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"It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us-that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion-that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain." - Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address
I stood numb as the helicopter approached. I rubbed his chest and consoled him as he lay in the street. He squeezed my hand acknowledging that I was there with him at this final moment and that I would not give up on him. We left his helmet on as it was the only thing keeping his skull intact. We had already stripped his cammies, only to find more wounds that soon stained the dirt and sand around him. We continued to tend to his wounds, but it was futile. Where was the helicopter? His pupils moved like a pendulum, but I know he could hear me. I knew he was in pain, and I whispered through clenched teeth, "Keep fighting, don't give up, wait for the helicopter, allow us a chance to save your life." He softly squeezed my hand, as his pupil movement slowed. Minutes passed like hours, 19 years of life slipping away on the Iraq soil, as the distant WHOOMP of the helicopter neared. He squeezed my hand again, and I jolted back to reality. I rushed with a team of Marines toward the landing zone. We gently loaded him and everyone pulled back, but as his commander, I stood there one final moment with my Marine. I touched his head for what I knew would be the last time, and thanked him. The clarity in his eyes was waning as I whispered a final prayer, and tied my scapular to his helmet. He was in such pain, but he kept fighting. I assured him we would meet again, and as fast as the helicopter descended, it soared back into the heavens, gone from sight.
Soon after, I would receive news supporting my fear. He passed away. I climbed into the bed of the humvee destined toward base. My mind raced, yet I wasn't really thinking. All I remember is asking God to never, ever let me forget how I felt that day. I vowed then to live my life for the fallen, and dedicate my days to honor them and their sacrifice.
When people find out I am in the military, they respond by thanking me for my service. I am humbled at this gesture and grateful for their intent, but I always think of those who didn't come home. I think of their spouses, parents, siblings, and children. Those still here, who go about their lives, striving for the normalcy of what their life once was, but stricken with the deep loss only others who have experienced it can understand. Please, thank them, not me.

After an action-packed "Bachelorette" premiere that included a masked Phantom of the Mansion and a guy who got so drunk they had to pour him in a cab and send him home, we are back with the episodes where the dates start. Fun stuff.

William's Date

Blonde-haired, blue-eyed hunk William gets the first one-on-one, which whisks him and Ashley off to Las Vegas. Their first stop is a wedding cake shop, where they smush cake on each other's faces. They then go pick out rings. William does not know what is happening and neither do I. Ashley is cracking herself up as she walks him through all these Vegas-wedding activities and William starts playing along - until a minister at a chapel is there and ready to go.

Ashley comes into the chapel in her white mini-dress and the minister begins. William just keeps right on rolling with the punches, saying, "I do" to the minister. Ashley finally puts a stop to these shenanigans and honestly - WTF? Um, this is weird and creepy, not so much with the funny. Jeff of the Mask should've had this date.

They do kiss and it's pretty nifty, some sparkage seems to be flying. Ashley says she's fallen for William after half a date. That night, they get to row through the Bellagio fountain pond and have dinner on a platform out in the middle.

During dinner, William reveals to her about his dad's alcoholism and subsequent death. It sounds like he died due to injuries sustained from a beating? Geez. William also has a watch that stopped at the time of his dad's death and he's left it that way ever since. Ashley identifies, as her father is also an alcoholic. It's very intense. Ashley (of course) gives him a rose. And then the fountains go off. Very romantic.

Kevin Smith has been quite the busy man over these past couple of months. He announced his retirement from filmmaking (after his next movie Hit Somebody comes out, that is), revealed his own radio station S. I. R., and now he’s apparently got a television show in the works. You’d think that he’d want to, you know, kick back and enjoy his retirement. Apparently not.
As is all the rage lately, the announcement came through on Twitter from Kevin Smith himself just yesterday. The tweet points to a Facebook page with a casting call for comic book fans age 21-35 in the New York tri-state area. They aren’t looking for actors for the role, however — they’re looking for comic book fans who “live and breathe the comic book lifestyle.”
The show will take place in Kevin Smith’s own comic book shop The Secret Stash. Going by the information found on the Facebook page posting, it appears the show will essentially be Pawn Stars for the comic book geeks. Pawn Stars has proven to be a pretty winning formula for History Channel, so it’ll be interesting to see how it will work out with comic books.
If you have a collection of rare and cool comics of your own, you’ll have the chance to head over to the comic book store and potentially appear on the show yourself. If that sounds like your sort of thing, head over to this link for more information on how you can potentially participate.

The right air conditioner can make all the difference on a hot, humid day. As the weather heats up, Haier is ready with a selection of window and portable air conditioners to make the long summer days and hot summer nights more comfortable. Take a moment to assess particular cooling needs in order to choose the best air conditioner for a space.
Q: What is the difference between a portable and window air conditioner?
A: Portable air conditioners are great for use in smaller, enclosed areas like bedrooms or offices where local cooling is required. By choosing spot cooling, consumers can save on energy and operation costs. These units are very efficient and reliable, and they have the benefit of mobility. Many units are set on casters allow the units to be easily rolled from room to room as needed. Portable units remove hot air from the room and must be vented out of a window so the hot air is released. The window exhaust kit included with Haier models makes this process quick and simple. Check out this video to learn how to install a portable AC unit such as a Commercial Cool unit.
Window air conditioners. The biggest difference between portable and window units is that window air conditioners are installed and secured in window frames and are meant to be kept there for the entire season. They are stationary units but can be removed from windows at any time to be stored after the season. Window air conditioners draw in air from outside and cool it before releasing it into a hot room. This process cools down areas quickly and quietly. Some air conditioning units also clean and purify the air in your home by reducing allergens and dust.
With models that run from 5,000 BTUs through 24,000 BTUs, and most are ENERGY STAR® qualified, so it's easy to find a Haier air conditioning unit that’s perfect for each room in the home. The ESA406K and ESA412K were both rated as best buys by a leading consumer magazine.
ENERGY STAR qualified room air conditioners use about 10% less energy than conventional models, which could mean a savings of more than $60 over the lifetime of the unit.
Q: What size air conditioner is right for my room?
It’s important to choose an air conditioner with adequate BTUs for the size of the space. Two few BTUs can result in insufficient cooling, and even having too many BTUs can negatively affect cooling performance. The size of the space being cooled is the most important aspect to consider, but other factors such as the number of people normally occupying a room, and sources of additional heat like windows should also be taken into account.
Window AC’s    
BTUs/     Sq Ft/         Approx. Room Dimensions
5,000/     100 - 150/         10' x 12'
6,000/     150 - 250/     10' x 20'
8,000/     250 - 350/         15' x 20'
10,000/     350 - 450/         18' x 22'
12,000/     450 - 550/         20' x 25'
15,000/     550 - 700/         20' x 30'
18,000/     700- 1000/     22' x 40'
24,000/     1000 - 1500/     25' x 50'
Portable AC’s    
BTUs/     Sq Ft/         Approx. Room Dimensions
8,000/     150 - 250/         10' x 20'
10,000/     250 - 350/         15' x 20'
12,000/     350 - 450/         18' x 22'
14,000/     400 - 500/         18’ x 25'
Tips- If more than two people normally occupy a room, add 600 BTU’s for each additional person.
        If a room is very sunny, increase BTU’s by 10%, if it is shady, decrease BTU’s by 10%.
        If the unit is for a kitchen, increase by 4,000 BTU’s.

