Pope To Preside Over First Good Friday

Pope Francis was to preside over his first Good Friday after washing the feet of 12 young prisoners, updating an ancient Easter ritual as part of his efforts to bring the Catholic Church closer to the needy.

The new pontiff is due to recite the Passion of Christ -- the story of the last hours of Jesus's life -- in St Peter's Basilica on Friday, before leading the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) ceremony by the Colosseum, where thousands of Christians are believed to have been killed in Roman times.

Francis, whose first days as pope have set a markedly different tone from his predecessor Benedict XVI, is expected to take part in the procession and even carry the wooden cross on his shoulder part of the way.

A photo made available by Osservatore Romano showing Pope Francis wiping dry the foot of a young offender during a mass celebrating The Last Supper of Christ in which he washed the feet of prisoners at the "Casal del Marmo" institute for young offenders 28 March 2013

Last year a frail Benedict, now 85, oversaw celebrations from under a canopy next to the Colosseum.

The new pope also held an unprecedented ceremony to mark Holy Thursday, washing and kissing inmates' feet at a prison in Rome -- the first time a pontiff had performed the ritual in a prison, and the first time it included women and Muslims.

"Whoever is the most high up must be at the service of others," said Francis, 76, at the mass in the Casal del Marmo youth prison, a fortnight after being elected Latin America's first pope.

"I do this with all my heart because it is my duty as a priest, as a bishop. I have to be at your service."

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said many of the participants broke down in tears at the ceremony, which was open only to Vatican media.

Iran, North Korea, Syria Block UN Arms Trade Treaty

 In a major blow to the international community, Iran, North Korea and Syria blocked the UN treaty to regulate $ 70 billion global arms trade for the first time.

Reports said Friday that three countries have opposed UN treaty, saying that it can not ban the sale of terrorists. However, other countries have refused to allow the UN treaty die.

The adoption contract requires the consent of all 193 UN member states, but some countries have indicated that they would request the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to bring the final draft to the General Assembly for adoption as soon as possible.

Observers say that the final draft of the treaty on the arms trade in the world can be made on Tuesday.

"This is not a failure," the British ambassador said Joe Adamson. "Today is deferred and reported success in not very long," he added.

For over ten years, activists and some governments insist on international rules governing the estimated U.S. $ 60 billion global arms trade and try to keep illegal guns out of the hands of terrorists, rebel fighters and organized crime.

After two weeks of intense negotiations, many delegates were optimistic that a consensus was at hand, but Iran, North Korea and Syria announced that they could not support the agreement.

Iran and North Korea arms embargo the UN's nuclear program, while Syria is the third year of a conflict that escalated into a civil war.

Amnesty International said that the three countries "horrible human rights -. Having even use weapons against its own citizens"

This was the second attempt in eight months for countries with very different interests behind the arms trade treaty.

Hope to reach an agreement in July were dashed when the United States has said it needed more time to consider the draft treaty - fast motion supported by Russia and China. In December, the General Assembly decided to convene a conference of the final set Thursday as the deadline.

"Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon believes that an Arms Trade Treaty needs to happen, and welcomes the general desire to get there as soon as possible," spokesman Martin Nesirky said the UN.

Deputy U.S. Representative Dan Mahley said Washington supported the agreement is "fair and balanced" and looks forward to its rapid adoption by the General Assembly.

The Secretary-General did not immediately respond to the request, but expressed deep disappointment at the failure to agree on the text of the treaty.

North Korea Puts Rockets on Standby for US Strike

 North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un ordered preparations Friday for strategic rocket strikes on the US mainland and military bases after US stealth bombers flew training runs over South Korea.

The order came as US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, with tensions soaring on the Korean peninsula, said Washington would not be cowed by Pyongyang's bellicose threats and stood ready to respond to "any eventuality".

Kim directed his rocket units on standby at an overnight emergency meeting with top army commanders, hours after nuclear-capable US B-2 stealth bombers were deployed in ongoing US joint military drills with South Korea.

In the event of any "reckless" US provocation, North Korean forces should "mercilessly strike the US mainland... military bases in the Pacific, including Hawaii and Guam, and those in South Korea", he was quoted as saying by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

While North Korea has no proven ability to conduct such strikes, Kim argued that the stealth bomber flights went beyond a simple demonstration of force and amounted to a US "ultimatum that they will ignite a nuclear war at any cost".

The United States rarely acknowledges B-2 flights to the Korean peninsula, which remains technically at war. The aircraft, which dodge anti-aircraft defences, bombed targets in conflicts in Serbia, Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya.

The flights came as part of annual drills between the United States and South Korea, which North Korea each year denounces as rehearsals for war.

Pyongyang has been particularly vocal this time, angered by UN sanctions imposed after its long-range rocket launch in December and the third nuclear test it carried out last month.

Kim's order formalised steps already taken by the Korean People's Army (KPA), which put its strategic rocket units at combat-ready status on Tuesday.The following day it cut the last remaining military hotline with South Korea.

The bulk of the threats emanating from Pyongyang have been dismissed as bluster, and North Korea has no confirmed missile capability to reach the US mainland -- or indeed Guam or Hawaii in the Pacific.

But Washington has opted to match the threats with its own muscle-flexing.

"We will be prepared -- we have to be prepared -- to deal with any eventuality," Hagel told reporters at the Pentagon.

