WebProNews

Author: Val Powell

  • ‘Draft Day’: Drake’s Still The Man Five Years Later

    No, it wasn’t just some April Fool’s joke—Drake’s new song “Draft Day” is the real thing. In the single, the Canadian rapper shows off his knowledge of pop culture and current events, even though he claims he doesn’t read the news because “it’s garbage.” He also name drops a variety of celebrities, including Jennifer Lawrence: “I mean for real, girl you know I had to do it for yah.” Sweet.

    The song pays homage to Texas A&M star quarterback Johnny Manziel, whom Drake mentions in the first line. The title, of course, is a dead giveaway: the player just had his pro day workout, during which some loud hip-hop tracks by none other than Drake were played, to the disapproval of some folks. Drake’s music isn’t known for its G-rating, and the new track exhibits the same NSFW language many rappers seem to live by.

    Could the new song be Drake’s way of thanking the football player for the added publicity? Perhaps, but few are aware that the two are also fast friends. Drake was one of the people the quarterback was seen hanging out with during his controversial 2012 offseason.

    Manziel’s party-filled lifestyle has caught the attention of NFL teams and he has been criticized time and again for his lifestyle. Drake’s shoutout to him on “Draft Day” may just cause another uproar—or amusement. According to CBS Sports, Manziel had nothing to do with the actual production of the song.

    Aside from his buddy Manziel, “Draft Day” also mentions basketball prodigy Andrew Wiggins (as “A. Wiggins”), who had announced Monday that he would be entering this year’s NBA draft. The other sports personalities that made it to the song (not in a good way, however) are former MLB slugger Jose Canseco and the Oakland A’s.

    Drake also raps that if he had left things to chance he would have “picked a name like Chance the Rapper” (no offense, Chance, but Drake says he doesn’t really know you). According to Drake, he is “focused on making records and gettin’ bigger—just hits, no misses, that’s for the married folks.” While there’s plenty of married folks out there who may be offended, relax. The rapper may just be taking a shot at his fellow contemporaries—Jay-Z or Kanye, perhaps?

    Here’s something that’s nice to know: if this were the Hunger Games, Drake says “I would die for my district.” What say you, Katniss?

    Drake: ‘Draft Day’ (Explicit)

    Image via YouTube

  • McDonald’s Receipt Tattoo: Norwegian Teen Now Has Second Receipt Inked On His Left Arm

    McDonald’s Receipt Tattoo: Norwegian Teen Now Has Second Receipt Inked On His Left Arm

    Stian Ytterdahl, 18, from Lorenskog, Norway, had a McDonald’s receipt tattooed on his right arm as punishment from his friends.

    The idea was said to have started as a joke between he and his friends. The tattoo was his punishment for having too much success with the ladies. He was given the choice of getting either an image of Barbie inked on his buttocks, or a copy of his most recent McDonald’s purchase on his arm. His choice has earned him much publicity and attention.

    The tattoo spans most of Ytterdahl’s forearm and shows purchased products such as a cheeseburger with extra toppings, and a soda. A photo of the tattoo was posted by Lillestrom’s Sabel Ink Tattoo on its Facebook page. A McDonald’s spokesperson commented that the teenager was clearly a loyal customer.

    Ytterdahl says his choice may not seem wise when he is 50 or 60 years old, but for now, it is fun. Sabel Ink Tattoo offered him a free tattoo on the other arm: a reproduction of the tattoo parlor’s receipt for the McDonald’s receipt tattoo that he got. Ytterdahl agreed. The inking of his second tattoo was filmed by Norway’s VG newspaper and was announced by Ytterdahl himself on his Facebook profile.

    We’re now left to wonder whether Ytterdahl will next have either of his legs inked with the receipt of the second tattoo.

    Fast food fans have been known to express their appreciation for their favorite food chains through tattoos. Last year, a Taco Bell fan named Justin made waves online when he posted a YouTube video of himself saying he would have the restaurant’s Beefy Crunch Burrito tattooed on his arm if Taco Bell would bring back the limited-time food item early. Even the tattoo artist was taken aback by the request. Other fans have had logos and meal items of various restaurants permanently tattooed.

    Meet Justin: Tattoo Fanatic And Lover Of  Beefy Crunchy Burritos

    More Awesomely Bad Tattoos


    Image via YouTube

  • ‘Island Of Lemurs: Madagascar’ Takes Audiences On An Exotic 3D Adventure

    The endangered primates of Madagascar take center stage in the IMAX 3D nature documentary entitled Island of Lemurs: Madagascar. The 40-minute feature gives the audience a majestic view of the lemurs’ exotic habitat on the southeastern African nation, as well as their journey across the Indian Ocean to their home. However, the film’s most significant message involves the preservation of these endangered species.

    Island of Lemurs is narrated by multi-awarded actor Morgan Freeman, who has also lent his distinctively deep and authoritative voice to the 2005 sci-fi disaster film War of the Worlds and the 2005 French nature documentary March of Penguins. Freeman declared that children must be educated on the importance of “plain old diversity” on Earth in order to lessen its destruction, which he referred to as a “catastrophe”.

