Datuk's son acquited, rape-murder victim's father attempts suicide at court

The father of a rape and murder victim caused a stir when he threatened to jump off the balcony of the double-storey state court complex here yesterday after the High Court found a car dealer not guilty of the murder of his daughter seven years ago.

Chee Ah Sau, 57, broke down in tears and appeared distraught after judicial commissioner Datuk Mohd Zaki Abdul Wahab acquitted and discharged Shahril Jaafar, 32, from the charge of murdering Chee's daughter, Gaik Yap, then 25.

Almost immediately after Zaki delivered his decision, Ah Sau barged out of High Court 4, located on the second floor.

He then climbed up a long chair in front of High Court 3 before attempting to jump off the balcony.

Several onlookers and relatives, along with reporters and photographers, and policemen, rushed towards Chee and pulled him to safety.

Family members later spent about 20 minutes trying to coax Chee, who was crying incessantly. A few minutes later, he was seen escorted by several family members to a car before leaving the court complex.

Earlier, Zaki ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against the accused.

He said the court found that the victim, who was a snack food marketing executive, succumbed to stab wounds on the left side of the neck and not because of internal injuries on the private parts.

"The prosecution failed to prove Shahril had caused the injuries which caused her death."

Semen samples taken from the victim's private parts also did not match Shahril's DNA, which raised the possibility that another person could be responsible for the injuries.

Zaki also noted that the prosecution, represented by deputy public prosecutor Datuk Razali Che Ani, had relied solely on the fact that the accused was living at Kelab Cinta Sayang, near the murder scene.

Shahril was charged with murdering Gaik Yap between 5.30pm on Jan 14 and 3.05am on Jan 15, 2006.

Chee, a business administration graduate from Universiti Utara Malaysia, had been jogging with her younger sister in Kelab Cinta Sayang when she was abducted.

Her semi-nude body was found nine hours later in a bush near the jogging track. At that time, she was only four months into her job.

It was reported earlier this year that Shahril, who had been on the run since 2006, was detained at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, upon his return from Perth, Australia, in January.

Shahril, who was represented by Shamsul Sulaiman, left the court complex after the verdict was read.

NBA draft in 2013

The Cavs' decision to take Anthony Bennett No. 1 overall surprised some, as he wasn't really in play for the top pick. Karasev, on the other, hand, had creeped up the board to the point where many were talking about him as a low lottery pick. But the Cavaliers had the opportunity to take him at No. 19, and they seem to have cooled on their idea of trading all their picks.

Karasev is expected to play next season, rather than be stashed overseas.

Having become a hot commodity in only the past two years, Karasev played with the Russian national team that won a bronze medal at the London Olympics. Though he didn't play much at all, the timing of his vast improvements came after the experience. Karasev has since solidified his draft spot by displaying rapid improvements and more than potential while playing for Triumph in the PBL, Russia's top league, and was one of the best international players not named Andrew Wiggins at the 2013 Nike Hoops Summit.

Karasev is a 6'7 wing who could use some bulk to his frame. He's not the most athletic player, but he's not lacking in that department either. Karasev has a good handle, a first step to blow by defenders and most notably a deadly jump shot with range. Even though he's mostly known as a scorer, he does have a high basketball IQ and usually makes the right play, especially in finding teammates when he's attacking the basket and drawing help defense.

The Cavaliers need a shooter to open up space for Kyrie Irving to operate, and that's what they'll get in Karasev. They also need a small forward -- a position Karasev is capable of playing at 6'7, though he'll need to add some strength to be able to defend other threes across the league.

Karasev almost certainly will provide an upgrade offensively over Alonzo Gee and C.J. Miles, both of whom shot a little more than 40 percent from the floor in 2012-13. As a team, the Cavs ranked 24th in the league in three-point shooting and 29th in field goal percentage. If Karasev brings his smooth jumper with him to the states, those numbers will probably improve.

Murder charge for Aaron Hernandez

ATTLEBORO, Mass. -- Aaron Hernandez has been charged with murdering his friend after the two had a dispute during a trip to a nightclub.

Hernandez was arrested Wednesday and charged with the first-degree murder of 27-year-old Odin Lloyd, a semipro football player whose body was found in an industrial park about a mile from the former New England Patriots tight end's home.

Hernandez, released by the Patriots less than two hours after his arrest, pleaded not guilty and has been ordered to be held without bail. He also faces five gun-related charges, which were revealed Wednesday afternoon in Attleboro District Court.

Lloyd's relatives said he was dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancée, that the two men were friends and that the men were out together on the last night of Lloyd's life. Lloyd was shot multiple times in the back and chest, authorities said.

Hernandez, 23, also was charged with one count of carrying a firearm without a license, two counts of possessing a large-capacity firearm and two counts of possessing a firearm without an FID card. 

Judge Daniel J. O'Shea ordered both prosecutors and Hernandez's defense attorneys to refrain from publicly commenting on the case.

"The reality is that this case is still an ongoing investigation," Bristol County District Attorney C. Samuel Sutter said. "Invariably it is in the best interest of an ongoing investigation for the district attorney's office not to comment."

Hernandez could get life without parole if convicted. He was transported to the Bristol County House of Correction and Jail in North Dartmouth, Mass.

Hernandez will have a probable cause hearing July 24 at 9 a.m. ET.

