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Author: Val Powell

  • CFDA Awards: Rihanna Shows Up Nearly Naked

    CFDA Awards: Rihanna Shows Up Nearly Naked

    Rihanna attracted the attention of many at the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) Awards with her nearly naked ensemble.

    The awards event was held at the Alice Tully Hall in New York City, and several celebrities were in attendance including Blake Lively, Lupita Nyong’o, Jennifer Hudson, Emmy Rossum, and Solange Knowles.

    Rihanna wore a custom Adam Selman sheer gown that was covered in 216,000 Swarovski crystals. The singer paired the stunning gown with matching gloves and a headscarf. Since the gown was sheer, Rihanna also carried around a fur covering, which she used to strategically cover up some parts of her body.

    Rihanna is set to receive the fashion icon award at the CFDA. Others who have received the same award include Johnny Depp, Nicole Kidman, Kate Moss, and Lady Gaga. The award is given to celebrities whose personal style has made a significant impact on pop culture.

    Selman, a celebrated fashion designer, has been providing costumes for the singer since 2011. The custom crystal-decked gown was just fitting for such an event.

    Rihanna’s gown in all its glory

    Fashion designer Zac Posen commented on Rihanna’s look and said, “She takes risks and she marches to her own drum. She knows what she likes.” Posen also said that when Rihanna started in the business, she was a novice. “But obviously she had looks and confidence and little-girl charm. All the ingredients were there for her to be a huge superstar: ambition, strength, and also vulnerability.”

    …and apparently twerking as well.

    Rihanna also told reporters at the event, “You will never be stylish if you don’t take risks.”

    Designer Tom Ford was also honored at the ceremony. Other winners at the awards ceremony include Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen for their accessories, Joseph Altuzarra for women’s wear, and Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne for men’s wear.

    This year’s ceremony was hosted by director and screenwriter John Waters.

    Image via YouTube

  • Andy Murray Moves To Last Eight In French Open

    On Saturday evening, Andy Murray’s match with No. 28 seed Philipp Kohlschreiber was suspended in the fourth set due to lack of light, and resumed on Sunday morning. Murray secured a victory after playing for a grueling four hours and seven minutes.

    Murray lost the first set in the match on Saturday, but was determined to get back on track on the next two sets. Some say that he played his best tennis so far in the tournament during his match with Kohlschreiber, despite the fact that he was also struggling with his left hamstring. “Physically in the fifth set I was struggling. You know, I was cramping,” he said. The match ended with 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 12-10 in favor of Murray.

    On Monday, Murray went on to beat No. 24 seed Fernando Verdasco in a match that lasted for about three hours. The final tally was 6-4, 7-5, 7-6, (7-3). Beating Verdasco propelled Murray to the French Open quarterfinals for the fourth time.

    “I was trying to play more aggressive today because I knew I was going to be a bit tired in my legs,” Murray said. He has been playing in the French Open for three consecutive days.

    Verdasco’s temper may have also helped Murray to win. His meltdowns during the match provided openings for Murray. Verdasco is known for getting carried away with his emotions, which sometimes gives his opponents an advantage.

    Murray, 27,  said that he played “good tennis” in the tournament, but had to kick it up a notch during the second week, especially after Federer’s unexpected departure when Ernests Gulbis defeated him.

    Murray is scheduled to face Gael Montfils of France on Wednesday. “It’s good to win in three sets, and playing against Monfils, I guess on center court – it’s going to be a great atmosphere and I’m really looking forward to it,” he said.

    Image via Andy Murray, Instagram

  • Joel Osteen Doesn’t Want Anti-Gay Stance To Define His Ministry

    Pastor Joel Osteen is open about his disapproval of gay marriage, but he does not want his opinion to define his whole ministry. During a talk with Osteen and his wife Victoria, HuffPost Live’s Marc Lamont Hill asked him if gay marriage goes against the rules of Christianity.

    Osteen told Hill, “It would be, but I don’t really focus on a lot of those things, I try to stay in my lane of what I feel called to do. [Gay marriage] does come up in interviews and things, but that’s not my core message.”

    The pastor said that his message for his congregation involves letting go of the past, how to raise their children to be good, and how they can attain their goals. However, he did admit that the sexuality of gays and lesbians often comes up as an issue for some members of his church.