Palin was a no-show for supporters, celebrity-watchers and media waiting hours for her at the Civil War battlefield of Gettysburg on Monday, but her tour bus reportedly was spotted at a nearby hotel, making it likely she would appear in public Tuesday.
Palin, the Republican vice presidential candidate in 2008, is on a tour of historic sites on the East Coast -- fueling speculation she might be testing the waters for a run at the presidency in 2012.
But the former Alaska governor isn't advising the media of her itinerary, leaving supporters as well as reporters guessing where she will appear next.
Palin, who had 13 percent of the support in a CNN/Opinion Research Corp poll last week, also is leaving everyone wondering whether she will run for the Republican nomination.
It all started on Sunday when Palin entered Washington on the back of a Harley-Davidson in the Rolling Thunder motorcycle parade that has become part of the Memorial Day weekend observance in the capital.
On Monday rumors, then Twitter messages, then posts on her website showed Palin had visited sites around Washington -- the National Archives, where the U.S. Constitution is under glass, first President George Washington's mansion at Mount Vernon, and Baltimore's Fort McHenry, where the rockets' red glare of battle described in the U.S. national anthem took place.

Admittedly, I'm not the best photographer in the universe, but in my defense, potato salad ain't pretty. It is, however, delicious and my husband Douglas makes the best rendition of it I've ever had.
A few subtle touches - fresh thyme, a kiss of smoked paprika and crunchy celery leaves - elevate this picnic staple from side to stand-out.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The resignation of coach Jim Tressel on Monday means Ohio State does not have to pay him another penny of his estimated $3.5 million annual salary.
According to the contract, which runs through the 2014 season, Tressel "shall not be entitled to receive any further compensation or benefits under this agreement" if he resigns.
Ohio State spokesman Jim Lynch said Monday that he was unaware of whether a buyout or severance package was part of Tressel's resignation.
An addendum to the contract does permit Tressel, if he resigns for any reason, to become an associate athletic director at a salary of $150,000 per year. Section 5.3f does stipulate that Ohio State can void that portion of the agreement.

Lynyrd Skynyrd fans who purchased tickets for the July 16 show in Bay City will be please to hear the band is raking in good reviews on its tour.

An ugly row has erupted over a campaign featuring two of Australia's favourite actors encouraging struggling families to accept a carbon tax.
Cate Blanchett and Michael Caton want taxpayers to back a plan similar to New Zealand's Emissions Trading Scheme.
The proposal has divided Australia with many saying it will take more than star power to convince them.
National’s Senate Leader Barnaby Joyce says “this is wrong because you are really going to hurt people Cate".
“You really are. If you bring this in you are really going to make people's lives' miserable."
While the Government is yet to announce the details of the Carbon Tax, drafts suggest it could cost the average Australian family up to $500 a year.
And Blanchett, who has reportedly earned more than $50 million from her acting career, is being criticised for being out of touch.
Blanchett has so far left her defence to co-star Michael Caton.
He appeared on Sunrise saying: “if you're not allowed to have money and have opinions, what's Malcolm Turnbull doing in politics in 2008 and what's Kevin Rudd doing in politics in 2010”.
And Caton has a powerful supporter in Prime Minster Julia Gillard who has welcomed the endorsement and began campaigning herself this morning.
“Every generation of Australians has wanted to bequeath the next generation a country better than we found it,” says Ms Gillard.
Unpublished estimates leaked from the International Energy Agency warn greenhouse gas emissions increased by a record amount last year.

The Victorian chief commissioner of police has had another tough day at the office... fending off a damning report that his force's collating of crime statistics is distorted.

The police corruption watchdog says the force is unable to produce accurate crime clearance statistics.

It says that even though there is no evidence of corruption, the process is open to manipulation.

This has led to more criticism of Simon Overland, who's been beleaguered by calls for his resignation in recent months.

Mary Gearin reports.

MARY GEARIN: Significant flaws; inadequate processes; deficiencies requiring urgent attention.

All in all, the report from the Office of Police Integrity makes discomforting reading for the Victorian police force, and in particular, its chief commissioner Simon Overland.

Today he accepted some of the OPI's criticism but emphasised just how tricky statistics can be.

SIMON OVERLAND: I mean hands up who failed stats. You know, this is really hard stuff to actually get right.

MARY GEARIN: The OPI found no evidence of deliberate wrongdoing by any individual in relation to the systemic issues.

What it did find was inherent flaws in police methodology, including uncertainty about whether a crime should be recorded when it's reported to police or when it enters the database; that affects the accuracy of police response times.

The OPI says the current system can make it seem as if, in any financial year, police successfully clear more crimes than is the case, and that less crime is happening than is actually the case.

Simon Overland says that distortion shouldn't be over-stated.

SIMON OVERLAND: There is a very small issue about if a crime happens at the end of the financial year but is not reported until the next financial year, there is an issue around that, but we say that is a very, very, very small percentage of the overall crime that we're actually dealing with here.

