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Ricin scare rattles Washington

Government laboratories are testing samples of a suspicious substance found in letters at off-site White House and Senate mailrooms after preliminary test results pointing to the deadly poison ricin rattled Washington, authorities said Wednesday.

White House mail handlers identified a "suspicious substance" Tuesday in a letter addressed to President Barack Obama that preliminarily tested positive for ricin, the FBI said. The same day, a similar letter addressed to Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Mississippi, tested positive for ricin -- a toxin with no known antidote, officials said.

But the FBI said initial tests can be "inconsistent," and the envelopes have been sent off for additional tests.

Meanwhile, Sen. Carl Levin, D-Michigan, says one of his home-state offices received a "suspicious-looking" letter and alerted authorities. "We do not know yet if the mail presented a threat," said Levin, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Filters at a government mail-screening facility preliminarily tested positive for ricin Wednesday morning, an FBI statement said, and mail from that site is being tested.

Mail for members of Congress and the White House has been handled at off-site postal facilities since the 2001 anthrax attacks. But Capitol Police were checking out reports of suspicious packages or letters in two Senate office buildings and evacuated the first floor of one those buildings Wednesday afternoon.

Police questioned a man in the area who had a backpack containing sealed envelopes, but a federal law enforcement official told CNN that authorities do not believe the man was connected to the letters found Tuesday.

In a statement issued Wednesday, the FBI said it has no indication of a connection between the tainted letters and Monday's bombings at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. But the discoveries further heightened security concerns at a time when Congress is considering politically volatile legislation to toughen gun laws and reform the immigration system.

Matt Damon And Wife Renew Their Wedding Vows

The pair renewed their vows in an intimate ceremony in St. Lucia on April 13, according to Us Weekly. The couple -- who have been married for nearly eight years -- rented out the island's entire Sugar Beach Resort for the weekend in honor of the happy occasion.

Around 50 guests, including Damon's BFF Ben Affleck and his wife Jennifer Garner, looked on as the Damons said "I Do" under thatched roofs right at sunset. Reportedly, the groom, 42, wore a tan-colored suit and flip-flops, while the bride, 36, donned a cream-colored gown featuring a sequined belt at the waist.

The couple's daughters -- Isabella, 6, Gia, 4, Stella, 2, and Alexia, Luciana's teenage daughter from a previous relationship -- were in attendance and wore light-colored dresses to match their mom. After the 15-minute ceremony, guests -- who all wore shades of cream and ivory -- were escorted onto the beach for a cocktail reception.

The Damons first tied the knot at City Hall in NYC in Dec. 2005, but have been looking to renew their vows in front of friends and family.

Man Brilliantly Quits His Job to Pursue Dream Job With Resignation Letter Written on a Cake

On his 31st birthday, Chris Holmes — now known to the public as "Mr. Cake" — decided it was time to quit his job as a Border Agency official at London's Stansted Airport to do something he's passionate about and would allow him to spend more time with this family. For Holmes, this meant pursuing a cake business called Mr. Cake and notifying his employers with actual icing on a cake.

Holmes' sweet resignation letter quickly went viral when his brother-in-law tweeted a picture of it to the world. Note the bottom of the cake has a nice plug for his business, so this is great marketing as well:
In an interview with Elodie Harper at Sawston's local news station ITV news, Holmes said that his deision "seemed like the obvious choice."

"... Having set up a cake company, I thought I would leave them with a memento that would be a nice way of remembering me. I had the idea six months ago so I've kept it to myself since then."

"I think [my boss] was pleasantly surprised, of all the resignations businesses get, I think that's probably a nice way for an employee to leave and I hope they enjoyed the cake as well as the resignation."

Let’s hope the Boston Marathon bomber is a white American

As we now move into the official Political Aftermath period of the Boston bombing — the period that will determine the long-term legislative fallout of the atrocity — the dynamics of privilege will undoubtedly influence the nation’s collective reaction to the attacks. That’s because privilege tends to determine: 1) which groups are — and are not — collectively denigrated or targeted for the unlawful actions of individuals; and 2) how big and politically game-changing the overall reaction ends up being.

This has been most obvious in the context of recent mass shootings. In those awful episodes, a religious or ethnic minority group lacking such privilege would likely be collectively slandered and/or targeted with surveillance or profiling (or worse) if some of its individuals comprised most of the mass shooters. However, white male privilege means white men are not collectively denigrated/targeted for those shootings — even though most come at the hands of white dudes.

Likewise, in the context of terrorist attacks, such privilege means white non-Islamic terrorists are typically portrayed not as representative of whole groups or ideologies, but as “lone wolf” threats to be dealt with as isolated law enforcement matters. Meanwhile, non-white or developing-world terrorism suspects are often reflexively portrayed as representative of larger conspiracies, ideologies and religions that must be dealt with as systemic threats — the kind potentially requiring everything from law enforcement action to military operations to civil liberties legislation to foreign policy shifts.

“White privilege is knowing that even if the bomber turns out to be white, no one will call for your group to be profiled as terrorists as a result, subjected to special screening or threatened with deportation,” writes author Tim Wise. “White privilege is knowing that if this bomber turns out to be white, the United States government will not bomb whatever corn field or mountain town or stale suburb from which said bomber came, just to ensure that others like him or her don’t get any ideas. And if he turns out to be a member of the Irish Republican Army we won’t bomb Dublin. And if he’s an Italian-American Catholic we won’t bomb the Vatican.”

Because of these undeniable and pervasive double standards, the specific identity of the Boston Marathon bomber (or bombers) is not some minor detail — it will almost certainly dictate what kind of governmental, political and societal response we see in the coming weeks. That means regardless of your particular party affiliation, if you care about everything from stopping war to reducing the defense budget to protecting civil liberties to passing immigration reform, you should hope the bomber was a white domestic terrorist. Why? Because only in that case will privilege work to prevent the Boston attack from potentially undermining progress on those other issues.

Pressure cooker bombs suspected in Boston blast

Federal agents zeroed in Tuesday on how the Boston Marathon bombing was carried out — with kitchen pressure cookers packed with explosives, nails and other lethal shrapnel — but said they still didn't know who did it and why.

An intelligence bulletin issued to law enforcement and released late Tuesday included a picture of a mangled pressure cooker and a torn black bag the FBI said were part of a bomb.

The FBI and other law enforcement agencies repeatedly pleaded for members of the public to come forward with photos, videos or anything suspicious they might have seen or heard.

"The range of suspects and motives remains wide open," Richard DesLauriers, FBI agent in charge in Boston, said at a news conference. He vowed to "go to the ends of the Earth to identify the subject or subjects who are responsible for this despicable crime."

President Barack Obama branded the attack an act of terrorism but said officials don't know "whether it was planned and executed by a terrorist organization, foreign or domestic, or was the act of a malevolent individual."

Scores of victims remained in hospitals, many with grievous injuries, a day after the twin explosions near the marathon's finish line killed three people, wounded more than 170 and reawakened fears of terrorism. A 9-year-old girl and 10-year-old boy were among 17 victims listed in critical condition.

Heightening jitters in Washington, where security already had been tightened after the bombing, a letter addressed to a senator and poisoned with ricin or a similarly toxic substance was intercepted at a mail facility outside the capital, lawmakers said.

There was no immediate indication the episode was related to the Boston attack. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said the letter was sent to Republican Sen. Roger Wicker, of Mississippi.

Officials found that the bombs in Boston consisted of explosives put in ordinary 1.6-gallon pressure cookers, one with shards of metal and ball bearings, the other with nails, according to a person close to the investigation who spoke on condition of anonymity because the probe was still going on. The bombs were stuffed into black duffel bags and left on the ground, the person said.

