VIDEO: Adu Jotos Jupe dan Depe

(News Today) - Syuting film Arwah Goyang Karawang yang diperankan Julia Perez dan Dewi Perssik berbuntut panjang. Di luar adegan skenario, dua artis cantik ini saling adu jotos dan cakar. Mereka kemudian saling melapor ke pihak berwajib. Jupe bahkan membawa bukti rekaman adu jotos tersebut ke polisi.

Belum lama ini, video itu beredar luas di dunia maya. Di Youtube, video berdurasi 5:01 menit itu diberi judul 'Jupe vs Depe (Arwah Goyang Karawang)'.

Saat dikonfirmasi soal video itu, Jupe mengaku tak kaget dan justru merasa senang. "Biar masyarakat tahu siapa yang salah. Depe nendang saya itu di luar adegan syuting. Saya tidak menyayangkan video itu ada di Youtube," kata Jupe saat berbincang dengan VIVAnews, Jumat 21 Januari 2011.

Source : vivanews & Youtube (Juli Perez vs Dewi Perssik)

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M.I.A. music video elicits strong online response

(News Terupdate) - If singer/rapper M.I.A.'s purpose was to get people talking about her new single "Born Free," she succeeded.

The Sri Lankan-born artist debuted the graphic video on Monday. Immediately, fans took to social media to debate its scenes of military force, violence and brutality.

"M.I.A. is a provocateur and someone who tries to rile people up in a variety of ways," said Saul Austerlitz, author of "Money for Nothing: A History of the Music Video from the Beatles to the White Stripes."

"I think one of the main routes that she takes to that end is the political, and this video has a lot of political resonances, things like Guantanamo, the Iraqi insurgency and the Taliban all sort of jumbled together and rebranded."

The almost nine-minute video for the song from her upcoming album includes nudity as well as scenes of brutality. Directed by filmmaker Romain Gavras, the video revolves around the rounding up of red-headed young men by a group of military commandos.

At one point, a boy is shot point-blank in the head and another young man is blown to pieces. YouTube reportedly yanked the video in light of its content.

Sasha Pasulka, managing editor for pop culture website "Evil Beet," said M.I.A. couldn't have played the publicity game better.

"It's much better for her that YouTube pulled it because now she gets to rant about that," Pasulka said.

And rant the artist did. She took to her official Twitter account to berate her record label, Universal Music Group, for the video being pulled.

"(Expletive) UMG WHO WONT SHOW IT ON YOUTUBE!" she wrote before tweeting four minutes later "OK NOT UMG FAULT!"

A request by CNN for comment from M.I.A.'s publicist did not receive a response.

Pasulka said M.I.A. is following the tradition established by artists such as Michael Jackson in using a longer video as a means of artistic expression. And while it is not clear exactly what message M.I.A. is trying to get across, Pasulka said it is obvious she is trying to provoke thought among viewers.

"If you look at M.I.A.'s life, there is a history of political activism," Pasulka said. "She's the daughter of a revolutionary who fought for an independent state in Sri Lanka, so she is obviously trying to make a political statement."

On Twitter, fans like one who goes by the moniker "ziggy0stardust" appealed to the artist for her inspiration by writing "@ M.I.A. can u tell us what u were tryin (sic) to say wiv (sic) the born free vid please" while other reactions ranged from those like "Hadge" who wrote "I just watched M.I.A.'s new music video for "Born Free" and now I feel like throwing up. What an awful, awful video" to those like SEFGray who tweeted "M.I.A's Born Free video blew me away, along with the actors."

MTV.com writer James Montgomery hailed M.I.A. for the unflinching video.

"Yes, it's brutal and at times a bit overly dramatic, but it's also a form of political protest, a downright subversive bit of art created by an artist on a major label, Interscope," Montgomery wrote.

Austerlitz pointed out that the video's director is the son of Costa Gavras, a noted filmmaker whose work has also blended politics and entertainment. M.I.A.'s video also took inspiration from the 1971 film "Punishment Park," written and directed by Peter Watkins, Austerlitz said.

"['Punishment Park' is] a movie about a totalitarian state where young people are rounded up, brought out to a deserted area and essentially told if they could outrun the police, they could live, but that the police would basically be hunting them," Austerlitz said.

"It's sort of a dystopian look at late '60s American protests and student movements," Austerlitz added. "It's clear that the second half of the video has been taken almost shot for shot from that film.

In an age where so many musicians are trying to break free from the pack and be viewed as artists with something to say, Pasulka said M.I.A. may have succeeded in generating even more buzz than the industry's current poster girl for all things provocative -- Lady GaGa.

"I would say she out-GaGaed Lady GaGa," Pasulka said. "This has the potential for even more coverage than all of the interest that surrounded 'Telephone.' "

Source : CNN

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Pope's UK visit on despite 'foolish' condom memo

Rome, Italy (News Terupdate) - Pope Benedict XVI will not call off a trip to Great Britain despite a leaked Foreign Office memo that made "foolish" suggestions about things he could do while there, the pope's spokesman reiterated on Monday.

"As far as the Vatican is concerned, the case is closed. There never was the slightest doubt about the trip," the Rev. Federico Lombardi told CNN.

The British government apologized over the weekend for the Foreign Office memo suggesting that the pope could launch Benedict-brand condoms or bless a gay marriage when he visits the United Kingdom later this year.

When does a joke go too far?

Many of the ideas in the document are "clearly ill-judged, naive and disrespectful," the Foreign Office said in a statement Sunday, which referred to the memo as "foolish."

The writer of the memo "has been transferred to other duties. He has been told orally and in writing that this was a serious error of judgment," the Foreign Office said.

The Vatican is steadfastly opposed to the use of condoms for any reason and to gay marriage.

The memo also includes suggestions that the pope ordain a female priest or launch an abortion clinic -- both of which are forbidden by Roman Catholic doctrine.

The document was leaked to the Sunday Telegraph newspaper. The Foreign Office confirmed to CNN that it is genuine.

It contains a number of references to the child abuse scandal sweeping the Catholic Church, such as proposals for the pope to launch a child-abuse hotline and to announce he's "sacking dodgy bishops."

Vatican says sex abuse lawsuit lacks merit

Jack Valero, a spokesman for the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, called the memo a "joke that's gone out of control."

"It was somebody trying to be funny in an offensive sort of way," he said, adding it was "not important" and that "Catholics are used to forgiveness."

Benedict is making a four-day state visit to England and Scotland in September.