MARY GEARIN: Victoria's crime statistics are fed into national bodies, like the Australian Bureau of Statistics for analysis.

The Bureau's head of crime statistics Lane Masterton says on an initial reading of the report, the distortion will have only a relatively minor effect on his work.

California school districts have gotten plenty of practice trimming budgets. Being asked now for the fourth consecutive year to cut yet another notch into already constricted fiscal belt, Napa Valley Unified School District is creatively searching for ways to minimize the impact on our local students.
The school district’s budget will be cut by $6.2 million next year — or about 5.6 percent — without the aid of voter-approved tax extensions in November.
News this month of improved tax revenue in Gov. Jerry Brown’s latest budget proposal overshadowed the ongoing deficit reality and his plan’s continued reliance on tax extensions.
The $6.6 billion in projected new money advertised in Brown’s May revision would not erase the $6.2 million in local budget cuts.
Those reductions hinge almost exclusively on the extension of state sales and income taxes and the approval of vehicle license fees.
But with that promise of rescue not yet even on the ballot, the district is looking in a total of 25 different places to reach its $6.2 million mandate.
Ranging from savings of $10,000 to $1.4 million, cuts to everything from travel stipends and cell phone use to furlough days and layoffs are being addressed.
But Napa Unified is also searching for innovative ways to save while keeping educational opportunities in front of its students.
Facing the elimination of instrumental instruction at the elementary school level, district Superintendent Patrick Sweeney went to the Napa Valley Education Foundation’s Robin Hampton with the challenge of fundraising $85,000 to keep the program. Hampton, with the charitable contributions of Napa Valley citizens, saved the instruction while the district was able to erase $85,000 from its budget without erasing classes.

We caught a whiff of Halle Berry, a sniff of Paz de la Huerta and a deep breath of Padma Lakshmi. At the Fragrance Foundation’s FiFi Awards, billed as the Oscars of the perfume industry, our correspondent came face to face with a sea of celebrity wrists on Wednesday night. All around us, scented arms, flung into the faces of others, were sniffed with the solemnity of a sommelier.
The celebrities in the audience sat out of smelling distance from one another at the awards show, which was held in a tent at Lincoln Center. A good thing, we learned. Ms. de la Huerta hates rose scents, while Ms. Lakshmi was doused in the flower; Ms. Berry finds vanilla scents too cloying, but Ms. de la Huerta smelled like a cupcake; and Ms. Lakshmi, it seemed, wouldn’t have worn either aroma — she doesn’t do commercial scents.
Desirée Rogers, the former White House social secretary, presented the awards for Media Campaign of the Year.  Nominees like Mary J. Blige and Fergie took home perfume bottle-shaped trophies. Fergie won an award for her fragrance “Outspoken” (appropriately, since her speech included some unprintable language

Have you ever seen a triptych (pronounced trip-tik)? It's a work of art divided into three sections, or three carved panels that are hinged together and can be folded up and made portable for easy transport. The middle panel is typically the largest, and it is flanked by two smaller panels with related themes. Taken together the three panels tell one story. The name triptych originates from the Greek tri (three) plus ptche (fold). Triptychs come in a variety of sizes from small paintings to large altarpieces. Some stained glass windows imitate the trifold form. Our gospel text for Ascension Sunday is a triptych. I like the metaphor because it conveys that the three parts of our text are related and that the text can be folded up and made portable for easy transport wherever we go.
Like a medieval triptych, this work of art needs all three panels to be complete. The first we'll call "Recognition," because in it the disciples recognize the Risen Jesus. The second we'll call "Commissioning," because in it the Risen Lord commissions the disciples. The third we'll label "Departure," because Jesus departs to be with God.

The following is a collection of remembrances of the spoken word poet Will “Da Real One” Bell , who was shot to death early Sunday outside of his North Miami business, The Literary Cafe and Poetry Lounge. The remembrances were curated from Twitter, the Facebook fan page created after his death and emailed in directly from readers. If you have a story or remembrance that you’d like for us to include here, please send us an email.
--
Brigitte Turner, via email
I was a patron of The Literary Cafe and Poetry Lounge. When I met Will, he told me he had a Poetry spot that he'd like me to check out. This was back in 2008. When I did, I immediately fell in love with the energy he shared and the encouragement he gave me from day one. I write poetry and at the time that Will and I met, I was only writing when the mood hit me, and Will encouraged me to write more, and to dedicate more time and knowledge into my writing. I love him so much for his inspiration to not just me, but to so many that loved and respected him, and will continue to do so even in his passing.
Te-Erika Patterson, via email
I remember Will,was a spoken word artist and undercover comedian. You couldn't visit The Literary Cafe on Saturday night without laughing until you cry and wanting to linger on afterwards just to hear him joke around even more. He wasn't simply a PART of the poetry scene in South Florida, he BUILT it with his words. Every single artist on the scene has him to thank for inspiring them. He made me believe that something wonderful can happen from releasing the creative gifts within.
Lamar Jones, via email
Will was the first poet that I befriended when I found out about the poetry scene. He took me under his wing as he did so many up and coming artist. Will gave me advice that, till this day has a lot to do with my success in the entertainment industry.
Will taught me that having the limelight was not about the fame, but all about how many minds you could open and how many people you could inspire through your gift. He also showed me how important it was to be respected in this industry. Will opened my eyes to an underground poetry scene that I had no idea existed. After seeing Will perform that night in Davie, Fl at Kolonut Cafe. I came back every time the mic was open. I wanted to have that effect on people. I wanted to lift my people up. Will and Comedian "Razor" were the host of the spot at that time.

Solar Mash is a growing solar information web site, used by many solar installers to promote their residential, commercial, and financing services. Because Solar Mash provides free directory listings and installer pages, listing your company's overview, services, certifications, awards and office locations, you can take advantage of a new venue to promote your business and utilize some additional free advertising.
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Consumers looking to purchase solar panels, solar kits, or install a solar energy system will find SolarMash.com is a solar directory built around researching local solar installers quickly, and at no cost to the consumer. The site offers a place for legitimate and reputable solar businesses to tell their story to their target demographic.
A key differentiator at SolarMash.com is that you will not find wall to wall advertising, banners and pop-ups. Instead, you will discover a wide variety of useful solar energy related articles, daily breaking news in the solar industry, lists of solar industry jobs and important information about solar financing.
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Solar Financing Solutions - Solar buyers have many options to pay for a solar panel system without breaking the bank. From Solar Power Purchase Agreements (SPPAs) to Solar Leasing to Solar Home Equity Loans, Solar Mash breaks down each financing option to help users find the right fit.

