Nelson Mandela On Life Support

Nelson Mandela has been placed on life support, CNN reported Wednesday afternoon.
The former South African president's health remained critical for the fourth consecutive day as tribal leaders reportedly were warned to prepare for his death.
According to Sky News' chief correspondent in South Africa, multiple sources confirmed that Mandela is no longer able to breathe unassisted. He has been undergoing treatment, including renal dialysis, at the Mediclinic Heart Hospital in Pretoria since June 8.
According to Reuters, South African President Jacob Zuma was scheduled to travel to Mozambique on Thursday -- that trip has now been canceled.
In an interview with CNN Tuesday, Mandela's daughter Makaziwe, the sole surviving child from his first marriage to the late Evelyn Mandela, said the family was enjoying “quality and sacred moments” with her father.
“All I pray for as a daughter is that the transition is smooth. He is at peace with himself. He has given so much to the world. I believe he is at peace," Makaziwe said.

Best French Fries in the U.S.

Travel + Leisure 6/14/13 By Laura Kiniry
If you crave fries in San Francisco, Jasper’s Corner Tap is a natural choice. But your decisions aren’t over yet. Will it be thin, thick, or sweet potato? Do you try the smoked-paprika seasoning or a cheese curd–based poutine, or play it safe with sea salt? There’s an entire menu devoted to customizable fries at your fingertips.
French fries are one of the true crowd-pleasers—a food that friends agree upon, that turns up at both five-star steakhouses and roadside dives, and that is familiar but can also surprise you. They can be cut thick or curly, cooked with or without skins, served Belgian-style in paper cones or in a parchment-lined basket with malt vinegar on the side. No matter how you slice it, the deep-fried spud is king.

 By Laura Kiniry

Inheriting Debt: How to Deal When You're Left a Money Mess

Grandma and Gramps are not doing well. In fact, the state of finances for the elderly is a shambles.

Let's start with falling home prices. The AARP found that between 2007 and 2011, "3.5 million loans held by people age 50 or older were underwater, 600,000 were in foreclosure, and another 625,000 were 90 or more days delinquent." And that doesn't include the 1.5 million seniors who lost their homes during that period.

Surprisingly, another source of distress for seniors is student loans. A shocking 2.2 million Americans age 60 or older have student loan debt, with an average balance of $19,521, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

When the going got tough, Grandma and Grandpa did what those of any age do -- turned to credit cards. But in their case, credit card debt has been a major factor in driving them to declare bankruptcy. Between 1991 and 2007, the number of people ages 65 to 74 seeking bankruptcy rose 178 percent. Even worse, among those 75 and older, the number seeking bankruptcy was up 567 percent!

In a paper analyzing the data from a Consumer Bankruptcy Project, law professor John Pottow writes that "the median elder debtor in bankruptcy carries fifty percent more credit card debt than the median younger filer."

And to top it all off, these folks have little to no savings: Two-thirds of those age 75 or older have absolutely nothing money left in their retirement accounts, and have little hope of finding a decent job to help them make ends meet.

So What Happens When Grandma's Gone?

While those elderly individuals who do file for bankruptcy won't leave behind massive debts, those who remain committed to paying down their bills -- but die before they successfully do so -- can place a burden on their heirs.

Luckily, most kinds of debt cannot legally be transferred to a deceased person's heirs. But that doesn't mean you're entirely immune to Grandma's bills.

Let's take a look at what happens to the major kinds of debt when an elderly relative passes on.

1. Mortgage. A mortgage is a secured loan: Simply put, there is collateral (the property) that guarantees the balance. As such, mortgages are not forgiven when a borrower passes away. They passes on to the deceased's estate. If the estate has enough cash to cover the remaining mortgage balance, it can be used to pay off the loan and the heirs can take ownership of the house. Or, you can assume the mortgage, i.e., put it in your name or leave it in the original owner's name, but continue to pay it normally. Or you can refinance. And of course, there's always the option of selling the house to repay the remaining balance of the loan.

But if the mortgage is upside down, you're not stuck; there are ways to walk away from a bad mortgage left to you by a relative.

2. Car loan. Car loans, too, are a form of secured debt. As such, an heir can, with consent of the lender, assume a car loan, or refinance it. Otherwise, you'll either need to use the estate's cash to pay off the car loan so the heirs can take ownership of the vehicle, or the car will need to be sold to repay the remainder of the debt.

3. Personal loan. Although theses debts are usually unsecured -- i.e., there was no collateral put up against the loan -- they do still pass on to the estate. The executor's primary responsibility is to use the estate's assets to satisfy the deceased's remaining debts. If the assets cannot completely cover all the remaining debts, the executor usually divides up the money, and pays each debtor an equal percentage of what they are owed.

4. Student loan. Federally insured student loans are forgiven upon death. No repayment by heirs is necessary -- simply contact the lender or loan servicer and send them a copy of the death certificate (and possibly wait quite a bit for the paperwork to be complete, with involving the government and all). Unfortunately, private student loan debt is not forgiven and falls to the estate similar to those other loans mentioned above.

5. Credit card. Like personal loans, if there are enough assets remaining in the estate to cover the debt, it must be applied to outstanding credit card debt. If there is no remaining money, the credit card company usually writes off the debt.

Of Course, It's Not Always That Simple

If any of the debt was incurred with a cosigner, the burden of debt typically falls entirely onto the other party who signed the loan.

What's more, different states treat debt differently. Certain states are community property states; in these, any assets accumulated during the duration of a marriage are considered joint assets and, in some cases, so are debts -- regardless of whether both parties signed the loan. Meaning if your estranged -- but not officially divorced -- spouse has an outstanding loan from the time you were married, it could still fall back onto you, regardless of your current relationship with them.

Also, not all of a deceased person's assets become part of the estate. IRAs, 401(k)s, brokerage accounts -- even life insurance payouts -- all pass through, untouched, to the designated beneficiaries. These amounts, therefore, are not taken into consideration when determining whether or not an estate has enough funds to satisfy their debts.

So What Can and Should You Do?

First, if you are the child or grandchild of someone whose finances seem to be in trouble, it's important that you discuss it with them. It's not always easy, but being open, honest, and working together to craft a plan now can save you countless hours of stress later -- and provide your loved one with the assurance that when they pass on, they aren't leaving you with an unpleasant burden.

Second, remind co-signers about any loans they are still listed on. It's also important to go through and update beneficiaries on those accounts that do directly pass through without becoming part of the estate.

Lastly, if you're over the age of 50, think twice about incurring new debt. It should be a last resort, an emergency-only option -- both for your own peace of mind as well as that of your loved ones.

Making the right financial decisions today makes a world of difference in your golden years –- to both you and your loved ones. But most people aren't prepared. Don't make the same mistakes as the masses. Learn about The Shocking Can't-Miss Truth About Your Retirement in this special free report from The Motley Fool.

The Best Potato Chip Flavors, In Order (PHOTOS)

Barbecue season has arrived, and if there's one thing you can't forget at a grill-out -- besides the meat -- it's the potato chips. Since we'll soon be eating our way through bags and bags of chips this summer, we thought there was no better time than now to take a look at our options. And then to rank them, of course, from worst to best.
Now this list -- just like with our pies -- does not reflect the views of The Huffington Post. Don't blame the entire news organization just because you think sour cream and onion potato chips are light-years better than barbecue. Actually, these chip preferences even just barely reflect how HuffPost Taste editors feel. So if you have a bone to pick -- and we understand that some people just might -- pick it with me, in the comments below.

