WebProNews

Author: Val Powell

  • George Michael Beats Kylie Minogue To No.1 Spot On UK Album Chart

    Multi-awarded British singer George Michael surpassed Australian pop diva Kylie Minogue on the UK album charts this week. Michael’s album entitled “Symphonica”, is his seventh chart-topping album in the UK, and his first new album in almost a decade.

    “Symphonica” sold just over 20,000 copies more than Minogue’s album “Kiss Me Once”. The two artists have dominated the British charts since the 1980’s, but Michael clearly took out the competition this week.

    American rapper Pharrell Williams took the number 3 spot with his second solo album entitled “G I R L”, while rising British singer Paloma Faith fell two notches down to number four with her album, “A Perfect Contradiction”. Last week’s top album was “The Take Off and Landing of Everything” by British alternative rock band Elbow. They fell four notches this week to the number five spot.

    On the UK singles chart, British DJ Duke Dumont’s collaboration with Jax Jones entitled “I Got U” took the top spot, while Route 94’s “My Love” placed second. John Legend’s “All of Me” climbed three places from last week to number three. Pharell Williams’ Oscar-nominated single “Happy” dropped one notch to number four, while Canadian duo Dvbbs and Borgeous’ collaboration with Tinie Tempah entitled “Tsunami” slipped from number one last week to number five.

    George Michael recorded “Symphonica” during his World Tour in 2011. Prior to “Symphonica”, his last number one album was “Twenty Five”, which featured Michael’s greatest hits as a celebration of his 25 years in the music industry. It contained songs from both Michael’s solo career and his earlier years with Andrew Ridgeley in Wham!. “Symphonica” is Michael’s first live album and his first set of new recordings since he released “Patience” in 2004. It features six original compositions by Michael, as well as song covers. The album was the final work of acclaimed record producer Phil Ramone, who passed away in 2013.

    Listen to Symphonica


    Image via YouTube

  • Obamacare’s Glitch Disqualifies Americans From Health Care

    Obamacare’s Glitch Disqualifies Americans From Health Care

    The main Obamacare website, where Americans can apply for healthcare, has an ongoing glitch that may be telling users that they are not qualified for subsidies when they really are. This glitch has been discovered to be running for nearly six months now.

    The Healthcare.gov website has a subsidy calculator where users can estimate how much financial assistance they qualify for before applying for Obamacare. The estimate is unofficial, but many eligible Americans might be discouraged to sign up for health care coverage because of its high costs.

    The glitch was discovered by the Philadelphia Inquirer while typing in hypothetical incomes. Before this, none of the officials from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) noticed the glitch on the Obamacare website.

    The subsidy calculator is using 2014 poverty guidelines when the health care law is using 2013 guidelines. The Affordable Care Act is still using last year’s mandate because sign-ups began in 2013. The 2014 guidelines are 1.5 percent higher, which may add thousands of dollars in coverage costs.

    CMS counters that it made a small difference, and that they are correcting the issue.

    This glitch affects those with incomes that barely reach the poverty line. Under the law, families whose income is 100 to 400 percent of the federal poverty level are qualified to receive subsidies.

    There is no word on how many people have been affected, but it is possible that many families did not continue applying for Obamacare after receiving expensive and inaccurate results.

    However, applicants can still continue and see if they are actually qualified. According to CMS spokesperson Richard Olague, users can get an accurate calculation of their subsidy if they complete their healthcare application.

    The Healthcare.gov website is the latest of government websites that have suffered several glitches since they were launched last year.

    Enrollment for coverage ends March 31.

    This was not the first glitch

    Image via YouTube

  • Jimmy Carter: Obama Doesn’t Call Me For Advice

    In a recent interview with Andrea Mitchell of NBC, former president Jimmy Carter expressed his disappointment over the fact that Obama does not seek his advice regarding foreign policies, and how to deal with the ongoing issue between Russia and Crimea.

    Carter, 89, was on the show Meet the Press to talk about his new book entitled A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power. In the book, Carter discusses women’s varied roles in a “man’s world”. The book also tackles issues on improving the lives of women all over the world.

    Mitchell then asked the former president if Obama has ever asked for his advice on how to handle Russia. “Unfortunately the answer is no. President Obama doesn’t, but previous presidents have called on me,” responded Carter.

    Former US President Jimmy Carter on Meet The Press

    When asked why he thought the President does not contact him, he simply answered that it might have something to do with their opposing opinions on how to solve the problems in the Middle East.

    Carter also mentioned that he prefers the old method of snail mail when communicating with a foreign leader privately. This is because he believes that his e-mails are being monitored by the National Security Agency. “I type or write the letter myself, put it in the post office, and mail it, because I believe if I send an e-mail, it will be monitored.”