Lloyd's family members cried and hugged in the courtroom as prosecutor Bill McCauley outlined the killing. Two relatives were so overcome with emotion that they had to leave the courtroom.

Two days later, McCauley said, on the night of June 16, Hernandez texted two friends from out of state and asked them to hurry back to Massachusetts.

Surveillance footage from outside Hernandez's home showed him leaving with a gun, and he told someone in the house that he was upset and couldn't trust anyone anymore, the prosecutor said.

The three men picked up Lloyd at his home around 2:30 a.m., according to authorities. As they drove around, they discussed what happened at the nightclub, and Lloyd started getting nervous, McCauley said.

Lloyd texted his sister, "Did you see who I am with?" When she asked who, Lloyd answered, at 3:22 a.m., "NFL," then, a minute later, "Just so you know."

Within a few minutes after that, people working the overnight shift at the industrial park reported hearing gunshots, McCauley said.

Investigators did not specify who fired the shots and did not identify the two other people who were with Hernandez.

In arguing unsuccessfully for bail, Hernandez's attorney said the athlete is unlikely to flee, is a homeowner, and lives with his fiancee and an 8-month-old baby. He also said Hernandez had never been accused of a violent crime.

A man filed a lawsuit last week claiming Hernandez shot him after they argued at a strip club in February in Florida. However, no criminal charges were filed, and the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office deemed the case, which did not name Hernandez, inactive because the alleged victim refused to cooperate.

Hernandez was wearing a white V-neck T-shirt with his arms inside the shirt and behind his back as he was led from his sprawling North Attleborough home at approximately 8:45 a.m. Wednesday. He casually spit into some bushes on his way to a police cruiser.

At about 10:20 a.m. Wednesday, the Patriots announced they had released Hernandez and expressed sympathy to Lloyd's family and friends.

"Words cannot express the disappointment we feel knowing that one of our players was arrested as a result of this investigation," the Patriots said in a statement. "We realize that law enforcement investigations into this matter are ongoing. We support their efforts and respect the process. At this time, we believe this transaction is simply the right thing to do."

The NFL also released a statement Wednesday, saying Hernandez's arrest is "deeply troubling."

"The involvement of an NFL player in a case of this nature is deeply troubling," the league's statement said. "The Patriots have released Aaron Hernandez, who will have his day in court. At the same time, we should not forget the young man who was the victim in this case and take this opportunity to extend our deepest sympathy to Odin Lloyd's family and friends."

The Patriots drafted Hernandez, originally from Bristol, Conn., out of the University of Florida in 2010. Last summer, the team signed him to a five-year contract worth $40 million.

Hernandez is one of 28 NFL players arrested since this year's Super Bowl on Feb. 3, according to a database kept by U-T San Diego.

During the 2010 draft, one team said it wouldn't take Hernandez under any circumstances, and he wasn't selected until New England took him in the fourth round.

Afterward, Hernandez said he had failed a drug test in college -- reportedly for marijuana -- and was up front with teams about it.

The Boston Globe also reported Hernandez lost his temper and threatened a teammate during an argument in the team's weight room shortly after he was drafted.

Hernandez became a father Nov. 6 and said he intended to change his ways: "Now, another one is looking up to me. I can't just be young and reckless Aaron no more. I'm going to try to do the right things."

DOMA

Edith Windsor, the woman who took on DOMA

'I cried, I cried': DOMA widow says on hearing of Supreme Court win..

By Miranda Leitsinger, Staff Writer, NBC News, Staff Writer, NBC News

NEW YORK -- The 84-year-old widow at the center of an historic gay-rights marriage case before the Supreme Court said she cried on Wednesday upon learning of her win, with the justices deeming unconstitutional a federal law that bars recognition of same-sex marriage.

Smiling and at some times emotional, Edie Windsor said: “I cried, I cried,” after learning of her landmark victory, hailed by one of her attorneys, James Esseks, as a “watershed” moment in the decades-long battle for gay rights.

“We won everything we asked and hoped for.  Wow,” she told a room full of reporters at The Center, a LGBT rights community center in New York City.

The victory means the federal government must recognize the marriages of gay and lesbian couples married in the 12 states that allow same-sex marriage, plus the District of Columbia, and give them the same benefits that they had been previously denied under the struck-down law, the Defense of Marriage Act (or DOMA).

Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, said it meant the end of what Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had called "skim-milk marriage" during oral arguments in March.

“I thought we had every right to win. I thought our arguments were sound and everyone else's were insane,” she quipped.

Windsor noted that her journey as a lesbian throughout the decades meant she had had to lie a lot of the time about her sexuality. Her other attorney, Roberta Kaplan, likened Windsor to Susan B. Anthony, Rosa Parks and Harvey Milk.

“It makes me feel incredibly proud and humble,” Windsor said.

Windsor launched her lawsuit after getting a bill for $363,000 in estate taxes after her wife, Thea Spyer, died in 2009 – two years following the couple's marriage in Canada. She noted that if her spouse had been named “Theo,” she wouldn't have received that bill.

She was heartbroken after Spyer’s death but also “overwhelmed with a sense of injustice and unfairness” and decided to sue to get her money back.

“Children born today will grow up in a world without DOMA. And those same children who happen to be gay will be free to love and get married – as Thea and I did – but with the same federal benefits, protections and dignity as everyone else,” Windsor said. “If I had to survive Thea, what a glorious way to do it and she would be so pleased."