Ancient Egyptian Statue Moves On Its Own, Curators At Manchester Museum Say

Don't go running to mummy just yet: the spooky movements of this Egyptian statue probably have a logical explanation, even if museum curators are in de-Nile about it.
Staff at the Manchester Museum in Manchester, England say the 4,000-year-old statue, recovered from a mummy's tomb, has been spinning without anybody moving it, NDTV reports.
The 10-inch tall statue of a man named Neb-Senu was originally an offering to the god Osiris and has been in the museum for 80 years.
Up until a few weeks ago, the statue had appeared to be stationary.
"I noticed one day that it had turned around," curator Campbell Price, 29, told NDTV. "I thought it was strange because it is in a case and I am the only one who has a key."
Price told the Sun this week that "most Egyptologists are not superstitious people," and said when he first noticed the object had moved, his first instinct was to wonder who moved it.
“But the next time I looked, it was facing in another direction — and a day later had yet another orientation," he told the Sun this week.
Price returned the statue to its original position and set up a time-lapse video, which he says shows the statue moving without the help of humans.

George Lucas, Mellody Hobson Married: Filmmaker, Business Woman Wed In California

 


Here's an exclusive photo of newlyweds George Lucas and Mellody Hobson!
The visionary "Star Wars" filmmaker wed the Ariel Investments president before an intimate gathering at Skywalker Ranch, in Marin County, California, at 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 22.
The ceremony was officiated by journalist Bill Moyers, who famously interviewed the writer Joseph Campbell at Skywalker Ranch for a landmark documentary series in 1988. According to Arianna Huffington, who was in attendance, Moyers spoke so movingly that several married couples said afterward that they felt they'd renewed their own vows.
"It only takes one person to have met the love of your life," Moyers, who was a Baptist minister before launching his illustrious career in journalism, told the bride and groom. Moyers went on to quote the 13th-century Persian poet Rumi: "When I heard my first love story, I was thinking of you."
Lucas' longtime friend and collaborator Steven Spielberg gave the toast from the groom's side, joking that The Force finally had a name: Mellody. John W. Rogers, Hobson's fellow executive at Ariel Investments, spoke on behalf of the bride. And director Francis Ford Coppola read a poem by Maya Angelou.
Van Morrison flew in from Ireland to perform at the reception, which took place on the Skywalker Ranch soundstage. Janelle Monae also performed, and former New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley, who has known Hobson since she was 17, gave away the bride and offered a toast before the cake-cutting ceremony.
This is the first marriage for Hobson, 44, who wore a white dress by Peter Soronen and changed skirts between the ceremony and the party. Lucas, 69, has been married once before, to film editor Marcia Griffin. They adopted a daughter together, and Lucas adopted two more children after they divorced, in 1983. Lucas' son, Jett, was his best man, and his daughters, Katie and Amanda, served as bridesmaids.

In addition to serving as president of Ariel Investments, Hobson is chairman of Dreamworks Animation and a financial contributor with CBS.
Lucas' contributions to popular culture include the Indiana Jones saga, which he co-created with Spielberg, and "American Graffiti," which he directed in 1973. Last October, Lucas sold his production company, Lucasfilm Ltd., to the Walt Disney Company for $4.05 billion. "Star Trek" director J.J. Abrams soon signed on to direct the first in a series of planned "Star Wars" sequels, set to begin filming early next year.

When Renting A Car, Only Trust Yourself Woman was charged for damages when no damage had occurred

When renting a car, the only person you can trust is yourself. That's what Christina Morales' learned after she rent a car when her's was damaged in a small fender-bender. While her car was in the shop she was driving a rental from Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Nearly two weeks after turning in the rental from she received an invoice for $1,000 worth of repairs as well as a $100 in administrative fees.

But she hadn't had an accident in the rental. She soon found that her case was riddled with errors. First no one called Morales to discuss the damage; they simply charged her, which is against Enterprise's own policy. No one contacted her when she reached out to Enterprise over the errors, and the employees wrote on the return slip that she drove almost 17,000 miles.

"I would have had to drive to South America three times," Morales told Dallas News. She only used the vehicle for a daily 40-mile round trip commute. The return slip had the starting miles scratched out and a lower mileage added. The slip also read 'No Damage On Truck'.

Morales found dozens of similar complaints against Enterprise online. Enterprise blamed Morales for the charges, saying an unauthorized driver dropped off the vehicle, causing confusion on their end, even though Morales notified Enterprise that her mother would be dropping off the truck.

Renting a car is a very occasional experience for most people, so consumers should be extra cautious. Recently Dollar Rent A Car was found to be charging customers for insurance, which they verbally declined.

As with any major expense, being proactive early is the best way to protect yourself. Thoroughly review all charges when renting a car, and it's even a good idea to take your own pictures of your rental car before dropping it off at the rental shop. Keep copies of all paperwork to make sure you can protect yourself from fraud or mistakes on the company's end.

As for Morales, Enterprise eventually dropped the repair charges based on the length of time they took to notify her. She told Dallas News that she'll think twice before trusting any company again.

"We're all trusting of one another," Morales said. "These are hard times right now. Now we can't even trust the people we're buying from or getting service from? When can we trust people?"

Filed under: Car Crashes

Former Model Strikes It Big With Clever New Invention

One of the reasons I started my website is that I wanted a place for women to come together and dream. We women need to know that we don't have to hang on to an old dream that has stopped nurturing us -- that there is always time to start a new dream. This week's story is about a former model who became business-minded when she invented a product to scoop out the last bit of her beauty serum from the jar. The Beauty Spoon is now in thousands of stores around the country, and Claudia has proven that she's much more than just a pretty face! -– Marlo, MarloThomas.com
By Lori Weiss
Growing up as the youngest girl in a family of eight children, Claudia Hoexter spent a lot of time figuring out how the world worked on her own. While her Dad was juggling three businesses, her Mom was trying to keep up with the needs of her growing family. And her older siblings were always steps ahead -- with little time to pass on life’s lessons to their little sister.
“Whether it was riding a bike or balancing on a skateboard,” Claudia recalled, “I was out there on my own. If I was on a busy street and I wanted to get to the park on the other side, I had to figure out how. I think that’s what made me who I am today. Nothing scared me. I thought if I press this button, what’s the worst thing that’s going to happen? I can’t blow up the world? I was just never afraid of anything.”
It was an attitude that would serve her well, when at 19, she caught the eye of a modeling agent, who advised her to stop hiding behind her long hair and fly from her hometown of Chicago to Los Angeles to have professional head shots done. She was the youngest in her family to strike out on her own -- and having been raised in a strict household, that photo session was the first time she’d ever dared to wear even a stitch of make-up.
“I went through high school as this plain Jane and there I was in Beverly Hills, all by myself, in a photo studio. From the first moment the make-up artist applied eye liner, I felt transformed. And the photographer must have noticed, because he started shooting while I was still in the chair."
That moment would put Claudia on the path to making millions -- but not as a model. Despite the early success that landed her campaigns for companies that ranged from Sears to Saks Fifth Avenue, the rising star decided she wanted a more secure line of work and built a career as an office manager.

What Do YOU Want To Do Before You Die?

