Nuclear samurai recalls meltdown struggle By North Asia correspondent Mark Willacy Updated Wed Mar 30, 2011 8:36am AEDT

A Japanese nuclear official who spent five days inside the Fukushima nuclear plant has described the tough working and living conditions inside the crippled nuclear facility.



Kazuma Yokota is being hailed as a modern samurai - one of the so-called Fukushima 50 who stayed at the crippled plant as its reactors threatened to melt down in the wake of Japan's devastating earthquake and huge tsunami.

The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency official says workers were given one blanket each and two meagre meals a day as they struggled to avert a nuclear disaster.

"The working conditions were harsh," he said.

"The workers inside the plant were toiling very hard. We'd have emergency biscuits for breakfast and a small bag of rice for dinner. There was the odd can of food too.






"The workers were all sleeping together in the plant's meeting room, in the hallway and in front of the toilet."

The Fukushima 50 were tasked with connecting electric cables and repairing smashed machinery and pumps in a bid to restart the plant's cooling systems.

But even a short period near the reactors meant exposing themselves to dangerous levels of radiation.

"We had lead sheets brought in and put on the floors to block the radiation," Mr Yokota said.

"But we were still exposed. I was exposed to 883 microsieverts during the five days I was there."

That is about the same as nine chest X-rays, but is low compared to what happened to 19 other workers who have been exposed to more than 100 times that amount.

Reinforcements have since been sent to Fukushima and the number of workers there has now risen to 400.

But dangerously high radiation levels mean the crews can only work one-hour shifts at a time.

The plant's operator TEPCO has admitted it did not properly warn workers about the high levels of radiation in the water in reactor No. 3.

Three workers were exposed while laying electric cables in the reactor's turbine building last week and two of them were standing up to their ankles in radioactive water for two hours.

Their protective gear was simply not up to the task but they have now been released from hospital after having their burns treated.

Meltdown fears at Fukushima, radiation spreads

Updated Thu Mar 31, 2011 12:04pm AEDT

Radiation measured at a village 40 kilometres from the Fukushima nuclear plant now exceeds a criterion for evacuation, the UN nuclear watchdog said.


Anger: A protester wears a scream mask at a rally in Tokyo against nuclear power (AFP : Yoshikazu Tsuno )

And a Japanese nuclear expert has warned crews may have to keep pouring cooling water onto the stricken reactors for years.

The radiation finding increases pressure on Japan's government to extend the exclusion zone beyond 20 kilometres around the plant, which was hit by a huge earthquake and tsunami on March 11, knocking out the cooling system of the plant's six reactors and setting off explosions and fires.

Prime minister Naoto Kan says he is considering enlarging the evacuation area to force 130,000 people to move in addition to the 70,000 already displaced.

The indications are the most serious nuclear crisis in 25 years is getting worse.



Richard Lahey, head of safety research for this type of reactor at General Electric, which installed the reactors at Fukushima in the 1970s, says workers at the site appear to have lost the race to save the crippled No. 2 reactor.

The Guardian newspaper quotes him as saying he believes the reactor core has melted through the bottom of the pressure vessel and at least some of it is down on the concrete floor beneath.

This would mean in simple terms the accident is no longer a matter of melting fuel rods, but of meltdown.

That situation is reminiscent of Chernobyl where the plant needed to be covered with a concrete sarcophagus to seal it off.

However Dr Lahey says there is no danger of a Chernobyl-style catastrophe because in that case the plant exploded releasing a massive amount of radioactive steam.

The situation in Japan would still be immense environmental damage in the localised area.

Hiroto Sakashita, a nuclear reactor thermal hydraulics professor at Hokkaido University, says the other reactors and cooling ponds will take years to cool.

"They will just have to keep on pouring and pouring but contaminated water will keep leaking out," he told The New York Times.

Japan's Nuclear Safety Agency has confirmed radioactive iodine in the sea near Fukushima at 3,355 times the normal level.

Workers at the nuclear plant are planning to spray the grounds with a special resin designed to block radioactive materials from spreading into the soil, the sea and into the air.

Officials at the stricken plant are also planning to cover three badly damaged outer reactor buildings with special fabric caps and fit air filters to limit the release of radiation.

Another plan is to anchor an empty tanker off the No. 2 reactor so workers can pump huge volumes of radioactive water into its hull.

Japan, which has more than 50 reactors, has ordered an immediate check of them all to ensure there can be no repeat of the Fukushima crisis.

Industry minister Banri Kaieda has written to the CEOs of every nuclear power operator demanding they carry out drills to prepare staff for emergencies and urging them to ensure their plants have reliable back-up power for their cooling systems.

Meanwhile, IAEA head of nuclear safety and security Denis Flory says he has heard there might be "recriticality" at the Fukushima plant, in which a nuclear chain reaction would resume, even though the reactors were automatically shut down at the time of the quake.

He says this could lead to more radiation releases but it would not be "the end of the world".

"Recriticality does not mean that the reactor is going to blow up," he said.

"It may be something really local. We might not even see it if it happens."

- ABC/Reuters

Japan's Nuclear Rescuers: 'Inevitable Some of Them May Die Within Weeks' By Dominic Di-Natale Published March 31, 2011 | FoxNews.com

Workers at the disaster-stricken Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan say they expect to die from radiation sickness as a result of their efforts to bring the reactors under control, the mother of one of the men tells Fox News.


AP
March 14: A Red Cross rescue worker, in red, is scanned for signs of radiation upon returning from Fukushima to his hospital in Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture.

The so-called Fukushima 50, the team of brave plant workers struggling to prevent a meltdown to four reactors critically damaged by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, are being repeatedly exposed to dangerously high radioactive levels as they attempt to bring vital cooling systems back online.
Speaking tearfully through an interpreter by phone, the mother of a 32-year-old worker said: “My son and his colleagues have discussed it at length and they have committed themselves to die if necessary to save the nation.


“He told me they have accepted they will all probably die from radiation sickness in the short term or cancer in the long-term.”
The woman spoke to Fox News on the condition of anonymity because, she said, plant workers had been asked by management not to communicate with the media or share details with family members in order to minimize public panic.
She could not confirm if her son or other workers were already suffering from radiation sickness. But she added: “They have concluded between themselves that it is inevitable some of them may die within weeks or months. They know it is impossible for them not to have been exposed to lethal doses of radiation.”
The plant operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co. (or TEPCO), says medical teams conduct regular testing on the restoration workers for signs of contamination-related illness. It claims there have been no further cases following the three workers who were treated last week after coming into direct contact with radioactive water. There are no reports of new members of the Fukushima 50 developing radiation sickness.
Although two suffered radiation burns to their legs and ankles and absorbed radiation internally, they have since been released from the hospital and are regularly being checked for signs of any deterioration in their condition, says TEPCO.
The company has pledged to improve the tough conditions for workers who stay on the site due to the short turnaround of shifts on safety grounds.
Some restorers directly tackling the problems with the fuel rod containment chambers are limited to 15 minutes at a time inside the reactor buildings or working near highly radioactive substances, including traces of plutonium that have appeared at numerous locations within the plant complex.
Living conditions for the hundreds of employees staying within the plant’s perimeter to support the restoration efforts are also equally as hazardous, say the authorities.
Banri Kaieda, the interior minister who also acts as a deputy head of the nuclear disaster task force jointly set up by the government and TEPCO, said 500 to 600 people were at one point lodging in a building within the complex. He told a media conference it was “not a situation in which minimum sleep and food could be ensured.”
Japan’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency says that workers were only eating two basic meals of crackers and dried rice a day, and sleeping in conference rooms and hallways in the building.
According to Kaieda, not all of the workers had apparently been provided with lead sheeting to shield themselves from potentially radiation-contaminated floors while sleeping.
“My son has been sleeping on a desk because he is afraid to lie on the floor. But they say high radioactivity is everywhere and I think this will not save him,” said the mother of the worker who spoke to Fox News.
Meanwhile, bad weather has delayed TEPCO's plans to limit the spread of radiation from the plant. It has intended to spray a water-soluble resin to affix radioactive particles and substances to the debris sent scattered across the devastated complex to prevent it from being dispersed by wind and moisture.
It will now attempt on Friday test the synthetic solution using remote control vehicles to spray an area of 95,000 square yards at reactors four and six. The company hopes the resin will provide sufficient protection to allow restoration workers better access to areas critical to restoring the reactors' cooling systems to prevent a meltdown.
Growing pools of dangerously radioactive water and deposits of plutonium have been inhibiting access to important parts of the plant.
A large sea tanker is also being prepared to siphon and ship the water from the plant after it was discovered that run-off containers and drainage tanks were almost full at three of the most critical reactors.
The government says it has yet to be decided where they will dispose of that water.