DesLauriers confirmed that investigators had found pieces of black nylon from a bag or backpack and fragments of BBs and nails, possibly contained in a pressure cooker. He said the items were sent to the FBI laboratory at Quantico, Va., for analysis.

The FBI said it is looking at what Boston television station WHDH said are photos sent by a viewer that show the scene right before and after the bombs went off. The photo shows something next to a mailbox that appears to be a bag, but it's unclear what the significance is.

"We're taking a look at hundreds of photos, and that's one of them," FBI spokesman Jason Pack said.

Investigators said they haven't determined what was used to set off the explosives.

Gold price seen recovering after massive price fall

Gold futures in India, which hit the lowest level in more than 18 months on Tuesday, may stage a recovery as key technical indicators point to the yellow metal entering oversold territory, according to analysts.

Gold in India, the world's biggest buyer of the metal, has shed 21 percent from the record high of 32,464 rupees for 10 grams struck in November, spreading panic among investors and importers.

"Extremely overdone technical indications suggest a possible recovery in coming days," said Gnanasekar Thiagarajan, director, Commtrendz Research, adding that a recovery to 27,450/28,000 rupees is possible.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) for MCX gold is placed below 20. Normally, when RSI goes below 30, it tends to get oversold and a possible upward correction is seen.

The most-active gold for June delivery on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) was 67 rupees higher at 25,701 rupees per 10 grams, after falling to a low of 25,270 rupees, a level last seen in late September, 2011.

Buying is advised on dips to 25,300, with a stop loss of 25,100, targeting 26,000 rupees, said Thiagarajan.

Global gold hit an 11-month high in October last year after the U.S. Federal Reserve announced its third round of aggressive economic stimulus, raising fears the central bank's money-printing would stoke inflation.

But the gain was erased by a rally in equities, talks that the Fed could soon end its bullion-friendly bond buying programme, and concerns other indebted euro zone countries could follow Cyprus' plan to sell bullion reserves to raise cash.

Silver for June delivery was 0.48 percent lower at 44,166 rupees per kg.

Silver may trade in the range of 42,000-47,000, said Aurobinda Prasad, head of research, Karvy Comtrade.

FBI grills Saudi man in Boston bombings

Police took a 20-year-old Saudi national into custody near the scene of yesterday’s horrific Boston Marathon bomb attack, law-enforcement sources told The Post.

The potential suspect was questioned by the FBI and local police yesterday at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where he was under heavy guard while being treated for shrapnel injuries to his leg sustained in the blast.

In late afternoon, a large group of federal and state law enforcement agents raided an apartment in a building in the Saudi man’s hometown of Revere, Mass.

FBI agents could be seen through one window. It was not clear what, if anything, they found. But Revere fire officials said they were called out to support bomb-squad officers as part of an investigation of a “person of interest” in the marathon attack.

At the hospital, investigators seized the man’s clothes to examine whether they held any evidence that he was behind the attack. The law-enforcement sources also told The Post that the man was not free to leave the medical center.

He had suffered shrapnel wounds to the back of a leg but was not likely to die, a source said.

As of last night, investigators had not yet directly asked the man whether he had set off the bombs. But they had asked him general questions, such as what he was doing in the area.

The potential suspect told police he had dinner Sunday night near Boston’s Prudential Center, about half a mile from the blast site, the sources said.

He also said that he went to the Copley Square area yesterday to witness the finish of the race.

The sources said that, after the man was grabbed by police, he smelled of gunpowder and declared, “I thought there would be a second bomb.”

He also asked: “Did anyone die?”

Officials showed up at the Revere apartment at about 5:30 p.m. in unmarked vehicles, a resident of the building said. It’s on a street where the man had lived, law-enforcement sources told The Post.

About an hour later, more vehicles, carrying agents of the FBI, Homeland Security and ATF also descended on the site, along with firefighters and a bomb squad. They searched an apartment on the fifth floor.

By midnight, most of the authorities had left the complex, which sits on a piece of ocean-front property in the seaside city.

VITEEE Admit Card 2013 Download Status Exam Hall Ticket 2013

VITEEE Admit Card 2013- Vellore Institute of Technology Tamil Nadu conducts VIT Engineering Entrance Examination (VITEEE) for admission in to the B.Tech programme. VITEEE aims to provide a higher education on par with international standards. VITEEE is based on computer based test. Last Date of application is 28th Feb 2013.
VITEEE Examination will conduct on 15th April to 30th April 2013. VITEEE Admit card will reach on their address. If you have not received their hall ticket then you can get their VITEEE Hall Ticket 2013 through the home site of VIT.

VITEEE Admit card 2013 will available on the official site of VIT. Candidates go on the www.vit.ac.in link and download their VITEEE Hall Ticket status.

Admit Card is most important because without admit card you cannot enter in the examination hall. So candidates are advised to keep safe their Admit Card for future reference.

Candidates should well prepare for their exam they can take help from previous paper or sample paper. Here we are providing you link for VITEEE sample paper/ model question paper. Candidates must go on this link and get VITEE Sample paper.

Candidates can get information about VITEEE 2013 Exam Date Online Application Form, Registration Eligibility Criteria through given link: VITEEE 2013

Candidates can register their email at privatejobshub.blogspot.in for getting more details about VITEEE Admit Card 2013 in your mailbox.

Check this section:
Student Success Strategy
Preparation Tips for Written Exam
Preparation Tips
Useful Memory Techniques

Note- Candidates must visit www.vit.ac.in for getting their VITEEE Admit card 2013.

Do Women Need Bras? French Study Says Brassieres Are A 'False Necessity'

Women who go braless may actually have the right idea, new research suggests.

According to the results of a 15-year study in France published Wednesday, bras provide no benefits to women and may actually be harmful to breasts over time.

"Medically, physiologically, anatomically, the breast does not benefit from being deprived of gravity," Jean-Denis Rouillon, a professor at the University of Franche-Comté in Besançon, told France Info.

Conducting the study at the university's hospital, Rouillon measured and examined the breasts of more than 300 women, aged 18 and 35, taking note of how the additional support provided by bras affects the body over time. (It should be noted the study does not mention breast size.)

Overall, he found that women who did not use bras benefited in the long term, developing more muscle tissue to provide natural support. As France's The Local notes, Rouillon also noticed that nipples gained a higher lift, in relation to the shoulders, on women who went braless. When bras are worn, the restrictive material prevents such tissue from growing, which may actually accelerate sagging, the study concluded.

Capucine Vercellotti, a 28-year-old woman who participated in the research, found that she breathes easier without the constraints of a bra.

"At first, I was a little reluctant to the idea of running without a bra, but I got started and after five minutes, I had no trouble at all," Vercellotti said, according to the Agence France-Presse.

Kerry in Japan amid heightened Korean tensions

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Japan on Sunday for the last stop of his Asian tour, a trip that has largely focused on the provocations coming out of North Korea.

He spent early Sunday visiting a 620-year-old Buddhist temple and spoke with university students on their views on America and global issues. He is scheduled to meet with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida later in the day.

His visit comes amid heightened regional tensions.
Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's military Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's military
Japan on alert after N. Korea threats
Who is bankrolling Kim Jong Un?
North Korean Crisis

North Korea issued a scathing warning to Japan on Friday, saying Tokyo should "stop recklessly working for staging a comeback on Korea, depending on its American master," state media reported.

Japanese foreign minister spokesman Masaru Sato said such remarks only hurt North Korea.

