Beatification of John Paul II

The beatification ceremony — a Mass and day-long prayers beside John Paul’s coffin — is the next-to-last step before being designated a saint, a process that typically takes centuries. The speed at which John Paul is being elevated is not without critics. On Saturday, victims of clergy sex abuse distributed leaflets outside churches in 62 cities to protest the beatification and to urge Catholics toturn abusers in to the police. Debate has only begun among historians and church scholars about John Paul’s legacy as a pope, whether he was too lenient on sexually abusive priests and too harsh on dissenters.


Can this man really be called a saint?
He's almost one step away. Pope John Paul II is being fast-tracked to sainthood but that doesn’t sit well with all Catholics. Though John Paul II is still the face ofthe Roman Catholic Church, even six years after his death, he is also the face of the sex abuse scandal that has rocked the Catholic Church and cost them billions. So though beatification of John Paul II is set for tomorrow in Rome, and hundreds of thousands have gathered to watch in person (millions will on TV), this next-to-last step to sainthood is causing pain for thousands of others. Not everyone thinks he’s saint material. Victims of — and advocates for — thechurch sex abuse scandals handed out leaflets outside churches in dozens of cities protesting the beatification of John Paul II . These outspoken critics want the church to reconsider sainthood for a man they say shuffled priests off to other churches and turned a blind eye to accusations of abuse. They’re also urging Catholics to turn the accused abusers over to police. But for all his critics, there are thousands more who are more than enthusiastic about seeing their beloved Pope sainted. The thing is, John Paul’s sainthood is happening at a faster pace than usual. And once he is sainted, it can’t be undone. For those who were hurt by a church who, while not condoning these egregious and illegal acts, protected the men who perpetrated them, I can imagine tomorrow’s beatification ceremonieswould be a painful reminder. Even historians aren’t convinced. Catholics out there, what do you think of Pope John Paul II. Do you blame him for the church sex scandals? Now that so much has come to light, do you think your kids are safe in the church? Is John Paul II deserving of sainthood?

Carla Bruni and Nicolas Sarkozy 'having their first child'

Gossip - Carla Bruni and French president Nicolas Sarkozy are expecting their first child together, reports The Daily Mail.
The 43-year-old French singer is said to be in the early weeks of her pregnancy, meaning that the baby would arrive just before French elections next year where Sarkozy is hoping to secure a second term in office.
This would be Bruni's second child. She gave birth to son Aurelien in 2001, whose father is Parisian philosopher Raphael Enthoven. This child would be Sarkozy's fourth. He has two sons - Pierre, 26, and Jean, 24 - with his first wife Marie-Dominique Culioli. Sarkozy has a third son, 14-year-old Louis, with his second wife, Cecilia Ciganer-Albeniz. Bruni and Sarkozy were married in February 2008. Senior ministers have not confirmed the pregnancy, but simply referred to the matter as "personal".
Bruni is apparently hoping for another son. Channel24

Rumors - Is Kate Middleton Pregnant? Who Do You Believe?

No wonder people don’t envy Kate Middleton. First came reports that she’s become too thin ahead of her wedding day. Now, the tabloid press have revived rumours that she’s pregnant.
The cover of this week’s Star celebrity gossip magazine bears the headline “Pregnant Bride!” (It’s not the first time the magazine’s been onbaby alert.) According to iVillage.com , the story cites an unnamed palace source who says Ms. Middleton and Prince William will announce they’re expecting a baby soon after their honeymoon. Rival Us Weekly, however, reports that royal officials say the pregnancy rumours are completely untrue.
Thank goodness no one is yet pointing out phantom baby bumps – although the way her every move is scrutinized, it’s a safe bet that a pregnancy belly-watch will begin the minute she’s photographed in a bulky sweater or indulging in a jelly doughnut.

Carolina Panthers select Cam Newton with No. 1 pick in NFL draft

The Heisman Trophy winner and Auburn product who led the school to the national title last season became the first QB selected in the first round by Carolina since 1995. Newton was widely projected to be the first overall pick for the Panthers,who were 2-14 last season. CAPTION By Stephen Chernin, AP He joins a team with a new coach in Ron Rivera and new offensive coordinator in Rob Chudzinski . Newton called it the selection a"great responsibility." His selection marks the second straight year the Panthers have chosen a QB with their first pick. They chose Jimmy Clausen last year in the second round, when they did not have a first-round pick. "I'm blessed for this whole organization to put faith in me," Newton said. "I can't wait to get to my new hometown of Charlotte."
read more at http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2011/04/carolina-panthers-select-cam-newton-with-no-1-pick-in-nfl-draft/1

Royal Wedding Dress Designers Chelsy Davy and Camilla

Kate Middleton's managed to keep the name of her wedding dress designer shrouded in secrecy, but two other prominent guests have revealed what they'll wear to tomorrow's ceremony. (via The Windsor Knot)

Prince Harry's on-and-off girlfriend, Chelsy Davy, has picked Italian designer Alberta Ferretti for both the Westminster Abbey ceremony and dinner reception hosted by Prince Charles. In the morning, Davy will wear a foam green satin dress with a matching silk jacket. The strapless dress has criss-cross details across her dress and falls to her knees. In the evening, she'll switch into a one-shoulder, blue floor-length gown.

Read more: http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/04/28/revealed-chelsy-davy-and-camillas-royal-wedding-dress-designers/#ixzz1KtF56CbC

Lindsay Lohan `violating her probation` claims Deputy District Attorney

Lindsay Lohan in court
for the alleged
theft of a necklace, LA, CA

Troubled starlet Lindsay Lohan is 'violating the terms of her probation' claims the Deputy District Attorney overseeing her latest court case.

