Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on Thyrsday during the dedication of a new exhibit at former Nazi death camp Auschwitz.

The new exhibit will educate visitors about the Holocaust and the Nazi agenda to exterminate Jews. Auschwitz, along with the adjacent Birkenau, was the most notorious of a system of death and labor camps Nazi Germany built and operated during World War II.

The Auschwitz-Birkenau complex memorial to Jewish victims was created during the Communist era. But it sat ignored for decades as the exhibits and artifacts became dilapidated.

While the complex’s key artifacts went missing, the history presented in the exhibits and memorial was inaccurate and dominated with Soviet propaganda. It needed a change.

Plans to redesign the memorial were made in 2005 by then-Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. And on Thursday, Netanyahu joined Polish dignitaries, as well as a handful of Holocaust survivors, to dedicate the permanent exhibit in Block 27, called “Shoah.” During his speech, Netanyahu stated:

“I am standing here today with great pain and great pride. The leaders of the Allies knew full well what was happening in the death camps. They could have acted, but they didn’t. We, the Jews, know exactly what the lesson is.”

Netanyahu’s speech, according to many, was largely defiant. While the prime minister asserted that Israel will make sure no one forgets the Holocaust happened, he added that the country learned it cannot rely on any other country to protect it.

He alluded to Iran when he added that the anti-Semitism of the Nazi Germany era has been replaced with religious fanaticism of modern times. Netanyahu went on to say:

“This is a regime that is building nuclear weapons with the expressed purpose to annihilate Israel’s 6 million Jews. We will not allow this to happen. We will never allow another Holocaust.”

He also alluded to Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has several times questioned the true extent of the Holocaust, when he stated:

“We must not be complacent in the face of threats of annihilation. We must not bury our heads in the sand or allow others to do the work for us. If there are Holocaust deniers, have them come to Block 27 and go over one name at a time.”

The new Auschwitz exhibition was curated by Israel’s Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial. Its goal is to provide the background of the Holocaust, as well as Nazi Germany’s ideology for murder. It also includes survivor testimonies and drawings by some of the children who were killed in the attempted extermination of the Jews.

Do you think that Netanyahu’s speech at the Auschwitz exhibit dedication was defiant, or was it appropriate for the situation?

[Image via Nick1915]

Netanyahu Dedicates New Auschwitz Exhibit is a post from: The Inquisitr

Mike Patterson was paralyzed when he dived head-first into creek to save a 4-year-old girl being pulled under, and now his friends are trying to give back with an online fundraiser.

Patterson, who had just started a job as a contractor and had no health insurance, was spending time with his 9-year-old son at the Georgia creek. When he saw 4-year-old Javaeh Jones being pulled under by the creek’s current, the 43-year-old dived into the water trying to save her.

But in his dive Mike Patterson misjudged the water’s depth, hitting his head and breaking his neck in three places. Patterson also severed his spine and was left paralyzed from the chest down.

Still, witnesses say Patterson was able to help get the girl back to safety.

“They don’t know how (he saved her) [...] The little girl was at the bottom, but they saw something push her up,” a witness said. “They got the little girl and they didn’t realize what happened to Michael.”

Patterson is being treated at nearby Emory Hospital, but doesn’t have medical insurance to pay what will be large medical bills. So friends and family came together to start an online fund, one that had already raised close to $50,000 at press time.

Patterson’s mother, Vickie Jones Roberson, said she is encouraged to see the outpouring of love and support for him after the injury.

“I did not realize that there was still kindness in this world like there is,” Roberson told WSBTV. “I kind of thought the world had grown cold until this happened to my son.”

A Facebook page for Mike Patterson also gained close to 40,000 likes, and brought in people from around the world wishing him well in his recovery.

Javaeh was able to walk away from the incident unharmed. Her mother said that Mike Patterson was “a God-send” for saving her daughter.

Mike Patterson: Friends Start Fundraiser For Uninsured Man Paralyzed While Rescuing Girl is a post from: The Inquisitr

A woman ticketed for running a red light with a camera got her fine dismissed after doing some digging and finding a newspaper typo from seven years ago.

The discovery by Bay Area woman Keisha Dunleavy may mean thousands of others could have their fines dismissed as well, leading to millions of dollars worth of refunds.

Dunleavy was caught on a red light camera running through a light in Newark, California. But she did some digging, going all the way back to 2006 to find the original public announcement about the camera’s installation.

It read, “a camera has been installed at the intersection of Cedar Boulevard and Mowry Avenue to capture vehicles that run the red light as they travel east on both streets.” But as Dunleavy argued to a court commissioner, Cedar Boulevard runs north and south. Because a proper legal notice needed to be given to the public, the judge decided to dismiss her ticket.