"Japan would not be pushed around by rhetoric of North Korea," he said.

Japan's Transport Ministry has issued a notice requiring its airplanes to report to the U.S. military if they fly near the U.S. military's Kadena base in Okinawa prefecture, the Kyodo News Agency said.

The notice, made at the request of the U.S. military in Japan, is believed to be part of precautions taken against possible North Korean missile launches.

As Kerry visited the Japanese capital, North Korea responded to South Korea's call last week for open talks.

"If they have true intent for dialogue, they should drop the attitude of confrontation to begin with, not getting inveigled in wordplay," North Korea's state-run media KCNA reported. "The possibility of dialogue entirely depends on their attitude."

South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, speaking with Kerry on Friday, urged North Korea to open talks.

"We urge North Korea to cease its reckless behavior and to stop issuing threats," he said.

In his first trip to Asia as secretary of state, Kerry visited South Korean and Chinese leaders as tensions stemming from North Korea loomed.

On Saturday, Kerry and Chinese leaders said their two nations would work together to press North Korea to tone down its provocations.

Kerry told reporters in Beijing that the United States and China are calling on North Korea to refrain from any provocative steps -- including any missile launches.

But, he said, both nations want to focus on a peaceful solution, not "threat-for-threat or confrontational language. There's been enough of that."

No option was left off the table in his talks with Chinese leaders, he said. Among those he met Saturday were Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.

Diamondbacks owner forces Dodgers fans to change clothes or move seats

Arizona Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick forced fans of the Los Angeles Dodgers to change clothes or find a different seating location when the teams met in their series opener on Friday night, according to Deadspin's Timothy Burke.

The fans, who were seated in Chase Field's expensive batters box suite — price ranges from $3,250 to $3,500 — right behind home plate, could be seen decked out in Dodgers blue when the game began.

However, as the inning went along, ushers were seen bringing Diamondbacks gear to the suite, which the fans willingly changed into in order to keep their seats. It's also said Kendrick, who must be a "Seinfeld" fan (remember the episode where Elaine refused to remove her Baltimore Orioles cap at Yankees Stadium) arrived on the scene sometime during the inning and could be seen (and heard) having an animated discussion with the fans.

After. (MLB.TV)As a result of the incident, Deadspin reached out to the Diamondbacks to clarify what exactly happened and why. Here's the team's official response.

Due to the high visibility of the home plate box, we ask opposing team's fans when they purchase those seats to refrain from wearing that team's colors. During last night's game, when Ken Kendrick noticed the fans there, he offered them another suite if they preferred to remain in their Dodger gear. When they chose to stay, he bought them all D-backs gear and a round of drinks and requested that they abide by our policy and they obliged.

So the broadcasters in Arizona have a dress code, and apparently the fans do too.

I understand how frustrating it can be to see the opposing team's colors and gear proudly displayed in your high-priced seats, It looks, well, bad, and even embarrassing when it happens night after night (not that it does in Arizona). But come on, really? You already have their money, so as long as they're not wearing something offensive (division rival colors and logos don't count) why not let them wear what they want?

Is this good for business? I know you want Diamondbacks fans to see their colors back there. I know that helps sell the product. But do you want fans from other teams to catch wind of this and decide they'd rather not splurge for the expensive seats. Maybe they don't have trouble selling them. If not, that's great. But I sure wouldn't want to narrow the list of potential customers.

To me it's just ... odd.

Electric Daisy Carnival London Announced By Insomniac And Creamfields Team For July 2013

Insomniac, the company behind large-scale American dance music festivals like Electric Daisy Carnival, has partnered with Cream to launch its first-ever event in the United Kingdom.

The event, also called Electric Daisy Carnival, will take place July 20 at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

In a press release furnished by Insomniac, CEO Pasquale Rotella says it seemed like a smart opportunity. "Bringing Insomniac's Electric Daisy Carnival experience across the Atlantic to London has been my dream for years and I couldn't ask for a better partner than Cream, who is a world-wide fixture in electronic dance music culture," Rotella said. "I'm confident that our collaboration will expose Insomniac's returning fans and those who have yet to visit our United States festivals an opportunity to unite this summer in London."

Cream, which is part of Live Nation's electronic division and is the team behind Creamfields, was similarly excited about the announcement. "We are really excited to be collaborating with Insomniac for what will be a spectacular event this summer," said James Barton, president of Electronic Music at Live Nation. "Electric Daisy Carnival is already an important and prominent international brand, and we believe it will thrive in the UK in 2013."

If Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park sounds familiar, it's because the venue played host to the Summer Olympics.

In addition to the event announcement, a partial line-up was released. Among the names included: Tiesto, Avicii, Steve Angello, Alesso, Hardwell, Madeon, Porter Robinson, Rusko and Caspa.

Son of Pastor Rick Warren commits suicide, family says

After a lifelong battle with mental illness, the youngest son of Pastor Rick Warren has committed suicide, his family said.

Matthew Warren, 27, died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound on Friday, said Deputy Daniel Aikin, with the Orange County Coroner's Office.

The family shared news of his death in an e-mail to church staff.

Rick Warren and his wife founded Saddleback Valley Community Church, a megachurch in Southern California.

"No words can express the anguished grief we feel right now," the pastor wrote in the note, a copy of which was sent to CNN.

"You who watched Matthew grow up knew he was an incredibly kind, gentle, and compassionate man. He had a brilliant intellect and a gift for sensing who was most in pain or most uncomfortable in a room. He'd then make a bee-line to that person to engage and encourage them.

"But only those closest knew that he struggled from birth with mental illness, dark holes of depression, and even suicidal thoughts. In spite of America's best doctors, meds, counselors, and prayers for healing, the torture of mental illness never subsided."

According to Aikin, Matthew Warren's body was found at his home in Mission Viejo, California, late Friday afternoon. He put the estimated time of death at around 10 a.m. that day.

The coroner's office is investigating the death. An autopsy will be conducted early next week, Aikin told CNN on Saturday.

According to a spokesman for Rick Warren, Matthew Warren worked in the Saddleback Resources Warehouse, which distributes books and DVDs.

As a pioneer of the megachurch movement, Rick Warren looked to translate traditional evangelical messages to a wider audience.

The pastor gave the invocation at President Barack Obama's 2009 inauguration and penned "The Purpose-Driven Life," a Christian self-help guide that became a mainstream best-seller.

"I'll never forget how, many years ago, after another approach had failed to give relief, Matthew said 'Dad, I know I'm going to heaven. Why can't I just die and end this pain?' but he kept going for another decade," Rick Warren wrote in the e-mail.

In a separate statement, his church asked for prayers and that "God's comfort and peace" be with the Warren family.

‘This Is The End’ Trailer Has Rihanna Getting Tough as the World Goes Boom

In the new green band trailer for the apocalyptic comedy “This Is The End,” debuting exclusively here on Yahoo! Movies, the multiplatinum artist plays herself just hanging out at a massive party hosted by James Franco (also playing himself). That’s when Michael Cera (played by guess who?) gets a little forward, and Rihanna won’t stand for it.

At last weekend’s WonderCon convention in Anaheim, CA, star/co-writer/co-director Seth Rogen said that not only did Rihanna and Cera play themselves, they did their own stunts. Rogen and his cohort Evan Goldberg (they also wrote “Superbad” and “Pineapple Express” together) said Cera told Rihanna that he was actually going to smack her behind while cameras rolled. Then she told him she would really be smacking him in the face. And she did. Hard. Multiple times.