"We must make clear that these provocations by the North are taken by us very seriously and we'll respond to that," Hagel said, defending the B-2 deployment.

US military intelligence has noted that the North's warlike rhetoric has not, so far, been matched by any overtly provocative troop movements or build-up.

Pyongyang has also been careful not to allow tensions to affect the Kaesong industrial complex, a joint South-North venture that provides the regime with crucial hard currency.

Present at the emergency meeting convened by Kim in Pyongyang, were the KPA chief of general staff, director of operations and commander of strategic rocket operations.

KCNA, which rarely even mentions which day events have taken place, provided an unusually precise timing for the meeting of 00:30 am (1530 GMT Thursday) in an apparent effort to underline the urgency and import of Kim's order.

But analysts warned against reading too much into what is the latest in a long series of incremental rhetorical upgrades.

"It shouldn't be taken to mean war is imminent," said Kim Yong-Hyun, a North Korea expert at Dongguk University.

"It's an inevitable and calibrated reaction to the B-2 deployment, and this who-blinks-first game with the United States will continue for a while yet," he said.

On the assumption that the North would never invite a full-scale conflict it would surely lose, experts believe it may opt for a limited provocation, similar to its 2010 shelling of a South Korean island that killed four people.

However, the stakes have been raised by a new pact South Korea signed with the US military last week, allowing it to call on US forces for a joint response to even a low-scale act of aggression.

Council Approves UN "Offensive" Peacekeepers in DR Congo

 The Security Council unanimously approved on Thursday the first "offensive" team peacekeeping force of the United Nations rebel groups fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Resolution of the Board gave the power of orders of more than 2,500 soldiers to "neutralize" and "disarm" armed groups in resource-rich countries huge, which was torn by conflict for more than two decades.

Intervention teams and drones to monitor the border with DR Congo's neighbors accused of supporting the rebels to work in July, according to the UN.

UN forces begin peacekeeping operations in a new era, said the diplomat, who negotiated its preparation.

The mandate of the authorization to conduct offensive operations, "target" has never been given a mission of peace before, diplomats said.

Brigade and drones are part of a new UN campaign to end the conflict in the border regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, and Uganda. Eleven African countries have signed the UN last month not to interfere in the affairs of its neighbors.

Rwanda, a temporary member of the Security Council in Africa, joined the other 14 members voted for the resolution.

Harry Potter Actor Richard Griffiths Dies at Age 65

 British actor Richard Griffiths, best known for her roles as Uncle Harry Potter and the cult film "Withnail and I," has died at age 65, his agent said Friday.

Portly star of stage and screen, one of the best British actors around the character, died Thursday of complications from heart surgery, said Simon Beresford.

Griffiths will always be remembered as Uncle Monty's cult film "Withnail & I", but it reached its largest audience that Uncle Vernon Dursley in the Harry Potter series.

Daniel Radcliffe, who plays the boy wizard in the hit Potter gave tribute to the man, he said that he was offered a "promotion, care and humor."

The two men worked together in the Harry Potter films, and later in the game Equus.

"Any room he entered was made twice funny and twice as smart as his presence. I am proud to say that I know," Radcliffe said in a statement.

Griffiths was born on July 31, 1947 in Yorkshire in northern England, the son of steelworker. His parents were both deaf, and he had to learn sign language at an early age.

He left school at age 15, but later returned to education to study drama, before joining the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Early film credits include "Chariots of Fire," "The French Lieutenant's Woman" and "Gandhi", before he landed a starring role in the 1987 comedy "Withnail & I".

Griffiths played Uncle gay predators Withnail, outside of work, alcoholic actor played by Richard E. Grant in the film is now considered a classic British.

Grant said in a message on Twitter: "My beloved Uncle Monty Richard Griffiths died last night Chin-Chin dear friend.".

Nicholas Hytner, Director of the National Theatre in London, which led Griffith in one of his most successful scenes, "The History Boys", said that "the life of all parties."

He recalled the stories that "could last for hours, seemingly without purpose, always cheerful. Only way to stop them, to tell him that you are gone."

Griffiths received a Tony Award and Olivier Award for her role as teacher inspiration in The History Boys, and was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Actor for the film version.

"Her performance in The History Boys was quite impressive: a masterpiece of mind, weakness, evil and desolation, often at the same time," said Hytner.

As an actor, Griffiths demanded his full attention of his audience, after stopping twice to order the people of the theater after the show rings.

He also had a successful career as television, starring as the leader of a crime solving series "Pie In The Sky" in 1990, and he received an OBE for services to drama in 2007.

Griffiths last year, playing alongside Danny DeVito in the Sunshine Boys in London and will reprise the role of Los Angeles in September.

In a statement, Beresford said that his client had "brightened my day and enriched life with whom he came in contact with."

"Richard did a good deed name. It was a wonderful person and one of our greatest and most beloved actors. He will be sorely missed," the agent said.

The Largest Creature in The World, Followed by The Singing

A group led by Australian scientists have for the first time tracked and recorded Antarctic blue whales using acoustic technology to track the songs, the government said Wednesday.

The blue whale, the largest animal on the planet, rarely identified in the Southern Ocean, but a group of brave researchers have found, and to note some mammals after removing their voices deep and complex.

Environment Minister Tony Burke said the researchers, who spent seven weeks working on small boats in frosty Antarctica have been fascinated by the remarkable behavior of the whales they saw.