“I had a great judge. I did a lot of legwork. I’m really happy with the outcome,” said Dunlevy.

Some are now arguing that Newark finding invalidates other red light camera tickets as well, an estimated $4 million to $5 million in collective fines.

Dunleavy’s bold court move comes amid a growing backlash against red light cameras. This month, Iowa City city council voted to repeal an ordinance that allowed red light cameras. The bill would also disallow the use of cameras that record vehicles or license plate numbers.

The red light ban in Iowa City was proposed by StopBigBrother.org, a civil rights organization that advocates for an end to what it terms “traffic surveillance.”

Keisha Dunleavy isn’t the only one to get tickets from a red light camera dismissed. Last year officials in New Jersey determined that red light cameras weren’t calibrated properly and were giving hundreds of unwarranted tickets.

Red Light Camera Refund: Woman Finds Typo That Invalidates Millions Of Dollars In Fines is a post from: The Inquisitr

An Australian golf course has recently become the site of a kangaroo invasion.

The unusual photograph of the unfolding scene first popped up on Reddit yesterday, and has already become an Internet favourite, with the original Redditor’s comments only adding to the hilarity of it all:

“Playing golf in Australia, this is the sh*t I have to put up with…”

The only condolences that can be offered to the poster is that at least it wasn’t a major tournament that the kangaroos disturbed; if it had been an important t-off, it could have turned into an all too familiar scene that took place at the start of this year at the Women’s Australian Open.

At that event, a mob of kangaroos made their presence known and caused a lengthy delay in game proceedings by staging another kangaroo invasion.

It was such an unexpected scenario that officials and Australian golfer, Karrie Webb, had to wait until they moved off the course.

Although there is no doubting that this type of interruption would be incredibly annoying, it seems that everyone involved got off lightly when compared with the recent events of an Australian politician who was attacked by a kangaroo.

That being said, it would be unfair to pass judgement on all kangaroos just because of the odd invasion and physical beating they dish out, because it wasn’t too long ago that a video went viral that showed a kangaroo who loved hugs, which shows that they do have a softer side when the mood takes them.

Therefore, although it was clearly an awkward and annoying situation for the Redditor golfer, at least he didn’t have to contend with a fight off between himself and the kangaroo horde; can you image how that story would have turned out?

With more and more kangaroo invasions seeming to take place, it might become a more ‘expected’ news story than it currently is.

[Image via Reddit]

Kangaroo Invasion On Aussie Golf Course is a post from: The Inquisitr

Steve Irwin’s daughter Bindi Irwin is continuing her father’s legacy despite any hoaxes or rumors to the contrary.

As previously reported by The Inquisitr, Steve Irwin’s daughter Bindi was rumored to be dead on the internet.

In actuality, Steve Irwin’s daughter Bindi Irwin continues to live her life as an active wildlife conservationist and attendant of the Australian Zoo. Reports saying “Steve Irwin’s daughter dies” hit news trends and gave many readers a start. But this news story was actually a “trends hiccup” that somehow started with an essay Bindi Irwin wrote to Hillary Clinton’s environmental organization. Hillary Clinton edited Bindi Irwin’s essay, which caused a conflict, but no one is certain how the “Steven Irwin daughter” death hoax started exactly.

So what is Steve Irwin’s daughter Bindi up to nowadays? Bindi Irwin is currently working on two Discovery Kids programs called Bindi’s Boocamp and Steve Irwin’s Wildlife Warriors. Bindi Irwin told the Discovery Channel what she plans for her life:

“I’m a great believer in conservation, kid-empowerment and all things to do with wildlife. So these programs are something that I’m really passionate and excited about. It’s very special – and what a unique position to be in, to be able to share your passion with such a wide audience. How nice is that?

“We literally live right in the middle of the Australia zoo, and that is really wonderful in itself. But it’s also great because anyone who comes to visit us gets to experience a family of animals and keepers, and really take something with them. They end up having a greater appreciation of wildlife – and that’s what it’s all about, for me.”

What do you think about Steve Irwin’s daughter Bindi Irwin?

Steve Irwin’s Daughter Bindi Continues Legacy, Certainly Not Dead is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Internet has had Megan Draper marked for death on Mad Men for weeks, and finer minds than mine have put together some pretty convincing evidence to prove their point.

But in the words of Dustin Rowles, crackpot theories have proven to be crackpot after all, as Mad Men creator poured cold water on everyone’s Season 6 predictions with an off-handed “No one’s going to die.”