    The documentary follows primatologist Dr. Patricia C. Wright as she carries out her mission of saving certain species of lemurs from complete extinction. She digs into the dense Madagascar jungle searching for possible mates for the few remaining lemur species.

    There are approximately 100 living species of lemurs in existence, and viewers get acquainted with a few of them in the documentary.

    Lemurs have not been given much attention until DreamWorks’ animated film franchise Madagascar was released in 2005. The films featured British actor Sacha Baron Cohen’s voice as the lemur King Julien and Andy Richter as a mouse lemur. Interestingly, Dr. Wright pointed out that lemur society is matriarchal, which means that a queen character would have been more appropriate.

    The film’s prologue relates the arrival of lemurs in Madagascar through a great storm that took over Africa more than 60 million years ago. The absence of predators on the island allowed the highly-evolved primates to thrive in their habitat, and the film somewhat zeroes in on the first species that existed then.

    Island of Lemurs is directed by frequent IMAX collaborator David Douglas and written by Madagascar writer-producer Drew Fellman. The film premieres April 4th.

    ‘Island Of Lemurs: Madagascar’ Trailer

    Morgan Freeman talks about documentary

    Image via YouTube

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder Awareness

    Autism Spectrum Disorder Awareness

    April marks “National Autism Awareness Month.” It is a time for educating the public about autism and issues surrounding it. According to the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, autism has been identified in one of 68 children. The condition is said to be more commonly found in boys than girls.

    Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), or autism for short, is a range of neurodevelopmental disorders that cover a range of conditions, such as Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified, and Asperger syndrome. There are different patterns of autism with each child. In some cases, the symptoms of autism are evident since birth, while other children who have autism develop normally and then suddenly lose their language or social skills later on.

    Although each case of autism is different, some symptoms are generally associated with children who have the condition. Some of them include little or no eye contact, difficulty reading facial expressions, and resistance to being touched. The three areas that are typically affected are social interaction, communication, and behaviors and interests.

    Social Interaction

    Children diagnosed with autism need to learn how to interact with other people, which is something that comes naturally for other children. The key to keeping children with autism interested in interacting with others is making social interaction fun and enjoyable for them. Experts suggest doing an activity that is already enjoyable for the child, such as playing with blocks or playing on a swing. If children with autism start enjoying social interaction with people at home, it will be easier for them to socialize with other children at school.

    Communication

    Most children who have ASD have difficulty communicating verbally. A lot of them know how to communicate when they need something, but oftentimes, communicating for social purposes is difficult. It is important to establish a bridge of communication without using speech, since this will be easier for the child. For most children with autism, using gestures or pictures is an effective means of communication.

    Behaviors and Interests

    There are also certain behaviors that are associated with ASD. These include inflexible routine activities, resistance to change, and routine body movements. These repetitive activities are ways for coping, as children with autism tend to see the world as a confusing and stressful environment. Children with autism typically have a great passion for their interests, and often excel in what they love doing. However, activities that they often do must be supervised, as it can turn into an obsession that can be harmful to them.

    Although there is no cure for ASD, therapy and behavioral treatments can remedy the symptoms and improve a child’s condition. These therapies are designed to fit the individual needs of an autistic child. Experts say that the earlier these treatments are done, the better the outcome will be. For parents who have a child with autism, it is important to seek professional advice in order to make life more manageable for the child.

    What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

    Image via ClipArtBest.com

  • Gloria Vanderbilt: Anderson Cooper Won’t Get Inheritance From Family Fortune

    Journalist Anderson Cooper revealed that he won’t be receiving an inheritance from his mother, American socialite Gloria Vanderbilt. Cooper comes from a family who made millions in shipping and railroad structures.

    According to the CNN news anchor, his mother made it clear that there is no inheritance. He even states that he doesn’t believe in it, calling it a curse and an “initiative sucker.”

    He went on to question if those who inherited a lot of money accomplished things on their own. Personally, he wonders if he would have been motivated if he knew a “pot of gold” was waiting for him in the future.

    Cooper calls his mother the coolest person he knows, remaining grateful that she gave him good work ethics. He says that he would love to follow her footsteps if ever he becomes a father.

    Gloria Vanderbilt became an heiress when her father died when she was 18 months old. She was called the “poor little rich girl” because she was involved in a notorious custody trial between her mother Gloria Morgan and her father’s sister, Gertrude Whitney Vanderbilt

    Vanderbilt’s aunt wanted custody of her because she felt Morgan was an unfit mother and led a “raucous lifestyle.” The aunt won the trial and little Vanderbilt grew up with her. As an adult, she popularized the blue jean when she ventured into business.

    Today, Vanderbilt is worth over $200 million, and Cooper says his mother earned most of her money on her own. Cooper is also self-made, earning $11 million a year as one of CNN’s main anchors.

    He also said that he‘d raise his children with a sense of responsibility, encouraging them to start working early. He said he might leave some money if they are responsible, but he remains unsure.

    Still, he would like to prioritize working instead of relying on a distant relative who has no connection to him.