Kaplan said Windsor would recoup that money plus interest, as would other couples who brought a case. For other couples, who are married now, the reimbursement will depend on each federal program and benefit. DOMA had blocked the access of same-sex married couples to more than 1,100 federal benefits.

As to the future, Windsor said she would be supportive of the ongoing efforts to bring same-sex marriage nationwide but would otherwise take a back seat.

"I don't have a ton of years left and I would like to relax a little bit," she said lightheartedly.

And when asked what she thought Thea, her partner of 44 years, would say on this big day, Windsor surmised: “You did it, honey.”

Jodie Sweetin on Separation From Husband Morty Coyle: "Life Can Have Its Challenges"

Jodie Sweetin is staying strong in the wake of her split from husband Morty Coyle. On Tuesday, June 25, one day after news broke that she had filed papers seeking a legal separation from her spouse of just over a year, the former Full House star, 31, took to Twitter to address her 85,000 followers.

After only a little over a year of marriage, Jodie Sweetin has filed for legal separation from husband Morty Coyle.

The former "Full House" star, who has been married three times, filed papers in Los Angeles Monday citing irreconcilable differences, TMZ reports.

According to USA Today, Full House star Jodie Sweetin, 31, filed for a separation from her third husband, Morey Coyle, on Monday. After only a little over a year together, the child star actress has decided to call it quits due to reasons that are still unknown. Jodie and Morey also have one child together named Beatrix, who is only 2. It is unclear whether drugs or alcohol, which were contributors to the end of her other two marriages, are related to her separation.

Michael Jackson

How to describe ‘Michael Jackson ONE’ – Cirque du Soleil’s new resident show at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas? In a word – AWESOME! Of course, I’m biased. I’m an MJ fanatic as well as a Cirque fan.  I loved ‘IMMORTAL,’ which I’ve seen seven times (in Las Vegas and London) to date, with Hong Kong and Melbourne shows to come.

If you asked me what’s so great about these shows, it’s because no-one is trying to BE Michael Jackson in them – no-one is impersonating him (more on the so-called hologram later) – but he is certainly present, whether projected on the big screens behind the performers, in the music, the dances performed so energetically by the cast,  and the very spirit of the shows themselves.

In ‘Michael Jackson ONE,’ a quartet of young fans attempt to avoid the constant harassment of paparazzi to attain those iconic object, that represent Michael the performer to the world –  his glove, his glittery sox and shoes, his hat and his mirror sunglasses. With these objects the fans obtain super powers capable of dispelling evil – i.e. the bullying media.

There is a strong anti-tabloid theme to the show, which must be applauded, given the comments of some audience members (near me,) who still unwittingly subscribe to the skin-bleaching and excessive plastic surgery scenarios, the tabloids loved to peddle about Michael (and still do – as though in total ignorance of all medical evidence!)

But, despite the fact that these tabloid myths continue to dominate and fascinate the general public, they are still flocking to the show and giving it a standing  ovation.

This is what is so great about Cirque du Soleil’s collaborations with Michael’s Estate – under the guidance of creator Jamie King, we have Michael’s genius presented in a thoroughly entertaining way to enthrall not just the committed fans, but anyone just wanting to see a spectacular show.

‘Michael Jackson ONE’ is certainly that – with all the acrobatics, and theatrical effects they are known for, all set in tune to Michael’s songs. Watching both MJ Cirque shows you start to appreciate how perfectly suited Michael and Cirque were for this type – or ANY type of collaboration.

We have illusions, aerialists, incredible dancers, pyrotechnics, and most dominant of all, the thumping beat of the music, which comes to you directly from the speakers in the seat you’re sitting on. There is no live band in ‘Michael Jackson ONE’ – the music, whether full length versions of the songs, snippets or mash-ups, is straight from Michael’s albums.

There are almost too many highlights to mention – whether it’s ‘Dirty Diana’s’ fabulous pole-dancer, Michael’s moonwalk projected on the big screen, followed by the dancers with lighted costumes performing it on-stage (a further development of the treatment given in ‘Immortal’) or the remarkable ‘Man In The Mirror.’

In the latter, an illusion of Michael appears in a golden light, dancing and interacting with the audience. I really don’t care how it’s done – it is a wonderful touch, representing the fulfilment of the four fanatics’ quest to discover the real Michael through his iconic costume props. Contrary to what you may have read in early press reports – it is not just for a few brief seconds, either. The image disappears in a puff of ‘pixie dust’ and reappears again throughout the length of the song.

My only complaint about this is, that at the end of the song, with the image of  Michael alone on the stage, he turns from the mature performer into the little boy in the cowboy hat from Jackson 5 days. I really wished they didn’t do that. To me, Michael the man is the star – the little boy, the family breadwinner from such a tender and vulnerable age – is the childhood genius that gave birth to the man. But please, leave us the man to remember. (Michael’s childhood career is paid due acknowledgement early in the show – I wish they had left it at that.)

But, despite this and a couple of other minor quibbles, I totally love and appreciated ‘Michael Jackson ONE’ both times I have seen it to date. Whether sitting back in the centre of the theatre (where you get the best view of everything) or down in the front row (where you can interact with the dancers in the finale) you’ll be on your feet clapping and dancing by the time ‘Black or White’ builds to a  climax.