“It’s just not part of the show. No one’s going to die,” Weiner said in a roundtable interview, with Elisabeth Moss (Peggy) chiming in that fans are “barking up the wrong tree.”

Well, if not this season, could someone in Mad Men end up biting the big one? ”I didn’t say never!” Weiner laughed.

But the Sharon Tate/Megan Draper theory is still pretty persuasive, especially given that a specific wardrobe choice couldn’t just be a coincidence. Oh, it is then.

“Yes, Sharon Tate wore that t-shirt, but that was just my costume designer Janie Bryant and I solving an argument,” Weiner revealed. “Women’s t-shirts had not come into fashion. I always wanted Megan in a Disneyland t-shirt and Janie kept saying, ‘They’re not around yet.’ So I said, ‘There’s got to be a women’s t-shirt,’ and Janie brought [the photo of Tate] in and asked, ‘Is this OK?’ And I said, ‘Yes. I want that exact t-shirt.’ Little did I know …”

Jessica Pare, who plays Megan Draper in the show, was ambivalent about her character’s potential death in a recent interview of her own:

“I think that was the idea in finding that t-shirt — something that we had a reference that somebody had worn at the time,” she carefully said. “And if there was any significance beyond that, I don’t know, you’d have to ask Matt.”

On Twitter, Mad Men‘s costume designer Janie Bryant fueled fan speculation about Megan’s possible death:

@BHisaRockstar @esquiremag no coincidence! So nice to tweet meet you

— Janie Bryant (@JanieBryant) May 27, 2013

It’d be nice to take Weiner at his word, but how can this all be a simple coincidence? I guess we’ll have to wait and see, but leave us your Mad Men theories in the comments below.

‘Mad Men’ Creator: No One Is Going To Die is a post from: The Inquisitr

Star Wars Land might be headed to Disney World in Orlando, Florida at some point in 2018.

Fans of George Lucas’ beloved franchise have been wondering about the possibility of a Star Wars-themed attraction since the company acquired Lucasfilm last year. According to recent reports, the park could open as early as 2018.

SlashFilm reports “multiple sources” have confirmed that Star Wars Land could be headed to Disney World in a little under five years. Fanatics should definitely start saving up for their vacation now, especially since Disney recently raised the price of one-day admission.

Not only is Star Wars Land coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the company is also moving forward with the rumored Car Land attraction. Word on the street claims Disney will have to demolish a few areas in order to make room for the new additions.

According to Theme Park Insider, Star Wars Land will likely find a home near the Star Tours attraction. In order to fit all of this intergalactic goodness into the park, the company could be forced to do anyway with the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids playground and the Muppets theater.

The website states that no decisions about what will stay and what will go have been made just yet. In fact, those working behind-the-scenes are making arguments for other areas to be removed. Until Disney comes forward with their plans, don’t start crying over the rumored demise of the aforementioned attractions.

If all goes according to plan, then Star Wars Land could arrive at some point in 2018. However, the company might move this date up by a year should they decide to throw a bit more money at the project. What’s more, executives could time the attraction’s unveiling with the theatrical release of a new Star Wars flick. After all, Disney certainly likes to synergize.

What do you think about the proposed Star Wars Land attraction at Disney World?

[Image via The Disney Blog]

‘Star Wars Land’ Headed To Disney World In 2018 [Rumor] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Alright, so Megan Draper is going to make it after all. What about Mad Men‘s other fan theories this season, like the many regarding Pete Campbell and what appears to be a developing homosexual relationship with the character Bob Benson? There might actually be something to that one.

Eyebrows collectively furrowed when the mysterious Benson rubbed knees with Pete Campbell in “Favors” last week, and though the latter was visibly disgusted, he allowed it to happen. Does this mean that Campbell is a latent homosexual?

Vincent Kartheiser (Campbell) spoke about the leg rub in an interview with Vulture, and while he didn’t give anything away about his character’s story arc, he teased what we should be watching for.

“This is not something that [Pete] foresaw. It’s not an ongoing issue. This is a moment that happened out of the blue, and if it’s ever happened to you, and I don’t know if it has, but if it’s ever happened to you, if someone of the same sex that you didn’t recognize had those feelings toward you, and then all of a sudden that happens, there’s just a moment where it sets in.

Now, you also have to understand the reason he didn’t explode is because Bob is bigger than him and stronger than him, and Pete last season got his ass kicked by someone who wasn’t as big or as strong as Bob. Matthew’s allowed his characters to learn … To scream at or attack someone like Bob, who has a lot to lose in this situation, may open Pete Campbell up to a broken jaw or a black eye.