"Antarctic blue whales can reach more than 30 meters in length and weigh up to 180 tons, the language only heavier elephant and his heart is as big as a small car," said Burke.

"Even the largest dinosaurs were smaller than the blue whale."

Scientists have collected 23 samples of biopsy and joint satellite beacons for the two pillars.

"Transferred lighthouses still obtained data on the longitudinal fast movements during their summer feeding and feeding behavior in relation to the edge of the ice in Antarctica," Tagger Virginia Andrews-Goff said.

"This method of studying blue whales in the Antarctic has been such a success that it will become a model for other whale researchers throughout the world."

The first flight in the Southern Ocean Whale Antarctic blue project involves the deployment of buoys western Ross Sea, to take singing blue whales, which can be found on hundreds of kilometers (miles).

They recorded 626 hours of songs, with 26,545 calls in the Antarctic blue whales are analyzed in real time, said lead acoustician Brian Miller.

"The researchers were then able to position triangulation whale vocalizations and steer the ship to the target area," he said.

Burke said that studies have shown that it was not necessary to kill whales for scientific research linked to hunt whales in Japan every year in the Antarctic, which is held in the name of scientific research.

"Antarctic blue whales narrowly escaped extinction during the whaling industry in the 1900s, where nearly 340,000 whales were killed," Burke said in a statement.

"This study confirms the commitment of Australia's non-lethal whale research."

Former South African President Nelson Mandela has Been Readmitted to Hospital

Former South African president Nelson Mandela has been readmitted to hospital with a recurrent lung infection, the presidency said Thursday, urging people to pray for the anti-apartheid hero.

The 94-year-old was hospitalised "due to the recurrence of his lung infection" just before midnight on Wednesday, President Jacob Zuma's office said in a statement.

It is the second time this month that the Nobel peace laureate has spent the night in hospital and follows a nearly three-week stay in December for the lung infection and for surgery to extract gallstones.

Earlier this month, he spent a night in hospital for a "scheduled medical checkup".

"Doctors are attending to him, ensuring that he has the best possible expert medical treatment and comfort," said the presidency.

Zuma wished "Madiba", as South Africa's first black president is fondly known at home, a quick recovery.

"We appeal to the people of South Africa and the world to pray for our beloved Madiba and his family and to keep them in their thoughts," he said.

"We have full confidence in the medical team and know that they will do everything possible to ensure recovery."

The name or location of the hospital where Mandela is staying was not disclosed.

'The Croods' Catches Fire With The $ 44.7 Million Opening

The caveman comedy ``The Croods'' left an indelible mark on the wall, opening at No. 1 with an estimated $44.7 million.

3-D adventure from DreamWorks Animation and 20th Century Fox has a voice cast including Nicolas Cage, Catherine Keener and Emma Stone. They are a family of prehistoric Collision and strange new creatures, when they are forced to find a new cave.

Opening solidly in second place with $ 30.5 million were `` Olympus fell,'' fighter from the first day of training ``'' director Antoine Fuqua, in which terrorists take over North Korea's White House. Gerard Butler, a secret service agent, leads all-star cast that includes Aaron Eckhart, as president, Morgan Freeman, and Angela Bassett.

`` Croods'' made $ 108 million worldwide, and also to open this weekend in Russia, the UK, Germany and Spain. The United States is the only game in town, as far as animated films for the whole family, and will continue to drive children to school during a break in the next two weeks.

`` It's a big crowd pleaser, he received CinemaScore, and + the audience of 18, which leads me to believe that many kids love movies,'' said Anne Globe, director of marketing for DreamWorks Animation.

Chris Aronson, president of domestic distribution for 20th Century Fox, said, ``'' Croods had a strong opening to $ 40 million studio expected.

`` To enter the bar $ 45 million, ahead of 'How to Train Your Dragon, "which is another fantastic film from DreamWorks Animation, is an excellent starting point for spring break,'' Aronson said.

`` Olympus fell'' also opened above expectations __ much higher because FilmDistrict thought it would end somewhere in the range of sub-$ 20 million, said President Jim Orr distribution.

At the moment it is the largest debut for an independent distributor, which was established in September 2010, the previous best of $ 14.3 million in `` Red Dawn'' remake last year on Thanksgiving weekend holiday weekend.

`` Antoine Fuqua and Millennium Films delivered a brilliant, futuristic thriller with serious all-star cast led by Gerard Butler, and word of mouth, it seems terrible,'' said Mr. Orr.

`` He is not only exceeded our preliminary estimates of the weekend, because the weekend is over, it gets better.

This is the first thriller once in a while, I got-CinemaScore, it is obvious that people talk about and enjoy.''

This double blow Croods ``'' and `` _'' Olympus two films that appealed to two very different audiences _ was much needed on hand, and it is 13 percent compared to the same period last year, said Paul Dergarabedian, box office analyst at Hollywood.com.

`` I was really surprised 'Olympus. This year, the militants have been R-rated all fell,'' said Dergarabedian, including `` The Last Stand'' and `` Parker.'' `'Marketing was good. _ Gerard Butler is the real deal, it looks from the outside, and all. And the theme of the film, the fact that the president is under siege _ `he worked on Air Force One.

There is something about it that works for the public.'' But this weekend's letters, 34 percent from the same weekend a year ago, when the ice rink playing `` Hunger'' debuted.

He jumped up $ 152.5 million in the opening, which is greater than all the films in cinemas in combination do this weekend.

