Kathryn Joosten dies at 72

Kathryn Joosten of 'Desperate Housewives' dies at 72

June 2, 2012  from latimesblogs.latimes.com



Actress Kathryn Joosten, best known as the cranky neighbor on "Desperate Housewives," died Saturday of lung cancer at her Westlake Village home, her daughter-in-law, Jeremy Joosten, told The Times. She was 72.

Joosten won two Emmy Awards for her portrayal of Mrs. McCluskey, the cranky but lovable senior who kept a close eye on her Wisteria Lane neighbors on "Desperate Housewives." The hit show ended its run on ABC last month with a series finale in which Joosten's character passed away. Her character's battle with cancer was a story line in the show.

She also appeared on NBC's "The West Wing" as Mrs. Landingham, the president's trusted secretary. Over the years, she had roles in a number of other popular shows, including a recurring one on "Dharma & Greg" and guest spots on shows including "Ally McBeal" and "Scrubs."

Obama Economic...

Numbers Reveal Truth About Obama Economic Success Claims—and GOP Condemnation

by Michael Medved Jun 2, 2012
Raw data show Obama can’t honestly claim a good record as a job creator, but they also suggest that the wild spending growth Romney and company decry has already begun to subside under the influence of the Republican House.
The outcome of the upcoming electoral battle between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney will depend on public perceptions of the president’s economic stewardship, with particular emphasis on his performance on the all-important issue of jobs.

Has the White House compiled an impressive record of “putting Americans back to work” as the Democrats proudly boast, or did administration policies actually delay normal processes of recovery, taking a bad situation and “making it worse” as the Romney campaign insists?

Leaving aside the dubious nature of the proposition that any president actually creates jobs (other than new hires for the White House), there’s an easy way to cut through the dizzying flurry of conflicting statistics that partisans on both sides passionately promote: checking the raw, readily available data from the Department of Labor on how many Americans are working today compared with the number who held jobs at the end of the Bush administration.

10 killed in cargo plane crash in Ghana's capital

10 killed in cargo plane crash in Ghana's capital

By FRANCIS KOKUTSE, Associated Press  6-2-2012

ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — A Boeing 727 cargo plane attempting to land at the international airport in Ghana's capital crashed Saturday, slamming into a bus loaded with passengers on a nearby street, killing all 10 people inside the vehicle, emergency responders and airport officials said.
The crash occurred in Accra near Kotoka International Airport, which sits near newly built high-rise buildings and hotels. Witnesses

Mubarak sentenced to life in prison

Mubarak sentenced to life in prison

By Allen Pizzey June 2, 2012






(CBS News) CAIRO - In the words of the Cairo judge who sentenced him, former President Hosni Mubarak's rule represented "the blackness of a chilly winter's night." It was last year's Arab Spring that ended the chilly Mubarak winter. But for the opposition, his conviction Saturday was only a partial victory.

Dozens of Girls Injured During Norway Concert

JUSTIN BIEBER

Dozens of Girls Injured

During Norway Concert

5/31/2012 6:33 AM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

Oslo's mayor has launched an investigation into yesterday's near-catastrophic Justin Bieber concert in Norway -- after 49 teenage girls were injured in the fandemonium ... and 14 were taken by ambulance for emergency care.

No one was seriously injured, but Mayor Fabian Stang groused, "I have already called on the Emergency Planning Agency to examine the entire event from the planning stage to its implementation. We have to find out what went wrong and why it happened."

Defending champion Li edges American McHale

Associated Press | Posted: Saturday, June 2, 2012 

Defending champion Li Na needed three sets to stop American Christina McHale at the French Open on Saturday.

The seventh-seeded Li, who last year became the first Chinese player to win a Grand Slam singles title, rallied to beat McHale 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.

Li committed 44 unforced errors in the match, 20 more than her unseeded opponent.

The last woman to successfully defend her title at Roland Garros was Justine Henin, who won three straight from 2005-07.

Hungarian running 50 marathons in 50 days

June 2, 2012

PDT BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) 

Run, Norman! Run!

Hungarian Norman Varga has begun a quest to run the length of 50 marathons in 50 days and arrive in London in time for the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games.

Varga is a 25-year-old former cage fighter who had his left arm reattached after being pushed under a tram at 16.

He will cover some 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) from Budapest to London to draw attention to the importance of supporting young people.

Varga runs a foundation in his native Budapest district of Csepel dedicated to helping youth develop a healthy lifestyle and support their goals in education, science and art.

Mitt Romney would be one of richest-ever presidents

Mitt Romney would be one of richest-ever presidents with $250 million fortune

Mitt Romney will become one of the richest ever occupants of the White House if he wins the presidential election, after his campaign confirmed he was worth up to $250 million.

By Rosa Prince, New York 02 Jun 2012

The Republican candidate disclosed his net worth, around £163 million, in a financial declaration to the Federal Election Commission which provided new details of his personal fortune.

