Solar eclipse brings together more than 100 gazers

By Dan England dengland

A line of bearded gentlemen, mothers and 6-year-olds tugging on their shirts fidgeted and waited for a chance to see a safe look at the black orb blotting out the sun.

Sunday’s solar eclipse brought out more than 100 to the Fossil Creek Regional Open Space just east of Windsor off Colo. 392, and all of them wanted at least one peek through the filtered telescopes large enough to see E.T.’s home set up by members of the Northern Colorado Astronomical Society.

After all, the cereal boxes, pieces of foil and squares of filtered glass were cool, but not quite as cool as seeing the real thing through one of those scopes. Members of the club, which includes residents from Loveland, Fort Collins and Greeley, seem to know this. They love the sky so much, many keep their telescopes in the trunks of their cars. You never know when you might run into a good viewing night in a sweet dark spot.

“We were going to be out here anyway,” said Dave Karp of Loveland, who works at North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley and is a club member. “So why not share?”

They post their public viewings online and host them at least once a month. Many of the 100 came to Fossil Ridge because they read online that the club would be out there. The club might get more than a dozen on one of those viewings. But 100? No.

Then again, Sunday’s eclipse, which peaked at 7:29 p.m. at 84 percent in Colorado, was a special night. The last annular eclipse in the U.S., so called because a ring of the sun was still visible, was May 10, 1994. The next annular eclipse is on Oct. 14, 2023.

That’s why Michael Lucas of Fort Collins brought a piece of tin foil with a tiny hole poked in it, and that’s why he brought his kids out, too, even if one, Joshua, 6, told him at 7 p.m. to call him over to the scope from the fields where he was playing when the sun got darker.

“We remember doing this in elementary school,” said Michael’s wife, Lee Ann. “So we thought this would be something fun for the kids to see.”

Sarah McBride’s five children, aged 16, 14, 13, 11 and 9, brought cereal boxes lined with a square of pin-pricked foil. They learned that from the Internet, too.

“The kids were really excited about the eclipse,” McBride said. “We all were.”

In between peeks through the scope, people also brought smoky glasses, something that looked like you’d wear them in a 3-D movie, fancy cameras and even welder’s helmets. Greg Jackson, who lives with his wife, Nina, just north of the Wyoming border, came to Fort Collins for a little welding work Sunday, then he took Nina and his sister, Barbara Jackson-Long, and her husband, both of Denver, out to dinner before coming out to Fossil Ridge. He brought his helmet for a safe peek at the blotted suns.

“I haven’t done something like this for years,” Jackson-Long said. When you have a hobby you’re passionate about, there’s a natural inclination to want others to be enthusiastic about it. Maybe even as jazzed as you about it.

As more people lined up at the scopes while thanking Karp and other members of the club, Karp just had to smile a bit. For one night, most everyone was.

2012 Billboard Music Awards: Adele, Coldplay, LMFAO Win Big, Katy Perry Given Spotlight Award

By ABC News

The red carpet at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards, held Sunday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, was tinged with sadness — while it was in progress, word came that Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees had passed away. But most artists agreed that the group’s music would live forever.

“It’s a very, very sad thing that Robin Gibb has passed,” Taio Cruz said. “I’m definitely going to be listening to their music for years to come. I think they will live on through their music and so that’s a good thing.” Carrie Underwood won the prize for the best red carpet look, sporting a blue-grey confection of a dress that featured what seemed to be an entire fabric store’s worth of chiffon and tulle. Taylor Swift was similarly striking, sporting a bright-red column of a gown and bangs. In general, most stars dressed very well — the only one in a scandalous outfit was Miley Cyrus. She was wearing what looked like a white, oversized man’s suit jacket with nothing underneath. If she had moved suddenly, the world would have gotten an eyeful.

Miley, who said she’s been working on new music, told ABC News Radio that she loved coming to the show because it covers all musical genres.

“It’s amazing — there are so many unique artists,” she said. “It’s so nice when you get away from something that’s specifically country or hip-hop or pop or whatever it is, you know, and it’s just all the different artists and celebrating them.”

She added, “Especially now [that] a lot of the artists have passed away, being able to celebrate them and their life and the music, and carrying that on, is awesome.”

Justin Bieber was extremely low-key, chatting with everyone on the carpet about his new album “Believe”. Noting that he, his mentor Usher, his protegee Carly Rae Jepsen and his buddies The Wanted were all performing on the show, he told ABC News Radio, “I think it’s great, you know all of us together here and having a good time — I don’t think I [could] be in a better place.”

Jordin Sparks, who walked the red carpet with her boyfriend Jason Derulo, told ABC News Radio how nervous she was to sing “I Will Always Love You” as part of a tribute to the late Whitney Houston.

“I’m very nervous to sing, but I’m excited that I get to honor her in this way,” she said. “The family will be here, so to be able to see them, and show them that we all still love her and we’re honoring her and she deserves the award…I’m excited.”