    The Vanderbilt Dynasty


    Image via YouTube

  • Black Female Troops Disapprove Of Army’s AR 670-1 Regulations For Hairstyles

    The U.S. Army is being criticized for new regulations released on Monday. Army Regulation 670-1 consists of new rules on uniforms, grooming, hairstyles, and tattoos.

    Thousands of soldiers are questioning the new hairstyle rules, which are only applicable to women. Some soldiers are also saying that the new rules are racially biased, target black women’s hair, and has a “lack of regard for ethnic hair.”

    The regulations prohibit hairstyles with braids or cornrows that are wider than quarter of an inch. Dreadlocks and twists have also been banned. Women in the Army who are sporting these hairstyles must now find a way to cover them up with extensions or wigs, or get rid of them completely.

    Sgt. Jasmine Jacobs from the Georgia National Guard has launched a White House petition that requests the President to reconsider the new regulations and “allow professional ethnic hairstyles” in the Army. The petition has already reached 100,000 signatures, which is enough to garner a reply from the White House.

    Jacobs also mentioned in an Army Times interview that twists are one of the most popular hairstyles for black female soldiers, since it is low maintenance and easy to manage in the field. Jacob also wears her hair in twists and said that it has never been an obstruction to her headgear.

    Pentagon’s Army representative Lt. Col. S. Justin Platt said that the new regulations are necessary in order to preserve uniformity among the soldiers. In addition, he also said that plenty of hairstyles can be worn, as long as they are conservative and neat.

    Paul Prince, an Army spokesperson, said that dreadlocks and twists have been prohibited since 2005. The new regulations just provide more details on what exactly is not allowed.

    Jacobs said that before the regulations, women had more options, but they were still able to keep a professional appearance.

    An Army veteran, who wishes to remain anonymous, said that most black soldiers choose to wear their hair naturally and they do not have the means to straighten their hair, especially when they are deployed. “When you’re in Iraq, these hairstyles serve the purpose to protect you,” she said.

    AR 670-1: The Rules

    Image via YouTube

  • Don Baylor: Angels Hitting Coach Breaks Right Leg On Opening Day [Video]

    Don Baylor, the batting coach of the Los Angeles Angels, suffered a major leg injury as he was catching the game’s ceremonial first pitch on Opening Day in Anaheim on Monday night.

    Former outfielder Vladimir Guerrero was throwing the ceremonial pitch. He had signed a one-day contract with the team just so he could retire as an Angel. He threw the pitch to Baylor who was positioned with his left knee on the ground, prepared to catch the ball. The pitch was low and away, and as Baylor leaned in to catch it with a backhand, his right leg gave out.

    Guerrero tried to help Baylor get up, and the injured coach was helped off the field by trainers. He was immediately taken to the UC Irvine Medical Center. His surgery, scheduled on Tuesday, took five and a half hours. Performed by Dr. John Scolaro, it involved inserting a plate and screws into Baylor’s fractured right femur or leg bone. He will stay in the hospital for a couple of days for recovery. It will take several months for the broken femur to heal.

    Baylor joined the coaching staff of the Angels in October. The 64-year-old was the former manager of the Colorado Rockies and the Chicago Cubs. Six of his 19 major league seasons were spent as an Angel. He and Guerrero are the only American League MVPs in the history of the Angels.

    Dave Hansen, the Angels’ assistant hitting coach, will take over while Baylor recovers. “I still can’t believe what happened,” Hansen said. “We’ll hold him close and give him as much support as we can.” Hansen will be assisted by Paul Sorrento, who was originally the minor league hitting coordinator and former major league first baseman.

    Angels manager Mike Scioscia is confident that Baylor will still be connected, and giving input. “Knowing Don…he’ll be watching the games. He’ll watch video and text me opinions on lineups,” Scioscia said.

    The Angels lost to the Mariners 10-3 during Opening Day, but the loss of their new hitting coach on the field is a sure to be a greater grief.

    Horrific Baseball Injuries


    Image via YouTube

  • Historians Say They’ve Found The Holy Grail In León, Spain

    Historians are claiming that they have found the Holy Grail, and it is in the Basilica of San Isidro, located in León, Spain.

    The goblet, which the historians are claiming to be the cup from which Jesus supposedly drank from during the ill-fated last supper, is known as the Infanta Doña Urraca goblet. Fernando I, Infanta’s father, ruled León from 1037 until 1065.

    Margarita Torres, lecturer of medieval history at the León University, and José Manuel Ortega del Rio, art historian, announced that the Holy Grail has been found in their newly-published book Kings of the Grail.

    According to them, two ancient Egyptian parchments were unearthed in 2011, which detailed how the Holy Grail was stolen in Jerusalem and brought to Cairo. The Egyptians then gave it to an emir from Spain after helping them during a famine. In the 11th century, it was given as a gift to King Fernando.

    The goblet found in the Basilica matches the description of the goblet in the Egyptian parchment, which described the upper part as made of agate, with a missing fragment.

    Since then, visitors have flown in to see the alleged Holy Grail.