Among other new movies this weekend, Tina Fey-Paul Rudd comedy `` College'' Features focus opened in fifth place with only $ 6.4 million.

But on spring break buzzed-about films `` A24'', starring Selena Gomez and Vanessa Hudgens, as the hard partying students succeeded in their first national expansion. He made $ 5 million on 1104 screens for a total of $ 5.4 million over the past two weeks.

Nothing really huge on the horizon to give the cash to increase to Iron Man 3'' `` starts summer movie season May 3 Dergarabedian said. But good results for Olympus fell'' `` may bode well for the future of `` GI Joe: Retaliation'' next weekend.

Estimated revenue from Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com.


Where available, latest international numbers are included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. ``The Croods,'' $44.7 million.

2. ``Olympus Has Fallen,'' $30.5 million.

3. ``Oz the Great and Powerful,'' $22 million.

4. ``The Call,'' $8.7 million.

5. ``Admission,'' $6.4 million.

6. ``Spring Breakers,'' $5 million.

7. ``The Incredible Burt Wonderstone,'' $4.3 million.

8. ``Jack the Giant Slayer,'' $3 million.

9. ``Identity Thief,'' $2.5 million.

10. ``Snitch,'' $1.9 million.

Bollywood Actor Sanjay Dutt Return To Jail

Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt broke down in tears on Thursday as he announced he was abandoning his battle to avoid being sent back to jail for buying weapons from Mumbai gangsters.

Supporters had been urging Dutt to apply for a pardon after India's Supreme Court last week sentenced him to five years for buying firearms from mafia bosses who orchestrated a series of bombings in 1993 which killed 257 people.

But in an emotional press conference, flanked by family members, Dutt said he would accept his fate and surrender to prison authorities before a deadline expires in three weeks' time.

"I will surrender...the court has given me time," Dutt told reporters.

"With folded hands, I want to tell the media and the citizens of the country that when I have not applied for pardon, there is no debate," Dutt said, while repeatedly breaking down.

"Let me be in peace till I go ... I have lots of work to complete," he added.

He then hugged his sister and politician Priya Dutt, refusing to answer media queries.

Messages of sympathy and solidarity have poured in for the star since last week's verdict, with several high profile figures calling for the state governor to intervene and reduce Dutt's term on "humanitarian grounds".

The 53-year-old has already spent 18 months behind bars after his conviction by a lower court but he was released on bail in 2007 pending an appeal, which was struck down by the court last Thursday.

Dutt, whose mother was Muslim and father Hindu, has admitted to buying the weapons but insisted they were only meant to protect his family during communal riots in 1993 following the destruction of the Babri mosque.

The actor shot to fame in the mid-1980s in a string of action movies in which he performed his own stunts, earning him the nickname "Deadly Dutt".

He is best known for playing a mobster with a heart of gold in the popular "Munnabhai" series.

The Bollywood Star Sanjay Dut Behind Bar For Another Three And a Half Year, Over 1993 Mumbai Bombings

 A top Indian court has directed the top Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt aka ‘Sanju baba’ to return behind the bars for a further three and a half years, in account of 1993 Mumbai serial bombings, not only stunning Indian big screen but also thousands of Sanju Baba’s lovers.

Sanjay, who is the most high-profile of the 100 men and women who were convicted for the 1993 Mumbai bombings, is also in shock because of the recent decision by the India’s Supreme Court.

The bombings on 12 March 1993 were engineered by an Indian silver smuggler and gangster, Mushtaq  Memon aka “Tiger”, widely seen as revenge for the destruction of the Mughal-era historic Babari Mosque three months back in the hands of Hindu fanatics.

At that time the rumors were there that the real mastermind behind the attacks was said to be Mumbai’s underworld don ‘Daud Ibrahim.’

At the time, the bombings were the worst terrorist attack the world had seen, with 13 bombs set off over a two-hour period across Mumbai that resulted into a life loss of 257 besides injuring 713.

Indian super star ‘Sanju Baba’ had been out on parole since 2007, when he appealed against the original sentence by a lower court of six years imprisonment for possessing illegal weapons including Kalashnikov and a 9 mm pistol.

Sanjay’s defense was that he knew nothing about the bomb plot and that he asked for the guns to protect his family after receiving threats during sectarian riots in Mumbai.

The Supreme Court reduced the sentence for Dutt on Thursday to five years. Having already spent 18 months in jail, he will serve only the remainder of his sentence.

He has been asked to surrender to prison authorities in a month.

During the drawn-out trial in a special anti-terrorism court, which finally led to the sentencing of 100 men and women in 2007, there were accusations that Dutt was getting preferential treatment thanks to his high-profile status and his political connections.

After the trial court sentenced him in 2007, Dutt went to the Supreme Court and secured bail, since when he has re-established his successful film career, especially with the hit Munnabhai film trilogy.

We Conservatives Are An Army of Ants

A tireless, unstoppable group of individuals that work as a team.
Ants lift and carry above their own body weight. Ants work as a team to achieve phenomenal things.

One helps the other. What one ant misses another ant picks up. An Army of Ants is capable of amazing things.
I can’t, by myself, force this movement forward. But me and my little ant buddies can move mountains.
We’re ants! And we’re here to ruin your liberal picnic! You can’t stop us.

Squish ants and you get more….
Ants.
I'm happy to be an ant.