Watch Rihanna get tough (and then meet an unfortunate end) in the trailer for “This Is The End,” then keep reading to learn how Rogen got the superstar to play herself and what inside joke that he loved had to be cut out of the film.

So how did Seth Rogen get one of the biggest music acts in the world to join his movie? Well, it turns out, she’s a big fan. In an interview at WonderCon, Rogen told Yahoo! Movies the idea came from an interview he read with Rihanna several years ago. She was asked to name her favorite movies, and according to Rogen, “two out of the three of them were ‘Superbad’ and ‘Pineapple Express.’ I am so not used to seeing that that I literally just clocked in my head, ‘Oh, Rihanna is a fan of ours.’”

Evan Goldberg and Seth RogenEvan Goldberg and Seth Rogen (Photo: Photo by Araya Diaz/WireImage)As Rogen was writing the script where he and his buddies Jay Baruchel (who worked with him on TV’s “Undeclared” and “Knocked Up”), Jonah Hill (from “Superbad”), Danny McBride and Craig Robinson (both in “Pineapple Express”) are all partying at James Franco’s house when the world ends. Rogen said, “We just thought, ‘What if you had a bunch of famous people playing themselves in this completely ridiculous situation, basically, where they’re forced to be violent and bad [Laughs] and kind of show the worst parts of themselves.”

Rogen knew they would populate the party scene with many of the funny actors he’d worked with in earlier films, like Paul Rudd, Mindy Kaling, Aziz Ansari and Kevin Hart. Then, he said, it occurred to him, “At these parties there’s always someone who doesn’t belong there. It could be funny if, like, someone you don’t associate with us is there.” So he and his co-writer/co-director Evan Goldberg wondered if maybe Rihanna would do it. “And she was totally psyched to do it,” Rogen said.

Rogen did admit that writing roles for his friends where they would be basically playing themselves was harder you might think. He said, “I think we missed the mark on the first time out of the gate on a few of them, honestly.” He said in the early draft of the script the characters were a little too similar to how the actors had already been presenting themselves on-screen. “And I also think we weren’t sure what they’d be comfortable with until we sent them a script and started really having that conversation.”

101-year-old woman says four drinks a day keep the doctor away

Born Annunziata Ranieri on March 30, 1912, in the town of Oppido Mamertina, in the Province of Reggio Calabria, Italy, to Josephine and Rocco Ranieri, Nancy was one of three children.

Her brother was Vincent and her sister Rose. Interestingly, Nancy (Annunziata), was named after the Feast of the Annunciation.
INS2.jpg Nancy Lamperti in a photograph as a young adult. Family photo
According to Nancy’s son, Louis Lamperti Jr., his mom was forced to curtail her education, and picked olives in the mountains of her town in order to help support her family.

In 1927, Josephine brought Nancy, Rose and later Vincent to America aboard the SS Conte Biancamano.

The Lampertis opted to settle in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn, the neighborhood where Nancy found work as a seamstress at a time when wages were just $10 a week.

She met her husband, Louis Lamperti, in 1940. He was a carpenter by trade.

In 1945, the couple said their “I do’s” in Our Lady of Guadalupe R.C. Church, Brooklyn.

In time, Nancy and Louis relocated to Staten Island and moved into a small bungalow apartment off Sand Lane in South Beach.

They became the parents of twin daughters, Dolores and Lucille, and later settled in another South Beach home, where they raised their family, who also included a son, Louis Jr. who was born nine years later.[Source]

New Bird Flu Strain Causes Fourth Death in China

A middle-aged man who transported poultry for a living has died from a new strain of bird flu, the fourth death among 11 confirmed cases in China, the government and state media reported Thursday.

The 48-year-old man, who died in Shanghai, is one of several among the infected believed to have had direct contact with fowl, which may carry the virus. Until recently, the virus, known as H7N9, was not known to infect humans.

It is not known how people are becoming sick with the virus, and health officials and scientists caution that there are no indications it can be transmitted from one person to another. Scientists who have studied the virus's genetic sequence said this week that the virus may have mutated, spreading more easily to other animals and potentially posing a bigger threat to humans.

Guidelines issued Wednesday by the national health agency identify butchers, breeders and sellers of poultry, and those in the meat processing industry as at higher risk.

Experts only identified the first cases on Sunday. Some among the 11 confirmed cases fell ill several weeks ago but only now are being classified as having H7N9.

The government of Shanghai said that in addition to the man's death and two previously confirmed cases, there are three other suspected cases.

Amid Pyongyang bluster, a hint of a missile launch

North Korea, which unleashed another round of scathing rhetoric accusing the United States of pushing the region to the "brink of war," could be planning a missile launch soon, a U.S. official said Thursday.

Communications intercepts in recent days indicated that Pyongyang could be planning to launch a mobile ballistic missile in the coming days or weeks, the official first told CNN. It's unknown whether it would be a test or a strike.

The news emerged as South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin told a parliamentary committee in Seoul that the North has moved a medium-range missile to its east coast for an imminent test firing or military drill.

The missile doesn't appear to be aimed at the U.S. mainland, Kim said, according to the semi-official South Korean news agency Yonhap.
N. Korea threatens 'merciless' strikes

Wednesday, the United States announced it was sending ballistic missile defenses to Guam, a Western Pacific territory that is home to U.S. naval and air bases. North Korea has cited those bases when listing possible targets for missile attacks.

The latest developments come amid the disclosure of what one U.S. official calls an Obama administration "playbook" of pre-scripted actions and responses to the last several weeks of North Korean rhetoric and provocations.

Pentagon officials, while decrying North Korean saber-rattling, said recent announcements of U.S. military deployments in response to belligerent statements by North Korea may have contributed to the escalating tensions between the countries.

"We accused the North Koreans of amping things up, now we are worried we did the same thing," one Defense Department official said.

The latest tough talk from Pyongyang lashed out at the U.S. military presence in the region.

A spokesman for a North Korean group accused the United States of "hurling" its "nuclear war hardware into the region and pushing the situation on the brink of war," Pyongyang's official news agency reported.

24 YEAR OLD Man Dies After Wisdom Teeth Removed

The family of a 24-year-old California man who died unexpectedly after having had his wisdom teeth removed is questioning the medical care he received during the routine oral procedure.

After the surgery last month Marek Lapinski, a software developer from San Diego, experienced complications. According to the patient care report released by American Medical Response, Lapinski woke up coughing during the procedure and was given the powerful anesthetic propofol.

But his condition quickly deteriorated and he was transferred to a hospital, where he died three days later. His family and friends have questioned the treatment he received from Dr. Steven Paul, an oral surgeon in Temecula, Calif.

"What's most shocking is the healthy 24-year-old goes in for an operation as routine as having his wisdom teeth removed and dies in the process," Tony Keiser, a friend of the Lapinski family, told ABCNews.com. "It's inconceivable."

According to the patient care report, the paramedics said that Paul had told them that Lapinski woke up during the procedure, started coughing and was given propofol. When Lapinski stopped breathing, CPR was started and the paramedics were called.

After they arrived, according to the report, the paramedics found two pieces of surgical gauze in Lapinski's airway as they tried to intubate him.

"I really pray to God that there's a hell of an investigation on this," Keiser said.

Lapinski's mother, April Lapinski, told ABCNews.com that Paul had come to the hospital to apologize for what had happened.

"He did come, and he, you know, he said he was sorry," she said. "He didn't have any other explanations for me."

Paul has not commented on the case, but his attorney, Clark Hudson, released a statement that said in part: "Dr. Steven Paul has always provided the highest level of oral surgery care to his patients. ... However, safe as oral surgery is in today's environment, no surgical procedure is without risk."