    However, Torres and del Rio admit that they do not know the history of the cup’s first 400 years. Dr. Robert Cargill, a professor of classics and religious studies at the University of Iowa also disputes their claim, saying there is no way to confirm its authenticity.

    The Holy Grail was first mentioned in an unfinished poem by Chrétien de Troyes, some time between 1180 and 1191. Its association to Jesus was developed in the 12th century by Robert de Boron, who wrote that Joseph of Arimathea used the cup to gather Christ’s blood after his crucifixion.

    Interest in the nature of the Holy Grail and its true location increased in later years, with many groups going on quests to find it. The most notable group to look for the famed chalice is the Knights Templar.

    In Pursuit Of the Holy Grail

    Image via YouTube

  • Lunar ‘Blood Moon’ Eclipse Expected In Mid-April

    A much-anticipated astronomical event will leave sky-gazers seeing red for hours.

    A total lunar eclipse dubbed as a “blood moon” is expected to occur on April 15th and will be visible to most parts of the country. The first of four “blood moons” to take place over the next couple of years, astronomers say that this eclipse will begin at around 3:07 am EST and will last for approximately 77 minutes.

    West coast residents will be able to see the eclipse one day ahead of the rest of the country.

    It might be easy for religious fanatics to associate “blood moons” with the supernatural because of their striking reddish-orange color, but this phenomenon can be fully explained by science. During a total lunar eclipse, a full moon almost always exhibits a coppery red color, which is due to the scattered light from the Earth’s sunrises and sunsets that fall on the surface of the moon.

    The moon’s face might appear more brownish or gray during a lunar eclipse, but this only happens when the moon has a lot of volcanic activity. Otherwise, the moon has a red hue during lunar eclipses.

    Despite its astronomical nature, the “blood moon” cycle remains religiously significant to several beliefs. In Judaism, the four “blood moons” fall on the major feast days between 2014 and 2015. Online publication Guardian Liberty Voice reported that these coinciding events can be connected to a prophecy in the Book of Genesis, as well as the Book of Joel in the Hebrew Bible.

    To some Christians, the “blood moon” event signifies the Second Coming of Christ.

    This year, the “blood moons” are scheduled to take place on April 15 and October 8, both of which fall on the Jewish Passover and Feast of the Tabernacle, respectively. Next year, the “blood moons” will occur on April 4 and September 28, which again fall on the aforementioned Jewish holidays.

    ‘Blood Moon’ Prophecy


    Image via YouTube

  • Du Pont Heir Robert Richards IV Rapes His 3-Year-Old Daughter And Gets Away With It

    Robert Richards IV, a 47-year-old man who stands to inherit the DuPont family fortune, managed to avoid spending time behind bars even after he was convicted of rape in 2008.

    A February 2009 sentencing order in Richards’ criminal rape case shows that Judge Jan Jurden of the Delaware Superior Court concluded that Richards “will not fare well in Level 5 setting” or in other words, in prison. Richards was originally sentenced to eight years in jail, but the punishment was suspended in favor of having Richards pay the Delaware Violent Crimes Compensation Board with $4,395 and putting him on Level II probation for eight years instead. He was also ordered to seek treatment for his sexual disorder.

    Richards sexually abused his 3-year-old daughter Mariana and he was charged with fourth-degree rape, to which he pleaded guilty, a move that helped him dodge prison. It was believed that the abuse continued until Mariana was around five years old.

    Richards had told his daughter not to tell anyone what he had done to her, but eventually Mariana told her grandmother, who then alerted her mother Tracy. At that time the case received little attention from the media, but the details have been revealed in the light of a lawsuit filed by Tracy, now Richards’ ex-wife.

    Tracy filed a lawsuit on March 18, accusing her ex-husband of also sexually abusing their son Robert V, who was believed to be sexually abused when he was approximately one and a half years old until he was three and a half years old.

    In 2010, there had been claims that Richards had abused his infant son, but the Delaware police investigating the case found no evidence supporting the allegations. Investigators will now be taking another look at the case, because according to the lawsuit, Richards had admitted during a polygraph test to also abusing his son. The test was part of Richards’ probation arising from his rape conviction.

    At the time of the assaults, the couple was still married. The lawsuit is seeking both “compensatory and punitive damages” for negligence and assault, as well as for the “intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress” on the two Richards children.

    Rich People Get Away With Everything

    Image via YouTube

  • Glenn Beck Sued By Boston Marathon Bombing Victim For Defamation

    A Saudi Arabian victim of the Boston Marathon bombings is suing political commentator and radio host, Glenn Beck for defamation.

    Abdulrahman Alharbi, a 20-year-old man who was wounded at the Boston Marathon bombings, filed the defamation lawsuit on Friday at the U.S. District Court in Boston.

    After the Boston Marathon bombings, the FBI had identified the Tsarnaev brothers from Russia as the ones responsible for the attack. For Beck, however, this was not enough. Beck suspected that Alharbi was also involved in the bombings and even said that he is “a very bad, bad, bad man.” Beck also pressed the government to give out information on Alharbi or else he would expose him.