Also, Pete’s not quite aware when it first happens that that’s what it is. It’s not like Bob tried to kiss him, so he’s being subtle. He’s being slight with it, you know, because he doesn’t quite know that that’s what it means.”

Mad Men creator Matt Weiner has also talked a bit about the scene, suggesting that the sexual tension has more to do with Benson’s ambition and Campbell’s loneliness creating the perfect storm of confusion.

“Bob Benson is an ambitious person that we’ve seen, to comic effect, using everything he can to climb. But one of the things we know is that he has gone out of his way to take care of Pete. I don’t know that Bob is necessarily gay, but I think he is infatuated with Pete and wants to be Pete and I don’t think Pete is horrified or shocked, but he’s now in a situation in business where someone has really infiltrated his life … What I wanted to say was there’s this pure expression of love and who doesn’t need love and Bob is offering that to Pete and Pete is so needy at this point, so alone, but I think we get a sense of catastrophic results of expressing your real feelings.”

So we’re probably not going to see a full-on hook-up anytime soon, if at all. But the sexual tension between Pete Campbell and Bob Benson is there, even if it is more the result of confusion between the two men than anything else.

Still, do you think Pete Campbell and Bob Benson should hook up on Mad Men?

Vincent Kartheiser Talks ‘Mad Men,’ Pete Campbell’s Latent Homosexuality is a post from: The Inquisitr

TMNT rumors about Megan Fox claim the actress may be going bald. What?

We all know that when Michael Bay was doing the first two Transformers films, one of the big draws was the robots, but the other one was Megan Fox. It seemed that no matter what position she held herself in, it was seductive, and sometimes painful to think about doing it yourself. It was even joked about that she never seemed to change her expression from the pouty-lipped stare. Megan Fox was such a draw in the first two Transformers films that some moviegoers refused to see Dark of the Moon because she wasn’t in it.

Admittedly, replacing her with a blonde whose almost equally plastic acting style and British accent was almost a jarring difference, but Dark of the Moon was still debatably better made than Revenge of the Fallen.

It was reported that Megan Fox and Michael Bay had a falling-out where she basically called the director “Hitler”, as well as arguing over the Transformers films being CG movies instead of acting movies, and she decided not to be in Transformers: Dark of the Moon for those reasons. However, in spite of the arguments the two had, Michael Bay has somehow been able to land Megan Fox a major role as April O’Neill in the TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) reboot.

Apparently the two weren’t as antagonistic as we’d been led to believe, or perhaps it’s the reason Megan Fox appears to be going bald. On the other hand, it may just be the combination of hair dye treatments being used to turn her hair red for her role in TMNT.

Reporters for Digital Spy have said:

“After dying [Fox's] mane red for her role as April O’Neil in the [Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles] remake, producers hated the result and sent her back to the salon for a redo, which wreaked havoc on her once-lush locks. She went to a different stylist, and they ended up using a metallic hair dye that reacted to the initial product. Next thing you know, her hair started falling out in clumps!”

Megan Fox has reportedly been self-conscious about the hair problem and wearing extensions under her hair to cover it up. The actress’ friends, however, deny the rumor, and there are no photos to prove it either way.

What do you think about Megan Fox reportedly going bald on the set of TMNT?

[image via Jaguar PS / Shutterstock.com]

‘TMNT’: Is Megan Fox Going Bald? is a post from: The Inquisitr

Rounda Rousey doesn’t get along with Miesha Tate, her in-ring rival, so when they two were teamed up in a UFC reality show the results were predictable.

Rousey was originally schedule to coach opposite Cat Zingano on the fighting reality show, but Cat was injured and forced off the show with a knee injury. So Miesha Tate, Rousey’s longtime rival, stepped in.

UFC president Dana White said Ultimate Fighter 18: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate is going exactly as he thought — badly.

“It’s going exactly the way you’d expect it to be going, bad,” White said.

The two met in March 2012, with Ronda Rousey defeating Tate by armbar to win the Strikeforce women’s bantamweight title. There was a chance at a rematch, but with an opportunity to challenge Rousey on the line Tate lost to Zingnano in April.

While they may not have a bout on the horizon, Rousey and Tate are still going at it a lot during filming. White said the feud is so intense — even the women’s camps get into it at times — that he isn’t sure if much the footage can even make it to television.

“Miesha and Ronda hate each other,” said White. “It’s like literally crazy drama every day.”

Ronda Rousey has quickly become one of the most popular MMA fighters after signing with the UFC in November 2012.
She made history at UFC 157, when for the first time a women’s bout was the headliner for a Pay-Per-View event.