Judge Judy Pulls a Jackie Chan…By Not Dying

Earlier today, Judge Judy decided to pull a “Jackie Chan” by taking over the Internet, but at the same time, refusing to die. The 68-year old TV judge (whose real name is Judy Sheindlin) was rushed to the hospital after falling ill while on the set of her show. According to her rep, “The judge was feeling nauseous and had some intestinal discomfort and decided to go to the hospital to get it checked out.” News of her illness quickly spread across the Internet, making her one of the day’s most searched terms. But like Jackie Chan, who has been the subject of an unrelenting death rumor on Twitter but is still very much alive, Judge Judy wants to have her

cake and eat it too. Well that type of attitude doesn’t sit well with me.

Look, I don’t want to see Judge Judy to die any more than I want Lady Gaga live. But if a B-list celebrity is going to take over my Tweet Deck, they better damn well be dead or in jail. What’s with this “trip to the hospital” bullshit? I don’t have time for it. I must have spent ten minutes reading about this nonsense, only to find out that she’s going to be fine. Now, when she does actually die, I’m going to have to spend another 10 minutes reading about that. That’s 20 minutes of my life down the drain on Judge Judy!







Let’s say for the sake of argument, that the average American spends about 30 minutes a year reading about fake celebrity death rumors and illnesses that go no where. I think that’s low balling it, but so be it. Now consider that the average American lives to be 78-years old. Over the course of a lifetime, that averages out to 2340 minutes, or 39 hours! That’s almost two days of this bullshit. And for people like me, who are trapped in the bowels of the entertainment industry, the number in infinitely higher. It wouldn’t surprise me if I’ll spend a week or more on this nonsense, when all is said and done. That’s unacceptable.

As a result of her hospitalization, I’m sure Judge Judy has a new-found appreciation of how precious life is. As such, I’m sure that she, of all people, can sympathize with my frustration. What if I get hit by a car on my way home from work, or drop dead from a heart attack after finishing this? When my life flashes before my eyes, am I going to feel good about the choices I made? When I meet my maker, how am I going to explain that I spent a total of seven days reading about celebrities deaths that didn’t really happen, but I never got around to helping out at that homeless shelter?

So while I don’t want to see Jackie Chan or Judge Judy kick the bucket, at the end of the day, I just don’t have time to waste on their fake deaths and non-life threatening illnesses. So in the future, I ask that all celebrities, especially the smaller names, be considerate of other people’s time. You want to be involved in a tragic accident? Fine! You want to get sick and die? Fine! But enough of these half measures. As the wise man once said, shit or get off the pot.

Japan Radiation Found in Milk Sample; U.S. Steps Up Monitoring

Radiation “far below” levels that pose a risk to humans was found in milk from Spokane, Washington, the first sign Japan’s nuclear accident is affecting U.S. food, the Obama administration said.

The U.S. is stepping up monitoring of radiation in milk, rain and drinking water, the Environmental Protection Agency and Food and Drug Administration said yesterday in a statement.









Radioactive iodine-131 was found in a March 25 milk sample from Spokane that is more than 5,000 times lower than risk levels set by the FDA, according to the agencies. The agencies said the amount was “far below levels of public health concern,” including for infants and children.

“Radiation is all around us in our daily lives, and these findings are a minuscule amount compared to what people experience every day,” Patricia Hansen, an FDA senior scientist, said in the statement.

The U.S. is tracking radiation from the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power station, which was crippled by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that knocked out power needed to keep nuclear fuel rods cool and undamaged.

The amount of iodine-131 in the milk was 0.8 picocurie per liter, according to the agencies. A picocurie is one-trillionth of a curie, a measurement of a radiological dose. Similar findings are likely in the coming days, the agencies said.

Ira Helfand, a director of Physicians for Social Responsibility, said the amount found in the milk is “very, very low” and wouldn’t require anyone drinking it to take potassium iodine pills, an antidote to prevent thyroid damage in the event of dangerous exposure.

‘Very, Very Low’

While any exposure “raises the risk of getting cancer,” the levels reported in Spokane pose “very, very, very low health consequences” Helfand said in a telephone interview from Springfield, Massachusetts.

“I’m much more worried about the situation for people in Japan,” he said.

Japanese government officials asked farmers to keep cows and cattle in barns as radioactive contamination of milk spread from Fukushima prefecture, north of Tokyo. Japan restricted raw- milk shipments from Fukushima and neighboring Ibaraki prefecture after tainted products were found in random testing.

As many as 99 products, including milk and vegetables such as spinach, were found contaminated in Tokyo and five regions to its north and east as of March 26, according to a statement on the Japanese health ministry’s website.

Iodine Half-Life

In the U.S., elevated levels of radioactive material in rainwater were reported in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, according to the EPA. Radiation levels have been “very low,” pose no health concern and were to be expected, according to the agency’s website.

The EPA said it’s reviewing the data from both states. The levels are above normal background amounts reported for the areas, according to the agency.

Iodine-131 has a half-life of eight days, and the level found in milk and dairy products is “expected to drop relatively quickly,” the agencies said.

Hansen said the radiation in Spokane is tiny compared with levels a person receives watching television or taking a round trip cross-country flight.

Low Levels of Radiation Found in American Milk By MATTHEW L. WALD

Tests of milk samples taken last week in Spokane, Wash., indicate the presence of radioactive iodine from the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan, but at levels far below those at which action would have to be taken, the Environmental Protection Agency said on Wednesday.

Radioactive materials in liquids are measured in pico-curies per liter, and the sample, taken March 25, showed a reading of 0.8 pico-curies, the agency said. Those numbers, it said, would have to be 5,000 times higher to reach the “intervention level” set by the Food and Drug Administration.









These types of findings are to be expected in the coming days and are far below levels of public health concern, including for infants and children,” the environmental agency said.

Levels of iodine 131 entering the air can be very diluted, but if the iodine is deposited on grass eaten by cows, the cows will reconcentrate it in their milk by a factor of 1,000. This is mainly a concern with fresh milk, not for dairy products that are stored before consumption.

Iodine 131 has a half-life of eight days, meaning that every eight days it loses half its strength. Since production of iodine 131 stopped when the Fukushima reactors shut down on March 11, it has already been through two half-lives and could easily be halved once or twice more again before the milk is consumed as cheese or yogurt.

Iodine 131 emits beta particles, which resemble electrons. They are not considered a major hazard outside the human body, although in large doses, they can damage the cornea of the eye.

The problem arises when materials that emit beta particles are ingested or inhaled. Iodine 131 is chemically identical to normal, nonradioactive iodine and thus is absorbed into the body just as normal iodine is, mainly in the thyroid gland, where it delivers a concentrated dose to that small organ and can cause cancer.

In the Chernobyl nuclear accident of 1986, the biggest health effect was cases of thyroid cancer, especially in children living near the nuclear plant in Ukraine.

Radiation Traces Found in U.S. Milk

By STEPHEN POWER

The U.S. government said Wednesday that traces of radiation have been found in milk in Washington state, but said the amounts are far too low to trigger any public-health concern.


In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said the government is working to bring the current nuclear crisis to a close without compromising the health of the Japanese people.

The Environmental Protection Agency said a March 25 sample of milk produced in the Spokane, Wash., area contained a 0.8 pico curies per literlevel of iodine-131, which it said was less than one five-thousandth of the safety safety guideline set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The EPA said it increased monitoring after radiation leaked from Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. It expects more such findings in coming days, but in amounts "far below levels of public-health concern, including for infants and children."

Iodine-131 has a half-life of about eight days, meaning levels should fade quickly. "These findings are a minuscule amount compared to what people experience every day," the agency said.







For example, a person would be exposed to low levels of radiation on a round trip cross country flight, watching television, and even from construction materials," Patricia Hansen, an FDA senior scientist, said in a written statement distributed by the EPA late Wednesday.


The FDA last week said it will block imports of Japanese milk products and certain other foods produced in the area around the Fukushima nuclear facility because of concerns about radiation contamination.

An EPA spokesman said that while the agency isn't certain that the iodine-131 found in the sampled milk came from Fukushima, its discovery is "consistent with" what the agency knows has been released so far from the damaged nuclear reactors there.

"We know we don't normally see iodine-131 in milk. We know there's been an incident where it's been released," the spokesman said. "And now we're seeing it."

Dairy industry officials stressed that products remained safe.

"Consumer safety is the highest priority for dairy farmers and dairy foods companies, and today's report by EPA and FDA confirms that our nation's dairy products continue to be safe to eat and drink," said Rob Vandenheuvel, general manager of the Ontario, Calif.-based Milk Producers Council, which represents dairies in Southern and Central California. "We recognize the concerns of our consumers, and the U.S. dairy industry will continue to work closely with federal and state government agencies to ensure that we maintain a safe milk supply."

—Stephen Power

Dancing With The Stars' Results: Mike Catherwood Is The First To Go The 'Love Line' co-host says he made a 'lifelong friend' in partner Lacey Schwimmer. By Kelley L. Carter

For about a week now, much of the talk about "Dancing With the Stars" has focused on whether Chris Brown would (or should) perform on Tuesday night's elimination episode.