5 Rules for Skinny Guys Who Want to Build Muscle

When it comes to getting fit and ripped, there are two starting lines where everyone starts out: one line consists of all the people that want to lose fat, and there’s the other with all the skinny guys and gals who want to build muscle. For those who are starting out at the skinny-guy line, this is for you.

For a majority of my life, I’ve been one of those skinny guys that started out just like you. I don’t consider myself as big or buff (although my family and friends insist so), but I definitely overcame the skinny bodytype that I’ve always had.

When I first started working out in the gym, my only focus was to lift weights. Particularly the bench press and bicep curl exercise. That how I started and that’s how a lot of young people start out lifting. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to build muscle just doing those two exercises.

There’s only a few things that you have to keep in mind and I broke them down into 5 rules. Live by these principles and I guarantee you that you’ll see some changes faster than you’ve ever seen in your life.

1. Eat Big

This right here is rule 1 for a reason.

All the big guys out there are big not because of the hours they spend at the gym every session or all the supplements they take, but because they eat a lot. None of them got to how they are now eating like little girls. You have to eat lots of food.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean that you should eat everything that comes in your way. Eating a lot of chips, fries, or ramen noodles for example is not going to do you any good unless you want to be big AND fat. You need up your calories and also consume foods rich in protein like eggs, chicken, red meat, turkey, egg whites, tuna, etc. I could keep going with the foods you can eat, but you get the idea. If you want to get big, you need to eat big.

The general guideline is to eat 500-1000 calories over your maintenance. So first figure out your maintenance calories . Then add about 500 calories to that number. The number of calories you eat doesn’t have to be exact, but that’s how much calories you should be eating everyday if you want to gain weight.

2. Lift Big

It’s as simple as that. If you want to get bigger, you have to lift heavy. Enough of the sissy weights. You need to work your muscles to the point that they can only do 8,9, or 10 repetitions per working set.

For example, if you can bench a certain weight 20 times with no problem whatsoever, you need to man up and put some more weight so that you’d only be able to do 5-8. Your muscles fibers need to do work to get bigger. Just make sure that the weight is not too heavy that it impacts your form. Lifting too heavy can also cause an injury.

3. Focus On Compound Exercises

I see a lot of people at my gym who have fuckarounditis who do a lot of isolation exercises and rarely any compound exercises. This is a big no-no. Compound exercises are a must for skinny guys trying to build a bigger physique. Focus on these movements: squats, bench presses, deadlifts, chin-ups/pull-ups, rows, dips, etc. Want to get bigger biceps? Do weighted chin-ups instead of bicep curls. You’ll be working out your back and biceps at the same time and is actually more effective since you’re body isn’t that strong yet.

These compound movements hit the whole body hard and promote overall growth, so don’t ever underestimate them.

4. Drink Lots of Water

Just like eating, drinking water is just as important. Your body is made up of about 70% water, so you need to keep your body hydrated for it to function properly. Remember that your body can live for weeks without food, but only days without water. That’s how important it is to our body, and for your muscles. Without water, your body cannot break down all the nutrients that you consume. So all that protein that you’re eating will go to waste if you don’t drink any water.

5. Don’t Quit

Don’t ever quit. If  you think you’re skinny and want to build some muscle, you can’t ever quit. Just because you didn’t gain a single pound in a week doesn’t mean that you will never get bigger. It just means that you need to work harder or eat more.

There will be times when you feel like you just want to give up. All the people that have seen results whether it’s building muscle or losing fat got to where they want because they never quit. If you want an aesthetic physique of your own, you have to have the same attitude.

ACT

Michigan Merit Exam Results In Area Near State Average

Statewide, the Michigan Department of Education says the trend continues to be positive for student proficiency on both the 2013 Michigan Merit Examination and the ACT college entrance exam, even with a slight drop overall in the MME this year.

That test is taken by 11th graders every spring, and this year showed statewide, reading proficiency stands at 53.5%, 49.3% of students are proficient in writing, 38.6% in social studies, 28.6% in math and 25.7% in science. 

Locally, it's a mixed bag. St. Joseph and Lakeshore schools set the standard in Berrien County, topping the state average in all subjects, while Benton Harbor schools performed very poorly. Less than 5% of Benton Harbor students tested proficient in math, science and social studies, while just 6% were proficient in writing and 16% were proficient in reading. Berrien County as a whole performed right in line with the state results, while Van Buren County scores were slightly below the state averages.

Worst of haze shifts from Singapore to Malaysia

Malaysian authorities declared a state of emergency Sunday in a southern district where a smoky haze blamed on Indonesian forest fires has triggered one of the country's worst pollution levels in years.

The worst of the smog has shifted from Singapore to southernmost Malaysia, where noxious fumes have drifted across the sea this past week from Indonesia's Sumatra island.

The Malaysian government's index for air pollution reached a measurement of 746 early Sunday in the southern district of Muar. It was far above the threshold of 300 for hazardous air quality.

Authorities were issuing instructions for Muar's residents to remain indoors and for schools to close, Environment Minister G. Palanivel said in a statement on his Facebook page. The district has about 250,000 people, several of whom posted photographs on Twitter showing bridges and buildings enveloped in smog that slashed visibility to barely hundreds of meters (feet).

Air quality reached unhealthy levels in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's main city further north, where landmarks like the Petronas Twin Towers were obscured amid hot, humid conditions.