CNN Debate Format Effectively Squelched Any Chance For Statesmanship

 In this sound bite world of text messages, 140 character or less tweets, and short attention spans, political statesmanship may become a lost art. This week CNN produced a presidential debate that discouraged eloquence and elaboration. The 30 second time limited response more closely resembled a speed dating session. It was hard to tell if John King was suffering from Tourette’s, ADHD or both.

This format was designed to stifle the impact of the candidates and prevent true statesmanship from blossoming. By limiting and minimizing their responses, CNN effectively neutered the Republican hopefuls.

Watch this version of Patrick Henry’s famous oration by actor Dean Jones. It is a fairly brief and extremely remarkable speech of just under 3 minutes but just imagine how unremarkable it would have been had John King been there to grunt him to a halt at the 30 second mark.

Tiger Woods 924 Day PGA Tournament Drought Over. U. S. Citizens 1082 Day Drought Without a National Budget? Not so Much

 Today marks the first day since Tiger Wood’s world came unravelled in scandal and shame that he’s won a PGA Tour event. He just won the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

That’s his first PGA Tour victory since September 13, 2009.
It was 157 days before Tiger’s last victory that the the Democratically controlled United States Senate, also riddled with scandal and shame, passed a budget. April 9, 2009.
Congratulations to Tiger and shame on the Democrats.

Hundreds of Dinosaur Egg Fossils Found

Researchers in northeastern Spain say they've uncovered hundreds of dinosaur egg fossils, including four kinds that had never been found before in the region. The eggs likely were left behind by sauropods millions of years ago.

Eggs, eggshell fragments and dozens of clutches were nestled in the stratigraphic layers of the Tremp geological formation at the site of Coll de Nargó in the Spanish province of Lleida, which was a marshy region during the Late Cretaceous Period, the researchers said.

"Eggshells, eggs and nests were found in abundance and they all belong to dinosaurs, sauropods in particular," the study's leader, Albert García Sellés from the Miquel Crusafont Catalan Palaeontology Institute, told Spanish news agency SINC this week.

"Up until now, only one type of dinosaur egg had been documented in the region: Megaloolithus siruguei," Sellés added. His team found evidence of at least four other species: Cairanoolithus roussetensis, Megaloolithus aureliensis, Megaloolithus siruguei and Megaloolithus baghensis. Megaloolithus eggs are thought to be associated with sauropods, long-necked dinosaurs that were among some of the largest to roam the planet.

The Coll de Nargó area is considered one of the most important dinosaur nesting areas in Europe, the researchers said, adding that their study shows it was used by several dinosaurs from the Late Campanian age (around 71 million years ago) to the Late Maastrichtian age (around 67 million years ago).

"We had never found so many nests in the one area before. In addition, the presence of various oospecies (eggs species) at the same level suggests that different types of dinosaurs shared the same nesting area," Sellés said, adding that the dinosaur eggs could help scientists determine the date of future findings at the site.

"It has come to light that the different types of eggs are located at very specific time intervals," Sellés explained to SINC. "This allows us to create biochronological scales with a precise dating capacity. In short, thanks to the collection of oospecies found in Coll de Nargó we have been able to determine the age of the site at between 71 and 67 million years."

The findings are published in the March issue of the journal Cretaceous Research.

Annett Unsure What Caused Injury in Daytona Crash

Michael Annett was back at the track Saturday as a spectator, unable to drive his Richard Petty Motorsports car in the Nationwide Series race because of a fractured and dislocated sternum.

He was injured in a crash during last month's season-opener at Daytona and spent a night in the hospital before returning home to North Carolina, where doctors discovered the severity of his injury. Emergency surgery followed and Annett is sidelined indefinitely.

Now questions remain as to what caused Annett's injuries as NASCAR, RPM and seat belt manufacturer Schroth investigate the accident.

''The steering wheel hadn't moved, it wasn't bent,'' Annett said at Bristol Motor Speedway. ''There wasn't a mark on the helmet, a mark on the suit. It was pretty much my body stayed where it was supposed to and my sternum tried to come out of my chest. That's all we do know. Everything did its job. If it hadn't, I wouldn't be standing here.

''We sat in a meeting this week and saw pictures of a brand new set of belts and then my belts after the wreck and everything was correct. It was six-point harness. NASCAR is working on implementing a seven-point harness, which is something I'm definitely going to look into, but, right now, everything did its job.''

Reed Sorenson is driving Annett's car until he can return, and doctors believe he could be sidelined eight weeks. But Annett hopes to get back in the car at least a week earlier than planned based on how well he's felt.

''I was doing better until I got a cold and found out that sneezing is about the most painful thing there is,'' Annett said. ''But other than that, I'm doing good. Honestly, I feel like I could be putting my suit on right now. We all heal differently. They said eight weeks, but they also said I would be in the ICU all night and I was there for 30 minutes. So hopefully, we can turn that eight weeks into six or seven.''

Mars Discovery Highlights Need for Sample-Return Mission, Scientist Says

The announcement this week that Mars definitely could have supported some form of life in the ancient past is an unmistakable reminder that future missions to the Red Planet should focus on bringing Martian rock samples back to Earth, a celebrated planetary scientist says.

NASA unveiled the discovery on Tuesday (March 12) with a bold announcement that Mars could have supported primitive life at some point billions of years ago. The Martian find was made with the help of NASA's Mars rover Curiosity, the largest rover ever to explore the Red Planet. But in order to create a clear picture of the story of habitability and life on Mars, scientists will need to get their hands on fresh samples of the planet collected by an ambitious future mission.