Fortunately for fans of dance, Brown's pre-taped performance of "Yeah 3x" and a medley of "Forever" and "Beautiful" was relatively uneventful, so the R&B singer didn't eclipse the show's true focus: who would be the first person booted from the 12th season of the popular ABC show.

It seemed to be not too much of a surprise when "Love Line" co-host Mike Catherwood's name was called. The low-scoring dancer — who was partnered with Lacey Schwimmer — had improved from last week by four points, but it clearly wasn't enough to spare him for another week.
yand Mike Catherwood on "Dancing With the Stars" on Tuesday">
Last-place dancer Catherwood was in the bottom three with boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard and talk-show hostess Wendy Williams. When the radio personality was told by host Tom Bergeron that he would be leaving, he talked up how valuable his short time on the show had been.







"It's been nothing but a pleasurable experience," he said, thanking fans of his radio show and his "Dancing With the Stars" peers. "It sucks to be sent home first, but I've made a lot of good friends. America obviously knows that Lacey Schwimmer is a beautiful person on the outside, but everybody needs to know she's equally, if not more, beautiful on the inside. I've made a lifelong friend."

Auburn players claim they were paid

It was a controversial run to the 2010 BCS national championship for Auburn, and now this ...

On Wednesday night, an HBO Real Sports special will detail stories by four former Auburn players who say they were paid during their time at Auburn. All of the players were recruited and played under Tommy Tuberville -- Stanley McClover (2003-05), Troy Reddick (2002-05), Chaz Ramsey (2007) and Raven Gray (2008).

It should be noted that Gray was a highly recruited junior college player, but never played during his year at Auburn. Ramsey was obviously disgruntled when he left. He filed a lawsuit against former Auburn offensive line coach Hugh Nall and former Auburn trainer Arnold Gamber in federal court in 2009 alleging that the two men's actions caused Ramsey, a freshman All-SEC offensive lineman, to suffer a career-ending injury during his rehabilitation from back surgery. Nall was later dismissed from the suit.



The SportsByBrooks website received an advance copy of the show, which will air from 10-11 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

McClover said he once received $4,000 after collecting four sacks against Alabama. He also said he received sexual favors at Ohio State during the recruiting process. McClover initially committed to Ohio State, but said he switched to Auburn after receiving money.

Auburn declined to comment on the report, telling HBO, "Auburn athletics respectfully declines to comment on these alleged claims apparently made by a few former football players. Compliance with all NCAA and Southeastern Conference rules is a major emphasis and top priority for all of our athletic programs at Auburn University."

China's Qihoo Aims To Sell Up To 12.1 Million ADS In IPO

Chinese security-software maker Qihoo 360 Technology released estimated terms for its planned initial public offering, scaling the size back from its initial registration.

It said the IPO's size could 12.1 million American depositary shares, with the deal's estimated price between $10.50 to $12.50. The company Monday projected the sale of up to an estimated $200 million of stock.

The company, one of China's top antivirus software providers, makes most of its money from online advertising and Internet value-added services, in which the company offers Web games developed by third parties or provides Internet security services such as remote technical support to paying customers, among others.


Many Chinese companies went public stateside last year in the hope of tapping U.S. investor demand. In 2010, four of the five best IPO debuts on U.S. exchanges were Chinese stocks, although the opposite was also true: the five worst debuts were China-based companies as well.

The company plans to use proceeds from the offering to develop new products, enhance research and development and invest in or acquire other businesses or technologies. China has the largest Internet user base in the world.

It has filed to list itself on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol QIHU. It would have roughly 175 million ordinary shares outstanding after the offering. Every two ADSs represent three Class A ordinary shares.

Last year, Qihoo's profit doubled to $8.5 million as revenue jumped 79%.

Javier Hernandez and Mexico take on Venezuela

Sporting Alert) — Javier Hernandez and his Mexican team-mates will take on a confident Venezuela side at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego on Tuesday.

The game will kick-off at 11 p.m. ET.

Hernandez was in good form over the weekend against Paraguay where he scored twice in Mexico’s 3-1 win and the Manchester United forward, who also has been in good form for his club, wants to continue to display a similar performance.


Mexico has only drop one of its last six friendlies since its encouraging performance at the World Cup in South Africa last summer and will be going for three straight wins.

Meanwhile, Venezuela will be no pushovers despite their hot and cold results in the preparation for this summer’s Copa America tournament.

So far on the road, they were hammered 4-1 by Argentina, but on Saturday they took down Jamaica 2-0 in Montego Bay.

The team has won two of its last six, with three draws and two defeats making up the complete list.

Likely Mexico line-up: Ochoa; Salcido, Moreno, Marquez, Juarez; Guardado, Torrado, Castro, Dos Santos; Vela, Hernandez

Likely Venezuela line-up: Morales; Rosales, Perozo, Vizcarrondo, Cichero; Di Giorgi, Rincon, Luisma Seijas, Chourio; Fedor, Moreno.

Victoria's Secret Coupon: Seven Panties for $25.50

Here is a hot Victoria's Secret coupon code that brings the cost of underwear down to $3.64. The coupon code is 7PANTIES because you can get seven pairs of panties for $25.50. Expires today, March 28, 2011 in stores and online at 11:59 p.m. EST.

The sale is for Victoria's Secret cotton undies and select Victoria's Secret Pink styles -- 25 styles total to chose from. The link above takes you to the page with all the seven-for-$25.50 pairs.


Take advantage of this sale and you'll also get a Secret Reward Card that has a value of $10 or more for an in-store, online or phone purchase made April 1-30, 2011. Basically, the card is a teaser to get you to buy something else.

Caveats: The Victoria's Secret coupon excludes PINK MLB and the PINK Collegiate Collection. While supplies last. You must have seven eligible pairs in your cart for the code to work. Not valid on clearance merchandise, previous purchases or with any other panty offer.

Check back later today and through the week for more great coupons at WalletPop.

Best April Fools Day Pranks Pulled By Celebs

Later this week, we’ll be celebrating April Fool’s Day 2011, and so you can expect some celebrity pranks for sure!


Ryan Seacrest

The first recorded incident of April 1st and foolery is in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, however, just where the origin of the holiday comes from is really unknown. April Fool’s Day is simple enough for all of us to participate in – play a fun prank or two on friends or family.

Celebs are always full of mischief and looking for fun – here are some really funny celeb pranks that have taken place over the past years. Enjoy!


Do you ever watch the TV show The Soup? Host Joel McHale is continuously mocking American Idol’s Ryan Seacrest as part of his comedy show. As reported by The Examiner, Last April Fool’s Day, McHale somehow managed to shut down RyanSeacrest.com and hacked into Ryan Seacrest’s Twitter account! He even replaced Ryan’s photos to ones of himself and tweeted, “Anyone know how to bake cookies?”

Last year there was another April Fool’s Day prank on Twitter. Singer Joe Jonas decide to fake out his fans by saying that he broke his leg.

Justin Bieber also joined in on pranks last April 1st. On the very funny website Funny or Die, a message was posted that said: ”Justin Bieber has decided to buy Funny or Die and do with it whatever his tiny little heart desires.” A video clip featuring Bieber shows the singer saying, “I’m a star. I do what stars do. I ride on yachts. I autograph lady lumps. And I pay people to slap them.”

Looking for a good fight? Back in 2006 Tom Arnold appeared on the popular TV show The Best Damn Sports Show, and faked a fight with sports legend Michael Strahan. Strahan started the “fight” by wrestling with Arnold…who then tackled Strahan to the ground. Strahan screamed out in pain and clutched his shoulder. The cast members weren’t even in on the prank, and they tried to stop it! Even the media didn’t know it was a prank and were reporting it as news!

Popular Los Angeles radio station KROQ, an alternative music station, has in the past celebrated April Fool’s Day by playing pop music throughout the day…leaving fans not too happy!

sl vs nz

New Zealand are looking to stretch the advantage of having John Wright's subcontinent experience to make it to the final. Wright's stint as India coach gave him a good idea of what it takes to succeed here. "John's been fantastic, his knowledge has been a tremendous help. Nevertheless we lost some games and the players took the blame for the losses, they should get the credit as well for the wins," says Vettori, adding that he'll look to benefit from the calm Kiwi senior who's seen it all.

'Don't ask anything about India-Pakistan clash'

India versus Pakistan is in the air and no matter who's playing the second semifinal, all eyes are focusing on the mother of all battles scheduled in Mohali. When Kumar Sangakkara walked in for the pre-match press conference, the first thing his media manager did was to make a request.



"We'll be obliged if you don't ask anything on India vs Pakistan and keep the questions to this game," he said. The local media too, it seemed, was glued to the Mohali match and it seems only when Sri Lanka and New Zealand make it to the field that the second semifinal will find the importance a semifinal deserves.

Change in loyalties?

New Zealand bowling consultant Alan Donald pumped his fists in the air when the Kiwis defeated South Africa in a lame quarterfinal. That reaction of his, it seems, didn't go down well with quite a few South Africans who never want to forget that it was Donald who was responsible for the 1999 semifinal loss to Australia - from where the jinx began. Donald, however, will be looking to make it to his first World Cup final - for New Zealand, if not South Africa... as a coach, if not a player.

LASITH MALINGA: SRI LANKA’S DEVASTATING PACE BOWLER – ICC WORLD CUP 2011

Lasith Malinga: Sri Lanka’s devastating pace bowler – ICC World Cup 2011

Lasith Malinga is a right-arm fast bowler who bowls with a round arm action which is identical to slinging the ball. This unique action has given him the nickname of “Slinga Malinga”. Malinga has said that his unique action was a result of learning to play cricket completely with a tennis ball.



He debuted on July 17, 2004 against the United Arab Emirates at Dambulla. Since then he documented himself as a major player of Sri Lanka’s pace arsenal, as he is a regular inclusion in the Sri Lankan side.


The fast bowler is renowned for upsetting batsman with his blazing speed, bouncers and straight deadly yorkers. No batsman has ever been skilled enough to completely shatter Malinga in the One Day International format. He frequently bowls with the speed of approximately 150km. Malinga is rated as the prime fast bowler of his team. Moreover, his slinging action assembles the platform for him to disturb the batsmen in trying to interpret the ball's trajectory. Malinga is effective with both the old and new ball, which makes him a handy asset for Sri Lanka.

He was born on 28 August, 1983, in Galle, Sri Lanka. Malinga played for BCCSL Academy XI, Galle Cricket Club, Kent, Mumbai Indians, Nondescripts Cricket Club, Ruhuna and is also a permanent member of the Sri Lankan national cricket team.

Malinga has appeared in 82 ODI matches for Sri Lanka and has picked up 122 wickets for his team with an economy rate of 4.95.

In 2004-2005 when the Sri Lankan team visited New Zealand, the Kiwi team was unable to understand Malinga’s bowling action. It was very interesting to see New Zealand’s skipper Stephen Fleming asked the umpire to wear a belt and tie of a lighter color so that they would be able to see the ball.

In the 2007 World Cup, he performed extraordinarily, as he picked 18 wickets at 15.77 from eight matches and helped Sri Lanka to reach in the final. Malinga is the first ever bowler in international cricket to take 4 wickets in four successive balls which he did against South Africa in 2007 World Cup.

Sri Lanka had the credit of winning their first ever series against Australia by 2-1 in 2010. The first ODI of this series will always be remembered because of Malinga who was involved with Angelo Mathews for their unbelieving record partnership of 132 runs for the ninth wicket. The pace bowler made 56 runs for 48 balls and smashed six fours and two sixes in his inning. It was a valiant batting recital, as Sri Lanka won the first ODI by 1 wicket on 3 November, 2010 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia.

Malinga is also famous for keeping an uncommon hair style. He was not used to having unique hair styles when he started his career, but his style became popular in the 2007 World Cup. Many fans started copying his hair style. Malinga affirmed that his hair style is part of strategy to make batsmen feel uncomfortable. His hair style, eyebrow piercing, tattoos and unusual bowling action makes him one of the most unique cricketers.

The aggressive bowler is supervising Sri Lanka’s pace battery in the ICC World Cup 2011, as he has participated in 5 matches and took 8 wickets. Malinga has a stunning hat-trick against Kenya in their group match.

Malinga will be the genuine danger for the Kiwis in the semi-final game. He can spoil New Zealand’s batting comprehensively. The Sri Lankan team is hoping for a thriving burst from their pacer, as he is copiously skilled to jolt any opponent.

Virginia Commonwealth, Butler Lead Improbable NCAA Tournament Final Four

Shaka Smart and his Virginia Commonwealth University team play Butler University in what may be the most improbable Final Four in the history of college basketball’s national men’s tournament.

VCU extended its most successful season by upsetting the top-seeded University of Kansas 71-61 in yesterday’s Southwest Regional final. The 11th-seeded Rams tied a record as the lowest-ranked team to reach the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament semifinals, where they’re joined by the University of Kentucky, University of Connecticut and Butler.


It’s the third time since the NCAA tournament began seeding schools in 1979 that no regional No. 1 teams made the Final Four. This is the first time in 33 years no school seeded second or better is in the national semifinals.

“What it says about college basketball is any very good team from any league can go to the Final Four,” said the 33- year-old Smart, who’s in his second year as coach at Richmond, Virginia-based Virginia Commonwealth. “Over the last 10 or 15 years, the playing field has evened out a little bit. When you have a senior-laden team like we do, you have an opportunity to go make a run like this.”

The odds were against it. Virginia Commonwealth was rated a 350-1 chance of winning the championship at the start of the tournament, according to Las Vegas oddsmakers, 42nd among the 68 teams in the field. The Rams’ chances of winning their first five games -- all as underdogs -- were 1,371-1, according to Pregame.com.

‘Phenomenal’

That doesn’t faze Smart, whose team is a 2 1/2-point underdog for its April 2 semifinal in Houston against Butler, which won the Southeast Regional as an eighth seed.

“Our guys have done a phenomenal job of putting all the people that didn’t believe in us aside,” said Smart, who played point guard at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, from 1995-99 and remains the school’s career leader in assists.

Smart and Butler coach Brad Stevens, 34, who has Indianapolis-based Butler back in the Final Four for the second straight year, together are one year younger than Jim Calhoun, in his 25th season as Connecticut’s coach.

While VCU and Butler are both seeking their first national title, Kentucky and UConn have nine between them. Kentucky’s seven championships are second only to UCLA and the Wildcats’ 107 NCAA tournament victories are the most all-time.

Championship Odds

Kentucky is favored by 1 1/2 points in their semifinal matchup and has the best championship odds of the Final Four teams at 7-5, according to the Las Vegas Hilton’s Race and Sports Book. Connecticut is second at 9-4, followed by Butler at 3-1 and Virginia Commonwealth at 9-2.

While his team is now the favorite, Wildcats coach John Calipari said he’s “a little bit surprised” to have Kentucky back in the Final Four for the first time since its 1998 championship. Kentucky was seeded fourth in the East, behind Ohio State, North Carolina and Syracuse.

“I just thought the path to get here would be so ridiculous that we would have to play out of our minds or people would have to get knocked off,” Calipari said after the Wildcats beat North Carolina 76-69 in the East Regional final yesterday in Newark, New Jersey.

Kentucky (29-8) has won 10 straight games behind the improving play of freshmen Brandon Knight, Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb, its top three scorers.

Huskies’ Streak

Connecticut (30-8), which won the West as a third seed, is led by national player of the year candidate Kemba Walker. The Huskies have won nine in a row, a streak that started with five victories in five days at the Big East tournament.

Butler (27-9) has won 13 straight games and will become the first school from outside one of the major conferences to play in two straight Final Fours since the University of Las Vegas- Nevada in 1990-91. The Bulldogs, from the Horizon Conference, lost to Duke University 61-59 in last year’s championship game.

VCU (28-11) has had the most unlikely run of all the Final Four teams. The Rams slipped into the NCAA tournament field as one of the last at-large selections and had to beat Southern California in one of the expanded tournament’s First Four games. VCU followed with wins over Georgetown, Purdue and Florida State before upsetting top-seeded Kansas (35-3) as a 12-point underdog.

“Let the chips fall where they may,” Smart said. “That’s what we did. We made history here, winning five games, going to the Final Four. And we’re not done yet.”

120 Underground Wi-Fi hotspots will erupt in 2012 Alert Print Post comment Retweet Facebook Spewing LOLcats all over 19th century caverns ...

Transport for London is tendering for bidders to open Wi-Fi hotspots at underground stations, and possibly even at bus stations and stops.

The decision follows a trial with BT OpenZone at Charing Cross tube station in central London.

Transport for London said the tender was for up to 120 tube stations, out of a total of 260.

The contract will be awarded to a provider or reseller by the end of 2011 with the aim of getting some stations at least online by the Olympics.



The first stage will be to open London Underground's own Wi-Fi networks at 16 stations for customers to use.

Research from the Charing Cross pilot found over half those questioned felt that access to Wi-Fi would make their experience of using the Tube better. We're assuming the other half wanted to know where their bloody train was.

TfL will charge providers for access; it will be up to them to collect payment from users.

Access will not explicitly be for voice – we asked about VoIP but didn't get a clear answer. And access is to the platform edge only, not onboard trains.

Given the state of most of the underground network, voice calls would be impossible anyway. The 19th century network is going through another of its endless upgrades – even TfL's press emails come with a boilerplate warning of disruptions and delays.

The tender will be advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union later this month and in the national press next Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the pilot programme at Charing Cross continues until later this year.

Discussions with mobile phone companies to provide access "on the deep Tube network" are continuing.

Rock of Ages Wants Amy Adams

Director Adam Shankman is trying to secure actress Amy Adams for a role in his musical Rock of Ages.

If she takes the part, Amy Adams will play a reporter who is working on an expose of rock star Stacee Jaxx (Tom Cruise), then she ends up sleeping with him. The role was originally offered to Anne Hathaway last month, although she had to turn it down since she will be busy portraying Selina Kyle in The Dark Knight Rises.



The role also calls for a duet, with the journalist and Stacee Jaxx singing I Want to Know What Love Is by Foreigner. We also reported a few weeks ago that Warner Bros. issued an open casting call for the role of Drew Boley. Testing will take place in Los Angeles on Saturday.


Adam Shankman is directing Rock of Ages from a screenplay by Chris D'Arienzo, which he adapted from his own stage musical. Production will start on May 19 in Florida.

Rock of Ages comes to theaters in 2012 and stars Mary J. Blige, Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin, Julianne Hough, Paul Giamatti. The film is directed by Adam Shankman.

Japan: Officials fear meltdown

Japanese officials say fear a breach in the core at the Fukushima nuclear power plant's number three reactor. That's the one reactor at the facility that uses the more-dangerous Mixed Oxide, which is higher in plutonium. Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan called the situation very serious:

“The siuation at the Fukushim Daiichi power plant is still very serious. We must remain vigilant, and prevent a deterioration of the situation. We are still not in a situation to be optimistic, and will treat every development with importance."


Engineers halted work at the complex, where they've been trying to stop several reactors from proceeding to full meltdowns. The began suspecting a breach at reactor 3 when two workers suffered skin burns after wading into water 10,000 times more radioactive than levels normally found in water in or around a reactor. David Lochbaum with the Union of Concerned Scientists told reporters it's not clear whether there was a breach in the reactor core. But if there was, he says

“Most likely the reason for that would be that the core was damaged to the point of melting, some of the molten mass fell down to the bottom of the reactor vessel, and burned a hole through that became the breach."

Today marks the two week anniversary of the devastating magnitude 9.0 earthquake and resulting tsunami that struck Japan. The death toll now stands at more than 10,000, with over 17,000 missing – though there may be some overlap on the two lists.

Japan nuke workers grapple with radioactive water

Nuclear workers grappled Sunday with how to remove and store highly radioactive water pooling in three troubled units at a power plant in northeastern Japan that has been leaking radiation making its way into food and water.

The discovery of puddles with radiation levels 10,000 times the norm sparked a temporary evacuation of the Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant on Thursday. Two workers who stepped into the water were hospitalized with possible burns.

The development set back feverish efforts to start up a crucial cooling system knocked out in a massive March 11 earthquake and tsunami, but has helped experts get closer to determining the source of the dangerous leak.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano, speaking Sunday on TV talk shows, said the radioactive water is "almost certainly" seeping from a reactor core.


Workers were focusing Sunday on extracting the contaminated water from three of the plant's six reactors and trying to find a safe place to store or dispose of it, said officials from the plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co.

Officials were also aiming to get the lights on in a fourth unit, TEPCO said.

It has been more than two weeks since the magnitude-9 quake erupted off the coast, triggering a tsunami that swallowed up cities and left a swath of devastation along Japan's northeast.

The wave also engulfed and damaged the Fukushima power plant, creating a nuclear crisis that has threatened to overshadow efforts to care for hundreds of thousands of homeless and address the global economic fallout created by the twin disasters.

The government has voiced criticism of TEPCO's handling of the crisis following a series of missteps in recent days.

Edano urged TEPCO to be more transparent after Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, or NISA, revealed that the plant operator was aware there was high radiation in the air at one unit several days before the two workers were burned.

"Regardless of whether there was an awareness of high radioactivity in the stagnant water, there were problems in the way work was conducted," NISA spokesman Hidehiko Nishiyama said Saturday.

NISA warned TEPCO to improve and ensure workers' safety, and TEPCO has taken measures to that effect, Nishiyama said, without elaborating.

TEPCO spokesman Hajime Motojuku declined to comment late Saturday.

The protracted nuclear crisis has spurred concerns about the safety of food and water in Japan, which is a prime source of seafood for some countries.

Radiation has been found in milk, seawater and a range of vegetables, including broccoli, cauliflower and turnips.

Tap water in several areas of Japan, including Tokyo, showed higher-than-normal levels of radiation, prompting officials to distribute bottled water to families with infants.

Just outside a reactor at the coastal nuclear plant, radioactivity in seawater tested about 1,250 times higher than normal, Nishiyama said. He said the area is not a source of seafood and the contamination posed no immediate threat to human health.

However, tests conducted 18 miles (28 kilometers) offshore found radioactive iodine-131 at levels nearing the regulatory limit set by the Japanese government, the International Atomic Energy Agency said. The tests also detected another radioactive substance, cesium-137, at lower levels.

IAEA experts said the ocean will quickly dilute the worst contamination. Radioactive iodine breaks down within weeks but cesium could foul the marine environment for decades.

TEPCO has been using seawater to try to cool the plant, but fears are growing that the corrosive salt in the water could further damage the machinery inside the reactor units.

The plant began switching to fresh water over the weekend. The U.S. military is sending barges loaded with 500,000 gallons of fresh water to nearby Onahama Bay, the U.S. 7th Fleet said.

Nuclear safety officials revealed Friday that they suspected a breach in one or more of the plant's units, but said they didn't know the source of the radioactive water. Such a breach could mean a much larger release of radioactive contaminants.

TEPCO said late Saturday that a trace of radioactive water had leaked from the Unit 2 reactor building into a sewage line. It was not clear if the source of the water was the same as the other leakage. TEPCO said officials were investigating.

The nuclear crisis has added to the misery and uncertainty facing Japan, with no sense of an end to a disaster Edano warned would take "a long time" to resolve.

Japanese soldiers and U.S. Marines were clearing away debris so they could keep searching for bodies and bury the dead. The official death toll Sunday was 10,489, with more than 16,600 listed as missing, police said. Those lists may overlap, but the final death toll was expected to surpass 18,000.

Overwhelmed by bodies along the coast, government officials conducted more mass burials _ another tragedy in a country with a tradition of mourning its dead with highly formalized Buddhist ceremonies.

In Yamamoto, relatives wailed and yelled their farewells as the first 11 caskets were buried in one end of a long mass grave in a vegetable patch, with at least 400 more burials planned in the coming days.

In Higashimatsushima, soldiers lowered plywood coffins into a ditch dug at a recycling plant as freezing rain fell on mourners weeping quietly under umbrellas.

Hundreds of thousands are still sleeping on crowded school gymnasium floors with few comforts. Those living within a 12-mile (20-kilometer) radius of the plant have been evacuated.

Life was also tough in the ghost towns inside a larger voluntary evacuation zone, with most residents choosing to flee and wary truckers refusing to deliver goods.

In Minamisoma, a city of 71,000 about 20 miles (30 kilometers) north of the plant, all but one or two shops shut their doors because truckers are refusing to make deliveries due to radiation fears, city official Sadayasu Abe said.

"Life is very difficult here," he told The Associated Press by telephone. "We have electricity, gas and running water, but no food."

Muneyuki Munakata, a 58-year-old firefighter evacuated from his home near the plant, has been living in a shelter about 25 miles (40 kilometers) west of the complex. Evacuees have plenty of instant noodles, but not enough rice or fuel for the stove.

"People here are all exhausted," he said. "We all talk about when we can go home, but I don't know when because of uncertainty over the nuclear disaster."

Radioactivity rises in seawater near Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant

TOKYO — Radioactivity levels have soared in the seawater outside the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, safety officials reported Saturday, igniting fresh concerns about the spread of highly radioactive material and the risks involved in completing an already dangerous job.
Samples taken 360 yards offshore from the plant Friday showed radioactive iodine levels 1,250 times the legal safety limit. Earlier in the week, the levels of iodine-131 in the water had been closer to 100 times the limit.

As of Saturday, some signs of progress were evident at the plant: Fresh water was being pumped in to cool the first three nuclear reactors, rather than seawater, which leaves salt deposits that can impair the cooling process. And the lights were turned on in the control room of the second reactor.







But Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano told reporters at a news conference Saturday that it is difficult to predict when the crisis at the plant might end. He also urged Tokyo Electric Power Co., which operates the plant, to relay information more promptly to the government and improve its transparency.

On Thursday, three workers at the plant sustained severe radiation burns on their legs; two had been wearing ankle boots instead of higher boots that would have offered more protection. Japan’s nuclear agency warned Saturday that Tepco should pay more attention to worker safety.


At the overheated nuclear plant, stricken more than two weeks ago by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and the resulting tsunami, engineers are awaiting mass shipments of fresh water that can be used to cool the overheated reactors. Two U.S. Navy barges, each carrying 1,100 tons of fresh water, are en route to the plant, and the first of those barges should arrive Monday.
Officials feel a growing pressure to use fresh water rather than seawater for their cooling operations amid concerns that salt deposits left by seawater can corrode the reactors. Water supplied by the U.S. vessels will be pumped into a massive cooling tank at the plant.







