Kyrgyzstan bubonic plague

Kyrgyzstan bubonic plague, Doctors in Kyrgyzstan have said a teenage boy has died of bubonic plague, but that an epidemic is not likely.

The death of the 15-year-old herder was confirmed on Monday, several days after his death in the Karakol regional hospital.

Health ministers said the boy, from the small mountain village Ichke-Zhergez in eastern Kyrgyzstan, died last Thursday after being diagnosed with bubonic plague, which is carried by rodents and caused millions of deaths throughout Europe in the 14th century.

"After a meeting of doctors, he was diagnosed with bubonic plague," a statement said.

His body was cremated and remains were buried with special precautions.

"We suspect that the patient was infected with the plague through the bite of a flea," Tolo Isakov, a ministry official who heads the sanitation department, said in Bishkek on Monday.

The oriental rat flea carries the bubonic plague after biting an infected rodent and may then pass the disease to a human.

Officials have dispatched two teams to the area to "catch, exterminate, and study rodents," Isakov said.

He said the last recorded case of bubonic plague occurred in Kyrgyzstan 30 years ago.

Dinara Saginbayeva, health minister, sought to dispel fears of an epidemic.

"There will not be a bubonic plague epidemic," she said.

"The form of the disease in the teenager is not conducive to a plague epidemic. So there are no grounds for closing the borders."

Officials have hospitalised and isolated 105 people who have had contact with the deceased, including doctors and medical staff that treated the boy, the minister said.

Doctors are also administering antibiotics in the area.

French fry burger' coming to Burger King

French fry burger' coming to Burger King, It's been a big day for fast food junkies. Just as we learned that McDonald's would be rolling out bone-in chicken wings next month, Burger King introduced a budget-friendly burger stuffed with french fries.

In its attempt to compete with McDonald's "Dollar Menu" campaign, Burger King's new "French fry burger" will cost only $1, according to FoodBeast.

Burger fans imagining beef patties piled high with French fries will be disappointed -- each serving comes with only four fries.

The new burger, which contains 360 calories and 19 grams of fat, will hit franchises September 1.

African serval cat shot dead in Detroit

African serval cat shot dead in Detroit, An exotic cat was shot dead in Detroit when a worried neighbor found it and thought it was dangerous An exotic-looking African serval cross cat was shot dead in a Detroit neighborhood after it escaped its owner's house and was confused for a wild animal.

The 2-feet 25-pound feline is a Savannah, a cross between an African Serval and a domestic cat that is reportedly known for its stripes and spots which reminisce of a wild feline. The cat's name was Chum.

Chum's body was found dead inside a trash can Monday evening after numerous neighbors called the Michigan Humane Society and Detroit Police to inform them that the feline was seen roaming, but both entities failed to look into the matter.

Laura Wilhelm-Bruzek, with Paws for the Cause Feral Cat Rescue, told WWJ Newsradio 950 that Chum ran away from its owner's home about a month ago through a screened window.

"We have been out there day and night, trying to set traps out to get this cat,” Wilhelm-Bruzek said, adding that she was told by reporters Saturday that the cat had died.

The feline was reportedly shot dead by a neighbor who thought its exotic look meant it was dangerous.

“It was simply ignorance. A Savannah cat is a cross between an African Serval and a domestic cat, and that is it," Wilhelm-Bruzek said. "They’re larger cats, they’re very beautiful, they have a lot of stripes and spots, which I think was more intimidating to people than even the size of the cat, because the cat wasn’t overly huge, about 25 pounds and maybe when it was sitting was probably two feet tall. But they’re very sweet animals, they’re kind of like the dog of the cat world.”

Wilhelm-Bruzek also dismissed rumors that the cat was ever a threat to the neighborhood.

“They’re totally legal pets. As long as they’re cared for and socialized properly from a young age, they’re wonderful animals. They’re legal exotic pets,” she said.

Norfolk based destroyers ready for Syria strike

Norfolk based destroyers ready for Syria strike, Four Virgina-based destroyers are currently stationed in the Mediterranean Sea and are ready to strike on Syrian ground.

Four Norfolk-based destroyers are currently sailing the Mediterranean Sea and ready to execute a missile strike on Syria if the United States calls for it.

The USS Gravely, the USS Mahan, the USS Barry and the USS Ramage are on station in the eastern Mediterranean, Navy spokeswoman Lt. Courtney Hillson said.

Defense officials have claimed that possible targets for the destroyers could include Syrian weapons arsenals, command and control centers, radar and communications facilities and other military headquarters.

On Monday U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry condemned Syria's use of chemical weapons claiming that it was a "moral obscenity" that could not go unanswered. He added that Syrian actions are not "the behavior of a government that has nothing to hide."

Also on Monday, Russian officials warned the U.S. against intervening in Syria and drew comparisons between the current response to Syria's alleged use of chemical weapons and the run-up to the Iraq war in 2003.

Russia's foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said last week that it was "no coincidence" that information regarding Syria's use of chemical weapons had come from "agenda-driven regional mass media."

"All this can only lead us to thik that we are dealing with a provocation planned in advance," Lukashevich added.

Syrian ambassador to Russia Riyad Haddad denied reports that the country had used chemicals weapons adding that the information was meant to confuse international observers.

"All reports on this topic are aimed at repeating the Iraqi scenario in Syria where there were allegedly weapons of mass destruction," Haddad said. "But there was an attempt to politicize this investigation by one of the superpowers supporting terrorists in our country."

The UK, however, has called the West to military action over reports of chemical weapons use in Syria.

After Prime Minister David Cameron requested to recall Parliament Thursday to vote on the UK's "response to chemical weapons attacks," a spokesman for Cameron explained that the country was working on a contingency plan.

"I am not going to get into details on any specifics," the spokesman said. "All I would say is it is reasonable to assume that our armed forces are making contingency plans."

Faulkner Shooting: Woman Shot By Husband, Warning Systems Failed

Faulkner Shooting: Woman Shot By Husband, Warning Systems Failed, A shooting at Faulkner University has left one woman in hospital, reportedly in a critical condition. The woman was shot by her husband in broad daylight, on the university campus. According to local police, the Faulkner shooting occurred near a maintenance building on the campus. Paramedics rushed the victim to hospital.

The University campus was on a high state of alert and students even received an emergency text message which read: “(Active Shooter on Campus) Emergency! Armed person on campus. Go to nearest room and lock door. If off campus, do not enter campus. Follow instructions from auth.” Unfortunately, since not all the students and teachers received the text message, the university is now looking into why the alert system failed. In this case, it seems that the gunman only intended to shoot his wife and not random people on the campus.

Nevertheless failures in systems like these could prove fatal in other situations.The shooter was arrested and will be tried for murder. An eyewitness, Saul Calderon-Zavala, said the man wearing black pants and a red shirt, simply approached the woman and shot her, “She tried running away and she was just shot more… And he got into his car and drove off.”

School officials spoke to reporters about the shooting saying: “In what appears to have been a domestic situation, a contract employee was injured in the shooting and has been taken to a local hospital for treatment. Her condition is not known at this time.” The statement urged people to pray for the full recovery of the victim: “The Montgomery Police Department is following up on the incident.

At no time were any students involved in the incident. Faulkner University asks everyone to be in prayer for the victim and offers its sincere gratitude to campus security and law enforcement officers for their rapid response.” Police have not yet named the victim in the Faulkner shooting or the accused shooter. A full investigation into the circumstances which led up to the Faulkner shooting is being carried out by police. It is not clear what steps, if any, will be taken to ensure that warning systems work properly in the future.

E-cigarettes still contain carcinogens, pose health risks, study says

E-cigarettes still contain carcinogens, pose health risks, study says, E-cigarettes, or electronic cigarettes that vaporize liquid nicotine, are marketed as a healthier alternative to the real thing because they don't contain tobacco. But a new report from France's National Consumer Institute has echoed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's previous concerns about so-called "vaping."

Using a new testing technique, Monday's report says that researchers found a "significant amount" of "carcinogenic molecules" in the vapor produced by 12 different models of e-cigarettes.

In three cases out of 10, for products with or without nicotine, the content of formaldehyde was as much as the levels found in some conventional cigarettes.
“This is not a reason to ban them, but to place them under better control,” National Consumer Institute editor Thomas Laurenceau said.

Concerns about the health effects of e-cigarettes have prompted a California town to consider a moratorium on new shops hoping to sell them.

"The city [of Seal Beach, Calif.] wants more time to explore the health affects and any time you have a smoke related business you want to take careful consideration and figure out how it impacts the community," Seal Beach Community Development Director, Jim Basham, told My Fox LA.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has reportedly been working on legislation that would place restrictions on e-cigarettes.

Critics of these bans say that e-cigarettes are still safer than real ones. Anti-vaping advocates are against any kind of smoking behavior, even if its not quite as bad for you.

"Many anti-smoking groups oppose these products because they are blinded by ideology," Michael Siegel, of Boston University’s School of Public Health, recently told the New York Times. "They find it difficult, if not impossible, to endorse a behavior that looks like smoking, even though it is literally saving people’s lives....What’s not to like?”

McDonald's introduces Mighty Wings in U.S. stores next month

McDonald's introduces Mighty Wings in U.S. stores next month, McDonald's will introduce bone-in chicken wings in stores across the U.S. next month following successful tests in the Chicago and Atlanta markets.

The "Mighty Wings" rollout will begin September 9, and the wings will be in every U.S. store by Sept. 24. The fast food chain plans to leave them on the menu through November.

The wings will be sold in three-, five- and 10-piece packs starting at $2.99. Flavored with cayenne and chili pepper, the Mighty Wings will come with a choice of creamy ranch, honey mustard and tangy barbecue sauce.

There are some fears a nationwide product rollout by McDonald's -- the world's largest restaurant chain -- will shorten wing supply and drive prices up.