    Alharbi, a student at the New England School of English, was a spectator at the marathon and was standing near the finish line when the bombings occurred. He was injured in the incident.

    The police have already questioned Alharbi, and even searched his apartment before ruling him out as a suspect and reporting that he had no connection to the bombings whatsoever.

    Beck called Alharbi a control agent for the al-Qaeda. “He’s the money man. He’s the guy who paid for it,” he said. Beck insists that three people were behind the bombings, and he even claimed that the government has named Alharbi as a “proven terrorist.”

    According to the suit filed against Beck, he called Alharbi a terrorist, child killer, and murderer. These accusations have haunted Alharbi. He has been receiving plenty of messages accusing him of being a terrorist.

    Alharbi said that he is forever changed because of Beck’s accusations. In an interview for Islamic Monthly, Alharbi stated that he has been getting stares from doctors, nurses, and the FBI, and he was wondering if they were looking at him because of his skin color, or because of the name of his country.

    Beck has not yet commented on the issue since the lawsuit was filed.

    David Pakman discusses lawsuit against Glenn beck

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Tiger Woods To Miss Masters Due To Back Surgery

    Tiger Woods will miss the annual Masters Tournament, one of professional golf’s four major championships, due to a back surgery for a pinched nerve. This will be the first time in two decades that the world’s number one player will miss the event.

    The famed golfer had a microdiscectomy on Monday in Park City in Utah, and announced that he needed to have soft-tissue treatment and intensive rehabilitation. He is hoping to return to competition this summer.

    However, it is unclear whether he will be well enough to join the US Open in June and the Open Championship in July. Stephania Bell, ESPN’s injury analyst, estimates that it will take 4 ½ months for Woods to recover.

    Woods experienced back spasms last fall, and reappeared a month ago at the Honda Classic. He had to withdraw during the last round. The following week, the pain reappeared at the WGC-Cadillac Championship.

    The pain resurfaced at his training for the Masters as well, and he decided to have the surgery.

    The golfer expressed his disappointment over not being able to join the Masters. According to him, he may also have to miss other competitions to focus on rehabilitation and improving his health.

    Woods has played the Masters since 1995. He won his first Masters in 1997, winning again in 2001, 2002, and 2005.

    Masters chairman Billy Payne sent his best wishes to Woods, and is looking forward to the golfer’s healthy return.

    The golfer remains hopeful for the future. He hopes to break the records of Sam Snead and Jack Nicklaus, who Woods admires. He needs to win four more majors to break Nicklaus’s record of 18 major titles.

    Dr. Robert Watkins, who has treated athletes with spinal conditions, released a study that revealed that 90 percent of athletes were able to return to playing their sport.

    Image via YouTube

  • Chicken Boxing: Louisiana Senator Insists That It’s Not Cockfighting

    A Republican senator from New Orleans expressed his concern over a bill that would tighten the state’s cockfighting ban, saying that it would shut down the less bloody sport of “chicken boxing”. Surprisingly, this seemingly bizarre discussion took place during an actual session in the Louisiana Senate chambers.

    The Senate Committee for Judiciary C discussed Senate Bill 523 on Tuesday morning, upon the initiative of Democrat Sen. J.P. Morrell (New Orleans). The loophole-closing bill, which was sponsored by Morrell, extends the state’s ban on cockfighting to include gamefowl, rooster, and other types of birds. In addition, the bill prohibits the use of cockfighting equipment, including knives and spurs, when paired with evidence showing their use in training fowl to fight. Violators of the law will also be given higher penalties for first and second offenses.

    Republican Sen. Elbert Guillory criticized the bill, declaring that it expands the existing law too much. He was worried that the legislation would put a stop to “chicken boxing”, a sport that does not require the use of razors and spurs on the birds.

    The 69-year-old senator from Opelousas pointed out that some of the paraphernalia indicated in the bill are used in “the legitimate sport of chicken boxing” such as spur covers made of leather and plastic.

    Morrell interjected by asking Guillory to elaborate on the sport of chicken boxing. He also implied that it might be a made-up sport created to “circumvent cockfighting”.

    According to Guillory, chicken boxing is similar to human boxing in that it is non-fatal. However, other lawmakers present in the session like Republican Sen. Robert Adley (Benton) was puzzled by Guillory’s analogy.

    A surprised Morrell claimed that he had never heard of the sport and added that the fact that two birds are made to fight each other is already outlawed by the 2008 cockfighting ban.

    Cockfighting is a rural tradition considered illegal in all 50 states, and 40 of them treat the activity as a felony. Louisiana was the last state to officially outlaw rooster fighting.

    The Brutality Of Cockfighting (Graphic)

    Image via YouTube

  • Virginia Couple Calvin And Zatera Spencer Win Lottery Three Times In A Month

    Winning the lottery is a once-in-a-lifetime stroke of luck, but winning it thrice a single month is nothing short of unbelievable. For Portsmouth, Virginia couple Calvin and Zatera Spencer, you’d better believe it can happen.

