Being overweight is no laughing matter, but Sir Charles Barkley and his cohorts over at Weight Watchers clearly think some of us need to lighten up -- literally and figuratively.

The former NBA star and perpetual jokester was photographed wearing a halter dress and heels for a new ad campaign aimed at men.

In the "Lose Like A Man" TV spot, slated to air on April 8, Barkley pledges to do anything necessary to get the attention of men and to get them on board with losing weight, Weight Watchers says. His message: Dieting is NOT just for women, a point he drives home with his own weight-loss success story, having shed some 42 pounds (and counting) since signing on as a spokesperson for the program last year.

Barkley's Weight Watchers endorsement came into question when he was caught calling the program a scam during a TNT broadcast in January.

Weight Watchers later released a statement "forgiving" Barkley of the remarks, however, and agreeing that the cushy arrangement was indeed a "pretty great gig."

Barkley, who, according to Weight Watchers, is continuing with the plan, has been spotted playing dress-up before. In 2010 he donned a wig, sat at a piano, and did his best Alicia Keys impersonation for an episode of Saturday Night Live.

The Academy of Natural Sciences has never been one to brag.

Its 225,000 annual visitors may associate the nation's oldest natural history museum solely with dioramas and dinosaurs, but behind the scenes there is groundbreaking research conducted by world-renowned scientists and an enviable collection of some 18 million specimens representing all manner of animal, vegetable and mineral.

In celebration of its bicentennial this year, the museum has finally decided that it's OK to boast a little. For what's believed to be the first time in 200 years, curators will bring the public into the labyrinthine museum's normally off-limits nooks and crannies for daily tours.

"This is a rare opportunity to get a firsthand look at some of the most stunning, and sometimes bizarre, creatures you've ever seen," said Academy president and chief executive officer George Gephart Jr. "We can't wait to open our doors and show off nature's, and the Academy's, wondrous bounty."

The Academy will highlight a different part of its collection starting with minerals in April and ending with fossils in February 2013. Other months will focus on birds, fish, insects, mollusks, amphibians and reptiles, plants and mammals.

"We've done behind-the-scenes tours with school groups, and with donors and members, but not anything like this," said Ned Gilmore, an Academy collections manager.

Depending on the tour, visitors might see drawers filled with exotic colorful birds, cabinets holding polar bear skeletons, jars of preserved snakes, boxes of beautiful shells that when alive can kill a human, a wall of enormous elk skulls, a narwhal tusk and a mounted – and extinct – Caribbean Monk Seal.

An accompanying exhibition, "The Academy at 200: The Nature of Discovery," puts dozens of the academy's show-stopping treasures on public display – many for the first time – and highlights research that museum scientists are conducting worldwide on hot topics of climate change, biodiversity, water quality and invasive species.

With an odd, greenish pattern, this creature didn't look like anything the locals had ever seen when it washed up in Folly Beach, just South of Charleston, S.C. on Friday, March 22. Some were quick to call it a "sea monster," but scientists say its actual identity is a bit more mundane.

Dr. Shane Boylan, a veterinarian at the South Carolina Aquarium (SCA), saw a photograph of the beast and quickly identified it as a sturgeon. He said the body shape and the bone plates along the side gave it away. And the strange colors? They're likely evidence of rotting, or what Boylan calls a "necrotic tan." Most sturgeon are silvery or greenish, so beach-goers who had never seen a rotten one might not have recognized it.

After Live 5 News posted the image on Facebook, commenter Cindy Fabian noted, "It looks like the result of the BP oil disaster to me; serious mutation!"

It's not clear what's become of the specimen. The aquarium's Kate Dittloff told The Huffington Post that the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources which normally cleans up dead animals, would have only done so if the creature had been deemed a threat.

HappyApril Fool's Day, dear readers, on April 1. I hope you are not an April Fool, or a victim of someone's tomfoolery. Beware! Fair warning!

April is Young People's Poetry Month, Multicultural Month and the Month of Mathematics Education.