Nelly Furtado, who’s been out of the pop spotlight for a while, performed her new song “Big Hoops” on the show, despite the fact that she was not wearing big hoops on the carpet — she was wearing mirrored geometrical earrings instead. Speaking about getting back into the swing of things in preparation for the release of her new album The Spirit Indestructible, she told ABC News Radio, “It actually feels amazing. I’m ready, you know, I took a break, and, you know, I made a Spanish album that was great fun. But I feel very refreshed and very ready for all this again.”

The telecast included performances from pop powerhouses like Katy Perry, Usher, The Wanted and Kelly Clarkson. R&B was represented by Chris Brown and country by Carrie Underwood, but there was only one rock act on the bill: Linkin Park. On the red carpet, the band’s Mike Shinoda told ABC News Radio, “Coming to the show I didn’t know we were the only rock band. I thought there would be at least one more that’s kinda simultaneously sad and exciting, but we’re excited to hold it down for the rock audience.”

*** The 2012 Billboard Music Awards were heavy on performances, but only a handful of actual trophies were handed out during the show.

Ty Burell and Julie Bowen of ABC’s “Modern Family” hosted the three-hour ABC broadcast and kicked off the show with profanity-laced spoofs of R&B, country and children’s videos. Ty and Julie paid tribute to the Bee Gees’ Robin Gibb, who died earlier on Sunday.

LMFAO opened the show with a medley of their hits “Party Rock Anthem,” “Sorry for Party Rockin’” and “Sexy and I Know It.” They later accepted the Hot 100 Song of the Year trophy for “Party Rock Anthem” and the Duo/Group award. Justin Bieber took the first award of the night, taking the Social Artist of the Year trophy. He spent more than 50 weeks on Billboard’s Social 50 chart. Justin thanked everyone for their support over the last five years as he’s grown up in the public eye. Justin delivered his latest hit, “Boyfriend,” later in the show using neon pops of color to accentuate his big production performance.

Lisa Marie Presley presented the Spotlight Award to Katy Perry, who scored five No. 1s on the Billboard Hot 100 from her album “Teenage Dream”. Michael Jackson is the only other artist to pull that off. Perry said she was honored to be in that company, but added she didn’t feel she compared to Michael though. Perry took her 91-year-old grandmother as her date. Her grandmother actually lives in Las Vegas, and Perry said she couldn’t wait to do shots with her after the show.

Perry returned later in the show to sing her new single “Wide Awake,” which will be featured in her new concert movie, “Katy Perry: Part of Me”, later this summer. She called the song the most personal, intimate song she’s ever released. There’s little doubt it was inspired by her failed marriage to Russell Brand. Perry performed the song while flying above the stage in a Cirque du Soleil-inspired production number.

A newly svelte Kelly Clarkson took the stage to sing her brand-new single, “Dark Side.” She was introduced by Robin Thicke — her fellow mentor on ABC’s upcoming music competition series, “Duets”.

UK boy band The Wanted were on hand to sing “Chasing the Sun” before moving on to their new big hit “Glad You Came.” Miley Cyrus wore a white and very revealing man’s suit jacket as a dress to present the New Artist award to Wiz Khalifa. Wiz admitted he was shaking as he accepted the trophy. He later paid tribute to the late Adam Yauch, better known as MCA of the Beastie Boys. Wiz also presented the Duo/Group trophy to LMFAO.

Chris Brown sang his new hit, “Turn Up the Music,” after an introduction from Brandy. The performance featured Chris dancing with a group of backup dancers and people riding bikes with lighted spokes on a ramp behind him. Chris later accepted the R&B Artist trophy, thanking his fans and the radio stations that played his records. Natasha Bedingfield gave the evening’s tribute to the late Donna Summer with a performance of “Last Dance.” Whoopi Goldberg was on hand to introduce the Whitney Houston tribute portion of the show. John Legend kicked it off by singing “Greatest Love of All,” and Whitney’s Sparkle co-star Jordin Sparks delivered the late legend’s signature hit, “I Will Always Love You.”

Houston’s daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown and sister-in-law Pat Houston were in the audience for the tribute and later came onstage to accept the Billboard Millennium Award on Houston’s behalf. Kris Kristofferson opened the tribute to Billboard’s Woman of the Year, Taylor Swift, who was honored for her record breaking career. Zooey Deschanel came out to recognize Taylor’s philanthropic efforts too and introduce her to accept her Woman of the Year trophy.

Taylor thanked her fans for the trophy saying, “I’m so humbled and honored by this.” Usher opened his performance of “Scream” in a top hat and tuxedo, dancing with a masked woman in red dress and cape. The woman suddenly disappeared, and a man who looked just like Usher wearing the same outfit appeared onstage. They performed the same dance routine side-by-side before the real Usher finished out the song in command of the stage.