There was a small protest against the planned visit at Westminster Cathedral in London last month. About 50 demonstrators called for the pope to resign over allegations he "protected" child abusers.

Richard Dawkins, the British scientist and noted atheist, has threatened to try to have the pope arrested when he visits the United Kingdom.

Benedict said Sunday he wanted to "thank above all thank and encourage all of those who are dedicated to the prevention" of violence against and exploitation of children.

Source : CNN

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Agency denies tarmac delay exemption requests

(News Terupdate) - Airlines hoping for exemptions at some airports to the tarmac delay rule going into effect next week are out of luck.

The Department of Transportation denied requests Thursday from JetBlue, Delta, Continental, American and US Airways for exceptions to the rule, which were prompted by runway construction at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, one of the nation's most congested airports.

"Passengers on flights delayed on the tarmac have a right to know they will not be held aboard a plane indefinitely," U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement. "This is an important consumer protection, and we believe it should take effect as planned."

In its ruling, the department indicated that it may take the construction at JFK into account "when deciding whether to pursue enforcement action for failing to comply with the rule and the amount of the fine, if any, to seek as a result of noncompliance."

"We thank the Department for recognizing that there are unique challenges at New York's Kennedy and will take that into account when deciding whether to pursue civil penalties," American Airlines spokesman Tim Smith said in response to the ruling.

Airlines could re-route or reschedule JFK flights to minimize congestion, the department said.

"We are prepared to comply with the original ruling," Delta Air Lines spokesman Anthony Black said.

The rule, set to go into effect April 29, is designed to prevent planes on domestic routes from sitting on the tarmac for more than three hours with passengers on board. Airlines who violate the rule could face fines of up to $27,500 per passenger, the maximum allowed for violating any aviation consumer rule.

In March, JetBlue Airways asked for an exemption to the rule at JFK, where an extensive construction project has closed the airport's busiest runway.

Delta and American Airlines also requested exemptions at JFK, and Continental Airlines followed with its own request that added neighboring LaGuardia and Newark Liberty International airports.

US Airways asked for a similar exemption at its hub at Philadelphia International Airport, arguing that "it shares the same airspace, is part of the same air traffic control center (New York Center), and has the same congestion challenges as JFK, LaGuardia and Newark."

Airline passenger advocate Kate Hanni, founder of FlyersRights.org and a supporter of the tarmac delay rule, is pleased the exemptions were denied.

"We are both thrilled and gratified that DOT has taken a Hard Stand against long tarmac delays as a safety issue. We believe that 700 million travelers a year will benefit knowing they can reasonably predict the outcome of their flight knowing they cannot be held longer than 3 hours in a sealed metal tube!" Hanni said via e-mail.

Another passenger advocate, David Stempler, president of the Air Travelers Association, is opposed to the three-hour rule, stating that "placing time deadlines on safety related activities should never occur."

The rule "creates not only safety concerns for passengers, but misery in the from of many more cancelled flights," he said.

Stempler and other opponents of the rule say airlines are likely to cancel more flights during the busy summer travel season to avoid penalties incurred by long delays.

Source : CNN

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Police close in on suspects in booby traps targeting gang task force

(News Terupdate) - Police in California say that with the arrests of 23 people this week, they are getting closer to those responsible for a string of brazen attacks against officers in a gang task force.

The booby trap-style attacks believed to be targeting the Hemet Police Department began in December when, police say, a natural gas line was rerouted into the task force's headquarters, risking an explosion. The most recent incident occurred in March, when four city code enforcement trucks were set ablaze in the Hemet City Hall parking lot.

None of the 23 suspects arrested Tuesday face charges directly related to the four attacks, but police are hopeful that they will lead them to the people responsible, Hemet Police Capt. Dave Brown told CNN.

"Tuesday's operation produced an enormous amount of property and evidence. The 23 people arrested were detained and interviewed, producing leads, and those leads are being followed up," Brown said.

The suspects were arrested throughout Riverside County on a variety of felony and misdemeanor charges -- from possession of weapons and stolen property to outstanding warrants and narcotics. Local and state law enforcement agencies participated in the raids, in which 35 locations were searched and evidence, including 16 weapons, was seized.

Read the names of the suspects

Some of those arrested have gang affiliations, Brown said, but it's still unclear whether the attacks are gang-related. A motive is still not known.

"Motive has been a missing piece, but once the suspects are identified, we believe a motive will follow," he said.

"Sometimes, in gang cases, the motive is clear from the beginning. But in this case, we're not even sure it's a gang case, and if so, we're not sure if one gang is operating independent of others or if there's some sort of cooperation between the gangs."

Hemet is one of eight local, state and federal agencies that make up the Riverside County Gang Task Force, which was formed in 2006 to address the growth of criminal street gangs and outlaw motorcycle gangs.

As the county expanded and its population grew, so did the presence and reach of organized crime. Since 1997, the number of gangs in Riverside County has grown from 266 to 391, according to the task force's website, and total gang membership has grown to 10,620 people countywide.

Authorities believe the attacks could be related because of their close timing and identical targets, John Hall, a spokesman for the district attorney's office, said last month.

On New Years Eve, the unmarked headquarters of the Hemet Gang Task Force was filled with deadly natural gas. Two task force members detected the gas, backed away and reported it.

On February 23, a task force member at the Hemet headquarters opened a security gate outside the building, which launched a homemade zip gun attached to the gate. The weapon fired, missing the officer's head by inches.

The headquarters has since been moved to an undisclosed location, where extra security precautions are being taken, Hall said.

On March 5, criminals targeted a task force member who had parked an unmarked police car in front of a convenience store in Hemet. The officer found what appeared to be a homemade pipe bomb hidden underneath the vehicle.

The attacks have drawn the attention of state and federal law enforcement, which have contributed manpower and money to a $200,000 reward offered in the case.

The Hemet Police Department has set up a confidential tip line for anyone with information: 951-765-3897. People can also e-mail tip to: tips@cityofhemet.org.

Source : CNN

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Study: Children of suicide more likely to take own lives

(News Terupdate) - Poet John Berryman. Sylvia Plath's son, Nicholas Hughes. These are prominent examples of people who whose parents died by suicide when they were children and also took their own lives as adults.

A large study has found that people who as children or adolescents lost a parent to suicide are more likely to die the same way. The research will be published in the May issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

"It appears from our results that all factors -- developmental, environmental and genetic -- are important," said lead author Holly Wilcox of Johns Hopkins Children's Center.