The Before I Die project was a way for me to make sense of the aftermath. I avoided thinking about death for most of my life, in part because I was taught to avoid it. If you bring up death out of the blue, people will often say "don't go there" or "it's too sad" or "you don't need to think about it until you're older." When Joan died, I couldn't avoid it any longer. I went through a period of grief and depression, then gratitude for the time we had together. I thought about death a lot and found a comfort and clarity I didn't expect. Beyond the tragic truth lies a bright calm that reminds me of my place in the world. The moment becomes more tactile. Things that stress me out are reduced to their small and rightful place. Things that matter to me get big and crisp again. Contemplating death, as Stoics and other philosophers encourage, is a powerful tool to re-appreciate the present and remember what makes your life meaningful to you.
We're all trying to make sense of our lives and there's great comfort in knowing you're not alone. Everyone you're standing with in line and everyone you're sitting by in a cafe and everyone you walk past on the street is going through challenges in their life. Yet it's easy to forget this because we rarely venture beyond small talk with strangers. There are a lot of barriers to opening up.
I started making interactive public art projects on abandoned buildings as a way for my neighbors and I to easily share our memories and hopes for these places. Then they became a canvas to ask more personal questions as my priorities changed. Am I the only one who feels like I'm barely keeping it together? The city historian Lewis Mumford once wrote that the origins of society were not just for physical survival but for "a more valuable and meaningful kind of life." Some of the earliest gathering places were graves and sacred groves. We gathered so we could grieve together and worship together and console one another and be alone together. Our public spaces are our shared spaces and at their greatest they can nourish our well-being and help us make sense of our communities and ourselves. Our public spaces are as profound as we allow them to be.Since the first Before I Die wall in 2011, over 250 walls have been created in over 15 languages and over 45 countries. Passionate people are building new walls each week and it's been one of the greatest experiences of my life to see this little experiment in New Orleans grow into a global project. I'm excited to honor many of these walls in a book about the project that will come out this November.The Before I Die walls are an honest mess of the longing, pain, joy, insecurity, gratitude, fear, and wonder you find in every community. Seeing other people's feelings have encouraged me to explore my own. I've written many things on the wall: to hole up and read books for weeks, to enjoy more cities with the people I love, to write a bedtime story, to revive a ghost town. It took months before I even began to act on some of these things, but once I wrote them down, those ambient urges took root and became firmer in my mind. I'm a distracted, forgetful person with a short attention span. I need constant reminders of the actions that will really nourish me. And I'm grateful to all my neighbors who have helped stir my mind and step back, pause, be quiet, and reflect.




 

NBA Finals 2013: Miami Heat win second NBA title behind LeBron James

 
After two years of almost-constant basketball, James still found a way to be at his absolute best in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. He scored 37 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and simply controlled everything down the stretch, as the Heat won the title with a 95-88 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night.
His final numbers: 12 for 23 from the field, 5 for 10 from 3-point range, 8 for 8 from the line.
And in a season where he was the league's MVP for a fourth time, he's now added a second ring to the collection. Suddenly, his resume is looking as complete as some of the other all-time greats.
Dwyane Wade scored 23 points, Shane Battier — benched earlier in these playoffs — had 18 on six 3-pointers, and Mario Chalmers scored 14 for the Heat, who won despite no points from Chris Bosh.
It didn't matter. James was good enough to mask any problem the Heat had Thursday night.
He rarely acknowledges this much, but James has to be exhausted. He worked out furiously during the lockout in 2011, in part because he convinced himself that the season would begin on time, in part because he was still smarting from how sub-par he played during the Finals loss to the Mavericks in his first season with the Heat.
Last season began on Dec. 25, 2011. The Heat went through the rigors of that ultra-compacted 66-game schedule and won a title. James went right into training with USA Basketball, eventually helping that team win a gold medal at the London Olympics. After that, he took about two weeks off, then starting getting ready for this season, which went all the way down to the last possible day.
That's more basketball, under more pressure, than anyone else on the planet in the last two years.
And yet there he was, a second straight championship at stake, taking the jumper with 27.9 seconds left that made it a two-possession game. He marched back to the Heat huddle, punching the air. The score was 92-88, everyone in the sold-out building seemed to be standing, and a championship celebration was mere moments away.
Two years ago, James probably wouldn't have taken that shot.
Now, there's no way he would not. And he drilled it, too, the ball going through with a soft swish for his 34th and 35th points.

How To Get A Promotion By The End Of The Year

Moving on up. It's the American way. But are you sure you want to? Some people keep getting promotions or higher-level clients until they reach their level of incompetence. And some devotees of work-life balance would rather be just B players in exchange for personal time. The fact is, up isn't the only way. In fact, some people would be wise to stay put, to aim laterally, or even to downshift.

But let's assume that you want to fly higher. Here are my favorite tips:

Prep.

Before or during your campaign for ascendancy, should you get training, maybe even certification for the kind of work that you'd like to do? Should you -- as part of promoting the new you -- share what you're learning with co-workers, informally, or even in a meeting?

Prime your boss or potential higher-level clients.

Ask your boss or a person you'd like to be your boss what it will take to get promoted and whether it's realistic to expect that within a year. Similarly, ask prospective clients, what you need to do to gain them as a client.

Even if you're not trying to get promoted, but especially if you are, a great question to ask your boss is, "Is there anything I can do to make your life easier? Take something off your plate Commandeer some initiative?"

More: 4 Traits Of Extraordinary Bosses

If you want to propose to lead a specific initiative, these criteria may help you decide which one to choose: Is it revenue-generating? High-visibility? In one of the organization's priority areas? In an interest area of yours? Does it use your strengths? Does it skirt your weaknesses?

Rather than ask your boss, is it worth the risk of -- on your own -- taking on the sort of project that could get you promoted? Sometimes, it's wiser to ask forgiveness than permission.

Look at what's out there.

Every organization has network nodes: People with fingers in many pies. They could, for example, be executives or staff people such as HR or IT managers, who often work in multiple parts of the organization. Email or meet with such people to get their advice on where and how you might move up.

Play around at your organization's website and intranet, or that of your prospective client. Pretend you're a detective: Sniff out pockets of opportunity for you. Is a newly announced initiative intriguing to you? Is there someone interesting who's just been hired? Look at newsletters for employees and those aimed at investors. Check out the most recent press releases. After you've found a project or person of interest, go direct: Phone or email your target a crisp explanation of why you're interested in working on that project or with that person, plus what you'd bring to the table.

More: Promotion Secrets: How The Corner Office Was Won

Build an army of support.

Try to get your colleagues and direct reports to support your ideas. But there's no need to be too tough or selfish. Indeed, most people who get promoted and get top clients are tactful persuaders and try to abet their peers' and subordinates' success, not just their own. Over time, you'll likely create an army of supporters.

Look the part.

Dress like people at the level to which you aspire, and have good posture. Helen Gurley Brown said, only half joking, "After 40, it all comes down to posture."

Spread the word, but not too forcefully.

Is there someone you trust whom you could ask to spread the word about the new more-promotable or more-hirable you? Or do you need to do the talking, for example, telling colleagues something like, "I just completed my project-management certification. I like my job, but when an opportunity comes up in project management, even just a temp project I could take on while still in my current position, I'd appreciate your letting me know about it."

Don't spend too much time on your campaign -- It can be seen as too willful and may evoke detractors, even saboteurs. And be patient. Do give it a year. There are only so many promotion slots and prime consulting gigs available. But follow even some of these tips, and you've certainly upped your chances of landing one.

James Gandolfini's Son, Michael, Found Actor Collapsed During Father-Son Trip

James Gandolfini's teenage son, Michael, found the actor collapsed in their Italy hotel room and called for help. The two were on a father-son vacation.
The manager of the hotel in Rome where Gandolfini and his son were staying told the "Today" show the young boy found his father collapsed in the bathroom around 10 p.m. local time Wednesday. The 51-year-old actor was still alive when the ambulance arrived, but was later pronounced dead at the Policlinico Umberto I, a hospital just a three-minute drive from the hotel.
Gandolfini arrived at the hospital in cardiac arrest, according to ABC News. Resuscitation efforts, which paramedics began in the ambulance, continued for 40 minutes, Prof. Claudio Modini, director of the Emergency Department of the Policlinico, told the network.
Gandolfini and his son were on a "guy's trip," according to TMZ. The getaway was for both pleasure and business. They were celebrating his son's eighth grade graduation and the actor was set to attend the Taormina Film Festival in Sicily.
Michael's mother and the "Sopranos" star's first wife, Marcy Wudarski, flew to Italy to be with her child, TMZ reported.
Those close to Gandolfini, including his HBO family, expressed utter grief following his untimely passing.
"We're all in shock and feeling immeasurable sadness at the loss of a beloved member of our family," HBO said in a statement to The Huffington Post. "He was special man, a great talent, but more importantly a gentle and loving person who treated everyone no matter their title or position with equal respect. He touched so many of us over the years with his humor, his warmth and his humility. Our hearts go out to his wife and children during this terrible time. He will be deeply missed by all of us."
An autopsy will take place Friday to determine if the cardiac arrest resulted from a heart attack and if there were mitigating circumstances, ABC News notes. After the autopsy, his body will be brought back to the United States.
Gandolfini is survived by his wife, Deborah Lin, his 8-month old daughter, Liliana, 8 months, and his son, Michael.