    The tenth anniversary of Osteen’s “A Night of Hope” is fast approaching, and will be held on June 7th at Yankee stadium in New York. Hill pointed out that at least a handful of the 45,000 people expected to attend will be gay.

    Osteen added, “Everybody’s welcome, but my take on it is it’s easy to make one issue — to become known for that or to let it sidetrack your message, if you look at our congregation … including myself, we all have issues. Everybody’s on a journey.”

    Osteen once called being gay as “not God’s best work” and he still remains strongly against gay marriage, which is currently legal in 19 states in the US, including the District of Columbia.

    Joel Osteen on gay marriage

    Osteen is the senior pastor at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas — the largest church in the United States. Osteen is also a televangelist and an author, and will soon have his own show on SiriusXM radio.

    Image via YouTube

  • Samantha Stosur Defeated By Maria Sharapova At French Open

    Samantha Stosur let an amazing opportunity slip through her hands after being defeated by Maria Sharapova during the French Open. Stosur had a one-set lead over Sharapova, but ended up losing nine straight games.

    The Australian tennis player posed a big threat to Sharapova, but that still was not enough to pull a win against the Russian crowd favorite. “I know it was an opportunity lost, I thought I was there to win that match and definitely playing well enough to do so. I know that’s an opportunity I’m not going to get again,” Stosur commented.

    The game started with Stosur showcasing  great potential for a victory against Sharapova. By the third set, Stosur was at a complete loss, not expecting her opponent to bounce back by overpowering her serves. The two tied at 4-4 during the second set, but Sharapova was determined and changed the score during the third set at 6-0—even Stosur was surprised by how quickly Sharapova retaliated.

    Samantha Stosur vs. Maria Sharapova: French Open match highlights

    Stosur had only won two out of the fifteen matches she previously played against Sharapova. Coming into this match, the Aussie stated that she knew what it would take to defeat Sharapova and that she would have to work hard to get a win—however, if she slacked off, she was well aware that the match would be extremely tough for her.

    Sharapova openly admitted that she had a hard time with Stosur’s serve and slice during the earlier parts of the match.

    The 30-year-old Stosur is well known for her powerful serve, which is known to be one of the best in women’s tennis. She defeated Serena Williams in 2011 in the US Open final, becoming the first Australian woman since 1980 to nab a Grand Slam singles tournament. To date, Stosur has a total of four Grand Slam titles under her belt: two in mixed doubles, and two in women’s doubles.

    Image via SamStosur.com

  • Jay Z Ridiculed By Dame Dash Over Elevator Fight

    Since Jay Z’s incident with Solange Knowles after the Met Gala, rumors have been spreading about what sparked Knowles’ outrage. The reasons are unclear to the public, but everyone seems to have their own opinion on what really happened.

    One of the rumors spreading is that Knowles was ticked off by Jay Z’s run in with fashion designer Rachel Roy, who is also the ex-wife of his former business partner Damon Dash. Dash expressed his opinion in an interview.

    “If he was trying to holler at my wife… that’s kinda f**ked up. That would be dark. That means he really has some resentment. I would hope that wouldn’t be the case,” Dash said.

    Dash and Jay Z had a falling out when Def Jam bought out their company Roc-a-Fella Records in 2004.

    Dash was also able to watch the elevator video of Knowles attacking Jay Z and he found it funny. He said that Jay Z is the kind of guy that does not have many “uncool” moments. Dash is also enjoying the fact that Jay Z is being made fun of since the incident, as he believes Jay Z gives the appearance of being “untouchable.”

    “I feel nobody teases Jay except me for some reason. It’s just the first time I’ve seen people freely expressing themselves. He has to worry about what people think because if people don’t like what he’s doing, he won’t get that corporate check.”

    Dash also expressed his admiration for his former business partner, as he kept his cool throughout the incident and walked out of the elevator as if nothing happened. He said that Jay Z is an expert in conducting himself properly in public.

    The public may not know the real reason behind the incident in the elevator, but Dash is hoping that the rumors about his ex-wife and his former business partner are not true.

    In other news, Jay Z protege Rihanna, shows up to CFDA Awards nearly naked.

    Image via YouTube

  • Levi Johnston, Ex of Bristol Palin, Expecting Third Child

    And here comes baby number three!

    Levi Johnston, infamous for impregnating Sarah Palin’s teenage daughter back in 2008, is expecting his third child. The baby is his second with 21-year old wife Sunny Oglesby-Johnston, whom he has been married to for nearly two years. The 24-year-old’s first child with Bristol Palin, Tripp Easton Mitchell, was born in December 2008.