Researchers looked at data from Sweden's population registry, examining records of more than 500,000 children, teens and young adults who lost a parent to suicide, illness or accidents. They compared those against nearly 4 million children, teens and young adults with living parents.

They found that Swedes who were children or adolescents when a parent took his or her own life had a three-fold increased risk of dying by suicide themselves. But young adults, in the 18 to 25 age bracket, did not have this higher risk.

"The disruption associated with parental suicide, we think, is greater when someone loses a parent during childhood and adolescence," Wilcox said.

Although the risk of suicide went up for children of people who had taken their own lives, suicide itself is still a relatively rare event, Wilcox said.

In the United States, between 7,000 and 12,000 children lose a parent to suicide each year, the researchers said.

The findings have the caveat that they are attached to a country that provides universal health care and has a higher economic status than many others, Wilcox said.

Still, the study is important in confirming the hereditary risk of suicidal behavior, said Dr. Maria Oquendo, a psychiatrist at Columbia University Medical Center who was not involved in the research.

A study in the same journal in February found that suicide attempts also run in families. In some cases, the children had attempted suicide before the parents did, said Oquendo, co-author of that study.

Oquendo and colleagues found that exposure to suicide -- that is, knowing about a parent's suicide attempt -- could not account for the pattern. This suggests that family members do not imitate suicidal behavior but that there may be predisposition toward it, Oquendo said.

Previous research also has found indications of a genetic component to suicide.

A 2009 study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found biological markers for depression. Researchers found that the cortex, the brain's outermost surface, tended to be thinner in people at high risk of developing depression.

Participants had this brain surface thinning before they developed mental problems, the study said. Both children and grandchildren of depressed people had these structural differences in their brains.

Researchers believe that the thinning interferes with the processing of emotional stimuli, meaning people with these abnormalities may benefit from therapy specifically addressing how to respond to social stimuli, co-author Dr. Bradley Peterson, a psychiatrist at Columbia University Medical Center, said when the study was published.

Screening may one day become available for this cortical thinning and may help doctors determine depression risk early on, he said.

Many people mistakenly believe that stress is at the root of suicides; stress can play a role, certainly, but the familial component can determine how people respond to stress, Oquendo said.

"Unless there's something that predisposes you to react to stress in that way, the stress won't precipitate a suicide," she said.

There are opportunities for young people who lose a parent to suicide to be recognized in primary care, Wilcox said. Early identification and treatment of depression could help in suicide prevention, she said.

The surviving parent should also be more sensitive to any psychiatric problems that come up, Wilcox said.

Wilcox's study also found that a child's risk of committing a violent crime went up if he or she had lost a parent, regardless of cause.

Source : CNN

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Michael Douglas' son gets 5 years in drug case

New York (News Terupdate) - The son of actor Michael Douglas apologized to a federal judge before being sentenced to a five-year prison term Tuesday, promising to follow "the true right path" when released.

Cameron Douglas, 31, pleaded guilty to distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine in January.

"I apologize to the court for my decisions and actions that put me in front of you today," Douglas said in a trembling voice. He added, "I have developed, in my mind, the idea that I want to take the right path, the true right path."

U.S. District Judge Richard Berman rebuffed pleas by defense lawyers for a more lenient sentencing, telling the spectators that prison may be Douglas' "last chance."

Cameron Douglas is the son of the two-time Academy Award winner and his first wife, Diandra Luker, both of whom attended the sentencing. As Cameron Douglas spoke, his mother was crying and his father appeared to be fighting back tears.

Douglas, who was arrested in July 2009 at a Manhattan nightclub, asked Berman "for opportunity to be a role model to my younger brothers and sisters."

"I believe, your honor, things will be different this time," he added. If given a second chance, he said, "I will never squander that opportunity."

Berman acknowledged that numerous letters sent on the defendant's behalf by celebrities and others, but said some of the letters implied that he should not make an example of Douglas because he is the son of a famous actor.

"None acknowledged appropriately the numerous impacts to victims of society for dealing drugs," the judge said.

Source : CNN

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Supreme Court strikes down law banning dogfight videos

Washington (News Terupdate) - The Supreme Court has struck down a federal law designed to stop the sale and marketing of videos showing dogfights and other acts of animal cruelty, saying it is an unconstitutional violation of free speech.

The 8-1 decision was a defeat for animal rights groups and congressional sponsors of the unusual legislation.

The specific case before the court dealt with tapes showing pit bulldogs attacking other animals and one another in staged confrontations.

The justices Tuesday concluded the scope and intent of the decade-old statute was overly broad.

"The First Amendment itself reflects a judgment by the American people that the benefits of its restrictions on the government outweigh its costs," said Chief Justice John Roberts. He concluded Congress had not sufficiently shown "depictions" of dogfighting were enough to justify a special category of exclusion from free speech protection.

The high court threw out the conviction of Robert Stevens, a Pittsville, Virginia, man who sold videos through his business, Dogs of Velvet and Steel. According to court records, undercover federal agents found he was advertising his tapes in Sporting Dog Journal, an underground magazine on illegal dogfighting.

"This is what I was hoping for," Stevens told CNN just after the ruling was announced. "I am not nor have I ever been a dog fighter or a promoter of dogfighting. I am a journalist and an author."

Among the products Stevens advertised was "Catch Dogs," featuring pit bulls chasing wild boars on organized hunts and a "gruesome depiction of a pit bull attacking the lower jaw of a domestic farm pig," according to the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based appeals court that ruled on the case earlier.

Stevens was charged in 2004 with violating interstate commerce laws by selling depictions of animal cruelty. He was later sentenced to 37 months in prison, and promptly appealed. That sentence was put on hold pending resolution of this appeal.

He argued his sentence was longer than the 14 months given professional football player Michael Vick, who ran an illegal dogfighting ring.

It was the first prosecution in the United States to proceed to trial under the 1999 law.

The video marketer is not related to Justice John Paul Stevens, who turned 90 Tuesday. The court made no mention of the milestone as it held a two-hour public session.

Nearly every state and local jurisdiction have their own laws banning mistreatment of wild and domesticated animals, and usually handle prosecutions of animal cruelty.

Several media organizations had supported Stevens, worrying the federal law could implicate reports about deer hunting, and depictions of bullfighting in Ernest Hemingway novels.

Roberts agreed, saying, "We read [the federal law] to create a criminal prohibition of alarming breadth."

"Jurisdictions permit and encourage hunting, and there is an enormous national market for hunting-related depictions in which a living animal is intentionally killed," said Roberts. "An otherwise-lawful image of any of these practices, if sold or possessed for commercial gain within a state that happens to forbid the practice, falls within the prohibition of [the federal law]."