Rihanna Smacks Fan With Microphone At UK Concert, Tweets That It Was Not An Accident

Rihanna schooled Beyonce in how to discipline an unruly fan on Tuesday night during a concert in Birmingham, England.
The singer was performing "We Found Love" near the crowd, reaching out to touch fans' hands as she glided across the floor, when one concertgoer refused to let go of her arm. The video of the incident that surfaced online shows Rihanna attempting to move along but getting pulled back by the fan's grip. In turn, Ri-Ri appears to smack the fan over the head with the microphone she's wielding before moving on to continue her set.
Rihanna was her usual unapologetic self following the occurrence, saying on Twitter that her actions were intentional. "Purpose! That b— won't let me go," she wrote in response to a user who called it an "accident."
Rihanna is no stranger to obsessive fans. When she isn't being clung to at concerts, she's being stalked by crazies. A man was recently arrested on the roof of Rihanna's Pacific Palisades home, and in February a separate man pleaded guilty to breaking in to the singer's home and sleeping in one of her beds.
Tuesday's concert was part of Rihanna's "Diamonds" World Tour, which continues through November.

George Zimmer, Men's Wearhouse Founder And 'You're Going To Like The Way You Look' Guy, Fired

 


NEW YORK -- Apparently, Men's Wearhouse Inc. doesn't like the way its founder looks anymore.
In terse release issued Wednesday, Men's Wearhouse said it has fired the face of the company and its executive chairman, George Zimmer, who appeared in many of its TV commercials with the slogan "You're going to like the way you look. I guarantee it."
The timing was even odd _the announcement happened the morning the company's annual shareholder meeting had been set to take place. The company delayed the meeting but didn't give a new date.
Men's Wearhouse gave no reason for the abrupt firing of Zimmer, who built Men's Wearhouse from one small Texas store using a cigar box as a cash register to one of the North America's largest specialty men's clothiers with 1,143 locations. The company generated revenue of $2.48 billion in its latest fiscal year ended Feb. 2.
The company said the purpose of postponing the annual meeting is to re-nominate the existing board of directors without Zimmer. It said the board expects to discuss with Zimmer the extent, if any, and terms of "his ongoing relationship" with the company. Zimmer expressed his frustrations Wednesday to CNBC.
"Over the last 40 years, I have built MW into a multi-billion dollar company with amazing employees and loyal customers who value the products and service they receive at MW," Zimmer told CNBC. "Over the past several months I have expressed my concerns to the Board about the direction the company is currently heading. Instead of fostering the kind of dialogue in the Boardroom that has in part contributed to our success, the Board has inappropriately chosen to silence my concerns through termination as an executive officer."
The news shocked analysts and corporate governance experts, who tried to speculate what happened.

"This is very rare to fire a founder. Founders are generally entrenched in the company," said Eleanor Bloxham, CEO of The Value Alliance, a board advisory firm.
Zimmer, who handed over his CEO title to Douglas Ewert in 2011, was the company's personable, down-to-earth face.
Zimmer is also known for his activism in favor of legalizing marijuana. He donated thousands of dollars in support of a 2010 California ballot initiative that would have legalized the drug, according to LA Weekly

James Gandolfini: Friends, Family Mourn Acting 'Genius'

Vera Anderson/WireImage

by Lynn Elber, AP

LOS ANGELES (AP) - James Gandolfini, whose portrayal of a brutal, emotionally delicate mob boss in HBO's "The Sopranos" was the brilliant core of one of TV's greatest drama series and turned the mobster stereotype on its head, died Wednesday in Italy. He was 51.

Gandolfini died while on holiday in Rome, the cable channel and Gandolfini's managers Mark Armstrong and Nancy Sanders said in a joint statement. No cause of death was given.

"He was a genius," said "Sopranos" creator David Chase. "Anyone who saw him even in the smallest of his performances knows that. He is one of the greatest actors of this or any time. A great deal of that genius resided in those sad eyes."

Gandolfini, who won three Emmy Awards for his role as Tony Soprano, worked steadily in film and on stage after the series ended. He earned a 2009 Tony Award nomination for his role in the celebrated production of "God of Carnage."

"Our hearts are shattered and we will miss him deeply. He and his family were part of our family for many years and we are all grieving," said Armstrong and Sanders.

HBO called the actor a "special man, a great talent, but more importantly a gentle and loving person who treated everyone, no matter their title or position, with equal respect." The channel expressed sympathy for his wife and children.

Joe Gannascoli, who played Vito Spatafore on the HBO drama, said he was shocked and heartbroken.

"Fifty-one and leaves a kid - he was newly married. His son is fatherless now. ... It's way too young," Gannascoli said.

Gandolfini and his wife, Deborah, who were married in 2008, have a daughter, Liliana, born last year, HBO said. The actor and his former wife, Marcy, have a teenage son, Michael.

Gandolfini's performance in "The Sopranos" was indelible and career-making, but he refused to be stereotyped as the bulky mobster who was a therapy patient, family man and apparently effortless killer.

In a December 2012 interview with The Associated Press, a rare sit-down for the star who avoided the spotlight, he was upbeat about a slew of smaller roles following the breathtaking blackout ending in 2007 of "The Sopranos."

"I'm much more comfortable doing smaller things," Gandolfini said in the interview. "I like them. I like the way they're shot; they're shot quickly. It's all about the scripts - that's what it is - and I'm getting some interesting little scripts."

He played Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta in Kathryn Bigelow's Osama bin Laden hunt docudrama "Zero Dark Thirty." He worked with Chase for the '60s period drama "Not Fade Away," in which he played the old-school father of a wannabe rocker. And in Andrew Dominick's crime flick "Killing Them Softly," he played an aged, washed-up hit man.

There were comedies such as the political satire "In the Loop," and the heartwarming drama "Welcome to the Rileys," which co-starred Kristen Stewart. He voiced the Wild Thing Carol in "Where the Wild Things Are" and made a rare return to the TV screen with the HBO film "Cinemate Verite."

Deploying his unsought clout as a star, Gandolfini produced (though only sparingly appeared in) a pair documentaries for HBO focused on a cause he held dear: veterans affairs.

"Alive Day Memories: Home from Iraq" (2007) profiled 10 soldiers and Marines who had cheated death but continued to wage personal battles long after their military service had ended. Four years later, "Wartorn: 1861-2010" charted victims of post-traumatic stress disorder from the U.S. invasion of Iraq all the way back to the Civil War.

"Do I think a documentary is going to change the world?" Gandolfini said with characteristic modesty during an interview about the latter film. "No, but I think there will be individuals who will learn things from it, so that's enough."

Gandolfini grew up in Park Ridge, N.J., the son of a building maintenance chief at a Catholic school and a high school lunch lady.

While Tony Soprano was a larger-than-life figure, Gandolfini was exceptionally modest and obsessive - he described himself as "a 260-pound Woody Allen."

In past interviews, his cast mates had far more glowing descriptions to offer.

"I had the greatest sparring partner in the world, I had Muhammad Ali," said Lorraine Bracco, who, as Tony's psychiatrist Dr. Melfi, went one-on-one with Gandolfini in their penetrating therapy scenes. "He cares what he does, and does it extremely well."

After earning a degree in communications from Rutgers University, Gandolfini moved to New York, where he worked as a bartender, bouncer and nightclub manager. When he was 25, he joined a friend of a friend in an acting class, which he continued for several years.