April, traditionally, brings us showers to product May flowers – at least, that's what my maternal grandmother would tell me. March has been a rather dry month.

Grace Place Serving Center will serve a free, hot meal April 3 from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church, 114 N. Union Ave. in Havre de Grace. Phone 410-939-2107. Volunteers provide the luncheon to anyone in need who enters.

Shop for tremendous bargains! It's not too early to plan for the HdG Community Yard Sale, April 21, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (rain date April 22). Contact me for details, to reserve a space at $10 or to list your participation at your own address, 410-939-6562 or the Visitors Center 410-939-2100. Bulle Rock residents have mushroomed this eighth yard sale into a huge event with the following participants (so far): 210 Spectacular Bid Drive, 114, 204 Touch of Gold Drive, 305 Seattle Slew Place, 215 Thunder Gulch Circle, 460, 543 Majestic Prince Circle, 140, 146 Snow Chief Drive, 401 Azra Court, 220 Smarty Jones Terrace, 317, 319 Victory Gallop Court, 520/552 Ferdinand Drive, 312, 314 Native Dancer Circle, 232, 244 Whirlaway Lane, 101 Vigil Circle and 534 Counter Point Circle. Whew! That's a list, sure to keep on growing!

Easter is coming April 8. Palm Sunday will be celebrated April 1.

On Good Friday, April 6, the Susquehanna Ministerium will sponsor the Good Friday Way of the Cross beginning at Jean Roberts Park, 503 St. John St. (Railroad Bridge) from noon to 1 p.m. For details, phone 410-939-2464.

HdG Parks and Recreation will host its annual Easter egg hunt April 7 at noon in Tyding's Park. Free admission, 410-939-6724.

Maryland celebrates Arbor Day, April 4. Plant a tree!

The Spring Chesapeake Postcard Fair will be held April 7 at the HdG Community Center, 100 Lagaret Lane; for details, 410-939-0999. 9 a.m,. to 4 p.m. Contacts: marymartinpostcards@gmail.com http://www.mary/martin.com

Jim Dryden in the Wickie for the Friends of the Concord Point Lighthouse told about a volunteers briefing/planning meeting Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon at the HdG police station, 715 Pennington Ave. Also, the lighthouse and keeper's house will reopen Sunday for the season, at 1 p.m.

"Who Z What's Its!" with George Wagner is a fun event to learn more about your special pieces your treasure. Let George at Buhoukas, 467 Franklin St., evaluate your items to identify them and appraise their value. For an appointment time, please phone 410-942-1290 or email bahoukas@verizon.net.

Carolyn Colburn is seeking tour stops for the Saturday, May 19 HdG Secret Garden Tour. If you would like your gardens included, phone 410-939-5706, or email c.wco7HDG@msn.com Artists, vendors and exhibitors also are sought for the HdG Maritime Museum's flower/garden mart. A container garden competition will also be held – contact Cynthia Leffler, 410-652-9757, email rcmcrusty@aol.com.

Uh oh! Village of Gracecroft neighbors were notified by Director of Public Works Larry Parks about the HdG city code about trash collection (162-2-15). Lidded trash cans must be used; fines can total $1,000. Beware!

April 2 is International Children's Book Day, a day to promote books and reading around the world. This event is celebrated on Danish author, Hans Christian Andersen's birthday. For more information, go to http://www.usbby.org.

Gujarati culture came right into Indian drawing rooms with the popular television show 'Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka' in 1999 and, after more than a decade, it is still one of the strongest flavours on the tube.

Those based in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Maharashtra too abound on the small screen. Be it a weekly or a daily soap, the regional flavour is everywhere.

But Gujarati shows dominate. Shows like Saath Nibhana Saathiya, Tarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashma and Ram Milaayi Jodi are continuing the trend that started 13 years ago and has seen Gujarati family dramas like Baa Bahoo Aur Baby and Khichdi.
'Tarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashma' to 'Khichdi': Gujarati shows rule TV

Ekta Kapoor's Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi took things a step ahead and was followed by a long list of Gujarati culture-based shows - Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai, Teen Bahuraniyan, Jasuben Jayantilal Joshi Ki Joint Family, Hamari Devrani, Bandini, Mukti Bandhan, Krishnaben Khakhrawala, Gulaal, Papad Pol and Sanskaar Lakshmi.

