The News Of …

Coastal communities across east Asia were on alert for a possible tsunami in the wake of the major earthquake that struck Japan on Friday, with evacuations ordered in some parts of Taiwan, the Philippines and the Russian Far East.
In a bulletin at 8.30 am GMT, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii said a widespread warning of potential wave damage was in effect from Russia to New Zealand, including many small Pacific island countries such as Tonga and Samoa.
The warning also extended to the west coast of the Americas, with countries from Mexico to Chile said by the US-funded centre to be at risk of potential ‘widespread damage’.
The first television pictures of the effects of the tsunami in Taiwan just before 10am GMT showed choppy waves rather than a wall of water. However, the warning centre said that tsunamis might consist of a series of waves that could batter coastlines for several hours, with the biggest waves possibly arriving some time after the first.
Indonesia, which had the coastline of its Aceh region devastated by a huge Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, was braced for waves up to two metres high. Eastern provinces including Papua and the neighbouring independent state of Papua New Guinea were thought to be at most risk.
In Jakarta, citizens crowded around television screens to watch footage of events in Japan, many recalling the events of 2004, when more than 160.000 people died in Indonesia after a 9,1-magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of Sumatra.

Road destroyed by Japan quake.

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Carlos Slim Helú (the world’s wealthiest man) saw his fortune jump $20,5 billion last year as he beat a record 1.209 rival billionaires, including Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and British resident Lakshmi Mittal, to the top of the Forbes global rich list.
The Mexican telecoms tycoon, topped the list for a second year with an estimated $74 billion.
Microsoft founder Mister Gates, who has given away more than a third of his wealth to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, was second with $56 billion.
“He would have a comfortable margin if he had never discovered philanthropy” – David Lincoln, director of global valuations at wealth research firm Wealth-X, told Reuters. “It wouldn’t be a competition.”
Berkshire Hathaway investment guru Mister Buffett was third with $50 billion.
The number of billionaires in the UK has increased to 32 with the Duke of Westminster, Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, again named the country’s richest man.

Carlos Slim Helu.

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Alice In Chains guitarist Mike Starr has been found dead at his home in Salt Lake City.
Starr, who was 44, played with the American rock band from its formation in 1987 until 1993, performing on multi-platinum albums “Facelift” and “Dirt”, which spawned hit songs like “Man In the Box”, “Would?” and “Rooster”.
The guitarist, who led a life marred by drug addiction, left the group in the early 90s due to his struggle with heroin addiction, and he appeared on the third season of VH1′s “Celebrity Rehab” in 2010.
He was arrested last month for illegal possession of prescription drugs.
The cause of death was not immediately known.

Mike Starr.

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Troubled TV star Charlie Sheen has been fired from US TV sitcom Two and a Half Men.
In a statement released on Monday, Warner Bros confirmed that after ‘careful consideration’ they had decided to ‘terminate’ the star’s services, ‘effective immediately’.
For many, Charlie’s sacking from the show was an inevitable next step in light of his recent erratic behaviour.
But it has left the future of the CBS series in doubt: a source close to the show has said no decision has been made whether to continue with a new lead or cancel all together.
The actor has reacted by calling his firing ‘very good news’, adding that he intended to sue.
His lawyer Marty Singer labelled the termination an ‘absurd and ridiculous’ retaliation against Charlie for his public criticism of the show’s co-creator Chuck Lorre.
“We feel this is nothing more than Lorre flexing his muscles” – he said. “And we intend to act accordingly.”

Two and a Half Men.

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David Cassidy became the first cast sent home on the new season of ‘The Celebrity Apprentice’ because his biggest contribution was a 1,000 dollars piece of pizza bought by his daughter Katie Cassidy. The first task from Donald Trump was to run a pizzeria and sell as many slices as possible for charity.
Richard Hatch of ‘Survivor’ fame stepped up as the first Project Manager to the men’s team which is named Backbone. Star Jones took the lead in the women team, called ASAP. Cassidy immediately got in Hatch’s way when he fed Hatch with suggestions while the project leader gave out orders to the team. “David, be quiet for one second” – Hatch snapped.
While Lil Jon and John Rich pulled big money for the team, Cassidy failed to contribute much, leading to the team’s loss. Team Backbone raised just over 54,000 dollars while ASAP managed to rake in more than 115,000 dollars in donations.
Trump thought Cassidy was having a hard time and fired him. After the boardroom, Cassidy said: “Richard Hatch is disrespectful. I probably could have punched him but that’s not my style.”