Gandolfini's first big break was a Broadway production of "A Streetcar Named Desire" where he played Steve, one of Stanley Kowalski's poker buddies. His film debut was in Sidney Lumet's "A Stranger Among Us" (1992).

Director Tony Scott, who killed himself in August 2012, had praised Gandolfini's talent for fusing violence with charisma - which he would perfect in Tony Soprano.

Gandolfini played a tough guy in Tony Scott's 1993 film "True Romance" who beat Patricia Arquette's character to a pulp while offering such jarring, flirtatious banter as, "You got a lot of heart kid."

Scott called Gandolfini "a unique combination of charming and dangerous."

Gandolfini continued with supporting roles in "Crimson Tide" (1995), "Get Shorty" (1995), "The Juror" (1996), Lumet's "Night Falls on Manhattan" (1997), "She's So Lovely" (1997), "Fallen" (1998) and "A Civil Action" (1998). But it was "True Romance" that piqued the interest of Chase.

He shared a Broadway stage with Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis and Marcia Gay Harden in "God of Carnage" when he received the best-actor Tony nod. He was in "On the Waterfront" with David Morse and was an understudy in a revival of "A Streetcar Named Desire" in 1992 starring Alec Baldwin and Jessica Lange.

In his 2012 AP interview, Gandolfini said he gravitated to acting as a release, a way to get rid of anger. "I don't know what exactly I was angry about," he said.

"I try to avoid certain things and certain kinds of violence at this point," he said last year. "I'm getting older, too. I don't want to be beating people up as much. I don't want to be beating women up and those kinds of things that much anymore."

Zane Noland, 9-Year-Old Boy, Finds Loaded Gun In Florida Movie Theater Bathroom

A boy went to the theater to see "Man of Steel," and instead, he got to look down the barrel of a loaded gun.
Zane Noland opened a bathroom stall at an Ybor City, Fla. theater on Sunday and found a Glock 26 handgun atop a toilet paper dispenser, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
"Dad," the boy said, "There's a gun."
Luckily, dad was a superhero. Marine veteran Wesley Noland, 48 -- who has a concealed weapons permit -- grabbed the semiautomatic pistol, brought his son into a private bathroom, and disarmed the Glock. Then he called 911, ABC News reports.
The busy theater was safe. But dad told the Tampa Bay Times that the Glock only needed its slide pulled back to chamber a round. He couldn't help but think of what might have happened if another child picked up the gun.
"This isn't like forgetting your keys or cellphone," he said. "This is a loaded firearm."
Officers responded quickly. The pair, having completed a feat of heroism on Father's Day, rejoined Zane's brother Ryan in the theater and watched the Superman movie.
Police are still trying to locate the owner of the gun, according to WFTV.

Also on HuffPost:

The Voice Crowns Danielle Bradbery

 

 

 

The Voice has a new champ: Danielle Bradbery!

She was crowned at Tuesday's star-studded finale, which featured a rare performance by Cher and performances by Bruno Mars, Pitbull and Christina Aguilera, who'll be back in her swivel chair next season, along with fellow coach Cee Lo Green.

Bradbery, of Team Blake Shelton, beat out Michelle Chamuel of Team Usher, who came in second, and The Swon Brothers, Zach and Colton, of Team Blake, who nabbed third place.

"I'm so thankful," said an overwhelmed-looking Bradbery, just 16, after her win as her eyes brimmed with tears. "I'm sorry, I'm speechless."

 This is the third win in a row for Shelton, who happened to be celebrating his 37th birthday Tuesday night – and was serenaded with a rendition of "Happy Birthday" from the audience before the show went live.

The victory comes after a successful season filled with particularly talented singers – something Shelton pointed out Monday night.

"I seriously think this is the best season of The Voice that we've had so far," Shelton said after The Swon Brothers kicked off the finale performances Monday with The Eagles' "I Can't Tell You Why."

The season also stood out for the camaraderie between the judges and the contestants, who showed respect and support for one another throughout the competition – despite the friendly bickering between Shelton and fellow coach Adam Levine.

For winner Bradbery, the Texas high schooler told PEOPLE Monday night she's thinking about the next step in her burgeoning career. "I feel like I could start off making a single. I could start off really small, but then eventually get bigger."

Regarding, Chamuel, coach Usher has made it clear he wants to stay in touch with the increasingly popular rocker, who wowed audiences with her fierce performances and humble, sweet demeanor.

"Every artist would hope to possess these two things: likability and capability," Usher told her Monday after she performed a heartfelt version of "Why" by Annie Lennox. "To me, that represents a successful artist, and that is what you possess."

As for the The Swon Brothers, Zach told PEOPLE that Shelton's wife, Miranda Lambert, gave them a piece of advice that set their minds at ease, no matter the outcome. "She said she came in third on Nashville Star and look where she ended up. She's like 'Don't worry about winning. We are going to do great.' "

• With reporting by JESSICA HERNDON

Jordie Callahan, Jessica Hunt, Daniel Brown Charged In New Ohio Captivity Case

ASHLAND, Ohio — A mentally disabled woman charged with shoplifting a candy bar asked to be jailed because three people "had been mean to her" – then went on to tell authorities about her time spent in unfathomably cruel servitude, along with her young daughter, at the hands of three people, authorities said Tuesday.
On several occasions, according to an FBI affidavit, the suspects injured her and ordered her to go to an emergency room for pain medication they would then take for themselves.
The 29-year-old woman was forced to do housework under the threat of harm to her and her child by her captors' pet python or pit bulls, authorities allege, and a menagerie of snakes was put in the terrified 5-year-old's face until she cried.
Authorities announced federal charges Tuesday against three people they say invited the woman and her child to live with them in their blue-collar Ashland neighborhood of older two-story houses. Beginning in early 2011, they forced the mother to cooperate with them by threats and physical abuse, authorities said.
The woman and her daughter were freed in October after police investigated an abuse allegation one of the suspects made against her, authorities said, and they are doing well.
"The victim in this case is slowly recovering," U.S. Attorney Steve Dettelbach said.
Jordie Callahan, 26, Jessica Hunt, 31, and Daniel J. "DJ" Brown, 33, were charged with forced labor. Callahan also was charged with tampering with a witness in the investigation.
The suspects had an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Cleveland and were ordered jailed until a bond hearing on Monday.
Callahan's mother, Becky Callahan of Ashland, said in a phone interview that the allegations were "all lies." She said that the alleged victim was friends with her son and Hunt, her son's girlfriend, and that they tried to help the woman out by offering her a place to live because she didn't have a home.
Andrew Hyde, who represented Callahan on related state kidnapping charges dismissed Tuesday as the federal case was announced, called the charges ludicrous and said the woman at the center of the alleged forced-labor plot moved in and out as she pleased.
"There was never any forced labor, any forced co-habitation. She was never forced to do anything. She used this story to get out of trouble she was in" with regard to a child-abuse allegation, Hyde said.
Hyde said county social service workers placed the girl with her mother when the woman was living with the three suspects.
A federal court lawyer for Callahan declined comment. A second defense attorney, Ed Bryan, said Hunt will plead not guilty and said there are credibility issues with the mother.
There was no immediate response to phone and email messages left for the attorney representing Brown.
According to an FBI affidavit, the mother and child were denied food at times or given leftovers; on one occasion when they hadn't eaten all day, the mother was given a plate of food and ordered to feed a pet dog.