From showing a typical Gujarati household to their festivals, functions and colourful wardrobe, the shows spread the vibrant colours of the state to the remotest parts of the country.

Actor-director Jamnadas Majethia, the man behind Khichdi and Baa Bahoo Aur Baby, told IANS: "I believe out of all, Gujarati and Punjabi cultures are the ones that almost everyone recognises.

"They are very colourful communities with a rich literature and the scope of entertainment is also much more than others. Shows based on these cultures get more TRPs. So for makers it becomes easier to do a show with a Gujarati or a Punjabi background." Thanks to these shows, popular Gujarati dishes like khakra and thepla have become popular among the masses. Other regions have also been highlighted.

Ekta's long running popular show Kasauti Zindagi Kay and Tere Liye revolved around Bengali families, while Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin, Geet...Hui Sabse Parayi and Preeto were about Punjabi families.

If Maryada is set in Haryana, Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha is set in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya is based in Uttar Pradesh and Afsar Bitiya is the story of a Bihari girl.

For producers, placing a show in a specific region or a culture makes it easier to decide on the sets, costumes and storyline.

"When you give a show an identity like Gujarati, Punjabi or Marwadi, it not only makes the viewers connect with the show but also helps makers in giving a background to the show in terms of costume, jewellery, dialect or characters," said Rajan Shahi, producer of Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, the story of a Marwadi family.

If people sitting in Bihar or Jharkhand these days know about Gujarati or Marathi culture, it is to a large extent because of these daily shows. "TV shows based on Gujarati, Marathi or Marwadi cultures have made audiences all over the country aware of the customs and rituals of different regions. The shows have broken barriers and brought people together," Suzana Ghai, creative director, Star India, told IANS. READ MORE

While the industry is abuzz with the bold poster of Vivek Agnihotri’s film ‘Hate Story’, the director himself feels that Paoli Dam, the main lead of his film can turn on people simply with her eyes.

Agnihotri cleared the rumours about his film and said that Paoli’s role was not similar to Sharon Stone’s character in ‘Basic Instinct’, as was believed earlier. Speaking to a daily, the director said, “This is the most original script by Vikram Bhatt. It has an Indianised commercial setting.”

“A journalist told me that Paoli has left Sharon Stone far behind while doing this movie. She can turn you on with her clothes on by just having the audience stare at her eyes!" the filmmaker added.

However, the director is miffed with the censor board as the bold promos haven’t gone down too well with them. Now, thanks to them, Paoli’s sex talk would have to be beeped from all the promos. Agnihotri feels that it would dilute the theme of the film itself.

"The censor board has old-fashioned people and we have no choice but to live with the norms. The soap operas show so much of vulgar stuff and yet, no one has any problem with that. Lovemaking scenes are being shown on television. There is so much of vulgarity in the minds of characters from popular serials. But no one is bothered. When it comes to the promos, we are told that we have to mute certain words. We have to cut a few things here and there. The result is that the promo is not representing the boldness of the movie. It`s like buying a Merc but still having to negotiate bad traffic. However, when it comes to my film, I will not cut anything and will fight till the end. Mine is an adult film. It is not for kids and not meant for adults who think like kids," said Vivek.

Ughhhh! If your PC has ever been infected - or worse, if it's infected right now - you're probably groaning. Yes it's a pain, but the good news is: you can remove viruses yourself, for free.

STEP 1: Back Up Documents, Photos and Videos.
Save your important data to an external drive. Be sure to scan this drive and its contents after you remove the virus; you don't want to re-infect your computer after the clean-up.