Malaysia's highest recording for the pollution index was 860 in 1997, one of the region's worst years for smog sparked by Indonesian blazes. Palanivel said officials might soon have to implement "cloud-seeding" operations meant to try to chemically induce rain.

Singapore reported pollution readings that fluctuated between "moderate" and "unhealthy" classifications Sunday, far below peak measurements recorded Friday. However, the city-state's officials have warned the respite, which has brought clear, blue skies to Singapore for the first time in nearly a week, might be only temporary because of current wind conditions.

This year's haze has been the worst in Singapore's history, forcing the military to suspend outdoor training, causing the cancellation of sports events and prompting the environment minister to travel to Indonesia to press for stronger action.

Jakarta has sent planes to help douse the fires in Sumatran peat swamp forests and sought to deflect criticism over its response to the environmental crisis. Some officials say Malaysian and Singaporean firms should also be held responsible because they have stakes in plantation land where the fires are raging.

Several of the companies have denied knowledge of fires in their official operating areas in Indonesia. In past years, similar blazes have been illegally set as a cheap method to clear land. Indonesian authorities say they are investigating whether anyone can be prosecuted for the current fires.

Nik Wallenda

 Nik Wallenda completes tightrope walk across gorge near Grand Canyon

LITTLE COLORADO RIVER GORGE, ARIZ. Aerialist Nik Wallenda completed a tightrope walk that took him a quarter mile over the Little Colorado River Gorge in northeastern Arizona on Sunday.

Wallenda performed the stunt on a 2-inch-thick steel cable, 1,500 feet above the river on the Navajo Nation near the Grand Canyon. He took just more than 22 minutes, pausing and crouching twice as winds whipped around him and the rope swayed.

"Thank you Lord. Thank you for calming that cable, God," he said about 13 minutes into the walk.

Wallenda didn't wear a harness and stepped slowly and steady throughout, murmuring prayers to Jesus almost constantly along the way. He jogged and hopped the last few steps.

The event was broadcast live on the Discovery Channel.

Winds blowing across the gorge had been expected to be around 30 mph. Wallenda told Discovery after the walk that the winds were at times "unpredictable" and that dust had accumulated on his contact lenses.

"It was way more windy, and it took every bit of me to stay focused the entire time," he said.

The 34-year-old Sarasota, Fla., resident is a seventh-generation high-wire artist and is part of the famous "Flying Wallendas" circus family — a clan that is no stranger to death-defying feats.

His great-grandfather, Karl Wallenda, fell during a performance in Puerto Rico and died at the age of 73. Several other family members, including a cousin and an uncle, have perished while performing wire walking stunts.

Nik Wallenda grew up performing with his family and has dreamed of crossing the Grand Canyon since he was a teenager. Sunday's stunt comes a year after he traversed Niagara Falls earning a seventh Guinness world record.

Wallenda wore a microphone and two cameras, one that looked down on the dry Little Colorado River bed and one that faced straight ahead. His leather shoes with an elk-skin sole helped him keep a grip on the steel cable as he moved across.

About 600 spectators watching on a large video screen on site cheered him on as he walked toward them. A Navajo Nation ranger, a paramedic and two members of a film crew were stationed on the canyon floor and watched from below.

The ranger, Elmer Phillips, said Wallenda appeared to be walking like any normal person would on a sidewalk. But he said he got a little nervous when Wallenda stopped the first time.

"Other than that, a pretty amazing feat. I know I wouldn't even attempt something like that," Phillips said. "Very nicely done."

Before the walk, a group of Navajos, Hopis and other Native Americans stood along a nearby highway with signs protesting the event.

The event was touted as a walk across the Grand Canyon, an area held sacred by many American Indian tribes. Some local residents believe Wallenda hasn't accurately pinpointed the location and also said that the Navajo Nation shouldn't be promoting the gambling of one man's life for the benefit of tourism.

Discovery's 2-hour broadcast showcased the Navajo landscape that includes Monument Valley, Four Corners, Canyon de Chelly and the tribal capital of Window Rock.

"When people watch this, our main thing is we want the world to know who Navajo people are, our culture, traditions and language are still very much alive," Geri Hongeva, spokeswoman for the tribe's Division of Natural Resources, said before the walk.

5 Rules of Loss Fat & Loss Weight Diet

Rule 1: Drink at least 8 glasses of water

Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day and more if possible. When you are dehydrated, your body stores more water, especially in fat cells. By staying hydrated, your body will not store as much water and the size of your fat cells will decrease.

Rule 2: Spend equal time eating

Your hormonal biochemistry works best in rhythms.  It requires time to build and time to burn. It needs times of increased energy and times of rest and recovery. When you eat, your hormones are optimized to build and store. When you don’t eat, those same hormones are optimized to burn. If you want to burn fat, you have to honor this natural rhythm. The easiest way to do this is simply break the day into two time frames:  12 hours of eating and 12 hours of fasting. This is easily accomplished with little impact on hunger, energy and cravings (HEC) because most of the 12 hours without food come while you are sleeping.

Rule 3: Calorie Intake

Basal Metabolic Rate is important to you losing weight, let's take a closer look. For instance, a 25 year old woman weighing 160 lbs and 5’3” would have a Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) of 1,441. If you want to calculate your calorie. Here the web address: http://ratfactor.com/fat-loss-calculator. 

