Obama's Vague Gay Marriage Stance Under Scrutiny

President Barack Obama's election-year vagueness on gay marriage is coming under fresh scrutiny.
Education Secretary Arne Duncan broke ranks with the White House on Monday, stating his unequivocal support for same-sex marriage one day after Vice President Joe Biden suggested that he supported gay marriage as well.
Obama aides worked to manage any political fallout. They said the back-to-back remarks by two top administration officials represented personal viewpoints and were not part of a coordinated effort to lay groundwork for a shift in the president's position. Obama aides also tried to use the latest flare-up in the gay-marriage debate to shine a light on GOP rival Mitt Romney's history of equivocating on some gay-rights issues, an attempt to turn a potential political problem into an opportunity.

CIA foils new al-Qaida underwear bomb plot against US-bound aircraft

WASHINGTON - The Associated Press has learned the CIA thwarted a plot by al-Qaida's affiliate in Yemen to destroy a U.S.-bound airliner using a bomb with a new design around the one-year anniversary of the killing of Osama bin Laden.

Dog Food Salmonella Recall Expanded in US Canada

Diamond Pet Foods has expanded a recall of its dry dog food, taking precautionary steps after several of its brands were linked to an outbreak of a rare strain of salmonella poisoning that infected at least 14 people in nine states.
The company said it was now pulling a total of nine brands of its dry dog food from the shelves. In April, it began the recall by pulling three brands.
The salmonella cases were found in humans who may have had contact with dogs or dog foods prior to their illness.
The additional brands have been recalled as a precaution and none had tested positive for salmonella, according to a statement issued by the company on Saturday.

James Beard Awards

Compost, “crack” and something called cereal milk — unlikely ingredients that have propelled Christina Tosi to the head of her culinary class.
The protege and dessert maven of uber chef-of-the-moment David Chang was named rising star chef of the year on Monday by the James Beard Foundation, an honor earned largely by her knack for crafting unusual sweet treats — including soft serve ice cream made from milk flavored by breakfast cereal — and the almost fanatical following they have generated.
But garnering one of the so-called Oscars of the food world — one of more than 20 awarded Monday — didn’t change Tosi’s sense of the simplicity of what she does.

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Jessica Simpson

Hooray for new mom Jessica Simpson and the recently announced arrival of her bundle of joy, daughter Maxwell Drew Johnson. The birth announcement, which Simpson shared on her website, is the latest in a relatively long list of celebrity baby births that have caused quite the stir in the media. Does Maxwell Drew have what it takes to grace magazine covers and launch countless headlines? Only time will tell.
Here are five other celebrity babies that received royal treatment:
Suri Cruise:
Suri Cruise generates the kind of media coverage and public interest that most adult celebrities would kill for. Born on April 18, 2006, the blue-eyed, brown-haired beauty caused a media storm from the get-go. Do you remember that Brooke Shields also gave birth to a beautiful baby girl on that same day? Probably not. The photogenic little lass made her debut on the cover of Vanity Fair via a top-secret photo shoot with dad Tom Cruise and mom Katie Holmes, and she's been photographed ever since, from every public outing to every birthday.

Kellen Moore

Having been a fan of the University of Hawaii Warriors for a very long time, I've been able to see what it takes to be successful with overachievers, as many of Hawaii's prospects tend to be. They're solid and diligent players but maybe because of a giant ocean between them and the continental United States, not everyone is aware of the hard-working talent on the islands.
To a lesser extent but maybe more successfully, the Boise State Broncos are in the same situation. They've never been a part of a BCS conference and the only reason the football team was able to go to BCS bowls was because the Broncos seldom lost.

Tony Nominations 2012

Once," the musical based on the 2006 film of the same name, topped the nominees for the 2012 Tony Awards, announced Tuesday at the New York Public Library by Jim Parsons of "The Big Bang Theory" and Kristin Chenoweth of "GCB.
The musical (starring Steve Kazee and Cristin Milioti, left) received 11 nominations, while "The Gershwins'  Porgy and Bess" and "Nice Work If You Can Get It" each received ten.
Also read: From Ricky Martin to Angela Lansbury, Tony Nominations' Biggest Snubs
On the play side, Disney's "Peter and the Starcatcher" received nine nods, while the revival of "Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman" received seven.