During oral arguments in October, the justices offered a number of wide-ranging hypotheticals over what the law could forbid, including: fox hunts, pate de foie gras from geese, cockfighting, bullfighting, shooting deer out of season, even Roman gladiator battles.

Only Justice Samuel Alito dissented in the case, and he focused on one of the most disturbing aspects raised in the appeal, the marketing of so-called "crush" videos, in which women -- with their faces unseen -- are shown stomping helpless animals such as rabbits to death with spiked-heel shoes or with their bare feet.

"The animals used in crush videos are living creatures that experience excruciating pain. Our society has long banned such cruelty," he said. The courts, he said, have "erred in second-guessing the legislative judgment about the importance of preventing cruelty to animals."

He predicted mores crush videos will soon flood the underground market, because the ruling has "the practical effect of legalizing the sale of such videos."

Roberts suggested a law specifically banning crush videos might be valid, since it would be narrowly tailored to a specific type of commercial enterprise.

Alito noted that would not help dogs forced to fight each other, where, he said, "the suffering lasts for years rather than minutes."

The government had argued a "compelling interest" in stopping people who would profit from dog attack tapes and similar depictions. Roberts dismissed suggestions by the Justice Department that only the most extreme acts of cruelty would be targeted.

"The First Amendment protects against the government," Roberts said. "We would not uphold an unconstitutional statute merely because the government promised to use it responsibly."

The Humane Society, other animal rights groups and 26 states backed the government.

If the law had been upheld, it would have been only the second time the Supreme Court had identified a form of speech undeserving of protection by the First Amendment. The justices in 1982 banned the distribution of child pornography.

This is the second time this year the high court has tossed out federal legislation on free speech grounds. The justices in January nullified parts of a sweeping campaign finance reform law, giving corporations, unions, and advocacy groups more power to bankroll federal elections.

Source : CNN

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Latest James Bond film on hold

Los Angeles, California (News Terupdate) - The big-screen adventures of James Bond are on hold because of the financial woes of MGM, the studio that distributes the movies, producers said.

The 23rd Bond film was in pre-production for a release next year.

"Due to the continuing uncertainty surrounding the future of MGM and the failure to close a sale of the studio, we have suspended development on BOND 23 indefinitely," producers Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli said in a joint statement. "We do not know when development will resume and do not have a date for the release of BOND 23."

MGM has been on the brink of bankruptcy as it works with creditors to find a new owner.

The James Bond series is the longest-running film franchise in history, with the first movie about the world's most famous fictional spy -- "Dr. No" -- released in 1962.

The movie franchise and merchandising are controlled by EON Productions. Wilson and Broccoli took over the 007 franchise from Albert "Cubby" Broccoli in 1995.

Source : CNN

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Lady Antebellum dominates ACM Awards

(News Terupdate) - Nashville joined hands with Vegas Sunday night for the 45th Academy of Country Music Awards -- where comedy was often king and Lady Antebellum was crowned queen.

"We've had a great year in country music," declared host Reba McEntire from the stage of the capacity-filled MGM Grand Garden Arena. "Lots of songs about cowboy Casanovas, white liars and two-timin' men -- and I'd like to thank Jesse James and Tiger Woods for inspiring us all."

While the men may have inspired, in the course of the three-hour, performance-heavy evening it was the women who commanded the spotlight -- starting with an opening act comprised of this year's (and last year's) entertainer of the year Carrie Underwood and eventual double winner Miranda Lambert, and culminating with multiple winner Lady Antebellum, who in fact are the co-ed trio of Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood.

In all, Lady A took home three awards, for song of the year, single of the year and vocal group. Brad Paisley was named male vocalist of the year, while Miranda Lambert won as female vocalist and for album of the year. Underwood's honor is unprecedented, as she is now the first woman to win two entertainer of the year awards.

During her acceptance speech, she said her cell phone was ringing.

Brad Needs Matt's Shirt

In a night aglow with body glitter and many spray tans, guest presenter Matthew McConaughey gifted Underwood with a pair of boots -- in answer to a request she made at last year's ceremony. He also delivered the male vocalist award to Brad Paisley, who was still wet from having just performed his number "Water."

"Can I borrow you shirt?" Paisley asked the actor. "You're used to not wearing one."

While presenting McConaughey also said, "After the show last year, my lady and I, Camila, we went back to the hotel and conceived the little lady that is now our daughter, Vida Alves McConaughey ... I promise you, me and Camila are not going to try and get so lucky this year."

Lady A's Fans

In accepting the first major award of the night, song of the year for "Need You Now," Lady Antebellum's Scott thanked the group's families and gave a shout out to "the fans -- thank you!"

Despite Lady A's early monopoly on the evening, their self-titled CD was not named album of the year. That distinction went to Miranda Lambert, for her "Revolution." After wooing her producers, Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke to join her onstage, Lambert said, "This music is what I do. It's the only thing I live for. Thanks for loving it, really ... changed my life."

Lambert previously won the album prize in 2007, for her "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend."

When she was announced (by Josh Duhamel) to be female vocalist the year, Lambert first embraced Carrie Underwood in the audience, then went up to the stage microphone and said, "You've got to be kidding me."

Came time for the winner of vocal group of the year, Lady Antebellum returned to the stage and this time Haywood spoke, thanking God and the folks back in Augusta, Georgia. "It is an honor to be part of the best genre in the world," he said.

Carrie's Triple Crown

Before Underwood was again named entertainer of the year, Reba McEntire presented her an award and noted the "American Idol" winner was part of an elite group of artists who were also named top new artist and top vocalist. "The Academy calls that the Triple Crown," said McEntire.

Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry were honored for their humanitarian work. A breathless Gentry spoke movingly about the work that other country stars had done, as Montgomery wiped tears from his eyes. "This is a very humbling moment" said Gentry, while Montgomery told the audience, "This is the greatest country in the world, baby."

Equally overcome with emotion, top new artist -- as decided by the fans -- Luke Bryan quickly rattled off the names of those he wanted to thank after first saying, "It's impossible for a human to shake more than [I am] now." Among those he acknowledged were his "beautiful wife Caroline," his parents and his hometown of Leesburg, Georgia. He also looked upward and thanked his late brother and sister, Chris and Kelly, for having a hand in his award.