According to the statement, immediate measures were taken to revive Lapinski after his condition began to deteriorate.

"The reason for the patient's decompensation is unknown. However, all standard protocols were followed," Hudson said.

Only God Forgives' Trailer Ryan Gosling Says Nothing, Does Unspeakable Things

In the new "Only God Forgives" red band trailer, Ryan Gosling offers up a familiar formula: few words, eye contact with the camera and super violent behavior. If that reminds you of "Drive," you're not crazy; "Only God Forgives" is directed by "Drive" helmer Nicolas Winding Refn.

Refn has allegedly upped the ante on the violence here, so we can assume that Gosling's dragging of a man by said man's jaw is only the beginning of the horrors contained within the movie. Also at play is a sinister storyline including Gosling's character's mother, who totally knew he was trouble when he walked in he was born.

The film takes place in Bangkok. Watch the trailer above and let us know what you think in the comments. "Only God Forgives" also stars Kristin Scott Thomas and Tom Burke and has yet to line-up a U.S. release date. Gosling, who took some time out from saving cows, also appears in "The Place Beyond the Pines."

Nato helicopter kills four Afghan police, police say

Gunfire from a helicopter operated by Nato forces killed four Afghan police officers in the eastern province of Ghazni, a district police chief said on Thursday.

Civilian casualties are a source of friction between President Hamid Karzai and his international allies, and the mistaken killing of members of the Afghan security forces is likely to compound Afghan government anger.

The four Afghan Local Police (ALP) officers were in a village in Deyak district when the helicopter fired on them on Wednesday, said district police chief Faiz Mohammad.

“The gunship must have mistaken the policemen for insurgents,” police chief Faiz Mohammad told Reuters, adding that the four were not wearing uniforms. Two civilians who were nearby were wounded, he said.

A spokesman for the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force said it was “assessing” the report.

“We’re aware of local reports
an alleged air strike in Ghazni province yesterday in which several people were reportedly killed,” the spokesman said.

In recent years, Deyak district has largely been under the control of the Taliban but the ALP, who are often recruited from militias, have pushed the militants out of the area.

Last week, an air strike by Nato helicopter supporting Afghan security forces killed two children and nine suspected Taliban in a different area of Ghazni province.

What happens if North Korea gets out of hand? Here are some scenarios

While political and military analysts sound pretty confident that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's threats are just bluster, you can't get around the fact that the region encompassing the Korean peninsula is one of the most heavily militarized places on Earth, home to three of the world's six-largest militaries.

If the unthinkable were to happen, how would it play out?

Leon Panetta, who stepped down as President Barack Obama's defense secretary in February, warned this week in an interview with CNBC that "we don't have as much insight as we should with regards to the inner workings of what happens in North Korea."

But based on declassified U.S. and U.N. assessments and independent analyses by military scholars, we can make some educated guesses:

How would North Korea attack?
Probably with a massive ground assault backed by artillery fire. That's because North Korea's standing military, according to the best U.S. and U.N. intelligence assessments, is the fourth largest in the world, at 1.1 million members. South Korea's, by contrast, is about 690,000 strong.

Library of Congress Federal Research Division

That ratio — a manpower superiority of roughly 3-to-2 for the North — is remarkably consistent across calculations of the countries' weaponry, too. By about the same proportion, the North has more tanks, more artillery, more planes, more ships, more missiles.

In a 2008 report commissioned by the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress depicted North Korea as, in essence, one giant military installation

Lululemon Chief Product Officer Sheree Waterson Steps Down Following Yoga Pant Debacle

Lululemon said Wednesday that its chief product officer is stepping down, as it updated the production problems it has had with see-through pants.

The Canadian yoga wear maker said Sheree Waterson will leave effective April 15.

In a statement, the company said the departure was part of a plan to reorganize its product team to support long-term growth. It wouldn't comment specifically if the departure was related to the pants problem.

"As the organization matures organizational structure changes are often required," the company said in an email response to a query.

Lululemon late last month pulled its Luon pants from store shelves because the fabric was too sheer. On Wednesday the company said after evaluating its production issues, it found the problem stemmed from incomplete testing protocols combined with a style change in the pants pattern. Lululemon hired a new team, including senior level positions in quality, raw materials, and production, to look into the problem and oversee production of the Luon pants, which cost $72 to $98.

Luon pants, made from a combination of nylon and Lycra fibers, are one of the retailer's product staples and account for about 17 percent of all women's pants in its stores. The company is offering customers full refunds or exchanges Lululemon did not say when it expects Luon pants to be back on shelves.

CEO Christine Day said the company stands by the outlook it offered on March 21 during an earnings report that came after the pants problem arose.

At that time, the company said withdrawing Luons will cut its revenue by $12 million to $17 million in the first quarter and by $45 million to $50 million for the rest of the year, particularly in the second quarter. It also said it expects first-quarter earnings of 28 to 30 cents per share. It reported earnings of 32 cents per share a year ago. The company expects the recall will pull its earnings down by 11 to 12 cents per share.

Snoop Lion & Miley Cyrus' 'Ashtrays And Heartbreak' Debuts Off 'Reincarnated'

Nothing like some nostalgic weed smoking to bring together a 20-year-old pop starlet from Nashville and a 41-year-old West Coast gangster rapper-turned-reggae mon! If that's your thing, you're luck: Miley Cyrus and Snoop Lion have teamed up for "Ashtrays and Heartbreaks," a song off the Lion's upcoming album, "Reincarnated."

It's a generally inoffensive tune that features both vocalists offering breathy reflections on lost loved ones. Some might accuse Snoop Lion of a certain inauthenticity, but let's be honest, if there are two people who are going to sing about pot, these aren't the worst choices.

If working on a reggae-lite album seems like a surprising move for Cyrus, consider the fact that she last made music headlines by appearing in a raunchy video for Borgore's dubstep song "Decision." She's nimble in this industry!

Snoop has stayed busy doing press runs for the movie and album. In an interview with HuffPost, he said "Young, Wild and Free" would make a nice new national anthem for the United States and backed same-sex marriage. "People can do what they want and as they please," he said. "Satisfy yourself accordingly. I have no issues with nobody, I live for me and I live my life doing what I do, so you should have the right to do whatever you want to do."

Diplo debuted the track on Major Lazer's SoundCloud page. Major Lazer produced the record in Jamaica, where Snoop filmed a documentary about his personal renaissance, also called "Reincarnated." The movie is a VICE project. Diplo took a hardline on the NRA in a recent tweet endorsing "No Guns Allowed," another "Reincarnated" song that features Drake and Snoop's daughter. The "No Guns Allowed" video debuted earlier this week.

Lamar Odom, Khloe Kardashian Charity Scam? Why Their Cancer Research Cause Raises Questions

Could Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian be involved in a charity scam?

According to ESPN, Lamar Odom's charity "Cathy's Kids" -- which he founded in 2004 after his mother passed away from cancer -- promises "money for cancer research [but] has not given a dime in grant money to any cancer entity in its eight-year history." This, despite raising $2.2 million thus far.

On Lamar and Khloe's joint eBay page, it states that "[Cathy's Kids] was developed as a means for Lamar to streamline all his charitable efforts and focus on making a positive impact on the lives of under-privileged children, as well as targeting a disease that has played a significant role in his life, cancer."

Which is where it gets tricky: The second half of the sentence is apparently an empty statement, while the first is not.

"Lamar lost his mother to stomach cancer and subsequently is committed to help causes that are focused on finding a cure and helping people who suffer from the disease," their site goes on to say. As mentioned, no such money was given to the cause.

