Man, 31, due in court in alleged Obama threat emailed to FBI

Man, 31, due in court in alleged Obama threat emailed to FBI

TAGS:national/world

August 22, 2012 (FEDERAL WAY, Wash.) -- A Washington state man accused of making an email threat against President Barack Obama and brandishing a shotgun at officers who came to his door is scheduled to appear in federal court.

Prince Harry snapped naked in Vegas strip-pool romp

Prince Harry snapped naked in Vegas strip-pool romp

Royal family has no comment on party pics. The photos were taken after the prince of parties 'lost' in a game of strip billiards.
BY ANTHONY BARTKEWICZ / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2012




Prince Harry is letting his hair down – and everything else – as he parties in Las Vegas.
The gossip website TMZ published photos showing the playboy prince cavorting naked around a pool table with some equally uninhibited women in a game of strip billiards.
Sources told TMZ that Harry and friends invited a bevy of beauties up to his VIP suite last Friday.
A round of strip pool erupted, and apparently everyone lost.

Tropical Storm Issac better organized, still threat for South Florida

Tropical Storm Issac better organized, still threat for South Florida

Posted on Wednesday, 08/22/12
BY CURTIS MORGAN
CMORGAN@MIAMIHERALD.COM
Tropical Storm Isaac grew better organized overnight and continued on a track that potentially could put it some where off the South Florida coast by early Monday.

The threat to Caribbean islands was clear and more immediate, with Isaac closing in on the chain of Leeward Islands. Warnings and watches were also posted for Puerto Rico to the Dominican Republic, which along with Haiti could see heavy rains, flooding and mud slides.

Best Buy 2Q profit drops 90 pct, misses estimates

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Best Buy 2Q profit drops 90 pct, misses estimates

Best Buy's 2Q profit drops 90 percent, misses analyst estimates amid turmoil
 Aug 21, 2012
By Anne d'Innocenzio, AP Retail Writer | Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) -- Best Buy Co. is reporting a 90 percent drop in net income during the second quarter, dragged down by restructuring charges and weak sales. The company also withdrew its earnings guidance for the year.
The poor report was announced a day after Best Buy name Hubert Joly, former CEO of the Carlson travel company as its new CEO and president. The chain is also waging a public fight with its former chairman and co-founder Richard Schulze, who wants to take the company private.
The company also said it is halting stock buybacks for fiscal 2013 during the CEO transition. Shares of Best Buy fell almost 10 percent, or $1.76 to $16.40 on the news, following a 10 percent decline the day before on disappointment over Best Buy's CEO choice.
The nation's largest consumer electronics chain said Tuesday that it earned $12 million, or 4 cents per share, in the quarter ended Aug. 4. That compares with $128 million, or 34 cents per share.

Michael Vick "sore" after hard preseason hit

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Michael Vick "sore" after hard preseason hit

August 21, 2012
CBSSports.com Official Partner

(AP) FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Michael Vick walked slowly off the field, shaken up for the second straight game. And he was eager to get back in the action.

Philadelphia's star quarterback was leveled on just his sixth play of the Eagles' 27-17 preseason win over the New England Patriots on Monday night. X-rays on his ribs were negative, but he was held out as a precaution.

Nicki Minaj & Enrique Iglesias in Talks to Judge American Idol

Nicki Minaj & Enrique Iglesias in Talks to Judge American Idol

Is the American Idol judges' panel filling up?
08/21/2012

"Super Bass" singer Nicki Minaj is reportedly in talks to join judge Mariah Carey on the show for its 12th season. According to an Associated Press report, "a deal is in works" for Minaj, 29.

Meanwhile, a source tells PEOPLE that Enrique Iglesias, who is currently on tour with departing judge Jennifer Lopez, is being considered for the show, which also lost Steven Tyler after season 11.

"Idol has expressed a lot of interest but no final word on either side yet," a source tells PEOPLE of the "I Like It" singer, 36.

Comedy queen Phyllis Diller dies at 95

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Comedy queen Phyllis Diller dies at 95

By Jim Cheng, USA TODAY
2012/8/21
Before Joan Rivers, Roseanne Barr and Ellen DeGeneres, Phyllis Diller crashed the mostly male stand-up comedy circuit to become an icon in the field.
The raucous comedian, known for her wild wigs and cackling laugh, died Monday morning at her Los Angeles home at the age of 95. She had recently been hospitalized with a wrist injury and was recuperating at home, longtime manager Milt Suchin said. She died "peacefully in her sleep … with a smile on her face," he said.
"I'm beyond saddened," Rivers posted soon after on Twitter. "We were friends — Melissa and I had a wonderful time with her at lunch just a month ago. … The only tragedy is that Phyllis Diller was the last from an era that insisted a woman had to look funny in order to be funny."
BLOG: Celebrity reactions

Microsoft starts taking orders for $14.99 Windows 8 upgrade

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Microsoft starts taking orders for $14.99 Windows 8 upgrade

Some users may have to enter their Windows 7 product key; may be an anti-piracy move
By Gregg Keizer
August 21, 2012

Computerworld - Microsoft on Monday began taking orders for the $14.99 Windows 8 upgrade promised to customers who purchased a new Windows 7-powered PC in the last 11 weeks.