Wholesale chicken wing prices are around $1.44 per pound this week according to the Georgia Dock benchmark, down 29 percent from a January high for the commodity.

At the end of July, there were 94.2 million pounds of wings in cold storage, nearly double the amount a year ago.

Still, analysts expect wholesale wing prices could rise to around $2.00 a pound after the Mighty Wings are introduced.

After 34 years, Lynette 'Squeaky' Fromme to be released

After 34 years, Lynette 'Squeaky' Fromme to be released,  The president she once pointed a gun at has been dead for nearly three years, and her longtime idol and leader, Charles Manson, remains in prison.

However, Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme is about to get her first taste of real freedom in more than three decades.

According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Fromme, now 60, is set to be released on parole August 16.

Fromme is housed at Federal Medical Center Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas.

For years, she was one of Manson's few remaining followers, as many other "Manson Family" members have shunned him. A prison spokeswoman would not say whether Fromme continues to correspond with Manson.

Fromme was convicted in 1975 of pointing a gun at then-President Gerald Ford in Sacramento, California. Secret Service agents prevented her from firing, but the gun was later found to have no bullet in the chamber, although it contained a clip of ammunition.

In a 1987 interview with CNN affiliate WCHS, Fromme, then housed in West Virginia, recalled the president "had his hands out and was waving ... and he looked like cardboard to me. But at the same time, I had ejected the bullet in my apartment and I used the gun as it was."

She said she knew Ford was in town and near her, "and I said, 'I gotta go and talk to him,' and then I thought, 'That's foolish. He's not going to stop and talk to you.' People have already shown you can lay blood in front of them and they're not, you know, they don't think anything of it. I said, 'Maybe I'll take the gun,' and I thought, 'I have to do this. This is the time.' "

She said it never occurred to her that she could wind up in prison. Asked whether she had any regrets, Fromme said, "No. No, I don't. I feel it was fate." However, she said she thought that her incarceration was "unnecessary" and that she couldn't see herself repeating her offense.

"My argument to the jury was, if she wanted to kill him, she would have shot him," John Virga, a Sacramento attorney appointed to defend Fromme, told CNN on Tuesday. "She'd been around guns. And let's be realistic: We know the Manson family, at least some of them, are killers."

Fromme was sentenced to life in prison, but parole was an option at the time, although the federal system later abolished it, said Felicia Ponce, spokeswoman for the Bureau of Prisons. Inmates do receive "good time" -- for every year and one day they serve, Ponce said, 54 days are lopped off their sentence.

Fromme became eligible for parole in 1985, Ponce said. According to reports, she for years waived her right to a parole hearing. The Bureau of Prisons would not say whether she changed her mind and requested a hearing, but the U.S. Parole Commission's Web site says that everyone who wishes to be considered for parole, except those committed under juvenile delinquency procedures, must complete a parole application.

Federal inmates serving life are generally paroled after 30 years, unless the parole commission decides to block the release, according to a commission spokesman. Inmates who are paroled remain under supervision until the commission decides to terminate the sentence.

Fromme was not granted parole until July 2008, Ponce said. She was not released then, however, because of extra time added to her sentence for a 1987 escape from the West Virginia prison, which occurred after her interview that same year. She was found two days later, only a few miles from the prison. At the time, prison officials said they were looking into rumors that Fromme escaped after hearing Manson was ill, according to news reports.

FMC-Carswell spokeswoman Maria Douglas would not comment on Fromme's behavior in prison in recent years.

Fromme reportedly joined Manson's family after meeting him in California in 1967. She was not involved in the murders of seven people, including pregnant actress Sharon Tate, on August 9 and 10, 1969, that landed Manson and other followers in prison. However, she and other Manson followers maintained a vigil outside the courthouse during his trial.

In the WCHS interview, Fromme said that Manson should not be incarcerated because "he didn't kill anybody. ... I would rather be in, because I know I laid a lot of my thinking in his mind."

Virga said he told the jury that Fromme assaulted Ford, but did not attempt to assassinate him. If Fromme had killed the president, no one would have listened to her, he said. "She didn't want people to think she was a kook."

And she wasn't, he said, recalling that Fromme was very cooperative during her trial and describing her as "a bright, intelligent young woman" from a middle-class family. "It's just hard to imagine how she got all caught up with Manson," he said.

Fromme wanted to be heard on issues including the environment, he said. "She had certain causes that she wanted to talk about. But first and foremost in her mind was always Manson."

Explaining herself after the attempt, according to the book "Real Life at the White House," Fromme said, "Well, you know, when people treat you like a child and pay no attention to the things you say, you have to do something."

During her trial, Virga traveled to Washington to depose Ford, who testified on videotape about the incident.

In the 1978 interview, Fromme called Manson "a once-in-a-lifetime soul. ... He's got more heart and spirit than anyone I've ever met." She said she still corresponded with him. "He's got everything he wants coming from me, 'cause he gave me everything."

She said then she didn't plan to seek a parole hearing: "The parole board does not hold my life in its hands. And I don't want to be too critical, but men tend to think they do. Charlie never thought he did. He never expressed all this desire for power, this desire for acceptance."

Ford died in 2006 at age 93. The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation did not respond to CNN requests for comment on Fromme's release.

Virga, who is still practicing in Sacramento, said he had not heard from Fromme since her sentencing in 1975. "I wish her the best, and hope everything works out for her, and hope she stays out of trouble," he said. "She needs to stay out of trouble. She's been in prison a long time ... it was, in my mind, a tragedy that she wound up a disciple of Manson.

Wolf attack victim says attack came 'all of a sudden'

Wolf attack victim says attack came 'all of a sudden, A wolf attack victim in northern Minnesota described what officials say is the first documented serious-injury wolf attack on a human in Minnesota.

A 16-year-old who fought off a rare apparent wolf attack in northern Minnesota says he won't be sleeping outside anytime soon.Noah Graham, of Solway, was camping on Lake Winnibigoshish with five friends last weekend. He told The Pioneer (http://bit.ly/16JUDo4 ) he was talking with his girlfriend just before the animal chomped the back of his head early Saturday.

Department of Natural Resources officials think it's the first documented serious-injury wolf attack on a human in Minnesota. As of Tuesday, the DNR was waiting for DNA test results to confirm whether a wolf trapped and killed in the same campground early Monday is the animal that attacked Graham, and for results on whether it had rabies.

"I had to reach behind me and jerk my head out of its mouth," Graham recalled. "After I got up, I was kicking at it and screaming at it and it wouldn't leave. But then after a while I got it to run away."

The wolf killed Monday had a jaw deformity that prevented its upper and lower teeth from lining up and likely had to scavenge because it wouldn't have been able to kill large prey, said Tom Provost, regional manager for the DNR's enforcement division in Grand Rapids.

Graham said the attack came without warning.

"There was no sound at all. Didn't hear it. It was just all of a sudden there," he said.

Graham's girlfriend fled to her Jeep, while two other members of the camping party slept through all the screaming, kicking and fighting, he said.

He said he called home after the attack and his father told him to call 911.

Jodi Arias' lawyers want a new sentencing venue

Jodi Arias' lawyers want a new sentencing venue, Jodi Arias' defense team has said that the “plethora of unrestrained and bombastic coverage of the previous proceedings" in the Phoenix region would make it impossible for their client to be judged by an impartial jury. They want Arias' sentencing trial moved to another venue.

“Ms. Arias’ research indicates that 70 percent of the media coverage that took place in Arizona, took place in Maricopa County,” her attorneys said in a motion filed with Maricopa County Superior Court on Tuesday.

In May, the 33-year-old was convicted of first-degree murder for killing her boyfriend, Travis Alexander, back in 2009. The jury was unable to come to unanimous agreement about whether Arias deserved the death penalty or life in prison.

Judge Sherry Stephens said Monday that she needed to review motions put forward by the defense and set a new hearing for September 16.

Kirk Nurmi and Jennifer Willmott, Arias' lawyers, say that their client has a right to a fair trial, and that daily courtroom broadcasts, social media scrutiny and even a made-for-TV movie could influence potential jury members.

Tim Tebow survives Patriots roster cut (for now)

Tim Tebow survives Patriots roster cut (for now), Tim Tebow has one game left to improve his chances of staying with the New England Patriots after surviving the mandatory roster cut to 75 players on Tuesday.

Tebow is expected to see considerable playing time Thursday night against the New York Giants in the Patriots' final exhibition game. He played poorly in the first two games and did not play in the third.

The third-string quarterback faces another hurdle when all NFL teams must reduce their rosters on Saturday to the regular-season limit of 53. The Patriots can still juggle their roster between then and their opener on Sept. 8 against the Bills in Buffalo.

The Patriots released tight end Evan Landi and defensive lineman Anthony Rashad White, both rookies, on Tuesday. The moves came one day after they cut the roster from 84 to 77 players.

Team owner Robert Kraft and coach Bill Belichick praised Tebow on Tuesday but gave no indication of whether he would make the team.

"He's great to work with, outstanding," Belichick said.Kraft said it's Belichick's job to make the cuts.

"We want to make sure we have the 53 best people to help us win games during this year," Kraft said. "I'm rooting for (Tebow) and I'm in his corner, but I have the privilege of letting Bill make those decisions. He's got a pretty good record doing it."

In two games since being signed as a free agent on June 11, Tebow has completed 5 of 19 passes for 54 yards and one interception. But Belichick said players' work in practice also is a big part of the judgment of whether to keep them.

Still, Thursday's game can be the difference between a player making the 53-man roster or being cut.

"Practice and games are a lot different," defensive end Rob Ninkovich said. "Can go out there and make some big plays in a live situation that's not in a controlled environment like practice (and) you're going against another team? You don't know what they're going to do and it's just you out there either doing it or not doing it. So you've got to make sure that you're out there doing it."

Tebow said on Monday that he's not spending time worrying about the upcoming cuts.

"I can control my attitude, my focus every single day," he said. "Those are the things that I'm going to worry about."

