Jon Bon Jovi dead? No way, says rocker

Singer posts photo of Facebook to prove Twitter talk is false

Jon Bon Jovi dead? Not quite, as this Facebook photo clearly shows.

Jon Bon Jovi wants everyone to know that reports of his demise are greatly exaggerated.

A random blog post claiming the New Jersey singer suffered from cardiac arrest ignited a fire on Twitter Monday.

To assure fans he was perfectly okay, the 49-year-old rocker posted a photo of himself on Facebook holding a hand-written sign stating, "Heaven looks a lot like New Jersey."

The date, Dec. 19, 2011, along with the time was also included.

"Rest assured that Jon is alive and well!" a post that accompanied the photo declared.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the false story, first posted on a WordPress blog called, "dailynewbloginternational," seemed to take text from one of their stories about Michael Jackson's 2009 death.

Social media has led to a rash of fake celebrity death stories.

Bill Cosby was hounded repeatedly by claims that he died. He eventually took to Twitter and even called in to CNN to plead that it stop, after one report reached his daughter and caused a panic.

Bill Cosby has also fallen victim to fake Internet claims that he was dead.

"People are not amused by this," Cosby said in August 2010.

Other celebrities who weren't dead yet, despite Internet claims, include Lady Gaga, Justin Beiber, Eddie Murphy, Morgan Freeman, Harrison Ford and Jeff Goldblum.

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Heavy D dead at 44: Rap legend collapsed Tuesday inside his Beverly Hills home

BY BILL HUTCHINSON 
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Chris McKay/Getty Images

Heavy D performs at the BET Hip Hop Awards on Oct. 1 in Atlanta. He died after collapsing in his California home Tuesday.

ROTUND RAP legend Heavy D died Tuesday after collapsing in his California home. He was 44.

The Westchester County-raised entertainer was taken by ambulance to Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles about 11:25 a.m. and died 90 minutes later, cops told the Daily News.

Heavy D was conscious and talking when officers responded to a 911 call from his Beverly Hills condo, said Lt. Mark Rosen of the Beverly Hills Police Department.

IN MEMORIAM: STARS WHO LEFT US TOO SOON

Rosen said the portly rapper, whose real name was Dwight Arrington Myers, was having difficulty breathing as paramedics rushed him to the hospital.

The performer had just returned from Europe and was battling pneumonia, KTLA news in Los Angeles reported.

Rosen said Heavy D had come home from a shopping trip Tuesday and began laboring for breath as he walked into his condo building.

“He collapsed in an exterior hallway,” Rosen said. “There doesn’t appear to be any foul play. We believe it was medically related.”

The actual cause of death is pending an autopsy.

Born in Jamaica and raised in Mount Vernon, Heavy D rose to stardom in the 1990s as the frontman for Heavy D & the Boys.

Along with band mates G-Whiz, Trouble T. Roy and Eddie F., he made hip-hop history with hit songs like “Now That We Found Love” and “Nuttin But Love.” They also performed the theme song for the 1990s comedy TV series “In Living Color.”

Heavy D last performed in October at the BET Awards.

In recent years, he had ventured into acting, scoring small movie roles, including one in the 1999 film “The Cider House Rules.”

He won a cameo role as a security guard in the just-released film “Tower Heist,” starring Eddie Murphy and Ben Stiller.

“I’m definitely saddened by the loss of Heavy. He was a really good person,” said Damon Williams, vice president of programming for Music Choice, the multi-platform video and music network.

With catchy dance tunes that included R&B riffs, Heavy D was one of the first rappers to cross over to mainstream popularity, Damon Williams" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Damon+Williams" >Williams said.

“But I don’t think he ever lost his credibility with the hard-core rap audience,” said Williams.

Other friends took to Twitter to express condolences.

“I am deeply saddened by the sudden loss of Heavy D. A longtime friend and a beautiful person,” wrote Russell Simmons.

LL Cool J tweeted, “May GOD embrace the soul of Heavy D and Bless his family. I respected you Heavy and I always will.”

Steve Jobs Dead: Apple Co-Founder Dies At 56

  

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Steve Jobs, Apple co-founder and former CEO, has died at the age of 56.

Apple has posted this statement on its website:

Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple. 