On the upside though, the couple's mission to ensure "that funds are available for under-privileged youth that live in the inner cities of New York and Los Angeles" has been fulfilled. Of the $2.2 million the charity has raised, reports Yahoo, at least 60 percent -- $1.3 million -- went to finance two elite youth basketball travel teams.

To make matters a bit tricky, a separate eBay page dedicated to Cathy's Kids makes no mention of cancer research, but is instead dedicated solely to raising funds to buy "educational tools such as books and computers, mentoring and tutoring services and recreational opportunities" for underprivileged youth.

And Khloe's involvement goes beyond just being the wife of, or having her photographs on eBay with Lamar: According to Yahoo, the reality star is actively auctioning clothes and accessories and her page clearly states that "all auction items benefit Cathy's Kids, a Lamar Odom Foundation."

So why is the charity publicly committed to cancer research while the money does not go to cancer research? A request for comment made to both Lamar and Khloe's reps was not immediately answered.

Members Of White Supremacist Gang Sought In Colorado Prison Chief Death

Authorities investigating the death of Colorado's prisons chief are telling law enforcement officers to be on the lookout for two known associates of a white supremacist prison gang.

El Paso County sheriff's Lt. Jeff Kramer said an officer safety bulletin was sent out Wednesday regarding James Lohr, 47, and Thomas Guolee, 31.

Lohr and Guolee aren't being called suspects in the death of Colorado Department of Corrections chief Tom Clements, but their names have surfaced during the investigation, Kramer said. He wouldn't elaborate.

Kramer said Lohr and Guolee are known associates of the 211 Crew. That's the same gang whose members included Evan Ebel, who is suspected of fatally shooting Clements on March 19 and a pizza deliveryman two days earlier.

Ebel was killed in a shootout with Texas authorities after the deaths.

Investigators have said Ebel is the only suspect in Clements' death but haven't given a motive. But they have said they're looking into his connection to the gang he joined while in prison, and whether that was connected to the attack.

Sheriff's investigators don't know the whereabouts of Lohr and Guolee or if they are together, but Kramer said it's possible one or both of them could be headed to Nevada or Texas.

Both are wanted on warrants unrelated to Clements' death. They are believed to be armed and dangerous.

Clements, born in St. Louis, worked for 31 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections, both in prison and as a parole officer, before he was hired in Colorado.

Christina Aguilera Steps Out Without Makeup

Christina Aguilera went super-casual Tuesday as she arrived at LAX airport, with her son, Max Bratman. The former "Voice" coach traded in her usually glammed-up attire and hair for a black sweatshirt and New York Yankees cap.

The 32-year-old singer recently showed off a slimmer, fitter frame at the fourth season premiere of "The Voice" and has spoken openly about her appearance in the past. "I've been on all spectrums [weight-wise], I've been in this [business] for a long time ... You can never be too much of anything," Aguilera said at the Television Critics Association conference in January 2012. "You can never bee too perfect, too thin, too curvy, voluptuous this that. I've been all sides of the spectrum as far as any female in this business."

Monster barracuda is nearly 7-feet long, 102 pounds

Fishing for tarpon was slow on the Cuanza River in Angola, so when Thomas Gibson hooked into a giant fish that took a scorching run and stayed close to the surface, he and his fishing partner thought, finally, a tarpon.

But what came to the boat was not only a huge fish, but a huge surprise.

“It came to the boat fairly easily (too easily for a tarpon!) and once I got hold of the leader and pulled it up to the surface, we saw it was a HUGE barracuda,” Cam Nicolson wrote in an email to GrindTV Outdoor. “It was bigger than any barracuda I had seen.”

The barracuda—a Guinean barracuda, to be exact—measured 6.9-feet long and weighed a potential all-tackle world-record 102 pounds.

“I have never seen anything like it,” Iain Nicolson, Cam’s brother, told Sport Fishing.

Indeed, Guinean barracuda in the Cuanza River typically average 10-20 pounds with the biggest the Nicolson’s of Angola have caught previously being around 65 pounds.

Gibson, a Houston resident who is an expert at catching tarpon, submitted the recent catch to the International Game Fish Association, the keeper of fishing world records. The IGFA is currently reviewing the potential record.

[Related: The biggest fish ever caught from a kayak.]

The current record is 101 pounds, 3 ounces, also caught in Africa. That fish was landed by Dr. Cyril Fabre in Olende, Gabon.

Amazingly, the one Gibson hooked took less than 10 minutes to land, but it came with one harrowing moment.

“We only had a lip gaff onboard [seen in photo below], so that was a little too close to the teeth for comfort,” Cam Nicolson said.

FBI Busts N.Y. Politicos for Bribery and Corruption

FBI agents raided the homes of state Sen. Malcolm Smith, D-Hollis, and New York City Council Member Dan Halloran, R-19, this morning and arrested both men, according to the New York Times. The criminal complaint , which had been sealed until today, alleges that the two, along with four other politicians from Rockland and Westchester Counties, engaged in bribery, defrauding of honest service and conspiracy to commit an unlawful activity. The remaining four defendants are Noramie Jasmin and Joseph Desmaret, the mayor and deputy mayor of Spring Valley; Vincent Tabone, a Republican official in Queens; and Joseph Savino, the Bronx GOP chairman.

The scheme

The New York Post states that it is alleged that Smith conspired with Republican officials to obtain the party's permission to run for mayor of New York City on the Republican line, even though he is a Democrat. The alleged conspiracy involved bribing select Republicans to influence that approval process. Halloran is also being investigated for taking bribes from a consultant in return for allocating city funds. The Spring Valley politicians are believed to be involved through Smith's alleged efforts to provide a benefit to a real estate developer in return for financial support.

Undercover activity

The FBI introduced an agent into the alleged conspiracy posing as a real estate developer. The agent and a cooperating witness met with the Tabone and Savino, and according to the Times, the politicians accepted bribes of $40,000 each. Halloran is reported to have solicited more than $20,000 in bribes.

Statements

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara calls the alleged crimes "an unappetizing smorgasbord of graft and greed involving six officials who together built a corridor of corruption stretching from Queens and the Bronx to Rockland County and all the way up to Albany itself." Gerald Shargel, Senator Smith's attorney, is quoted in the New York Times saying "Malcolm Smith is a dedicated and highly respected public servant and he steadfastly denies these charges."

Repercussions

The fallout from these arrests and any potential convictions will affect both New York City politics as well as the New York state senate. The Times notes that two of the Republican officials involved are involved with existing mayoral campaigns of other Republicans. Tabone is a paid consultant for the campaign of John Catsimatidis while Halloran recently endorsed Republican candidate Joseph Lhota. Malcolm Smith is one of five Democratic state senators who are supporting Republican control of the Senate. From 2008 to 2010, Smith was the president of the senate while it was controlled by the Democrats. Republicans regained a slim majority in 2010, which they lost in 2012. Smith and four other liberal Democrats formed the Independent Democratic Conference and voted with Republicans to restore their control of the upper house of the New York legislature.

New York mayor Michael Bloomberg is term limited and cannot run for re-election. The process to determine who will succeed him has begun for both the Democratic and Republican parties. These arrests may affect that process and the election. In addition, the arrest of Malcolm Smith may affect Republican control of the state senate.

Pepsi IPL Schedule 2013

IPL Schedule 2013 cricket Tournament will start on Apr 3, 2013 in India. The last match of the tournament will be held on May 26, 2013.