People who bought an eligible Windows 7 machine starting June 2 can now file an online form to queue up for the Oct. 26 delivery of the upgrade.

The upgrade to Windows 8 Pro costs $14.99, more than in past cycles when they were often free, but less than the $39.99 for users who upgrade older systems to the new operating system.

Facebook’s Ambition Collides With Harsh Market

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Facebook’s Ambition Collides With Harsh Market

By SOMINI SENGUPTA
Published: August 20, 2012
MENLO PARK, Calif. — Inside Facebook’s headquarters, a red-and-white poster affixed to a wall asks bluntly: “What Could Go Wrong?”
Below, in black ink, someone has scrawled in tiny letters: “Everything.”

The poster, one of several displayed across this sprawling campus, is part of the company’s risk-taking start-up culture, as is the fact that management has not pulled down the defaced copy. But as the company loses its luster on Wall Street, this exchange on the wall points to the improbable turn that Facebook’s fairy tale has taken.

Once hailed as the most valuable technology company to hit Wall Street, Facebook is now worth just over half what it was three months ago, with shares closing at $20.01 Monday. Wall Street analysts are openly wondering whether its chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, has the business skills to deliver on his promises.

Facebook’s troubles began in earnest with an exceptionally ambitious initial public offering. Even the grown-ups that Mr. Zuckerberg, 28, chose to run the business side of the company — Sheryl Sandberg, the chief operations officer, and David Ebersman, the chief financial officer — seem not to have been skilled enough to stave off that disaster. Nor were the bankers who handled the deal, including Goldman Sachs and Morgan

Global stock rally continues on ECB, Greece optimism

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Global stock rally continues on ECB, Greece optimism

By Marc Jones
LONDON | Tue Aug 21, 2012
(Reuters) - Rallying European markets lifted global stocks to a 3-1/2 month high on Tuesday, on hopes that meetings on Greece's future this week and new crisis plans being drawn up by the European Central Bank will see the euro zone master its debt problems.

European shares .FTEU3, which have risen 16 percent since June, were up 0.4 percent at a 13-month high ahead of what was expected to be a positive open on Wall Street.

After modest rises in Asia it left the MSCI global share index .MIWD00000PUS up 0.4 percent at 1200 GMT, .EU .L .N while the euro hit a two-week high of $1.2398 versus the dollar and climbed further against the yen and sterling.

Embattled Rep. Akin apologizes again in new TV ad

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Embattled Rep. Akin apologizes again in new TV ad

Aug 21, 2012
By Catalina Camia, USA TODAY
Amid growing GOP pressure to quit the Missouri Senate race, Rep. Todd Akin has recorded a new TV ad seeking forgiveness for his controversial comments about "legitimate rape."
"Rape is an evil act. I used the wrong words in the wrong way and for that I apologize," Akin says in the ad. "As the father of two daughters, I want tough justice for predators. I have a compassionate heart for the victims of sexual assault. I pray for them."

STORY: GOP cuts support from Akin

The ad was first reported this morning by Politico. More from Akin's script:

Taylor Swift Kisses Conor Kennedy on Cape Cod

Taylor Swift Kisses Conor Kennedy on Cape Cod

By TIM NUDD
08/20/2012
Taylor Swift and Conor Kennedy's summer of love continued with another romantic weekend in Hyannis Port, Mass.

The Grammy award winner, 22, and the Kennedy family scion, 18, were spotted Friday kissing on a dock, proving neither party is exactly shy when it comes to publicly affirming their relationship.

Swift, who recently purchased a house in town, wore red shorts and a dark shirt with white polka dots, while Kennedy – the son of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the late Mary Kennedy – wore a gray T-shirt and blue-and-white board shorts.

Augusta National admits two women, including Condoleezza Rice

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Augusta National admits two women, including Condoleezza Rice

By USA TODAY staff reports 2012/8/20
After three quarters of a century, women will be included on the membership rolls of Augusta National Golf Club, one of the most exclusive clubs in the world and the host of the Masters.
Augusta National Chairman Billy Payne announced Monday that former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and business executive Darla Moore will be the first female members of the club.
The news was first reported by the Associated Press.
COLUMN: Brennan: Augusta National gets it right at last
"This is a joyous occasion as we enthusiastically welcome Secretary Condoleezza Rice and Darla Moore as members of Augusta National Golf Club," Payne said in a statement. "We are fortunate to consider many qualified candidates for membership at Augusta National. Consideration with regard to any candidate is deliberate, held in strict confidence and always takes place over an extended period of time. The process for Condoleezza and Darla was no different.
"These accomplished women share our passion for the game of golf and both are well known and respected by our membership. It will be a proud moment when we present Condoleezza and Darla their Green Jackets when the Club opens this fall.