"On the one hand, it shows what we can do with instruments on the surface of Mars," Bruce Betts, the director of projects at the Planetary Society, told SPACE.com. "We'll always be able to do more with our labs on Earth than what we can do on Mars."

The Curiosity rover was able to bore into a Martian rock and find evidence of a habitable environment, but more comprehensive work can be done in labs on Earth, Betts said.

For this reason, scientists like Betts have campaigned to have sample return added as non-negotiable for the next mission to the Red Planet.

NASA is taking the concept seriously. Sample return is at the top of the space agency's list when planning for missions to Mars in the next decade, Betts added. NASA has placed it as the highest priority for any new missions to the Red Planet. [The Search for Life on Mars (A Photo Timeline)]


"You want rocks that are carefully collected," Betts said.

It's important to know exactly where the rocks are coming from, Betts said. If scientists know the context in which the rocks were found, it will help them analyze them in a broader context.

Although there are no solid plans to build sample return into a mission currently in development, future NASA missions are using other means to investigate the Martian interior and exterior.

The MAVEN mission — a Mars orbiter launching later this year — will investigate the ionosphere of the Red Planet to see how carbon dioxide, oxygen and other compounds could have dissipated over time, leaving Mars with the cold, arid atmosphere scientists see today.

NASA's InSight Mars is a lander that will burrow deep into the Martian dirt to learn more about the planet's geological evolution. It is on track to launch in 2016. The agency is also planning to launch a new Mars rover in 2020, but it won't have the capability for sample return.

Europe and Russia are also planning new Mars missions together, including an orbiter and the ExoMars rover.

NASA's announcement on Tuesday means that astronomers are one step closer to understanding what a primitive Mars could have looked like, something that missions in the future will help clarify, Betts added.

"I think the findings like today's continue to increase the interest in Mars as a complex and interesting place," Betts said.

Francis Pays Tribute to Benedict, Reflects on Age

Pope Francis paid a heartfelt tribute Friday to his predecessor Benedict XVI, saying his faith and teaching had "enriched and invigorated" the Catholic Church and would remain its spiritual patrimony forever.

Francis offered the respects during an audience with the cardinals who elected him to succeed Benedict, whose resignation set in motion the extraordinary conclave that brought the first prelate from the New World and first Jesuit to the papacy.

Francis, 76, tripped and stumbled when he greeted the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, at the start of the audience, but he recovered immediately.

Speaking at times off the cuff, Francis said Benedict had "lit a flame in the depths of our hearts that will continue to burn because it is fueled by his prayers that will support the church on its missionary path."

"In these years of his pontificate, he enriched and invigorated the church with his magisterium, his goodness, guide and faith," Francis said. Pausing for effect, he added: "His humility and his gentleness."

Francis has said he wants to visit Benedict at the papal residence in Castel Gandolfo where he has been living since Feb. 28, when he became the first pope in 600 years to resign. No date has been set for the visit. Francis is due to be installed as pope on Tuesday.

The relationship between the two pontiffs has been the subject of intense speculation given the novelty of soon having a retired and reigning pope living side by side. Some analysts have expressed concern about the influence Benedict and his loyalists might wield over the new pontificate, or worse how certain factions in the church might try to undermine Francis' authority by continuing to use Benedict as their reference point.

The presence of Benedict's closest aide, Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, at all of Francis' inaugural events has confirmed some crossover; Gaenswein is also the head of the papal household, meaning he has an important role to play in the transition and Francis' day-to-day schedule.

In fact, on Friday, Gaenswein accompanied Francis to the papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace, which has been sealed since Feb. 28. The seals were broken, Francis took the keys and opened the door, and Gaenswein hurried in to turn on the lights.

During Friday's audience, cardinals lined up and warmly greeted Francis, exchanging physical embraces with the new pope. U.S. Cardinal Timothy Dolan grasped Frances' shoulder as he chatted. Most if not all the cardinals then went to chat with Gaenswein, perhaps to inquire about Benedict.

On the first day of his pontificate, Francis's personal and liturgical style couldn't have come off as more different than that of Benedict: He went to his hotel to pick up his luggage, greet the staff and pay the bill, then delivered an off-the-cuff homily reminding his cardinals of the need to make the church strong.

The very pastoral acts were typical Francis. Benedict, while similarly humble and gentle, spent 30 years inside the Vatican, first as its doctrine chief and then as pope, where his homilies were dense theological treatises and his Masses were formal affairs in the pre-Vatican II style.

In his remarks Friday to cardinals, Francis noted that a good half of the men in the room were elderly, and he urged them to share the wisdom of their years with the young.

"Let us give this wisdom to young people; like good wine, it becomes better with age," he said. "Let us give to young people the wisdom of life."

Ethereal Macro Photos of Snowflakes in the Moments Before They Disappear

Russian photographer Andrew Osokin is a master of winter macro photography. His photo collection is chock full of gorgeous super-close-up photographs of insects, flowers, snow, and frost. Among his most impressive shots are photographs of individual snowflakes that have fallen upon the ground and are in the process of melting away. The shots are so detailed and so perfectly framed that you might suspect them of being computer-generated fabrications.