The Indian Premier League, or as some would like to address it as the Cricket Carnival is back in the subcontinent and is in tremendous flow with a lot of new exciting surprises keeping viewers hooked to their TV sets. There was much ado about the Pepsico IPL schedule before the start of the event with critics complaining about too much of cricket being played which can fatigue players in the long run. The short version of the game has added a lot of color to cricket itself especially after the involvement of Bollywood superstars in the event. The Pepsi IPL fixture was declared back in the month of January after the auction held at Bangalore. The IPL time table is considered to be a lot more hyped than other tournament time tables owing to the fact that cricket crazy India always tends to promise a better turn out at the stadiums than any other countries in the world. The indian premier league schedule has been carefully designed to ensure optimum crowd turnout and the months of April-May are considered to be the time of the year when cricket in India is played at its best. Top four teams from IPL Points Table will enter playoff/semi final round.

As to what a lot may oppose regarding the busy indian premier league fixtures that has kept the veterans in the hunt still going strong; it does not really spoil the game of cricket but also encourages a lot of talented youngsters to play with conviction. The indian premier league time table this year is hands down devoid of controversies though unlike that of the 4th edition of the league where the IPLT20 schedule was prepared and started just after 4 days from the last match of the ICC Cricket World Cup.

Nicki Minaj's 'High School' Video Includes Steamy Sex Scenes With ... Lil Wayne

It's not surprising that Nicki Minaj's "High School" video features Lil Wayne. After all, he recorded a verse for the song and heads up the the label they're both signed to, Young Money. What is a bit odd, however, is the fact that the duo filmed a racy sex scene for the visuals.

Wayne has always played the mentor role to Minaj, notably having her back when she was insulted by a Hot 97 DJ before she was to take the stage at the radio station's Summer Jam concert. It's curious to see them playing these roles in a music video, but it's sure to get hip-hop blogs talking.

In the clip, Wayne and Minaj make off to an island to engage in some sort of shady business and end up falling into bed. After their tryst, they steal things and sneak off in a helicopter. *Cue Beats by Dre product placement.

"High School" is off Minaj's hilariously titled "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded The Re-Up." Watch the video and let us know what you think in the comments. Another YMCBC rapper debuted a video today; head over to our article on Drake's "5AM in Toronto" video to see how he fared.

Survivalist surrenders to lawmen in Utah mountains

For six years Troy James Knapp eluded authorities, moving from cabin to cabin across the Utah mountains, taking food and weapons and leaving notes to brag about it.

It all ended Tuesday as lawmen made what they called a surprisingly easy capture outside a remote cabin after the suspect fired off a few harmless shots.

"He was laughing with our guys. He said, 'Boy, you really snuck up on me,'" said Sevier County Sheriff Nathan Curtis. "He threw his rifle down in the snow and said, 'You got me.'"

The 45-year-old survivalist is suspected of burglarizing dozens of Utah cabins and leaving taunting notes for owners — "get off my mountain" — and for sheriffs across several counties — "gonna put you in the ground!" Now he faces multiple felonies in at least four counties, including for shooting at a police helicopter and officers on the ground.

The self-styled "Mountain Man" looked sullen as he was walked into Sanpete County jail late Tuesday, already in jail garb from a quick stop at another county jail. Sanpete County prosecutor Brody Keisel said Knapp will have his first court appearance in Manti within days on a number of felony charges.

Knapp has an impressive memory and was eager to recite his travels and numerous cabin break-ins, bragging that authorities knew only the half of it and showing maps, Curtis said. He does not yet have an attorney.

Authorities believe Knapp had lingered around the snowy mountains outside Ferron, about 125 miles southeast of Salt Lake City, since last fall. He took shelter at cabins in the middle of the Manti-LaSal National Forest.

"It is a relief to know that he has been caught," said Eugene Bartholomew, the owner of a cabin broken into recently at Ferron Reservior under the windswept Wasatch Plateau, where the snow is still piled four feet deep in places. "If he slept in the beds, that's fine with me. As long as he didn't tear up the place."

Bartholomew was planning a trip to inspect his cabin.

No one was hit before Knapp was captured after his brief effort to flee on snowshoes from dozens of officers who converged on snowmobiles and a snowcat, Sanpete County Sheriff Brian Nielson said.

Armed with a rifle and a handgun, authorities said, Knapp was wearing camouflage clothes and sporting a graying red beard.

At first, lawmen didn't know exactly where to look for Knapp. They got a Good Friday tip from a pair of hunters who had a chance encounter in the area with Knapp, who introduced himself as a "mountain man," Curtis said.

Authorities from several counties spent the weekend planning a stealthy search for Knapp. A surveillance party led by Emery County Sheriff Greg Funk quietly approached Ferron Reservoir by snowshoe at 1 a.m. Monday, other authorities said.

"They could hear him chopping wood," Curtis said.

Nine hours later, with the help of the helicopter, they flushed the suspect out of a cabin where he was barricaded. Knapp tried to take off in the woods.

"He walked into a line of guys with guns and realized he was done," U.S. Forest Service officer Scott Watson said. "We were so happy it turned out the way it did."

Knapp had been photographed by motion-triggered cameras on snowshoes with a stolen rifle slung over his shoulder as recently as last fall in Sanpete County. Iron, Kane and Garfield counties have all issued arrest warrants for him on burglary and weapons charges.

He had been living off the comfort of cabins in winter and retreating to makeshift summer camps deep in the forest with stolen guns and supplies, detectives have said.6

Lady Gaga In 'X-Men: Days Of Future Past' As Dazzler? Bryan Singer Tweets Casting Prank On April Fools' Day

Is Lady Gaga playing Dazzler in "X-Men: Days of Future Past"? She's not, apparently, but that didn't stop Bryan Singer from having a little fun on Monday afternoon, a.k.a. April Fools' Day.

Singer, who is set to direct "X-Men: Days of Future Past," has previously used the social media platform to reveal casting news for his upcoming film. In an interview with HuffPost Entertainment earlier this year, the director explained his expanded Twitter presence.

I decided that the next time I got myself involved in a movie that had a huge amount of attention already that I would use Twitter. As a way of connecting with fans, principally. And also as a way of clearing up misunderstandings so that people know. You know, they may hear that an actor is cast or hear somebody is going to be in it, but until I say it's so, that's the confirmation.

Except when it's not the confirmation, as in this case. Singer's joke wasn't without victims: Variety ran with the Lady Gaga news, posting that the pop singer was added to "a diverse and intriguing cast." The article was subsequently pulled down, and Variety acknowledged the gaffe:

It wasn't so hard to believe that Gaga would join "X-Men," of course; the singer has stretched her wings as an actress in recent months, filming a role in "Machete Kills" for director Robert Rodriguez.

HuffPost Entertainment reached out to Singer's representatives to find out whether he was, in fact, joking; the director had no comment on the tweet. According to the website Bleeding Cool, Lady Gaga's representatives have denied she has any involvement in the film.

Fairy Tayl Prince Swift has sights set on meeting Harry

The ginger royal’s state visit to the US in May will be his first since he landed himself in the brown stuff for playing strip billiards in Vegas.

A source said: “Taylor’s desperate to get her name added on to the VIP lists of stars being lined up to meet Harry. She loves everything about him — especially his ginger hair and English accent.

“She’s dated JFK’s great nephew CONOR KENNEDY, who is considered American royalty, and Harry would be a massive step up from him.

“Taylor is also Harry’s type as he loves blondes.

“Ed is laid-back, but it will be a challenge for him not to get jealous over Taylor’s admiration for another richer, ginger Englishman with the same name as one of her ex-boyfriends.”