Later Rousey was recognized by Business Insider, which named the women’s bantamweight champion one of its 50 women changing the world.

Ronda Rousey has made a name for herself in MMA since she was only a teenager. At 19 she became the first American female athlete in close to 10 years to win an A-Level tournament at the Birmingham World Cup in Great Britain.

Ronda Rousey: Feud With Fellow Fighter Miesha Tate Boiling Over is a post from: The Inquisitr

Interested in seeing World War Z two days early? Paramount Pictures has just the deal for you.

Moviegoers who are eager to catch the Brad Pitt zombie flick a couple of days before the general public can plurge on a so-called $50 “mega ticket” that grants you early access to the movie.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the pricey World War Z package is currently available in five cities. The studio teamed up with the folks at Regal Entertainment Group to offer this deal to rabid fans who simply cannot wait to feast their eyes on the long-delayed blockbuster.

Your $50 “mega ticket” also gets you a few perks that won’t be available to general audiences. In addition free popcorn and a limited-edition poster, those who pony up the cash to see World War Z early will also receive a digital copy of the flick as soon as it becomes available.

Regal Entertainment Group chief marketing officer Ken Thewes said in a recent statement:

“Regal is pleased to offer this ultimate fan event at five locations in conjunction with our partners at Paramount Pictures. The interest and anticipation for Brad Pitt’s latest thriller is at a fever pitch and this World War Z mega ticket offers a unique experience for our patrons.”

Movie Talk reports World War Z fans living in or around the Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and San Diego areas will be able to participate in Paramount’s event. Should the $50 “mega ticket” prove popular, the studio intends to incorporate such a package into the release of all of their top-tier movies.

Mega ticket buyers aren’t the only people with early access to the Brad Pitt zombie movie. The San Francisco 49ers were treated to a screening of the flick prior to the start of minicamp.

Before the start of minicamp, the #49ers got a sneak preview of #WorldWarZ, which opens June 21. pic.twitter.com/RcdDn5t7j8

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) June 11, 2013

World War Z opens in theaters everywhere on June 21. Would you spend $50 for a “mega ticket” that allows you watch the movie two days early?

‘World War Z’ $50 ‘Mega Ticket’ Lets You See The Movie Early is a post from: The Inquisitr

Despite reports that Nelson Mandela is making a recovery in hospital, the renowned figure still remains hospitalized after eight days of treatment.

A couple of day’s ago The Inquisitr covered the situation and reported on the steady progress that Mandela was making, however, despite those claims, and the ones from Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela, the former South African president still seems to be in a critical condition.

Mandela was admitted to the Pretoria hospital for the third time this year; all his previous experiences have resulted in rather lengthy stays and treatments, with one of his hospital stays from last December ending after 18 days of care.

Furthermore, although the family reports are positive, all his relatives are keeping close to Mandela, with most of them visiting him everyday; most notably his wife, Graca Machel, who has been continuously by his side, and even called off a London trip just so that she could stay with him.

The tense subject of his health comes as no surprise when, upon each admission into hospital, new concerns are brought up; although this seems perfectly understandable given his age – he is 94-years-old, with his 95th birthday just under a month away – it still casts a different light on his hospital visits.

These age and health concerns are part of the reason why the recent Nelson Mandela death hoax gripped Twitter last Sunday; the suspect tweets were linked to Piers Morgan, however, it wasn’t the real deal who had spread the rumours in the end.

The Inquisitr’s very own news writer, Elaine Radford, had first-hand experience of these tweets after they came up on her newsfeed.

As many news followers will know, Nelson Mandela’s lung issues have been with him since the 1980s when he contracted tuberculosis while in jail on Robben Island.

The renowned revolutionary figure was imprisoned for a total of 27 years, and is believed to have damaged his lung because of the quarry work he had to do while he was serving out his sentence.

Whether Nelson Mandela is truly making a recovery will continue to be a sensitive topic until he is released from hospital.

[Image via BBC News]

Nelson Mandela Still Remains In Hospital is a post from: The Inquisitr

Ed Sheeran has joined Bono in The ONE Campaign’s fight to eliminate poverty around the world. The organization, which takes up social causes all over the world is hitting the G-8 Summit that will take place in Northern Ireland next week.

Bono, the founder of ONE, and lead singer of the band U2, is trying to bring attention to the critical poverty in Africa, when leaders from around the world meet to discuss economic issues at the Summit. He is calling this effort agit8.

As part of the effort he has brought old legends and new artists together, including Sheeran, to record some of the most iconic war songs of all time. The ONE website released the tracks earlier, with a complete history of each of the songs chosen, including their lyrics.