The landscape will be shifting at the state Capitol. Political dynamics are in transition. And the first unmistakable sign may be the Legislature's meeting its budget deadline for the first time in a generation.

The California Constitution says flat-out that "The Legislature shall pass the budget bill by midnight on June 15…." Yet, the lawmakers haven't completed their budget work on time since 1986.Who cares? Teachers sweating layoff notices, not knowing whether there'll be enough money to fund their jobs in September. Vendors who sell to the state, wondering whether they'll be stiffed again this summer. There's a long list.

Then there are millions of disgusted people who don't feel directly affected by the budget, but just understand instinctively that well-paid elected officials with generous perks should do their work on time. No excuses. That's why the Legislature's job approval rating among voters is mired in the sorry teens.

I'm an eternal optimist who admittedly too often overestimates the common sense of politicians. But I do detect some rehab underway. I'm thinking they'll kick their habits of intransigence and vacillation and pass a final budget by the deadline.

There's no legitimate reason not to and plenty of motivators. They include:

— Finally a real penalty for violating the Constitution. If legislators don't pass a balanced budget by June 15, they'll permanently lose their pay and expense money until they do approve a spending plan. Some who see a loophole are fantasizing.

Question: What nutrition needs do young women have?
Answer: Younger women in particular need to make sure they are consuming enough calcium, vitamin D and iron, and an adequate intake of calories to support energy and nutritional needs for their bodies to function properly.
Women ages 20 to 50 should have 1,200 mg of calcium each day to build peak bone mass and prevent osteoporosis, a disease in which bone density decreases and leads to weak bones and future fractures. Good sources of calcium are low-fat dairy products, salmon, tofu, vegetables such as broccoli, legumes (peas and beans) and seeds and nuts. You might want to take a supplement, but if you do, split your doses so that you take 600 mg in the morning and the remaining 600 mg at night.
Vitamin D also is important for bone strength and I recommend that all women up to age 60 take 800 to 1000 IU (international units) per day.
Women also need an adequate iron intake because they lose iron through menstruation. Iron is typically found in many animal products as well as plant sources. Without enough iron, iron deficiency anemia can develop and cause symptoms that include fatigue and headaches.

The Cowboys’ star quarterback, Tony Romo, has always received criticism for his off the field habits.
Whether it has been that he has spent too much time on the golf course, with lady friends or off on some vacation, Romo has received negative criticism. Because of these off the field habits, some have spoken out about how Romo has poor leadership, bad judgement, and no desire to win.
Everybody recalls Romo’s relationship with Jessica Simpson and how she was bad luck or a distraction. Also, nobody can forget Romo’s trip to Cancun during the bye week before the Cowboys’ playoff game a few year ago. Also, Romo just can’t get enough golf! These are some of the thoughts that run through skeptical fans when they think of the quarterback.
To some, this offseason has seemed just the same as any others have in the past. Tony still tried to qualify for the US Open (which he has done every year for about the past five years) and is getting married (more girl distractions).
However, despite all his romance, golf, and shenanigans, Romo has never shied away from Valley Ranch. Season after season, he has been the person to spend the most time in the facilities working out, watching film, and showing that he cares. He has never been quite the vocal leader for the Cowboys, but his dedication has always been there.
As for his competitive spirit, Romo’s is top-notch. Tony loves to win, and perhaps that is the reason why he golfs so much. He is a very talented golfer, and during this offseason, he actually managed to win Drew Brees’ benefit golf tournament. He absolutely loves to win.

Today at Computex, Bigfoot Networks, the technology company behind the Killer™ line of high performance networking products, has partnered with industry-leading notebook manufacturer MSI Computer Corp. to announce its first Killer Wireless-based laptop solution, the MSI GT683R.
Building on Bigfoot Networks' history of high-performance networking, the Killer Wireless-N 1102 adapter integrated within MSI's new solution delivers superior wireless networking Speed with data rates up to 300Mbps⁽ⁱ⁾. Bigfoot Networks' exclusive Advanced Stream Detect™ technology provides network Intelligence by automatically classifying and prioritizing latency-sensitive network traffic such as online games, HD video, voice and audio. Control comes courtesy of Bigfoot Networks' exclusive Visual Bandwidth Control™ application, which lets users easily manage their precious bandwidth and adjust upload and download allocations for each online application. As a result, users experience optimized gaming performance, fewer video interruptions and crystal-clear audio and video conferencing, even when running multiple online applications simultaneously.
"Through our partnership with Bigfoot Networks, we are able to offer our discerning customers an unprecedented wireless networking experience for all their online gaming, HD video and high-quality audio streaming needs," said Eric Kuo, associate vice president for global sales, MSI Notebook. "Bigfoot Networks has recognized the demands that real-time, content-rich applications can put on a network, and with this new technology, our customers can enjoy all the benefits of on-demand wireless entertainment without the frustration of freezes, stuttering or excessive buffering. Killer Wireless-N adapters have truly opened new doors for today's mobile computing enthusiast."

For sheer mastery of celebrity theater, Sarah Palin cannot be beat.
Palin, the former governor of Alaska, let the anticipation build for hours Sunday in the Pentagon's North Parking Lot, where thousands of bikers (and their rumbling Harleys) had gathered for the annual Rolling Thunder rally ahead of Memorial Day.
And then, suddenly, there she was: Palin, with her husband, Todd, and the rest of the family. Wearing matching black Harley-Davidson helmets, they rode motorcycles toward the front of the procession through a crush of cameramen, photographers, reporters and leather-clad bikers, all jostling for a peek at the woman who might run for president.
A traditional political appearance it was not. She did not make any public remarks or shake hands with dignitaries. There was no news release accompanying her visit. And after the short ride to the National Mall - she rode on the back of a volunteer's bike - she sped off in a black sport utility vehicle to points unknown to anyone outside her small circle.