If you would like to share your thoughts, memories, and condolences, please email rememberingsteve@apple.com

Steve Jobs' family released this statement on his passing:

Steve died peacefully today surrounded by his family. In his public life, Steve was known as a visionary; in his private life, he cherished his family. We are thankful to the many people who have shared their wishes and prayers during the last year of Steve’s illness; a website will be provided for those who wish to offer tributes and memories.
We are grateful for the support and kindness of those who share our feelings for Steve. We know many of you will mourn with us, and we ask that you respect our privacy during our time of grief.

Apple released a statement from current CEO Tim Cook, which was sent to company employees:

Team, I have some very sad news to share with all of you. Steve passed away earlier today.
Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple. 

We are planning a celebration of Steve's extraordinary life for Apple employees that will take place soon. If you would like to share your thoughts, memories and condolences in the interim, you can simply email rememberingsteve@apple.com. 

No words can adequately express our sadness at Steve’s death or our gratitude for the opportunity to work with him. We will honor his memory by dedicating ourselves to continuing the work he loved so much.
Tim

The White House released a statement by President Barack Obama:

Michelle and I are saddened to learn of the passing of Steve Jobs. Steve was among the greatest of American innovators - brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it. 

By building one of the planet’s most successful companies from his garage, he exemplified the spirit of American ingenuity. By making computers personal and putting the internet in our pockets, he made the information revolution not only accessible, but intuitive and fun. And by turning his talents to storytelling, he has brought joy to millions of children and grownups alike. Steve was fond of saying that he lived every day like it was his last. Because he did, he transformed our lives, redefined entire industries, and achieved one of the rarest feats in human history: he changed the way each of us sees the world. 

The world has lost a visionary. And there may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented. Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to Steve’s wife Laurene, his family, and all those who loved him.

Obama's campaign added its condolences, tweeting from his official account: "Rest in peace, Steve Jobs. From all of us at #Obama2012, thank you for the work you make possible every day—including ours."
Bill Gates conveyed his sadness, telling AllThingsD: "I will miss Steve immensely."

Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg delivered his thanks on his official Facebook page, writing: "Steve, thank you for being a mentor and a friend. Thanks for showing that what you build can change the world. I will miss you."

Back in 2005, Jobs revealed some of his thoughts on death in a heartfelt commencement address at Stanford University, telling students: "Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose."

Apple.com has transformed its homepage to a tribute for its former leader.

PHOTOS: Steve Jobs Through The Years

Harold Camping warns world's end begins May 21st

If you believe a fringe Christian radio group, then you’ve got a little more than 24 hours to either party it up, or repent for your sins. Because according to the “Family Radio” network, 6 p.m. Saturday will be when the “rapture” begins and the end of days begins.

Tthe Family Radio network’s founder, 89-year-old Harold Camping, said Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. will be when the rapture of the church takes place.
The rapture of the church is a relatively new idea in the realm of Christianity. It refers to the time when Christians believe that Jesus will take the faithful to heaven ahead of the calamity and destruction that lies ahead in the tribulations from the book of Revelation.

It’s drawn from passages in the bible including I Thessalonians 4:17 which states, “After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

This would follow Jesus raising the souls of Christians who had already died over the millenniums.

Camping, a civil engineer, has managed to convince thousands of people the beginning of the apocalypse is near and the rapture will happen Saturday evening.
So how did Camping come up with his dire prediction?

He based his theory for the rapture and second coming of Jesus on two Bible passages. The first is in second book of Peter in the New Testament.

Camping said the 2 Peter passage says that “One day is with the Lord as a thousand years and a thousand years is one day.” By his deduction, Camping implies this to mean 7,000 years from the great flood will be the end of the world.

He also cites the book of Genesis. Camping said Genesis states, the flood began on the “17th day of the second month.” In his interpretation of the Jewish calendar, that date is May 21.

Combining the two, Camping has come up with Saturday as the date of the apocalypse. And what will happen precisely as 6:00 p.m., well, Camping said great earthquakes will be felt to start the apocalypse.
But don’t start worrying about not knowing if the Heat can beat the Bulls, or what the final episodes of Oprah will look like on television. Camping also predicted the world would end in 1994, which only happened for hard-core Nirvana fans.

So, if you believe the prediction from Camping and are planning on attending the Exxxotica convention, catching some rays on South Beach, or getting in a couple rounds of golf, you might want to do it before Saturday evening when Camping’s forecast calls for cloudy with a chance of rapture.