Deputy DA Danette Meyers is speaking out in an exclusive interview with RadarOnline.com just days after Lohan made a surprise appearance on Jay Leno's late night chat show.

The 24-year-old actress is set to go to trial over the alleged theft of a necklace. She told Leno, 'I'm in the clear now.'

Meyers didn't see The Tonight Show but told RadarOnline.com, 'I hope Ms. Lohan is taking this seriously.

'She keeps violating the terms of her probation. For her sake, I hope she has learned from this. Only time will tell.'

Meyers also is taking issue with the decision by the judge in the theft case to knock the charge down from a felony to a misdemeanor.

'I respectfully disagree with Judge Sautner's ruling,' Meyers added.

'Ms. Lohan was brazenly wearing the necklace three blocks away from the jewelry store several days after it was taken, and that is felony conduct, plain and simple. You don't forget to take a necklace off.'

Testimony at the preliminary hearing also revealed that Lindsay was at Kamofie & Company several days before the alleged necklace theft occurred, and she tried on a pair of earrings.

The store clerk testified that Lilo still had one earring on as she attempted to leave the store. The clerk asked Lindsay to remove the earring, and she did.
read more at http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/news/article_1635880.php/Lindsay-Lohan-violating-her-probation-claims-Deputy-District-Attorney

Prince William greets wellwishers hours before big event

LONDON—On the eve of W-Day, the boys came out to say hey.

Unexpectedly, with no warning, Princes William and Harry appeared here Thursday night, plunging into the crowd of royal wedding campers outside Clarence House.

Dressed casually in pullover and jeans, the groom shook hands and chatted amiably with fans who appeared intent on smothering him with affection and good cheer.

“A little bit nervous,’’ Williams admitted when asked, repeatedly, how he was holding up on the threshhold of husband-hood and a wedding spectacle that is expected to be watched by a record TV audience of 2 billion the world over.

“Are you going to be all right?’’ the 29-year-old prince asked solicitously, clearly concerned about these die-hard royalists preparing to spend a chilly night on the pavement to secure best-viewing spots.

Taking time out from his few remaining hours as a single man was a sweet gesture, William becoming ever more adept at, and comfortable with, the walkabout, bending over to greet youngsters as he strolled along the Mall, not seeming to mind in the least as shrieking women touched his person and men slapped congratulations on his shoulder.

read more at http://www.thestar.com/news/world/royalfamily/royalwedding/article/982415--dimanno-prince-william-greets-wellwishers-hours-before-big-event?bn=1

Sony data breach credit card fraud reports emerge

Ars Technica readers blame PlayStation network hack. Following the massive PlayStation network data breach involving the theft of millions of user's personal information, reports have emerged of credit card fraud which the victims blame on the Sony breach. While PC tech site Ars Technica was careful not to state that recent credit card fraud experienced by the site's readers could be confirmed as a result of the Sony breach, a large number of Ars readers reported credit card fraud they believed was related to the Sony data theft. "The number of Ars Technica readers who have had issues with their credit cards in the past few days, and have commented, e-mailed, or Tweeted about the issue, is alarming," wrote Ars Technica's Ben Kuchera. One such reader told the site that their American Express card had been falsely charged over the weekend. "This card sits in a drawer in my house for emergencies, but I did use it once on my PSP for an account," they said. Sony yesterday posted a Q&A update, saying "the entire credit card table was encrypted and we have no evidence that credit card data was taken" but added "we cannot rule out the possibility."

Playstation hack hits three million Brits

London - Millions of Britons may be issued with new credit cards over fears their banking details have been stolen by thieves hacking into the Sony PlayStation Network.
The personal information of 77 million people around the world is thought to have been compromised. Some three-million Britons - who use the Sony system to play computer games against people in the UK and other countries - have been caught up in the biggest criminal hack on record.
The theft of data includes names, addresses, dates of birth, email addresses and log-in details.
Credit card details may also have been taken. The bank industry body Financial Fraud Action UK has issued an alert to victims.
It said it was working with Sony to identify British consumers involved and set up alerts on their credit card accounts to check for unusual use or purchases.
A spokesman added that if accounts were hijacked by criminals, banks would set up new accounts and issue new cards.
He said:“The banking industry has robust processes in place to protect customers’accounts by monitoring for suspicious transactions.”
FFA UK said there was no need for customers to contact their bank or card company at this stage.
However, it added that customers should check statements and keep an eye on accounts for unusual activity.
There are concerns that many people use the same password for their Sony account as for other online activities, including banking. FFA UK warned:“We recommend that they should change these passwords as soon as possible.
“Similarly, customers may have had their email addresses and telephone numbers compromised, so they should be wary of responding to any unsolicited emails or phone calls.”
It said innocent victims of fraud will get their money back from their bank or card company. The Information Commissioner has launched an investigation, saying it takes such incidents“extremely seriously”.
The Sony hack is the latest in a number of web security breaches to hit consumers in recent weeks.
Millions of customers of Marks&Spencer, Play.com and TripAdvisor have had personal details stolen. Sony has shut down its PlayStation Network, apologised to customers and announced an independent security review. However, many customers complained that it took a full week to reveal the extent of the breach.
HOW TO STOP THE CRIMINALS Victims of hacking have been warned to watch out for spam emails,“spear phishing”attacks - targeted attempts to acquire confidential information - and unauthorised spending.
Spammers will send out emails which look like a genuine communication. Victims will be asked to fill in an online form.
Often spam will come with an attachment. Clicking on it will automatically download malicious software - malware - which is used to steal passwords.
The best advice when dealing with a suspect email is to delete it and never open attachments. - Daily Mail