Top vocal duo winners Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn -- Brooks & Dunn -- delivered their last-ever ACM performance, "My Maria," a song choice from fans voting online. Last August, the two announced that their 2010 tour, "The Last Rodeo," would bring down the curtain on their act, and after 20 years together they would go their separate ways.

Source : CNN

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'Dragon' kicks 'Kick-Ass' to box office curb

(News Terupdate) - If only "Kick-Ass" had been in 3-D maybe we would have had a different outcome. But instead, the DreamWorks Animated 3-D flick "How to Train Your Dragon" squeezed out a surprise come-from-behind first-place finish with an estimated $20 million take in its fourth weekend in release.

Falling only 20 percent, "Dragon's" total now stands at $158.6 million; a dearth of competing kids' movies has been beneficial to the well-reviewed Viking flick.

Lionsgate's "Kick-Ass" grossed an estimated $19.75 million for a second place spot. (With estimates showing spots one and two separated by a remarkably small $250,000, Monday's final results may give us a different outcome.) In 3,065 theaters, "Kick-Ass" averaged $6,445, not a bad debut for a film that only cost $28 million to make, but not reaching the high expectations for the film, which has been gathering buzz among the fan boys for the last month.

In fact, the movie only generated a B from Cinemascore, suggesting that some audiences aren't quite getting director Matthew Vaughn's irreverent take on the superhero genre. The R rating may have also depressed the film's box office, keeping its core fan base of teen boys out of the ticket lines.

Third place belonged to holdover "Date Night," which grossed $17.3 million, or only a 31 percent drop -- quite strong for a comedy that generated middling reviews when it opened last weekend. The PG-13 rated flick from director Shawn Levy ("Night at the Museum") has now grossed close to $50 million after ten days of release.

Chris Rock's R-rated comedy "Death at a Funeral" grossed an estimated $16.4 million. The remake of the 2007 British film of the same name bowed to strong reviews, and a B+ Cinemascore, so perhaps it will hold strong in coming weeks. From director Neil LaBute, "Death" only cost $21 million to make and generated the highest per-screen average in the top ten with $6,913.

Spot five went to "Clash of the Titans," which grossed an additional $15.7 million. The movie fell 41 percent in its third week of release, and its gross now stands at $133 million.

"The Last Song" took 6th place with $5.8 million, bringng its total to around $50 million, while "Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too" earned 7th spot with $4.1 million and a total of $54.8 million.

"Hot Tub Time Machine" is hanging in there, neck-and-neck with "Alice in Wonderland" for 8th. Both films have grossed around $3.5 million for the weekend. For "Hot Tub," it was a drop of just 35 percent in its fourth week of release, raising its gross to $42.5 million.

"Alice," in its seventh weekend, has now earned an impressive $324 million.

"The Bounty Hunter" rounds out the top 10; the Jennifer Aniston-Gerard Butler starrer has now earned $60 million after adding another $3.2 million in its fifth weekend of release.

Source : CNN

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Volcano's grip on Europe's airspace expected for 3rd straight day

London, England (News Terupdate) - An ash cloud from an Icelandic volcano was projected to snarl international travel for a third straight day, as flight cancellations and airspace restrictions stretched into Sunday.

British Airways canceled flights to and from London airports on Sunday, and the United Kingdom's air traffic agency extended restrictions on U.K.-controlled airspace until at least 7 p.m. Sunday (2 p.m. ET).

Thousands of flights were canceled Saturday. European air traffic officials said 5,000 flights took place instead of the customary number of 22,000. About 10,400 flights took place in Europe on Friday, compared with the normal 28,000.

Experts: No end to volcano ash in sight

There were restrictions on civil flights in 23 countries across most of northern and central Europe. This swath includes Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, most of France, most of Germany, Hungary, Ireland, northern Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

iReport: Have your plans been disrupted? Send your images, videos

The eruption began March 20 beneath the Eyjafjallajokull glacier in southern Iceland, blowing a hole in the ice. It worsened this week, forcing local evacuations and eventually affecting European airspace. Although barely visible in the air, the ash -- made up of tiny particles of rock, glass and sand -- poses a serious threat to aircraft.

The situation has upended lives for millions of travelers but for now, many are adjusting to the inconvenience.

Kara Helwig of Neenah, Wisconsin, told CNN her 15-year-old daughter, Megan Emenecker, was stuck in Paris after her flight home from her French club trip was canceled.

"She didn't sound worried. They're just definitely ready to get home. They probably don't even have any clean clothes and are low on money. But they're all in pretty good spirits," Helwig said.

She said the group hopes to leave on Tuesday.

Conversely, at least 150 French students were stranded in the New York metropolitan area, according to Marie Charrier, spokeswoman for the French consulate. The students have been given access to the consulate's phones to call home, she said.

Two locations of Lycee Francais -- French-language schools -- are sheltering some of the students in their gymnasiums, Charrier said. Two hotels donated sheets, blankets and toiletry kits. The consulate is trying to help in getting the students home, she said, and in some cases has been helping with food costs.

Steve Patterson of Midlothian, Virginia, and his wife were supposed to fly home Friday from the Hague, Netherlands, where they had been visiting relatives. Their flight was canceled and they've been rebooked on a Monday flight.

Patterson told CNN the couple misses their four children -- all under the age of 9 -- at home, and have been speaking with them by phone and Skype.

See latest developments affecting air travel

"We aren't worried about them because they are being cared for by multiple friends and family," he said, adding the couple is "mainly just sad that we aren't with them. We miss them and can't wait to be reunited."

On Saturday, airlines such as American and Continental sliced intercontinental flights. About 600 trans-Atlantic flights take place each day, 300 in each direction. Of the 300 flights that would usually arrive in Europe, 73 flights arrived in Europe on Saturday morning.

Other airlines such as Air France, Lufthansa, Ryanair and Qantas announced restrictions to their schedules in Europe because of the ash, which experts have said can stall engines and cause electrical failures on board aircraft. There were delays and cancellations Saturday at all 10 of Russia's international airports, including those in Moscow and St. Petersburg, the Russian Transport Ministry said.

iReport: High school class trip grounded

Upper air space has been made available in some of these restricted areas, depending on the observed and forecasted area of ash contamination, air traffic officials said. Parts of southern Europe, including Spain, the southern Balkan area, southern Italy, Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey remained open and flights were taking place in these areas, the officials said.

The Icelandic volcano continued to erupt on Saturday, according to an official with Iceland's Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management. He said it's not clear when the eruption will end.

