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Statement by the President on Senator Richard Lugar | The White …

Statement by the President on Senator Richard Lugar

As a friend and former colleague, I want to express my deep appreciation for Dick Lugar’s distinguished service in the United States Senate.  While Dick and I didn’t always agree on everything, I found during my time in the Senate that he was often willing to reach across the aisle and get things done.   My administration’s efforts to secure the world’s most dangerous weapons has been based on the work that Senator Lugar began, as well as the bipartisan cooperation we forged during my first overseas trip as Senator to Russia, Ukraine and Azerbaijan.  Senator Lugar comes from a tradition of strong, bipartisan leadership on national security that helped us prevail in the Cold War and sustain American leadership ever since.  He has served his constituents and his country well, and I wish him all the best in his future endeavors. (more…)

President Obama touts refinancing changes on visit to Nevada

Obama used his stop to urge Congress to act on legislation that would make it easier for lenders to refinance mortgages, steps that have the potential to save homeowners thousands of dollars each year on interest payments and potentially boost the economy as a whole.

It’s the second item on a congressional “To-Do” list Obama put forward this week, his latest election-year attempt to use an unpopular GOP-led House of Representatives as a punching bag.

“There’s absolutely no reason why (Congress) can’t make this happen right now,” he said before the open garage door of the home of Val and Paul Keller, after sitting down with the couple at their kitchen table.

“If they started now, in a couple weeks, in a month, they could make every homeowner in America who’s underwater right now eligible to be able to refinance their homes if they’re making their payments, if they’re responsible, if they’re doing the right thing. And think about all those families saving $3,000 on average a month. (more…)

North Carolina a political headache for Democrats

CHARLOTTE, N.C. —

Once a bright spot for President Barack Obama, North Carolina is now more like a political migraine less than four months before Democrats open the party’s national convention in Charlotte.

The causes are plenty.

Labor unions, a core Democratic constituency, are up in arms. Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue isn’t running for re-election; Democrats say she was likely to lose. The state Democratic Party is in disarray over an explosive sexual harassment scandal. Voters recently approved amending the state constitution to ban gay marriage, a position that runs counter to Obama’s. And unemployment in the state remains persistently high.

“Nobody can sugarcoat the fact that we got problems here,” said Gary Pearce, a former Democratic consultant who was an adviser to former Democratic Gov. Jim Hunt. Pearce was referring specifically to state party woes but could have been talking about any of the troubles here for Democrats.

But, he added: “I think the greatest strength that the party has is President Obama. (more…)

Bryce Harper learns how not to vent anger

By JOE KAY
AP Sports Writer

CINCINNATI (AP) – Bryce Harper's frustrated swing cost him a little blood and a little embarrassment, but no time on the field.

The teenager was lucky.

Harper took out his frustration on a wall Friday night, slamming his bat hard against the side of the tunnel leading to the clubhouse. The barrel smacked off the wall and hit his temple just above the left eye, causing a gash that needed 10 stitches after a 7-3 win over Cincinnati.

He was in the starting lineup again on Saturday night, wearing a white bandage over the lump just above his eyebrow.

“No problem, no headache,” the 19-year-old outfielder said. “I feel great. Ready to go.”

Manager Davey Johnson initially thought Harper would need a couple of days to recover. Harper texted him after he got stitches on Friday night and said the doctor had cleared him to keep playing.

When Johnson saw him on Saturday, he relented.

“There wasn't any swelling around the eye to speak of,” Johnson said. “So he can take out that anger on the opposing pitcher instead of the walls around here.

“He's real lucky, real fortunate. It could have been a heck of a lot worse.”

It's been quite a two-week debut for Harper, who has been plunked and, now, has plunked himself while getting accustomed to the major league spotlight. (more…)

Jury reaches verdict in Lil Boosie trial

In its closing, the prosecution said the evidence speaks for itself. Prosecutor Dana Cummings said Michael Louding, known as “Marlo Mike,” admitted on interrogation tape that Hatch gave him $2,800 in $20s after the murder. She said Carvis “Donkey” Webb and Hatch worked on Louding to get him to tell the “truth.” According to Cummings, during phone calls to Louding, Webb told him, “Follow my lead and you coming home Marlo.”

She also told the jury Hatch wrote in a letter to his mother that he might have said some things that incriminate him. Cummings said the lyrics in Hatch's songs again prove his intent. She said in the phrase “Yo Marlo” he even calls out his hit man. “That's billboard strong,” Cummings said.

Hatch's lawyer said detectives called Louding the “ace in the hole.” Attorney Jason Williams pointed out that's a poker saying. He said poker is a game of deceit. He added the detective testified he's skilled at deceit and that's what this case is about. He told the jury to notice investigators said they preserved computers with lyrics on them for jurors to see, but police didn't preserve 10 hours of interrogation tape for jurors to see.

“This case not about Boosie, but who's being tried first?” Williams asked. “Not the man who says he killed six people.”