Ed Sheeran has recorded a cover of Bob Dylan’s famous war protest song Masters of War for agit8. The song talks about the Cold War arms build up that took place in the early 1960s.

Bob Dylan explained his song was, “speaking against what (President) Eisenhower was calling a military-industrial complex as he was making his exit from the presidency.”

In 1961, President Eisenhower delivered his farewell speech from the Oval Office. During this address he warned, “we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex.”

The song was written and recorded by Dylan in 1963 for Broadside Magazine. In September of 2001, Dylan linked his song to Eisenhower’s speech.

Now this new take on the song by the English ballad singer is making waves. He first came into the spotlight in 2011 with his award winning album Plus (using the symbol +), which included the hit songs The A Team, You Need Me, I Don’t Need You, and Lego House.

His new version of the legendary war song has caught people’s attention. Watch and listen to Ed Sheeran’s rendition of Masters of War.

[Image via Featureflash / Shutterstock.com]

Ed Sheeran Covers Bob Dylan’s ‘Masters Of War’ For ONE [VIDEO] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Facebook and Microsoft have disclosed information regarding thousands of NSA and intelligence requests. Google, however, has expressed reservations about the new allowance.

These announcements come after leaked information on NSA top secret data mining programs which have sparked a national debate over security and privacy rights. Among the information leaked was a list of well known internet and social media companies.

Controversy and user ire mounted as the public continued to learn about the data mining programs. This prompted several of the participant companies to begin petitioning the US government for user disclosure privileges earlier this week.

Google, Facebook, and Microsoft were among those pressing for the go-ahead from federal authorities to allow statements on Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) related user data requests. These requests were granted Friday with Facebook and Microsoft releasing statements that night.

Microsoft’s vice president John Frank wrote that in the last six months of 2012 the company received as many as 7,000 law enforcement and intelligence requests, affecting nearly 32,000 user accounts.

Facebook stated that, in the same period, requests numbered to nearly 10,000 with around 19,000 users being affected. They assured users that far less than one percent of accounts were affected, given the 1.1 billion active accounts on Facebook monthly.

Google has stated their reservations about this new disclosure permission, however.

The recent allowance for disclosure by the US government is, Google says, actually a “step back” for users. In a statement, Google explains that the government included an important requirement for these reports: That all request numbers be lumped into a single figure.

This would actually be less transparent than the reports Google already release, they say. Instead of granting allowance to publish FISA requests, they would have to share all figures, from local police requests to FISA warrants, as a single number.

With Facebook and Microsoft now disclosing information regarding their role in the controversial NSA programs like PRISM, they hope to ease recent user concerns raised over how their private information is being used.

[Image via Thinglass / Shutterstock.com]

Facebook, Microsoft Disclose Roles In NSA Spy Program, Google Skeptical is a post from: The Inquisitr

Sports can get contentious, and sometimes competition and dedication to one’s team can cross the line of appropriateness. That seems to have been the case with a bunch of “Chicago Stronger” shirts made for the Chicago Blackhawks v. Boston Bruins Stanley Cup finals.

A Chicago apparel company created a “Chicago Stronger” shirt to support the Blackhawks ahead of the finals, but critics are saying that the shirt is tasteless and makes light of a national tragedy.

Shortly after the Boston Marathon bombing, “Boston Strong” emerged as a slogan for the city, and became sort of a banner for everyone across the nation to pull together in support of the tragedy-stricken city.

So it makes sense that Bostonians would be miffed at Cubby Tees for their “Chicago Stronger” shirts, made for the Blackhawks and Bruins face-off in the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup.

In a statement along with the release of the shirts, Cubby Tees wrote:

“We love Boston and support/admire its people, but don’t believe that the homicidal lunacy of two disturbed locals has rendered its teams invincible. This is about hockey, this is about O-6 pride, this is about the Cup,” the initial statement read.

So they were expecting controversy. They got it with hundreds of Twitter and Facebook users flaying the company for the slogan.

“This is Boston strong, using the strong logo for a parody for a playoff is disgusting,” wrote one Twitter user.

“How someone could even fathom the idea of making money off of a shirt that says Chicago stronger makes me sick. Put the sports aside,” said another.

Cubby Tees responded by pulling the shirt from its website, but also wrote a nastygram slamming their critics for pointing out the apparent insensitivity of the slogan.

“We post this for posterity: judging by the tone/ignorance/froth/grammar contained in most of the notes received, we realize that a majority of the correspondents lack an open mind, earnest desire for discourse or an ability to comprehend complex concepts like parody…let alone polysyllabic words (though some sent thoughtful, well-reasoned messages which we appreciated),” they wrote.