Carly Rae Jepsen gave the first big awards show performance of her big hit “Call Me Maybe.” Luke Bryan introduced Carrie Underwood’s dramatic performance of “Blown Away,” the title cut from her bestselling new album.

Linkin Park delivered a fiery performance of their new single, “Burn It Down,” from their upcoming album Living Things.

Cee Lo Green reunited with his group Goodie Mob to sing “Fight to Win” before launching into the Beastie Boys’ “Fight for Your Right” in tribute to Yauch.

Taio Cruz introduced the winner of the Billboard Battle of the Band contest, Patent Pending, for their performance on the show.

Gavin DeGraw introduced Nelly Furtado to perform her new single “Big Hoops (Bigger the Better).” Alicia Keys honored Stevie Wonder with Billboard’s Icon Award, teaming up with him for a medley of his hits “Higher Ground” and “Overjoyed.” Stevie celebrated his birthday last week and asked Alicia to sing “Empire State of Mind” as his birthday present. After a speech asking for worldwide unity, Stevie sang a new song called “Join Our Love” before closing out the night with “Superstition.”

Apple Renames New iPad 'Wi-Fi + Cellular' in Some Markets

Apple has dropped the "4G" moniker from its new iPad in countries where the tablet does not actually run on 4G networks.

The Apple websites in Australia and the U.K., for example, now advertise the new iPad as "Wi-Fi + Cellular" rather than "iPad + 4G." The description says the tablet "connects to the Internet over Wi-Fi and fast mobile data networks." The U.S. iPad website also switched to "Wi-Fi + Cellular," likely because Verizon and AT&T are still in the process of rolling out their 4G LTE networks. The U.S. website description, however, says the iPad "connects to the Internet over Wi-Fi and fast mobile data networks - up to 4G LTE."

The change comes after consumers in the U.K. and Australia complained that their "4G" tablets were not, in fact, 4G. The 4G LTE networks available in Australia, for example, operate on the 1800MHz frequency, while the iPad's 4G LTE feature operates on the 700MHz and 2100MHz frequencies, which are still in use by analog TV stations. That prompted consumer groups in Australia and the U.K. to open investigations. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission succeeded in getting Apple to issue refunds to new iPad buyers who were not satisfied with its "4G" speeds, but the group - as well as the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in the U.K. - also wanted Apple to remove the "4G" designation.

Initially, Apple argued that 3G service in Australia is basically on par with 4G. Australian providers like Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone "are 4G networks in accordance with accepted industry and regulatory use of the descriptor '4G,'" according to Apple.

For more on that, see Apple Discovers 4G Nonsense Stops at U.S. Border.

That argument apparently did not fly, and the new iPads were renamed as "Wi-Fi + Cellular." In a statement provided to the Sydney Morning Herald, Apple said it made the switch because telecom companies "do not all refer to their high-speed networks with the same terminology," so "Wi-Fi + Cellular" was a more "simple term." For more, see PCMag's full review of the new iPad and the slideshow below.

The Province>Blogs >Technology Technology RSS Feed Samsung Galaxy Note first impressions

After a disappointing experience with an Android tablet recently, it was timely that Samsung offered to loan me their latest Android device, the Galaxy Note. This is a bit of a strange device though…it’s a 5.3″ tablet that is also a phone…commonly referred to as a ‘phablet’.

I got the chance to briefly use one at SXSW earlier this year but a few minutes with a device is rarely enough to tell if it’s a winner or not (I didn’t have high hopes at the time). It seemed too big to be practical and it comes with a stylus! I thought decent touch screen technology had finally killed off the stylus…although my first true smartphone (a Treo 650 and all the Palm PDA devices I had before that) used one.

But now it’s been just over a week with the device and I have to say, I’m really surprised at how much I enjoy using it. It’s not without some issues which I’ll describe in a bit but it’s been a nice fresh take on the mobile experience.

it is HUGE and does look kind of ridiculous as a phone. There, I stated the obvious. But when I considered how infrequently I actually use my iPhone as a phone (by holding it up to my ear), it became less of an issue. Fact is, I don’t make/receive a lot of phone calls…and if I do, it’s usually in my car while I’m driving and I have hands-free Bluetooth built into my car’s stereo.

