the Japanese officials will be able to get control back over these reactors, or it's gone, it's lost. The pumping of the seawater into reactor number one is that last ditch effort to try to stop it before it's too late. If they can succeed, if they can hold it for the next 24 hours or, so then these reactor cores will cool down and will be implied path to containing this disaster."
Cirincione said that if the danger at the Japan reactors were "to stop right now" it would rank lower on the scale of nuclear accidents," a local event without significant injury." He said, "if it continues, it will certainly get to ... the Three Mile Island category of a serious event. We almost lost Three Mile Island and almost went meltdown. It stopped at the last minute. That is the situation we're fighting to maintain in Japan. If there is a meltdown, that puts it in a ... Chernobyl category -- a serious nuclear incident with potential for large scale loss of life."
Ke$ha Drinks Blood
The 24 year old Tik Tok recently shocked concertgoers at Sydney's Future Music Festival by drinking blood from a heart. The outspoken singer wore a ripped American flag t-shirt as she squeezed blood out f a heart and let the blood ooze all over her face and chest. The disturbing performance was in tandem with a song called Cannibal and took place on the main stage at Royal Randwick Racecourse.
Miley Cyrus' Late Night Party
The pop singer was spotted at Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles, Califoia for a late night party. Cyrus arrived at the famous club around 1 a.m. and was wearing ripped denim short shorts and sheer black leggings as she and a few friends made their way into the crowded club. She and her friends drank and partied until about 3 a.m. before heading out for an after party at a friends house.
Write a review People turn ever more to web in times of crisis
The earthquake off the coast of Japan and the resulting tsunami has proven, yet again, how the Internet offers an information lifeline to the world in a time of crisis.
The Internet was designed so that US military communications could withstand a nuclear war, but is proving equally resilient in the face of natural disasters and even seismic shifts in global politics.
As the waves smashed into the Japanese coastline following the 8.9-magnitude earthquake 130 kilometres (80 miles) east in the Pacific ocean on Friday, a tsunami of images was also soon hitting the web.
In scenes worthy of any Hollywood disaster movie, a massive wave was shown rolling in from the sea, and one of the most watched and shared videos was of water slowly engulfing the city of Sendai's airport.
Small aircraft, cars and trucks were shown scattered amongst the shattered debris of buildings like an unruly child's toy box.
And what looked like prefabricated factory units were shown floating under a bridge as drivers spun their cars and trucks around to try to outrun the waves.
Nearly five million people tuned in to video sharing site YouTube on Saturday to watch one raw, unedited video of the wave chewing away at Japan's coastline. Several other videos had notched up between three and four million hits.
Hundreds of people commented on the videos across the web and shared information, from social network giant Facebook to micro-blogging site Twitter -- as well as local, Japanese language websites.
And the Internet also functioned as a virtual crisis centre as sites such as Google's people finder service helped locate loved ones and offered help and support to survivors.
A couple walks past upturned vehicles sitting on a wall in the city of Miyako
A couple walks past upturned vehicles sitting on a wall in the city of Miyako. As the waves smashed into the Japanese coastline following the 8.9-magnitude earthquake 130 kilometres (80 miles) east in the Pacific ocean on Friday, a tsunami of images was also soon hitting the web.
As the floodwaters subsided, worried friends and relatives leapt onto their computers to find information about people who had not been heard from since the mighty wave crashed ashore.
Google's person finder service had notched up more than 81,000 records of people leaving messages seeking information on friends and family by 0300 GMT Sunday.
The site was updating, in English and Japanese, by the hundreds every few minutes.
A random search of the common Japanese surname "Sato" brought up hundreds of results, many of them for people living in Sendai -- the city that faced the brunt of the thunderous body of rolling water.
Gunduzhan posted a message seeking Aki Sato, a dentist from Sendai who studied at Ohu University in Koriyama. A photo of the pretty young woman was also posted on the site.
People look for food amid empty shelves in a shop in Fukushima
People look for food amid empty shelves in a shop in Fukushima. In scenes worthy of any Hollywood disaster movie, a massive wave was shown rolling in from the sea, and one of the most watched and shared videos was of water slowly engulfing the city of Sendai's airport.
"Looking for Aki Sato," the post read. "Last heard from after earthquake but before tsunami."
Another post seeking Fatima Sato had some good news -- "Mom is ok. She is on her way home."
The international and Japanese Red Cross also set up a similar site.
And micro-blogging site Twitter was updating every second with messages of good will, of condolences and offering aid.
A service was being shared on Twitter allowing people the chance to donate to the Red Cross via text message, the donation being added to phone bills.
Some tweets were posted by international celebrities such as the American singer Lady Gaga, who launched a bracelet to support the relief effort.
She asked her legion of fans -- whom she calls "Little Monsters" -- to buy a bracelet on her website saying, "We Pray for Japan," for donations of $5 or more. All proceeds will go to relief efforts, she said.
The English version of the Red Cross website was being set up at www.icrc.org/eng/familylinks-japan
The English version of the Google friend finder service can be found here: japan.person-finder.appspot.com/?lang=en
Facebook's Japan tsunami page can be found here: www.facebook.com/#!/japan.tsunami.2011
YouTube videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4w27IczOTk&feature=
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Cher Lloyd’s looking wild
X FACTOR diva Cher Lloyd showed her wild side in Liverpool as she stepped out with her bizarre barnet and shocking orange lippy.