    Their first win was during a Powerball drawing on March 12, in which they bagged a hefty $1 million. A mere two weeks later, Calvin won in the Pick 4 game of the Virginia Lottery. The winning combination was 6-6-6-6 and the top prize is $5,000. Calvin had 10 tickets with the same combination, so that’s ten prizes that are worth $5,000 each for a total of $50,000. The combination is a popular one, and the Virginia Lottery ended up paying out a total of $6 million to all of the March 26 draw winners.

    The following day, Calvin dropped by a 7-Eleven branch in Norfolk after dropping off Zatera for an appointment. He bought a Scratcher ticket for the $100 Million Cash Extravaganza, did a quick scratch, and won the $1 million prize.

    The folks over at 7-Eleven must have been ecstatic as well, because the store received $10,000 as a bonus for selling the winning ticket.

    As Calvin claimed their latest prize he said, “We’re not finished yet.”

    The $1 million prize is actually an annuity, giving winners the option to receive the full amount in staggered payouts for 30 years, or to get their winnings in cash as a one-time option. The Spencers chose the cash option, in which they received $681,000 before taxes.

    Virginia Lottery spokesman John Hagerty said that in his 12 years in the lottery, it was the first time he saw someone win three major prizes in such a short period. According to Hagerty, the odds of winning in the Powerball draw were 1 in more than 5 million; in the Pick 4, the odds were 1 in 10,000; and in the Cash Extravaganza, the odds were 1 in 836,000.

    Will the couple win more? If luck is truly on their side, they might—after all, the $1 million they got is just the second prize in the Virginia Lottery’s $100 Million Cash Extravaganza. The $3 million is still up for grabs.

    Image via YouTube

  • Rapper Benzino Shot By Nephew; Gai Scott Claims He Acted In Self-Defence

    Rapper and reality TV star Benzino was en route to his mother’s funeral when his nephew allegedly opened fire at him from another car. According to the police and Benzino’s own Hip-Hop Weekly magazine, the violent encounter happened along a Massachusetts highway on Saturday.

    In a statement released by the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office, the 48-year-old record producer was driving a red SUV on Boston’s Route 3 before noon, when his 36-year-old nephew named Gai Scott pulled up next to Benzino’s vehicle and fired 7 to 8 shots. Benzino was headed for his mother, Mary A. Scott’s funeral Mass at St. Peter’s Church in Plymouth at the time of the shooting.

    Authorities say that the two family members are involved in a long-standing feud, despite Benzino’s claim that he has no idea why his nephew shot him.

    Hip-Hop Weekly reported that Benzino was hit on one arm and his back was grazed by one of the bullets. The magazine’s website featured photos of Benzino lying in his hospital bed and showing his bandaged left arm in a sling.

    After the shooting, Benzino – whose real name is Raymond Scott – got out of his vehicle and was brought to the Duxbury Police Department, after which he was admitted to SouthShoreHospital in South Weymouth. A representative of the hospital reported on Sunday that Benzino was in good condition.

    Police officers who responded to the scene spotted Benzino’s bullet hole-ridden red SUV in the middle of Route 3, and noticed a reddish substance that resembled blood inside the vehicle. Authorities added that they also found several shell casings and projectiles at the scene of the crime.

    Gai Scott was taken into police custody and slapped with assault charges with intent to murder. His arraignment is scheduled on Monday in the Plymouth District Court. Gai’s attorney Jon Ciraulo has entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf, and has also stated that his client’s shooting was an act of self-defense.

    Benzino has been discharged from the hospital, but the media has yet to get his comments regarding the assertions by his nephew’s camp. However, the elder Scott’s long-time attorney Martin K. Leppo responded on Benzino’s behalf by saying that the events that took place on the highway “doesn’t sound like self-defense” to him.

    A Boston native, Benzino is well known for his role in the reality television series, Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta as Karlie Redd’s on-and-off boyfriend. He is also a former co-owner of the hip-hop magazine The Source, and a founding member of the American rap group Made Men.

    Image via YouTube

  • Anna Kournikova Hasn’t Met Julio Iglesias, Even Though She’s Been Dating His Son For 13 Years

    It has been more than a decade since tennis pro Anna Kournikova started dating pop singer Enrique Iglesias, but she still has yet to meet his father, legendary crooner Julio Iglesias.

    The tennis star, who retired in 2007, has been in a relationship with Enrique for nearly 13 years. They met in 2001 when she starred in the video for his single “Escape,” and while there had been times when the pair was reported to have split up, the couple would still be seen together. Enrique, 38, and Anna, 32, reside in a waterfront mansion on a private island in Miami.

    Anna has met Julio Iglesias’ wife, the Dutch model Miranda Rijnsburger and their children, but has yet to be introduced to the head of the Iglesias family. Enrique, born in 1975, is Iglesias’ third son with first wife Isabel Preysler. His other siblings include socialite Chabeli, born in 1971, and singer Julio Jr., born in 1973.

    “My kids are very independent and it is difficult to see Enrique because he is all over the world,” said Iglesias, by way of explaining why he hasn’t met his son’s ladylove.