Things I liked: huge, beautiful & vibrant Super OMOLED 5.3″ screen with a great viewing angle at 1280×800 resolution speedy with a 1.5 GHz Dual Core Processor inside and crazy fast 4G LTE internet speeds (I’ve been testing on the Telus network in Canada and it’s been faster than many home internet speeds) one of the better Android cameras I’ve used so far (8 megapixel with autofocus on the back) that can shoot up to 1080p HD video despite the giant screen, battery life was on par with my iPhone 4S…each lasts me a day with a little juice left over nice finish on the back cover…not slippery and feels solid despite the back battery cover being wafer thin surprisingly great form factor for a tablet…fits nicely in your hand (slightly bigger than my Canadian Passport) it comes with a stylus, but isn’t required to use the Note – artists can really use the stylus to create some great art and regular people like me can quickly scribble notes Things I didn’t like: looks silly as a phone when held to your face no easy way (by default) to type (two handed) on the device unless you lay it flat and/or prop it up on something – a smart/flip cover or stand would be useful (which are available separately from third parties) difficult to use one handed due to size of the screen – you can’t easily navigate with 1-2 fingers/thumb like a smaller device uses a normal/full size SIM card still running Gingerbread 2.3.6 version of Android OS (likely due to Telus update schedule) somewhat slow autofocus on the back camera and the shutter is a little laggy, the moment you hit the button, the image is captured, despite the image processing delay, you still get the shot you intended the stylus centric handwriting recognition works but is a little clunky to use The screen really is something to behold…it has a fantastic viewing angle and is the correct aspect ratio for HD movies:

The screen is also particularly good at showing photos. My previous Android phone, the Nexus S was too saturated so colors looked over done. The Note’s screen seems just right.

f you think you’re good at Draw Something with your finger, you should be amazing at it with the Note’s stylus…sadly, it hasn’t helped my artistic ability.

Will Smith Slaps Reporter On Red Carpet

MOSCOW, RUSSIA -- CaptionAlways expect the unexpected on the red carpet – just ask Will Smith.

While arriving to the premiere of “Men in Black 3” in Moscow on Friday, Will slapped a reporter who, first, hugged him and then tried to kiss him.

In the footage of the incident, obtained by TMZ, the “MiB” star is smiling on the red carpet and allows the reporter to hug him, before the young reporter – who is reportedly Ukrainian – tries to kiss Will on the face.

The star then pushes the reporter away and backhand slaps him on the cheek.

“Come on, man. What the hell is your problem, buddy?” a stunned Will exclaims.

Will quickly brushes off the incident and continues to make his way down the red carpet with a smile, where he addressed the incident with the next reporter on the red carpet.

“He tried to kiss me on my mouth! He’s lucky I didn’t sucker punch him,” Will is heard saying.

According to TMZ, the reporter often tries to kiss stars as his “shtick.”

The world's largest solar eclipse party? Game on!

A solar eclipse will blot out part of the sun this weekend, and astronomers in Colorado are organizing what they hope will be the world's largest viewing party in one place. Their venue: an entire football stadium. The eclipse will occur in the afternoon and early evening on Sunday, during which time the moon will pass between Earth and the sun, casting a shadow on the planet. This weekend's event is called an annular solar eclipse (from the Latin word "annulus," meaning "little ring"), because the moon will not completely cover the sun, but will leave a fiery ring around its circumference.

At its peak, the moon will block roughly 94 percent of the sun's light. This potentially spectacular solar eclipse will be visible from much of Asia, the Pacific region and North America, provided the weather cooperates.

The University of Colorado, at Boulder, will be hosting a free eclipse-watching event at the campus' Folsom Stadium, beginning at 5:30 p.m. local time (6:30 p.m. EDT). Special protective glasses will be sold at the football stadium, but organizers suggest planning ahead in case supplies run out. [ Solar Eclipse of May 20 (Photo Observing Guide) ] Attendees will be treated to hot dogs, and have the opportunity to participate in trivia contests and giveaways. But the main attraction will, of course, be the show in the sky, which promises to be the best solar eclipse the U.S. has seen in more than a decade, said event organizer Doug Duncan, an astronomer at the University of Colorado, and director of the school's Fiske Planetarium.

"After leading eclipse expeditions since 1970 I got tired of people not being prepared to watch, so as leader of the country's top university planetarium I went into action," Duncan said in a statement. The campus' Fiske Planetarium and Sommers Bausch Observatory will also celebrate "Astronomy Day" on Sunday, featuring hands-on displays and telescope activities.

Anti-Obama ad flap deals blow to Wrigley Field rehab plan

Ricketts family patriarch had been offered a plan for using super PAC to run ads linking president with Rev. Wright

The long-shot prospect of taxpayer help to renovate Wrigley Field grew more remote Thursday, upended by revelations that the patriarch of the Chicago Cubs' ownership team had been offered a plan for using a super PAC to run racially tinged attack ads that linked President Barack Obama to his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

Joe Ricketts, the conservative billionaire founder of TD Ameritrade, whose family trust was used to buy the Cubs from Tribune Co., quickly sought to tamp down the controversy along with his children who run the day-to-day operations of the baseball club.

But the political damage was done.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Obama's former White House chief of staff, was furious.

"I don't think that's fitting in a campaign of any nature," Emanuel said. "You can have disagreements without being disagreeable."

"America is too great a country with too great a future with the content they are talking about," added the mayor. "And it's insulting to the president, it's insulting to the country."

Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts phoned the mayor, but Emanuel didn't return the call.

"He's not interested in talking right now," said a source close to Emanuel. The source was not authorized to speak publicly and asked not to be named.