Travelers rush to trains and ferries

The United Kingdom's National Air Traffic Services said volcanic ash cloud from Iceland is moving around and changing shape, Weather forecasts show the ash cloud progressively covering the whole of the United Kingdom after 7 p.m. (2 p.m. ET) Saturday, the agency said.

World leaders planning to reach Poland this weekend for the funeral of President Lech Kaczynski faced challenges because of the volcanic ash.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. President Barack Obama all canceled plans to travel to Poland Saturday for Kaczynski's funeral on Sunday. Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Prince Charles also said they were unable to attend.

iReport: Canceled flights create unexpected roommates

Airlines were rebooking passengers, and people were turning to other travel options, such as cars, trains and ferries.

Alexey Bekin, a 40-year-old Muscovite who runs a construction company, has been stuck in Geneva, Switzerland -- his situation illustrating the frustrations of stranded air travelers. After his flight home to Moscow was canceled Saturday, he said Aeroflot offered people hotel rooms that would have to be shared with strangers. Bekin opted to pay for his own hotel room.

He considered taking a train to Milan to catch a flight, but all the trains were sold out. He has been rebooked for a flight on Wednesday.

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Feds: Jilted boyfriend exposes actress' sham marriage

Los Angeles, California (News Terupdate) - A well-known Mexican soap opera star and her American husband face federal charges of entering a sham marriage so she could get legal residency in the United States.

The government said the fake marriage was exposed when a jilted boyfriend, fashion photographer Markus Klinko, called the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

"This actor should have realized that posing as a bride for immigration purposes could land her a role in a real-life crime drama," Special Agent Miguel Unzueta said.

The 28-year-old Romero appeared in at least 15 television shows and films since 2005, according to the Internet Movie Database, when prosecutors allege she paid Kent Ross, a pizza delivery man and musician, to marry her.

Romero appeared before a U.S. magistrate on Friday and was released on a $50,000 signature bond. She was ordered to surrender her passport and not to leave Southern California. Her activities will be monitored electronically.

The prosecutor in the case, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Left, said Romero could get between 15 and 21 months in prison if convicted, though such cases usually produce shorter sentences.

Ross appeared before a U.S. magistrate on Friday and was released on $25,000 bond.

The case is unusual because marriage fraud charges are usually litigated by immigration authorities rather than prosecuted as criminal cases.

A federal complaint filed Thursday accused Romero of paying Ross, 28, to "marry" her on June 12, 2005, but alleges they never lived together as a couple.

Romero began dating Klinko a month later, and they lived together for several months, the complaint said. After Romero dumped Klinko, the photographer "presented ICE with evidence that Romero was in a sham marriage," the government said.

The complaint names Michael Ball, founder of the Rock & Republic jeans company, as a target of the federal investigation, alleging that he helped arrange the sham marriage while Romero was modeling for his company.

The judge barred Ball from helping Romero post bond on Friday.

Romero's publicist did not return calls seeking comment Friday.

Her biography posted on her IMDB page listed Klinko as one of several photographers "who noticed her on-camera appeal, opened Fernanda's eyes to acting opportunities in Hollywood."

Romero's show business career began in Mexico at age 16 when she joined the ensemble Frizzby, the biography said. The group toured Mexico and Central America, releasing two top 10 singles, it said.

She started hosting television shows and appearing on commercials in Mexico when she was 18, it said.

Romero has appeared in print and TV ad campaigns for Rock and Republic, Clean and Clear, Pepsi, Apple and JC Penney , it said.

"She was cast in Telemundo's original production 'Wounded Soul,' where she was not only a lead actress, but also a lead singer, performing two songs in the soap-opera's soundtrack," her biography said.

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Bret Michaels has emergency appendectomy

(News Terupdate) - Bret Michaels tried to ignore the pain in his stomach Sunday night, hoping he could make the stage for a show in San Antonio, Texas.

But by 1 a.m. Monday, the 47-year-old rocker and contestant on "The Celebrity Apprentice" had to be rushed to the hospital with what he thought was a severe case of the flu. Instead, he underwent an emergency appendectomy.

Michaels "remains in the hospital, is doing well and beginning the recovery process," his rep says.

"Michaels, who has been known to perform under extreme conditions that would make most performers cancel, will unfortunately have no choice but to reschedule some of his April tour dates," the rep adds.

Theformer Poison frontman who went on to become a reality star on VH1's "Rock of Love" is no stranger to medical woes. A diabetic, he's been frequently hospitalized, gives himself insulin shots and checks his blood sugar four to six times a day.

He also suffered injuries, including a broken nose, when he was hit by a set piece during the 2009 Tony Awards.

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Colbert, Galifianakis top list of Webby Award nominees

(News Terupdate) - Actor-comedian Zach Galifianakis, funny man Stephen Colbert, a blog about sometimes-regrettable text messages and the New York Times' Web site top the list of nominees for the 2010 Webby Awards.

The venerable -- at least by Internet standards -- awards announced finalists for the honor Tuesday morning. Prizes, decided by judges including Martha Stewart and David Bowie, will be handed out June 14 on the final day of Internet Week in New York.

Other nominees include Twitter, Hulu, The Onion and a video featuring science greats Carl Sagan and Stephen Hawking.

Who would be your winner at the Webby Awards?

The Webby Awards honor excellence on the Internet, from serious news sites to silly videos. Nominees are named in four categories: Web sites, interactive advertising, online film and video, and the mobile Web.

The emergence of mobile technology was evident among nominees for the 14th annual awards.

"Rage," a Web movie starting Hollywood heavy hitters Jude Law, Eddie Izzard and Judi Dench, was nominated in the Best Online Film category. "Rage" is the first feature film to premier on mobile phones.

Other nominees from the mobile world include networking sites Twitter and Foursquare, and Texts From Last Night, a blog featuring funny, awkward or just plain weird text messages.

See a complete list of Webby Awards nominees.

Galifianakis, best known for his roles in movies like "The Hangover" and "Youth in Revolt," is nominated in the Comedy: Longform or Series category for "Between Two Ferns," his talk show on humor site Funny or Die that has featured such guests as Charlize Theron and Ben Stiller.

"The more and more talented people who start to participate, I think it's a recognition of Internet media and how important it is -- and also how accessible it is for consumers," said David-Michel Davies, director of the Webbys. "I think that's the reason these talented actors and actresses and directors are responding to it."

Competing with "David After Dentist" -- a YouTube hit in which a father records his son's loopy reaction to anesthesia -- for the Viral Video award are "Auto-Tune the News," "Lindsay Lohan's E-Harmony Profile," "Love Project Music Video" and "The Muppets: Bohemian Rhapsody."