    The couple broke the news to their family and friends by sending them a photo showing the two of them eating spaghetti with a “we’re” sign taped to a jar of Prego sauce. Sources close to the couple mentioned that the pregnancy is still in its early stages, but say the couple is very happy, and they are looking forward to adding another member to their family. The couple also mentioned that they are planning to have even more children in the future.

    Johnston and Oglesby wed in Alaska in October 2012, just a mere six weeks after she gave birth to their daughter Breeze Beretta. The family currently resides in Wasilla, Alaska.

    Back in 2013, Johnston filed for a petition to get equal custody of his son Tripp. However, Palin claimed in court that her ex-fiancé owed her $66,000 in child support payments. Text messages exchanged between the two were detailed in the court documents. The messages stated that Levi was preventing Bristol from travelling outside of Alaska, and that he tried to stop her from doing “whatever she wants.”

    One of the messages read: “Go ahead and ask him if he want to stay with dad or go with u. Bet he says dad. Just saying Bristol. Tripps old enough to tell u what he wants now.”

    Johnston and Palin had already agreed on a stipulation for child custody back in August 2010, allowing Johnston to be with his son during Wednesdays and Saturdays, but the court never approved the request.

    Image via YouTube

  • Jacques Cousteau’s Grandson Attempts ‘Mission 31’

    Fabien Cousteau, grandson of explorer and oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, is following his grandfather’s footsteps. Cousteau will be diving to a laboratory at the Aquarius Reef Base and will be spending 31 days living underwater. He will be making a documentary and a few science experiments in a coral reef at the Florida Keys.

    “Mission 31,” continues the legacy of his grandfather who went underwater in the Red Sea for 30 days in 1963 to film for his Oscar-winning documentary entitled World Without Sun.

    Although the idea is the same, the younger Cousteau will be able to do what his grandfather couldn’t decades ago. He will be broadcasting his underwater adventure online. “For the first time I’m able to invite the world on a Cousteau expedition in real time,” he said.

    jacques_cousteau.jpg

    Cousteau will be underwater together with a five-man crew called the aquanauts. The laboratory, which is located 60 feet below the ocean’s surface, is the last remaining underwater laboratory in the world and it is operated by the Florida International University. The underwater laboratory measures 10 feet wide and 46 feet long, but has a kitchen with a microwave and even wifi.

    In their mission, Cousteau and the aquanauts will be monitoring and studying how the warm seas are affecting the ocean’s acidity and the coral reefs.

    “Whether you care about economics, in your personal life or your business life, whether you care about your health or your child’s health, whether you care about saving creatures, it all pertains to making sure that our oceans are healthy. And our oceans are not,” Cousteau said.

    They will also be monitoring themselves to learn how living without the sun in a high-pressure area will affect a person both physically and mentally.

    Fans will be able to follow the adventures of Cousteau and his team by following their official social media accounts.

    The team is planning to go back to the surface on July 2.

    Main image via FabienCousteau.org, article image via karting.wikispaces.com

  • Linda Wallem And Melissa Etheridge Marry In California

    Melissa Etheridge, rock singer-songwriter and activist, married her partner of four years Linda Wallem in California on Saturday. The ceremony was held at the San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito.

    Etheridge was excited about her wedding and even tweeted before the ceremony and said, “A gorgeous, perfect, beautiful day to get married.”

    Etheridge and Wallem, both 53, exchanged vows under an arbor decorated with purple and red flowers. Etheridge wore a gray suit and had her hair down, while Wallem donned a sparkly white dress. Witnesses to the union included Whitney Cummings, Chelsea Handler, Peter Facinelli, and Rosie O’Donnell.

    After the wedding, Etheridge tweeted a photo with the caption, “True love… so blessed. ‘By the power invested in me by the state of California…’ Thanks.”

    Wallem is a producer and writer who created Nurse Jackie. She also worked on other notable shows, such as Cybill, That 70’s Show, and Whitney.

    The two got engaged in 2013, a little after the US Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act. When the news was announced, Etheridge said that she was looking forward to marrying her fiancée. “I’m going to get married in the state of California, I woke the kids up this morning telling them the Supreme Court ruling on DOMA… I love everybody out there. It’s a great day,” she said then.