PlayStation Breach good news: credit card info encrypted

One Aussie believes he has lost$2000 in the Sony PlayStation Network breach, his credit card apparently compromised.  Is he just the tip of a 75 million plus user iceberg?  Not according to recent information coming out of Sony. Real-Time Data Compression Spend Less to Store More Find out how - FREE Featured Whitepaper Sony had a security breach, losing personal data details of over 75 million users of the PlayStation Network, the online network used byPlayStation 3 owners for multiplayer gaming, movie downloads and more. Sony Computer Entertainment Australia responded to iTWire regarding the breach and some limited advice for those fearful of having been compromised.  But the question about credit card details and just what leaked information was ‘in the clear’ was left hanging. Over at Gamepron.com there is a report of Rory Spreckley, who allegeshis credit card, the same one he uses on the PlayStation Network, has had some dubious transactions applied since the breach. “I logged into my bank account just to check everything was OK and I found out there was some just over$2,000 in charges which I didn’t personally accrue.” Spreckley claims “There was a number of early transactions on the 23rd of amounts under $1, which they say is the usual kind of test run that fraudsters do and then there’s been a number of transactions of larger amounts, including domestic flights within Australia, bookings at Best Westerns [hotels] and what not.” Not exactly firm evidence, but worrying.  Over at the official PlayStation blog however, a recent post by Senior Director of Corporate Communications & Social Media at Sony, Patrick Seybold seemsto allay some fears. Seybold answers some of the burning questions including the simple query of just how credit card information was stored in the network.

5-murder fugitive dad had mistress

FATHER suspected of shooting dead his wife and their four children had a secret mistress
A DEVOUT dad suspected of shooting dead his wife and four children had asecret mistress, it emerged yesterday.
Fugitive Xavier Dupont de Ligonnes, 50, is thought to have given her £45,000 through a company set up to disguise the payments.
The unnamed woman, from Paris, has shown cops texts and correspondence from the churchgoing executive.
A source close to the murder hunt said: "She has left her home to stay with friends. She is now in fear of herlife."
Dupont de Ligonnes fled after his neighbours in Nantes, western France, told cops they had not seen his family for three weeks. Officers found a severed leg under the garden terrace last Thursday. Further digging revealed the bodies of his wife Agnes, 49, and children Tomas, 21, Arthur, 18, Anne, 16, and Benoit, 13.
Alongside them were the bodies of the family's two pet labradors.

5-murder fugitive dad had mistress

FATHER suspected of shooting dead his wife and their four children had a secret mistress
Hunt ... Xavier Dupont de Ligonnes A DEVOUT dad suspected of shooting dead his wife and four children had asecret mistress, it emerged yesterday.
Fugitive Xavier Dupont de Ligonnes, 50, is thought to have given her £45,000 through a company set up to disguise the payments.
The unnamed woman, from Paris, has shown cops texts and correspondence from the churchgoing executive.
A source close to the murder hunt said: "She has left her home to stay with friends. She is now in fear of herlife."
Dupont de Ligonnes fled after his neighbours in Nantes, western France, told cops they had not seen his family for three weeks. Officers found a severed leg under the garden terrace last Thursday. Further digging revealed the bodies of his wife Agnes, 49, and children Tomas, 21, Arthur, 18, Anne, 16, and Benoit, 13.
Alongside them were the bodies of the family's two pet labradors.

Sony: Stolen PlayStation credit data was encrypted

NEW YORK -- Sony is telling PlayStation users that it had encrypted the credit card data that hackers may have stolen, reducing the chances that thieves could have used the information.
Sony Corp. says that while it had no direct evidence the data were even taken, it cannot rule out the possibility. It did not say how strong the encryption was, and it's possible for hackers to decipher files that are weakly encrypted.
On Tuesday, Sony said account information, including names, birthdates, e-mail addresses and log-in information, was compromised for certain players using its PlayStation Network. In a blog post Wednesday, Sony said that data had not been encrypted and had been kept in a separate location from the credit card information.

Video of Real World Porn Star Dustin Zito Joins Cast Of “Real World: Back To Las Vegas”

Today in Maybe, Possibly, Supposedly True News: my fave LGBT news blog, Queerty, reports that gay porn star Dustin Zito is in the cast of “Real World: Back To Las Vegas,” which MTV is currently filming. Hunky Dustin, 24, is allegedly a Lamar University graduate from Rayne, Louisiana (unrelated: the frog capital of the world), and appears on “Fratmen TV,” a gay porn website under the name “Spencer.” Pffft, like any frat could have that many cute guys in it! According to the reality TV forum Vevmo, Bunim/Murray Productions, which films “The Real World,” knows about Zito’s porn-y past and supposedly told him “before the show airs, the site he’s on is supposed to delete most of the content with him.”