Atlanta radio hosts suspended, then fired for mocking ALS-stricken Steve Gleason

There's an intense NFL rivalry between the Falcons and Saints in the NFC South. But an Atlanta radio station took it several steps too far on Monday morning. Hosts of a morning program at all-sports 790 The Zone have been suspended indefinitely for making fun of Steve Gleason, a former New Orleans special teams standout who is batting Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, a crippling disease.
The LSU fan site TigerDroppings.com caught wind of the on-air comments, which were not replayed or archived by the station. According to SB Nation, the "Mayhem in the AM" show distastefully faked a phone call from Gleason and mocked his voice. It was timed with Gleason's great guest Monday Morning Quarterback column for Sports Illustrated, which detailed his life with ALS and was written despite Gleason's physical inability to type.
When Gleason's former Saints teammate and good friend Scott Fujita first heard what the station did, he didn't hold back his anger on Twitter.
There was no playback, but Fujita and others got a bigger response and action from Rick Mack, senior vice president and general manager of 790 The Zone.
"We deeply regret the comments made by Mayhem In The AM this morning on 790 The Zone regarding former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason," Mack said in an issued statement. "790 The Zone, Lincoln Financial Media, our sponsors and partners in no way endorse or support the unfortunate and offensive commentary concerning Mr. Gleason this morning.
"The members of the show involved with this incident have been suspended indefinitely pending further management review of their actions."
Nick Cellini, one of the hosts of "Mayhem in the AM," shared his regrets for the Gleason comments on Twitter.

Hoffa Remains May Be Under Field, Feds Dig For Clues In Case Of Jimmy Hoffa Disappearance

An alleged mobster's representative said he believes "100 percent" that the final resting place of missing Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa has been discovered.
FBI investigators, along with members of the Oakland County Sheriff's Department, swarmed a vacant field in Oakland Township in suburban Detroit on Monday in search of Hoffa's remains. They were led there by a tip from Tony Zerilli, the 85-year-old son of Joseph Zerilli, widely believed in Detroit to have controlled one of the city's most legendary Mafia organizations.
Though Zerilli was in prison at the time of Hoffa's disappearance in 1975, he believes that Hoffa's body was buried at the vacant field in Oakland Township. Land near the plot investigators are searching was once owned by another reputed Mob heavyweight, Jack Tocco. Zerilli said the body is buried beneath two cement slabs in the vacant field, where a barn once stood. Agents used an excavator to clear away debris before attacking the area with shovels on Monday.
According to the Associated Press, Robert Foley, special agent for the Detroit FBI division, told reporters that the agency executed a sealed search warrant on the property but didn't take questions.
Investigators at the site could be seen carrying binders that said "Big Dig 2." A previous search attempt for Hoffa at a farm in Milford, Mich., also located in North Oakland County, was referred to as the "Big Dig."
"It's not like 50-50, maybe," said David Chasnick, attorney for Tony Zerilli, during a press conference. "They think they're going to find it."
If the feds locate Hoffa's remains, it will mark the end of a 38-year-old mystery that has become one of America's most enduring urban legends.
Hoffa, a labor union leader and former president of the Teamster's Union, rose to national prominence before being convicted of fraud and attempted bribery of a juror.
After President Richard Nixon commuted his sentence in 1972, he barred Hoffa from re-establishing himself as the head of the Teamsters. By the time of his disappearance in 1975, Hoffa had lost much of his national influence, but had decided to rekindle his political career.
Hoffa was last seen in the parking lot of the Machus Red Fox, a Bloomfield Township restaurant, around 2:45 p.m. on July 30, 1975. The union boss was never heard from, or seen, again. He was declared dead in 1982, but the search for his remains has continued to this day.
Those who were implicated at the time of Hoffa's disappearance are now dead themselves. Anthony Giacolone, another rumored Mobster who faced speculation that he had arranged the restaurant meeting, died in 2001.
 

JAY-Z, SAMSUNG ANNOUNCE DEAL TO GIVE AWAY 1 MILLION COPIES OF NEW LP

JAY-Z, SAMSUNG ANNOUNCE DEAL TO GIVE AWAY 1 MILLION COPIES OF NEW LP
Jay-Z announced his new LP, Magna Carta Holy Grail, via a  Samsung commercial that aired during Sunday night's NBA Finals, the fifth game in the Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs series.
Billboard.biz

Doctors May Soon Be Able to Sniff Out Melanoma

While you're familiar with the ABCDEs of melanoma, scientists have discovered a more unique way of detecting the deadliest form of skin cancer.

Researchers from the Monell Center and collaborating institutions have found that skin cells affected by the cancer produce different odors from healthy skin cells. Additionally, they have developed a tiny sensor that can detect the different smells.

The skin produces many airborne chemical molecules, known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Many of these VOCs produce specific odors. The scientists, using skin cells grown in the lab, collected and analyzed the VOCs produced from melanoma-affected cells, at different stages of the disease, and healthy cells. They found that the cancer-affected cells' VOCs were different from the normal skin cells. They also found that the cancer cells' VOCs were different from one another depending on the stage of the disease.

While it's too early to implement this technology in doctors' offices yet, the scientists need to do more research before their findings and tool may be used to catch the cancer in its earliest stages in the future.

"It is too early in the process to directly relate our findings to exams being done today at your dermatologist's office," explained George Preti, PhD, an organic chemist at Monell and one of the study's senior authors, said in a press release. "We believe that detection of odors emanating from skin cancer sites will eventually provide a valuable adjunct to current visual and microscopic techniques to aid in early and accurate melanoma diagnoses."

In the mean time, to reduce your chances of developing skin cancer, remember to properly wear a broad spectrum sunscreen every day and regularly conduct self-examinations as well as having skin checks performed by a dermatologist.

Vogue Guide edited by Meredith Melling Burke

100+ Under $100: Vogue's Guide To Affordable Spring Fashion

Now, more than any other time of the year, a brand-new wardrobe is every hot-blooded woman’s fantasy. After all, the weather is warming up, the layers are coming off, and there is suddenly a burning desire to show off everything—from your legs to your ears—that has been kept hidden all winter long. A quick perusal of your closet, however, may reveal rows of boots, little black dresses, and wooly, weather-beaten sweaters. And the sundresses, sandals, and skirts tucked within? Those are, well, so 2012. The next logical step, of course, may be to peruse your bank account, shake your head sadly, and slink home to brainstorm the many ways to make your wool sheaths seasonally appropriate, scissors optional. There is another way, of course, which is our annual Spring 100+ Under $100 Guide. Based entirely off the trends (from punk to florals) found on the runways and within the pages of the most recent issues of Vogue, here are endless ways to make a big impression at a very pleasing price.
edited by Meredith Melling Burke

'Kobe Up Close' Charity Event Features Kobe Bryant And Jimmy Kimmel Coming Together To End Homelessness

LOS ANGELES -- Kobe Bryant will sit down with late-night host Jimmy Kimmel for a conversation at the Nokia Theatre on Aug. 15 to raise money toward eliminating homelessness in the Los Angeles area.
"Kobe Up Close" will feature the NBA star talking about his career and sharing some of his favorite stories with Kimmel. Tickets for the event range from $25 to $200.
All proceeds will benefit the Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation, which is partnering with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's Sports Spectacular to help underserved communities.

Kim Kardashian Is a Mom!

The most eagerly awaited addition to the Kardashian clan has arrived – and she was apparently early to the party!

Kim Kardashian, 32, gave birth to her first child – a daughter – with boyfriend Kanye West, 36, on Saturday morning, a source confirms to PEOPLE. Her due date was widely reported to be in July.

West was by Kardashian's side for the delivery, according to sources, despite a busy travel schedule leading up to the birth.

The youngest Kardashian will already have playmates her age. Kim's big sister, Kourtney has two children with boyfriend, Scott Disick: Mason, 3½, and Penelope, who turns one on July 8.

Keep up with Kim Kardashian in the pages of PEOPLE Magazine by subscribing now.

"I'm so excited we're having a girl," Kim said on a recent episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, when she learned the sex of her baby. "Who doesn't want a girl? I think they are the best. I know that's really what Kanye has always wanted – he wanted a little girl."

West publicly broke the news of his girlfriend's pregnancy mid-song at an Atlantic City concert the night before New Year's Eve. Kim later confirmed the news, posting on her website, "It's true!! Kanye and I are expecting a baby. We feel so blessed and lucky and wish that in addition to both of our families, his mom and my dad could be here to celebrate this special time with us."

Since announcing her pregnancy, Kim experienced some bumps in the road, including criticism for her expectant outfit choices and a seemingly never-ending divorce from Kris Humphries – that was eventually finalized just earlier this month.

Samsung pays Apple $1 Billion sending 30 trucks full of 5 cent coins

PaperBlog – This morning more than 30 trucks filled with 5-cent coins arrived at Apple’s headquarters in California. Initially, the security company that protects the facility said the trucks were in the wrong place, but minutes later, Tim Cook (Apple CEO) received a call from Samsung CEO explaining that they will pay $1 billion dollars for the fine recently ruled against the South Korean company in this way.
The funny part is that the signed document does not specify a single payment method, so Samsung is entitled to send the creators of the iPhone their billion dollars in the way they deem best.
This dirty but genius geek troll play is a new headache to Apple executives as they will need to put in long hours counting all that money, to check if it is all there and to try to deposit it crossing fingers to hope a bank will accept all the coins.
Lee Kun-hee, Chairman of Samsung Electronics, told the media that his company is not going to be intimidated by a group of “geeks with style” and that if they want to play dirty, they also know how to do it.

Fathers Day Ideals~~~DTLA

 

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - When it comes to finding the right gift for dad on Father’s Day, it’s easy to pick a tie or cologne.

Those, however, are boring, and dear old dad probably wants something more. Fortunately, Downtown Los Angeles has a lot to offer the old man on Sunday, June 16. Below are some great meals, highflying adventures and more. 

Feed the Man 

A Grand BBQ: A backyard barbecue is a classic way to celebrate Father’s Day, and the Omni Hotel’s Grand Café is doing just that on June 16. The Father’s Day barbecue lunch will be on the patio and options including ribs, chicken and tri-tip will be served from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dad will leave with good memories, a full stomach and a savory souvenir, as all fathers at the barbecue get a jar of Executive Chef Christopher Tunnel’s housemade BBQ sauce. 

At 251 S. Olive St., (213) 356-4155 or omnihotels.com. 

Double Deal: It’s good to go out for a nice meal once in a while. It’s even better to go out twice in a while. Dads can get a second helping at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse after celebrating Father’s Day with the family at the L.A. Live restaurant. The June 16 Father’s Day special is $36.95 and includes a three-course meal with items such as lobster bisque and prime rib. All dads receive a $25 gift card for their next visit to Fleming’s. 

At 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 745-9911 or flemingssteakhouse.com. 

Meat Man: Does your dad like steak? Of course he does! He’s a dad! Morton’s The Steakhouse is warming up the grill on June 16 with a $69 three-course special that starts with a salad and ends with a choice of desserts such as chocolate mousse and key lime pie. In between are selections from entrees such as pork chops, filet mignon and beef short ribs. There are also other meats on the menu too. 

At 735 S. Figueroa St., (213) 553-4566 or mortons.com. 

Big Deal: A lot of kids think their dad is a big deal. At The Counter on Seventh Street, they’ll have to announce it out loud in order to score some free food for pops. On June 16, everyone who says, “My dad is a BFD” when ordering their food will get a one-third pound burger on the house. We have no idea what the F stands for. Probably “fantastic.” 

At 725 W. Seventh St., (213) 228-7800 or thecounterburger.com.

Adventure

Flyby: Look, up in the sky. Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is that dad in a WACO YMF-5C biplane flying over Downtown? Why yes, it is. To celebrate Father’s Day, a company called Skythrills is putting the paterfamilias in a 1935 replica biplane. The 35-minute flight takes off from Fullerton Airport and cruises by Downtown landmarks like U.S. Bank Tower. A flight suit and helmet are provided, and so is a parachute, just in case. Rides are $365-$425.

At (714) 402-4888 or skythrills.com. 

Big Bad Daddy: One of the lessons Mr. Miyagi taught Daniel in the 1984 The Karate Kid was that you learn to fight so you don’t have to. So get Dad some self-defense tips at Unyted Fitness. The Main Street spot offers training in krav maga, the famous Israeli military self-defense and hand-to-hand combat system. It can give the average guy some confidence and, since there’s a lot of physical work involved, it can help get pop in shape too. There is another plus with this gift: Unyted Fitness offers a free class before you commit to the gym, so dad can try it out. If he doesn’t like it, you can get him those Richard Simmons DVDs next year. 

At 334 S. Main St., (213) 223-6233 or unytedfitness.com.  

High Society: Pedro Shanahan will be your father’s “spirit guide” through the world of bourbon, rye, Irish and Scotch whiskey as a member of the Seven Grand Whiskey Society. An annual membership costs $120 and includes monthly tastings at Seven Grand’s Jackalope Room. The tastings usually take place on Tuesdays and are helmed by master distillers or brand representatives. The classes offer a look at the history of each whiskey, how it’s made and what flavors to look for when sipping. There are also a few special events mixed in, like a recent one that included poetry reading. Shananan, Seven Grand’s whiskey expert, organizes the gatherings. 

At 515 W. Seventh St., (213) 614-0737 or sevengrandbars.com. 

Strike Out: Downtown now has two places where dad can go bowling on Father’s Day. For a family-friendly event, there’s XLanes in Little Tokyo. Located on the third floor of the Little Tokyo Galleria, X Lanes has a 24-lane bowling alley, an arcade, pool tables and a restaurant. A clubbier atmosphere can be found at Lucky Strike. There are 18 lanes at the L.A. Live venue. There’s a bar and lounge, but no arcade, so the place tends to cater to a more college and adult crowd. 

X Lanes is at 333 S. Alameda St., (213) 229-8910 or xlanesla.com. Lucky Strike is at 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 542-4880 or bowlluckystrike.com.

Spring Street Park to Open Monday

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — The complaint that Downtown lacks parks will get knocked back even further next week. On Monday, June 17, the Spring Street Park will open at 9 a.m.
The June 17 opening of the $8 million facility — $5 million for land acquisition and $3 million for construction — is happening about a month earlier than originally planned because Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa wanted the park to come online before his term ends July 1, said Patti Berman, who heads the nonprofit that is set to operate the park.
The park at 426 S. Spring St., between the El Dorado and Rowan lofts, features a fountain, a lawn, trees, a playground and curved benches. Work on the project began in 2009 after Downtown Properties, which developed the condominium buildings on either side, sold what was then a parking lot to the city.
Berman’s organization Friends of the Old Bank District Gardens is slated to run the park, which will be a public facility. Guidelines on how the park is to be operated are set by the city Department of Recreation and Parks.
Mike Shull, a superintendent with the Department of Recreation and Parks, said a three-year agreement with the nonprofit group is going to the department’s Board of Commissioners for approval June 19. The Monday ceremony is open to the public.
©Los Angeles Downtown News.

Ronald Wagenhoffer, Suicidal Building Inspector, Said Collapse 'Wasn't My Fault' In Video Message

A Philadelphia official says a building inspector left a videotaped message before his apparent suicide saying a deadly building collapse wasn't his fault.

PHILADELPHIA — A building inspector who had visited a demolition site before a brick wall collapsed onto an adjacent thrift store, killing six people, left a cellphone video message before his apparent suicide this week saying the collapse "wasn't my fault," the mayor's spokesman said.
However, inspector Ronald Wagenhoffer also said he wished he'd been more diligent, spokesman Mark McDonald told The Associated Press on Friday.
Wagenhoffer inspected the downtown site before and after demolition work began in February and visited an attached, related job site on May 14 following a complaint.
A four-story brick wall collapsed at the site June 5, burying 19 people inside a one-story Salvation Army thrift shop next door. Besides the six people who died, 13 were injured.
Wagenhoffer, a veteran inspector, was found dead in his truck Wednesday night, hours after finishing his last shift. Police said they believe he shot himself in the chest.
According to McDonald, Wagenhoffer first secured his cellphone on the dashboard and made two brief videos, each 20 to 30 seconds long. The first was for his wife and young son, McDonald said, and the second described his thoughts on the collapse.
"He says that he can't sleep," said McDonald, who said he viewed both videos Friday afternoon. "He says that he was devastated by the deaths and injuries at the scene."
McDonald said Wagenhoffer then says briefly on the videos he "wished that he'd been more diligent."
"He wished that he'd gotten out of a truck at some point in time," he said, "but it's not connected to any particular event. There's no mention of May 14. And he never says that he never inspected the site."