The New York Times led the field with 15 nominations, followed by the BBC with nine and College Humor and The Onion with six each.

The public also will be able to vote online for The Webby People's Voice Awards. Deadline for voting is April 29.

The Webbys are presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, which includes Web experts, business figures and celebrities plus former nominees and other Internet professionals.

The awards ceremony is known for its promotion of brevity: Winners are limited to five-word acceptance speeches.

That's led to some classic lines, including Al Gore's "Please don't recount this vote" and late-night TV host Jimmy Fallon's "Thank God Conan got promoted."

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Hank Williams among 2010 Pulitzer winners

(News Terupdate) - The late country music icon Hank Williams was among the 2010 Pulitzer Prize winners announced Monday.

The Pulitzer Prize Board awarded a posthumous special award to Williams, who died in 1953 at 29, for his lifetime achievement as a musician, praising the country legend for "his craftsmanship as a songwriter who expressed universal feelings with poignant simplicity and played a pivotal role in transforming country music into a major musical and cultural force in American life."

The board, chaired by Miami Herald Executive Editor Anders Gyllenhaal, decided on the "special citation" after a confidential survey of experts in popular music.

"The citation, above all, recognizes the lasting impact of Williams as a creative force that influenced a wide range of other musicians and performers," said Sig Gissler, administrator of the Pulitzer Prizes, in a statement. "At the same time, the award highlights the board's desire to broaden its Music Prize and recognize the full range of musical excellence that might not have been considered in the past."

Only a few other musicians have earned special citations in music in recent years: jazz composers Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane each received one in 2006 and 2007, respectively, and Bob Dylan captured one in 2008.

Williams set the country music standard with his music, including songs such as, "Your Cheatin' Heart," "Cold Cold Heart," "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" and "Jambalaya."

In the reporting categories, which make up the bulk of the Pulitzer awards, The Washington Post racked up four awards in a wide range of categories -- feature writing, commentary, criticism and international reporting. The latter was awarded for journalist Anthony Shadid's series on Iraq as the United States started the troop withdrawal, leaving local leaders to "struggle to deal with the legacy of war and to shape the nation's future."

The New York Times won the award for explanatory reporting for a detailed account of contaminated beef and other food safety issues, pointing out defects in defects in federal regulations. The Times also won the national reporting category for stories on the hazardous use of cell phones and other devices while driving.

The highly coveted Pulitzer for investigative reporting was awarded to Barbara Laker and Wendy Ruderman of the Philadelphia Daily News and Sheri Fink, a reporter for the nonprofit, ProPublica investigative Web site, for their 13,000-word story, "The Deadly Choices at Memorial," which chronicled how some New Orleans doctors made urgent life-and-death decisions after being cut off by Hurricane Katrina's floodwaters. The story was published in collaboration with the New York Times Magazine.

The win by the 2-year-old Web site marked a significant moment for the Pulitzer board, which has traditionally awarded such honors to newspapers and wire services.

Other journalism categories were won by the Bristol (Virginia) Herald Courier for public service reporting; The Seattle Times for breaking news reporting; The Dallas Morning News for editorial writing; syndicated cartoonist Mark Fiore for editorial cartooning; The Des Moines Register for breaking news photography; and The Denver Post for feature photography.

Fiore's animated cartoons appeared on SFGate.com, the Web site of the San Francisco Chronicle, had "biting wit" and reflected extensive research as well as his ability to "distill complex issues," the board said.

In the arts, Paul Harding's "Tinkers" was awarded in the fiction category; "Next to Normal" won in drama; Liaquat Ahamed's "Lord of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World" won in history; T.J. Stiles' "The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt" won in biography; Rae Armantrout's "Versed" won in poetry; and David E. Hoffman's "Dead Hand: The Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race and Its Dangerous Legacy" won for general nonfiction.

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New iPhone system, with multi-tasking, unveiled

Cupertino, California (News Terupdate) - Apple unveiled details of its next-generation iPhone operating system Thursday in a press event at the company's headquarters here.

The new operating system, iPhone OS 4, will be released to developers this week and to consumers this summer. It will give developers access to calendar, photo library, still image and video data, and includes features aimed at helping apps run faster.

As expected, the new OS will support multitasking of apps.

"We weren't the first to this party but we're going to be the best, just like cut and paste," said Apple CEO Steve Jobs, alluding to the fact that cut-and-paste hadn't been available until a year after the first iPhone launched.

"It's really easy to implement multitasking in a way that drains battery life. If you don't do it just right your phone's going to feel sluggish and your battery life is going to go way down. We've figured out how to implement multitasking of third-party apps and avoid those things."

With the new OS, users will be able to press the home button twice to see a menu of all the currently active apps, which appears as a bar along the bottom of the screen. Tapping one of the apps takes you directly into that app. Apps can remain running in the background.

Apple demonstrated how you can keep listening to music in Pandora while doing other things on the phone, and how the phone could deliver push notifications to alert users to an incoming Skype call.

"It was really simple to implement. Just a dozen lines of code," said Skype's head of product development David Ponsford.

To address privacy concerns, the OS will also let you know (via a notification on the app's icon) when an app running in the background has requested your location from the device's GPS.

The announcement comes less than a week after Apple's launch of its tablet computer, the iPad. Jobs said the company had sold 450,000 iPads to date, and that users have downloaded more than 1 million iPad applications and over 650,000 digital books from the iBooks store.

Jobs also added that the company has sold more than 50 million iPhones and 35 million iPod Touches.

TheiPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad all run iPhone OS 3.0. The operating system is based on an OS X core, but with a touch-centric interface and optimizations aimed at increasing screen responsiveness and maximizing battery life.

The current iPhone OS has been widely criticized for its lack of support for full multitasking: It only allows a few core apps, such as iPod and Mail, to run in the background while another app is active. The OS also restricts add-on software to apps available through Apple's App Store.

The App Store currently contains 185,000 apps, Jobs said, adding than users have downloaded more than 4 billion apps from it to date. About 3,500 of those apps are optimized for the iPad.

The new OS also gives users the ability to group apps in folders, instead of just laying them out on the home screens.

Other features planned for iPhone OS 4 include a 5x digital zoom feature in the camera, and the ability to tap to focus in video. (Tap to focus was already available for still images in iPhone OS 3.)

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J.K. Rowling: Another book soon

(News Terupdate) - Two of the music industry's hottest acts, Justin Bieber and the "Glee" cast, hit the White House stage for yesterday's annual Easter Egg Roll.

