Doctor: Men Should Have Sex Daily

Daily sex can improve the genetic quality of a man’s sperm and could enhance his chances of fathering a child, new research has suggested.

Couples who are trying for a baby are often advised to have sex every other day, so that the man’s sperm count has time to recover, but scientists in Australia have discovered that this may lower some men’s fertility.

While abstaining from sex for a few days does boost sperm counts, sperm quality as well as quantity is important to male fertility and this can be damaged if a man ejaculates too infrequently.

A study at Sydney IVF, a center for infertility treatment, has found that daily sex for a seven-day period substantially improves the genetic quality of sperm, without lowering sperm counts enough to impair fertility. Scientists plan to examine whether this also affects pregnancy rates.

Dr. David Greening, who led the research, said that for some couples, having intercourse every day during the woman’s most fertile period could make all the difference to their efforts to start a family.

The findings, which he presented Monday at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology conference in Amsterdam, could also have important implications for couples having IVF.

Men are usually advised to abstain for ejaculation for three days before providing a sperm sample for fertilising their partner’s eggs and many couples do not have regular sex while going through IVF. “It could be that it’s better to keep the river flowing at this time,” Greening said.

When men go without ejaculating, the number of sperm stored in the epididymis at the top of the testicle increases, hence the standard advice to have sex every two to three days if you are trying to conceive.

The longer that sperm sits in the epididymis, however, the more genetic damage it accumulates through exposure to heat and to oxygen free radicals. Regular ejaculation empties this sperm reservoir, ensuring that newly-produced sperm of higher genetic quality can get out.

changes: A visual history of Firefox

The official release of Mozilla Firefox 3.5 is due this week. It's a significant milestone in the open-source browser's history. Putting pure features aside, let's take a look at some of the big design changes Mozilla has made over the years, beginning with version 0.8 when Mozilla renamed it from Firebird to Firefox.

For the sake of simplicity we're keeping it limited to just the Windows and Mac versions. And for certain features where there is little, if any, difference between the platforms--we're sticking to the Windows version.

The four things we're comparing are navigation, tabs, bookmarks, and the settings menu:

Navigation

Navigation has experienced subtle changes over the years, with the exception of version 3. This brought the increased size of the back button, and noticeable shrinking of the rest of the controls. Mozilla also made it easier to bookmark pages, by adding a star button right into the address bar, which users can click, avoiding having to use keyboard shortcuts or on-screen menus to save a page.

Note: To see the full-size versions of these images just click on them.
(Credit: CNET)

Tabs

Tabs are a very important part of Firefox. Version 3.5 adds a new plus button that users can click on to create a new tab. Previously this required a keyboard shortcut or selecting the option from a menu.

Version 3.5 is also getting "tab tearing," which lets users pull away tabs from one window to add to another, or break off into an entirely new window. Early versions of the browser wouldn't even let you re-order them without a third-party extension, and up until Firefox 2, the controls to close individual tabs were kept on the far right side. Version 2 also introduced a new way to view a list of all your tabs by clicking the arrow on the right side of the browser. This let you pick any one of your tabs without having to hunt for ones that could be off the screen.
(Credit: CNET)

Bookmarks

Bookmark management saw its biggest change in Firefox 3. This version had a completely overhauled tool, which included things like tags and navigation controls that let you surf around your bookmarks as if you were visiting Web pages.

Firefox 3 also did a better job of letting users import and export their bookmarks right from the manager. It included simple controls for reverting back to previous versions of bookmark history, and merging multiple libraries of bookmarks into one master file.

(Credit: CNET)

Settings menus

The options menu is the least sexy thing on this list, but one that most easily shows the changes in the way people are using Web browsers. Besides a total reduction in size, logo changes, and a swap in navigation from the side to the top, later versions simply moved things around. They also gave users more control over what the browser displayed when it started up, and where downloads went when finished.
(Credit: CNET)

The next Firefox

Visual alterations are easy to track, but some of the biggest changes to Firefox have been under the hood. As browsers begin to borrow features from one another, the underlying differentiation becomes what they're built on. Rendering engines and resource management are becoming big selling points as users begin to care less about what their browser looks like (see Google Chrome's and Apple Safari 4's understated looks), and more about how fast pages load and recover from crashes.