But what do you think?

The Bible is actually quite clear on the matter, but not the way Camping interprets it.

Matthew 24:36 quotes the words of Christ himself: “Concerning that day and hour (the 'end of the world') nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father."


So, at the time not even Jesus knew for sure when the end would come. In fact when his disciples questioned him about it he told them (in Acts 1:7):“It does not belong to YOU to get knowledge of the times or seasons which the Father has placed in his own jurisdiction".

Basically God has no intention to let us know exactly when the end would come. When the disciples questioned Jesus about it on another occasion (in Matthew 24:3), rather than give them a date, or even encourage them calculate for themselves, he simply gave them a "sign". 'Sign of the times' as we tend to call it.

This is what he told them (Matthew 24:4-14):

"Jesus said to them: “Look out that nobody misleads YOU; for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. YOU are going to hear of wars and reports of wars; see that YOU are not terrified. For these things must take place, but the end is not yet. “For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another. All these things are a beginning of pangs of distress. “Then people will deliver YOU up to tribulation and will kill YOU, and YOU will be objects of hatred by all the nations on account of my name. Then, also, many will be stumbled and will betray one another and will hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and mislead many; and because of the increasing of lawlessness the love of the greater number will cool off. But he that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved. And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come."

Great earthquakes, great wars, severe famines, and serious illnessess, to name a few, were all part of the sign that would indicate the nearness of the end. By looking out for this composite sign we would know that the end is near. Surely we see this to be the case right now!

But why give a sign if it was possible to calculate the exact day?



You see then that we cannot work out God's timetable with some 'clever' manipulation of scriptures. Christ gaves a sign and asked us to 'stay awake', be alert regarding the times we live in, as we are warned in the Bible:

" Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way". (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3)

We are urged further:

"Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled." (1 Thessalonians 5:1,2,6)










 

 

 

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/05/20/2226274/christian-radio-group-warns-worlds.html#ixzz1MuoG1eLi

Osama bin Laden dead, body buried at sea

WASHINGTON: The body of Al-Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden has been buried at sea after he was killed by US covert forces in Pakistan , US media reported Monday. 

Cable television networks CNN, MSNBC and Fox said a senior US official had confirmed to them that bin Laden's body had been buried in the sea, without giving further details. 

US officials did not respond when contacted by AFP for confirmation of the reports. 

But earlier an administration official said of the corpse: "We are ensuring that it is handled in accordance with Islamic practice and tradition. 

"This is something that we take very seriously. And so therefore this is being handled in an appropriate manner." 

Burying bin Laden's body at sea would ensure that his final resting place does not become a shrine and a place of pilgrimage for his followers, ABC television reported earlier. 



QAEDA NEEDS "A MIRACLE" TO RECOVER 

Some analysts say that bin Laden's memory may now inspire followers, who will now see him as a martyr, to take revenge. 

And the extensive online forums, chat rooms and websites operated by al Qaeda sympathisers will ensure his role as the group's motivator-in-chief will endure. 

"As a symbol, as a source of ideology, bin Laden can continue to play those roles dead as well as alive," Pillar said. 

But his departure will add to pressure on morale throughout the network, despite al Qaeda's glorification of martyrdom and a perception that bin Laden died an honourable death in battle. 

Gerges said it would "take a miracle" for al Qaeda to recover ideologically and operationally from bin Laden's death. 

Thomas Hegghammer, a specialist on militancy at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment, said that over the long term his loss would deepen the group's disarray. 

"It is bad for al Qaeda and the jihadi movements. Bin Laden was a symbol of al Qaeda's longevity and its defiance of the West. Now that symbol is gone."


Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com

      

Balcony kiss seals royal wedding

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Prince William and Kate Middleton kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace

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Royal wedding

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• William becomes Duke of Cambridge
• Bunting out for wedding parties

Prince William and Kate Middleton have kissed twice on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after their wedding service in Westminster Abbey.

They were cheered by 500,000 well-wishers who gathered outside the palace, as RAF planes flew past in honour of the new royal couple.

Police estimate a million people lined the procession route from the abbey to the palace.

The bride will now be known as the Duchess of Cambridge.

The Queen is hosting a buffet reception at the palace for 650 guests.

Street parties

The dress was designed by Sarah Burton

The church service, watched by 1,900 guests, ran smoothly but the prince did struggle to place the wedding ring on the duchess's finger.