    Carter has already expressed support for Edward Snowden who has leaked information from the NSA regarding surveillance programs. In an interview with CNN last year, Carter mentioned that although Snowden has violated the law, he believes that exposing information to the public is beneficial in the long run, as the invasion of privacy has been too much.

    The former president also said that all the spying has compromised the country’s democracy.

    Although the President has yet to reach out to him, Carter said that he understands the situation and does not have criticisms for Obama.

    Who Is Jimmy Carter?


    Image via YouTube

  • Rick Ross: Rap Star Gets Advice Column In Rolling Stone

    Rick Ross, the Miami rap star known for hits like Hustlin’ and Push It, is getting an advice column in music magazine Rolling Stone. The magazine has recently announced its open call for questions from readers.

    The advice column, titled “Ask a Boss with Rick Ross” aims to answer questions about “life, work, or school.” According to Rolling Stone, readers will now have the chance to know how the rap star will react to tough situations.

    Rick Ross is the founder of record label Maybach Music Group, and was named by MTV as the “hottest MC in the game.”

    His first album Port of Miami debuted in 2006 at the top of the US Billboard 200 album chart, and Rolling Stone called it the summer’s biggest rap record. His second album Trilla also debuted at the top spot of the Billboard 200.

    His latest album Masterminds features Jay-Z, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Diddy, OG Ron C and other big names in rap. The album was produced by famed record producer Scott Storch and mixed by Diddy.

    He released a video of his lead single The Devil is a Lie on Thursday. The song was done in collaboration with Jay-Z, but the rapper’s verse was not included in the video.

    According to Ross, The Devil is a Lie is a song that the streets need. He said that although the song is going in a different direction, he is still “pushing the envelope”, and that the song will speak for itself. XXL called it the “most massive beat” of the year.

    To send your questions to the rap star’s advice column, you may email Rick Ross at askaboss@rollingstone, with “Ask A Boss” as the email subject. The magazine encourages you to put your name, city, and state in your message. Rolling Stone will publish the best questions in an upcoming issue.

    Rick Ross: “Devil Is A Lie” (explicit)

    Image via YouTube

  • Elephants Escape Circus And Damage Parked Vehicles In Missouri

    Three female elephants escaped from the Moolah Shrine Circus in St. Charles’ Family Arena on Saturday and damaged several vehicles as they traipsed along the parking lot. The elephants escaped from the children’s ride section of the circus; fortunately, there were no children on the elephants at the time.

    Loud noises from the circus audience may have spooked the animals, according to eyewitnesses. Sally Schmiz, one of the eyewitnesses, said that she felt the ground shake, and when she looked up, she saw the three elephants. The huge animals went through trucks, breaking the mirrors and panels off, and damaging windows.

    Karyn Tunnicliff, another witness who was in a car just outside the Family Arena, said that she and her daughter saw people running after the elephants, screaming for the animals to stop. They also saw circus staff trying to run alongside the elephants. Her daughter Allie was able to capture a video of an elephant between cars. Allie also said she saw one of the trainers shout for some treats to lure the elephants with: “We need pretzels!”

    After about 45 minutes, the handlers were able to recapture the elephants and bring them back to their enclosures. In a statement, the Shrine Circus said that the elephants “are now resting comfortably in their compound.” No one was hurt during the incident, and the escapees were given the night off.

    Dennis Burkholder, the spokesperson for the Shriners, said that the parking lot is the private property of the circus and therefore is not accessible to the public. The vehicles parked belong to circus performers and staff. The show was ongoing when the elephants escaped, so the lot was almost empty.

    The Moolah Shrine Circus is a regular event in St. Louis, and had eight performances this year. The proceeds of the annual circus benefit the Moolah Shrine Center and its advocacies for children.

    When Elephants Attack! (graphic)


    Image via YouTube

  • Ebola Outbreak In Guinea, At Least 59 Dead

    Ebola Outbreak In Guinea, At Least 59 Dead

    An outbreak of the ebola virus has spread to Guinea. According to UNICEF, at least 59 people in Guinea have died from the virus. Reports indicate that this is the first outbreak detected in humans in the South African nation.

    Symptoms of the virus were first noticed last month. These symptoms include fever, vomiting, and diarrhea.

    Overall, there have been 80 cases reported, including the 59 deaths. Most of the people affected by the virus were from prefectures near Liberia and Sierra Leone. However, there were also two deaths reported in Guinea’s capital, Conakry.