So what will the next version of Firefox bring? We're still a long way off from version 4.0, but Mozilla has been quite open about where the browser is going. The company has already published its road map of intended features for version 3.6, which is due sometime next year.

One of the most exciting features that's planned for 3.6 is what Mozilla is calling "task bar navigation." It's described as a way for a user to "organize tabs, history, downloaded files, and other resources according to the task they were attempting to accomplish," which means you're going to spend less time tracking around menus or third-party sites, and more time simply typing a few letters into Firefox's address bar to do tasks. Other features include a way to search through open tabs, and more easily open up sets of tabs you had open in an earlier session.

Until then, the easiest way to stay on the cutting edge of Firefox (and other browsers) is to use the beta versions, which are released to brave users weeks and sometimes months before the general public. These may come with a few bugs, but the risk is often outweighed by the reward.

Michael Jackson's mom gets kids, estate control for now

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Michael Jackson's three children asked to see their father's body in the UCLA emergency room after they were told he was dead, according to the lawyer for Jackson's personal doctor.
From left: Prince Michael Jackson II, Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson and Michael Joseph Jackson Jr.

From left: Prince Michael Jackson II, Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson and Michael Joseph Jackson Jr.

"My understanding is that they did" see the body, attorney Ed Chernoff said.

On Monday, the children, ages 7, 11 and 12, were placed under the temporary guardianship of their paternal grandmother, Katherine Jackson, by a Los Angeles judge.

The biological mother of Jackson's two oldest children, Debbie Rowe, will be invited to a hearing next Monday in which the judge will consider who should have custody of them. She has, so far, not publicly indicated whether she will challenge the Jacksons for custody.

The Jackson family said it has not found a will for the singer, which would leave the division of his estate to the court.

The judge Monday also gave Katherine Jackson temporary control of her son's "tangible personal property."

No funeral plans have been announced for Jackson, although his father, Joe Jackson, said Monday the famed singer would not be buried at the Neverland estate. He also indicated the family would wait until they get the results of a second autopsy before holding a funeral. See the court papers (PDF file)

Los Angeles police detectives and Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter returned to Jackson's rented Holmby Hills, California, home to "recover some additional items as a result of our investigation," Winter said.

The investigators carried off medications, but Winter did not say what they were. Read supplement to court documents (PDF file)
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Chernoff -- attorney for Dr. Conrad Murray, who was at the home when Jackson collapsed -- responded to unsubstantiated reports that Jackson was given a shot of Demerol, a powerful painkiller, shortly before his death. Video Watch police take drugs from Jackson home »

"Dr. Murray never prescribed Demerol, never administered Demerol, never saw Michael Jackson take Demerol, and that goes, as well, for Oxycontin," Chernoff said.

Murray was was not aware of any prescription drug abuse by Jackson, Chernoff said. Video Watch Jackson's doctor denies prescribing Demerol »

"He had no reason to suspect that he had," Chernoff said. "Let's not rush to judgment here and say Michael Jackson was a drug addict. We don't know that."

Chernoff, known as a criminal defense lawyer, said Murray is not worried about criminal charges. Murray hired him because "one of the most famous men in the world literally died in his arms."

"We want to get to the bottom of it just like the family does," Chernoff said.

Murray rode in the ambulance with Jackson and worked with UCLA doctors in the efforts to revive him, Chernoff said.

He also was the one to tell the Jackson family gathered at the hospital that he was dead, Chernoff said.

When the children asked to see their father, Murray consulted with a psychologist for advice, Chernoff said, adding that it was his understanding the children did see the body. Video Watch why the court is giving custody to Jackson's mother »

Since leaving the hospital Thursday, Murray has been available to meet with investigators and "he's not hiding out," Chernoff said.
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The children are happy playing with other kids at their grandparents' home because they were never around other kids, according to Joe Jackson.

"We're going to take care of them and give them the education they're supposed to have," he said. "We can do that."