May Day

Activists across the United States joined worldwide May Day protests on Tuesday, with Occupy Wall Street members in several cities leading demonstrations against financial institutions and immigrant rights activists calling attention to the plight of the undocumented.
In New York, police in riot gear lined the front of a Bank of America, facing several dozen Occupy activists marching behind barricades. "Bank of America. Bad for America!" they chanted.
About 50 demonstrators in Chicago rallied outside another of the bank's branches. They allowed patrons to go inside, but the doorway was eventually blocked by police who placed their bicycles end to end.

Alabama Urges no Delay in BP oil Spill Trial

A trial to assign blame and damages among BP Plc and others over the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill should not be delayed until after a hearing over a $7.8 billion settlement of private party claims, the state of Alabama said on Tuesday.
BP has asked U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier in New Orleans to delay any trial over the spill until after he holds a November 8 fairness hearing over the settlement of more than 125,000 economic, property and medical claims.
A trial on those claims, as well as on claims by the federal government and Gulf Coast states, was originally scheduled for February 27 before being put on indefinite hold.
But in a Tuesday court filing, Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange, who coordinates state interests with his Louisiana colleague James "Buddy" Caldwell, said BP's requested delay is unfair to Gulf Coast residents, and could cause any trial to be pushed back as late as 2015.

Osama bin Laden Death Anniversary

Many died on April 30th, but the world remembers them not. However, we reflect upon the death of Osama bin Laden, who is more notorious than famous, in many parts of the world.
American politics will never again be the same after 9/11, with Osama bin Laden's death as a landmark in the war against terrorism. This war is far from over, but we are encouraged when terror attacks and their plans are foiled
Osama bin Laden rallied his people for a cause, albeit unjustified. He may seem a hero to many. In light of all that he has done on earth, one must ask the sobering question, what is the end of Osama bin Laden?

Consumer Sentiment Little Changed in April

Consumer sentiment was little changed in April as Americans expected the economy to slowly improve, though they were less cheery about the state of their own finances, a survey released on Friday showed.
The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan's final reading on the overall index on consumer sentiment inched up to 76.4 from 76.2 in March.
The survey topped economists' forecasts for 75.7, which had been the preliminary figure reported in early April.
While recent developments in the overall economy were viewed as being somewhat less favorable, the outlook for the recovery still improved.
The gauge of consumer expectations rose to 72.3 from 69.8, while the component measuring the five-year outlook rose to 92 from 89.

Brandon Weeden

Brandon Weeden’s night went pretty much just the way he wanted.
He spent the first night of the NFL draft at home, hanging out with friends and otherwise trying to act normal on a day that had no hope of being normal.
Rather than putting on a suit and hanging out backstage — for who knows how long — at Radio City Music Hall, the former Oklahoma State quarterback decided to spend it at home in Edmond, Okla.
“I didn’t know where I might land or how it was going to shake out,” Weeden said, shortly after he was drafted. “You just hope you get an opportunity to play in the NFL. I’m finally going to get the opportunity to do that.”

Ann Romney Says She Had a Health

Ann Romney revealed for the first time she had a health "scare" during the days leading up to the Super Tuesday primary contests, indicating that her battle with multiple sclerosis could limit the time she spends on the trail with her husband.
"There have been some days, like the day before Super Tuesday, I was quite fatigued and I knew I couldn't quit. I didn't tell anybody I was tired," Romney told "Entertainment Tonight's" Nancy O'Dell, when asked how her multiple sclerosis diagnosis affects her time on the trail.