Celebrity Apprentice.

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Before filling out the March Madness brackets, the conference tournaments have to get underway. There may not be any conference in college basketball that is as talented as the Big East. When championship week gets underway, the Big East tournament will take center stage.
1 – The Big East has the potential to send 11 teams to the NCAA tournament, and many of those teams have a chance to win the national championship.
2 – The Big East tournament will provide plenty of excitement and close games.
3 – The Big East is up for grabs this year, and any team could surprise and go deep into the tournament.
4 – West Virginia won the tournament a year ago, but it was interesting to note that the team they played was Georgetown, who was an eight seed in the tournament. In fact, the finals did not include the top two seeds in the tournament, which is a sign of how competitive this tournament has become.
Before predicting a winner, it is important to review the teams in the field.

Big East Tournament.

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It’s Mardi Gras time again. With New Orleans events already having begun, and reports of a larger-than-normal crowd ready to rock the Big Easy, Surge Desk decided it was time to get into Carnival mode.
Not versed in the world of Mardi Gras? Surge Desk has you covered on the history and meaning of the big event.
Traced back to its Pagan roots, Mardi Gras most likely sprang out of the pre-Christian celebration known as Lupercalia. As Christianity rose in ancient Rome, the early holiday was incorporated into the fledgling religion as a way to gain converts.
While Mardi Gras celebrations can last from the period between the Epiphany and Ash Wednesday, the official day falls on the last Tuesday before the beginning of Lent. This year – Mardi Gras is next Tuesday.
The holiday is something of a binge-and-purge ritual. In anticipation of fasting that accompanies Lent – Mardi Gras adherents go all out on Fat Tuesday, eating, drinking and generally having as good a time as is humanly possible before giving up such pleasures.
Catholics in countries across Europe, the Caribbean, South and Central America as well as in select North American cities revel in the Mardi Gras festivities, with each culture shaping the celebration in a unique way. Known as Carnival in several countries, parades, parties and all-around displays of excess can be found on the days leading up to Ash Wednesday.

Mardi Gras 2011.

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Memphis’ 35th annual multi-stage festival takes place April 29 through May 1 at the 25-acre Tom Lee Park overlooking the Mississippi River.
Three-day passes are on sale now through April 18 for 69 dollars plus applicable fees. After April 18 fans will have to purchase three individual single-day tickets in order to attend all three days of the festival.
Single-day tickets are on sale now through April 28 for 30 dollars each plus applicable fees.
A VIP experience pack is available for 550 dollars with perks including complimentary snacks, water and soft drinks; five free alcoholic beverages per day; private restrooms at outdoor stages; and access to raised and covered viewing platforms at the three outdoor stages.
The festival is part of Memphis In May, which also includes a world championship barbecue contest (May 12-14) and a performance from the Sunset Symphony (May 28).

Beale Street Music Festival.

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Wednesday that the agency’s wildlife biologists have concluded the eastern mountain lion is extinct. But local believers said the declaration is contradicted by dozens of reported local sightings.
According to Meagan Racey of the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Northeast Regional Office in Hadley, the declaration comes after the release of the results of a five-year review of the eastern mountain lion conducted by the region’s wildlife biologists. Racey said the report showed that there are no longer wild populations of the mountain lion subspecies.
Mark McCollough (the main biologist who conducted the review) said it was with some sadness that he drew his conclusions about the cats. “It’s not easy for an endangered species biologist to admit that we’ve lost a species, but we have to conclude where science takes us” – he said Wednesday by phone from the Fish and Wildlife Field Office in Orono, Maine.

Eastern cougar.

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The top 12 male contestants on ‘American Idol’ gave solo performances Tuesday night to impress Season 10′s panel of new judges – as well as a new crowd of potential online voters.
Fox’s reality singing show has partnered with social networking giant Facebook to give fans the chance to vote for their favorites on the web.
According to the ‘American Idol’ website, fans with a valid Facebook account can login and cast as many 50 single votes online. Fans can still also vote via text message or the more traditional phone call.
The top 12 boys came out in full force to snatch up the online votes. Contestant Casey Abrams was the last to hit the stage after a hospital stint this week for severe stomach pain. Bloggers praised his rendition of “Put a Spell on You” but also rated Jacob Lusk and James Durbin near the front of the pack.
“There was something highly entertaining about Casey’s passion” – said TV Squad blogger, Hilary Rothing. “Randy wants ‘more, more, more’ of Casey and I suspect America will too.”

American Idol logo.

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