Britain Demands Release of Embassy Employees in Iran

Iranian authorities have detained several local employees of the British Embassy in Tehran, a move that Britain's foreign secretary Sunday called "harassment and intimidation" and reflected a hardening of the regime's stance toward the West.

Iranian media said eight local embassy staff were detained for an alleged role in postelection protests, but gave no further details. British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said "about nine" employees were detained Saturday and that four had been released.

The detentions signaled a further toughening of Iran's dealings with the West, which has become increasingly vocal in its condemnation of a crackdown on opposition supporters.

Opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi has alleged massive fraud in the June 12 presidential election and says he is the rightful winner, not President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Iran has accused the West of stoking unrest, singling out Britain and the U.S. for alleged meddling. Last week, Iran expelled two British diplomats, and Britain responded in kind. Iran has also said it's considering downgrading diplomatic ties with Britain.

On Sunday, the semiofficial Fars news agency reported that the embassy staffers were detained for what was described as a "significant role" in postelection unrest.

The British Foreign Office says the embassy has a staff of more than 100, including at least 70 locally hired Iranians. Last week, Britain sent home 12 dependents of embassy staff because the protests had disrupted their lives.

Miliband, who is on the Greek island of Corfu for a foreign ministers' meeting, said Britain has lodged a protest with the Iranian authorities over the detentions. He described the step as "harassment and intimidation of a kind that is quite unacceptable."

"The idea that the British Embassy is somehow behind the demonstrations and protests that have been taking place in Tehran. ... is wholly without foundation," he said. The foreign minister discussed the detentions with his EU colleagues, who said later they drafted an agreement that "reaffirms solidarity among member states" in backing Britain in the dispute.
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In London, a Foreign Office spokeswoman, speaking on customary condition of anonymity, said any further harassment of British Embassy employees would be met with "a strong and united EU response." She declined to comment on whether Britain was considering recalling its ambassador in protest or for consultations.

Iran's government has tried to discredit opposition supporters by alleging they have been directed by the West.

On Friday, a senior Iranian cleric, Ahmed Khatami, lashed out at Britain in a nationally televised sermon. "In this unrest, Britons have behaved very mischievously and it is fair to add the slogan of 'down with England' to the slogan of 'down with USA,"' he said.

Britain, a colonial power in the region with a long history in Iran, has been a prominent target. Britain and the U.S. were behind the 1953 coup that toppled Prime Minster Mohammad Mossadegh, who nationalized Iran's oil industry. Britain had almost complete control over Iran's oil industry for decades.

The British have also drawn fire because of the BBC's prominent role as a trusted broadcaster in Farsi inside Iran.

This is a reversal from the way the state and publicly funded BBC was perceived in the run-up to the Iranian Islamic Revolution. At the time, the BBC was widely listened to because it extensively covered anti-Shah demonstrations and activities of the Islamic Republic's founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who was in exile in France.

Iran's leaders have countered Western condemnation with increasingly angry rhetoric. The confrontation appears to be dashing hopes for a new dialogue, as initially envisioned by President Barack Obama when he took office.

Obama wants to engage Iranian leaders in talks over the country's suspect nuclear program which the U.S. and other western countries worry is aimed at developing nuclear weapons. Iran defends its nuclear program as civilian in nature. On Sunday, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said the 27-nation bloc would "like very much" to restart nuclear talks with Tehran despite the rising tensions.

Senior White House adviser David Axelrod played down Ahmadinejad's accusations against the U.S., saying Sunday they aren't credible and are meant for domestic consumption. "This is political theater," he said on ABC's "This Week."

Iran's rulers have unleashed club-wielding militiamen to crush street protests and arrested hundreds of journalists, students and activists.

On Sunday, Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for national unity, appealing to both sides in the dispute, even though he has come down firmly on the side of Ahmadinejad.

"I admonish both sides not to stoke the emotions of the young or pit the people against each other," he said in comments carried on state TV. "Our people are made of one fabric."

Mousavi signaled he is not dropping his political challenge.

In a new statement, he insisted on a repeat of the election and rejected a partial recount being proposed by the government. However, Mousavi's challenge seemed largely aimed at maintaining some role as an opposition figure.