Yosemite Fire Update: More Than 100 Buildings Destroyed, Thousands More Threatened

Yosemite Fire Update: More Than 100 Buildings Destroyed, Thousands More Threatened, The vicious wildfire burning in Yosemite has ravaged 282 square miles by Tuesday, becoming the largest fire in the Sierra's recorded history.

Containment increased to 20 percent but the number of destroyed structures rose to 101 and some 4,500 structures remained threatened. The types of lost buildings were not specified. Firefighters were making stands at Tuolumne City and other mountain communities.

Although any rainfall would be helpful if storms do develop, the shifting winds associated with the storms could make firefighting conditions more difficult,"  said weather.com meteorologist Chris Dolce. "The increased moisture will also keep humidity levels higher."

The blaze was just 40 acres when it was discovered near a road in Stanislaus National Forest on Aug. 17, but firefighters had no chance of stopping it in the early days.

Fueled by thick forest floor vegetation in steep river canyons, it exploded to 10,000 acres 36 hours later, then to 54,000 acres and 105,620 acres within the next two days. On its 11th day it had surpassed 179,400 acres, becoming the seventh-largest California wildfire in records dating to 1932.

Unnaturally long intervals between wildfires and years of drought primed the Sierra Nevada for the explosive conflagration chewing up the rugged landscape on the edge of Yosemite National Park, forestry experts say.

Federal forest ecologists say that historic policies of fire suppression to protect Sierra timber interests left a century's worth of fuel in the fire's path.

"That's called making the woodpile bigger," said Hugh Stafford, an ecologist with the U.S. Forest Service in California.

Two years of drought and a constant slow warming across the Sierra Nevada also worked to turn the Rim Fire into an inferno. For years forest ecologists have warned that Western wildfires will only get worse.

"Every year the summer temperatures are a little warmer, hence the conditions for burning are a little more auspicious," said Stafford. "People can deny it all they want but it's happening. Every year the fuels are a little bit drier."

The Rim Fire's exponential growth slowed only after hitting areas that had burned in the past two decades, and Stafford says that shows the utility of prescribed and natural burns that clear brush and allow wildfires to move rapidly without killing trees.

"If you look at the Sierra Nevada as a whole, by far the largest portion hasn't seen a fire since the 1910s and 1920s, which is very unnatural," said Stafford, who has authored several papers on the increasing wildlife severity across California's mountain ranges. "This one isn't stopping for a while."

Since a 1988 fire impacted nearly one third of Yellowstone National Park, forestry officials have begun rethinking suppression policies. Yosemite has adopted an aggressive plan of prescribed burns while allowing backcountry fires caused by lightning strikes to burn unimpeded as long as they don't threaten park facilities.

"Yosemite is one of the biggest experimental landscapes for prescribed fire and it's going to pay off," Stafford said. "The Rim Fire is starting to hit all those old fire scars."

The 350-mile-long Sierra Nevada is a unique mountain system in the U.S. with its Mediterranean climate, which means four-to-six months of drought every summer. California's mountain flora is designed to burn and even flourish and regenerate healthier after a fast-moving fire.

Instead the Rim Fire is killing everything in its path. The understory ignites trees, and wind is sweeping the fire from treetop-to-treetop in 300-foot walls of flame.

Scientists also expect the impact on wildlife to be severe. The fire has encompassed nearly the entire migratory range of deer in the region, and the burning treetops likely displaced many of the remaining 300 members of a subset of Great Gray Owl along the Yosemite border, said Daniel Applebee of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

"Because their population is so small, any loss is significant," Applebee said.

The fire also cut through habitat of the Pacific fisher, a weasel-like animal that is listed for state and federal protections. The fire has fragmented its range, likely leaving it nowhere to expand, Applebee said.

The Rim Fire is the first of any ecological significance in about a decade in the area stretching from the Sequoia National Forest south of Yosemite to north of Lake Tahoe, said Chad Hanson, a forest ecologist and former University of California, Davis, researcher who has published a number of papers on the significance and increasing rarity of post-fire habitat in the Sierra Nevada.

Eventually the forest will come back.

"Because we are in such tremendous deficit of this post-fire habitat type, especially in this area, the Rim Fire is a good thing ecologically," Hanson said. "This is not destruction, this is ecological restoration."

The fire approached the main reservoir serving San Francisco, but fears that the inferno could disrupt water or hydroelectric power to the city diminished. On Tuesday the fire moved into the watershed, which increases the chances of sediment runoff this winter.

Yosemite crews continue to keep water on two groves of giant sequoias less than 10 miles from the fire's front lines.

Paula Patton and Robin Thicke's Mother React to Miley Cyrus' MTV VMA Performance

Paula Patton and Robin Thicke's Mother React to Miley Cyrus' MTV VMA Performance, Just about everyone in Hollywood has weighed in on Miley Cyrus' scandalous performance at the 2013 MTV VMAs, but now it's time for Robin Thicke's side to come forward.

His mother, Gloria Loring, opened up to OMG! Insider about what she thought of the scantily clad, ultra-suggestive number. And she's not exactly painting herself a fan of the former Disney starlet.

"I don't understand what Miley Cyrus is trying to do," she said. "I just keep thinking of her mother and father watching this."

It seems that, like many other viewers who tuned in to see the "We Can't Stop" performance, Thicke's mother was startled by all the grinding and apparent lack of boundaries.

Loring added, "I was not expecting her to be putting her butt that close to my son. The problem is, now I can never unsee it."

But despite the review, Thicke's mother did seem concerned for the young star, saying, "I think she's misbegotten in this attempt of hers. And I think it was not beneficial. I didn't get what her point was."
"It was so over the top as to almost be a parody of itself," she said.

And while Loring clearly wasn't a fan of Cyrus' live rendition of her hit song, it appears that Thicke's wife, Paula Patton, wasn't nearly as bothered by the whole thing.

Circus over: 'Kickalicious' Havard Rugland cut by Detroit Lions

Circus over: 'Kickalicious' Havard Rugland cut by Detroit Lions,  The Kickalicious era has come to an end before it ever really began.

The Detroit Lions cut Norwegian placekicker Havard Rugland on Tuesday morning. They must trim their roster to 75 players by 4 p.m.

Cornerback DeQuan Menzie also was released, leaving Detroit with three more cuts to make before the deadline.

Rugland was a camp sensation for the Lions, after rising from YouTube sensation to NFL player. He filmed a trick-kick video in Norway last year, then was signed by Detroit this offseason.

His fame grew after the preseason opener, when he knocked through both field-goal attempts, each from at least 49 yards. Even his veteran teammates were captured by the moment.

National publications such as GQ visited Allen Park to interview the YouTube star, and the Norwegian press was a regular sight at both the practice facilities and even on the road in Cleveland.

But for as good as his story felt, Rugland always faced long odds of making the team with longtime veteran and former Pro Bowler David Akers battling for the same roster spot.

Akers has made 7-of-8 field goals in preseason games, with his lone miss veering wide right from 31 yards in last week's win against the New England Patriots, and even made a 63-yarder in practice.

Akers' workload increased in the past week, and he attempted all five field goals against the Patriots. Rugland, meantime, has struggled this week in practice, pushing at least three field goals to the left.

The writing was on the wall for Rugland to be cut. Even coach Jim Schwartz wasn't high on Rugland's chances when asked about him last week.

"I don't know," he said. "We'll see if the situation comes up. We're not out here having a county fair, circus or paying a dollar and having a shot at doing something. If it comes up within the scheme of practice or games and he's called upon, I'm sure he'll go out and give it his best."

PM Update: Storms could dampen March on Washington anniversary; Phoenix haboob

PM Update: Storms could dampen March on Washington anniversary; Phoenix haboob, The mercury reached 94 at Reagan National Airport today, the hottest reading since July 19. We have a small chance of showers and storms this evening, but a considerably better opportunity Wednesday as a disturbance ripples through the region. It remains very warm and humid.

Through Tonight: There’s a 20 percent chance of evening showers and storms, but most activity – thus far -has fallen apart over the region.  After sunset, it’s partly cloudy and muggy, with lows in the upper 60s in the cooler suburbs to the mid-70s downtown.  Light winds.

Tomorrow (Wednesday): Showers and thunderstorms are likely in the afternoon and/or evening (60 percent) with a lesser chance in the morning (30 percent chance).  A few storms could be strong and create challenges for the festivities on the Mall to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington.  Right now, the exact timing of any storms is uncertain, so stay tuned for updates Wednesday.

Related: How to navigate Wednesday’s March on Washington anniversary events
Despite the opportunity for storms, it’s dry more often than not with partial sunshine.  Highs are near 90 with high humidity – it will feel like the low-to-mid 90s.  Drink plenty of water if spending hours outside.  Winds are light and mainly from the west.

Pollen: Tree and grass counts are LOW, weeds are LOW-MODERATE, and mold spores are MODERATE-HIGH.

Phoenix dust storm, or haboob: A large dust storm swept through the Phoenix area yesterday, accompanied by a towering wall of dust and gusty winds. Great images of the storm are available at these two Web sites: Spectacular Photos of Haboob in Phoenix Yesterday Evening (The Original Weather Blog) and Haboob Rolls Into Phoenix (Weather Underground).

How do these storms form? See this post from 2011 when a similar haboob system rolled through: Inside the Phoenix, Arizona dust storm, or “haboob”

Yaylor swift and jennifer lopez

Yaylor swift and jennifer lopez, Taylor Swift is keeping a steady supply of surprise guests coming to team up onstage for her Red Tour. The night after Ellie Goulding joined the singer for a duet of "Anything Could Happen" at Los Angeles' Staples Center, Swift brought out none other than Jennifer Lopez to help her sing "Jenny From the Block" at the same venue.

"When I was a little girl, you know you have your favorite song that you just would play over and over and over again and just blast it in your room, and you’d sing in front of your mirror into a hair brush?"