Rihanna: I Still Love Chris Brown

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Rihanna: I Still Love Chris Brown

By MAGGIE COUGHLAN 08/20/2012

Three years after Rihanna was beaten by then-boyfriend, Chris Brown, the singer says she still "truly" loves him.

Rihanna welcomed Oprah to her home in Barbados for an emotional interview – which aired on Oprah's Next Chapter Sunday – where the singer spoke at length about her relationship with Brown.

"I'm single, but we have maintained a very close friendship since the restraining order has been dropped," the 24-year-old told Oprah. "It's not easy."

The Grammy award winner also confirmed what many had suspected – that the former couple reconnected in St. Tropez earlier this year.

"We went to a mutual friend's party on a yacht. It's awkward because I still love him," she said. Adding that when she's around Brown she has to "maintain this poker face."

During the sit-down Rihanna said she is still concerned about Brown's welfare.

"I truly love him," she continued. "And the main thing for me is that he is at peace. I'm not at peace if he is unhappy or he is still lonely. I care. It actually matters that he finds peace."

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Singer Scott McKenzie Dead at 73

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Singer Scott McKenzie Dead at 73

North Carolina native sang 'San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers In Your Hair)'
By Rolling Stone
August 20, 2012 10:30 AM ET

Singer Scott McKenzie, best known for the 1967 hit "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers In Your Hair)," has died at 73, the BBC reports. McKenzie had been suffering from Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a disease affecting the nervous system.

Insurer Aetna to buy Coventry in $5.7 billion deal

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Insurer Aetna to buy Coventry in $5.7 billion deal

By Tom Murphy on August 20, 2012
Aetna, one of the nation's biggest health insurers, staked a $5.7 billion claim in the burgeoning market for government-funded coverage Monday when it announced plans to buy fellow insurer Coventry Health Care.

The Hartford, Conn., company's proposed cash-and-stock acquisition of Coventry will bolster its Medicaid enrollment months before millions of uninsured Americans are expected to become

A look at Pacific island disputes

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A look at Pacific island disputes

August 20, 2012

The Pacific Ocean is peppered with hundreds of islands — most small and uninhabited — that are claimed by more than one country. Here's a look at some of the main territorial disputes that are causing tensions among Asian nations.

— Senkaku, or Diaoyu, Islands. Located in the East China Sea near Taiwan and the southern Japanese island of Okinawa, these remote uninhabited isles have been under Japanese control since 1895. They are seen as important because of their strategic location, and are surrounded by rich fishing grounds and may be near underwater resources such as natural gas. China claims it discovered them in the 14th century.

All roads lead to Rome

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2012/8/20

All roads lead to Rome

By Kathleen Parker, Published: August 17

“Under a democratical government, the citizens exercise the powers of sovereignty; and those powers will be first abased, and afterwards lost, if they are committed to an unwieldy multitude.”

— Edward Gibbon, “The History of the Decline and Fall
of the Roman Empire”

The period of the American Revolution coincided with publication of Edward Gibbon’s “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire” (1776), and ever since we’ve been vigilant for signs that the United States was following in Rome’s footsteps.

Why Curiosity zaps Mars rock with 30 laser blasts

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Why Curiosity zaps Mars rock with 30 laser blasts

Curiosity fired the first laser gun ever on Mars Sunday. Curiosity fires laser pulses that turn solid rock into an ionized plasma in order to analyze its composition.

By Staff, Space.com / August 20, 2012
A NASA rover has fired the first laser gun on Mars to take a peek inside a small Martian rock.
The Mars rover Curiosity zapped a rock scientists are now calling "Coronation" on Sunday (Aug. 19) to test an instrument that measures the composition of targets hit by its powerful laser beam. The rover fired 30 laser pulses in 10 seconds at the fist-size Coronation rock in order to analyze the results.

October thunder the key for Swisher

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October thunder the key for Swisher

Free agent making his case to stay a Yankee, but it won't matter if he fails this fall
2012/8/18
By Wallace Matthews | ESPNNewYork.com
White lightning struck Yankee Stadium on Friday night, not once but twice, and it had nothing to do with the stormy weather.

It had everything to do with Nick Swisher and his new bats, which arrived at the ballpark a couple of hours before the game and were immortalized by the man himself a few minutes after it ended.

"I call them white lightning," the ever-ebullient Yankees right fielder said after the Bombers used five solo home runs, two of them by Swisher, and one RBI single to beat the Red Sox 6-4 in the first game of a three-game series. "Or the white