Saturday, workers were able to restore lighting in the control room at the unit 2 reactor. Now, only the unit 4 reactor lacks electricity in its control room.

Engineers, meanwhile, turned their attention to cleaning up stagnant, highly contaminated water found in turbine rooms outside the reactors. Pools of the radioactive water have been found at the plant’s units 1 and 3. Similar standing water at units 2 and 4 is being tested for radioactivity.

The unusually high rates of radiation found in the turbine rooms — and now in the ocean — have fueled concerns that water may be seeping from at least one of the reactor cores, leaks that could release longer-lasting and much riskier forms of contamination.

“This is currently one of our largest problems,” said Hidehiko Nishiyama, deputy director general of the government’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, at a news conference Saturday night.

But government officials said Saturday night that they are not sure whether the primary containment vessels have been breached and are still researching the source of contamination. Analysts say it could be from reactors or from cooling pools where used nuclear rods are stored.

New contamination in the ocean, some nuclear experts say, could also be attributed in part to emissions in the air.

At their highest concentration, near the wastewater outside the plant, the iodine levels in the sea could be dangerous: Half a liter of the water contains the equivalent of the annual approved dosage limit for an adult.

But officials stressed that contaminants would become diluted as currents carry them farther offshore. Fishing has already been banned in the area around the plant. Either way, the spiked radiation levels in the water pose a new concern for Japan’s large fishing industry, with the possibility that other countries could impose bans on imports.

“I don’t believe the levels we detected today would . . . cause a direct problem,” Nishiyama said.

Edano on Saturday announced the appointment of a special adviser to the prime minister, former transportation minister Sumio Mabuchi, to oversee the response to the nuclear crisis.

Intermittent snow and rain covered many of the disaster-affected areas Friday night and throughout the day Saturday, hindering relief efforts and leaving many victims who lack fuel for heating to struggle in the cold.

The government reported that as of Saturday, 10,102 people were listed as dead, 17,053 were missing, 26,646 had been rescued and 246,109 had been displaced from their homes after the March 11 earthquake and the ensuing disasters.

Sheila Dikshit asks Delhiites to observe Earth Hour

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has exhorted Delhiites to join millions of people across the globe to observe the Earth Hour on Saturday night by switching off their electrical appliances for an hour.

"People are requested to switch off all their electric appliances between 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm tomorrow to so as to send a message about our concern for the environment," Dikshit said.


Organised by World Wide Fund for Nature, the 'Earth Hour' is celebrated across major cities of the world on the last Saturday of March annually by turning off non-essential lights and electrical appliances for one hour from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm.

With almost 50 million supporters across the globe and a network in over 100 countries, the annual 'Earth Hour' initiative has emerged as one of the largest global campaigns to combat climate change.

City discom BSES has already pledged its support to the 'Earth Hour' initiative and appealed to their consumers to observe the event.

Started in Sydney in Australia in 2007, the 'Earth Hour' had become a global event in 2008 with participation of 35 countries. India joined the Earth Hour campaign in the year 2009.

Mega Millions Winning Numbers Here: Who is the New Lottery Star? Is it You?

One thing about winning the lottery, it turns you into a instant celebrity. When you walk down the street, people know your name. Past acquaintances come out of the woodwork, some looking for a slice of the pie or maybe a small loan. News crews, reporters and magazines come knocking to find out who the new lottery star is. And these lucky winners? Often they are not prepared for this instantaneous fame and fortune. Are you? Did you will the $312 million dollar jackpot? Here are the numbers:


The Mega Millions winning lottery numbers drawn on Friday night were: 22, 24, 31, 52 and 54. The Mega Ball is 4.

Former MLB Player/Manager Passes Away from Mesothelioma

Former Major League Baseball player and manager Charlie Metro has passed away from mesothelioma, making him yet another public figure to succumb to the deadly asbestos disease.

Metro, who was 91-years-old, passed away on March 18 in Buckingham, VA. While no details were initially offered regarding what had caused his mesothelioma diagnosis, he mentioned in a 2007 interview that he had grown up around the Pennsylvania mining industry. Metro’s father worked predominantly in Western Pennsylvania coal mines, a job he also attempted during his youth.


“I worked in the mines during the summers…. I survived a blast that killed seven men,” Metro said in the interview. “And I said, “The heck with it” after that.”

The mining industry has been attributed as a cause of asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma due to the increased risk that workers had of coming across raw asbestos and releasing dangerous fibers into the air that could be inhaled. Many workers also failed to properly clean their clothes on a daily basis, and would often return home with asbestos on their clothing and equipment, exposing their family to the fibers as well.

Metro’s baseball career began in 1940 when he joined a minor league affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. After playing with the Tigers in 1943 and 1944, he was released and finished his brief playing career with the Philadelphia Athletics. He then turned to managing, working with the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox before serving as one of “The College of Coaches” for the Chicago Cubs in 1962. In 1968 e joined the expansion Kansas City Royals as the Director of Player Procurement. He also briefly managed the team for 54 games during the 1970 season.

Following scouting jobs with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Oakland Athletics, he eventually retired. However, he remained somewhat involved in baseball, serving as an advisor in the design process of Coors Field, the home of the Colorado Rockies.

If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos by using certain products or working for certain companies and have subsequently been diagnosed with mesothelioma, there may be legal options worth pursuing to obtain a mesothelioma settlement. Contact a mesothelioma attorney if you have any questions about the details of asbestos law and what is needed to pursue a settlement from the manufacturer of the asbestos product (not necessarily your company).

NFL Draft 2011: Will the Minnesota Vikings Take the Franchise Quarterback?

NFL Draft 2011 Full Of Defensive Lineman, Will The Minnesota Vikings Take One?

Well, what now for the Minnesota Vikings?

They took a shot with Brett Favre to get to the Super Bowl and fell short both seasons, so now the Vikings will have to decide what they want to do at quarterback.

Quarterback isn't the only pressing need for the Vikings, but it's perhaps the highest-profile need. They're going to need a defensive end with Ray Edwards probably leaving for free agency, once free agency actually happens.


But what the Minnesota Vikings will actually do is still up in the air. If you were to put odds on it, the Vikings will probably look at the defensive line, with Mel Kiper projecting defensive end Robert Quinn and WalterFootball.com projecting Clemson's Da'Quan Bowers.

"Ray Edwards is a free agent and Everson Griffen's goal to average two arrests per weekend is finally coming to fruition," WalterFootball.com wrote. "Minnesota needs help across from Jared Allen."

The analysis is somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but the last statement about needing help for Jared Allen is definitely true. With Pat Williams leaving as well, defensive tackle could also be a focus area. But I wouldn't see the Vikings reaching to take a player like Muhammad Wilkerson, even though he would be a nice fit in that scheme, nor would I see them reaching for a free safety.

Offensive line could be the other option though, and Todd McShay projected as such, predicting Boston College offensive tackle Anthony Costanzo as the pick.

"The Vikings are said to be interested in Washington QB Jake Locker and even worked Locker out recently, but he's a reach here, and if Minnesota is that enamored with him the better play would be to trade back and try to get him later while also gaining an extra draft pick," McShay wrote. "If the Vikings stay put, Castonzo is the best option."

I've seen Locker here, but like I said I'm still not a big fan of him as an NFL quarterback and I do agree with McShay in that he would be a reach here at No. 12.

Duke Blue Devils' Season Ends on Sour Note, Lots of Questions Ahead

Wasn't expecting that.

The Duke Blue Devils ended their 2011 season on the receiving end of a 93-77 throttling at the hands of Arizona Thursday night.

While Arizona was certainly capable of beating Duke, few would have expected the way in which it did it.

Friday is bound to be full of head scratching, excuse making and denial, but make no mistake—Arizona took it to Duke in the second half. The Wildcats beat Duke both figuratively and literally in every way possible


The season has ended for Duke basketball. It also marks the end of the careers of Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler.
Derrick Williams proved he is the real deal, and the best team certainly won the game, so it is on to the Elite Eight for Arizona.

But for the Blue Devils, their season is officially over, and so are the careers of two of the greatest in Duke history.


Make no mistake, the loss hurts; but for Duke fans, they should be celebrating the end of Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler's wonderful careers.

Smith put together a magical All-American and Player of the Year-type season. Unfortunately for him and Duke, Thursday's game was possibly the worst of the season for the Blue Devils star.

Singler managed to bust out of his slump early, but foul trouble negated some of his aggressiveness in the second half, when Arizona made its decisive run.

What do you expect from Duke in 2012?

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Still, both Singler and Smith can say they went out as two of the best to don a Duke uniform, and one, maybe both, will see his jersey hanging in the rafters.

Smith's smooth all-around game, great personality and refuse-to-lose attitude will be greatly missed. As for Singler, the tough-as-nails forward battled to the very end as you would expect despite an up-and-down season shooting.