I’ll leave the puck in your court for this one, people. Are the “Chicago Stronger” shirts completely insensitive? Should Cubby Tees apologize instead of lashing out at their critics? Sound off!

‘Chicago Stronger’ Shirt Makers Don’t Understand Why Boston Is So Upset is a post from: The Inquisitr

The NBA has been making an attempt to eradicate flopping from the game, but Dirk Nowitzki said it’s unlikely the league will will be able to get rid of it entirely.

The league this year instituted retroactive fines for players caught embellishing contact in order to draw a foul. It was used sparingly during the year but the playoffs have seen an increase in fines. Chris Bosh of the Miami Heat was the latest to get hit, taking a $5,000 fine for flopping in Game 4 of the NBA finals.

The Dallas Mavericks forward said flopping will always be a part of the game as long as players think it will give them an edge. This echo remarks made earlier in the playoffs by LeBron James, who said he doesn’t flop but understands why others do.

“We’re never going to get rid of it,” Nowitzki said recently, according to The Dallas Morning News. “But you got to limit it. It’s part of sports. It’s part of winning. Some people are smart and do a little extra thing to kind of sell the call. To me, that’s part of sports.”

If NBA commissioner David Stern has anything to do with it, flopping would be gone entirely. He’s spoken out against it, and is asking a league committee to reconsider fines in the offseason. But Stern said any new fines must be balanced and the penalties not draconian.

“It isn’t enough, it isn’t enough,” Stern said in his annual pre-NBA Finals news conference earlier this month. “You’re not going to cause somebody to stop it for $5,000 when the average player’s salary is $5.5 million. And anyone who thought that was going to happen was allowing hope to prevail over reason.”

With one season of flopping fines now past, Stern said he and the league will review data to find out what steps must be taken next. Critics have said a $5,000 fine for flopping — equivalent to about $20 for the average person’s salary — isn’t enough of a deterrent.

NBA Won’t Get Rid Of Flopping, Says Dirk Nowitzki is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kayne West’s upcoming album Yeezus received some last-minute assistance from legendary producer Rick Rubin.

The man who helped bring the Beastie Boys and LL Cool J to the masses was brought in to help “focus” some of the tracks featured on the controversial rapper’s upcoming album. According to Rubin, the duo worked feverishly to get the songs completed before the label’s deadline.

Rick Rubin told The Wall Street Journal that he and Kanye West didn’t have a lot of time to put the finishing touches on Yeezus. In fact, several songs slated to appear on the album didn’t have vocals days before it was supposed to be submitted to the label.

“Kanye came over to play me what I assumed was going to be the finished album at three weeks before the last possible delivery date,” Rubin explained.

The legendary producer continued, “We ended up listening to three hours of partially finished pieces. The raw material was very strong but hadn’t yet come into focus. Many of the vocals hadn’t been recorded yet, and many of those still didn’t have lyrics.”

Rubin said West was determined to deliver a “stripped-down minimal” sound for the album. While figuring out how the songs could be improved, the producer said West was more concerned with what he could remove from the tracks than what they could add.

Rick Rubin also gave Kanye West a lot of praise for bucking the trend in terms of commercial appeal and promotion. Yeezus doesn’t have a single or marketable cover art, facts which seemed to greatly impress the veteran producer.

“He is pure in his art and in a form where so many choices artists make are often the result of business consideration. Kanye chooses to let his art lead. He didn’t want a premeditated commercial [single] for his album as he looks at it as a body of work. Kanye proceeds on the road less traveled and I applaud him for it,” Rubin said.

Are you looking forward to Kanye West’s Yeezus? Are you going to pick up a copy of the Rick Rubin-produced album on Tuesday (June 18)?

[Image via Featureflash / Shutterstock.com]

Kanye West’s ‘Yeezus’ Received Last-Minute Help From Rick Rubin is a post from: The Inquisitr

Stem cells are biological cells found in all multi-cellular organisms. These cells divide through mitosis and differentiate into diverse specialized cell types, including heart, liver, nerve and bone.

There are two broad types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells, which are isolated from the inner cell mass of blastocysts, and adult stem cells, which are found in various tissues. In adult organisms, stem cells and progenitor cells act as a repair system for the body, replenishing tissues.

When extracted, these cells can be used in medical therapies – such as in bone marrow transplants. There are three accessible sources of autologous (own) adult stem cells in humans: harvested from bone marrow, draw from blood using pheresis, and interesting from adipose tissue (lipids) which requires being extracted via liposuction.