 Swift asked the crowd, just before the 2002 hit's intro started pounding and J. Lo rose from a glittering platform behind the stage. "Los Angeles, this is my hair brush song."

Sheriff missing arizona teen found

Sheriff missing arizona teen found, The father of an Arizona teenager whose body was found Monday evening near his abandoned SUV in the woods of southern Oregon said his son was “a young man who had a broken heart.”

The body of Johnathan Croom, 18, was found about 1,000 feet from where his vehicle was found abandoned last week, Douglas County sheriff’s spokesman Dwes Hutson said in a statement.

Hutson said the Apache Junction, Ariz., youth’s death was being investigated as a suicide but he provided no additional information. He didn’t return a call for comment.

In a telephone interview from Oregon, David Croom said his son was grieving the end of a recent relationship with “someone back in Phoenix.”

“He was a young man who had a broken heart and headed out to try to find himself,” the elder Croom said. “We’re looking forward to finding out exactly what happened.”

He thanked everyone who helped search for his son and added, “Please pray for our family.”

The father said he had no specifics on a cause of death.

The teen had talked with his parents about the book “Into the Wild” and told a friend he wanted to run away.

Croom’s SUV was found Wednesday in Riddle, a town of 1,200 people just off the state’s main north-south thoroughfare, Interstate 5.

His mother, Monica Croom, had said he was traveling alone and on his way back from Seattle, where he visited a friend. The teen was due in Arizona on Aug. 17 to start college in Mesa.

Hutson said earlier that text messages between Croom and a friend indicated Croom wanted to run away.

Hutson said Croom also talked to his parents about Christopher McCandless, whose journey to Alaska was documented in the book “Into the Wild.” McCandless gave up his worldly goods to live in the Alaska wilderness, only to die there, perhaps from eating wild potatoes.

“I think we have kind of a combination there,” Hutson said earlier Monday. “He talked with his parents about ‘Into the Wild,’ and in text messages we’ve looked at, he does specifically talk about running away, kind of just running away from his life.”

Earlier this year, a 19-year-old from Oklahoma disappeared after talking to his parents about the same book and setting out to test himself against the Oregon wilderness.

Dustin Self’s truck was found in April on Steens Mountain in southeast Oregon. The last search for Self was in the spring, after snow melted, but it yielded no hints to his location.

Teresa and joe giudice

Teresa and joe giudice, Teresa Giudice and her husband Joe Giudice appeared to be embroiled in an argument with police over the weekend. According to TMZ, the couple had to face the cops after refusing to pay an entrance fee of $5 per person when hanging out on Ship Bottom Beach on Long Island.

"The Real Housewives of New Jersey" star was initially approached by a female teen beach worker. She allegedly asked for their "beach badges," which were basically proof that they had paid the tickets, but the group which consisted of 30 friends and family members flipped out.

The beach girl started crying when one member in the Giudice entourage yelled, "F*** you, f*** this we are not paying for the f***ing beach. This is a joke!" The family reportedly insisted on not paying any money but eventually gave in when the cops stepped in.

The Bravo stars are currently in bigger trouble with the law. They were indicted on 39 counts of "conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, bank fraud, making false statements on loan applications and bankruptcy fraud."

They were accused of exaggerating their income when applying for loans prior to their 2009 debut on the Bravo show, and then hiding their assets when filing for bankruptcy a year later.

Joe, whose first name is Giuseppe, was also charged for failing to file tax returns from 2004 through 2008. He and his wife are facing years in jail and millions of dollars in fines if convicted. An Italian citizen, he is additionally in jeopardy of being deported.

They are currently free on a $500,000 bond each. They have pleaded not guilty to all charges. A trial is set for October 8 by U.S. District Judge Esther Salas.

Teresa's sister-in-law Melissa Gorga who is also a "Real Housewives" star recently weighed in on Teresa's major legal woes when attending the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards. "We're always here for Teresa," she said. "She's very strong and has a lot of strength and at the end of the day, it's about those four babies and we're here for them no matter what. She knows that we're here for her."

Melissa herself was no stranger to financial trouble. Last year, she and her husband, Teresa's brother Joe Gorga, were reported owing $2.25 million in mortgage. They took out the loan in 2007 to refinance their house.

While Teresa filed for bankruptcy, Melissa opted to sell her properties to solve her problem. They put the house which they took out the mortgage loan for on the market, and sold their Montville Township mansion.

Jesse and Kelly Cottle: Wife carries legless Marine on her back in viral photo (VIDEO)

Jesse and Kelly Cottle: Wife carries legless Marine on her back in viral photo (VIDEO)

Jesse and Kelly Cottle: Wife carries legless Marine on her back in viral photo (VIDEO).  Jesse Cottle, a 28-year-old former Marine from San Diego, Calif., says he doesn't regret the stepping on the IED that lost him both of his legs in 2009.

“If I hadn’t stepped on that IED I wouldn’t have met her,” Jesse said of his wife, Kelly, whom he met while learning to use his prosthetic legs. “I wouldn’t take it back ever.”

The two met at a swim meet in San Diego, when she was a swimmer for Boise State and he was still getting used to the prosthetics.

"I just remember being very intrigued by him," Kelly said of their first meeting. "He was just very different and not just because of his legs, just who he was."

When a photo of the happy couple -- with Kelly carrying Jesse on her back -- hit the Facebook page of photographer Sarah Ledford, it immediately went viral, racking up tens of thousands of likes.

“The photo really says it all,” Jesse told ABC. “I actually look at it very much as a symbol for our whole relationship in general. She’s physically carrying me, but there’s times where she’s carrying me emotionally. It’s a perfect representation of who Kelly is.”

The Cottles told KTVB that they had no idea the picture would strike such a chord for so many.

"It's cool because we represent a lot of people, couples that are going through the same thing and so it's just an honor to be able to represent that," Kelly said.

Lynda Carter spins into 'Two and a Half Men' -- EXCLUSIVE

Lynda Carter spins into 'Two and a Half Men' -- EXCLUSIVE, NBC and The CW weren’t able to get their Wonder Woman projects off the ground, but CBS’ Two and a Half Men is bringing the original warrior princess back to primetime. The hit comedy has booked actress Lynda Carter to play “a version of herself” in the upcoming 11th season.

The set-up: Alan (Jon Cryer) has a massive Carter crush going back to her days as an actress on the original Wonder Woman series (1975-79).

He gets to meet her in person and, well, you’ll have to tune in to see what happens next. Men is getting an overhaul this fall as Amber Tamblyn joins the show as Charlie’s lesbian daughter, who moves in with Alan and Walden (Ashton Kutcher). The show returns Sept. 26 at 9:30 p.m.

Editorial: Profiting from Johnny Manziel

Editorial: Profiting from Johnny Manziel, If you're a fan of Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel — or just see him as a good investment opportunity — you can find everything you need on eBay. It offers hundreds of items signed by the first freshman ever to win the Heisman Trophy: photos, jerseys, helmets, footballs.

As a rule, they aren't cheap. The asking price on one of the cheaper items, a photo, is $67; for a helmet co-signed by the Aggies' only other Heisman winner, you may pay nearly $3,000. What the owners of the souvenirs have in common is that they are free to make money off them. But Johnny Football is not.

He's under investigation by the National Collegiate Athletic Association following reports that he accepted $7,500 to sign some 300 helmets in January. That sounds like a lot of money until you consider that Texas A&M reaped some $37 million in free publicity from him last season, which enabled the school to undertake a lavish $450 million stadium renovation. I The 11-2 record Manziel helped the Aggies achieve also earned his coach a raise, from $2 million a year to $3.1 million.

The NCAA has strict rules to prevent students from reaping any financial rewards for their athletic exploits. They can get free tuition, room and board, but that's about it. Some universities have proposed granting a stipend of $2,000 a year to cover living expenses, to no avail.

If Manziel is found guilty of accepting payment, he could be suspended for multiple games — or the entire season. In 2011, five Ohio State football players, including quarterback Terrelle Pryor, were barred from five games for remunerative activities involving far less money.

These policies date back to an era when college sports were a student activity, not an enormous business powered by wall-to-wall TV exposure. The rules made a lot more sense then.

Regardless of what the NCAA finds, the controversy exposes the gross disparities between the riches the top players generate for others and the returns they get. True, they receive a free college education, but they are required to spend so much time on their sports that they can't give nearly as much energy to their studies as they should, and many of them never graduate. Players from poor backgrounds may literally go hungry for lack of funds.

Manziel is not one of those. And he clearly benefits from his association with a major college football program that affords him the chance to showcase his talents for NFL teams that may employ him in the future. But there is still something cockeyed about a system that punishes him for making money off of honest work that will inevitably generate income for someone.

A nonfan might wonder: If all Manziel wants to do is play football and make money, why doesn't he just forgo the college game and head straight for pro ball? There's a good reason: Under an NFL rule that confers a great benefit on the NCAA, he's not eligible to play for an NFL team until three years after leaving high school, which means he's stuck until 2014.

Many of the NCAA's critics would prefer that big-time programs dispense with the pretense that these kids are students first and simply pay them to suit up for Gridiron U. Or these educational institutions could stop fielding varsity teams entirely, focusing on academics instead.

But the NCAA can improve things without taking such radical steps. It could allow star players to accept fees for autographs, endorsements or appearances, with the money going into trust funds to be tapped after they've used up their eligibility. The athletes could even be required to share the proceeds with their schools or their conferences.

Maybe this episode will finally force the NCAA and its member schools to give athletes a share of all the money they generate. In that case, Johnny Football may earn a new nickname: Johnny Paycheck.

George Zimmerman goes gun shopping

George Zimmerman goes gun shopping, George Zimmerman, the killer of Trayvon Martin who was found not guilty of second-degree murder last month, just can’t stop doing things that thrust him back into the spotlight. There was the “look, I’m a hero” rescue of a family in an overturned vehicle. Then there was the “You didn’t see my name?” speeding ticket in Texas. But Zimmerman’s latest attention-getter defies comprehension.