About six weeks ago, Emanuel said he was in the "final stages" of talks with Cubs ownership over a public-private deal to help renovate an aging but historic sports shrine.

The idea already faced a tough time in Springfield, where Gov. Pat Quinn and lawmakers are struggling to agree on staggering cuts in taxpayer-supported human services and getting a handle on runaway public worker pension costs. Helping the wealthy Ricketts family was hardly a priority at the Capitol.

Then Thursday's firestorm struck. The timing could not have been worse for the Ricketts family.

Emanuel was busy preparing for the NATO summit of world leaders in Chicago this weekend and did not want sideshows distracting from that. If Emanuel had planned to surface a Wrigley deal ahead of the Legislature's May 31 adjournment deadline, he now can point to the Obama ad flap as reason to wait.

As first reported by The New York Times, the political consulting firm Strategic Perception Inc. last week pitched ideas to the super PAC for attack ads against the president that included a strategy of reviving Obama's connections to Wright, who retired from Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago in May 2008.

Obama was forced to distance and later disavow his relationship with Wright after the preacher's inflammatory and often racially charged comments surfaced. Wright once said of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the country, the "chickens are coming home to roost."

Two of Joe Ricketts' children, Pete and Todd Ricketts, both Cubs board members, were present for the meeting where the anti-Obama pitches occurred, according to a source close to the family who asked not to be named. Pete Ricketts, a member of the Republican National Committee, was a largely self-funded but unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. Senate in Nebraska in 2006.

The president of the Ending Spending Action Fund — the super PAC heavily funded by Joe Ricketts — said the ad proposal "reflects an approach to politics that Mr. Ricketts rejects and it was never a plan to be accepted but only a suggestion for a direction to take."

Tom Ricketts noted in a statement that his father had repudiated the ad strategy, and added that he would not have "further comment on this or any other election year political issue. My full-time focus is on making the Chicago Cubs a World Series champion, preserving Wrigley Field and making the Chicago Cubs a great corporate citizen."

Joe Ricketts plays no role in the Cubs' operation. But his desire to use his wealth to play an increasing role in conservative political causes has sometimes clashed with the Cubs' business objectives.

He has long railed against government spending on pork-barrel projects, an irony given the Cubs ownership is trying to work out a deal with City Hall that would involve using $150 million in city amusement taxes to leverage a $300 million renovation of the National League's oldest ballpark.

Joe Ricketts launched the super PAC in 2010 with $1.1 million in funds, federal records showed. It spent more than $254,000 in Tuesday's Nebraska Republican U.S. Senate primary backing conservative state Sen. Deb Fischer, who won in an upset.

Donna Summer dead: Her voice soared through disco and beyond

Donna Summer died Thursday after a battle with cancer. The 63-year-old Summer was known for her soaring voice and sensual purrs that made her a queen of disco when the genre was in its heyday in the 1970s. And it was a title she held well beyond those years.

A statement from her family called Summer "a woman of many gifts, the greatest being her faith." "While we grieve her passing, we are at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her continued legacy," according to the statement released by Universal Music, her record label. "Words truly can't express how much we appreciate your prayers and love for our family at this sensitive time.

PHOTOS: Donna Summer | 1948 - 2012 Summer had been living in Englewood, Fla., with her husband, Bruce Sudano.

She was a five-time Grammy winner. Although best remembered for her songs decades ago, Summer continued to tour and record, including a stint last year as a guest judge on the Bravo reality show "Platinum Hit.

Born LaDonna Andrea Gaines in suburban Boston on New Year’s Eve, 1948, Summer was one of seven siblings in a church-attending family who encouraged studies and singing in equal measure.

An early fan of gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, Summer sang in a Boston rock band called Crow in the late 1960s, and left home for New York City at age 18 to find work on Broadway, which she did quickly by landing a role in a touring version of the hot Broadway show “Hair.”

She spent the next three years living and touring in Europe. There she met and married the singer Helmut Sommer, whose last name she adapted as her stage name.

While in Europe she also met Italian music producer Giorgio Moroder, whose early dance tracks were making an impact across Europe. Moroder and Summer started working together, resulting in their first hit, the seductive 17-minute-long dance floor epic “Love to Love You Baby.” On it, Summer moans in ecstasy throughout, seeming to climax with the music. A shortened version of it was released by then-hot label Casablanca in 1975, and peaked on the Billboard singles chart at No. 2.

That was the first of a string of songs that not only helped bring disco to the mainstream, but predicted the rise of both techno and house music. Among those were “I Feel Love,” “Bad Girls,” “She Works Hard for the Money” and “On the Radio.”

But unlike some other stars of disco who faded as the music became less popular, she was able to grow beyond it and later segued to a pop-rock sound. She had one of her biggest hits in the 1980s with "She Works Hard for the Money," which became an anthem for women's rights.

Soon after, Summer became a born-again Christian and faced controversy when she was accused of making anti-gay comments in relation to the AIDS epidemic. Summer denied making the comments but was the target of a boycott.