Embryonic stem cells have what is considered better potential for generating viable tissues but their use is highly controversial.

However, researchers, according to Scientific American and a study published in PLOS ONE, believe they’ve found a stem cell with the same potent capability as embryonic counterparts used to repair diseased and damaged tissue – one from an abundant adult source, body fat.

“Awakened by Cellular Stress: Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Population of Pluripotent Stem Cells Derived from Human Adipose Tissue,” shares how the lipid stem cells were discovered accidentally as researchers were attempting to grow cells from material collected via liposuction.

Cells in their samples died after lab equipment failure – all but a few hearty stem cells capable of withstanding various harsh conditions such as being deprived of oxygen and nutrients or saturated in digestive enzymes.

Contrastingly to other cell types, stress may even positively activate these cells. Conveniently stress is also in abundance these days. However, more research will be necessary to evaluate the overall effectiveness and application.

[Image via Girish Menon / Shutterstock.com]

Liposuctioned Fat Reveals Valuable Stem Cells is a post from: The Inquisitr

Charlie Sheen isn’t too happy with Farrah Abraham after she allegedly leaked text messages between the two who were planning to meet up. Abraham was looking to get a date with the popular TV star, but that’s not happening any time soon after Sheen put together a rejection for the ages.

TMZ acquired a copy of the letter and posted it to their site. There’s nothing like a furious rant by the 47-year-old actor and this one is no different.

“Hey, you desperate guzzler of stagnant douche agua; I truly do not recall giving you permission to globally reveal any communication between us. congrats on surviving your lobotomy and an even bigger congratz on the recent attempt at porn. your daughter must be so proud.”

That was just the beginning as Sheen continued to call out the former reality TV star turned porn star. Farrah Abraham recently made an “upgrade” from a C-cup saline to D-Cup silicone breasts, and Sheen has dubbed them the “tranny-boobs.”

Here’s the closing in the rejection letter to Abraham that’s taking over the web this weekend and Charlie Sheen wasn’t holding anything back.

“please send my number to middle earth and if allowed, eagerly follow it into said abyss and slam the door behind you. the world will collectively sigh as the pungent memory of you vanishes into the pedestrian troposphere of lame-suck and zero-life … oh and I’m sure they’ll wave the cover charge when they see your tranny-boobs and five o’clock shadow.”

If Abraham has learned anything, it’s to never reveal any conversation you have with the Anger Management star, who apparently struggles managing his anger. Though neither has commented further since the letter was released, Abraham has made some critical comments about another over-the-top celebrity in Kim Kardashian.

Abraham spoke with Metropolis Night’s Magazine and had a few choice words for Kanye West’s girlfriend.

“I have been very successful with other things in my life besides just being a reality TV star. I have books and other things going on in my life that outshine Kim Kardashian,” she told the magazine. “I feel I just outshine her when it comes to both our personal and professional lives.”

Is Farrah Abraham right in her comments about Kim Kardashian or is she quickly losing interest after Charlie Sheen ripped her apart in his rejection letter?

Charlie Sheen Rips Farrah Abraham, Who Turns Attention To Kim Kardashian is a post from: The Inquisitr

Nashville, TN – Police are searching for a man who shot a woman and her three teenage daughters in Music City on Friday.

According to police, Nicole Luke and her three daughters were shot by her boyfriend, Earnest Woodley, in Friday. Luke, her two 14-year-old daughters and their 15-year-old sister, are all listed as in stable condition at Nashville hospital.

Woodley, also known as Earnest Moore, is a convicted murderer with a long criminal record. He was charged late Friday with four counts of attempted homicide and aggravated assault. He fled the scene in a gray T-shirt, blue shorts and no shoes.

The group were in two vehicles, driving to Memphis where they were all moving. They stopped at an apartment complex to visit a cousin of Woodley’s, according to police. All but one of Luke’s daughters went inside.

Woodley and Luke began arguing during the visit, and Woodley shot her and her daughters. He then went outside and shot the daughter waiting in the car.

There were three other children at the scene who weren’t injured: Woodley and Luke’s 3-year-old daughter and the cousin’s two young sons.

A witness explained to a local NBC affiliate that she first heard two gunshots and then four more.

“We went outside and saw the man running past our house, so we went over here to see what had happened and we saw the car,” the witness said. “There was a lady in the front seat, and she had been shot, and all of the windows in the car had been shot out.”

Woodley is still at large as of Friday night, and should be considered armed and extremely dangerous. If you’re in the Nashville area, here’s what he looks like:

[Image via: csabacz / Shutterstock]

Mom And Three Daughters Gunned Down In Nashville is a post from: The Inquisitr