    Etheridge came out in 1993 at the Triangle Ball gay celebration. She has been a gay rights activist since then, and also shows her support for several environmental issues. Just last January, she formed Uprising of Love, in order to support Russian LGBT activists.

    Etheridge and Wallem started dating in 2010. Etheridge has 7-year-old twins with her ex Tammy Lynn Michaels, and she also has a son and a daughter from her previous relationship with Julie Cypher.

    Etheridge will be releasing a new solo album in September.

    Image via YouTube

  • Weed Fairy Visits Seattle, Spreads 50 Nuggets

    The Weed Fairy visited Seattle last weekend and gave away free weed to keep everyone’s spirits high. The fairy tweeted a photo of her note with the caption, “Seattle, I just hit you up. Weed’s everywhere in Capitol Hill. Have a good weekend.” 50 fliers were spread around Seattle with a nugget of weed taped to them. The fliers read, “These are tough times. Take this WEED. And keep your spirits high @danksyappleweed.”

    The Weed Fairy, who is also known as the Goddess of Ganj, is Yeni Sleidi. The 23-year-old is originally from California, but is visiting Seattle for a few weeks. Sleidi also spread weed in New York a few months ago, and the positive response from people who got her little surprise urged her to keep doing her job as the Weed Fairy.

    “I think people are a little worried, because this is something new, and suspicious. But it’s real weed and it’s not dangerous. It will get you high,” Sleidi said.

    Despite the good feedback, there are still some who are suspicious about the Weed Fairy. “I wouldn’t take anything for free from someone I didn’t know,” one Seattle resident said.

    Sleidi said that she is not afraid of being arrested, as Washington is one of the states where marijuana is legal. However, Seattle police are concerned that people under the legal age of 21 could get their hands on the free marijuana. “It could fall into anybody’s hands,” Drew Fowler, the spokesman for Seattle police said.

    In response, Sleidi said that she leaves the signs and the marijuana in areas where majority of passersby are of age.

    Sleidi said that the idea of giving out free marijuana came to her during a government shutdown in New York. Her friends were affected by the incidents, and she thought of a way to distract them from the stress.

    The Weed Fairy said that it was the first time she was comfortable attaching her real identity to her deeds.

    Image via YouTube

  • Jimmie Johnson Snagged His Second Consecutive Win Of 2014 At Dover

    Jimmie Johnson prevailed, yet again. After participating in 12 races, he finally got his first win of the year. And it seems as if there is nothing stopping him. He managed to add another championship to his name, just a mere week after his victory in the Coca Cola 600, by snagging his ninth win at the Dover International Speedway for the FedEx 400.

    Johnson, who was criticized for not winning any titles in 2014 until the Coca Cola 600, celebrated with his family after his victory at Dover. There are still a few months before the Chase for the Sprint Cup begins, but Johnson’s recent winning streak will certainly make him the big threat come race day.

    The racer started to seriously question himself about his losing streak at the begining of the season. Some speculate that his hernia surgery in December of 2013 may have contributed to a decline in his performance. However, this got resolved when Johnson started racing at his favorite tracks again, waking up his inner fire.

    Jimmie Johnson is well known for being the six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion. He drives the No. 48 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. Because of the losing streak he had earlier this year, skeptics started to doubt him, as Johnson already had 11 races with no wins—something that hasn’t happened since the beginning of his racing career. However, he silenced his critics by snagging the Coca Cola 600 on May 25th, and now the FedEx 400 on Sunday. It appears that he is now back to form.

    There are still a lot of races left before the Sprint Cup, but Johnson seems poised to defend his title for a seventh time. Overall, Jimmie Johnson gave a dominant performance at this year’s FedEx 400. He led with a race-high 272 of 400 laps, and had no real threat from his competition. Can he pull off a win for the Sprint Cup? Fans will just have to wait and see what he has in store for the rest of the season.

    Image via YouTube

  • Ernests Gulbis Ends Roger Federer’s 9-Year Streak, Advances To Quarterfinals

    On Sunday, Latvian tennis pro Ernests Gulbis defeated Roger Federer and advanced to the quarterfinals. Gulbis also ended Federer’s 9-year streak of joining the final 8 at Roland Garros.

    After their match, which lasted 3 hours and 42 minutes, Gulbis said “I’ve been playing very well in France. I won tournaments in Marseille and Nice (in 2014). Hopefully Paris is the next one.”