Still, even as disco went out of fashion she remained a fixture in dance clubs, endlessly sampled and remixed into contemporary dance hits.

Her last album, "Crayons," was released in 2008 and marked her first full studio album in 17 years. She also performed on "American Idol" that year with its top female contestants.

Rock The Bells 2012 Lineup: Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Nas, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

by MTV news

By Felicia Morris

On Tuesday, Guerilla Union hosted a press conference to reveal the 2012 Rock the Bells lineup, and it's a doozy. Headlining acts Missy Elliot, Timbaland and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony will perform along with Wiz Khalifa, Kid Cudi, Nas, J. Cole and Mac Miller.

Lupe Fiasco's name also appears on the festival's flyer, but on Wednesday morning (May 16), the Chi-Town lyricist tweeted that despite what was printed, he would not be in attendance this year. "Not doing Rock The Bellz...thats a typo fam and friends...," he wrote.

For the first time in nine years, Rock the Bells will expand its daylong festival to two days. The first show will take place August 18 at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, California. Last year's three-stage setup forced fans to choose between their favorite acts, who would often perform simultaneously. "We had quite a few complaints about Mobb Deep fans having to choose between Mobb Deep and Nas," Guerilla Union boss Chang Weisberg said as an example. "We tried to deliver three stages, but it didn't work out. So the correction? Two stages, two days, one event."

RTB will hit the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California, on August 25 and 26 and then the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey, on September 1 and 2. Coincidentally, the East Coast show falls on the very same weekend as Jay-Z's recently announced Made in America multi-genre music festival in Philadelphia. Hov promises close to 30 eclectic acts in the fields of rock, hip-hop, R&B, Latin and dance music. The Made in America lineup hasn't been announced yet, but already, the RTB bill is ripe with diverse rap talent. 2 Chainz, Tyga, Kendrick Lamar, Slick Rick, E-40, Too Short and A$AP Rocky will all be in attendance.

The announcement event wrapped up with performances by DJ Quik and Bone Thugs, who took the stage and rocked a few of their many classics, leaving fans ready for the main course this summer. Fans should checkRockTheBells.net for venue and ticket information.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s estranged wife, Mary, found dead in New York

Police confirmed a body was found on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s property in Bedford, north of New York City, but wouldn't release the dead person's name. The family released a statement on Wednesday confirming the death of Mary Richardson Kennedy.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., right, and wife Mary Richardson Kennedy seen together at a movie premiere in 2009. An attorney on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 said Mary Kennedy has been found dead on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s property in Bedford, N.Y. (Peter Kramer / AP Photo / May 16, 2012)

Associated Press

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s estranged wife, Mary Richardson Kennedy, who had fought drug and alcohol problems, was found dead in her home Wednesday.

Attorney Kerry Lawrence, who had represented her in a drunken-driving case, said he didn't know the cause of her death at age 52. An autopsy was scheduled for Thursday.

Police confirmed a body was found on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s property in Bedford, north of New York City, but wouldn't release the dead person's name.

The former Mary Richardson married Robert Kennedy Jr., a prominent environmental lawyer and the son of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy, in 1994. The couple had four children, the youngest born in July 2001.

Mary Kennedy was an architect and designer and had overseen the renovation of the couple's home into an environmentally advanced showpiece. Her family cited her devotion to her children in remembering her.

"We deeply regret the death of our beloved sister Mary, whose radiant and creative spirit will be sorely missed by those who loved her," the family said in a statement issued by Lawrence. "Our heart goes out to her children who she loved without reservation."

Mary Richardson had known the Kennedys for years, through her friendship with Robert Kennedy Jr.'s sister, Kerry Kennedy, whom she met at boarding school. She had been Kerry Kennedy's maid of honor at her wedding in 1990.

She had had trouble with drugs and alcohol and had two high-profile arrests around the time her husband filed for divorce in 2010. Kennedy was first arrested on May 15 of that year on a charge of driving while intoxicated after a police officer reported seeing her drive her car over a curb near the family's Bedford home. Her only passenger was a dog, and police said she had a blood-alcohol level of 0.11 percent; the legal limit is 0.08 percent. Her license was suspended.

At the time of her sentencing, famous family and friends spoke out in support of her.

Her mother-in-law, Ethel Kennedy, wrote in a letter that she "is a caring, nourishing mother who has nursed her four children through lifelong bouts of debilitating allergies," according to an account in Westchester's The Journal News at the time.

She was charged later that year with driving under the influence of drugs, but that charge was dismissed in July 2011 when a judge said the evidence showed she didn't know the medications she had taken would impair her ability to drive.