The 17-year-old singer, who is performing on the ITV1 telly talent show’s live tour, seemed like she was looking for a ruck as she was photographed out shopping today.
The teen already appears to have been splashing the cash, sporting a pair of Vivienne Westwood earrings.
Cher LloydOdd … Cher’s new look with red hair, bright lippy and earringsBigReality show host Dermot O’Leary has defended Cher, from Malvern, Worcs, saying he wished more contestants would be as feisty as she was.
Speaking to STV during Scottish auditions for this year’s crop of contenders, Dermot said: “Cher was great. Nice isn’t the right word for Cher, she’s more of a force of nature. She’s feisty but I really liked her.”
The 37-year-old added: “If you’re looking for sickly sweet and someone who says yes to everything, then you’re out of luck, but I loved her I thought she was a great character.”
He continued: “You want characters. You don’t want people to give you the same old answer every week.
“You want people to stand up for themselves and fight their corner and that’s what she did and she was brilliant for me.”
Concert review: Rascal Flatts
Early highlight: Rascal Flatts mashed up the old hymn “Oh the Blood of Jesus,” the Journey classic “Open Arms” and their own smash “Bless the Broken Road,” along with a generous measure of cheeky stand-up comedy, in a medley that got the crowd alternately laughing uproariously and singing along reverently.
Reviewer’s take: As the multi-platinum-selling country trio officially closed its 10-year celebration in Oklahoma City, it took the appreciative audience on a nostalgic trip through its award-winning superstar career. Rascal Flatts features talented Picher product Joe Don Rooney scorching the stage on electric guitar, singer Gary LeVox and bassist Jay DeMarcus. From early favorites like “Prayin’ for Daylight” and “Mayberry” to new hits “Why Wait” and “I Won’t Let Go,” the three showed their style, musicianship and especially their signature harmonies have only gotten stronger and better with age.
Expert: Nuclear trouble a long way from Chernobyl
Residents living near nuclear reactors in trouble after a massive earthquake and tsunami hit Japan could be driven from their homes indefinitely, but will not face the same disaster unleashed on Chernobyl in 1986, one local expert said yesterday.
“This is not, and will not be, Chernobyl under any stretch of the imagination. That’s good news,” said Lisbeth Gronlund, a senior scientist and co-director of the Global Security Program at the Cambridge-based Union of Concerned Scientists. “There was no containment vessel in Chernobyl.”
A blast after the 8.9-magnitude earthquake and tsunami threatened two reactor containers at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station yesterday. The first unit only suffered damage to the building that houses the reactor, said Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano, but the second was being watched closely after its cooling systems also failed.“Even if the fuel melts the whole reactor core, the fuel is enclosed in a steel vessel that is designed to be leak proof. Even if that is somehow breached, there is a concrete shell outside that,” Gronlund said.
She added the plant was not designed to withstand such a massive earthquake.
A nuclear meltdown occurs when a reactor’s cooling system fails, allowing the nuclear fuel to overheat and melt. If the container is damaged, the melting fuel could release radioactive substances into the air. Officials are using seawater to try to cool the nuclear core.
“It’s not been done before,” Gronlund said. “This probably will not be resolved for some time.”
Media reports estimated 170,000 people evacuated after the government issued a nuclear emergency order for residents living near the plant.
“Nobody is going near it,” Gronlund said. “They had an earthquake. Even if you don’t have an earthquake, you want to get people out of the area in case (the steel vessel and concrete shell) fail.”
“This is not, and will not be, Chernobyl under any stretch of the imagination. That’s good news,” said Lisbeth Gronlund, a senior scientist and co-director of the Global Security Program at the Cambridge-based Union of Concerned Scientists. “There was no containment vessel in Chernobyl.”
A blast after the 8.9-magnitude earthquake and tsunami threatened two reactor containers at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station yesterday. The first unit only suffered damage to the building that houses the reactor, said Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano, but the second was being watched closely after its cooling systems also failed.“Even if the fuel melts the whole reactor core, the fuel is enclosed in a steel vessel that is designed to be leak proof. Even if that is somehow breached, there is a concrete shell outside that,” Gronlund said.
She added the plant was not designed to withstand such a massive earthquake.
A nuclear meltdown occurs when a reactor’s cooling system fails, allowing the nuclear fuel to overheat and melt. If the container is damaged, the melting fuel could release radioactive substances into the air. Officials are using seawater to try to cool the nuclear core.
“It’s not been done before,” Gronlund said. “This probably will not be resolved for some time.”
Media reports estimated 170,000 people evacuated after the government issued a nuclear emergency order for residents living near the plant.
“Nobody is going near it,” Gronlund said. “They had an earthquake. Even if you don’t have an earthquake, you want to get people out of the area in case (the steel vessel and concrete shell) fail.”
Demi Lovato Debuts Two New Tattoos
The singer, who was recently released from rehab, showed off two new wrist tattoos while at LAX airport with her family. The two new tattoos are on her right wrist and spell out "Stay Strong" despite rumors that the tats spelled “Think Again.” She also has a third tattoo on her ribs that says "You Make Me Beautiful." Demi definitely need to stay strong as she was just let of rehab after punching her friend and backup dancer in the face. She also sought treatment for self harm and an alleged eating disorder.