    An outbreak, such as the ebola virus, can be devastating for a country with a weak medical infrastructure, UNICEF representative Dr. Mohamed Ag Ayoya stated. UNICEF has been hard at work in order to alert staff and show the locals how to avoid getting the illness.

    According to the Guinean Health Ministry, the virus can spread from objects that belong to the dead, consumption of animal meat from the bushes, and from coming in contact with people who have been infected.

    Dr. Esther Sterk, one of the advisers for Doctors Without Borders, said that they have noticed that most of the people that have died were linked with each other. “We see that there is a transmission chain in families.”

    Guinea has been treating patients free of charge, and Doctors Without Borders has already put up an isolation area in order to prevent the virus from spreading further. Locals have been instructed to report all incidents to authorities, wash their hands, and stay calm amidst the outbreak.

    Medecins Sans Frontieres, a medical charity, has announced that they will be sending 33 tons of equipment and medicines in order to give aid to Guinea.

    Officials have yet to determine how the ebola virus was transmitted to a human, but it most likely resulted from contact with an infected monkey or bat.

    How Does The Ebola Virus Spread?

    Image via YouTube

  • The Hunt Is On For Hulk Hogan Shoe Thief [Video]

    The Hunt Is On For Hulk Hogan Shoe Thief [Video]

    Wrestling star Hulk Hogan is missing a $5,500 shoe.

    It wasn’t just any shoe. Hogan once wore the white wrestling boot in the ring, and he has signed it with a permanent marker. The Steve Cardillo shoe was on display at Hogan’s shop in Clearwater, Florida until staff noticed it had gone missing on Tuesday. They checked the CCTV and reported the incident to the police.

    Staff suspected a “heavyset woman in her 50s” had taken the shoe. The woman, possibly a tourist from Michigan, visited the shop along with three friends on Sunday afternoon, and took the shoe while the store workers were busy with something else.

    According to the police report and based on the CCTV footage, four white females arrived at Hogan’s Beach Shop at 5:16pm on Sunday. Around four minutes after they came in, a large statue of the popular wrestling-star-turned-shop-owner fell over outside the store, distracting the staff. Clearwater Police believe this was the time when the woman swiped the shoe, valued at $5,500.

    Hogan recently announced his return to WWE after six years of being away from the ring. Last month, the 60-year-old wrestler made an appearance at WWE Raw Backstage Pass, and will host the special anniversary show of WrestleMania 30 in New Orleans next month. He first entered the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) scene in 1985 back when it was still known as WWF (World Wrestling Federation), and expressed his excitement at being back.

    Vince McMahon, WWE Chairman, was also thrilled to have “Hulkamania” as a big part of the anniversary program. He said that it was fitting for Hogan to celebrate 30 years of WrestleMania with them “and usher in a new era” with the launch of the new WWE Network.

    Hulk Hogan was born Terry Gene Bollea. He won a total of 12 wrestling championships for the WWF/WWE and the WCW (World Championship Wrestling). He has several wrestling records under his belt, including being the all-time longest-reigning World Heavyweight Champion in WCW. He is also the first wrestler to win two consecutive Royal Rumbles (1990-1991).

    Florida police are currently on the lookout for the shoe thief.

    See video of the thief taking off with Hogan’s shoe

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Man And Mattress Save Baby Falling From Third-Floor Window

    It pays to be at the right place at the right time. Couple Konrad and Jennifer Lightner—and their box spring mattress—were certainly at the right place and time to save a child who had fallen from a third-story window.

    On Sunday, the Lightners were moving out of their Burbank apartment in California. As they went back in to get their box spring mattress and other stuff, they noticed two children throwing toys out a window three levels up. On their way out, they saw one of the children, a boy, throw his leg over the window sill and climb out.

    The couple immediately called 911. Jennifer said that it didn’t seem real until they saw the boy holding on to what looked like a cable line. They then threw the mattress down as the child lost his grip on the cable. Konrad immediately caught the boy in his arms and lowered him carefully onto the waiting mattress.

    The boy’s parents were unaware of the incident, and rushed to the scene. Photos show the emergency team checking the boy as he was clutched by his father.

    Konrad admitted he felt like he was watching a television show, and it didn’t feel like it actually happened to him. For Jennifer, it was very surreal. They resumed removing their things from the apartment, but every now and then they would look at each other in disbelief.

    Fate must have led them to save the boy. Earlier, the Lightners got stuck in an elevator for 30 minutes. If they hadn’t, they would have had an earlier start hauling their stuff out, and wouldn’t have been there at the right moment to catch the child.

    “We were lucky to be there,” Konrad said.

    The toddler, dressed in footsie pajamas, was taken to the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles for evaluation. He had no signs of trauma and did not suffer any major injuries.