Rule 4: More exercise 

Suggestion - Swimming. 

Swimming uses almost all of your major muscle groups. Then, it places a vigorous demand on your heart and lungs. When you swim breaststroke or backstroke, you're burning about the same number of calories as a fast walk or a slow jog. However, swimming does have a reputation for being less effective than other forms of exercise when it comes to losing weight.

Rule 5: Unforbidden Fruit

A study from the Scripps Clinic (San Diego) reported that subjects eating half a grapefruit or drinking 8 ounces of grapefruit juice three times a day while otherwise eating normally lost an average of 4 pounds in 12 weeks, with some test subjects losing more than 10 pounds without dieting. The researchers suggest the effect is likely due to grapefruit’s ability to reduce insulin levels. Try adding half a grapefruit to a few of your meals such as breakfast, lunch and preworkout.

 Enjoy Your Rules.         

Aaron Hernandez

Aaron Hernandez Destroyed Home Security System and Phone, Sources Tell ABC News

NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH, Mass. – The scene on Ronald C. Meyers Drive in Westwood Estates was like any played out in scores of neighborhoods across the country on any given Thursday afternoon. A group of kids playing roller hockey in a driveway. A small black-and-white dog rolling on a front yard. Some younger kids chasing each other on another lawn. Parents pushing strollers. A school bus dropping kids off after school. Even the ice cream truck came by.

All this, even though the subject of all the attention had not been home for several hours.

WHAT'S THE TRUTH? Accuser didn't name Hernandez to cops

MORE TROUBLE: Hernandez involved in nightclub incident

SCARED OFF: Teams were wary of Hernandez

Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, the subject of a homicide investigation, left his large grey-shingled home with a three-car garage shortly after 11 a.m. on Thursday in a white Audi SUV. He was followed by media helicopters as he drove to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, and then later to Boston, probably to meet with his lawyer. In between was a stop at a gas station, where he was approached by several members of the media but did not make a comment.

Near Corliss Landing, less than a mile away from Hernandez's home as the crow flies, two police cars sat at the end of dirt road near where 27-year-old Odin Lloyd's body was found Monday.

Steve Varney, a long-time resident of North Attleboro, knew Hernandez lived in town, but until Thursday afternoon had no idea where. So, he set out on his Keeway moped to find out.

"It's a circus," he said. "When I was riding up here, I did not expect to see all these cars. And then when I see all the cameras lined up, there's got to be about 30. It's just wow."

Varney, though, said he feels like most people in town.

"They just, for the most part, are getting a big kick out of it," he said. "But they don't seem to be backing him up, that's for sure. From what I've heard, they just assume he's guilty. And it's just another circus with the NFL."

Hernandez is not the first Patriots player to live in the neighborhood. One resident said Ty Warren, Deion Branch and Richard Seymour have all been neighbors. Hernandez bought the home from Warren.

"Honestly, he's great because he's like any other neighbor. Waves and says hi. I say hi. He just moved in. He's always cordial. My little one goes out to get ice cream. He comes out and gets ice cream, too. And they talk about which ice cream they like the best. That's like any neighbor. It's no different."

But this week it certainly has been.

"I left at 4:30 this morning for work. What you see is what I left with," the resident said.

And it's been like this since Monday, when news broke of the investigation and authorities' interest in Hernandez.

"I think waking up at 5 or 6 in the morning and hearing helicopters over your house is not something that you're used to," said the neighbor, who has lived in the area for just over four years.

Varney, meanwhile, awaits movement in the case.

"It's really too bad if he is guilty, if he's part of it, it's really too bad, because everybody loved him -- the Patriots and partly him. But what are you gonna do?" he said.

What is Varney going to do? He described himself as a "big time" Patriots fan. Does this affect his feelings for the team?

"Not at all," he said with a laugh. "Just win, baby."

Lil Snupe

Lil Snupe, Meek Mill Protégé, Dead At 18

UPDATED 7:25 p.m. // Lil Snupe knew his alleged killer

Emerging rapper Lil Snupe, a recent signee to Meek Mill's Dream Chaser's label, was shot and killed early Thursday morning (June 20) in Winnfield, La.

Police say 18-year-old Addarren Ross was killed around 4:00 a.m. at the Maplewood Apartments in Winnfield, according to CBS affiliate KNOE 8. Ross, known as Lil Snupe, had two gunshot wounds.

Earlier reports that Snupe was killed during the course of a dice game are false, said Lt. Charles M. Curry of the Winnfield Police Department. The official did confirm with NBC33, Baton Rouge's NBC affiliate, that the rapper knew his alleged killer.

The suspect's name has not been released out of respect for the family.

His manager, DJ Smallz and Dream Chasers' Louie V Gutta tweeted of Lil Snupe's death this morning.

Meek Mill signed Snupe to Dream Chasers last year after listening to his mixtape for 20 minutes, the late Louisiana rapper told MTV News in February. "He was in a van, they was finna pull off. And I went and knocked on the van, on the window. They let the window down, grabbed the mixtape and it was like 10 minutes later, 20 minutes later they called me," he said.

"He was spittin' so much pain, he's from the south with a flow like an east coast guy," Meek told MTV.