Zito has since hidden information on his Facebook profile, but Queerty screengrabbed it before it went away. It’s thoroughly uninteresting except for under list of interests, Zito put “gentlemen.” Zito also has some rather boring YouTube videos here. Other rumored “Real World: Back To Las Vegas” cast members include Heather Marter, 22, a broadcast journalism major and Delta Phi Epsilon sorority girl from New Jersey who was the Cute College Girl of the Day on College Humor three years ago and Michael Adam Royer, 22, a Maine native who served three years at a youth development center for his role in a shooting before he went to college and goes by “Adam.” (For what it’s worth, Vevmo was right about the identity of past “Real World D.C.” cast members, like Michael, Erica and Andrew.) Vevmo claims Zito and cast members are being housed at the 11th floor of the Casino Tower at the Hard Rock in a three-bedroom, three-bathroom penthouse with a six-person hot tub overlooking the Las Vegas strip. That would coincide with a press release on the site TV By The Numbers, which claims that the “seven strangers” will be at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in “the ultimate party loft.” In any case, if all this is true, it will be interesting to see how the other “Real World: Back To Las Vegas” cast members handle Dustin Zito/Spencer’s job. As you might recall from the last season in New Orleans, the youngsters that MTV casts for this show can sometimes be homophobic jerks. Good luck to you, Dustin Zito! If this is true.
Read More at http://www.thefrisky.com/post/246-real-world-back-to-las-vegas-cast-may-include-gay-porn-star-dustin-zito/

Iphone Location Tracking capability - update

Not unlike Steve Jobs’ quasi-admission today that he made amistake with the iPhone’s location tracking data, Berkshire Hathaway chairman Warren Buffett is finally conceding to what we all already knew – that what Dave Sokol did was wrong.
read more at http://www.mogulite.com/shocker-warren-buffett-admits-mistake/

Release of President Obama’s Long-Form Birth Certificate Was Stupid and Wrong

How stupid was it to release President Obama ’s long-form birth certificate ? Let me count the ways. As Dan Pfeiffer said , the Birther issue was “good politics and good TV,” but I strongly disagree thatit was “bad for the American people,” especially from Barack Obama’s point of view. His decision to cash in the Birther chips is an awful decision for them, unless he believes the country would be better off without him as president in 2013, . As a writer for a media criticismwebsite, the apparent death of the Birther story as a mainstream news meme is beyond tragic. Covering the media’s coverage of Donald Trump ’s Birther and Bailey Circus has been like shooting arthritic fish in a barrel with a shotgun. With any luck, Trump will stick around the Teevee, and the top of Republican primary polls, with a steady regurgitation of other chain emails, crazy talk, and just plain dickishness, but this definite’y puts a crimp in The Donald’s media mojo. The American people have been well-served by this Birther story, for precisely the reasons President Obama gave to end it.While it did give rise to an absurdly popular Donald Trump candidacy, it also revealed to Americans the unserious nature of an absurdly large number of Republicans. This issue promised to be a crucible against which GOP candidates (as they eventually declared) could be judged sane or not.
read more at http://www.mediaite.com/online/release-of-president-obamas-long-form-birth-certificate-was-stupid-and-wrong/

10 People Not On The Royal Guest List

Some big names were left off the Royal Wedding guest, including five famous people who might have expected an invite. MyFoxPhilly also have five names we'd like to see at the wedding, just so we could see them at the reception! First, with the serious business and the biggest snug of all: SarahFerguson The Duchess of York was deliberately not invited even though her daughters and Prince Andrew, with whom she is still friendly, were invited and are planning to attend. Fergie is reportedly on the outs with Queen Elizabeth after some recent antics. Also, why isn't Barack Obama at the wedding? Simple: because hewasn't asked. The Royal Family doesn't consider the wedding to be a state event, even though a lot of European royalty will be there. Also, former prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown weren't invited. When Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer were married in 1981, all five living prime ministers were invited. But now, with the Labor party out of power, Blair and Brown aren't wanted. And add singer Lily Allen to the B-list. Allen is upset over the slight after Joss Stone got an invite. “You can quote me as ‘outraged’, why does bloody Joss Stone get an invite and not moi? I sang at the Diana concert too!” Allen tweeted on Monday. On our list, the five people we'd like to see, at least at the reception are: 1. Charlie Sheen. The MaSheen is still on tour but he could lighten up the wedding reception. 2. Snooki. Nicole Polizzi already has a commitment to film"Jersey Shore" in Italy. But who knows if she'll drop in? 3. Donald Trump. He may take credit for matching up the Royal Couple or ask to see their marriage license. 4. Muammar Gaddafi. It looks like the Libyan dictator may be taking a long honeymoon in Venezuela. 5. Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn. The two stars of 'The Wedding Crashers" would hopefully show up after the ceremony, or else, the Beef Eaters may get involved.

Why No Wedding Invite for Obama?

No one else may have noticed, but conservative radio star RushLimbaugh did. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle didn’t get invited to the royal wedding in England this week, while "other dictators" did, he said, according to Politico . "There is a little bit of controversy here," Limbaugh said. "The queen has invited leaders of Bahrain, Swaziland and Saudi Arabia, all of whom preside over severe human rights abuses ... but for some odd reason, the Obamas still didn't make the list. This is a sign of how life is unfair." Limbaugh has one humorous explanation for the Obamas lackof an invitation. "Why do I think the Obamas weren't invited? We can only wild-guess this," he said. "It might have to do with fact that the queen didn't really appreciate all those speeches on the iPad [iPod] that he gave her."

Top Ten Reasons We Can't Get Enough Death Wish

Vigilante movies may have their roots as far back as The Searchers, but they came into their own in the seventies. And the vigilante flick has never been done any better than in Death Wish. Paul Kersey (Charles Bronson) was mad as hell and wouldn't take it anymore! The franchise exploded onto the screen and spawned countless imitators, but it never died until Bronson did. Trust us: you don't have to be a paranoid survivalist to love Death Wish. Here are ten less-apocalyptic reasons to love the movie.

10. Death Wish 4's Roller-Rink MassacreRight from the get-go, you know the fourth movie in the franchise is taking no prisoners. The flick hits eighties action heights with a massacre at a roller rink full of young people with crimped-to-death hair and acid-washed jeans, set to crappy synth pop. "Who are you?" asks some lowlife in a stocking mask. "Death," replies Bronson's craggy Kersey. How cool is that?