Father's Day Quotes: Words Of Wisdom About Being A Dad

Ahead of Father's Day on June 16, we thought it was a good time to remember what we love about fatherhood. And while it's often a running joke in many households that 'every day is Father's Day', HuffPost UK Lifestyle still loved looking through inspirational quotes about being a dad.
From quotes by Barack Obama to Sigmund Freud, these words of wisdom words span the centuries to remind us that this has always been one of the toughest jobs around. (Apart from being a mum that is!)
Here's the best selection of quotes we could find, but we'd love to hear your suggestions.
Please email your ideas to uklifestyle@huffingtonpost.com.

Mercedes-Benz logo will GLOW everyone will know what you DRIVE ~~~~

If you're spending top dollar to buy a Mercedes Benz, don't you want the world to know? Even when it's dark out?

The luxury automaker has started making it's logo glow on the front of its cars, making the three-pointed star even more noticeable than before.

The star was trademarked in 1910 and has graced even Benz since. Mercedes-Benz has found a way to refresh the star, bringing it into the 21^st century while helping its owners show off their excellent taste to their envious neighbors.

Hood ornaments have largely lost their popularity in recent years and automakers have largely moved the badge to the front grill. The glowing star will be available on select models, including he new E-Class, the M-Class, GL-Class and CLS-Class sedans, Yahoo! Autos reported, with other models becoming available soon. The dealership can also retro fit any Benz from 2006 or newer.

NBA Finals 2013: Big 3 help Heat even NBA Finals with Spurs

SAN ANTONIO—LeBron James scored 33 points while playing with the aggression and ferocity that everyone expects of the four-time MVP, leading the Miami Heat to a 109-93 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night that evened the NBA Finals at two games apiece.
James also had 11 rebounds and four assists and finally got some much-needed help from his struggling All-Star teammates. Dwyane Wade scored 32 points, Chris Bosh had 20 points and 13 rebounds and the defending champions made sure the series will head back to South Beach
Tony Parker had 15 points and nine assists while playing through a sore right hamstring for the Spurs, who were trying to move one step closer to their fifth championship.
Game 5 in the best-of-seven series is Sunday night in San Antonio.
Ray Allen scored 14 points for the Heat. Miami had 50 points in the paint after managing 32 in a 36-point loss in Game 3.
Tim Duncan scored 20 points, and Kawhi Leonard added 12 points and seven rebounds for the Spurs, who turned the ball over 19 times. After setting a finals record with 16 3-pointers in Game 3, San Antonio was 8 for 16.
James was an abysmal 7 for 21 for 15 points in Game 3, and he promised to be better in Game 4. He delivered on that the only way he knows how, hitting 15 of 25 shots and putting the team on his shoulders to set the tone early.
Every time James snatched a Spurs miss off the glass he thundered up the court, attacking the back-pedaling defense for easy layups that simply haven't been there for him this series.
He made six of his first seven shots, controlling the tempo and responding when the Spurs threatened to run away with the game in the first six minutes.
Parker strained his right hamstring during Game 3, leaving many in San Antonio to fear that the big step forward they made with their win in Game 3 came at a hefty price. But Parker deemed himself "ready to go" at the team's morning shootaround and looked fine, save for a quick trip to the locker room in the fourth quarter.

Fla. Sports Bar Deck Collapses, Dozens In Water

MIAMI — A packed outdoor deck behind a popular Miami-area sports bar collapsed during the NBA Finals on Thursday night, sending dozens of patrons into the shallow waters of Biscayne Bay. Three people were critically injured.
Lt. Ignatius Carroll of Miami Fire-Rescue said late Thursday that 100 people fell into the water. He said rescuers pulled patrons from the bay, and that divers were searching waters underneath the collapsed deck as helicopters shined spotlights onto the area.
Carroll said authorities were not sure if everyone was accounted for.
The accident occurred around 9:45 p.m. at Shucker's Bar & Grill in North Bay Village, north of Miami Beach, as customers were watching the Miami Heat play the San Antonio Spurs.
WSVN-TV reports that 24 people were injured.
News director Tom Tuckwell told the news station that he had his back to the bay when he heard an enormous roar. When he turned around, he saw people disappeared beneath them.

Edward Snowden Tells South China Morning Post: U.S. Has Been Hacking Hong Kong And China Since 2009

The South China Morning Post published another article early Thursday morning local time about its exclusive interview with Edward Snowden, the person responsible for leaking top-secret information about the National Security Agency's secret surveillance programs. The Post reported that Snowden said that the U.S. government "had been hacking into computers in Hong Kong and [in China] for years."
Snowden spoke with the Post's Lana Lam from an undisclosed location. He said that the U.S. was "bullying" Hong Kong to extradite him and that he has been in constant fear for his safety. "I will never feel safe," he said. "Things are very difficult for me in all terms, but speaking truth to power is never without risk."
Lam also reported:

Snowden said that according to unverified documents seen by the Post, the NSA had been hacking computers in Hong Kong and on the mainland since 2009. None of the documents revealed any information about Chinese military systems, he said ... Snowden believed there had been more than 61,000 NSA hacking operations globally, with hundreds of targets in Hong Kong and on the mainland.

Snowden's claims came days after President Obama and China's President Xi Jinping gathered for an "informal" summit at the Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage, California, where discussions over cybersecurity issues were central. According to NBC News' Andrea Mitchell, Obama stayed at the Sunnylands retreat during the summit, but Xi stayed at a nearby Hyatt, "reportedly worrie[d] about eavesdropping, underscoring the toughest issue dividing the U.S. and China."
The Post published excerpts from its interview with Snowden on Wednesday afternoon local time. After revealing his identity through The Guardian on Sunday, Snowden checked out of Hong Kong's Mira Hotel on Monday and reportedly moved to a safe house.
The former NSA contractor discussed his decision to flee to Hong Kong, a region he said he admired for its commitment to free speech. He added that he planned to stay in Hong Kong until he was "asked to leave." He responded to Russia saying that it would consider offering him asylum if he requested. "My only comment is that I am glad there are governments that refuse to be intimidated by great power," he said.
Clarification: This post has been updated to describe Hong Kong's status as a Special Administrative Region.

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SC investigating changeable electronic license plates [w/poll]

South Carolina may soon lead the way into the future with electronic license plates for cars and trucks. Using so-called electronic paper, technology similar to what is seen on digital readers like the Amazon Kindle, these new license plates would be capable of dynamically changing from normal numbers and letters to a word like SUSPENDED, UNINSURED or STOLEN.

Both passing motorists and police would be able to read the plate's message, and the designers say warning messages could be in bright red or made to flash. Each digital license plate would be linked to the DMV using a cellular connection, and power for the display would be generated either by the vibrations of an automobile or by a solar film over the plate. Power would only be required to change the plate's display – no power is required to keep the current display in place, and its creators say the DMV would not be able to track the plate.

At present, a proposal is in the works that would see state-owned vehicles in South Carolina use these electronic plates in a pilot program. If successful, and if cost can be brought to manageable levels, electronic plates could replace the simple stamped metal plates currently in use across the country. We have to wonder, though, how the general population would react to digital license plates that are connected wireless to an agency like the DMV. Why not voice your opinion in our completely unscientific poll, but not before watching the video report below.