Mike Krzyzewski said it best when he described how cruel the NCAA tournament can be when considering the abruptness of how a season can end.

For Duke, which was widely considered the favorite in the matchup, it is an abrupt end to a season that had high expectations and hopes for another national championship.

Moving forward, the Blue Devils have a myriad of questions to answer in the next few weeks.

For starters, how do you replace two players like Singler and Smith? The easy answer is you don't.

The Blue Devils will have to find some leadership and talent from their existing players and hope the incoming freshmen can make up some for the talent loss.

To make matters worse, star freshman point guard Kyrie Irving is likely to have played his last game. Despite only playing in 13 games due to a toe injury, Irving is projected to go high in the NBA draft

Duke will count on more development from rising juniors Ryan Kelly and Andre Dawkins in 2012
To make matters worse, star freshman point guard Kyrie Irving is likely to have played his last game. Despite only playing in 13 games due to a toe injury, Irving is projected to go high in the NBA draft

While no decision has been made yet, there is a very slim chance that Irving would actually come back and turn down a top five position in the draft with his stock so high.

To make matters worse, NBA scouts are high on Mason Plumlee's potential, and that may be an issue for the Blue Devils should he decide to jump early.

Despite having a less than consistent season, Plumlee has a lot of scouts interested in his potential, and he may be drafted higher than many believe based on that.

The question for Duke: Is that potential tempting enough for Plumlee? If so, Duke has some holes in the post it would have to fill with younger, less developed talent.

On a positive note, though, Duke does bring in a highly regarded recruiting class featuring No. 1 prospect Austin Rivers, as well as mid- to high-level recruits in guard/forward Michael Gbinije, point guard Quinn Cook and center Marshall Plumlee.

The Blue Devils are also high on class of 2011 power forward DeAndre Daniels' list. Daniels has recently piqued a higher level of interest in Duke.

Should Plumlee leave, a guy like Daniels would help out in the post. Either way, if Duke lands him, it will feature a very athletic and possibly the No. 1-ranked recruiting class.

Clearly the Blue Devils will be reloading, but there will be a bit of rebuilding as well, as they must search for some leaders on and off the court.

Also worth watching closely is the development of guys like Andre Dawkins and Ryan Kelly, as well as current freshmen Tyler Thornton and Joshua Hairston.

They will all have a chance to further develop in August, when Duke makes a trip to China and the Middle East as part of an overseas trip allowed by the NCAA every four years.

The Blue Devils will get extra time to practice and play together against international competition.

As well, thanks to Team USA winning the FIBA World Championship last summer, Krzyzewski will not be tied up getting the Olympic team in position to qualify since winning at the worlds guarantees them a spot in the 2012 Games.

Kyrie Irving and Mason Plumlee have some NBA scouts drooling. Will either or both decide to leave early?

That means the greatest coach in college basketball will have a whole summer to mull over what happens with his roster and what he plans to do with who he has.

For Duke fans, there are plenty of reasons to be sad, but just as many to be hopeful for next year and beyond

The Office' Episode Reveals How Michael Will Exit

Michael Scott was neither dead nor did he make it to Hollywood. The Thursday, March 24 episode of "The Office" kicked off the story arc where the character played by Steve Carell made a life-changing decision by [Spoiler Alert] proposing to his soulmate Holly Flax and announcing to the Dunder Mifflin staff that he's following her to Colorado.


Along with the announcement came the confirmation that Will Ferrell will be the new boss. Ferrell, who plays Dunder Mifflin manager from another branch, appeared toward the end of the episode, giving Michael a hug. Although Ferrell is the replacement, NBC insists on saying that he would not be a full-time cast, meaning someone else will come along or one of the staff will get a promotion.

Carell has three episodes left to say goodbye to the show's fans. His last episode airs April 28 and a week later, Ferrell ends his multiepisode arc.

Justin Bieber’s Hair Helps Japan’s Tsunami Victims

Justin Bieber is so charitable (how charitable is he?) that even his hair is raising money to help Japan.

OK Magazine is reporting that the Stone Rose men’s apparel company has a lock of Bieber’s hair that they plan to put on display. At the event, being held on March 29th at the Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge in Miami Beach, fans will be able to give a suggested donation and take a picture with the piece of Justin’s hair. All of the proceeds will go toward tsunami relief funds for Japan.

For those who think the idea is ridiculous, just take a look at Twitter and read some of the tweets from Bieber’s most die-hard fans. You’ll change your tune.

This isn’t the first time Bieber’s hair has raised money for charity: following his haircut earlier this month, Bieber brought a lock to “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” to present it as a gift to Ellen. Together, they chose a charity and the lock of hair went up on eBay. Eventually the hair sold for over $40,000.


In addition to Bieber’s hair-related charity work, the singer has donated to Christie’s Green Auction, raised money for clean water for his birthday, and is contributing to a charity album to be released soon, with proceeds going toward aid for Japan.

Kissel Convicted of Murdering Merrill Lynch Banker Husband

March 25 (Bloomberg) -- Nancy Kissel murdered her former Merrill Lynch & Co. banker husband, a second Hong Kong jury decided today, rejecting claims she was provoked and suffered from mental distress.

The nine jurors found unanimously that the 46-year-old had planned the Nov. 2, 2003, killing of Robert Kissel, when she gave him a milkshake containing sleeping pills and bashed his head with a lead ornament while he was unconscious.

The Michigan-born mother of three faces a mandatory life sentence for a second time. Hong Kong’s highest court last year overturned a 2005 conviction, ruling the original proceedings had been tainted by evidence prejudicial to her and ordered a retrial. Kissel can apply to serve out her term in the U.S. under a treaty between the two governments.



Prosecution lawyer David Perry argued during the 47-day trial the late investment banker was a victim of a “highly organized” wife who fell out of love and was having an affair with an electrical technician in Vermont.

Evidence found on Nancy Kissel’s computer showed she had searched the Internet for heart-attack inducing drugs and sleeping pills, prosecutors said.

She used four types of sleeping pills to spike her husband’s milkshake, the prosecutors said. When Robert Kissel passed out in his bed, she delivered five blows to the right side of his head with the lead ornament, according to the prosecution.

The jurors, who deliberated for more than 10 hours, rejected defense lawyer Edward Fitzgerald’s argument that Robert Kissel may have provoked his wife into her “frenzied attack” by saying she was mentally ill, that he had filed for divorce and that he’d take custody of their children.

The case is HKSAR v. Nancy Ann Kissel, HCCC55/2010 in the Hong Kong Court of First Instance.

--Editors: Joe Schneider, Douglas Wong

New from The Strokes and Chris Brown

THE STROKES "Angles" Grade: B

The Strokes' fourth album, "Angles" (RCA), could have been a return to breakthrough "Is This It" form. It could have been the long-awaited next step in their evolution, following the ambitious, underappreciated "First Impressions of Earth." Unfortunately, it's neither.







Instead, "Angles" is an exercise in band dynamics, an example of how compromise doesn't always work and why true rock-band democracies are few and far between. That becomes all the more maddening after such a promising start.

The dueling guitar styles of Albert Hammond Jr. and Nick Valensi on "Machu Picchu" — part Afro-pop, part British invasion — successfully suggest the more ambitious route. The shuffling minimalist rock groove and Julian Casablancas' enticing ache in "Under Cover of Darkness," the first single, plops us right back in 2001, when The Strokes led a bumper crop of "the" bands and a new fascination with the Lower East Side. And "Two Kinds of Happiness" offers something else entirely, moving from loping new wave a la The Cars' "Tonight She Comes" to a frenzied guitar battle.

It starts to unravel from there, though. Soon, we get only fragments of good ideas, flashes of brilliance surrounded by the half-heartedness that comes from trying to keep everyone happy.

"Angles" shows how hard it is to keep five talented, opinionated guys moving in the same direction, but it also shows how great The Strokes can be when they do.

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CHRIS BROWN "F.A.M.E." Grade: C

Even if Chris Brown gets his wish and no one remembers he punched Rihanna in the face, his new album, "F.A.M.E." (Jive), still sounds lost.

Brown needs a new persona. He can't pull off the street tough like his collaborators in "Deuces" or "Look at Me Now," especially after Busta Rhymes steals that one. He's not believable as the sweet innocent in the Michael Jackson-sampling "She Ain't You" or the forlorn "Should've Kissed You." That leaves him with anonymous dance artist, which he adequately plays in "Yeah 3x" and "Beautiful People." Maybe he can hide out there for a while.

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HOT SONG

Nelly and Kelly Rowland are certainly hoping lightning strikes twice with Nelly's new single, "Gone" (Universal Motown). Like their 2002 smash "Dilemma," "Gone" finds Nelly and Kelly in throwback-soul mode, with an R&B ballad that keeps the modern trappings to a minimum and focuses on the melody like they were the new-millennium Ashford and Simpson. Simple can be effective, and they have the balance right here. "Gone" is definitely going places.