Family watches 'miraculous survival' of woman fighting flesh-eating bacteria

By the CNN Wire Staff (CNN) -- A 24-year-old woman in a hospital bed fighting off flesh-eating bacteria has to be told repeatedly -- each time she wakes up -- what has happened, her parents told CNN on Monday. The medication Aimee Copeland is given leads her to forget each time she falls asleep. "It's scary to her," said her mother, Donna Copeland. She asks where she is and "doesn't understand." Yet Aimee Copeland -- who has lost a leg and part of her abdomen to the virulent bacteria and may lose more, including her fingers -- is keeping her spirits strong, her father said.

Can I get this flesh-eating bacteria?

"We really don't see the suffering side of it. We see the miraculous survival," Andy Copeland said. "I think that's the story that's inspired us, that's the story that's inspired, I think, the nation at this point." On Facebook, he wrote that doctors have used words like "astonishing," "confounding" and "mind-boggling" to describe the young woman's recovery.

The master's student in psychology at the University of West Georgia was out with friends on May 1 near the Little Tallapoosa River, about 50 miles west of Atlanta, when she grabbed onto a homemade zip line. It snapped. The accident left her with a gash in her left calf that took 22 staples to close.

Three days later, when the pain continued, a friend took her to an emergency room, where she was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis and flown to Augusta for surgery. She had contracted the flesh-devouring Aeromonas hydrophila. The bacterium is "remarkably common in the water and in the environment," according to Dr. Buddy Creech, an assistant professor of pediatric infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University.

"When it gets into those deeper tissues, it has a remarkable ability to destroy the tissues that surround it in sort of this hunt for nutrition," he said. "When it does that, those tissues die, and you see the inflammation and the swelling and the destruction that can be very difficult to control."

In most cases, people contract the bacteria by swallowing them, resulting in diarrhea. Aimee Copeland's case was much more rare. Her wound became infected, "and the infection (ran) wild," Creech said.

A blog set up by the University of West Georgia psychology department said Aimee Copeland will suffer the loss of her fingers.

"However, physicians have hope of bringing life back to the palms of her hands, which could allow her the muscle control to use helpful prosthetics. They are awaiting a safe time before embarking on surgery for this."

Speaking to CNN on Monday, her father said doctors were assessing "day by day, or even hour by hour."

Copeland has told his daughter that one day, the family will celebrate Aimee Day -- when she will be able to breathe on her own. "We're going to celebrate that day forever for the rest of your life," he told her. "It's the day that my daughter was delivered from this horrible, horrible disease."

If there's anything to be learned, Andy Copeland said, it's not to use homemade zip lines.

Aimee Copeland's parents say that when she wakes up, she expresses concern about finishing her thesis.

In her studies, she has focused on eco-psychology -- the idea that harmonizing with nature can be a powerful tool in ensuring one's psychological health and vitality.

George "Goober" Lindsey of 'Andy Griffith Show' fame dies at age 83

George “Goober” Lindsey, most widely known for playing Goober Pyle on the iconic television series The Andy Griffith Show, died at 12:05 a.m. Sunday in Nashville after an extended hospitalization. He was 83.

As long as his health allowed, he was still making people smile. The Hee Haw star showed up at Ray Stevens’ CD release party Feb. 28 at The Rutledge in Nashville to lend support to his good friend and fellow comedian. Stevens beamed from the stage as he thanked Mr. Lindsey for being there.

“He was in a wheelchair that night and he was really going out of his way to show up for that,” says Stevens, who was friends with Lindsey for 35 years. “That’s the kind of friend he was. He was on his last legs that night.”

Actor Andy Griffith said in a statement that accompanied the family’s Sunday-morning announcement of Mr. Lindsey’s death: “George Lindsey was my friend. I had great respect for his talent and his human spirit. In recent years, we spoke often by telephone. Our last conversation was a few days ago. We would talk about our health, how much we missed our friends who passed before us and usually about something funny. I am happy to say that as we found ourselves in our eighties, we were not afraid to say, ‘I love you.’ That was the last thing George and I had to say to each other. ‘I love you.’ ”

The Nashville resident’s career was much broader than the confines of Mayberry. Mr. Lindsey also appeared in M*A*S*H, Gunsmoke, Herbie the Love Bug and C.H.I.P.S. He was in movies including Take This Job and Shove It and Cannonball Run II, was a judge for the Miss USA pageant for years, and lent his voice to an assortment of animated Disney characters in movies including The Aristocats, The Rescuers and Robin Hood. He recorded a comedy album in 1971 called Goober Sings!, and was a member of the Hee Haw cast for 20 years.

Mr. Lindsey was born in Fairfield, Ala., Dec. 17, 1928, to parents George Ross Lindsey and Alice Smith Lindsey, and grew up in Jasper, Ala. His mother was disabled, and his father struggled to find work. He was the couple’s only child and was primarily raised by his grandparents. He enjoyed spending time at his Aunt Ethel’s gas station, where the mechanics wore felt caps to keep the grease and oil from the cars from dripping in their hair. Their caps inspired the beanie Mr. Lindsey wore as Goober on The Andy Griffith Show.