Vince Flynn

Vince Flynn, Political Thriller Author and Conservative Hero, Dies at 47

Vince Flynn, the best-selling political thriller author, died of cancer Wednesday morning at the age of 47 in his native Minnesota. The 12 novels of his "Mitch Rapp" series followed the adventures of a CIA counterterrorism agent who thwarts various attempts by terrorists (many of them based on real-life evil doers) to attack America.

Flynn became the "darling of conservatives," as the Hollywood Reporter put it, for what they characterized as his well researched and breathtakingly composed novels. A 2005 profile of the author said Flynn, "keeps his name in the public's scope on talk radio and television programs, including Fox News' Hannity & Colmes, where he is asked at least as many questions about his views on real-life counter terrorism efforts as he is about his fiction."

Flynn self-published his first novel "Term Limits" after receiving 60 rejection letters from publishers. With its success he was able to work out a publishing deal, and his next book, "Transfer of Power," started the Mitch Rapp series.

The war on terror served as a backdrop of the thrillers, and Flynn was particularly critical of Islamic fundamentalism – even before the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. By his ninth novel, "Protect and Defend," he had reached the top of the New York Times bestseller list.

His books also piqued the interest of the D.C. political community. President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush both reportedly read his books, with the latter calling him, "a little too accurate." Flynn's website brags that a high-ranking CIA official told colleagues, "I want you to read Flynn's books and start thinking about how we can more effectively wage this war on terror."

Flynn spoke often about his political views, describing himself a registered Republican but not someone who necessarily agreed with all the party line (particularly on social issues). He also pointed out that his characters spanned the political spectrum and that his hero was "neutral."

Nevertheless he was suspicious that Hollywood stayed away from his works because of his personal politics. CBS did eventually buy the film rights to his Mitch Rapp franchise, and even attempted to bring on Chris Hemsworth for the leading role until scheduling issues got in the way. Flynn also consulted on the fifth season of "24," the Fox spy hit.

Once he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2010, Flynn kept his fans updated on the status of his health through his blog. His publishers were unable to say whether enough of his latest book, "The Survivor," was finished for its scheduled October release.

James Gandolfini

James Gandolfini Is Dead at 51; a Complex Mob Boss in ‘Sopranos’ 

James Gandolfini, the Emmy Award-winning actor who shot to fame on the HBO drama “The Sopranos” as Tony Soprano, a tough-talking, hard-living crime boss with a stolid exterior but a rich interior life, died on Wednesday. He was 51.

Mr. Gandolfini’s death was confirmed by HBO. He was traveling in Rome, where he was on vacation and was scheduled to attend the Taormina Film Fest. The cause was not immediately announced; an HBO press representative said that Mr. Gandolfini may have had a heart attack.

Mr. Gandolfini, who grew up in Park Ridge, in Bergen County, N.J., came to embody the resilience of the Garden State on “The Sopranos,” which made its debut in 1999 and ran for six seasons on HBO.

The success of “The Sopranos” helped make HBO a dominant player in the competitive field of scripted television programming and transformed Mr. Gandolfini from a character actor into a star. The series, created by David Chase, won two Emmys for outstanding drama series, and Mr. Gandolfini won three Emmys for outstanding lead actor in a drama. He was nominated six times for the award.

HBO said of Mr. Gandolfini in a statement on Wednesday, “He was 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.”

Mr. Chase, in a statement, called Mr. Gandolfini “one of the greatest actors of this or any time,” and said, “A great deal of that genius resided in those sad eyes.” He added: “I remember telling him many times: ‘You don’t get it. You’re like Mozart.’ There would be silence at the other end of the phone.”

He attended Park Ridge High School and Rutgers University, graduating in 1983 with a degree in communications. He drove a delivery truck, managed nightclubs and tended bar in Manhattan before becoming interested in acting at age 25, when a friend took him to an acting class.

He began his movie career in 1987 in the low-budget horror comedy “Shock! Shock! Shock!” In 1992 he had a small part in the Broadway revival of “A Streetcar Named Desire,” starring Alec Baldwin and Jessica Lange.

By the mid-1990s Mr. Gandolfini had made gangster roles a specialty, playing burly but strangely charming tough guys in films like “True Romance” (1993) and “The Juror” (1996). He had an impressive list of character-acting credits, but was largely unknown when Mr. Chase cast him in “The Sopranos” in 1999.

“I thought it was a wonderful script,” Mr. Gandolfini told Newsweek in 2001, recalling his audition. “I thought, ‘I can do this.’ But I thought they would hire someone a little more debonair, shall we say. A little more appealing to the eye.”

“The Sopranos,” which also became a springboard for television writers like Matthew Weiner (who would later create the AMC drama “Mad Men”) and Terence Winter (who later created the HBO series “Boardwalk Empire”), drew widespread acclaim for its detailed studies of the lives of its characters, and, at its center, Mr. Gandolfini’s portrayal of Tony Soprano, who was tightly wound and prone to acts of furious violence. (He beat and choked another mobster to death for insulting the memory of his beloved deceased racehorse, to name but one example.)

Mr. Gandolfini, who had studied the Meisner technique of acting for two years, said that he used it to focus his anger and incorporate it into his performances. In an interview for the television series “Inside the Actors Studio,” Mr. Gandolfini said he would deliberately hit himself on the head or stay up all night to evoke the desired reaction.

If you are tired, every single thing that somebody does makes you mad, Mr. Gandolfini said in the interview. “Drink six cups of coffee. Or just walk around with a rock in your shoe. It’s silly, but it works.”

Tony Soprano — and the 2007 finale of “The Sopranos,” which cut to black before viewers could learn what plans a mysterious restaurant patron had for Tony as he enjoyed a relaxing meal with his wife and children — would continue to follow Mr. Gandolfini throughout his career.

He went on to play a series of tough guys and heavies, including an angry Brooklyn parent in the Broadway drama “God of Carnage,” for which he was nominated for a Tony Award in 2009; the director of the C.I.A. in “Zero Dark Thirty,” Kathryn Bigelow’s dramatization of the hunt for Osama bin Laden; and a hit man in the 2012 crime thriller “Killing Them Softly.”

Mr. Gandolfini also produced the documentaries “Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq” and “Wartorn: 1861-2010,” about the history of post-traumatic stress in the military.

Survivors include his wife, Deborah Lin Gandolfini; a daughter, Liliana, born last year; a teenage son, Michael, from his marriage to Marcella Wudarski, which ended in divorce; and his sisters Leta Gandolfini and Johanna Antonacci.

In a 2010 interview with The New York Times, Mr. Gandolfini said that he was not worried about being typecast as Tony Soprano and that he was being offered different kinds of roles as he aged.

“Mostly it’s not a lot of that stuff anymore with shooting and killing and dying and blood,” he said. “I’m getting a little older, you know. The running and the jumping and killing, it’s a little past me.”

Asked why he did not appear in more comedies, he answered, “Nobody’s asked.”

We have done our part on deaths in custody – MIC boss

The leader of Malaysia’s oldest Indian political party today denied it was tame on the issue of Indian deaths in police custody.

It has been doing its job by making “powerful statements” to the Government on this matter, declared Datuk Seri G. Palanivel, president of the Malaysian Indian Congress.

“We are following up on the issue constantly. We have not been ‘tame’ on it,” Palanivel said.

 

Since 1990, the number of deaths in custody has shown a worrying trend, with the latest casualty being 32-year-old truck driver N. Dharmendran.

When asked by The Malaysian Insider if he would consider roping in P. Waythmoorthy, the chairman of Hindraf, the Hindu Rights Action Force, Palanivel said, “I do not have to work with him in this... I know how to work on it.”

He said he will work only with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on the matter.

The Natural Resources and Environment Minister was speaking at a press conference today after a high-level meeting to plan the party elections for the end of this year.

“MIC has already made its stand on the issue and I am not being tame over the controversy,” Palanivel replied when pressed during the press conference in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, losing his cool.

In a separate room, the party’s strategy director S. Vell Paari said that while MIC is taking the necessary steps to address deaths in custody, attention also needs to be given to deaths in prison.

He expressed concern over the police rejecting the idea of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission. He felt this has led to the idea of that the commission would be “watered down” to the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) which is already in existence and which has too broad a brief.

“There are issues but I myself am also personally looking into it by working closely with Datuk Paul Low (Minister in Prime Minister’s Department) and we hope to be able to address this matter swiftly,” Vel Paari added.

The EAIC was formed to investigate the 21 federal enforcement authorities, including the police force. But several MIC insiders claim that the EAIC itself is burdened with foundation issues and doubt if the body is effective, citing the need for better qualified commissioners from both sides of the political divide. – June 18, 2013.

Blake Shelton

Happy Birthday, Blake Shelton!

The country star turns 37 today and we're sure he'll be celebrating big time, considering he could possibly win his third "Voice" champion title tonight with a little help from his finalists, Danielle Bradbery and The Swon Brothers.

But aside from mentoring on the NBC singing show, Shelton has been wowing audiences for years as one of the biggest names in country music. And it appears the "Boys 'Round Here" singer was always a little redneck -- check out his baby photo:

Marditech To Collaborate With International Countries To Develop New Halal Hub In Johor

KUALA LUMPUR, June 17 (Bernama) -- Marditech Corp Sdn Bhd, the commercial arm of the Malaysian Agriculture Research Development Institute (Mardi), is working to link Bandar Iskandar Malaysia, Johor with other countries to make it the next halal hub.

Its group chief executive officer, Anas Ahmad Nasarudin, said Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) would have a halal centre of excellence that would look into trade, promotion and traceability of halal services.

"Within Johor itself, there are many supporting government institutions that are very strong, such as Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia," he told Bernama on the sidelines of the 2nd Global Halal Trade and Logistics Summit here today.

According to news reports, IRDA has commissioned Marditech to undertake the study of the halal hub in Iskandar Malaysia.

Marditech had developed an application, "Myhalal Trace", where it can detect any non-halal ingredients in the fish feed.

"It is to ensure that the fish that we export, say to the Middle East, is 100 per cent halal," he said.

The hub, which is also a collaborative initiative by the Labuan Corp and the Ministry of Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing, is managed by Labuan Halal Distribution Hub.

The 49-hectare hub, which focuses mainly on the marine-based products, houses dry warehouse, cold room facilities of which the traceability system come in hand.

Anas said Labuan could now offer the system to any other halal hubs too.

He said Marditech's task was to come out with solutions on how to make farming an easy job, using less manpower as the cost of labour was expensive today.

"It is our challenges to produce something that is more efficient, more cost-saving and effective as well as increasing the profitability in farming," he said.