The latest statement by Mousavi, who has been increasingly isolated, appeared Sunday on Ghalamnews, a Web site run by supporters. Mousavi-related Web sites have frequently been blocked by the government, and one was shut down by hackers last week.

Iran's top electoral body, the 12-member Guardian Council, has proposed recounting 10 percent of the votes. On Friday, the council offered to bring in six more political figures to oversee a partial recount, presumably to give the effort greater legitimacy in the eyes of the challengers.

However, Mousavi reiterated his demand for nullification as "the most suitable solution to restore public confidence." He called for independent arbiters to settle the dispute.

Another defeated candidate, Mahdi Karroubi, also expressed doubt that a fair review is possible.

"How is it possible to answer controversies through counting some ballots?" he wrote in a letter to the Guardian Council, published Sunday in his newspaper, Etemad-e-Melli.

A third candidate, Mohsen Rezaei, said he would only send a representative to the council, for observation of a re-count, if the other two candidates did the same.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Iranian authorities have barred journalists for international news organizations from reporting on the streets and ordered them to stay in their offices. This report is based on the accounts of witnesses reached in Iran and official statements carried on Iranian media.

Electric Car Company Launches Car-Sharing Program

BALTIMORE — The nation's first all-electric car-sharing program debuted Tuesday at the city's Inner Harbor, with manufacturer Electrovaya hoping urban residents seeking to go green and curious tourists will take the concept for a spin.

Electrovaya Inc. is offering its Maya 300 for rent at the Maryland Science Center. The car can go up to 120 miles on one charge of its lithium-ion battery system, and it gets its juice from a regular 110-volt outlet.

"This is an example of what science centers do best," said Van Reiner, president and CEO of the science center. "We are showcasing new technology, and that's what makes us so excited."

Ten cars will be available starting Wednesday through the new car-sharing Web site Altcar.org. A two-hour trip costs $29, with discounts for science center members.

The manufacturer calls the fleet of emission-free cars a "game changer" in urban transportation alternatives. Electrovaya CEO Sankar Das Gupta said that's because the vehicle has the look and feel of a four-door, gas-powered sedan and should appeal to consumers who want to reduce oil dependence.

"Creative ventures like this are essential in finding new energy solutions," Das Gupta said.

The car makes little noise, provides dashboard gauges for battery life and temperature, and offers other conveniences of gas-powered cars.

Maryland Energy Administration research found that Baltimoreans typically drive about 30 miles to work, well within the Maya's range, and Das Gupta noted the car could be plugged in at the driver's destination for a charge.

Driving 50 miles will cost about $1 in energy, according to Electrovaya's estimates. The cost could be lower through some utilities that give discounts for charging during off-peak hours.

The car-sharing service ZipCar Inc. also operates in the Baltimore market, but Das Gupta said Mississauga, Ontario-based Electrovaya is looking to feature its technology, not challenge ZipCar for market share.

Electrovaya's battery technology is made possible by ExxonMobil Corp.'s battery separator film. The film, with lithium-ion batteries, allows for the units to operate at higher temperatures with a reduced risk of meltdown.

The battery system is designed to shut down the flow of electricity if the engine is overheating.

Businesses and local governments can also buy the Maya 300 for their fleets. The company will make the cars available to the public in 2011, starting at $25,000 for a 60-mile range vehicle and $35,000 for the 120-mile range vehicle.

Son Thought Pop King Was Joking When He Collapsed

Michael Jackson's eldest son thought his father was joking around when he collapsed on the living-room floor — but soon stood "in a trance" as the King of Pop's personal doctor frantically tried to revive him, a family confidant told the New York Post.

"The horror of it all is that Prince thought his dad was just being his dad and clowning, but it was real, and he watched as they worked on him," said Stacy Brown, a Jackson family biographer who has spoken extensively to the Jackson's relatives since he died Thursday.

"Prince was stunned — in a trance — just watching," Brown said. "There was no movement, just looking around and not really processing what was really happening."