Zimmerman used a Kel-Tech 9-mm pistol to shoot Martin on Feb. 26, 2012, in Sanford, Fla. So, what did the former neighborhood watch volunteer do this weekend? According to TMZ, he went to the gun manufacturer’s Cocoa, Fla., headquarters to apparently shop for a rifle. Not only that, Zimmerman got a tour of the facility by the owner’s son and posed for at least one smiley-faced picture with an employee.

The visit set off widespread head-scratching and curse-filled questioning. But the reaction from Shawn Vincent, the spokesman of the attorney who kept him from rotting behind bars, was the best.

We certainly would not have advised him to go to the factory that made the gun that he used to shoot Trayvon Martin through the heart. That was not part of our public relations plan….

From that perspective, we are George’s legal representation, but I don’t think he takes our advice on how he lives his life or what factories he decides to tour. We represented him in court. We got the verdict that we believe is just, and the rest of George’s life is up to George.

Matt Lauer, Mika Brzezinski Spar Over Miley Cyrus

Matt Lauer, Mika Brzezinski Spar Over Miley Cyrus, "Morning Joe" co-host Mika Brzezinski took her disgust over Miley Cyrus's MTV Video Music Awards performance to the "Today Show" Tuesday, where she insisted that "somebody needs to be fired" at MTV over the performance.

There's pushing the envelope and there's raunchy porn that's disgusting and disturbing, and seeing a 20-year-old you woman in the process of her undoing," Brzezinski said, later adding. "I don't want to see it. Don't show it here on my segment here with you guys. Please don't show it."

Brzezinski had already aired her displeasure with the performance on her own show Monday, suggesting that Cyrus had an eating disorder (Brzezinski recently authored a book about her own weight struggles), and Tuesday devoting another segment to her concerns. On the "Today Show" however she got some pushback from co-host Matt Lauer.

"The only thing that surprises me is that we're surprised. She is a paid performer trying to bridge the gap between adolescent star and adult star," He said, "She's on the most provocative award show of the year, but the fact that we're in the media surprised by it is ridiculous."

While outrage over the sexual nature of Cyrus's performance has been far and away the most common concern in the media, others have raised issue with its racial undertones. Some have also turned their frustration on the media itself, pointing out that Robin Thicke – who dueted his controversial hit "Blurred Lines" with Cyrus at the VMAs – has more or less escaped scrutiny for his involvement, despite being much older, married and a father.

Meanwhile, Cyrus has seen a boost in her sales and social media presence since the VMAs. The performance broke the Twitter record for most tweets per minute and pre-sales for her upcoming album "Bangerz" are shooting up the charts.

Aaron hernandez update

Aaron hernandez update, The New England Patriots released Aaron Hernandez after he was arrested. However, Hernandez may have been on shaky ground with the team even before that. An upcoming article in Rolling Stone magazine alleges Hernandez was one mistake away from being released.

According to the article, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick had become frustrated with Hernandez for missed practices and "thug-life stunts." So frustrated, in fact, Hernandez was "one misstep from being cut" by the team. New England signed Hernandez to a seven-year, $39.582 million extension during the 2012 offseason. If the claim is true, and New England was considering, or close to, releasing Hernandez, there would be a question of why New England signed him to the extension rather than letting him play out the final two years of his rookie contract.

The upcoming article, written by Rolling Stone contributing editor Paul Solotaroff, comes after Solotaroff interviewed several family friends, high school teammates and NFL sources. The article alleges Hernandez was a "heavy user of angel dust" (also known as PCP) and carried a gun on him wherever he went.

Hernandez allegedly cut off relationships with family and teammates and instead surrounded himself with a "cohort of gangsters." The article also alleges Hernandez's former college coach, and current Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, may have helped cover up failed drug tests and two violent incidents involving Hernandez.

The former Patriots tight end is currently facing a possible life sentence in prison without parole after he was indicted by a grand jury last week on a murder charge in the death of Odin Lloyd.

N.M gay marriage

N.M gay marriage,  Dozens of gay couples gathered at a plaza in New Mexico’s biggest city Tuesday to hear the words many once thought they would never hear: “With the power finally vested in me by the state of New Mexico, I now pronounce you married.”

The ceremony came just a few hours after the county clerk opened her door to a line of more than 100 people waiting to get same-sex marriage licenses following an Albuquerque judge’s declaration Monday that gay marriage was legal. Two other counties began issuing marriage licenses to gay couples last week, and three more said they planned to do the same.

Russell Garcia and Chayne Avery were among the couples who tied the knot in Albuquerque. They said it was the culmination of a long journey since they met in college 20 years ago — when there were hardly any gay characters on television, let alone the prospect that they could someday marry.

“Never thought I’d experience this,” said an emotional Garcia, 40, after the ceremony.

The ruling by state district Judge Alan Malott came on the heels of a similar decision in Santa Fe and the decision by the county clerk in the southern New Mexico county of Dona Ana week to recognize same-sex couples. That means residents in the state’s three largest counties can easily get same-sex marriage licenses locally.

Gay couples can now get married in about a dozen states after a series of court fights, ballot measures and legislative decisions provided new momentum to the movement in recent years. New Mexico’s law has long been unclear, but the floodgates were opened last week when the Dona Ana County clerk began issuing marriage licenses and a judge in Santa Fe ordered the county clerk there to do so. And Republican Gov. Susana Martinez and Democratic Attorney General Gary King indicated they planned to do nothing to try to halt the practice

Still, a group of Republican legislators is planning to file a lawsuit to stop clerks from issuing licenses to same-sex couples.

One of those lawmakers, Sen. William Sharer of Farmington, said it is up to the state Legislature, with the consent of the governor, to make laws — not the county clerks or district judges.

“It is inexplicable how a district court just today discovered a new definition of marriage in our laws, when our marriage law has not been changed in over a century,” Sharer said.

Paul Becht, the Albuquerque lawyer for the GOP legislators, said it’s uncertain when and where their lawsuit will be filed. With more counties starting to issue licenses, Becht said, he’s trying to determine where best to file a lawsuit “so we’re not getting scattered results all over the place.”

Bernalillo County Clerk Maggie Toulouse Oliver said she was happy the judge ordered her to issue the licenses. She said she had long wanted to but felt her hands were tied. Oliver estimated that the county would give out around 100 same-sex marriage licenses by end of Tuesday.

Patricia Catlett and her partner of 25 years, Karen Schmiege, were the first to get their license there. Catlett, 61, is a graphic designer from Albuquerque, and Schmiege, 69, is a retired librarian.

“I am so excited, I can’t stand it,” Schmiege said as they signed their papers.

As the couple walked out of the booth where they received their license, the crowd applauded and cheered. The two raised their hands, and the crowd responded by putting their fists in the air.

Despite the actions by New Mexico’s bigger counties in the past week, most clerks in the state’s rural counties said they were not changing their policies.

“Not yet,” said Union County Clerk Mary Lou Harkin. “We’ve had a couple calls ... but I am going to hold off for now, until I get a court order or other direction.”

But more court orders could be in the works as a number of clerks around the state said they had received calls from a man saying he planned to show up and seek a same-sex license and would file a lawsuit if denied.

Malott’s ruling was seen as more sweeping than the temporary Santa Fe order because he directly declared gay marriage was legal.

The clerks in San Miguel, Valencia and Taos counties said Tuesday they would begin issuing the licenses as well. But Assistant Attorney General Scott Fuqua said the decision wasn’t binding on clerks outside Bernalillo and Santa Fe counties.

Helen Taylor, 45 and Apryl Harris, 47, of Rio Rancho, didn’t want to wait until the battle was played out in state courts.

The emotional couple was among the first to receive marriage licenses in Bernalillo County Tuesday. They had originally planned to get married in New York in February.

“It was better to do it here,” Harris said. “This is our home.”

Celebrity Chefs And Their Families

Celebrity Chefs And Their Families, From the delectable dishes that bring their families together to the scandals that nearly tear them apart, find out how your favorite celebrity chefs balance the limelight of fame with the responsibility of family.

Hugh Acheson

The chef and TV show judge initially met his wife, Mary Koon, in middle school. They reconnected while attending a Canadian university and married two years later.

Lidia Bastianich

When the Italian cuisine chef isn't fighting legal battles, Bastianich can be found passing down family recipes to her sous chef grandchildren, Olivia, Lorenzo, Miles, Ethan and Julia.

John Besh

Healthy, simple suppers using weekend leftovers are what the James Beard award-winning chef and his wife, Jennifer, prepare with kids Brendan, Jack, Luke and Andrew.

Daniel Boulud

The French chef typically takes Father's Day off and spends it dining out for breakfast and caviar with his only daughter.

Derry Clarke

New Year's Eve of 2012 will always be a painful memory for the Dublin chef and his family, following the tragic death of his 16-year old son, Andrew.

Melissa d'Arabian

This reality TV competition winner, TV host and mother of four makes a green breakfast for her kids Valentine, Charlotte, Margaux and Oceane to start their day.

Paula Deen

Although Deen was recently involved in quite the legal dispute, she always has her family for support.  Her brother, Bubba, and her two sons are also known for their Southern cooking skills.

Pete Evans

Fame is reportedly to blame for the rift between this Australian chef and his former business partner and older brother, Dave, But when he's not working, you can catch him with his two daughters and his girlfriend.

Guy Fieri

Following the death of his sister, Morgan, the "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" host found himself backing his parents in a custody dispute with Morgan's husband, Dain Pape, over his nephew, Jules However, Guy also has a family of his own.

Bobby Flay

When the thrice-married grill master isn't dodging scandalous rumors involving a "Mad Men" actress, Flay is cozying up with his TV actress wife in their new Hamptons home

Emeril Lagasse

Cooking has always been a learning experience for Lagasse's offspring, E.J. and Meril. Emeril's top tip: Use fresh local ingredients to make simple tasty dishes.

Padma Lakshmi

A brief relationship with the brother of a personal computer innovator led to the birth of her daughter, called the "miracle baby" because of a medical condition known to contribute to infertility.

Nigella Lawson

This well-known chef met her last husband Charles Saatchi less than a year after the death of her first husband. Unfortunately, the second time around has not been a piece of cake for them

Patrick and Gina Neely

When the duo aren't joining forces in marriage and parenthood, they are serving  down-home goodness in restaurants and cookbooks and on their Food Network TV programs.

Wolfgang Puck

Although the Austrian chef's sons, Cameron, Byron, Oliver and Alexander, vary in ages and interests, there is one food favorite all of them can't get enough of.

John Burton-Race

In 2007, the British chef left his second wife and their six children to take up residence with his current wife and former mistress, Susan, and love child, Pip.

Gordon Ramsay

In 2008, the Michelin-starred chef and married father of four was outed as a cheater by his alleged mistress of seven years, Sarah Symonds. Ramsay denied the claim and publically affirmed his love for wife Tana.

Rachael Ray

Rumors of extramarital trysts and an affinity for swapping more than recipes have plagued the chef and her lawyer-by-day-rocker-by-night husband, John Cusimano, for years.

Martha Stewart

According to daughter Alexis Stewart, growing up as the daughter of this domestic diva was anything but a bed of roses.

Ming Tsai

Cook-offs with sons David and Henry, with wife Polly as the judge, are one way this fusion chef shares his joy of cooking with his family.

Andrew Zimmern

The "Bizarre Foods" chef's son, Noah, was introduced to his future favorite food during a family meal tradition  as part of an ethno-religious holiday.

Terry bradshaw married three times

Terry bradshaw married three times, Born on September 2, 1948, in Shreveport, Louisiana, professional football player Terry Bradshaw was selected as an All-American while playing for Louisiana Technical University. The first player selected in the 1970 draft, Bradshaw went to great success with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Profile

Former professional football player, television host, author, actor. Born on September 2, 1948, in Shreveport, Louisiana. One of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, Terry Bradshaw has spent much of his life playing, reporting, and commenting on football. He was selected as an All-American while playing for Louisiana Technical University. The first player selected in the 1970 draft, Bradshaw went to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

During his first few years, Terry Bradshaw struggled to find his footing with the team. Some people made jokes about his intelligence, calling him ??dumb?? and the ??Bayou Bumpkin.?? But in the 1974 season he showed his opponents and critics that he was a force to be reckoned with. Bradshaw helped lead the team to a Super Bowl victory over the Minnesota Vikings. The next year, he and his teammates took on Dallas Cowboys to win the Super Bowl again. These two teams faced off in 1978 for Super Bowl XIII with Steelers winning by a narrow margin, 35 to 31. Bradshaw was selected as the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player (MVP) and the NFL Player of the Year for his accomplishments on the field.

With an arm like a cannon, Terry Bradshaw continued to succeed as quarterback of the Steelers. He won the Super Bowl MVP award again in 1980 after helping his team defeat the Los Angeles Rams. Unfortunately, he began having difficulty with the muscles in one of his elbows. Bradshaw had surgery to correct the problem, but he returned to play too soon and ended up with permanent damage. He retired in 1984.

Having been a guest commentator for CBS Sports over the years, Terry Bradshaw became one of the network??s game analysts. He eventually joined the staff of the show The NFL Today. After ten years with CBS, Bradshaw jumped ship for Fox Sports in 1994. He became one of the co-hosts and analysts on Fox NFL Sunday. With a sharp strategic mind and a warm sense of humor, Bradshaw has become one of football??s most popular commentators.

In addition to work on television, Terry Bradshaw is an author, singer, actor, and motivational speaker. He has written several best sellers, including It??s Only a Game (2001). A born-again Christian, he has recorded gospel and country music, scoring a top ten hit with ??I??m So Lonesome I Could Cry,?? a cover of a song by Hank Williams. Bradshaw has also appeared in several films and television shows, including Failure to Launch (2006) with Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker. He travels the country each year, giving motivational speeches.

Married and divorced three times, Terry Bradshaw has two children from his third marriage to Charlotte Hopkins.

Terry bradshaw weight

Terry bradshaw weight, Nutrisystem, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTRI), the leading home delivery weight loss program, announces today the unveiling of football legend and sports commentator, Terry Bradshaw, as the Company's new marquee spokesperson for the launch of the new Men's SUCCESS program – the Company's most comprehensive weight loss program to date and its most substantial reformulation in years.

To date, Bradshaw has lost 32 pounds on the Nutrisystem® SUCCESS™ program and plans to continue shedding weight. His goals are to lose a total of 40 pounds and to help inspire millions to get healthy by losing weight with Nutrisystem in the New Year. Nutrisystem will feature Bradshaw individually, as well as with long time spokesman, Dan Marino, in a testimonial-style ad campaign as part of its 2012 diet season efforts aimed at the men's market, where the Company currently leads the category.
Terry Bradshaw Succeeds with Nutrisystem

Bradshaw, who played 14 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, was the first quarterback to win four Super Bowls, and led the Steelers to eight AFC Central championships. Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989, Bradshaw was known for calling his own plays throughout his football career. Off the field, Bradshaw's expertise and infectious personality have landed the football great a successful career as a broadcast commentator, an actor in both movies and television, a New York Times best-selling author, as well as a sought after motivational speaker.  Bradshaw is currently the co-host of FOX NFL Sunday.

"During my time as a professional football player and even after retirement, I stayed in great shape, but it wasn't until all the injuries caught up with me and I couldn't work out that the pounds started packing on," says Bradshaw. "I found myself overweight and looking for the perfect plan to help me shed these packed pounds and get my health back, when I was inspired by Dan Marino's and Coach Don Shula's weight loss success on Nutrisystem and gave the program a try. Bottom line, Nutrisystem for Men is the go-to guy's diet.

It's simple, has great tasting meals and didn't leave me feeling hungry all the time. It works and that's good enough for me in this game called real-life where the stakes are high and the prize is feeling lighter, and looking and feeling better."

"Terry Bradshaw is known as a tough competitor – someone who doesn't let obstacles stand in his way," says Joe Redling, Chairman and CEO of Nutrisystem. "With Nutrisystem he had a playbook to lose weight and get healthy without counting, tracking, weighing in or going to meetings. The results speak for themselves.

Terry joins another football legend, Dan Marino, in talking directly and honestly with men about how to take weight off. We're delighted to welcome Terry to the Nutrisystem family and know that he'll be a leader in helping to motivate men around the country to take the first step towards a healthier lifestyle."

SUCCESS™: The Most Comprehensive Nutrisystem® Program Ever
On December 15th, Nutrisystem announced the launch of SUCCESS, the Company's most comprehensive weight loss program to date and its most substantial reformulation in years. Longtime Nutrisystem spokespeople Dan Marino and Marie Osmond join superstar Janet Jackson and football great Terry Bradshaw as the Company's all-star Brand Ambassador line-up for the launch of Nutrisystem SUCCESS.

The Nutrisystem SUCCESS approach is designed to help take the weight off and keep it off through frequent, portion-controlled, balanced nutrition and low Glycemic Index eating.  The SUCCESS program offers the Company's largest ever assortment of signature artisanal fresh-frozen meals including new Chef's Table™ dinner entrees, developed by Nutrisystem's Celebrity Chef Culinary Council using revolutionary advanced steamer technology; new chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and coffee advanced protein shakes to help improve satiety and nutrition; the introduction of a personalized "My Daily 3™" physical activity program; and increased personalization and flexibility through transition and maintenance plans that help consumers manage their weight on their own.

The SUCCESS program is built on the following four fundamental pillars:
Great Taste = Great Results – Fresh-frozen offerings will nearly double as the Company has worked with its esteemed Celebrity Chef Culinary Council to develop an exclusive line of Chef's Table dinner entrees using a patented new microwaveable steamer bag technology. These signature dishes carry the name of the Chef who created the recipe. Presently, the Celebrity Chef Culinary Council includes: Kent Rathbun, Michael Solomonov, Mark Estee, Carmen Gonzalez and Tony Mantuano.

It Works – The Nutrisystem reformulation involves advanced nutritional science to deliver a high level of satiety. Macro-nutrient reformulations optimize weight loss and help avoid pitfalls of typical low calorie diets such as hunger, cravings and eliminating entire food categories. The SUCCESS program's simplified meal planner helps improve adherence and efficacy; those who adhere to the program can expect to lose between 1 –2 pounds per week.  Initial weight loss may be more. Importantly, clinically meaningful weight loss can take place in as little as a month, with reductions in the waistline and other markers of health.

Flexibility and Maintenance - For the first time ever and as a direct result of customer feedback, Nutrisystem will offer a portfolio of flexible transition and maintenance plans including a la carte menu pricing for customers who want to personalize their programs from over 130 menu items.  Nutrisystem's transition and weight loss maintenance plans were created to guide consumers through different phases of weight loss and maintenance.

These phases are now supported by an "At Home Tool Kit" that includes a Nutrisystem Meal Measure, a Healthy Steps™ Portion Control Serving Set, as well as a low Glycemic Index cookbook, "The Low GI Cookbook—Nutrisystem Edition." With SUCCESS transition and maintenance plans, customers are now able to create a truly customizable program, combining their own meals with perfectly proportioned Nutrisystem meals delivered right to their door, ready in minutes with no counting points, weighing portions or attending meetings.

Exercise Counts – Nutrisystem is also introducing "My Daily 3," comprised of three 10-minute intervals of physical activity or 30 minutes of moderate daily exercise. Customers can take a short assessment quiz on www.nutrisystem.com and receive a personalized two-week sample "My Daily 3" program to get started.  The Nutrisystem website offers other valuable information to personalize fitness goals.

Adele Marriage Rumours Revealed As Hoax After Ring Pictures Are Identified As Two Years Old

Adele Marriage Rumours Revealed As Hoax After Ring Pictures Are Identified As Two Years Old, Adele has been subjected to her fair share of marriage rumours, but this time it was an old photo of the singer with a band on her ring finger that manage to set off a new round of gossip.

Adele and partner Simon Konecki were reported to have tied the knot in secret for the umpteenth time by several publications including Look, Glamour and The Daily Mail, who mistook a photo of the Skyfall singer in 2011 for a recent one.

Adele was said to have been spotted with the ring at a recent Robbie Williams’ concert after a fan uploaded an image of the songstress to their Twitter page.

Quick to zero in on the diamond ring on her ring finger several publications sparked a wedding frenzy, speculating that the mother had eloped, however, it later emerged that the snap was two years old and taken at Deutscher Musikpreis in 2011.

It was claimed earlier this year that Adele, who is mother to son Angelo, has be busy planning a 50-themed wedding later this year.

"It's been one of the best years of Adele's life and to get married is the most amazing way to round it off. She's never been so in love," a source told Heat magazine back in April.

The source went on to claim that the star’s nuptials would be a low-key affair."She's planning a modest do at a local church in a small village near their home in Sussex. The reception will just be at their house - it's all very low-key."

We bet Adele had a good chuckle about these latest rumours.

Adele’s Weight Loss ‘Helped’ By Karl Lagerfeld, Insulting Designer Claims

Adele’s Weight Loss ‘Helped’ By Karl Lagerfeld, Insulting Designer Claims, Calling Adele “fat,” which Karl Lagerfeld didn’t actually do (he says), totally helped the singer lose weight, even though there was no fat calling … wait, what? Adele has gone on record in the past (rightly) explaining that as a musician, her job is to make music and not to be skinny — and in addition, the singer is visually stunning, so nyeh.

But Adele is a curvier woman, and as such, tends to attract trolls both famous and not seeking to ride her coattails to publicity — Karl Lagerfeld among them. Back in February of last year, Karl Lagerfeld got a bit of press attention when he ragged on Adele’s appearance in comments from which he rapidly backpedaled. Lagerfeld himself is a “former person of size,” and like many who struggle with body image after having lost weight, tends to excoriate overweight people with frequency and bitterness.

At the time, Lagerfeld is said to have remarked of Adele in general: “I prefer Adele and Florence Welch [to Lana Del Rey]. But as a modern singer, she is not bad. The thing at the moment is Adele. She is a little too fat, but she has a beautiful face and a divine voice.” Lagerfeld later clarified, claiming his statement (to which he then presumably admitted) was “out of context.” Not inaccurate or misquoted, simply just taken out of its larger setting: “I’d like to say to Adele that I am your biggest admirer.

Sometimes when you take a sentence out of the article it changes the meaning of the thought. Adele is my favorite singer and I am a great admirer of her. I lost over 30 kilos over 10 years ago and have kept it off. I know how it feels when the press is mean to you in regards to your appearance.”

Robin Thicke mom understand

Robin Thicke mom understand, Ever wonder what the parents think of their child's onstage award show performance?

Well, "omg! Insider" got the chance to sit exclusively with Gloria Loring, Robin Thicke's mother, and caught her raw and shocked reaction to Miley dancing with her son.

She said, "I just keep thinking of her mother and father watching this. Oh, Lord, have mercy. … I was not expecting her to be putting her butt that close to my son. The problem is now I can never 'unsee' it."

While she can't take back what she witnessed, the "Blurred Lines" singer's mom did manage to mention her favorite — and least favorite — parts of the performance.

"Him? Loved it. I love that suit, the black and white suit. I don't understand what Miley Cyrus is trying to do. I just don't understand. I think she's misbegotten in this attempt of hers," Loring said. "And I think it was not beneficial."

Check out this video to see what would make Loring want to "unsee" her son's performance, and for more of the latest in entertainment news, tune in to "omg! Insider" on television tonight!

French fry burger $1

French fry burger $1, Burger King is going to start selling a french fry burger for $1.
The burger will go for sale in September and will be available throughout the fall, the company told The Associated Press.

The sandwich is a classic burger with four french fries on top.

The french fry burger is designed to compete with McDonald's, which has aggressively expanded its value menu in an attempt to win over cash-strapped customers.

"McDonald's in particular has stepped up advertising for its Dollar Menu, which now features its Grilled Onion Cheddar Burger and a more substantial McDouble, which has two patties and a slice of cheese," the AP writes.

"That forced Burger King and Wendy's to adjust their tactics earlier this year to stress value more clearly as well. Burger King, for example, has offered any two sandwiches for $5 and a Junior Whopper for $1.29."

The concoction clocks in at 360 calories.

Charlie Sheen alleges Chandler Massey 'fired' from role as gay man on US soap

Charlie Sheen alleges Chandler Massey 'fired' from role as gay man on US soap, Sheen, who has same publicist, goes on Twitter tirade after Massey's departure from Days of Our Lives is announced Only a few hours after Chandler Massey shared with Gay Star News that he had just filmed his final scenes for NBC's Days of Our Lives, Charlie Sheen went on a Twitter tirade alleging that the show had 'fired' the young actor.

Sheen, with whom Massey shares a publicist, tweeted: hey “Days of our Lives” producers – newsflash you two dollar pig phukkers: now your show REALLY sux!! you fired Chandler Massey?? Are you trying to make Ashley Butcher look talented? NOW his career begins! he’s a winner. period the end. his TWO EMMYS speak to that fact loud and clear.

Massey has played the popular gay character of Will Horton since 2010 and been nominated for an Emmy each year, winning twice.

In speaking with GSN Friday (23 August) evening, Massey said there had been no ill will between he and the powers that be.

‘I’m appreciative for Days and NBC for letting me out of my contract early so I can go and pursue these opportunities that I have not been able to pursue before,’ Massey said.

The show released a statement of its own which said in part: ‘Due to current storyline and the timely discovery of new talent that the show feels is the right recast for Will Horton, a mutual decision has been made for the changes to taken place immediately.’

After winning his second Emmy in June, Massey said he planned to leave the show at the end of his four-year contract which ended in December.

Muriel Siebert, the first woman trader on the New York Stock Exchange

Muriel Siebert, the first woman trader on the New York Stock Exchange, How fitting on Women’s Equality Day to recognize the stellar achievements of financial executive Muriel F. “Mickie” Siebert. After learning that she was being paid less than a man to do the same work at her brokerage firm, Siebert decided to become her own boss. She spent $445,000 to buy a seat on the New York Stock Exchange. On December 28, 1967, Siebert became the first woman eligible to trade on the Big Board.

Why is that event so important on Women’s Equality Day? It’s important because when Siebert made her first trade, she broke a 175-year-long history in which only men had had that privilege. And, she took one step toward bringing equality for women to Wall Street.

As the story goes, Siebert arrived in New York City in 1954 with $500 in her pocket and took a job for $65 a week as an analyst for the Wall Street firm Bache & Company. She moved to other firms while building her research expertise in the entertainment and aviation industries, among others. She was apparently quite good at her job — she impressed a Boeing executive with her facility with numbers — and by 1965, she was earning several hundred thousand dollars a year and had made partner at the brokerage firm Brimberg and Co. However, the money and partnership weren’t enough to offset the fact that she was paid just 60 percent of what men were paid to do the same job.

Which large firm could she go to and earn the same pay as a man, Siebert wondered? To find out, she asked Gerald Tsai, Jr., who was then one of the most successful men on Wall Street. As Siebert recounts, Tsai told her “don’t be ridiculous. You won’t,” and advised her to work for herself. In 1967, she did just that, buying a coveted seat on the New York Stock Exchange. In so doing, she became not just the first woman to hold a seat there, but the first woman to even ask for one. She remained in this exclusive one-member club for almost 10 years. As Siebert said, “It was 1,365 men and me.”

She solidified her position as a Wall Street pioneer when she became the first woman to own and operate her own brokerage firm, Muriel Siebert & Company, in 1969. In 1977, she became the first woman superintendent of banks in New York State. Siebert told those stories and more in her 2002 memoir “Changing the Rules: Adventures of a Wall Street Maverick” (with Aimee Lee Bell)

In the video initiative “Makers: Women Who Make America,” Siebert noted how far women have come since 1967. As Siebert said, “Women today can do whatever they want to do. That was part of being a feminist. We opened up jobs for people. We created equality for women. In 1977, I was a beneficiary of the women’s movement when I was appointed superintendent of banks (in New York). People never thought a woman could do that. There have been four women since then!”

I never met Muriel Siebert. But, I certainly was aware of who she was while I was working as an analyst at Lehman Brothers in the mid-1980s. Even then, women at the firm and on Wall Street were few and far between.  (Mary Tanner became Lehman’s first female partner in 1984, and the number of female investment banking partners or managing directors at major firms in 1985 could be counted on one hand plus two fingers.) To avoid being mistaken for secretaries, women had to wear ridiculous-looking bow ties with their $600 Paul Stuart suits and carry briefcases instead of purses.

“The lack of women partners at the top firms is a disgrace,” said Siebert in an interview for a 1985 cover story for Institutional Investor titled “Wall Street women: You’ve come a short way, baby.”

The discrimination was pervasive. Some male mergers-and-acquisitions bankers at these top firms believed that women could not hack the rough nature of investment banking, or that women would not be willing to make the sacrifices necessary to make it to the top.

With her achievements in the financial world and beyond, Siebert proved that these beliefs were fallacies. Yet, Siebert’s achievements haven’t been enough. More than four decades after Siebert marched onto Wall Street’s floor, no woman has yet marched to the top of a major Wall Street firm.

Jessica Biel Justin Timberlake

Jessica Biel Justin Timberlake, Jessica Biel brought the girls out for date night with Justin Timberlake!