They’re not though. The images were all captured using a Nikon D80 or Nikon D90 DSLR and a 60mm or 90mm macro lens.

Josh Duhamel Talks BBQ And Fatherhood At SXSW

 Ever-engaging heartthrob Josh Duhamel talks to The Sidebar's Ben Lyons at SXSW about a few of his favorite things this week. One of the best highlights of the interview? Duhamel reveals some fun--almost forgotten--moments from his up-and-coming past, and talks about beating youthful fellow thespian Ashton Kutcher in a modeling contest.

"It was one of the funniest things I've ever been through," Duhamel laughs. "We were actually very serious about it—very Zoolander and Hansel!" You gotta hear about this, trust us!

Some of his other topics: Going whole-hog in his new flick Scenic Route--which he says he had to treat like "theater," how he almost became a dentist instead of an actor, what kind of BBQ he's eating in Austin...and, of course, the biggest thing of all, impending fatherhood with wife Fergie!

'The Bible' Producers Couldn't Find Jesus … Until He Came Walking Through Their Garden

It may be one of the ultimate challenges in casting: finding the actor who can convincingly represent Jesus.

And when husband-and-wife producing team Mark Burnett and Roma Downey were trying to find an actor to portray the son of God in their new History miniseries "The Bible," seeking an actor who could play both "the lion and the lamb," Downey says, and who also looked like what viewers expected him to, proved to be a challenge that went right down to the wire.

"We wanted to find an actor who would embody both strength and humility," Downey tells Yahoo! TV. "We were maybe six weeks away from beginning principal photography, and we still had not found him. We were clearly getting somewhat anxious. We put it out in prayer that we would find the absolutely right actor. Through a series of remarkable coincidences, we were led to discover actor Diogo Morgado.

"We invited him to meet with us at our home. When he arrived and was walking up our garden path, we took a look out the window, and I turned to my husband and said, 'There he is. We've found Jesus.'"

Morgado is a Portuguese TV and film actor who began his career as a model at age 14, and, coincidentally, is now 33-years-old … the age Christ was when he died. The actor makes his debut in the miniseries in March 17's "Hope" episode, which begins the New Testament portion of "The Bible," and will likely add to the series' standout ratings performance.

More than 50 million cumulative viewers have caught at least a portion of History's miniseries since it premiered on March 3, including encore airings on History and sister network Lifetime.

"It's incredible with the ratings and all the attention on the series, and Jesus is not even on the screen yet," Burnett says.

Adds Downey, "Yeah, it's now going out across Twitter, 'Jesus is coming.'

"He turns in such a beautiful, nuanced performance," she says. "He's the heartbeat of the series. He will come on the screen this Sunday evening, and he will carry the episodes to conclusion on Easter Sunday. He did a remarkable turn in this role, and I think that through his work he will touch people. His work is deep and beautiful, meaningful."

British actor Darwin Shaw ("Casino Royale") also makes his "Bible" debut in "Hope," playing apostle Peter. Darwin earned a medical degree in England but switched careers after studying acting in New York, and his portrayal of Jesus's right-hand man is another high point of the series.

"He felt a calling to the acting profession, and he gives a great turn as Peter," Downey says. "I think maybe because of art and the famous paintings, we're so used to seeing the images of the disciples, the saints, Saint Peter, Saint Paul, as being old men. Of course they were all in the prime of their lives at this time, and we wanted to show them as the band of brothers that they were, so we gathered a great young, strong, vibrant cast to play the 12."

Burnett adds, "Peter was only one year older than Jesus. The disciples didn't know they were [following Jesus]. They were following what they thought at first was a charismatic leader, and then it was revealed to them that he was in fact the son of God. Imagine the journey the disciples were on. We tried not to simply tell you that, but to let you feel that as a viewer, and walk in their footsteps."

"Touched by an Angel" star Downey took that idea one step further, deciding at the last minute to take an onscreen role in the project, as well. On March 24, Downey steps into "The Bible" as Mother Mary.

"I went to Morocco with my producer's hat in my hand. I really didn't plan to play any role," she says. "We had already cast and were working with a young actress playing Mary in the younger years from the Nativity and the early years of Jesus's life, but of the actors we were looking at to play Mother Mary in the later years, we weren't seeing her. And Mark said to me, 'I think you're missing the obvious, Roma. Would you not consider playing the role yourself?' I prayed on it, and decided that I would, and I'm so glad that I did. I brought to it a mother's heart. I have children myself. Those scenes that we filmed at the cross were very powerful, very poignant. To see her son being murdered in that way -- I can't begin to imagine what she must have been feeling."

Lucky Corvette Driver Survives Trailer Crash That Experts Call Too Common

Lucky Corvette Driver Survives Trailer Crash That Experts Call Too Common: A fortunate Chevy Corvette Z06 driver in California last week came away from a horrifying crash with only a few scrapes and a story he'll never forget after smashing into the rear of a semi trailer — exactly the kind of crash that a new report says results in death too often, due to lax standards for the trailer guards that are supposed to protect drivers.

This accident, caught by the Los Angeles Fire Department on Interstate 405, wasn't fatal thanks to the Corvette driver ducking just as his car rammed into the rear of the moving van. As the pictures from the department's Flickr page show, the Vette was destroyed by the impact, as the car dove under the trailer nearly into its rear axle. In the photo above, you can see the trailer guard jutting from the wreckage of the Corvette, which it sliced like a mandoline.