Thousands of teeny tiny child fans (along with Michelle Obama) shrieked with delight, and some even enjoyed a brush with literary celebrity -- Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, who outshone her tween idol counterparts.

According to the Washington Post, Rowling read from "Sorcerer's Stone" and fielded some probing questions.

"I'm quite sure in the not-too-distant future, I will bring out another book," she said. Rowling did not rule out the possibility of another "Potter"-themed novel somewhere down the line.

Also reading to the Easter Egg Roll's captive audience were Olympian Apolo Anton Ohno (with a dramatic and dynamic rendition of "Green Eggs and Ham") and Yo Gabba Gabba's DJ Lance, with the timely "Duck! Rabbit!"

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Georgia teacher found not guilty at 'dirty dancing' trial

Decatur, Georgia (News Terupdate) - A former high school chorus teacher was acquitted Wednesday of criminal charges in connection with a suggestive dance routine students performed in his classroom in 2008.

Ending a two-day trial in Georgia's DeKalb County State Court, jurors found Nathan Grigsby not guilty of five misdemeanor charges of contributing to the depravation of a minor.

Grigsby's supporters, who filled one side of the courtroom, erupted into cheers outside after the verdict was read.

"I'm very excited and glad to see justice prevailed," Grigsby said. "I put my faith in God that the jury would see the truth, which is the way I told it."

No one disputed the sexual nature of the boys' dance routine, which was captured by a student's cell phone on December 11, 2008 and posted on Facebook.

Instead, the controversy lay in whether the teacher bore criminal responsibility for not stopping the routine sooner than he did, and where to draw the line between teenage misbehavior and criminal acts.

The 68-second video, which became the trial's centerpiece, showed the three teens ripping off their shirts and simulating sex acts in front of an audience of squealing female classmates. At one point, one of the boys grabbed a girl and hoisted her up as she wrapped her legs around his hips, while another boy gyrated in the face of a girl lying on the ground.

Watch the dance video on CNN affiliate WSB

DeKalb County Solicitor General Robert James contended that Grigsby did not do enough to stop the routine and condoned it by laughing and clapping along with his students.

James said he respected the jury's verdict but still believed that Grigsby had committed a crime. Given the chance to do it again, the prosecutor said he would still take the case to trial.

"People need to understand that their conduct will not go unchecked," James told reporters. "This is an issue that needed addressing."

Three of Grigsby's former students at the high school in suburban Atlanta also face public indecency charges in connection with the case. One of them testified in Grigsby's defense.

James said Wednesday's verdict will not affect future proceedings against the teens, all of whom have since graduated from Southwest DeKalb High School.

"You had young men simulate sex acts with young women in a classroom," he said. "I do think what they did in that classroom is wrong, and they need to be held accountable."

A student involved in the dance routine, Jerramy Barnett, now 19, testified that Grigsby did not know about it ahead of time. He said the teacher had his back to the students when he turned on the music.

Barnett's parents and three brothers -- two of whom also testified for the defense -- were among the crowd of supporters keeping vigil at the courthouse during testimony and deliberations.

"I need to be here for Mr. Grigsby because he's always been there for us," a tearful Barnett said before the verdict. "Mr. Grigsby's always gone to bat for us."

After the verdict, Grigsby's lawyer advised the teen not to make any statements with the charges pending against him. But Jerramy Barnett's older brother, Justin, expressed relief for Grigsby.

"I feel like a burden's been lifted off all our shoulders," he said. "I'm happy Mr. Grigsby can move on with his life like we've been trying to."

The testimony from the Barnett brothers and several other teens mirrored Grigsby's. The teacher said he was sitting at his laptop with his headphones on and his back turned as he helped another student find music for his routine.

The six men and six women on the jury asked to view the video twice, most recently on Wednesday afternoon. With their eyes glued to a projector in the courtroom, jurors watched, took notes and nodded to each other.

James said the video was the strongest evidence against Grigsby, even though the teacher is not visible during most of it. But one witness pointed out a moment where Grigsby's knee is allegedly visible -- suggesting that he was watching and aware of what was happening.

James said students who testified for the defense had contradicted their previous statements to school authorities.

"Our contention has always been that there was a lot of peer pressure in this case, so maybe students were telling the truth initially, but after the case festered for a year their stories changed," the prosecutor said.

School administrators fired Grigsby last year, alleging that he had failed to properly supervise his students, and the State Board of Education upheld his termination. But his acquittal means he may not lose his teaching certificate.

"This was only a test," Grigsby said, adding that he would even consider returning to the school district that had fired him.

"Even when you're facing a difficult situation you have to stand for what you know is right and the truth will set you free."

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Ricky Martin says he's 'a fortunate homosexual man'

LOS ANGELES, California (News Terupdate) - Pop singer Ricky Martin declared publicly this week what he avoided discussing for years: He is gay.

"I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man," Martin wrote on his official Web site. "I am very blessed to be who I am."

A decade ago, when ABC's Barbara Walters pressed Martin to address rumors about his sexuality, he declined to confirm or deny them. "I just don't feel like it," Martin said.

Now, Martin wrote, "these years in silence and reflection made me stronger and reminded me that acceptance has to come from within and that this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn't even know existed."

The 39-year-old Puerto Rican native started off with the Latin boy band Menudo before launching his solo career in 1991.

His song "Livin' La Vida Loca" rose to the top of the music charts in 1999 and propelled Martin to stardom.

Martin said he decided years ago to not share "my entire truth" with the world because people he loved warned him that "everything you've built will collapse."

"Allowing myself to be seduced by fear and insecurity became a self-fulfilling prophecy of sabotage," he wrote. "Today I take full responsibility for my decisions and my actions."

The decision to come out was initiated a few months ago, when he began writing his memoirs, he said. "I got very close to my truth," he wrote.

"From the moment I wrote the first phrase I was sure the book was the tool that was going to help me free myself from things I was carrying within me for a long time," he wrote. "Things that were too heavy for me to keep inside."

Martin said that disclosing his secret is important because of his two sons, born via surrogate.

"To keep living as I did up until today would be to indirectly diminish the glow that my kids where born with," he wrote.

"Enough is enough. This has to change. This was not supposed to happen five or 10 years ago, it is supposed to happen now. Today is my day, this is my time, and this is my moment."

Writing the seven paragraphs, he said, "is a solid step towards my inner peace and vital part of my evolution."

"What will happen from now on? It doesn't matter. I can only focus on what's happening to me in this moment."

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