The Hitchcock star wore a chic, semi-sheer black ensemble—and no bra!—to NYC's Soho House on Monday, Aug. 26.

The 31-year-old  actress kept things simple, wearing minimal makeup and letting her brown hair down. Her hubby, 32, was a bit more casual in sneakers, corduroys, a denim button-down and a cap.

And while Jess played a supporting role at the 2013 MTV VMAs on Sunday, Aug. 25, Justin knows he's the lucky one in their relationship!

He gushed to Ellen DeGeneres about his wife earlier this year, saying, "Every once in a while I can catch a glimpse of her when she doesn't see me looking and I have this moment where I'm like, 'If you never make a good decision, if you only make bad decisions for the rest of your life, you made one really good decision.' Because she's just like…it's nice marry your friend.

It's nice to marry your best friend. It suits me."
His suit, tie and Jessica Biel—all adds up to perfection!

Texas measles outbreak

Texas measles outbreak, Texas has been identified as ground zero for the latest measles outbreak after 25 cases were recently reported and at least 15 of those cases are tied to Eagle Mountain International Church in the city of Newark. The church is led by Terri Pearsons, the oldest daughter of televangelist Kenneth Copeland who has linked child vaccinations to autism.

The measles outbreak was started by a visitor to Eagle Mountain International Church who had recently visited a country where the disease is common, according to a statement from the church and the Tarrant County Public Health in Fort Worth, Texas.

Kenneth Copeland Ministries, whose campus is home to Eagle Mountain International Church, has offices in Africa, Asia, Australia and Europe.

The unidentified visitor is said to have infected members of the congregation, staff at Kenneth Copeland Ministries, and the church's on-site daycare center. The virus is spread through the air by breathing, coughing or sneezing.

According to USA Today:

"Those sickened by measles include nine children and six adults, ranging in age from 4 months old to 44 years old. At least 12 of those infected were not fully immunized against measles ... The other patients have no record of being vaccinated. The 4-month-old is too young to have been received the measles vaccine, which is typically given at 1, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."

The church, which reportedly attracts about 1,250 worshippers, had the entire campus cleaned and the children's nursery shut down. The children who contracted measles were home-schooled, according to health officials. Texas law requires children to be vaccinated before entering public school.

"The ministry has held free immunization clinics for employees and church members to assist them in obtaining the best medical care for their families," Eagle Mountain International Church reported. "We continue to follow up on pending and confirmed cases to help in any way we can to keep the outbreak contained. We ask that others join with us in prayer over this outbreak, and we believe that God is moving on behalf of each affected family."

A statement attributed to the executive offices of Kenneth Copeland Ministries maintains the church's position regarding the place of faith "when standing for healing."

"Kenneth Copeland Ministries' position regarding dealing with any medical condition involving yourself or someone in your family is to first seek the wisdom of God, His Word, and appropriate medical attention from a professional that you know and trust," reads a statement.

"Apply wisdom and discernment in carrying out their recommendations for treatment. This would include: vaccinations, immunizations, surgeries, prescriptions, or any other medical procedures. By faith we are standing on the Word of God. When standing for healing there are natural steps as well as spiritual steps to take."

Copeland, who is opposed by some believers for his controversial "prosperity teachings," has previously expressed his concerns regarding possible links between child vaccinations and autism, a theory that remains unproven by the scientific community.

Terri Pearsons, who leads Eagle Mountain International Church with her husband George Pearsons, expressed those same concerns during an August 14 message titled "Taking Our Stand of Faith Over Measles," in which she broke news of the outbreak to the congregation. However, the senior pastor insisted that all children and adults needed to get immunized to "shut down" the disease.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms of the disease include fever, runny nose, cough and a full-body rash. Complications, especially among children, can lead to ear infections, pneumonia and in some cases, death.

In the U.S., there were an estimated 135 cases of measles reported this year so far, nearly triple 2012's number of cases. About 200,000 fatal cases of the measles are reported worldwide every year.

Attending Donald Trump University might not be a great use of your money? You’re joking!

Attending Donald Trump University might not be a great use of your money? You’re joking, I have to say, for once I almost sympathize with Donald Trump.

Snow is now falling briskly in the underworld, but it can’t be helped. It is not that my opinion of the Trumpster has changed. I still think he is a less appealing Jabba the Hutt in a bad toupee. But still.
According to the AP:

New York’s attorney general sued Donald Trump for $40 million Saturday, saying the real estate mogul helped run a phony “Trump University” that promised to make students rich but instead steered them into expensive and mostly useless seminars, and even failed to deliver promised apprenticeships. …

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman says many of the 5,000 students who paid up to $35,000 thought they would at least meet Trump but instead all they got was their picture taken in front of a life-size picture of “The Apprentice” TV star.

“Trump University engaged in deception at every stage of consumers’ advancement through costly programs and caused real financial harm,” Schneiderman said. “Trump University, with Donald Trump’s knowledge and participation, relied on Trump’s name recognition and celebrity status to take advantage of consumers who believed in the Trump brand.”

There is another word for “consumers who believed in the Trump brand” enough to pay $35,000 to go to Donald Trump University, and it rhymes with “Borons.”

New York is suing Trump for fraud. Maybe the word “University” shouldn’t have been in the name, but does the state of New York always swoop in on such cases? If so, I know some people who paid $12.50 each to attend “Monsters University” at their local cinemas who learned very little about being monsters and became, if anything, less attractive as hiring prospects.

Also, doesn’t the proximity of the name “Donald Trump” in the phrase “Donald Trump University” cancel out “university,” like “Facebook” in “Facebook privacy”?

Donald Trump University didn’t make you rich? Donald Trump can barely make Donald Trump rich!
What did people think they were going to get out of this? Even if the program did what it promised — offered you an instructor hand-picked by Donald Trump who showed you the way to replicate The Donald’s success — you wouldn’t actually be much better off. “Okay,” the instructor would say. “First, be born the son of real estate developer Fred Trump. Then lose a lot of money. Call me back when you’ve completed that step, and we’ll discuss hair options.”

Fraud is wrong. But if you looked at this offering and your thought was, “Great! I will just give Donald Trump $35,000, and then I’ll be a millionaire like him!” maybe you needed this wake-up call before you embarked on any other business ventures, like, say, mailing Elon Musk your life savings “as an investment.” What was your backup plan, to buy 2000 As Seen On TV Earwax Vacuums, and use the $50,000 you “saved” to start a business?

Among the complaints raised in the attorney general’s press release: “Despite claims to the contrary, consumers who paid for and attended the three-day seminars were not taught everything they needed to know about real estate investing.” MY GOD! THEY WEREN’T?

I’m not saying that this wasn’t a scam. But if someone promises to sell you a Magical Golden Goose That Will Fix All Your Problems, Control The Winds, And Make Your Children Appreciate You The Way You Always Wanted — is it entirely on them if it turns out to be a waste of $39.99 (shipping and handling not included)? Most people on earth are not Scientologists.

You didn’t get any valuable lessons? You had to shake hands with a cardboard cutout? What were you expecting when you signed up for DONALD TRUMP UNIVERSITY? Did you misread the name as A UNIVERSITY THAT IS AN ACTUAL UNIVERSITY THAT IS IN NO WAY AFFILIATED WITH DONALD TRUMP? Because if not, I think you got what was coming to you. In fact, getting to shake hands with a cardboard cutout is probably a step up from a photo with the actual Trump, whose hair might bite you.

Look, paying $35,000 to go to Donald Trump University is like buying an expensive certificate that says DO NOT ENTRUST ME WITH MONEY! in big letters with Trump’s signature at the bottom.

Trump’s lawyer told the AP that “Trump University provided nearly 11,000 testimonials to Schneiderman from students praising the program and said 98 percent of students in a survey termed the program ‘excellent.’ ”

OF course they did. If you are the sort of person who was going to pay Donald Trump $35,000 for a degree in the first place, you probably expected this sort of thing.
Besides, if you look at the value people are getting from actual Trump-free universities — who knows if you’re much worse off?

Marlin jumps in boat

Marlin jumps in boat, Fishermen off the coast of the Dominican Republic got a surprise Monday when a 350-pound blue marlin that they had hooked jumped right into the boat before they could reel him in, NBC reports.

It took the fishermen and the boat’s crew several minutes to gain control of the fish. In a short video of the incident, viewers can watch from above as the fish leaps into the boat, surprising all of the fishermen. The crew can be heard cursing (edited out) and calling to each other to make sure that everyone is all right and then asking for help as the fish flails around on the deck.

The blue marlin is the largest of the Alaskan marlins, and one of the largest marlins in the world. Females are significantly larger than males and can reach 14 feet in length and weigh more than 1,985 pounds. The average blue marlin is approximately 11 feet and 200-400 pounds. They live in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, like this one off the coast of the Dominican Republic.

Thanks to its bright blue coloring on the top of its body, a notable dorsal fin and an extremely long and pointed upper jaw, the blue marlin is one of the world’s most recognizable fish, National Geographic notes. They are termed blue-water fish because they spend most of their lives far out at sea, and are highly migratory, following warm ocean currents for thousands of miles. They use their long, pointed jaw to slice through schools of fish, eating the ones that are stunned by the blow. Because of their evolutionary advantage, the blue marlin can live for long periods of time towards the surface of the water, though they may dive deeper to eat squid.

Blue marlins are known for putting up a huge fight when they are hooked, making it all the more ironic that the one caught by the crew of the boat jumped onto the deck to complete the catch. Most likely it was simply trying to get away and ended up in the boat by mistake or miscalculation. Because of its tendency to fight hard, the blue marlin is the so-called “holy grail” of sports fishermen.

Typically the crew, who fish on the aptly-named Marlin Darlin, release their catch back into the sea, but this particular marlin died from self-sustained injuries. The boat crew donated the fish to local fishermen.