    Another “Mattress Save”

    Image via Youtube

  • Jeffrey Sinclair, U.S. General, Avoids Jail Time In Sexual Misconduct Case

    Disgraced Brigadier General Jeffrey A. Sinclair looked visibly relieved as he received his sentence in Fort Bragg on Thursday. Sinclair managed to elude jail time for the sexual charges filed against him, and was instead fined $200,000 and ordered to pay restitution worth $4,156 for misusing his government charge card. The decorated war veteran had been prosecuted for committing adultery with a direct subordinate whom he also mistreated. He also had inappropriate relations with two other women. He pleaded guilty to all charges.

    The 51-year-old former deputy commander of the 82nd Airborne Division immediately announced his retirement, capping a controversial court-martial that embarrassed the Army and destroyed his stellar reputation. He was initially charged for sexually assaulting a junior officer, but the case fell through after the judge determined that the decision to seek trial might have been politically motivated.

    Sinclair may have been spared from going to prison but army prosecutors urged the judge, Colonel James Pohl, to dismiss the general instead. If granted, Sinclair will not receive his pension and veteran benefits. A military retirement board will deliberate on the rank on which Sinclair’s pension will be based.

    For two years, Sinclair’s trial has symbolized the military’s efforts in preventing and penalizing sexual misconduct among senior commanders. Sinclair is believed to be the highest-ranking U.S. military officer to be tried on sexual assault charges. His lawyers stated that if their client is officially dismissed, the loss of pension would severely affect Sinclair’s wife and two children. In a statement made outside the courthouse after the sentencing, Sinclair declared that he has always been proud of the Army and that the ruling showed that “the system worked”. After hugging his friends and lawyers, Sinclair added that he was looking forward to going north to hug his wife and children.

    Sinclair called his wife Rebecca as soon as the sentence was imposed. She had earlier pleaded with the judge to spare her and their two children from Sinclair’s punishment by not depriving them of her husband’s salary and benefits.

    Sexual Assault In The Military

    Image via Youtube

  • Christopher Walken Supercut Features 36 Years Of Dancing In Movies

    Christopher Walken has already proven his versatility in acting by starring in over a hundred movies since the start of his career. He has also played a number of lead roles in plays, such as Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, and Hamlet. Die-hard fans of Walken may have also noticed that the actor is a smooth dancer as well.

    Now, thanks to Huffington Post’s Ben Craw, we can marvel at Walken’s smooth, sassy, and groovy dance moves from 57 of his movies from 1977 until 2013. It also helps that the supercut was created to the 1990 dance hit Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) by C+C Music Factory.

    The dancing supercut features Walken in movies such as The Deer Hunter (1977), Puss in Boots (1988), Batman Returns (1992), Pulp Fiction (1994), Sleepy Hollow (1999), Catch Me If You Can (2002), Hairspray (2007), and The Power of Few (2013).

    Walken’s dance moves may be credited to the fact that he once trained in dancing at the Washington Dance Studio. That or he just has the right amount of swag to pull off all those dance moves.

    Walken has been showing off his dance skills since the 70’s, but his dance moves were put under the spotlight in 2001 with the release of Fatboy Slim’s music video for Weapon of Choice, which was directed by Spike Jonze. The actor helped in directing the music video that showed him dancing throughout the lobby of the Los Angeles Mariott Hotel.

    Remember This? Fatboy Slim: Weapon Of Choice

    He was approached by Jonze and was asked to do a dance routine based on his 1981 movie, Pennies from Heaven. The video won the Best Short Form Video in the 2002 Grammy Awards, and it also won six awards at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards.

    With Walken’s jaw-dropping display of talent, he might want to think of joining Dancing with the Stars and showing everyone what real dancing is all about.

    Christopher Walken: Dance Now

    Image via YouTube

  • Ray Jasper, Aspiring Rapper, Executed In Texas

    Former San Antonio rap artist Ray Jasper was executed by the state of Texas on Wednesday for a murder that took place 16 years ago. In 1998, Jasper was convicted of robbing and killing studio owner David Alejandro. Up until the moment he received his pentobarbital shot, Jasper maintained his innocence. He was pronounced dead at exactly 6:31 p.m., moments after he delivered his final statement.

    Before the execution, Jasper wrote a letter addressed to his family asking them to look after one another, have faith in God, and “stay strong”. He also told his daughter that he loved her and advised her to be strong and positive so that she may “have a great life”. Jasper expressed his gratitude to his supporters, after which he prayed to God that he might see his “spirit”.