    Federer felt regretful after losing, but also praised his opponent. “Gulbis did a good job of hanging around, and clearly coming back in that second set was crucial for him. I just with I could have played a bit better overall,” he said.

    The match ended with a tally of 6-4 (5), 7-6 (3), 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. During their match, Gulbis had fewer unforced errors, and hit more winners and aces than Federer. Federer finished the match having 42 winners and 59 unforced errors, while Gulbis had 53 winners and 53 unforced errors.

    Gulbis has been waiting for a win like this for a long time. He has improved his game and has gone from the top 130 to the top 20. However, he has never gone beyond the third round in all of the four major tournaments that he joined, and he was defeated by players who are beyond the top 50.

    Gulbis said that beating Federer is his biggest win in the entirety of his career. “Sorry I had to win. I know how everyone likes Roger. It was a tough match, but this is sport.”

    In 2013, Federer suffered back problems, which resulted in his worst season in 10 years. Despite the loss, he remains confident that he will be able to defend his grass-court title in Germany next week. He is also aspiring for his eighth title at Wimbledon, which will start on June 23. “I’m very excited about my chances for Wimbledon,” he said.

    Gulbis will face Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinal round.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Mary Soames, Winston Churchill’s Daughter, Dies At 91

    Lady Mary Soames, the last surviving child of Winston Churchill, has died at the age of 91. The family announced that she passed away on Saturday, due to an illness.

    Soames was born in 1922, and is the youngest of the five Churchill siblings. When her father led the British against the German Nazis in World War II, Soames joined the first Red Cross to serve with her father. She also served in Germany, Belgium, and London.

    In addition, Soames spent time travelling with her father, and was present during the post-war planning conference in Germany.

    Nicolas Soames, Lady Mary’s son, said that his mother was a distinguished writer who led a great life and provided her service during the war. He also said that it is a coincidence that his mother passed away just before the 70th anniversary of D-Day, which is on June 6. “It is the great swing of history,” he said.

    He added, “She was not just a wonderful mother to whom we were all devoted, but the head and heart of our family after our father died, and will be greatly missed.”

    Soames spent her life giving service to the public, both by birth and marriage. She married Christopher Soames in 1947, who was a Conservative politician who served as a minister under Margaret Thatcher, Alec Douglas-Home, Harold Macmillan, and Anthony Eden.

    Prime Minister David Cameron also expressed his grief over the death of Soames. He described her as a warm-hearted and wonderful woman. “In the week of the 70th anniversary of D-Day, we remember that she served her country in World War II and was an eye-witness to some of the most important moments in our recent history as she accompanied her father to key conferences.”

    Lady Mary Soames is survived by five children, Arthur Nicholas, Emma Mary, Jeremy Bernard, Charlotte Clementine, and Rupert Christopher.

    Image via YouTube

  • Maria Sharapova Doesn’t Take Ernests Gulbis’ Sexist Remarks Seriously

    Ernests Gulbis from Latvia, 25, made sexist comments when reporters asked him about his two younger sisters who also play tennis. He said that he wishes his sisters would not pursue professional tennis, as it’s tough for a woman.

    “A woman needs to enjoy life a little bit more. Needs to think about family needs to think about kids. What kids you can think about until age of 27 if you’re playing professional tennis, you know. That’s tough for a woman, I think.” said Gulbis.

    The comments again came out when reporters asked 27-year-old Maria Sharapova about what she thought of Gulbis’ statement.

    Sharapova answered that people shouldn’t take everything Gulbis says seriously. “I mean let’s be honest with that. I think he’s great entertainment and we love to listen to what he has to say… in a way, I think he was joking, but he’s playing the sport, so how bad can it be?” She continued to say that if professional tennis were so bad, Gulbis wouldn’t be playing it even though he’s a man.

    Sharapova also said that playing professional tennis brings many opportunities to women, especially given her experiences. However, she also said that she wouldn’t wish the same experience for her kids.

    “But then when I’m playing the matches, I’m in front of thousands of people and the experience that this sport brings, I think, of course I want my kids to do this, this is such a huge lesson in life,” Sharapova said.

    Garbine Muguruza, 20, also disagrees with Gulbis’ statement saying that women should play tennis until they want, even if they pursue having a family. “You can play until you want to play,” she said.

    Gulbis’ comments may be sexist for some, but for others, he is only looking out for his younger sisters and being protective of them like a brother should.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Angelique Kerber Out Of French Open After Losing To Eugenie Bouchard

    On Sunday, Eugenie Bouchard propelled to the French Open quarterfinals when she beat Angelique Kerber of Germany with a score of 6-1, 6-2. The match was over in 52 minutes.

    After the match, Bouchard said, “I believe I can play with the best girls out there. She’s top 10, so I respect her. She can play some really good tennis. I was really mentally prepared for anything, for a battle.”

    On the other side, Kerber said, “I was not in the game. I was trying, but I had no rhythm. I don’t know. I make so many mistakes. I actually was not moving very good. So, yeah, I just can say that it was not my best day today.” Although she lost, Kerber still praised Bouchard saying that she played well.

    In the first 15 minutes of the match, Bouchard was already in the lead at 5-0. She only made 11 unforced errors throughout the game, and had 77 percent first serves in the first set. During the second set, she served 42 percent first serves, but was still able to win the round. Kerber, on the other hand, made plenty of unforced errors.

    Bouchard also said that she always tries to take control of the game with her serves and her returns and always makes it her goal to move forward.

    Bouchard practiced with her coach Nick Saviano in order to boost her game level. “Even if he’s in his 50s, he can still serve a few,” she said referring to her coach.

    Bouchard will play Carla Suarez Navarro, No. 14, at the quarterfinal round.

    “There is a lot of room for other players to move up. I think it just makes the draw really interesting when some of the top names are out and we see some new names that we haven’t seen that much,” Bouchard said.

    Image via YouTube

  • Burn Victim Slurpees: Unusaul Incident Occurs At Grants Pass 7-Eleven

    The 7-Eleven in Grants Pass, Oregon, was having a quiet afternoon when a tattooed man ran into the store and doused himself with Slurpee.

    Charlie Bentley, one of the store’s employees, said that he was with his co-worker when the man entered the store. Bentley said that the man was being chased by another man. Afterwards, a third man entered the store.

    According to reports, the man who doused himself with Slurpee was suffering from hot oil burns. After entering the store, he removed his shirt, and soaked it with Hawaiian Punch Slurpee. He then used the shirt to rub the burnt areas of his body.

    After the incident, paramedics, firefighters, and the police arrived at the scene. The injured man talked to the authorities before leaving the scene in an ambulance. He was transported to the Providence Medford Medical Center to be treated for minor burns.

    Bentley said that he didn’t know the man was injured until he talked to the officers on the curbside.

    Officers said that the incident had already been reported at 4:40 in the afternoon at J and Ninth Streets. However, after a few minutes, the officers learned that the incident had moved a few streets away to the 7-Eleven convenience store, where a man was seen chasing another man with a baseball bat.

    Based on their investigations, the disturbance started at the J and Ninth Streets, and a fight between two neighbors resulted in one being burned with hot oil. One chased after the other and they ended up in 7-Eleven.

    No one has been arrested, but the police are still investigating the incident.

    Bentley, who has been an employee at 7-Eleven for a decade, said that it was one of the most unusual things that he has ever experienced while working at the store.

    How to treat a burn

    Image via YouTube

  • Alaska Near Miss: NTSB Investigates

    An Alaska Airlines passenger jet had a “near miss” with a smaller cargo aircraft above Anchorage’s Fire Island.

    The passenger plane from Portland, Oregon, which was carrying 143 passengers, was scheduled to land at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport on Runway 15, when the pilot was told by air controllers to do a “go-around” in order to avoid an Ace Air Cargo plane. The National Transportation Safety Board is conducting an investigation on the incident.

    The aircrafts were said to be a quarter mile from each other, and were flying at the same elevation.

    Clint Johnson, the NTSB spokesman, said that the planes were so close to each other, that one of the pilots could spot the other plane as it flew. The “go-around” was requested in order to give more space to both planes as they were nearing the same airport.

    The Alaska Airlines jet was able to land safely on the runway. Reports say that the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 jet has a collision avoidance system. It alerted the crew of the proximity of the other aircraft, and as a result, the pilots shifted to a higher altitude.

    In a statement, Alaska Airlines said, “Our pilots are highly trained and skilled at responding to situations like this and are to be commended for their handling of the situation.” The company also said that they are working hand-in-hand with the NTSB on the investigation.

    Data from the Anchorage control tower and the two aircrafts is being reviewed. According to Ace Air Cargo’s pilot Todd Erickson, they were aware of the situation and they were talking with the control tower all throughout.

    According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), there were also two jetliners that came in close proximity at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston last week. The two were separated by less than a mile.

    The FAA also reported that in 2012, the similar incidents happened 4,400 times, which averaged to 12 “near misses” a day.

    Compilation of gut-wrenching aircraft near misses

    Image via YouTube

  • Wil Wheaton Hosts A New Show For Geeks

    Wil Wheaton, star of Star Trek: The Next Generation and The Big Bang Theory has a treat for geeks all over the world. On Tuesday night, his new show entitled The Wil Wheaton Project debuted on the SyFy channel.

    Reports say that the show was Wil’s own idea. He pitched the idea to the SyFy network and they liked it.

    The show’s format is similar to Joel McHale’s The Soup. The only difference is that The Wil Wheaton Project will be discussing television shows, movies, and other stuff related to the geek culture. The show’s first season will have a run of 12 episodes.

    Vulture interviewed Wheaton about his new show and he described it as a place where he can “highlight the stuff that we love,” and “mock the things that need to be gently mocked.” It is a celebration of nerd culture, and that was just what happened on the show’s first episode. His role as the show’s host is fitting, as he is known to many as a nerd specialist.

    On the first episode, Wheaton talked about trending topics in the nerd world including the newly released film X-Men: Days of Future Past, The Walking Dead, and Game of Thrones.

    Wheaton made fun of X-Men’s promotional tie-ins. He pitched ideas for new characters for the fifth season of Game of Thrones. He also poked fun at NBC dramas.

    Wheaton also introduced a segment called “Wil’s Memos,” wherein he talks about things that concern him. For the first episode, he tackled cancelled shows and new shows.

    The Wil Wheaton Show received mixed reviews from viewers. Others say that the show lacks in laugh-out-loud moments, while others are happy with the fact that another television show focused on geek culture is now available for them to watch.

    Although the first episode was not so promising, the show still has the potential to develop over the next 11 episodes.

    Image via YouTube

  • Louisiana Flooding: EF-1 Tornado Confirmed By National Weather Service

    Many residents across several parts of southeastern Louisiana and southern Mississippi are dealing with the aftermath of Tuesday’s heavy rains, which triggered minor flooding in their area.

    According to the National Weather Service, the large cluster of thunderstorms that caused more than one foot of rain to the aforementioned areas can be classified as an EF-1 tornado. The agency added that the tornado came with 105 mph winds that measured 150 yards wide.

    The tornado headed toward metropolitan Houston around sunrise, causing even more flooding on the already drenched city. Apart from flooding and wind damage, power outages were also reported in the area. Some of the worst damage brought about by the tornado was felt by the Marathon Petroleum oil refinery in Garyville. Marathon Petroleum spokesperson Jamal Kheiry stated that one of the refinery’s cooling towers sustained damage, which caused its processing unit to close. Kheiry added that a couple of workers at the refinery were slightly injured and received first aid.

    Heavy rains started as early as Memorial Day at the Hobby Airport in Houston, and lasted until Wednesday morning. The downpour then pushed through southern Louisiana’s Interstate 10 corridor. Multiple roads in the town of Duson were closed down due to the flooding, and rescue efforts were made in Scott. According to a local media report, a primary school in Lafayette was also flooded. Other areas like Lutcher and Lake Charles also picked up much more rain than their respective year-to-date precipitation deficit.

    Officials of  St. James Parish officially declared the calamity as a state of emergency and deployed sandbags to the residents of their area. A Flash Flood Watch is still in effect for the affected areas until Thursday evening as a new batch of thunderstorms are expected to push through. There has been five tornado warnings issued from 4am until 12 noon.

    Image via NDN video

  • Ray Nagin Must Pay Government Over $500,000

    Ray Nagin Must Pay Government Over $500,000

    On Tuesday, a federal judge ordered former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin to pay over $501,000, which is the total amount he got from bribing and exploiting his position as a Mayor.

    Nagin was convicted in February on several counts including conspiracy, money laundering, fraud, and bribery among others. He served as the Mayor of New Orleans from 2002 up to 2010.

    According to prosecutors, the amount that Nagin has to pay is the total amount he got from services, money, and goods from several businessmen. Robert Jenkins, Nagin’s attorney, contested the amount and said that his client should pay less, as he shared liability with others.