"Beautiful Girls" hitmaker Sean Kingston was injured following a jet skiing accident in Miami Beach. The 21-year-old singer and a female passenger were taken to a hospital after his personal watercraft crashed into a bridge around 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Kingston crashed into the bridge connecting Miami Beach's Palm Island to the MacArthur Causeway.
City of Miami Fire Rescue crews responded to the scene and took the singer and his female companion to the Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Kingston's injuries are said to be so severe that he was taken in the trauma ward, TMZ reported. Officials also do not believe that alcohol played a role in the accident.
His rep told TMZ, "Sean Kingston was in an accident today. No further details are available at the moment. He and his family thank everyone for the well wishes."

 Tonight on TLC a new series of documentaries was introduced called, ‘My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding’ that explores the in’s and out’s of the secret society of British gypsies, which are often called travellers.
UK gypsies live on the outside of society and there are more than 300,000 travellers living in the Britain.  Many are Irish or Roma.   Their biggest,traditions which will be explored in this series, are the milestones in life where modern and ancient fashions collide.  Thelma Madine is the coveted dressmaker in this culture.  Each bride approaches her wanting a dress bigger than any she’s ever created, no matter the cost or weight of the dress.  Yes, I said weight!  Little Margaretha went to Thelma for her first communion dress, which is another rite of passage that is done up huge in gypsy culture, right down to the huge dress which had more than 500 yards of pink netting and more than 5,000 crystals.  This seven-year old wore a dress than weighed more than she did, and yes, to a communion!!  Sixteen-year old Josie, getting married to 19-year old Swanley, had her dress created with Thelma, too.  Her dress weighed more than 70 pounds and included a thigh high opening in the front.  Not to worry, she ditched the bundle of tulle after the traditional cake cutting so she could boogie down at her reception.

The kinship Peter Puhalla shares with the late uncle he never knew runs deeper than family - a connection born of blood certainly but in a very real sense nurtured there, too.
In blood and in sacrifice.
Frank A. Puhalla was a 23-year-old Army private, a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division serving in World War II, when he was killed in action in North Africa on Sept. 17, 1943, four years before his nephew's birth.
Last week, as Mr. Puhalla and other volunteers from Throop American Legion Herbert Clark Post 180 placed fresh American flags on the graves of 488 veterans at four cemeteries in the borough, the 64-year-old Air Force veteran paused at his uncle's marker and reflected on ties that bind them all.
"Even though I never met him, I feel that I knew him," said Mr. Puhalla, the Post 180 commander who spent 12 months in Vietnam from 1967 into 1968. "Once a veteran, always a veteran. You can ask anyone. Once you serve, that's it - you're brothers."
Today, on Memorial Day, Northeast Pennsylvania will honor those who have died in service to the nation with parades and solemn services, with patriotic music and quiet moments of reflection in cemeteries where soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines lie in graves adorned with crisp flags.
But on the day set aside for all Americans to remember the fallen, the inescapable fact is living veterans - almost invariably and probably naturally - are the ones who have voluntarily taken on the task of keeping alive the memory of the dead locally.
"That's true," said Robert Tuffy, who served with the Marine Corps during the Korean War and is now director of the Lackawanna County Office of Veterans Affairs. "Don't get me wrong - there are a lot of organizations, schoolkids and other people, but it really is the veterans taking care of the veterans."
Over the past several weeks, it is the 61 veterans organizations in the county - sometimes on their own, sometimes with the help of volunteers - that have had the primary responsibility for planting new flags on upward of 25,000 graves of men and women who have served the nation from the Civil War through the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Chances are if you attend a public Memorial Day ceremony or activity today, it will have been planned and largely executed by veterans.
Post 180 adjutant Ralph Policichio, a Vietnam-era veteran who was part of the small group placing flags last week in Throop, said he considers it a privilege to make sure deceased service members are properly remembered, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Despite Mets prospective minority owner David Einhorn watching his future team's latest collapse, he called buying a stake in the Amazin's "more than a dream come true." But the truly surreal scene came as he disappeared into a mob scene afterward, engulfed in a throng of fans as he walked through the parking lot.
Einhorn, a 43-year-old hedge fund manager who grew up a Mets fan in Demarest, N.J. and lives in Westchester, sat in the owner's box behind home plate with his family. He spoke with manager Terry Collins before the 5-2 loss to Philadelphia last night at Citi Field, and left with his family, a gaggle of 15 kids in tow and 10 media types in pursuit.
When asked if this was a dream for him, Einhorn said, "Of course it is. Way beyond. [It's] way beyond a dream come true."
Einhorn, the president of the Greenlight Capital hedge fund, watched the game clad in khakis, a Tar Heel blue shirt and a Mets cap. Einhorn, who reportedly will pay $200 million for a third of the team, with the right to buy 60 percent later, paid a quick visit to owner Fred Wilpon's suite during the game. Afterward, he walked through the tunnels of the stadium lugging a box of trinkets and surrounded by children.
"Yeah, I got some treats. It was a lot of fun," Einhorn said as he followed Wilpon, before being rerouted, told he was headed the wrong way.
When asked which part he enjoyed the most, he said, "It's hard to even know. It's just fun so far."
Einhorn enjoyed a chat with Collins in the dugout.
"He talked to me," Collins said. "I met him in the dugout. I welcomed him to the organization -- hopefully. I asked him what he's seen so far. He's just real excited to be here. He said, 'Hopefully I get a chance to speak to you more later.' "

A FASCINATING insight into life behind the scenes at Highclere Castle was provided by Lord and Lady Carnarvon at a special evening sponsored by the Anton Rotary Club.
The event was held at The Hampshire Golf Club with many guests attending from various Rotary Clubs and businesses, to listen to an excellent presentation by Lord and Lady Carnarvon about Highclere Castle, and in particular, the filming of the TV series Downton Abbey.
A new series of the hugely successful programme is currently being filmed at Highclere.
The presentation also enlarged on the family history as well as the logistics of running the historic estate.
All proceeds from the evening go directly to Anton Rotary's main charity, Cystic Fibrosis, and also a number of local Andover charities to whom Anton Rotary continue to provide ongoing support.

Monaco may turn itself over to Formula One racing for the weekend of the Grand Prix, but tradition dictates that football takes centre stage before the on-track action begins, with the annual pre-race ‘World Stars’ charity match. This year’s event - the 18th to be held - was raising money for the reconstruction of the church in Port au Prince, Haiti.

Whilst the Star Team MC, made up of international sports names, was captained by Monaco’s very own HSH Prince Albert II, the Formula One side was captained Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso. Sauber’s Sergio Perez, HRT’s Vitantonio Liuzzi, Ferrari’s Felipe Massa, Renault’s Vitaly Petrov, Virgin Jerome D’Ambrosio and Force India reserve Nico Hulkenberg were amongst the other drivers in action.

Glamour was firmly back on the agenda on Thursday. Not only were we treated to the unique sights and sounds of Formula One cars winding their way round the Principality’s narrow streets, but one of the most expensive watches ever created was unveiled to the media and a spectacular Bollywood-inspired yacht party was thrown to delight the paddock glitterati.

The watch came courtesy of luxury Swiss brand Hublot, the Official Watchmaker of Formula 1™. The Two Million Euro BB was presented in the presence of Formula One group CEO Bernie Ecclestone - and a crowd of reporters - in the paddock on Thursday afternoon. Made up of 637 baguette diamonds the watch weighs in at more than 140 carats and required 2,000 hours of work by master gem-setters.

IT WAS billed as the Perfect Final. And we weren’t let down.
Barcelona were simply brilliant as they shattered Sir Alex Ferguson’s dream of winning the European Cup for the third time.
Inspired by the brilliant Lionel Messi, the Catalans blew Fergie’s side away to conquer Europe for the fourth time.
And Bob Paisley will stand alone as the only British boss to land a hat-trick of victories as long as Pep Guardiola has players like Messi and Xavi at his disposal.
It was thought United were the only ones who might be able to stop the team rated by many as the greatest club side ever.
The Old Trafford men were also desperate to avenge their defeat by Guardiola’s side in the 2009 final.
But Barca swept them aside with a masterclass of thrilling football at the scene of their first European Cup triumph in 1992.
Pedro opened the scoring only for Wayne Rooney to level with a superb goal before half-time.
However, Barcelona moved up a gear after the break and long-range strikes from Messi – his 53rd of an incredible season – and David Villa eased them to victory.
The only surprise in United’s line up was that top scorer Dimitar Berbatov failed to find even a place on the bench.
Scotland star Darren Fletcher had to settle for a place amongst the subs as he missed out on a heartbreaking third final.
Barca skipper Carles Puyol was also a spectator on the bench after failing to convince boss Guardiola of his fitness.
That meant Javier Mascherano played at the back and United tested him in a ferocious start.
Fergie’s side tried to exploit the Argentinian’s lack of height and launched high balls in his direction. Rooney was jumping as if he was taking off from a trampoline and won flick-ons time after time.
But strike partner Javier Hernandez was too eager and ran offside four times in 20 minutes.
As expected, Barca came into the game after settling down and dominated possession.
Their players found little pockets of space and only some fine blocks from Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic prevented Villa and Pedro from testing Edwin van der Sar.
Barcelona finally broke the deadlock in 27 minutes with a superbly crafted goal.
Andres Iniesta shuttled a 10-yard pass to Xavi that Michael Carrick just failed to intercept.
The midfielder was 35 yards from goal and had option after option as his team-mates darted about to confuse the United players.
Messi’s run right across the box caused the biggest problem and Pedro peeled away from Vidic to pick up Xavi’s pass.
Van der Sar expected the winger to shoot across goal but he placed it low into the other corner for a brilliant finish.
United hit back superbly and grabbed a leveller seven minutes after Pedro’s strike.
Ferguson’s side pressed Barca in their own half and Eric Abidal’s throw-in was won by Ferdinand.
Rooney then gained possession and found Ryan Giggs inside the box. The Welshman waited for the perfect time to play the return pass and Rooney smacked the ball high past Victor Valdes.
We had a contest now and the second half couldn’t come quickly enough. But it was one-way traffic after the break and Messi took centre stage in 54 minutes.

Magician Chad Juros performed and shared his motivational message at the Vogelson Regional Branch library in Voorhees on Tuesday, May 24.
Juros is a two-time cancer survivor and has been a professional award-winning magician since the age of seven. His past performances include the White House, Criss Angel’s Mindfreak and Dinner Impossible.
Juros is the founder of the Spread the Magic Foundation, a New Jersey non-profit that spreads magic to children with cancer. His performances feature classic magical illusions as well as juggling.
Established in 1921, Camden County Library System seeks to meet the recreational, informational and educational needs of its customers with locations in Bellmawr, Camden, Gloucester Township, Haddon Township, Merchantville, Winslow Township and Voorhees.   The Library is governed and supported by the Camden County Board of Freeholders and the Camden County Library Commission.

The Pantry, Inc. (Nasdaq: PTRY), the leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern United States, is breathing new life into a World War II Jeep to travel from city to city in a summer-long celebration to honor our Armed Forces and their families. As part of its Kangaroo Express “Salute Our Troops” fundraising campaign, local military heroes will be recognized with community celebrations along the route.
Over the course of 16 weeks, the Salute Our Troops Jeep Tour mission is to travel to 12 markets throughout the Southeast, covering up to 100 miles each day and making celebratory stops at community events, military installations and Kangaroo Express stores along the way.
The fully-restored 1952 Willy’s CJ-3 Jeep will help raise awareness and donations for military charitable organizations and shine a spotlight of appreciation as communities honor military heroes who have served in the Armed Forces or have positively impacted the lives of those who serve our country. The hero will have the opportunity to ride along as a co-pilot for the day and will be recognized for their service and accomplishments.
“When you see the Salute Our Troops Jeep outside one of our Kangaroo Express convenience stores, you know the light is shining on a true local hero,” said John Fisher, senior vice president of The Pantry. “It’s our way of saying thanks to the men and women who serve our country and show support to their families who hold down the fort back home.”
Joanie Thresher, director of USO South Carolina, will ride as the first hero recognized in the Salute Our Troops Jeep as it makes its first appearance in the Myrtle Beach, S.C., Memorial Day Weekend Parade on May 28. The parade starts at 9:30 a.m. on 27th Avenue North and heads south to Ninth Avenue North.
“This is a real honor to be representing the Salute Our Troops campaign and the USO in the Memorial Day parade,” said Thresher. “Lifting the spirits of the troops and their families is at the heart of all our USO community involvement and this Salute Our Troops Jeep Tour drives home the importance of recognizing and supporting the men and women who are serving or have served our country.”
For the Salute Our Troops campaign, Kangaroo Express is asking store guests to help raise $1 million between Memorial Day and Labor Day through donations at the more than 1,600 Kangaroo Express convenience stores across 13 states to benefit the USO, Wounded Warrior Project and National Guard family assistance programs.
Store guests are encouraged to support the Salute Our Troops campaign with $1 donations and to add their own voices of gratitude with “shout outs” of pride and appreciation by posting photos and videos on the Kangaroo Express Facebook page.

Nico Rosberg was unharmed after crashing heavily during the third practice session, clambering out of his battered Mercedes and walking away without assistance.
Mercedes mechanics managed to repair his car in time for the afternoon qualifying session, where Rosberg claimed the eighth spot in the grid.
The third practice session had just begun, with most drivers on their first few installation laps, when Rosberg raced out of the tunnel, swerved to the right into a barrier and over the chicane. The crash was spectacular but the 25-year-old German walked away from the wreckage.
The session was suspended briefly while debris was cleared. The Mercedes mechanics then worked through lunch to ensure Rosberg made it out on track for qualifying.

Multiple Grammy-winner Toni Braxton, 43, stars in the We TV reality show, "Braxton Family Values," which gives equal time to her four singing sisters, Tamar, Towanda, Trina and Traci.
Unlike reality shows where the drama is contrived, I get the sense that your family drama goes back years. At one point you and your sisters were all equals as members of the Braxtons. How did they react to your breakout as a star?

In Indianapolis, Indiana, on Sunday, on a speedway that bears the city's name, 33 drivers will crank their engines and hit their accelerators to launch the 100th running of America's best-known auto race.
The start time for the Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for noon, following six hours of pre-game festivities Sunday morning. They begin with the traditional 6 a.m. explosion of a military bomb to open the track and, later, include TV actress Florence Henderson's annual rendition of "God Bless America."
For drivers, this year's race includes a new rule that could increase the risk of crashes at the iconic race, according to some. Under the new rule, Drivers will have to line up in a side-by-side alignment during restarts.
This differs from the past when cars lined up single-file for restarts. The new double-file formation and could cause crashes as the bunched up cars jockey for position, some say.
"It's going to be interesting, the new rules, the double-file restart," former Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves told reporters last week. "There's a lot of things happening that can change the dynamic of this race from the past. So it will certainly be interesting to see."

The Killer's late-career, all-star geezer fests are simply great fun for anyone who cares about the unbroken circle of American popular music.
Just as he did with 2006's "Last Man Standing," Lewis has assembled cohorts from across the musical spectrum -- three Stones, Merle, Willie, Ringo, Clapton, Slash, Mavis Staples, Tim McGraw, James Burton, Gillian Welch, Solomon Burke and Kid Rock among them -- and plunged gamely into the archives.
All of Lewis' gloriously contradictory personality traits are represented: "Middle-Age Crazy," "Whiskey River," "Swinging Doors," "Sunday Morning Coming Down" and the Kris Kristofferson-penned title track are cheek-to-jowl (and we do mean jowl) with "You Are My Sunshine" and the gospel nuggets "Railroad to Heaven" and "Will the Circle Be Unbroken."
Sure, the energy level sags a few times ("Whiskey River" and "Please Release Me" need Viagra), and Lewis' less-than-supple vocals need all of that all-star support, but for the most part, history has seldom gone down so easily. If this turns out to be a final statement, then the soon-to-be-75 Jerry Lee will have done himself proud.

THOUSANDS of people’s travel plans were thrown into chaos yesterday as rail problems delayed almost 70% of trains travelling along the east coast.
With the Champions League final taking place at Wembley and Take That playing a concert in Sunderland, there couldn’t have been a worse time for the problems to strike, with operators warning of delays of up to two hours.
Network Rail investigators were last night trying to establish the cause of damage to four power lines, forcing the cancellations of services in both directions between Grantham, Lincolnshire, and Peterborough, Cambridgeshire.
The problems started at 10.20am, when the first train was stopped approaching Grantham. Altogether 70 out of 102 services travelling the east coast route in both directions were affected.
Trains leaving Newcastle going south suffered few delays but were unable to go past Grantham, while people hoping to return to the North suffered the biggest delays to the start of their journeys and were only able to reach Peterborough.
Between the two towns there were no trains. Instead, to get to London, passengers were being advised to get off at Doncaster as Cross Country, Grand Central and East Coast were all accepting each other’s passengers, making an alternative route possible. Another alternative was to head north into Scotland then travel down the west coast instead. An East Coast spokeswoman said: “I don’t think many people have taken that option to go north. We were advising of a 120 minutes delay, and recommended that people don’t travel. But their tickets are valid for the next day.” East Coast decided to cancel the 9pm train from London Kings Cross to Newcastle yesterday because Network Rail wanted to take possession of the line to fix the problem as quickly as possible. They were expecting to solve the problem overnight and finish the work by 9.30am today, with only the 8am service from York potentially cancelled to avoid a backlog of stranded passengers.

Zach Galifianakis works very hard to appear disinterested. As one of the breakout leads from The Hangover, Galifianakis behaves as though he doesn’t want the fact that he starred in the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time to go to his head.  

Soft-spoken and pleasant, he doodles during interviews. He considers his answers. He deadpans his responses. Some of that is playing the role of a happy stand-up comic enjoying his unlikely rise to movie-star success. Or some of it might be the delayed after-effects of the considerable amount of drugs he claims to have used over the course of his career.  

AskMen spoke to Zach during a press event for The Hangover Part II.