9. Familiar Faces in Bit PartsLove spotting actors in bit (or not so bit) roles? Death Wish is the series for you. The movies feature debuts and/or early appearances by Christopher Guest, Jeff Goldblum (more on him later), Olympia Dukakis (Death Wish), Laurence Fishburne (Death Wish II), Bill & Ted co-star Alex Winter (Death Wish 3), Breaking Bad's Danny Trejo, X-Files regular Mitch Pileggi (Death Wish 4), and Miguel Sandoval of Medium (Death Wish V). That's just plain fun.

8. The Body Count in Death Wish 3All five Death Wish flicks hit killing highs rarely matched, but it's the third movie that takes the gold: somewhere around 70 kills, but they occur at such a fast and furious pace that keeping track is difficult. Call it crass if you want, but you know that kind of mayhem is insanely entertaining. Action stars like Schwarzenegger, Stallone, and Norris wish they could kill this much.

7. The Imitators
Not that imitation is necessarily something to be encouraged, but it is the sincerest form of flattery, and Death Wish paved the way for dozens of urban-revenge movies, from 1977's sublimely sleazy Sudden Death to Jodie Foster's thoughtful (if not entirely successful) Brave One. And -- get ready to have your mind blown -- even Taxi Driver, considered an all-time classic, was released in Death Wish's wake.

6. Herbie Hancock's Death Wish Score A world-class slice of melancholy jazz-tinged funk that perfectly underscores the story's bleak, bloody imagery and also works as a stand-alone composition. Seriously: go to Amazon or eBay and see what fans are willing to pay for a copy. And Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page's bluesy score for Death Wish II (huge chunks of which were repurposed for Death Wish 3) is pretty good, too.

5. Urban-Decay NostalgiaDeath Wish was shot in New York at the height of the bad old days, when the city's coffers were empty and everything was covered in graffiti. Times Square was never more frighteningly seductive, and the subways made today's clean, efficient system look like an amusement-park ride. If you've got nostalgia for the old gritty New York City, Death Wish is a great place to get a glimpse of what it looked like way back when.

4. The Bad Guys
They're very, very bad -- so unrepentantly, grotesquely, and thoroughly bad to the bone that Mother Teresa would be hard put to find a nice word to say about any of them. Which is why we can cheer for Paul Kersey even though we know vigilantism is bad. Getting behind a murderer is pretty tough, but getting behind someone eliminating the worst of the worst of the worst? Well, that's fun.

3. Jeff Goldblum
And speaking of thoroughly rotten creeps, the skinny 21-year-old Goldblum made his movie debut as Death Wish's "Freak #1," the one who rapes Kersey's daughter. He has the movie's nastiest line -- "Goddamned rich cunt! I kill rich cunts!" -- and let's face it: you have to be the top (rabid) dog to command the loyalty of a bunch of lowlifes while wearing that Jughead hat. Goldblum is just disgusting -- and kind of mesmerizing.

2. The Girlfriends (and Other Friends) of Kersey
If you're tight with Kersey, you've got to go. In Death Wish, a bunch of hopped-up sociopaths kill Kersey's wife. In Death Wish II, his girlfriend, Geri (Jill Ireland, Bronson's real-life wife), actually survives, but Kersey's daughter is raped again and dies impaled on a fence while his nice housekeeper is raped and beaten to death. In Death Wish 3... Well, just believe us: knowing Paul Kersey is no fun.

1. Charles Bronson
Movies are full of so-called tough guys who look as though they'd rather be voguing in front of a mirror than kicking bad guys to the curb. Bronson isn't one of them: he started working in a coal mine when he was 16 and figured World War II military service was a better deal than staying home. Bronson was one of a kind. Nobody else could have been Paul Kersey; it would've been silly. But with Bronson in the part? It works. Cause he's that tough.

IPhone case freezes Steve Jobs in carbonite, a la Han Solo

Do you love Star Wars and Apple? And creepy things? If so, check out this strange iPhone case, which makes Steve Jobs look like he's trapped in your iPhone.
Well what do we have here? It seems that someone at Society6 has taken fandom for both Apple and Star Wars to extreme and twisted levels with a new iPhone case that features a rather creepy-looking Steve Jobs frozen in carbonite. The case is of course based off of the infamous Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back scene in which Han Solo is encased and rendered immobile in carbonite.
The dark grey silvery case features a disturbed-looking Jobs, complete with jeans, mock turtleneck, and glasses, struggling to get out from…your iPhone? We’re not really sure what the intended message is here, but we’re sure that some fans of both Star Wars and Apple will want to get their hands on one of these creepy cases. It would no doubt be an interesting conversation starter. The snap-on Steve Jobs in Carbonite case ($35) has a slim profile, is impact-resistant (luckily for frozen Steve Jobs), and is available to fit the iPhone 3G, 3Gs, or 4.

Asus eee Transformer Sold Out, But Who Bought Them?

The Motorola Xoom isn't xoom-ing off the shelves, but the Asus eee Pad Transformer tablet apparently sold out at Bestbuy.com on its first day of launch.

At $399, the lowest-priced of the Android tablets combines a dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 processor, Android 3.0 ("Honeycomb") operating system, 10.1-inch display, dual-facing cameras, and 16GB of storage. It uses the Corning Gorilla Glass technology to protect it from scrapes and drops, and supports up to 10-finger multitouch support against its 1,280-by-800 resolution. As its name implies, it transforms from a laptop to tablet.