He went on to state there is no proof Hatch had beef with Terry Boyd. (more…)

Wolfenstein 3D turns 20, gets free Web version » Coolest Gadgets

All right, this does not have anything to do with a gadget, but it is still a significant milestone for gamers. Do you remember Wolfenstein 3D when you played it a good couple of decades ago? Yes sir, the game has just turned 20, and id Software intends to celebrate this milestone by making Wolfenstein 3D playable on Web browsers, and for free, of course. I still remember playing it on a 386DX which chugged along to the tune of 16MHz back then, although there was no sound card installed and I had to make do with the puny beeps from the PC speaker. No idea on why the iTunes page points towards a $1.99 price point, but Bethesda claims it will be free later in the day. If you want to have a choice of four weapons in addition to eating an entire roasted chicken that is strategically placed on the floor after kicking some Hitler butt, head on here . Do take note that the classic I L M cheat does not work in the browser, I’ve tried it. Anyone else have had different luck with that?

(more…)

President Obama to Award Medal of Honor | The White House

President Obama to Award Medal of Honor

WASHINGTON, DC—On May 16, President Barack Obama will award Specialist Leslie H. Sabo, Jr., U.S. Army, the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry.

Specialist Sabo will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his heroic actions in combat on May 10, 1970, while serving as a rifleman in Company B, 3d Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division in Se San, Cambodia.

On that day, when he and his platoon were ambushed by a large enemy force, Specialist Sabo immediately charged the enemy position, killing several enemy soldiers.  He then assaulted an enemy flanking force, successfully drawing their fire away from friendly soldiers and ultimately forcing the enemy to retreat.  While securing a re-supply of ammunition, an enemy grenade landed nearby.  Specialist Sabo picked it up, threw it, and shielded a wounded comrade with his own body – absorbing the brunt of the blast and saving his comrade's life.  Although wounded by the grenade blast, he continued to charge the enemy's bunker.  After receiving several serious wounds from automatic weapons fire, he crawled towards the enemy emplacement and, when in position, threw a grenade into the bunker. (more…)

‘Supermoon’ Could Explain Celtics’ Emergence as NBA Title Contenders (Photos)

Kevin Garnett sounds like he has been studying the stars enough that he can tell if the planets will align for the Celtics this year.

Garnett made a reference to an obscure astrological moment after the Celtics beat the Hawks 101-79 in Game 4 of their opening-round Eastern Conference series.

The win was emphatic, but not everything has been running seamlessly for the C’s lately. Ray Allen is still working his way back from being sidelined with bone spurs in his ankles, and he apparently shocked his teammates the other day by — hold onto your hats — missing a free throw.

Garnett called attention to Allen’s rare miss after the Game 4 win and showed his vast knowledge base with his comments.

“I don’t know if you guys follow astrology and all the things with the moon and stuff,” Garnett told reporters. “I think the moon was the biggest that it’s been the other day. … When Ray missed the free throw the other day, it was like seeing that moon. I couldn’t believe it, because you see what he puts into his craft, and you see why he is who he is and the reputation he has earned. (more…)

Astronaut Sees Squashed ‘Supermoon’ From Space (Photos)

Skywatchers on Earth weren't the only ones dazzled by the so-called weekend "supermoon" on Saturday. An astronaut in space also snapped spectacular photos of the full moon of May, including views of a squashed moon sinking behind the Earth's horizon.

Dutch astronaut André Kuipers photographed the supermoon of 2012 from a window on the International Space Station, where he has been living since December. He took the photos on Saturday, May 5, when the moon was in its full phase while at its perigee — the closest point to Earth in its orbit. Astronomers call the phenomenon a "perigee moon," though it is also known informally as a "supermoon."

One of Kuipers' supermoon photos captures the stunning moment when the moon dips toward Earth's horizon and is distorted by the planet's upper atmosphere, giving it an odd, squashed look. 

"Supermoon sinking into the atmosphere," Kuipers wrote in a Twitter post for the photo.

At the time, the moon was about 221,802 miles (356,955 kilometers) from Earth, with astronomers predicting it could appear up to 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than average to observers on Earth. (more…)

‘The Voice’ Recap: 99 Problems, But a Win Ain’t One!

Welcome to the Christina Aguilera Show Recap ! I’m sorry, did you think we were going to talk about voices? Oh, I’m sorry, America. This is a show about Christina Aguilera and her many thoughts, opinions, and her 99 problems. (See what I did there?!)

Before we get to the heart of the matter, let’s discuss the completely unnecessary filler that took up 90 percent of the program. This, of course, meant more quality segments from part-time brain surgeon Christina Milian, and other great mistakes.

One non-mistake was the follicle fits of Juliet Simms . Homegirl went and got herself un-blonded. Thanks for listening, future BFF.

Now onwards! When asked by Late Night ghost, Carson Daly , Christina managed to not say a damn word about her team member Chris Mann . Because Christina is intuitive: She’s acting on some Miss Cleo-type knowledge and she knows that when Carson asks about her thoughts on her pupil, what he’s really asking about is how she’s feeling, what she thinks about the show, and how her son is there to root her on! Because, you know, this show is not about four unknowns trying to make it in the music industry. (more…)