Have you ever -- or would you ever -- find yourself mixed up in the sort of debauchery Alan stumbles into in both Hangover movies?

Zach Galifianakis : I’ve been happily dedicated to the same woman for a number of years. I never even look at other women. I think I was probably the most boring guy on this shoot.

Mariano Rivera wasn't making any excuses, even if every break went Seattle's way in the 12th inning.
Brett Gardner nearly came up with Justin Smoak's sinking liner. Jack Cust's double caused chalk to come off the grass down the left-field line.
And Adam Kennedy's game-winning single just happened to fall into a vacant pocket in shallow center field to give the Mariners a 5-4 win over the Yankees on Saturday night.
"The whole inning felt like that," Rivera said after suffering his first loss since September 2010. "That's when things are going to happen. What are you going to do? It's over."
Kennedy had just one hit in his previous 13 at-bats against Rivera.
The Yankees lost their second straight to start a nine-game West Coast trip, even though they finally knocked around Seattle ace Felix Hernandez and got 7 1-3 scoreless innings of relief from their bullpen before Rivera faltered in the 12th.

According to EW's Michael Ausiello, Kim Bauer will be reunited with Daddy Dearest come 2009. That's right, Elisha Cuthbert has signed a contract to reappear on FOX's 24 this upcoming season. When we last saw her during the fifth season she was being whisked away from Los Angeles by her much older boyfriend, Barry.

She's not expected to return until toward the end of the upcoming seventh season and while she won't be "with" Barry, she will be with a child. Or at least have a child. I'll bet she didn't even tell Jack that he was a grandfather. In fact, is it a sign that 24 is getting a little long in the tooth that our action hero is a grandfather now?

Kim was never a really great fit for the vibe of the show, other than being incredibly hot. She tended to be the classic victim or prisoner as the situation warranted, never really finding her strength as a strong independent character. With a bit role at the end of the season, it looks like again she's going to be used more for Jack's reaction to her and what she and her child represents than as a character in her own right.

Or maybe they'll blow all our minds and have her come swooping in like a badass and save the day. It can be like the latest Indiana Jones where Indy passed on the mantle of cavalier hero to his estranged son and Kim Bauer can take the reigns of future seasons.

"Everybody's boyfriend" and the "girl next door." That's the way American Idol executive producer Ken Warwick describes the two teenagers who'll compete for this year's Idol title to USA TODAY's Bill Keveney.
Keveney spoke with Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery about coming down to the wire with two country singers and which might take the title.
"Scotty and I have a lot of the same fans, so I think it just depends on our performances," Lauren says. "Scotty has teenage girls rooting for him; I have little girls rooting for me. Scotty is going to be tough to beat."
Scotty adds, "A lot of people thought we'd be splitting votes and one would go home early, but they've kept us around and we're just glad to be here."
Keveney also spoke with producer Tricky Stewart, who has worked with both singers in the studio this season.

With the third bout of the Frankie Edgar-Gray Maynard rivarly scratched due to injury, UFC 130’s movers and shakers were largely on the undercard.

Rick Story scored a career-boosting decision over former title challenger Thiago Alves, and unbeaten heavyweight bruiser Travis Browne scored a spectacular knockout of Stefan Struve. It’s all the thrills, chills and spills in one: the UFC 130 Stock Report is here.

Stock Up

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson: I’m tempted to give Jackson a “hold” rating after his largely tepid three-round showing, where “Rampage” plugged along and outworked the hapless Matt Hamill.

However, when Jackson mentioned he’d brought a fractured hand into the bout, it suddenly made sense why he was fighting with uncharacteristic reserve (one can only imagine the blowback from Jackson dropping off the card after the Edgar-Maynard bout getting scratched).

In the context of a performance, Jackson essentially showed he’s a level above Hamill, who wasn’t able to be effective enough standing to close the distance and execute effective takedown attempts. In past performances against Forrest Griffin and Rashad Evans, Jackson was defeated on gameplans backfiring; on pure physical assets, guile and resilience, he’s a handful for anyone.

With two healthy hands, he’ll be a knockout away from securing a title shot. In a nebulous light heavyweight division, Jon Jones is apparently on hold, with Rashad and Phil Davis likely squaring off in an elimination match. A big win by Jackson could have inserted him into the discussion, which didn’t happen here. But it was a showing typical of the veteran -- Jackson’s one of the most durable guys in the game.

Rick Story: With a five-fight win streak against increasingly good competition, Story faced a big jump up against Alves, a former title challenger. Promising to push the pace and wear Alves down, Story did just that, showcasing a cast-iron chin and big-time resilience in the process.

After sweeping the first two rounds, two things became apparent. Story is one of the division’s best takedown artists, and his ability to trade in the pocket is exceptional, which makes his wrestling all the more effective. In a rocky third round, he absorbed some big shots from the game but worn-down Alves, revealing the gameness you like to see in a rising contender.

At just 25, Story jumped up a couple notches in the welterweight pecking order, perhaps into the top five. Top contenders like Jon Fitch, Jake Shields and Josh Koscheck have all been handily beaten by champ Georges St. Pierre in title shots, with rematches a hard sell.

A win over any of that trio would likely make Story a marketable challenger; along with fellow young guns Jake Ellenberger and Carlos Condit, it’ll be interesting to see how the UFC lines up its new blood with the veteran guard to produce challengers for the dominant champ (Story decisioned Ellenberger before both fought in the UFC, and each has improved considerably since then).

Throw the winner of Anthony Johnson-Nate Marquardt into the mix, and you’ve got yourself a party. Story’s tenacity, chin and willingness to trade standing make him a live wire against any other contender in the division.

Travis Browne: Whomever Browne fights next, it’ll certainly be easier to find sparring partners. Facing the 6’11 Struve, Browne scored a huge win with a bodacious knockout off a Superman punch, sending Struve crumbling to the canvas, as though he’d been clotheslined.

Heavyweights, in lieu of reliable conditioning and the sharp technique of the little guys, can deliver red-meat knockouts, and this was precisely why the big guys can deliver. At 6-foot-seven-inches and 250 pounds, Browne has considerable size, menace, and a nice boost to his marketability with this win.