Launched in U.S. stores on Tuesday, the tablet appears to be sold out at BestBuy.com, though it is unclear whether or not Asus simply didn't stock a reasonable amount. A Best Buy salesman said Asus didn't have enough tablets to stock its brick and mortar stores, and that Best Buy's online retail stores had already sold out. "But UPS may be on the way right now," the salesman said.

Last week Asus released a statement apologizing to UK customers for selling out of Transformer tablets so quickly. "Initial demand for the Eee Pad Transformer has been far beyond our expectations," the company said. "Following the on-sale date (6th April 2011) the first batches delivered to the UK have entirely sold out. Please accept our sincere apologies for the difficulties regarding stock availability with our retail partners."

Perhaps the Transformer is the iPad 2 competitor everyone's been waiting for; CES favorites like the Motorola Xoom and BlackBerry PlayBook have not found much favor yet with consumers. See how the hottest tablets compare in "iPad 2 vs. Xoom vs. PlayBook: How the Hottest Tablets Rate."

Also check out the Transformer slideshow below and our "Hands-on with the Asus eee Pad Transformer from CES 2011.

PlayStation Network Expected to Resume Service Tomorrow

Rumours about the current situation regarding the PlayStation Network outage are spreading like wildfire. This could well be due to Sony Computer Entertainment being very tight-lipped about the situation, unwilling to offer comment beyond that most necessary ‘we’re working on it’. However, a source close to the situation is much more optimistic. Read more at http://electronictheatre.co.uk/index.php/playstation3/playstation3-news/7890-playstation-network-expected-to-resume-service-tomorrow

A Verissimo il triangolo tra Andrea Cocco, Margherita e Szilvia

A pochi giorni dalla fine del Grande Fratello 11 i protagonisti di questa lunghissima edizione sono gli ospiti più richiesti delle trasmissioni Mediaset. Come vi abbiamo già annunciato, oggi 23 aprile a Verissmo ci saranno i concorrenti del GF dalla Toffanin . L'attenzione sarà maggiormente sul vincitore di questa edizione, Andrea Cocco che nella casa ha vissuto momenti di alti e bassi amorosi. Questa per Andrea sarà la prima intervista ufficiale dopo l'uscita e quindi sarà tanta l'attenzione per scoprire gli aspetti inediti delle sue storie d'amore: sia quella naufragata (forse) con l'ex fidanzata Szilvia che l'ha tradito durante la sua permanenza nella casa, sia quella nascente con la sua coinquilina Margherita Zanatta. La domanda che tutti si pongonoè: ma Andrea ha rivisto Szilvia dopo l'uscita dalla Casa del GF11?E poi: Andrea prova ancora qualcosa per la sua ex fidanzata? Dalle anticipazioni di Verissimo trapelate, sembra che Andrea sia molto deciso: “Szilvia mi ha squarciato il cuore. Non sono piùinnamorato di lei, perché ha mandato tutto in frantumi. Uno dei motivi per cui sono tornato avivere in Italia, era lei, con la quale avevo dei progetti di vita molto seri. Ora quel motivo è venuto meno”.
via http://tv.fanpage.it/a-verissimo-il-triangolo-tra-andrea-cocco-margherita-e-szilvia/

PS3 online error codes - 80710A06 – How Do I Fix?

Getting this error code? DON’T PANIC!!!!

It’s simply all the playstation servers are being updated and serviced to protect them furtherfrom attacks. The screenshot above is from the Playstation Official Blog. It reads:

We’re aware certain functions of PlayStation Network are down. We will report back here as soon as we can with more information.

Thank you for your patience. Give it an hour or two and try again. No need to reset your PS3. Just relax and try and play on the offline modes

Have a look at the Full Error Code List for other Errors. 

• 0710102 – DNS Error; No DSN server available.
• 8013030 – System Error due to failed update download
• 80010001 – Major Error , Game ability stopped
• 80010006 – An error occurred during the start operation (corrupted folding install)
• 80010007 – An error occurred during the start operation (during disc swap tests)
• 8001000B – it happens when trying to establish wireless connection
• 80010017 – Can’t start BlueRay Game
• 8001050B – Will not play demo hard drive games, (when blue-ray disc is inserted) – causeunknown
• 8001050D – An error during the start operation; Ps3 game swapped using the eject function and then play pressed quickly – ps3 game inserted again
• 8001050F – Hardware failure. Cannot update firmware or connect to internet.
• 80010510 – Will not play gamesinstalled on the hard drive
• 80010514 – Possibly reading blu-ray disc problem
• 80010516 – An error occurred during the start operation; Ps1 game swapped using the eject function and then play pressed quickly – ps1 game inserted again
• 80023101 – Unknown
• 80028E07 – which pops up when i try to update to 1.93 andsays that i have been disconnected from the server
• 80028EA5 – User cannot connect to PS3 network
• 80028EA6 – Connection error , Possible Proxy error power cord. Then shut off your modem/router, for about 5 minutes, then turn the modem back up first and let it sync, then turn the router back on(if using one) and let it sync. Reconnect your power cable andflip the back switch up again. Then make a new network connection.
• 80028EA8 – Seems to mean unable to authorize isp account details
• 80028F10 – Go to Display Settings then HDMI (or whatever your connection is) and choose Automatic,
• 80028F17 – Ps2 disc Boot Error ,An error occurred during the start operation; Ps2 game swapped using the eject function and then play pressed quickly – Backup ps2 game inserted again
• 80028F18 – Ps2 Disc Error, unsupported disc; eg. Utility discs, BB discs, IQ Remix game etc. ode).
• 80028F19 – PS2 Disc Error , fsck;the internal PS2 disk got corrupted and I guess that you can use HDD utility disc to fix it
• 80028F1A – Ps2 Disc Error , invalbnnetcfg; network config error
• 80029023 – Exchanging Key Information exchange has timed out
• 80029024 – “The attempt to obtain an IP address has timed out”.
• 80029301 – An error occurred during the delete operation (attempting to delete some ps2 homebrew from virtual mem card)
• 80029501 – connection
• 80029509 – When the PSN network is down for maintenance.
• 80029513 – This content cannotbe accessed on your account (80029513)
• 80029516 – Sign in to PLAYSTATION-Network (needed for some games or Ps3 processes – have to sign in to use them)
• 80029564 – Downloaded game will not install
• 80029751 – warhawk wont start but eveything else seems ok
• 80029945 – Can’t playback burnBD movie
• 80029946 – Attempting to play burnt Dual layer NTSC disc on a PAL ps3 ( workarounds is to transfer files to ps3 via TVersity)
• 80029C68 – Corrupt data usuallyon external device
• 8002A10B. It shows up when I try to view my friends trophies, profile etc.
• 8002A10D – Unable to Add friend in XMB
• 8002A4A6 – Cannot load game to play online
• 8002A515 – Error Signing in
• 8002A524 – connection
• 8002A548 – Unable to remain logged in – either to game or server
• 8002A705 – Unable to connect to server/host. Check router port configuration.
• 8002AD23 – Unknown
• 8002AD3D – Cannot Log into PSN – Is the PSN down? Try manually configuring your PS3 IP info. Try disabling medai server connection in the PS3.
• 8002B241 – DVI has no audio.
• 8002B71A – Possible NAT Error , Can log onto Game Server but can’t join game and can’t host game
• 8002F994 – Too many people downloading the update (download it later on)
• 8002F997 – Can not update XMBfirmware
• 80030001 – Deleting messages from inbox
• 8003041F – An error occurred during the copy operation (using media server)
• 80030517 – It seems to happen when you copy large media files.
• 8003051E – Game will not save
• 80030920 – An error occurred during the copy operation, the file may be corrupt or there isn’tenough memory (Try copying data from original source)
• 80031150 – “Setting information is corrupted.Press the x button to repair and restore default”
• 80031601 – Error Creating Account
• 8013013D – “A connection errorhas occurred” – May be to do with the SSID of the Router or signal strength if the connection drops Putting the PS3 into DMZ may help – otherwise check WPA key Ps3 can’t handle WPA2 only WPA or none
• 8013013D – connection
• 8013013E – WEP Key error, change WEP key to all numbers (on router homepage) and try agian, or which to WPA. – Otherwise disable security
• 80130203 – PS3 connects to internet but not to network – Typically means that the required ports are not open to connect to store but PS3 can connect to internet.
• 8013030F – Access Point not detected
• 8041040F – Communication with the server failed. A dsn error has occured.
• 80410418 – DNS Error
• 80410A0B – Internal PSP error, hardware fault. Send back to be replaced/fixed.
• 80710016 – Playstation Network is down.
• 80710092 – “An error has occurred. you’ve been signed out from the ps network” , “Media Server Error: A network error has occurred (80710092)”
• 80710101 – Connection error
• 80710102 – IP conflict , PS3 Cannot connect to the router with current IP information – Try rebooting your router
• 807101FF – An error occurred during communication with theserver. This is a DNS error – This is a DNS error
• 8071053D – Hard boot the PS3, turn off the PS3 to stand-by, flipoff the back switch and completely remove the power cord. Shut off your modem/router, for approx. 5 minutes, then turn the modem back up first and let it sync. Then turn the router back on (if you’re using one) and let it sync.Reconnect your power cable andflip the back switch up again. Then make a new network connection
• 80710541 – The connection to the server timed out.
• 80710723 – Possible Port Error – Try opening ports , TCP port: 80, 443, 5223 and UDP port: 3478, 3479, 3658. or add Ps3 toDMZ
• 80710A06 – An error occurred during the install operation (error when downloading game from PSN – network error occured
• 80710B23 – PS3 Network is Down or PS3 Network is too busy to respond
• 80710D23 – Turn the PS3 off forapprox. 30 minutes with the power toggle, not standby mode
• 81019002 – Error copying savesfrom location A to location B not open to connect to store butPS3 can connect to internet.

Pregame: D'Antoni jabs Rondo?

NEW YORK -- A quiet pregame here at Madison Square Garden, but Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni livened things up a bit by takinga subtle shot at Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo in advance of Sunday's Game 4 of an Eastern Conference quarterfinalsseries.
Asked about Rondo's triple-double performance the other night (and his stellar play overallin this series), D'Antoni seemed to question whether Boston's All-Star point guard would put up the numbers he does if he was playing without a Hall of Fame supporting cast. "He's a very good player," said D'Antoni. "I'd like to see him play in Minnesota and see how he does. Everybody's tied together and they have three Hall of Famers playing out there.
Rondo is a very good basketball player -- really good. But if you look at their team and you have to say, ‘What can we take away? What do we have to give them and play the odds?’ You have to give him his shot and you have to try to close up the middle on him and that’s kind of how we did it. We think that’s the best way to go. Nothing might work because they’re that good. He’s a very good basketball player, there’s no doubt about it."
Rondo is coming off a performance in which he produced his sixth career postseason triple-double, handing out a Celtics' playoff record 20 assists in Friday's Game 3 triumph.
read more at http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4683309/pregame-video-rivers-on-game-4

Johnny Cash Music Festival To Help Turn Johnny Cash Home Into Museum (A Top Story)

On Monday Johnny Cash Music Festival To Help Turn Johnny Cash Home Into Museum was a top story. Here is the recap: (Gibson) Johnny Cash's boyhood home will be saved for posterity.Arkansas State University has purchased the Dyess, Arkansas, ..

read more at http://www.antimusic.com/news/11/april/ts18Johnny_Cash_Music_Festival_To_Help_Turn_Johnny_Cash_Home_Into_Museum.shtml

Review: William and Kate – The Movie

Kate Middleton

With less than a week to go untilthe Royal Wedding, the media frenzy is hitting overdrive, and now, we have possibly the most cringeworthy addition yet: William and Kate – The Movie.