Heart Attack Grill

RoadFish.com men's lifestyle and finance magazine was fairly appalled to learn of the second diner in the span of two months collapsing during a meal at the Heart Attack Grill and being rushed to the hospital. RoadFish.com hopes that these back-to-back incidents will spark awareness in people to take good care of their health, and evaluate what they are putting into their bodies. RoadFish.com believes that you can't put a price tag on a healthy diet, and that good health, wealth, and happiness go hand in hand.
There is a sign at the Heart Attack Grill that issues the warning, "This Establishment is Bad for Your Health." Items on the menu include burgers with names such as the "Triple" and "Quadruple Bypass Burger," and lard-cooked "Flatliner French Fries." The quadruple bypass burger has even been named by the Guinness Book of World Records as the most caloric sandwich in the world, coming in at 10,000 calories for the 4-patty burger topped with layers of cheese and bacon.

Luke Askew

Big Love" actor Luke Askew died from lung cancer last month in his home in Oregon, according to news reports.
The actor, who also acted in "Cool Hand Luke" and "Easy Rider," turned 80 three days before his death, OregonLive.com reported.
While there is little information on the circumstances of Askew's lung cancer -- what kind of cancer he had, how long he had it or what complications ultimately caused his death -- age is known to be a risk factor for many cancers.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, lung cancer is the No. 1 cause of cancer-related death for men when they are age 40 or older. For women, lung cancer outpaces breast cancer to be the leading cancer-related cause of death once they hit age 60.

Jennifer Hudson

Chicago prosecutors created a buzz by calling Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson as their first witness during the trial of the man accused of killing her mother, brother and nephew. But the hard part starts Tuesday, when they'll have to get down to the nitty-gritty of their case.
With no surviving witnesses to the murders, prosecutors must offer overwhelming circumstantial evidence that William Balfour, the ex-husband of Hudson's sister, committed the grisly crime on Oct. 24, 2008. They are expected to introduce evidence in the next few days that includes cellphone records and security-camera footage that place Balfour in the area of the killings, since he denies he was there.

Obama’s student Loan Push Helps him Court Crucial Young Voters

President Barack Obama escapes the stuffy confines of Washington on Tuesday, traveling on a two-day swing through major universities in the electoral battlegrounds of North Carolina, Colorado and Iowa. His mission: to push Congress to keep a lid on student loan costs—and reconnect with young voters who powered his historic 2008 campaign.
The campaign-style trip includes Obama's first appearance on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon," in a segment taped Tuesday afternoon at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
At the policy level, Obama will champion legislation to keep interest rates on some popular student loans from doubling—from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent—which would tack on roughly another $1,000 each year in costs over the life of those loans, Education Secretary Arne Duncan said at the White House on Friday.

Giuliana and Bill Rancic are Expecting a Baby

The child will be born later this summer via a gestational surrogate, meaning the baby will be genetically theirs but carried by another woman.
E! News first reported the news that they are expecting.
Last fall, 37-year-old Giuliana announced she had breast cancer and later underwent a double mastectomy. She did not need chemotherapy.
Giuliana is the host of E! News. Bill is a 40-year-old entrepreneur and motivational speaker who won the first season of Donald Trump's

US-Afghanistan Finalize Strategic Pact

The U.S. and Afghanistan reached a deal Sunday on a long-delayed strategic partnership agreement that ensures Americans will provide military and financial support to the Afghan people for at least a decade beyond 2014, the deadline for most foreign forces to withdraw.
The pact is key to the U.S. exit strategy in Afghanistan because it establishes guidelines for any American forces who remain after the withdrawal deadline and for financial help to the impoverished country and its security forces.
For the Afghan government, it is also a way to show its people that their U.S. allies are not just walking away.
"Our goal is an enduring partnership with Afghanistan that strengthens Afghan sovereignty, stability and prosperity and that contributes to our shared goal of defeating al-Qaida and its extremist affiliates," said U.S. Embassy spokesman Gavin Sundwall. "We believe this agreement supports that goal."
After 10 years of U.S.-led war, insurgents linked to the Taliban and al-Qaida remain a threat and as recently as a week ago launched a large-scale attack on the capital Kabul and three other cities.