A campaign spokesman said the former Massachusetts Governor and his wife Ann had assets of between $190 million and $250 million. Experts claimed analysis of his holdings suggested his wealth was closer to the upper figure.

The family has another $100 million (£65 million) in a separate trust for Mr Romney's five

Central Banks to hold fire...

Central Banks to hold fire... for now

By Richard Hubbard

LONDON | Sat Jun 2, 2012

(Reuters) - The intensifying euro zone crisis and uncertain global growth outlook have raised hopes for a policy response from major central banks but, while it could be a close call, they are likely to resist pressure to act in the coming week.

The European Central Bank, the Bank of England and the Reserve Bank ofAustralia are all due to meet as data emerges on the euro zone's service sector, and the manufacturing and trade performances of the big German and U.S. economies.

The main focus will be Wednesday's ECB meeting, and whether dramatic selling of peripheral European government debt by investors in May and a flight into safe-haven U.S. Treasuries and German

US to redeploy naval fleet in Asia-Pacific region

 June 2nd 2012

Washington, June 2 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The US will re-deploy bulk of its naval fleet in the Pacific Ocean by 2020, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has said.

"By 2020, the navy will reposture its forces from today's roughly 50-50 percent split between the Pacific and the Atlantic to about a 60-40 split between those oceans," Panetta said.

"That will include six aircraft carriers in this region, a majority of our cruisers, destroyers, combat ships and submarines," he added.

Panetta was speaking at the 11th Asia Security Summit of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore Saturday.

Panetta rejected the suggestion that changes in the US military strategy were aimed at containing China's growing influence.

Daily dark chocolate lowers heart risk

Daily dark chocolate lowers heart risk

Published: June 1, 2012
From upi.com

MELBOURNE, June 1 (UPI) -- Dark chocolate lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, making it a cheap and tasty way to lower cardiovascular disease risk, Australian researchers say.

Professor Christopher Reid, Dr. Alice Owen, Dr. Dianna Magliano and Ella Zomer, a doctoral student at Monash University, and Danny Liew of the University of Melbourne predicted daily dark chocolate consumption could prevent 70 non-fatal and 15 fatal cardiovascular events per 10,000 people over a 10-year period.

Zomer said the study was the first to examine the long-term health benefits of flavanoids, found in dark chocolate and known to lower blood pressure and cholesterol.

Fed's Fisher: No need for QE3

Fed's Fisher: No need for QE3

By Felicia Taylor, CNNmoney   June 1, 2012

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The elephant in the room - QE3 - is stomping around again thanks to that deeply disappointing jobs report. So, will the Federal Reserve open the floodgates and throw more stimulus into the market? Or will it remain on the side lines, jawboning that "policy options are available ... should it be necessary."
Sometimes words are enough to calm the markets, sort of like a lullaby. Other times, you need action - as we've seen via QE1 and 2 and Operation Twist. The answer, of course, depends on who you ask.

Traders clearly want more QE. Ken Polcari, managing Director at ICAP Corps, said from the floor of the NYSE Friday that one way to avoid the global economy falling back into recession and prevent real panic is through stimulus. Economists are less certain. Tom Porcelli, chief economist at RBC Capital Markets, said he thinks the odds are high for QE3, but pointed out that more bond buying would just be a "sugar high."
Another round of stimulus won't necessarily result in job creation and that's what this economy needs to

Syria conflict: Russia's Vladimir Putin stands firm

Syria conflict: Russia's Vladimir Putin stands firm

1 June 2012

from bbc

Russia's President Vladimir Putin has resisted diplomatic pressure from Western nations to support tougher action against Syria's government.

Mr Putin, an ally of Syria, called for more time to be given to the peace plan of envoy Kofi Annan.

The US and UK have called on Moscow to strengthen its condemnation of the Syrian regime since last week's massacre in Houla, where 108 died.

Earlier, Moscow opposed a UN Human Rights Council resolution on Syria.

In an emergency session on Friday, the council condemned Syria over the Houla massacre and called for an investigation.

But Russia voted against the US-backed resolution, arguing that it was "unbalanced".

Meanwhile, a US government website published satellite images apparently showing a mass grave in the Houla area.

'Intolerable'
Correspondents say Mr Putin's latest remarks, made after a meeting with French President Francois Hollande, highlight the divisions between Moscow and Paris towards the conflict in Syria.

to face ‘lucky loser’ French Open

Roger Federer to face ‘lucky loser’ who keeps winning at French Open

French Open » David Goffin’s unlikely run will continue against his tennis idol.
By HOWARD FENDRICH | The Associated Press

6-1-2012

Paris • If it seems Roger Federer breaks one record or another every time he wins a match, that’s because he does these days.

Then again, good as Federer is, he can’t top this: His next opponent at the French Open, Belgium’s David Goffin, is unbeaten in Grand Slam main-draw matches. (OK, so the kid’s only 3-0, but still.)

Yes, before Federer can take on Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros this year, he’ll need to defeat Goffin, the first "lucky loser" — a player beaten in qualifying who sneaks into the field via someone’s withdrawal — to reach the fourth round at any Grand Slam tournament in 17 years, and only the seventh to make it that far.

"Now I’m playing against Roger," the 109th-ranked Goffin said after beating Lukasz Kubot of Poland 7-6 (4), 7-5, 6-1 on Friday, "and I can’t believe it."

A fresh-faced 21-year-old whose voice was barely a whisper and whose hands fidgeted during an extended interview session with reporters, the slender, 5-foot-11 Goffin matter-of-factly discussed displaying photos and posters of 16-time Grand Slam champion Federer in his bedroom as a child.

Hits and misses in Windows 8 so far

Hits and misses in Windows 8 so far

As Microsoft approaches the home stretch for finishing Windows 8, we take a look at what the OS does well, and what it must fix to be a success.
by Seth Rosenblatt   June 1, 2012

With the Windows 8 Release Preview finally available, Microsoft has taken a major step toward putting its chips on the table for its biggest gamble ever. While we may start seeing some of the hardware that will run Windows 8 as early as next week, we know enough about the operating system itself to say what's surprisingly good and what needs help, STAT.
What we liked so far:
The Metro interface comes at app icons from a different angle than Apple and Google. Live tiles are

Romney didn't keep his promises in Massachusetts

Deval Patrick: Romney didn't keep his promises in Massachusetts

By Deval L. Patrick, Special to CNN
 Fri June 1, 2012

Editor's note: Gov. Deval L. Patrick, a Democrat, succeeded Mitt Romney as Massachusetts governor.
Boston (CNN) -- Mitt Romney is a smooth salesman. When he was a candidate in 2002, his pitch to the people of Massachusetts was that he could fix all that ailed us. As the Bay State's top salesman, he said, he would "bring great jobs here." He claimed he would at last be the governor to reform state government.
We bought it. Most of us now would warn, "buyer beware."

A 'Secret Millionaire' spends a week in Newark, gives $150K to city charities

June 01, 2012

By James Queally/The Star-Ledger

Newark  From the former crack den he called home to the bustling street corners where men gathered to talk in the sweltering heat, Scott Jacobs spent a week searching for charities in Newark.

Jacobs lived on just $71.03 — the equivalent of welfare wages for a family of two — during the seven days he spent in the state’s largest city — but his charity hunt last July wasn’t about putting money in his own pocket.

It was about giving something back.

The 53-year-old artist became Newark’s "Secret Millionaire" when he donated nearly $150,000 to three charities as part of the ABC reality series that sends some of the country’s wealthiest people undercover to poverty-stricken areas so they can share their riches with deserving

USA's Sloane Stephens ...French Open

USA's Sloane Stephens reaches Round 4 at French Open

6-1-2012 from www.usatoday.com

PARIS (AP) – American teen Sloane Stephens advanced to the fourth round at theFrench Open by beating Mathilde Johansson of France 6-3, 6-2 Friday.

Of the eight teenagers in this year's draw, the 19-year-old Stephens was the only one to even reach the third round.

Stephens, from Coral Springs, Fla., is making her fourthGrand Slam appearance. She reached the third round at the U.S. Open last year in what had been her career best at the major tournaments.

• BLOG: French Open diary, Victoria Azarenka

• PHOTOS: Top shots from Roland Garros

London for the Jubilee

Travel Postcard: London for the Jubilee

LONDON | Fri Jun 1, 2012 

(Reuters) - Got an extra long weekend to explore the British capital where Queen Elizabeth II will be celebrating her 60th year on the throne with a massive Diamond Jubilee party? Reuters correspondents with local knowledge help visitors explore London amid the royal hoopla.

Friday

6 p.m. You'd better arrive at least a day or two ahead of the main festivities. Many people will get to London even earlier and will already be staking out places for Sunday's 1,000-boat flotilla along the

The Queen...

The Queen: three steps for Canada to replace the monarchy

By Bob Hepburn 6-1-2012

God save the Queen!

That famous cheer will ring out across England this weekend as the country stages massive Diamond Jubilee celebrations marking Queen Elizabeth’s 60 years on the throne.

In Canada, many of us will watch the televised festivities as a gesture of affection — even loyalty in some cases — for the woman who has served with distinction as the Queen of Canada.

For most of her reign, the Queen has been a symbol of stability, dedication and continuity.

But with her reign nearing an end, the time is right for Canadians to start the process of cutting our formal ties to the British monarchy, an outmoded institution that dates back to the days when Canada was a British colony.

It’s obvious why we need to begin the process now, rather than after the Queen is no longer on the throne.

When the Queen dies, her successor, likely Prince Charles, will be proclaimed King of Canada within hours — not days, weeks or months later. That’s what happened when Elizabeth succeeded her father, King George VI, when he died on Feb. 6, 1952.

Once that occurs, Canada will be stuck with yet another foreign monarch as our head of state, possibly for decades.