Bucks trade Bogut to Warriors

The Milwaukee Bucks have agreed to trade center Andrew Bogut and forward Stephen Jackson to the Golden State Warriors.

The Bucks will receive guard Monta Ellis, forward Ekpe Udoh and center Kwame Brown, the person confirmed to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported the deal on its website last night. The trade represents a parting of the ways between the Bucks and Bogut, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 NBA draft who has struggled with injuries.

Raptors 96, Cavaliers 88: Jerryd Bayless scored 20 points, Andrea Bargnani added 17 and Toronto slowed host Cleveland's playoff push. The Cavs had their winning streak stopped at three. Cleveland blew a chance to move into a virtual tie with the Knicks and Milwaukee for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Antawn Jamison led the Cavs with 20 points. Rookie Kyrie Irving scored 14 and Alonzo Gee 16. Magic 104, Heat 98: Dwight Howard had 24 points and 25 rebounds, Jameer Nelson scored 25 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter and overtime, and the Orlando Magic came back to beat host Miami. It was the eighth 20-20 game of the season for Howard, who reportedly has said his mind is made up about leaving Orlando. Dwyane Wade scored 28 points for the Heat.

Rockets 104, Thunder 103: Courtney Lee and rookie Chandler Parsons each scored 21 points, Patrick Patterson blocked Serge Ibaka's point-blank putback attempt in the final 2 seconds, and visiting Houston charged back from an 11-point deficit in the final 3 minutes. Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 28 points. Lakers 116, Grizzlies 111: Andrew Bynum had 37 points and 16 rebounds, Kobe Bryant scored 22 of his 34 points after halftime and visiting Los Angeles beat Memphis in double overtime. -- AP

BYU completes comeback, knocks off Iona

Published March 14, 2012Sports Network Dayton, OH – Perhaps March's new moniker should be meltdown. Noah Hartsock's three-pointer from the right wing capped a furious rally from a 25-point deficit, and BYU held on to stun Iona, 78-72, and claim the argest comeback in NCAA

Kentucky rallied from a 16-point deficit to shock Mississippi Valley State in Tuesday's First Four opener, but BYU did one better, fighting back to earn the right to face Marquette in a second-round game in the West region. Hartsock scored 23 points, Brandon Davies posted 18 points and 15 rebounds and Damarcus Harrison added 12 points for the Cougars (26-8), who held a 43-36 edge on the glass.

Scott Machado scored 15 points with 10 assists, Jermel Jenkins recorded 13 points and Mike Glover posted 12 points and nine rebounds for Iona (25-8), which scored 55 points in the first 16 minutes and 17 points in the final 19 minutes.

Hartsock's wide-open trey from the right wing gave BYU its first lead of the game at 71-70. The trey came after Glover missed an open layup 30 ticks earlier.

Davies made two free throws for a 73-70 lead then Brock Zylstra iced the stunning comeback with a transition three-point play, giving the Cougars a six-point lead with 23 seconds to go. They held on for the improbable victory. With it pouring threes and fastbreak points in Dayton, Iona scored 55 points in the game's first 16 minutes. Then a drought hit, and the Gaels managed just seven points in the next 16 minutes.

Iona drained five of its first seven triples, overwhelming BYU with its speed on both ends of the floor. Sean Armand's jumper gave the Gaels a 20-10 edge just over five minutes in and two more transition buckets by Glover and Armand made the score 24-10. Lamont Jones' jumper capped off 15 successive points for an 18-point margin not even eight minutes in.

Jones made just two more shots on the night, finishing 3-of-15 for six points to go along with seven rebounds. The shooting show continued as Ra'Shad James' three-point play gave the Gaels their biggest lead at 49-24 with just over six minutes on the clock. That was the high point for the Gaels, as BYU started to chip into the deficit before halftime. The Cougars trimmed the margin by 10 and went to the locker room in a 55-40 hole. Iona built the margin back up to 18 at 60-42 on Machado's three-point play, but it closed to seven in the blink of an eye as Davies' jumper and Brock Zylstra's trey brought the Cougars within 62-55 with just over 12 minutes to play. Three straight buckets just over a minute later cut the margin to one, 62-61, and capped 17 straight points in a wave of momentum. That onslaught set up the dramatic finish.

Game Notes Iona shot 69 percent in the first half, but made only 20 percent of its shots in the second half...The Gaels made 1-of-15 three-pointers in the second half...BYU made 48.4 percent of its shots. Harrison, who came into the game averaging just three points per game, gave the Cougars a big boost...BYU committed 20 turnovers, while Iona coughed up 18...The game featured just one lead change...Iona had 17 assists and three turnovers with 4 1/2 minutes left in the first half, but committed 15 turnovers to just two assists the rest of the featured just one lead change...Iona had 17 assists and three turnovers with 4 1/2 minutes left in the first half, but committed 15 turnovers to just two assists the rest of the way