[Related: Five ways to help your PC help you]

STEP 2: Reboot in Safe Mode
You have to prevent the virus from running when you try to remove it. To do this, reboot in safe mode. Safe mode runs only the Windows operating system and a few key programs. It's a way to limit any malware from launching. Restart your computer and hit the F8 key on the keyboard repeatedly until you get to a black screen with the option of restarting in Safe Mode. Choose "Safe Mode with Networking" so that you can still get on the Internet.

STEP 3: Download Virus Scanner/Removal Tools
I recommend downloading two to three different programs to find and remove the malware. One may do the job, but three will almost certainly do the job. These three have worked for me and come highly recommended by PC Magazine and CNET:
Malwarebytes
SuperAntispyware
PC Tools

STEP 4: Run Virus Scanners
Download, double-click to install, accept all the defaults they recommend, and then run each. This will take a while. When the programs locate a virus or any suspicious items, allow the programs to delete the files.

STEP 5: Reboot Normally
Reboot your computer normally; no need for safe mode. You should be back to normal now. If you have files backed up on an external drive, plug it in and use the security programs you downloaded to scan that drive before you open or transfer any files. If the virus is gone, go to step 6.

**IF YOU STILL HAVE THE VIRUS**
Many people will recommend you reinstall Windows or try system restore or download a registry cleaner. I say that at this point, most people should take the computer to a local PC repair shop. Where I live, it costs about $120 to get the virus removed and a clean version of Windows installed. It is a personal decision how you proceed from here, but take into account the value of your time.

STEP 6: Add Security
How did you get that virus in the first place? Even if you don't know, it's clear you need more protection. PC Tools is a real-time virus scanner that you can use as your ongoing protection, or install something like Avast or AVG. All three are very good, free, anti-virus programs. Also Microsoft's Security Essentials comes well recommended.

You should also go to the Control Panel of your computer, and in the security section click Windows Update. Make sure that it's set up to regularly update. And if you think someone else accidentally installed malware on your computer, it's a good idea to give other members of the family their own sign-on accounts that don't have admin privileges. This way, if the kids try to download software that could harbor viruses, they won't be allowed to. And yes, this means you should keep your admin password private. (Also, if they've installed any file-sharing programs, now would be a good time to remove them. P-2-P music and movie sites do expose you to a lot of junk.READ MORE

A 911 caller has been arrested after Pasadena police say his false armed robbery report led officers to shoot and kill a 19-year-old college student they believed to be a suspect.

Pasadena Police Chief Philip Sanchez told reporters Wednesday that a deadly chain of events was set into motion after officers responded to a 911 call claiming a laptop had been stolen by two armed men.

Caller Oscar Carrillo allegedly told officers that two suspects were armed with handguns on Orange Grove Boulevard at Raymond Avenue.

The phone call put officers on alert and led them to believe Kendrec McDade was armed when they saw him about two blocks from that location Saturday night, Sanchez said.

"The actions of the 911 caller set the minds of the officers," Sanchez said.

McDade ran from officers until an officer used the police cruiser to block McDade's path in an alley and rolled down his window, Lt. Phlunte Riddle said.

McDade allegedly made a motion at his waistband and the officer opened fire. A second officer who was chasing McDade on foot also opened fire, Riddle said.

Football standout
McDade, who was less than 10 feet away from the patrol car when the officer opened fire, died of his injuries at Huntington Hospital. The Citrus College student was a football standout at Azusa High School.

In an interview Monday with detectives, Sanchez said Carrillo admitted that he made up the story about the gun to speed up the officers' response. Detectives now believe McDade and the other person, a juvenile, were unarmed, Riddle said.

Carrillo was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter in connection with McDade's shooting, Sanchez said.

The other suspect, a juvenile, has been charged with two counts of commercial burglary, one count of grand theft and one count of failure to register as a gang member as a condition of his probation. He remains in custody.

Do you change your oil every 3,000 miles? The majority of drivers on the road have been bombarded by advertising that recommends changing their car's oil every 3,000 miles, but the truth is that interval is no longer really necessary. Yes, engine oil does get dirty, and when that happens, it can clog engine parts, but if you’re driving a car that’s less than five years old, you’re probably wasting money — and oil — if you change it as frequently as that. Yes, knowing when to change oil is not as simple as some ad campaigns would have you believe.