    Neither Jasper nor Alejandro’s family were present to witness the execution. The victim’s family reportedly chose to spend time together in San Antonio instead.

    Jasper was 18 years old at the time of the crime, which he committed with two other individuals named Steve Russell and Douglas Williams. The three men had scheduled a recording session with Alejandro, but instead attacked the victim and stole his expensive equipment. While Jasper acknowledged slitting Alejandro’s throat, he insisted that the real cause of death was a fatal stab delivered by accomplice Steven Russell. The two cohorts were sentenced to life imprisonment and are currently serving time.

    Jasper became the third Texas inmate to be executed this year. Texas, which is the most active enforcer of the death penalty in the United States, is executing another prisoner next week before it starts using a new batch of pentobarbital obtained from a different supplier. Thirty minutes before Jasper was brought to the death chamber, the Supreme Court rejected an argument that Jasper lawyers made, claiming that a black potential juror was disqualified from participating in Jasper’s San Antonio trial in 2000.

    The Death Penalty Debate


    Image via YouTube

  • Taylor Ellis: Arkansas High School Removed Gay Student’s Profile From Yearbook

    A gay Arkansas high school student is making headlines after Sheridan High School decided to remove seven student profiles from the yearbook that talked about his coming out.

    The student, Taylor Ellis, claims that the reason was clear. “We have a good idea why they’re not going into the yearbook. They don’t want to just throw out the gay kid’s interview.”

    However, he said that he didn’t understand the decision because he already came out last year.

    The yearbook’s assistant editor Hannah Bruner said that Ellis’ coming out was well-received, even though he was scared of the repercussions. “He found that most of the student body, as well as the teachers, were very accepting of him,” she said.

    According to Sheridan Superintendent Brenda Haynes, she and her colleagues have reviewed state law, court cases, and its own policies.

    “We must make decisions that lead in the proper direction for all of our students and for our community. We must not make decisions based on demands by any special interest group. The seven profiles will not be published in the yearbook,” she said.

    A demonstration was staged last Tuesday by a national civil rights organization to support Ellis. The Human Rights Campaign appealed to Gov. Mike Beebe and Tom Kimbrell, the state’s education commissioner to intervene, but their representatives said it was the local school district’s call.

    The principal of Sheridan, Rodney Williams, received a 30,000-strong petition asking to reverse the decision.

    Bruner stands by the yearbook’s decision. “It’s a big thing in Sheridan to be gay. That’s something that doesn’t get told a lot. I had no idea that any of this would happen, but I’m glad it did and I don’t regret anything that I’ve done so far,” she said.

    “When I’m done with Sheridan, I’m done with Sheridan. I have one more year, and after that, I’ll thank God every day that I’m not there anymore,” declared Ellis.

    Image via YouTube

  • ‘Wheel Of Fortune’ Contestant Solves Bonus Round With Only 2 Letters On First Try, Wins $45,000

    For ‘Wheel of Fortune’ contestant Emil, two letters are all he needs to solve a twelve-letter conundrum and win $45,000.

    In the final round of the game show, which aired Wednesday, the board showed a three-word phrase: the first word had three letters, the second had four, and the last had five. In this round, the game provided contestants with five consonants and a vowel to work with: R, S, T, L, N, and E. Contestants can also pick out three additional consonants and a vowel.

    Letter turner Vanna White revealed the letters in the puzzle that matched those provided by the game. There were only two: the letters N and E, one after the other, on the first word of the puzzle.

    Pat Sajak, the game’s host, said that the category of the puzzle was “Thing” to help contestants pick out their letters. Emil selected H, M, and D as his consonants and picked out O for his vowel, then waited to see if these came up on the board. They didn’t

    Sajak called White’s attention—perhaps she didn’t hear Emil’s letters? White then turned her hands up, as if saying “Sorry, that’s all of it.”

    Sajak admitted that the puzzle looked tough to him, and told Emil “It’s a thing, you’re a very good puzzle solver, but I don’t know.”

    With so little to work with, Sajak advised Emil to “Keep talking. Maybe the right thing will pop out.” Sajak wished Emil luck, and gave him ten seconds to guess the puzzle. It turns out that the contestant didn’t need to take that long to solve the puzzle correctly.

    “New baby buggy,” he said on his first try. And it was correct.

    The staff taking control of the board must have been stunned he got it correctly on his first try that it didn’t register on the board right away. Emil tried again, “New baby—“ but he didn’t get to finish, as the board finally flashed the winning phrase.

    “I’m rather stunned!” Sajak said, as Emil uttered, “Oh my God!”

    Sajak patted Emil down to the cheers of the audience, jokingly checking if the contestant had some sort of puzzle-solving device. He later tweeted that that night’s show features the most amazing solve he’d seen in his more than thirty years of hosting the game.

    Watch Emil win $45,000 with an amazing guess.

    Image via YouTube

  • New Roy Orbison Song Created By His Three Sons To Be Released

    Roy Orbison’s three sons have pooled their musical talents together to bring their late father’s new song to life. Entitled, “The Way is Love”, the song was built around an old vocal track that Alex, Wesley, and Roy Jr. found among their father’s old recordings. The brothers not only cleaned up the track and contributed instrumentation to the final mix, but they also co-produced it with John Carter Cash, who happens to be the son of another music legend, Johnny Cash.

    The song will be included in the 25th anniversary reissue of the “Oh, Pretty Woman” singer’s final album “Mystery Girl”. The record is only one of nine never-heard-before songs in the album, which Orbison allegedly released during a “career renaissance” of sorts. “Mystery Girl” includes contributions from such well-known names in rock ‘n’ roll, such as Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Elvis Costello, and Irish band U2. Orbison’s wife, Barbara was his manager at the time and his son Wesley was one of the songwriters in the album.

    Orbison passed away just two months shy of the album’s release on February 1989. He was 52 years old.

    Alex Orbison, who did the drums and backing vocals in “The Way is Love”, told the Associated Press that working on their father’s song “brought them closer together” and that he and his brothers were glad that they were able to release the song in time for Father’s Day.

    The album’s deluxe edition entitled, “Mystery Girl: Unraveled” will contain both bonus tracks and an hour-long documentary directed by Alex Orbison, which features a song-by-song deconstruction of the album, as well as interviews from producers Barbara Orbison, Bono, Mike Campbell, and Jeff Lynne.

    Roy “The Big O” Orbison was known for his distinctive and impassioned voice that gave life to such hits as “Crying”, Oh, Pretty Woman”, and “Only the Lonely”. His music influenced some of the greatest musicians of all time, including Elvis Presley and Bono.

    Roy Orbison: Oh, Pretty Woman

    Image via YouTube

  • Liam Neeson Saves Dog From Teenagers In Central Park

    Liam Neeson turned into a real-life superhero when he saved a dog from a group of teenagers. The Taken actor was jogging in Central Park when he heard a woman calling for help and shouting at some boys who were said to be stoning a stray dog to death.

    An eyewitness said that Neeson changed his direction and immediately charged towards the three teenagers who had cornered the dog against a garbage bin. The dog was in pain and was clearly terrified of the punks who were hurting him. The 61-year-old actor then confronted the thugs and told them to stop what they were doing or else he would beat the crap out of them.

    Neeson and his threat did not intimidate the boys, and they told him to mind his own business. The boys then continued to hurt the dog. Again, the actor warned the boys to “back off – or else!”

    After the second warning, one of the boys said, “Yeah, okay man. We’re out of here” and they retreated and left the scene quickly. The actor thought that he scared the boys with his threats and stern demeanor. However, it was not Neeson’s heroic act that made the boys scurry away. Instead, they were scared by the sight of a cop who was approaching the scene from behind Neeson.

    Neeson shook his head in disappointment and slowly approached the scared dog to stroke it while the cop tended to its injuries. The cop then thanked the actor and said, “I’ll take it from here, sir.”

    The actor is said to have been offered the amount of $20 million to come back and reprise his character as the protective father, Bryan Mills. on the third installment of the action film Taken, which is reported to hit theaters in 2015. Production is scheduled to start this month.

    Celebrities And The Dogs They Resemble

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Josh Gordon Tattoo: Number 12 Shows Off Elaborate Ink Job On Instagram

    Josh Gordon is no stranger to tattoos, but the recent additions to his skin art tops everything he previously had. The Cleveland Browns’ wide receiver has been working on back tattoo design for quite some time, and on Monday he visited his artist for another session to add more detail to the piece.

    Gordon, Number 12 for the Browns, first posted a photo of himself being inked on February 9 on Instagram. It showed him sitting in the bathroom with headphones on while a tattoo artist worked on his left side. The following day, followers got their first glimpse of his back tattoo. The Instagram photo showed him with his back turned toward the camera, giving viewers a good look at the tattoo in progress.

    The design showed Gordon’s jersey number, his last name, and a koi fish swimming upward by his left shoulder blade. Only the koi and the first three letters of his last name were done. If you take the koi out of the picture, it would look like Gordon’s ready to play wearing only his pants. He captioned the photo “A representation of yourself. It’s a lifestyle.”

    On February 13, Gordon updated his Instagram followers of the progress of the enormous tattoo on his back. The uploaded photo showed him seated and wearing a brown camouflage cap and red headphones as the gloved hands of the tattoo artist worked on the last three letters of his name. It also showed the outline of a geisha demurely hiding her face behind a fan.

    Gordon must have let his back heal for a while; the next update was posted on March 18, and showed the geisha’s fan getting details. In another photo posted later that day, he shows off the finished product. Aside from the koi and geisha, the other elements that can be seen are what seem to be marijuana leaves, and a Buddha head in quiet contemplation.

    Gordon captioned this last photo with “We just goin keep going til I run outta space..” True enough, for it shows his tattoo artist working on his right shoulder. His back piece is truly a work of art, but for the sake of his tattoo, here’s to hoping he gets to wear the same number if ever he makes the switch to another team.

    The Browns have a weapon

    Image via Josh Gordon, Instagram

  • Kylie Minogue Teaches Us To Sexercize

    Kylie Minogue Teaches Us To Sexercize

    Kylie Minogue, known worldwide as Australia’s pop princess, has just released an X-rated new promotional video for her new album’s second single, Sexercize. In the video, she is seen doing a “sex workout” with four other women.

    The new promotional video is Sexercize’s third. Prior to its debut, Minogue released two teasers. One featured an homage to Olivia Newton-John’s Physical, while the other featured a raunchier version directed by Roman Coppola.

    Sexercize is the first promotional single from Kiss Me Once, which Minogue released last week. Both the song and album stay true to Minogue’s sound and image – dance pop presented in a sensual package.

    In the Sexercize video, Minogue proves that she can keep up with younger pop artists even at 45. She dons a white leotard and red high-heeled shoes doing suggestive routines with an inflatable gym ball and a pommel horse. At some point in the video, she licks the sweat off a model and then gets a massage from her female dancers.

    Kiss Me Once is the pop princess’ 12th studio album, and her first under Warner Bros. and Jay-Z’s label Roc Nation. One of the tracks building up heat is Into the Blue. Take a listen.

    Kylie Minogue: Into The Blue 


    Minogue began her career as an actress, starring in the Australian soap opera Neighbours. In 1987, she released her first single as a singer by doing a cover of The Loco-Motion. The single spent seven weeks at the top of the Australian singles chart. A string of hits followed, until she received worldwide fame for her singles Spinning Around and Can’t Get You Out of My Head.

    The singer is known for her playful use of sex in her songs and music videos. Her music has received many awards, including multiple ARIA awards, Brit Awards, and a Grammy.

    Minogue is set to launch a Sexercize.tv website with more interpretations of the song, including “Kylie’s own personal content.” According to reports, the website will feature at least seven other videos.

    Watch Kylie Minogue Sexercize

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  • Tibetan Mastiff: World’s Most Expensive Dog Sold For $1.9 Million

    A Tibetan mastiff puppy reportedly sold in China for 12 million yuan, or a whopping $1.9 million. An unnamed property developer bought the puppy at a luxury pet fair held in Zhejiang.

    These huge canines were said to be used for hunting in ancient times. They were more prominently used by nomadic cultures travelling in Tibet and Central Asia. Today, owning a mastiff is a status symbol and is a popular choice among the wealthy citizens in China. This may be the reason why purchasing a Tibetan mastiff costs so much. Another reason why they are expensive is due to the fact that it is quite difficult to find a purebred Tibetan mastiff.

    Tibetan mastiff dogs are commonly large and can sometimes be aggressive. They have manes that make them resemble lions, and they can grow to a height of up to 33 inches. Unlike other huge breeds, the Tibetan mastiff’s life is a bit longer and can reach up to 14 years.

    The Tibetan mastiff that was sold had a golden coat and “mane”, weighed almost 200 pounds, and stood 31 inches tall.

    According to a Tibetan mastiff breeder, Zhang Gengyun, “They have lion’s blood and are top-of-the-range mastiff studs.”

    In 2011, a red-haired mastiff named Big Splash sold for 10 million yuan or $1.5 million. That amount was the most expensive sale ever recorded, but now the amount has been surpassed by the recent sale.

    The property developer who bought the Tibetan mastiff is said to have purchased the puppy in order to start breeding them.

    According to an insider in the dog-breeding industry, the prices are being ramped up because of agreements among various breeders in order to increase the worth of their dogs. The source also says that most of the time, these expensive deals are just used for hype and no monetary exchange is usually made.

    More about the Tibetan mastiff

    Image via YouTube

  • Vernita Gray, LGBT Champion, Dies At 65 Of Breast Cancer

    Vernita Gray, a known advocate for LGBT rights, died on Tuesday at her home in Edgewater, Chicago, after succumbing to breast cancer. Gray had been battling cancer since 1996, and had several recurrences through the years. She was 65.

    Gray is known for being half of Illinois’ first same-sex couple to exchange marriage vows when she married Patricia Ewert in November last year. A federal judge hastened the couple’s marriage license because of Gray’s condition.

    As a result, additional court rulings expedited same-sex marriage in Illinois ahead of the planned June 1, 2014 implementation.

    “She changed the world. She made it a better place,” said Ewert. “She was always happy, always positive.”

    Gray was also a leading advocate for LGBT rights since the late 60’s. She came out after Woodstock in 1969, after learning of the Stonewall riots. Soon, she organized a gay and lesbian hotline at her home, and support groups for youth who were rejected by their families. The phone rang so much that she would leave her apartment just to get peace of mind.

    Gray and Ewert met on an all-women’s cruise during Pride Month in 2009. They were engaged in the same year. The couple wed at their Chicago home on November 27 and had their honeymoon in Ixtapa, Mexico.

    The couple received a congratulatory letter from President Obama, saying, “A love like yours is truly something to treasure.”

    “Vernita Gray was an inspiration to all who crossed her path, from President Obama who knew her by name to the victims of violence she comforted and the young people for whom she was a fierce advocate,” said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

    A memorial service is being planned. According to family, donations should be made to Affinity Community Services, Broadway Youth Center at Howard Brown, or Center on Halsted.

    Vernita Gray Speaks At Illinois Marriage Equality March


    Image via YouTube

  • LeBron James Sits Out Boston Game Due To Back Spasms

    It’s been a tough night for the Heat’s star player LeBron James as he was forced to sit and watch his teammates face the Boston Celtics on Wednesday. It would have been harder were he to play, considering the back spasms he has been experiencing.

    Prior to this, James had missed two games in the past four months due to injury. The first was the Heat’s 108-107 win over the Portland Trail Blazers in December when he had a groin muscle injury, and the second was their 93-79 victory over the Chicago Bulls when he had a broken nose.

    On a positive note, James sitting out Wednesday’s game means he would have two full days of rest before the Heat face the Grizzlies on their home court this Friday. In their game the previous night versus Cleveland, he scored 43 points to take the Heat to victory 100-96. He also finished with four assists, two steals, three blocks, and six rebounds. This season, he has been averaging 27 points, 6.4 assists, 1.6 steals, and 6.9 rebounds per game.

    There’s less than a month to go in the league’s regular season, and in light of the coming postseason games, Miami could be ramping up its player sit-out strategy to conserve their energy for the games where they will be needed more.

    Aside from James, center Greg Oden also took the night off for precautionary rest. Taking their places were Michael Beasley for James and Udonis Haslem for Oden.

    The Miami team is currently in a fierce competition with Indiana for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. The Heat are attempting to advance to four consecutive NBA Finals like the 1980s Celtics while also attempting to win three straight championships like the Lakers back in the early 2000s and the Chicago Bulls of the 90s era.

    Lebron James Breaks His Nose


    Image via YouTube

  • Bill Yosses, Pastry Chef, Leaving White House In June For New York City

    William “Bill” Yosses has been the Executive Pastry Chef in the White House since 2007. He was hired by Laura Bush, the former first lady. After serving delectable desserts for the White House for seven years, the 60-year-old pastry chef is ready to hang up his apron.

    The announcement came when Yosses was interviewed for The New York Times. After his resignation, which will be effective in June, Yosses will be moving to New York and will be focusing on teaching culinary arts to adults and children. He is going to focus on sharing his knowledge on eating healthier.

    “It’s a bittersweet decision,” said the pastry chef. Despite leaving a job that he is passionate about, Yosses is looking forward to moving to New York, as he will be with his husband. His husband is a teacher and they have been living apart for 11 years.

    When the Obamas came to the White House, first lady Michelle Obama asked him to create healthier desserts in small portions. Yosses described Obama as, “an inspiring boss, a combination of spontaneity and seriousness.” Although he has been creating healthier options for the first family, Yosses said that he has not given up on his former way of making desserts.

    According to sources from the White House, they still do not know what direction the first lady will take when hiring Yosses’ successor.

    Although Yosses has shifted towards healthy desserts, he is still known in the White House for serving the best pies and has been nicknamed “The Crustmaster” by the president. Yosses also said that the White House still creates traditional desserts about 20% of the time for special occasions.

    In a statement, the first lady said that she is sad about Yosses’ departure, but she is grateful for his outstanding work and she wishes him the best in his future undertakings.

    Bill Yosses at TEDx

    Image via YouTube