Ed’s ego will also take a knock as one of his party tales is about being mistaken for the prince — by Harry’s cousins BEATRICE and EUGENIE.

He bumped into the princesses while performing at a wedding in the Caribbean and recalled: “One of the girls said, ‘You know my cousin looks like you’.”

Harry — dating blonde party girl CRESSIDA BONAS — is set to meet US stars including JENNIFER LAWRENCE, VANESSA HUDGENS, KATE UPTON and SCARLETT JOHANSSON at parties being thrown for him in Washington and New York.

And Taylor — whose exes include ONE DIRECTION’s HARRY STYLES, actor JAKE GYLLENHAAL and TAYLOR LAUTNER — has the perfect chance to bag an invite. She is in Washington at the same time as Harry for her Red tour — which has Ed as her support act and duet partner.

Her shows are already proving a hit in the US. On Friday, Taylor turned heads in a tight black number for a gig in Newark, New Jersey, but dressed down for her performance with Ed.

She’s best not getting too friendly with the prince. Ed could do her serious damage with the razor-sharp sword he’s been carrying on tour.

The blade was handed to him by director PETER JACKSON from the set of The Hobbit and it nearly killed Taylor on a recent jet flight.

Ed said: “It’s a real sword. I was bringing it back to Nashville and as the plane started to take off, it was on the table and started sliding and I was like, ‘No!’ It was just about to impale Taylor.”

Harry kills Taliban from the cockpit of an Apache helicopter.

Witness Man yelled about God after church killing

Witnesses say the 25-year-old man accused of walking into an Ohio church and fatally shooting his father after an Easter service Sunday was yelling about God and Allah after the killing.

Police say Reshad Riddle walked into the Hiawatha Church of God in Christ in Ashtabula and killed his father, 52-year-old Richard Riddle, with a single shot from a handgun Sunday afternoon.

Associate Pastor Sean Adams told The (Ashtabula) Star Beacon newspaper that worshippers started screaming, ducking down and calling 911 on cellphones after the shooting.

""It was terrifying," Adams told the newspaper. "The children were screaming and people were dialing 911. We were afraid to breathe."

Adams said Reshad Riddle then continued into the church, still holding the gun, and yelled that the killing was "the will of Allah. This is the will of God."

Reshad Riddle was quickly subdued by officers, who arrived just moments after the shooting. They say he has been mostly cooperative.

The Plain Dealer newspaper in Cleveland reported that another church pastor said congregants were leaving when they heard a gunshot.

"People pushed me into a back office and said, 'Somebody's here with a gun,'" said the Rev. David Howard Jr. "The guy was outside hollering and acting crazy."

County Coroner Pamela Lancaster said Richard Riddle's wound was "immediately fatal."

Ashtabula Police Chief Robert Stell said the younger Riddle offered no motive for the shooting.

"Witnesses at the scene said the shooter entered church and made some references to Allah, but we are not sure if that was a motive or if there was a family problem," Stell said. "There is no indication that the father and son had a bad relationship. Everyone thinks this was very surprising."

Court records show Reshad Riddle has an extensive criminal record.

Ashtabula County Common Pleas Court records show he was arrested and charged with two counts of felonious assault, kidnapping, abduction and tampering with evidence in 2006.

Records show that in 2007, Reshad Riddle was charged with felonious assault, and in 2009 he was charged with possession of drugs, tampering with evidence and possession of cocaine.

According to police reports, one of the felonious assault charges stemmed from an incident when Reshad Riddle allegedly attempted to cut his girlfriend's throat. Capt. Joseph Cellitti said the young woman's neck had been cut with a knife and she suffered bruising on her side and chest.

Church parishioners said Reshad Riddle was a member of the church as a child, but did not attend services regularly as an adult.

Lindsay Lohan Sideboob Actress Nearly Spills Out Of Her Dress In Brazil

Patron saint Lindsay Lohan had an "oopsie" moment yesterday while exiting her chopper in Brazil.

The actress, down in Latin America to promote a brand of jeans for $100,000 a day, reportedly took some pants and some jewels from the set of "Anger Management" before she left the States -- but she should have taken a bra. LiLo spilled out of her gray dress and, luckily, had her long red hair to cover up an even bigger disaster.

Lohan and her sideboob partied pretty hard in the days before, and on Friday, photos of the troubled star hiding under a table at a nightclub circulated the Web.

On May 2, Lohan will have to start court-mandated rehab. It's been recently reported that the 26-year-old said the only way she'd enter lockdown treatment is if they let her keep taking Adderall. We suggest she put a clause in there about undergarments.

North Korea puts rockets on standby as US official warns regime is no 'paper tiger'

North Korea put its rocket units on standby Friday to attack U.S. military bases in South Korea and the Pacific, after repeated threats one day after two American stealth bombers flew over the Korean Peninsula in a military exercise.

A U.S. official warned that the isolated communist state is “not a paper tiger” and its reaction should not be dismissed as “pure bluster.”

According to South Korea's news agency, Yonhap, North Korea announced Saturday that it had entered a state of war against South Korea. "In a special statement, the North said it will deal with every inter-Korean issue in a wartime manner," Yonhap reported. NBC News could not immediately confirm.

The two Koreas have been in a technical state of war because their 1950-53 conflict ended under an armistice and not a peace treaty.

NBC's Andrea Mitchell examines North Korea's brewing threats and what they mean for neighboring South Korea.

According to North Korea's official KCNA news agency, the country's leader Kim Jong Un “judged the time has come to settle accounts with the U.S. imperialists in view of the prevailing situation” at a midnight meeting of top generals, Reuters reported.

The latest threats come one day after two nuclear-capable stealth bombers flew from Missouri to drop inert munitions on a range in South Korea as part of a major military exercise.

The U.S. official emphasized the danger posed by North Korea’s military and the unpredictable nature of its 30-year-old leader.

“North Korea is not a paper tiger so it wouldn't be smart to dismiss its provocative behavior as pure bluster. What's not clear right now is how much risk Kim Jong Un is willing to run to show the world and domestic elites that he's a tough guy,” said the official, who asked not to be named. “His inexperience is certain -- his wisdom is still very much in question.”

There was a mass demonstration in support of Kim involving tens of thousands of people in the main square of North Korean capital Pyongyang Friday, The Associated Press reported.

Placards read "Let's crush the puppet traitor group" and "Let's rip the puppet traitors to death!"

'War for national liberation'
The state-controlled KCNA also published an article that said the “opportunity for peacefully settling the DPRK-U.S. relations is no longer available as the U.S. opted for staking its fate. Consequently, there remains only the settlement of accounts by a physical means.” DPRK stands for Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the North's official name.

Feedly Mobile revamp caters to Reader escapees with fast search, Must Reads

The phaseout of Google Reader is quickly becoming a boon for developers still carrying the torch for newsreader apps -- just ask Feedly, which now says it took on 3 million new users in the two weeks since Google's decision. Rather than simply wait for more customers to roll in on their own, though, the company is taking matters into its own hands with a major refresh of Feedly Mobile for Android and iOS. The update brings a reworked search engine that's both extra-quick and makes topic suggestions based on the collective subscriptions of the Feedly user base, getting better as more readers join the ranks. Other updates also serve those who want to keep things moving quickly. A new Must Reads section prioritizes feeds, a title-only view maximizes screen space and an updated sharing panel both allows a customizable shortcut as well as (slightly ironic) sharing to Google+. Once you've gotten over the sting of another Google spring cleaning, Feedly's potential solutions await at the source links.

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