    With his charges, Nagin could face a maximum of 20 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled on June 11. However, he is asking for the sentencing to be pushed back, so he could take time to prepare for a pre-sentence investigation. Although reports are not available to the public, there are speculations that Nagin’s camp wants the date pushed back so they can formulate a plan to fight the details stated on the report.

    The half-a-million amount may be detrimental to Nagin, as he is already in deep water with his finances. Early this month, his wife, Seletha Nagin filed for bankruptcy and the Nagins’ townhouse located outside Dallas was set for foreclosure.

    The precise prison term for the ex-Mayor will be based on the findings after the pre-sentencing investigation. They will be considering the number and severity of crimes that Nagin has committed during his years in office.

    Nagin was indicted 3 years after leaving office. The City Hall conducted a corruption investigation and Nagin’s technology chief, as well as a city vendor and two businessmen, pleaded guilty to the corruption case. His technology chief testified against him.

    Nagin’s attorney stated that he will appeal his client’s conviction.

    A look back at Ray Nagin

    Image via YouTube

  • Tainted California Chicken: Foster Farms Continues To Make People Sick?

    The antibiotic-resistant salmonella that has been linked to a chicken producer in California continues to make people sick over a year after the outbreak.

    Despite the outbreak and the illnesses, Foster Farms has not declared a recall of their chickens. According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control, there were 50 new reported illnesses within the past 2 months, which brings the total number of affected people to 574. Reports also said that of the 574, most live in California.

    There are three Foster Farms in California, and 77 percent of people affected come from the state.

    The outbreak began on May 27 last year, and 37 percent of those affected have been confined in hospitals. About 13 percent were said to have infections in their blood that amount to three times the infection brought by regular salmonella.

    Foster Farms said in their defense, “Foster Farms is committed to leadership in food safety and producing the safest chicken on the West Coast.”

    According to the Agriculture Department, they are meticulously monitoring the operations of Foster Farms. Their measurements conclude that salmonella from the company’s products have a lower rate now.

    After last year’s outbreak, the Agriculture Department threatened to shut down Foster Farms’ operations, but allowed them to continue their business, as they said that they made changes in their operations in order to lower the rate of salmonella.

    Last year’s salmonella outbreak

    Some of the operational changes they made include improved safety on their farms where the chickens are raised, and stricter screening of the birds. They have also improved their sanitation practices.

    The company released a statement that addresses the new reported cases. They said that the increase of salmonella may be caused by the warm weather.

    This is not the first time Foster Farms has dealt with a salmonella problem. In 2004, they were linked to the infection, and then again in 2012.

    Image via YouTube

  • Eric Cantor Attacked Over Immigration Issue

    House Majority Leader Eric Cantor faced attacks on Wednesday. To his opponents, he isn’t conservative enough, and for that, he needs to be ousted.

    The pressure was on in Richmond on Wednesday, as immigrant-rights advocates rallied at the state Capitol to urge Cantor to move on immigration reform.

    The rally was led by Rep. Luis Gutierrez. He told the people, “What Eric Cantor represents is the future of the Republican Party, and if you do not give a vote on comprehensive immigration reform, let me assure you of the consequence: The Republican Party will be a party of regions, of localities.”

    The rally was attended by over 70 people. They were carrying signs that read, “Eric Cantor: The One Man Blocking Immigration Reform.”

    Cantor’s challenger, Republican Dave Brat, said in the June 10 primary that Cantor is working with Gutierrez in order to push immigration measures. “Eric Cantor saying he opposes amnesty is like Barack Obama saying he opposes Obamacare,” Brat said.

    “Congressman Gutierrez is here to set up a great deception that will allow Eric Cantor to claim he is opposed to amnesty,” Brat stated.

    Cantor has been shifting sides, but his spokesperson stated that he has been consistent on his views on the issue. With that, people are asking if Cantor has an intention of killing immigration reform, or is he on the side of reform?

    Just this week, Cantor’s camp released fliers that he is opposed to and has stopped the President’s plan “to give illegal aliens a free ride.”

    However, Brat quickly argued that the fliers were hiding Cantor’s real views on immigration, and that he is fighting for reform.

    Eric Cantor on immigration reform

    According to Ray Allen, Cantor’s campaign spokesperson, Cantor has been unwavering on his views. However, he also stated that in some instances the two sides can find common ground. He also added, “Dave Brat, on the other hand, is just lying.”

    Image via YouTube