Those underride guards are mandated by the United States and Canada on all semitrailers to help prevent such accidents, and according to new research from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, they usually do a better job of stopping cars. Such crashes claimed 280 lives in the United States in 2011, the most recent data available, and by the IIHS' reckoning, most were due to cars sliding under trailers.

But the IIHS says those guards perform far worse when a vehicle strikes them off-center. To demonstrate, it staged several crash tests using parked trailers from eight manufacturers and 2010 Chevy Malibus ramming them at 35 mph. All passed the full-on tests, and seven of eight successfully handled crashes where the car hit just one half of the trailer.

The Book of Kells now available to browse online

 The Book of Kells now available to browse online: If St. Patrick's Day means more to you than wearing green and drinking Guinness, this news from Trinity College in Dublin should be cause for celebration.

The famous Book of Kells, which is housed at Trinity and dates back centuries, is now available to view online. The beautifully preserved manuscript features the four Gospels of the New Testament and incorporates remarkable artwork and colors.

Trinity writes that the origin of the Book of Kells "is generally attributed to the scriptorium of the monastery founded around 561 by St Colum Cille on Iona, an island off the west coast of Scotland." The college writes that it "must have been close to the year 800 that the Book of Kells was written, although there is no way of knowing if the book was produced wholly at Iona or at Kells, or partially at each location."

For many in Ireland and around the world, the book celebrates the power of the Christian faith as well as the importance of learning and artistry. The book has also served as a tremendous point of pride for Ireland. People can still visit the book (actually, four separately bound books) in person in Dublin. However, only one page is displayed at a time.

You can browse the book's 600+ pages here. Unless you know Latin, you probably won't understand much. But the artwork and care that have gone into the book's preservation are both reason enough to take a look.

Camcorders

Panasonic is today introducing six new HD camcorders with innovative performance features and functions, to expand its product line-up for 2013. The high-end HC-X920 model is equipped with the new 3MOS System PRO which is comprised of a F1.5 LEICA Dicomar Lens, 3MOS BSI Sensor and Crystal Engine Pro II.

Furthermore, the advanced Wi-Fi capabilities of the HC-X920, HC-V720 and HC-V520models, offer a number of functionalities that can not be experienced with conventional camcorders when it comes to capturing video and still images, sharing recorded content and playing back content to family and friends.

Landline Telephones

The KX-TG6821, KX-TG6811, KX-TG7861 and KX-TG7851 are four new additions to our landline telephone offering.

The KX-TG6821 the KX-TG7861 – the flagship models in the range - feature a host of smart functions including Noise Reduction, a Smart Function Key, Shared Phonebook and an optional Key Finder accessory. All handsets boast outstanding sound quality, a stylishly slim-line and compact design, as well as an easy-to-navigate layout to ensure the simplest and most intuitive experience.

the KX-TG6811 and the KX-TG7851, which offer the same features and design as their big brothers (the KX-TG6821 and KX-TG7861 respectively), but without answerphone capability.

Psy's 'Gangnam Style' Follow-Up Is 'Happening' In April

 New single will be unveiled April 13 at worldwide YouTube concert, singer says. Only one man could ride a single for eight months, but even Psy decided it's time for something new. Here's the moment we've all been waiting for: the K-pop singer announced the arrival of his "Gangnam Style" follow-up, and it's coming as soon as April 13.

Psy, in neck scarf and cropped harem pants, told fans that there will be a live, worldwide "happening" on April 13. The new single will be unveiled at a YouTube-broadcast concert in Seoul World Cup Stadium for everyone online to hear. And then he broke into dance, kicking his leg high aerobics-style and unleashing his best "OMG" face.

"Gangnam Style" was released in July 2012 and instantly went viral, making history as the first YouTube video to crack a billion views. Even the legendary MC Hammer got in on the Gangnam craze, joining Psy for a performance that brought down the house at the American Music Awards in November.

To tide us all over until the new song drops, however, an entire EP of "Gangnam Style" remixes dropped earlier this week called "Remix Style." 2 Chainz, Tyga and Afrojack jumped on the bandwagon — err, the fun — as well.

Nick Cannon And Mariah Carey Debut Their Twins

The judges may be busy with season seven auditions of America’s Got Talent on NBC, but Nick Cannon is also getting busy debuting his twins! Nick, and his wife, Mariah Carey are debuting their 6-month-old twins to the world! Read on for all the details!

Nick Cannon is not only the host of America’s Got Talent on NBC, but he is a father, as his wife, Mariah Carey gave birth to twins back in April – on the exact day that the couple celebrated their 3 year wedding anniversary. Now, the comedian and host, along with his music superstar wife are ready to share their twins with the world! As you can see from the picture above, Nick Cannon and Mariah debuted their twins on television, as the couple paid a visit to 20/20, where they had an exclusive interview with Barbara Walters.

Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey’s son Moroccan Scott and daughter Monroe, who the couple have nicknamed Roc and Roe, were introduced to Barbara Walters when she paid the couple a visit to their Manhattan home for the interview. The interview, which will air on Friday at 10 pm, will give us an inside look into Nick and Mariah’s life, their struggle to conceive, Mariah’s high-risk pregnancy, how they’re handling parenthood, and also intimate details of their marriage.

Be sure to tune in to 20/20 on Friday to take a look at Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey’s twins! Will you be watching the interview? Comment and share your thoughts with us!

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