Back to the front of the pack: Ars reviews Firefox 4

Mozilla has officially released Firefox 4, a major update of the popular open source Web browser. The new version introduces a much-improved user interface, significant performance enhancements, strong support for the latest Web standards, and noteworthy new features like built-in support for synchronizing bookmarks and other browser data.


Firefox 4 has been under development for over a year—the last major update, version 3.6, was released in January 2010. The 4.0 release arrives at a time when the Web is enjoying an unprecedented level of competition and a rapid pace of evolution. Although Mozilla arguably deserves a lot of credit for the role that it has played in accelerating the advancement of the open Web, the organization fell behind competing browser vendors due to the protracted length of its development cycle. The 4.0 release catapults Firefox back to the front of the pack, bringing parity in performance, features, usability, and support for Web standards.


User interface

Firefox 4 includes some of the most significant user interface changes in the browser's history. The tabs have been moved to the top of the window, above the main navigation bar. Other elements of the user interface have also been streamlined.


The stop and refresh features, which previously had their own dedicated buttons in the navigation toolbar, have been combined into a single button that is integrated into the tail end of the URL box. The bookmarks bar has been collapsed into a single button that is positioned at the right-hand edge of the main toolbar. The home button was moved to the immediate left of the new bookmarks button.

Mozilla has removed the conventional statusbar from the bottom of the window, replacing it with the same kind of transient statusbar that Google uses in Chrome. When the user hovers their cursor over the contents of an anchor tag in a Web page, the destination URL will appear in a floating rectangle at the bottom of the window. Mozilla experimented with several other ways of presenting the destination URL during the Firefox 4 development cycle, including an approach where the destination URL was displayed as an overlay in the URL box, before settling on Chrome's method.

The traditional menubar has been eliminated in the Windows version of Firefox, replaced by a single button embedded in the titlebar. The menu items have been greatly consolidated into a compact two-pane listing. Some items, such as copy and paste, have been integrated as buttons in the custom menu so that you don't have to dig into submenus in order to access them.



The add-on dialog box has been replaced by a new interface that opens in a tab. It feels much cleaner than the old dialog and has a much slicker design. In light of the fact that add-on users tend to use a lot of add-ons, giving the add-on interface more space seems like a really good move. Like the old dialog, it has a built-in search feature that allows the user to find new add-ons to install. The feature has been taken a step further in Firefox 4, however, because you can now see additional details about an add-on directly through the interface. It will largely obviate the need to visit the actual addons website for most users.



The collective impact of these user interface changes is largely positive. The browser feels much cleaner and less intrusive during use. The degree of minimalism in Firefox 4 is roughly on par with Chrome, but not quite as extreme as in IE9. The one area where Firefox still feels needlessly cluttered to me is the separation of the search box and the URL box in the navigation bar.

Mozilla has declined to combine the search and URL boxes for privacy reasons: characters typed into the search box get relayed to Google for query suggestions—a behavior that some users wouldn't feel comfortable having in the regular URL box. For those of us who don't particularly mind, there is a nice add-on called Omnibar that will elegantly combine the two boxes (just like Chrome) for an even more streamlined user interface.

After months of using the Firefox 4 pre-release builds, I already feel entirely at home in the new user interface. Some long-time users, however, might have a harder time adjusting to the changes or might not appreciate the streamlining. Fortunately, Mozilla has done an excellent job of baking configurability into the new UI.

Most of the major interface changes that have been introduced in Firefox 4 can be trivially reverted or adjusted. For example, you can swing the tabs back below the navigation bar by right-clicking in the toolbar area and unchecking the "Tabs on Top" item in the context menu. You can similarly restore the conventional menubar by toggling the relevant context menu item.
Those of you who don't like the new combined stop/refresh button can break it apart and move it out of the textbox with the browser's standard toolbar customization feature. The menu that pops out of the new bookmarks button has a "View Bookmarks Toolbar" item that you can click to expand the button into a whole separate toolbar row that behaves like the one in previous versions of the browser.



In previous versions of Firefox, the statusbar has also historically been used to display icons for interacting with add-ons. In order to continue serving that need, Mozilla has added an optional add-on bar that you can toggle from the titlebar context menu or by hitting a key combination. There isn't a way to get the anchor destination URL to show up in this bar, however, so there isn't really a way to fully restore the traditional statusbar


Tab management

Firefox 4 introduces some major improvements to tab management, including an innovative new tab group feature. The improvements to tab management are largely a response to the increasingly central role that the browser plays on the user's desktop. As more software shifts into the cloud, the browser is becoming less like a document viewer and more like a task manager for interacting with Web applications.

The collective impact of these user interface changes is largely positive. The browser feels much cleaner and less intrusive during use.
One of the new tab management features is support for App Tabs, which the user can "pin" to the tab bar. Pinning a tab will strip out the title and shift it to a position at the front of the tab bar. This is generally useful for websites like GMail or Seesmic Web that users tend to leave open all the time. You can get them out of the way of the rest of your tabs and reduce the amount of space they consume in the tab bar. As we will explain later, these also have special behavior in tab groups.


Although App Tabs are intended--as the name suggests--for Web applications, there are no restrictions on what kind of tabs you can pin. I pin an Ars Technica tab, for example, because it's a website that I happen to leave open in my browser all day.

Another really nice new feature for tab management is support for tab switching through the AwesomeBar, Firefox's sophisticated URL box autocompletion system. When you start typing into the URL box, the AwesomeBar results will now include existing open tabs alongside bookmarks and history items. When you select an open tab, the browser will bring the relevant window and tab group to the front and show you the desired tab.



This is especially useful for keyboard-savvy users who tend to have a lot of windows and tabs open during the day because you can easily get back to one without having to remember where you left it. You can even filter the AwesomeBar to show only existing tabs by typing a "%" character at the beginning before you type the letters that you want to match against.

Tab Groups

Tab groups are one of the most impressive new feature in Firefox 4. Users can organize the tabs within a window into groups and arrange them spatially in a thumbnail overview display. During regular browsing, only the tabs in the currently active group show up in the tab bar at any given time. This feature makes it really easy to organize tabs into separate activities that the user can switch between at will.

For example, I can have one set of tabs that relates to my personal computer programming project and another set of tabs that is dedicated to the research I'm conducting for an article that I plan to write. When I'm done working at the end of the week and I'm going to start on my weekend hobby project, I can just switch to the relevant tab group. When I start working again on Monday morning, I can switch right back to the research tab group. Yes, the life of a technology journalist is really that glamorous.

The thumbnail overview mode, which is called the Firefox Panorama, can be accessed by selecting the Tab Groups item from the tab overflow menu. There is also a button that you can optionally add to the toolbar or tab bar to access it with one click. In the overview mode, you can arrange your tabs within groups, move tabs between groups, create new and delete groups, and assign titles to your groups.

The tab group feature was originally demonstrated in July as an experiment codenamed Tab Candy. The underlying concept is one of the most significant contributions that designer Aza Raskin made to Firefox during his time at Mozilla. Aside from major stabilization and bugfixing, the implementation hasn't changed much since the original debut of the Tab Candy prototype.

Although tab groups radically simplify tab management and significantly increase the scalability of tab interaction, the feature still has some fundamental failings that sabotage its usefulness. The single biggest weakness of tab groups is that you can't move them between windows.

Grouping your tabs can reduce the total number of windows that you feel the need to have open at once, but the inability to move groups between windows seriously impairs flexibility. There are situations, for example, where I want to be able to tear a particular group out into its own window so I can put it on another workspace or view it at the same time as another group. I also often spawn a window and accumulate a number of tabs while working on something and then find that I want to pop it into an existing window as a group for easy access later. In those scenarios, the limitations of tab groups are tremendously frustrating.

Another serious problem with tab groups is that there isn't a persistently visible indication of how many groups you have in a single window. I occasionally close a window without realizing that it had other groups in it that I wanted to keep. When I make that mistake, I often don't realize until much later, when it's much harder to reconstitute the tabs that I've lost. I've started compulsively activating the Firefox Panorama before I close any window, just so that I can make sure I'm not losing anything.

The real deal-breaker for me, however, is the difficulty of finding misbehaving tabs. The tab group feature makes it easy to navigate between dozens—or even hundreds—of tabs, but there are a lot of annoyances that crop up when you have that many tabs open.

For example, a particular website that I sometimes visit had a JavaScript-based snowflake animation during the holiday season that hammered my CPU. It took me over an hour of closing and reopening tabs and tab groups to find the culprit amid all the tabs that I had open at the time. In Chrome, I could have trivially solved the problem by cracking open the browser's built-in process manager and sorting by CPU usage.

Although I'm still very excited about the long-term potential of the feature, I was disappointed to find that tab groups in Firefox 4 ended up being impractical for day-to-day use. The feature could be a lot more valuable in the future when some of the issues are addressed.