    “He is a super guy…clever and very charming,” Iglesias remarked. He admits that it is not easy for a son to follow his father’s footsteps, and though Enrique’s music is very different from his own classical ballads, he is nonetheless proud of what his son has accomplished, even saying that “Enrique is in the same class like Michael Douglas and Liza Minnelli.”

    Enrique might be grooving to pop beats and his dad may be more into slow seduction, but the older Iglesias is proud to say what they both have in common: nothing but el amor, love. To illustrate, he lists some big names in music: Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Elvis, and The Beatles. Their songs are “always about love.”

    Of Enrique’s girlfriend, the Spanish singer had this to say: “Anna is very beautiful.” He added, “They have good taste, my kids.”

    ‘Escape’: When Anna Met Enrique

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  • Anna Nordqvist Claims Victory At Kia Classic After Dramatic Rally

    Anna Nordqvist climbed from the bottom on Sunday’s Kia Classic and made her way to victory. It is the second win for the 27-year-old in the last four LPGA Tour starts.

    Swedish Nordqvist was two strokes behind leaders Lizette Salas and Cristie Kerr. She then closed the gap and ended up with a one-stroke victory over Salas, with a straight 5-under 67.

    Nordqvist was in disbelief over her win. “I was a couple of shots back going into today, but this morning I told myself to give it a shot and I ended up making quite a bit of birdies out there.” She also expressed her joy over the fact that she has two wins this season. Her first win was at the Honda LPGA event in Thailand, which took place just last month.

    On the opening of the tournament last Thursday, her victory seemed unlikely, as she scored a low 73.

    Just last year, Nordqvist was in doubt of her career in golf and contemplated retirement in order to get back to her other interest, which is graphic design. Her decision to stick with the sport is finally paying off with already two wins in the first three months of the 2014 season.

    The next stop for her is the Kraft Nabisco Championship, which will be held next week. “It’s a tougher setup on the courses and always a little bit more pressure and more kind of spotlight on the tournament. I like that,” she said referring to the majors.

    Before last month’s win in Thailand, Nordqvist was having a winning drought, as she had not won anything since the end of 2009.

    Nordqvist made changes and entered the 2014 season with a new look including a new sponsor, new, clubs, new instructor, and a new caddie.

    With her latest win, Nordqvist made a leap from the 16th to the 9th place in the Rolex Rankings and won $255,000.

    Image via YouTube

  • Amber Heard’s Engagement Ring Gets Worn By Johnny Depp At ‘Transcendence’ Press Conference

    Johnny Depp indirectly confirmed his engagement to model and actress Amber Heard at a press conference at the Grand Hyatt in Beijing, China for his upcoming movie Transcendence.

    Rumors of their engagement have been floating for a while, and the actor was finally asked about it. “The fact that I’m wearing a chick’s ring on my finger is probably a dead giveaway. Not very subtle,” he replied. According to sources, Depp is wearing the diamond ring, since it is too big for Heard’s finger. Depp showed off the large ring and his tattoos during the press conference.

    Depp, 50, separated from French model and actress Vanessa Paradis in 2012. They were together for 14 years and have two children together – Lily-Rose and Jack.

    Depp met Heard, 27, while filming the movie The Rum Diary, wherein Heard plays his character’s love interest. They began dating in 2012, and there were already rumors of their engagement by December 2013.

    In another comment, Depp said, “I think that I would be better at making women’s shoes than I would be at wedding planning, I can’t plan anything. I’m really bad at that stuff,” referring to his engagement to Heard.

    In the science fiction drama film Transcendence, Depp plays a scientist who is terminally ill and downloads his consciousness into a computer. The movie also stars Morgan Freeman and Rebecca Hall. Depp said that most of the technology in the film already exists and that the kind of artificial intelligence tackled in the film may not be too far away.

    Transcendence hits theaters on April 18 in China and the U.S. China will be the only international country Depp will be visiting to promote the film, as it is considered the second biggest box office after the U.S./Canada. The movie will be shown in 3D, which is a format that is popular choice among the audiences in China.

    ‘Transcendence’ Trailer

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  • North Korea Fires On South; South Korea Retaliates

    North and South Korea exchanged hundreds of artillery shells across their western sea border on Monday. Earlier on Monday, North Korea announced it would be conducting military exercises such as live-fire drills in seven areas north of the maritime boundary. They also hinted at conducting a nuclear test “aimed at strengthening our nuclear deterrence.”

    For more than three hours, North Korea fired 500 shells into the Yellow Sea, around a hundred of which strayed across the border into South Korea. The South Koreans responded by firing around 300 shells past the boundary into the sea and sending fighter jets along the Northern Limit Line.

    Kim Min-seok, a spokesman for the South Korean Ministry of Defense said that they did not exactly shoot at North Korea but instead fired into the sea. No shells from either nation were fired on land. Kim believes the artillery firing by the North is a provocation to test the South’s security posture.

    It was the first time North Korea informed the South of live-firing exercises above the maritime Northern Limit Line. South Korea’s Defense Ministry vice spokesman Wee Yong-Sub said that they consider the announcement as “a hostile threat” so they activated their crisis management operations to prepare themselves for a possible military provocation by the North.

    The unusual announcement was interpreted by analysts to be a political move. According to Korea analyst Victor Cha, North Korea may be waving at Washington for attention to bring the U.S. government back to discussing its nuclear program, or trying to “change the playing field and slant it in their direction” while the U.S. government is focused on other issues.

    The United States, one of South Korea’s most formidable allies, condemned the shelling and called on North Korea to cease activities that “threaten regional peace and security.”

    China, North Korea’s primary supporter, nonetheless expressed concern. According to spokesman Hong Lei of the Foreign Ministry, “The temperature is rising” on their neighboring region and is a cause of worry. They are hoping that “all sides can remain calm and exercise restraint.”

    Why Korea Split Into North and South Korea

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  • Surfing Innovator Hobie Alter Passes Away At 80

    Surfing Innovator Hobie Alter Passes Away At 80

    The world of watersports lost a great man on Saturday.

    Hobart “Hobie” Alter, the man responsible for turning surfing and sailing into popular water activities passed away in his home in Palm Desert, California. He was 80 years old.

    Alter is best known for making a lightweight and high-performance sailboat, which he named “Hobie Cat”, as well as the mass production of foam core surfboards. California surfer and creator of Surfer’s Journal Steve Pezman dubbed Alter’s work as “the Henry Ford of the surfboard industry” for the superb quality of his polyurethane foam surfboards.

    It was in the early 1950s that the self-taught innovator began making surfboards in the garage of his family’s home in Laguna Beach. In 1954, Alter opened up his own surfboard shop in Dana Point, the second surfboard store in existence at the time, next to Dale Velzy’s store in South Bay. Together with Alter’s friend, Gordon “Grubby’ Clark, he developed the concept of using polyurethane foam in creating surfboards because they offered better flexibility and price compared to wooden surfboards.

    Four years later, Alter’s operation focused on the full-time production of foam core surfboards. The shift from balsa to foam core construction was painstakingly difficult, and took more than a year for Alter and Clark to perfect. By the end of the 1960s, Alter’s surfboard business had grown so successful that he was able to open another shop in Honolulu. Shortly after launching the shop in Hawaii, Alter also began selling his goods in shops on the East Coast. In 1964, he was able to establish his own line of skateboards called “Hobie Skateboards”.

    Another significant contribution that Alter made started in the late 1960s when he launched the development of the “Hobie Cat” – a fiberglass catamaran that was lightweight and easy to transport. The following years marked a newfound love for sailing among people who would not typically think of purchasing big and pricey sailboats. The 16-foot catamaran was affordable, capable of being launched at the beach, and can be sailed by one person.

    In an interview with Alter that took place in 1977, he said that making surfboards allowed him to earn a living by making things that gave him “pleasure” and it also enabled him to do exactly what he has always wanted to do.

    The Hobie Story

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  • Afghan Voters Register For Presidential Elections Despite Taliban Attack

    The voting registration process in Afghanistan continues after Taliban fighters attacked the headquarters of the election commission in Kabul on Saturday. Voters lined up outside the registration centers on Sunday as presidential candidates conducted campaign rallies. The presidential elections will be held on April 5.

    The Independent Election Commission (IEC) headquarters was attacked by Taliban fighters using guns and rocket-propelled grenades. According to witnesses and Afghan officials, five members of the Taliban entered a building near the headquarters shortly before 1 p.m. and unleashed a barrage of gunfire into the IEC compound.

    According to Interior Ministry spokesperson Sediq Sediqqi, the militants were not able to enter the area beyond the building. They were quickly surrounded by paramilitary commandos and police officers. Sediqqi told the media that the attackers had started engaging with the police and were “flushed out of the building.”

    The gunfight lasted six hours. Afghanistan’s security forces killed the five insurgents involved, and no other casualties were reported.

    The attack was the Taliban’s latest move to disrupt the coming presidential and provincial council elections. The assault on the IEC headquarters was their third in Kabul for this week alone. The first attack was on March 20, when four Taliban militants went into the Serena Hotel and shot nine people dead. On Sunday, one Romanian soldier was killed by an improvised explosive device as he and his patrol traveled along the main highway from Kabul.

    Instead of scaring the Afghans with violence, the insurgents managed to do the opposite. Abdul Waris Sadat, who queued up for hours to register, said that the Taliban attacks motivated people to register and vote, and that voting is their answer to the Taliban.

    “People want change,” said the 21-year-old student, “and we will bring that change through voting.”

    Since the voter registration process began, nearly 3.7 million new voters have signed up, according to the IEC. Seddiqi said that thousands of people queue up in registration centers to get voter cards. This shows the Afghans’ strength and resolve to vote. “Nothing will stop us,” said Sediqqi.

    For shopkeeper Rassoul Khurrami, Taliban threats are nothing: “Even if I get killed I will go and vote.”

    Who Are The Taliban?


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