Changing the oil in your car every 3,000 miles was necessary in the 1970s, when most cars used 10W-40 oil, which tended to wear out within about 3,000 miles. Thanks to improvements in high-quality lubricants and tighter tolerances in the assembly of automotive engines, the 3,000-mile baseline simply does not apply to many cars on the road today; in fact, automakers now recommend you change oil at 5,000, 7,000, 10,000 or even as high as 15,000 miles for newer models under ideal driving conditions. For example, Toyota recommends you change oil at 5,000 miles for a 2005 Tacoma pickup, Honda recommends 7,500 miles for its 2002 Odyssey, General Motors suggests 7,500 miles for its 2007 Chevrolet Malibu, and Ford recommends 10,000 miles for its 2011 Fiesta. A 2008 Porsche Boxster can go 12,000 miles between changes, and a 2010 BMW 3 Series can go up to 15,000 miles before you change oil under ideal conditions; with this kind of complexity, it’s easy for consumers to be confused.

Almost 15 million Californians change their motor oil every 3,000 miles or more often, using more than 150 million gallons of motor oil each year – enough oil to fill 255 Olympic-sized swimming pools, according to a recent study by CalRecycle. CalRecycle spokesperson Jeff Danzinger says their studies indicate the state could reduce total motor oil consumption by as much as 10 million gallons per year if motorists were to change oil according to manufacturer recommendations. "If you're changing your oil too soon, you're needlessly creating waste oil and putting a strain on the system and supply," Danzinger explains.

(Photo: JASON ANFINSEN/Flickr)(Photo: JASON ANFINSEN/Flickr)And that’s just California — wonder how much oil is being wasted across the entire United States by people who have fallen victim to advertising and don’t follow the intervals recommended in their owner’s manual? Across the country, reprocessors treat about 1.1 billion gallons of used oil yearly according to the American Petroleum Institute (API).

Unless you’re driving a car that's more than ten years old, or under super extreme conditions, there’s really no reason to change your oil at 3000 miles anymore. Let’s put that amount into dollars: Changing motor oil according to manufacturer specifications would reduce motor oil demand in California by approximately 10 million gallons per year, and could halve the amount of money those drivers spend on oil changes, which average about $25 at quick-change facilities and can cost significantly more if your vehicle uses long-life synthetic oil. Under normal driving conditions, following the automaker’s recommended intervals will not affect your car’s engine, its performance, or your warranty.READ MORE

The unconditional love of a pet stands out as being some of the most affectionate love there is. A video of a soldier being greeted by his dog is going viral, because the boxer is so thrilled to see his owner, he cannot contain his excitement. Nick served eight months in Afghanistan, and when he returned to his wife, Katie, in Germany, Chuck was overjoyed to see him.

Two words get Chuck so excited, that he leaps out of the back of a parked SUV as if on command: "Daddy's home." He then jumps all over the soldier, licking him and yelping with happiness. The soldier cannot even get a good grip on Chuck, because he is so happy and jumping and showing how much he missed his owner.

Katie uploaded the video to YouTube less than a week ago, and it already has more than 1.3 million views. This is not the first time Chuck has been a viral video sensation. A year ago, he welcomed his owner back from a different deployment, and he was just as thrilled to have him return home safely.

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Next up, an airline passenger learned that airport security may not be as safe as she had hoped. A woman posted a photo on the social news site Reddit of a knife that she accidentally carried in her purse through security. She snapped the photograph in the airplane lavatory.

The image of the knife is causing quite a stir, because the woman says she went through the X-ray scan, a manual inspection, and customs before she realized she had brought the knife with her on the plane. She also revealed that the knife was not well hidden.

Her post instigated hundreds of comments by users with their own tales of incompetent airport security checks, even with all the enhanced security measures currently in place. Some users called the procedures "security theater" and said the TSA is "ridiculous."