Swiss Unveil Mind-Controlled Robot

Swiss scientists have demonstrated how a partially paralyzed person can control a robot using brain signals alone. The demonstration on Apr. 24 involved a partially tetraplegic patient at a hospital in the southern Swiss town of Sion who imagined lifting his fingers to direct a robot at the university 100 kilometers (62 miles) away.
A spectator moves out of the way as Mark-Andre Duc, seen on the computer screen, directs a robot at Switzerland's Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, Switzerland, Tuesday, April 24, 2012.

Key Witness to Testify Against Former Senator Edwards

The campaign aide who wrote a tell-all book about efforts to keep former Senator John Edwards' extramarital affair concealed during his 2008 presidential bid was expected to return to the stand Tuesday to testify against his former boss.
Andrew Young is the federal government's key witness in the criminal campaign finance case against Edwards, who failed to capture the Democratic presidential nomination. The former aide, who began testifying on Monday, was granted immunity.
Edwards, a two-time presidential hopeful who was the Democrats' vice presidential nominee in 2004, saw his star fall amid revelations that he cheated on his cancer-stricken wife and impregnated his mistress during the 2008 campaign.
He faces possible prison time if convicted of federal election law violations, including charges of conspiracy, accepting illegal campaign contributions and making false statements.

Nfl Draft 2012

For every blockbuster draft day trade like the 2011 deal between the Falcons and Browns that resulted in Atlanta’s acquisition of wide receiver Julio Jones in exchange for five draft picks, there are countless other transactions that fly below the radar.
Take for example the 2010 trade in which the Patriots sent the 44th and 190th selections to the Raiders for Oakland’s pick at No. 42. This move drew very little interest because at its core, it really only involved a sixth-round pick in exchange for the right to move up two spots. Small potatoes, right?
If not for some quick thinking on the part of New England, Gronkowski could be a member of the Ravens right now.
Wrong.

Elie Wiesel: Why is Assad still in power?

In a speech introducing U.S. President Barack Obama today, Nobel Peace Laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel called on the world to learn the lessons of the Holocaust and prevent Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from committing atrocities against civilians.
At a ceremony at Washington's Holocaust museum, Wiesel compared Assad and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the villains who perpetrated the murder of millions of innocent civilians during World War II and asked why America and the international community didn't do more to stop the bloodshed. He then compared the world's inaction then to its failure to stop Assad and Ahmadinejad now.

Mothers Day

This Mother's Day, Massage Envy in New Jersey and New York have the perfect gift for moms. Now, guests can purchase a 3-month Gift Membership for the One Great Mom in their life, which gives them the gift of monthly massages and/or facials, retail discounts, earned rewards, family add on specials and more.
With the 3-month Gift Membership moms can receive customized massage therapy in New Jersey, New York. All massage therapists at Massage Envy are licensed and are professionally trained to perform various modalities of massage therapy from pre-natal to Swedish massage in New Jersey, New York.

Al Qaeda Challenges with Lone Wolf tactics: Canada

TAWA (Reuters) - Al Qaeda's new focus on "lone wolf" tactics is making it tough for Western intelligence agencies to prevent terror attacks, the head of Canada's spy service said on Monday.
In a rare admission that al Qaeda's switch to "individual jihad" was posing problems, the head of Canada's spy service said lone wolves are tough to detect because they do not belong to a larger network that might attract attention.
"When you have an individual who doesn't talk to anyone, you either need good luck - which happens sometimes - or for them to make a little mistake here and there," Richard Fadden, head of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, told the Canadian Senate's anti-terrorism committee.
He said al Qaeda had decided to urge solo campaigns because it was too difficult to launch major operations such as the 9/11 terror attacks in the United States.

Nearly 60 Killed in Syria Despite Ceasefire

Nearly 60 people were reported killed in violence across Syria on Monday despite a hard-won ceasefire  and the upcoming deployment of 300 UN observers to monitor the truce, a watchdog said.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Tuesday a total 54 civilians and five soldiers were killed in various provinces.
Thirty-one of the civilians died in a government assault on the Arbaeen neighbourhood in the central city of Hama and 13 others, including women and children, died blast in the village of Jarjanaz, in northwest Idlib province.
Video posted online by activists showed a street in Arbaeen with large pools of blood and women weeping. Two young girls are shown in one video crying and holding the picture of a man.