The film, which follows the couple from their very first meeting at St Andrews University, through the trials and tribulations of their relationship, was made by Lifestyle in the US, and aired today on Channel 5 on this side of the pond.
At 1hour 45minutes once the inevitable ad breaks which comewith made for tv movies are added in, the film feels long, and perhaps it would be more easily digested in an hour, as currently its cringe inducing style just feels like it outstays it’s welcome. The film also takes some serious liberties with the truth for the sake of keeping the narrative going. There are certain scenes which just don’t come across as even vaguely believable, and are pushing the bounds of even what is acceptable in cheesy rom-com territory.
One particularly funny sequence sees the future king serenade hisbeloved in a karaoke bar to show her that he is sorry. If this genuinely happened, I’ll eat my own hat (or one of the ones which the royal women will wear come Friday).
As the film reaches it’s finale – the proposal in Kenya – the CGI backdrop is just shocking to look at, and it makes you wonder why they even bothered to show it, as the penultimate scene could have closed the film just as well, without bringing it down any further into the mire.
That being said, while the film – which was made on a shoestringbudget – is almost unforgivably bad, it actually succeeds in beingso bad it verges on incredibly funny. Taking a script that’s so bad it feels like it was written over lunch, and a series of actors who I honestly don’t believe know the meaning of the word, the overall combination genuinely makes something far better thanthe sum of its parts.

Read More at http://platform-online.net/2011/04/review-william-and-kate-the-movie/

Easter Sunday Dessert Recipe: Pineapple Upside Down Cake With a Twist

Here's a great recipe (courtesy ofRachael Ray) for Pineapple Upside Down Cake that skips thewhite sugar and uses just brownas well as applesauce in lieu of extra butter. These steps help to retain the sweetness but cut some of the calories. Additionally, corn meal is thrown in for a nice crunch. As an added bonus, just one skillet is used in the entire cooking process. Less dishes to wash! (I can hear my ladies cheering as they read that line.) This recipe is also great as a snack or to add to a brunch menu. Ingredients: *.3 tbsp melted butter *.1/4 cup plus 3 tbsp brown sugar *.1/2 fresh pineapple (peeled, quartered, cored and cut into 1/4" slices) *.3/4 cup flour *.3/4 cup cornmeal *.1 1/2 tsp baking powder *.1/4 tsp salt *.2/3 cup applesauce *.2 eggs Instructions: *. Preheat oven to 350 degrees *. In an oven proof skillet heat 1tbsp butter and 3 tbsp brown sugar until melted. *.Add pineapple and cook until tender (approximately 7 minutes). *. Arrange the pineapple in the pan so almost all of the bottom of the pan is covered. *.In a bowl mix flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt and 1/4 cup brown sugar. *. In another bowl mix applesauce and 2 tbsp butter. *.Beat in eggs. *.Combine both bowls and stir until just mixed. *.Spread the batter over the pineapples in the skillet. *.Bake for 20 minutes. *.Cool slightly, loosen cake from the pan and place on a platter, pineapple side up. Via http://arcadia.patch.com/articles/easter-sunday-dessert-recipe-pineapple-upside-down-cake-with-a-twist

Apple Sues Samsung, But Wants to Stay Friends

Apple said it wants to maintain good relations with Samsung despite suing the South Korean electronics giant , underscoring the companies' mutual dependence on each other and raising questions about the nature of patent lawsuits. While Apple on Thursday filed a lawsuit alleging the South Korean electronics giant copied its iPhone and iPad designs, the Cupertino-based company says itwants to maintain a healthy relationship with Samsung. This makes sense since Samsung is Apple's chief manufacturer and Apple is Samsung's largest customer in some sectors. Apple's Chief Operating Officer, Tim Cook, said Samsung's mobile division "crossed the line" when it supposedly used Apple's designs for its Galaxy Tab , but he still expects the companies' "strong relationship will continue." Samsung, which coutersued Apple , said it will respond actively to protect its intellectualproperty, but can't go much further in bashing Apple since the computer company buys millions of its LCD panels and semiconductors. In fact Apple made up 4 percent of Samsung's 142 billion revenue in 2010; Samsung needs this money too since its profits dropped this winter. Apple is no stranger to lawsuits. HTC , Nokia , Microsoft and Motorola have all been in the company's legal cross-hairs. But of course if Apple alienated all these companies, some of which it supplies and works with, the company would be hurting, and it's clearly not, after nearly doubling quarterly profits . Patent-centered lawsuits, of course, have been escalating as companies sue one another over alleged infringement. Apple's aggressive suit of a major partner, however, may actually be a proxy war on Google's Android platform. The open source OS running on handsets from a bevy of manufacturers has gulped substantial marketshare from Apple's iOS and RIM's BlackBerry since it hit the mobile scene at the end of 2008.