Following a long tradition, the ring has been fashioned from Welsh gold given to Prince William by the Queen.

After the couple said their vows, in which she did not promise to obey William, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Rowan Williams, declared: "I pronounce that they be man and wife together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."

They spent a private moment together with their families, as they signed the marriage register.

Prince William has been given the title of the Duke of Cambridge by the Queen, and Miss Middleton has become Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge on their marriage.

The duchess, who managed to keep her wedding dress a secret, is wearing an ivory and lace gown by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen. The prince is wearing the red tunic of an Irish Guards colonel - his most senior honorary appointment.

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Timetable (BST) on 29 April

• 1015 - The groom and Prince Harry arrived at Westminster Abbey
• 1051 - The bride, and her father, left the Goring Hotel for the abbey
• 1100 - The marriage service began
• 1230 - The bride's carriage procession arrived at Buckingham Palace
• 1325 - The Queen and the bride and groom appeared on the balcony
• 1330 - Fly past by the Royal Air Force and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

• Follow Peter Hunt on Twitter
• Views on the dress
• Big day for wedding crowds
• Royal wedding: Where were you?

Well-known faces spotted at Westminster Abbey included singer-songwriter Sir Elton John and his partner David Furnish, former England rugby coach Sir Clive Woodward, and former England football captain David Beckham and his wife Victoria.

Actor Rowan Atkinson, a close friend of Prince Charles, Prince Harry's friend Chelsy Davy and film director Guy Ritchie were also there.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha, Australian prime minister Julia Gillard, former British PM Sir John Major, and Home Secretary Theresa May were among the politicians present.

For those lining the route, large speakers broadcast the wedding service, and hundreds of millions of people were expected to watch the proceedings worldwide on television.

• According to a lip-reading expert, Prince William told his bride she looked "beautiful" as she joined him at the altar. Tina Lannin, of O'Malley Communications, also said he joked to his father-in-law Michael: "We're supposed to have just a small family affair"
• The fly-past involved Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane aircraft from the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
• The busy schedule began when guests start arriving at the Abbey from 0815 BST. Many had been queuing before the Great North Door opened
• A Rolls-Royce picked up Miss Middleton at the Goring Hotel, where the Middleton family were staying, at 1050 BST, and the ceremony got under way just after 1100 BST. Prince William travelled to the Abbey with his brother and best man in a Bentley
• Out of the 1,900 guests at the Abbey, 1,000 were friends and family, who had been given some of the best seats in the house. The others included overseas royals, politicians from home and abroad, military personnel and representatives from various faiths and charities
• After the service, the newly-weds travelled in an open-topped carriage for the 15-minute journey from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace, past some of London's most famous landmarks, including the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Horse Guards Parade
• More than 1,000 military personnel and musicians lined the procession route
• Thousands of street parties are being held around the UK, and big screens have been put up in many towns and cities. The BBC has been bringing viewers and listeners comprehensive coverageacross TV, radio and online, both in the UK and around the world
• 5,000 officers were on duty, with more than 900 along the wedding route
• Police swooped on two anti-royal wedding protests as the ceremony got under way. A small group of masked anarchists gathered in Soho Square, central London, while police said 70 protesters were in Red Lion Square, Holborn
• About two square miles of central London have been closed to traffic.

Royal officials said William and Kate were involved in planning their wedding day, from the music at the ceremony to the flowers and the cake.

Inside Westminster Abbey, an avenue of trees lined the red carpet leading up to the altar.

The bride walked up the aisle to coronation anthem I Was Glad, by Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, from Psalm 122. Her brother James Middleton gave the Lesson, reading Romans 12: 1-2, 9-18.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton made their vows to each other during their wedding ceremony at Westminster Abbey

Classical compositions by Elgar, Britten and Vaughan Williams featured during the ceremony, alongside the hymn Jerusalem and the English melody Greensleeves.

After the canape reception at Buckingham Palace, about 300 close friends and relatives will stay on for a formal black tie dinner and disco in the evening, hosted by Prince Charles.

But the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will leave for a weekend away after hosting the lunchtime reception and will miss Prince Harry's best man speech and Michael Middleton's father of the bride address.

Despite predictions of showers, it stayed dry for the royal couple. Temperatures in the capital were expected to reach a high of 19C (66F) in the afternoon.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk