Taco Bell employee to be FIRED for licking TACOS..

The California Taco Bell employee who became instantly (in)famous after showing his enthusiasm for a stack of shells will be fired.
The company confirmed the decision Monday in a statement on its website:

Our franchisee is responsible for the employment and conduct of his restaurant’s employees and he has informed us that he immediately suspended the employee shown in the photo and is in the process of terminating his employment.

Taco Bell notes that the photo originated in March, when two workers took it in response to a contest that was intended to show employees enjoying a new product (ostensibly, Cool Ranch Doritos-flavored taco shells). The company said that the photo violated the spirit of the contest, and that the employees knew that and didn't submit the photo. However, that didn't stop the gross picture from ending up on social media.
Although the company does not believe that the employee intended to harm anyone by appearing to lick what are believed to be taco shells used in training, Taco Bell admitted that the picture did not reflect well on anyone involved.
Commenters on Taco Bell's Facebook page certainly shared that negative impression when the photo first surfaced Sunday.
Reddit user Andrewkh65 posted an unverified Snapchat image of what appears to be the former franchise employee Monday. The image includes the message, "Just got the call. I'm fired."

Also on HuffPost:

Here's the photo:

U.S. ITC Finds Apple Violates Samsung Patent, Issues Limited Import Ban On AT&T iPhone 4, 3GS And Some iPads

Apple has been found to be in violation of a Samsung patent, which has resulted in a limited import ban on certain products, including the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, original iPad 3G and iPad 2 3G, all only for AT&T-specific models. More details are emerging about the ruling, but it’s likely this affects only older devices on AT&T because it relates to a specific component used before wider release of the iPhone with multi-band support.
The import ban could theoretically result in Apple being unable to sell the devices in question in the U.S., should all appeals fail and the decision be upheld, since Apple wouldn’t be able to bring the devices into the country from its overseas suppliers and manufacturing facilities. As this is an ITC ruling, it would have to be appealed to the White House or Federal Circuit to be overturned, notes Nilay Patel of The Verge on Twitter.

Michelle Obama DNC Fundraiser Speech Interrupted By LGBT Protester

 

WASHINGTON -- First lady Michelle Obama's speech Tuesday evening at a private Democratic National Committee fundraiser was interrupted by a protester, who demanded equality for gays and lesbians.
About 12 minutes into Obama's 20-minute speech, a woman standing at the front of the crowd began yelling for an executive order on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights.
"One of the things that I don't do well is this," replied Obama to loud applause. She left the lectern and approached the protester, inviting the woman to "listen to me, or you can take the mic, but I'm leaving. You all decide. You have one choice."
The crowd shouted that they wanted Obama to stay, and one woman near the protester said, "You need to go!"
The protester was then escorted out, saying she wanted "federal equality before I die."
Heather Cronk, co-director of the pro-LGBT rights group GetEQUAL, said the protester was Ellen Sturtz, 56, one of the organization's activists.
Sturtz was calling for an executive order to bar discrimination by federal contractors based on sexual orientation or gender identity. LGBT groups have been disappointed that President Barack Obama has refused to issue such an order, while the Employment Non-Discrimination Act -- which would prohibit such discrimination in hiring more broadly -- remains stuck in Congress.

NBA playoffs: LeBron stars, Wade revives as Heat win Game 7 over Pacers

MIAMI — Their season, their legacy, their reign atop the NBA was all at stake, and the Miami Heat responded in a manner befitting defending champions — with a blowout.
LeBron James scored 32 points and grabbed eight rebounds, ailing Dwyane Wade matched his postseason high with 21 points, and the Heat ran away from the Indiana Pacers 99-76 in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals on Monday night The Heat will play the San Antonio Spurs for the NBA title in a series that starts Thursday in Miami.
Miami led by as many as 28 points, a shocking amount for a series that had an aggregate score of Heat 569, Pacers 564 entering Monday night. The Heat actually trailed by six in the early going, were still down 21-19 after the first quarter and it was starting to look like it was going to be one of those down-to-the-wire nights.
Not even close.
James exited with 5:08 left, shaking retired soccer star David Beckham's hand as he made his way to the Heat bench for a relatively subdued celebration. Not long afterward, security personnel started what's become a familiar task in Miami — surrounding the court and stretching out a yellow rope, preparing to hold people at bay for the looming on-court trophy presentation.

Angelina Jolie's Recovery: Actress Makes First Red Carpet Appearance Since Double Mastectomy

 

Angelina Jolie was glowing on the red carpet today (June 2) as she made her first public appearance since revealing her decision to undergo a double mastectomy last month.
Dressed in a custom black Saint Laurent gown, the actress, 37, joined her fiance Brad Pitt, 49, at the premiere of his new film "World War Z" at the Empire Leicester Square in London. The couple was all smiles as they posed for photos, looking as captivated with each other as ever.
On May 14, Jolie announced that she had been diagnosed with a mutated BRCA1 gene predisposing her to cancer. She revealed she had undergone a preventive mastectomy on Feb. 16 and reconstructive surgery on April 27 in an op-ed in the New York Times.
"I do not feel any less of a woman," she wrote. "I feel empowered that I made a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity."
As for Pitt, he has stood by his wife-to-be's side as she's been recovering at home in Los Angeles over the last few months. Pitt and Jolie have six children together -- Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox and Vivienne.
"Having witnessed this decision firsthand, I find Angie's choice, as well as many others like her, absolutely heroic," Pitt said in a statement following Jolie's announcement. "I thank our medical team for their care and focus."

Bruno Mars' Mother Dead At 55, According To Source

Bruno Mars' mother dead at 55, according to an AP source.

NEW YORK — The mother of Grammy-winning pop star Bruno Mars has died in Hawaii.
Bernadette Hernandez died Saturday of a brain aneurysm, according to a publicist for Mars' label, Atlantic Records, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak on the record.
Hernandez was 55 years old. She died in Honolulu at Queens Medical Center; no other information was given.
Mars is one of pop's top acts with several No. 1 hits including his most recent, "When I Was Your Man." His mother, a hula dancer and a singer who immigrated from the Philippines, nurtured her son's interest in music at an early age.

Bruce Jenner Calls Out Kanye West: 'He's Never Around'

Bruce Jenner just proved what we've all been thinking for the past eight months ... Kanye West is MIA when it comes to Kim Kardashian's pregnancy.
The Kardashian family patriarch stopped by Extra with his son Brody Jenner on May 31 to talk about the upcoming season of "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" -- which premieres tonight (June 2) at 9 p.m. on E! -- and dished on Kim's nowhere-to-be-found baby daddy.
“Actually, I have only met him once," Bruce told Maria Menounos, who was shocked by his confession. "He's never ... he's not around," he laughed, adding, "He was in Paris the whole time writing, and he just hasn't been around.”
And believe it or not, Brody's revelation was more surprising than Bruce's.
“I’ve never met him," the new cast member admitted. "But Kim says great things about him," he continued, "And so does the entire family."
Speaking of the rest of the Kardashian clan, Khloe recently discussed Kim's baby shower and revealed that West will most likely be making an appearance at the party today (June 2).
"It's girls, but Kanye will come at the end," Khloe told Ryan Seacrest on his morning show, noting, "I think Scott [Disick] and Lamar [Odom] might bring Kanye at the end, because Kanye feels it's a little weird if he's the only guy."