Brown said he was told that when Jackson went into cardiac arrest, he was in the living room of the $100,000-per-month Los Angeles rental with the 12-year-old boy — whose full name is "Prince" Michael Joseph Jackson Jr.

Also there were the pop star's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, his longtime friend and one-time manager, Frank DiLeo, and a security guard named Tippy.

Jackson's doctor cooperating with investigation

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Michael Jackson's cardiologist, who met with detectives Saturday, has provided information that will help with the investigation into the singer's death, the Los Angeles, California, Police Department said.
Rev. Jesse Jackson (left) and Joseph Jackson (right) stand outside Michael Jackson's home.

Rev. Jesse Jackson (left) and Joseph Jackson (right) stand outside Michael Jackson's home.

The department said late Saturday that it conducted an "extensive interview" with the doctor, who may have been the last person to see Jackson alive.

"Dr. Conrad Murray, the physician who was with Michael Jackson at the time of his collapse, voluntarily contacted the Los Angeles Police Department," the statement said.

"Detectives assigned to Robbery-Homicide Division met with Dr. Murray and conducted an extensive interview. Dr. Murray was cooperative and provided information which will aid the investigation."

Jackson's family suspects Murray can answer some lingering questions about the singer's last hours, but they have been unable to contact him, the Rev. Jesse Jackson said Saturday. Video Watch latest developments in Jackson's death investigation »

"The routine inquiry is now an investigation," Jesse Jackson said. "They (Jacksons) didn't know the doctor. ... He should have met with the family, given them comfort on the last hours of their son."

Murray's lawyer said earlier that the doctor was upset but willing to cooperate.

"It's a human tragedy and he's upset obviously over the loss of Mr. Jackson. But he is not a suspect in the death of Mr. Jackson," Matthew Alford said. Video Watch attorney for Jackson's doctor say his client is not a suspect »
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Los Angeles police, who met briefly with Murray after Jackson's death Thursday, had been trying to set up the interview.

"It is important to interview everybody that was in contact with Mr. Jackson immediately prior to his demise particularly anyone involved in his medical care," said Deputy Police Chief Charlie Beck. "So it's extremely important to talk to his doctor."

Detectives impounded Murray's car, which was parked at the singer's rented home, because it may contain evidence related to Jackson's death, possibly prescription medications.

Police have released no information on what they may have found.

Alford said he did not have any details.

"I have no information as to what if any treatment, or course of treatment he was doing for Mr. Jackson at all," he said.

Also Saturday, the Jackson family spoke out in a statement to People magazine and obtained by CNN. Read statement from People

"In one of the darkest moments of our lives we find it hard to find the words appropriate to this sudden tragedy we all had to encounter," said patriarch Joseph Jackson, speaking on behalf of the family.

"Our beloved son, brother and father of three children has gone so unexpectedly, in such a tragic way and much too soon," he said. "It leaves us, his family, speechless and devastated to a point, where communication with the outside world seems almost impossible at times.

The statement went on to thank fans worldwide for their condolences and expressions of grief.

"Please do not despair, because Michael will continue to live on in each and every one of you," Joseph Jackson said.

Family members including Jackson's mother, Katherine, were at the estate Jackson had rented in Holmby Hills. Around midday, two moving vans pulled up. One left empty, and the other apparently contained objects from the house. Other vehicles came and went, including a silver Range Rover driven by a plain clothes police officer.

Vidal Herrera, founder of 1-800-AUTOPSY, a specialty autopsy business, told CNN on Saturday that the Jackson family had contacted the business to inquire about possibly having a second autopsy done there.

Herrera, a former deputy field investigator for the Los Angeles County coroner's office, said the funeral home where Jackson's body was taken contacted him on Thursday, and a representative of the family called him on Friday. The name of the funeral home was not disclosed.

He said he told the funeral home that he didn't believe another autopsy was required. An autopsy was performed Friday by the Los Angeles County coroner's office. The body was moved to a funeral home Friday night.

It was not immediately confirmed early Sunday whether a second autopsy was performed.

Michael Jackson died Thursday after suffering cardiac arrest. A spokesman for the Los Angeles County coroner's office told reporters Friday that more tests must be conducted before a cause of death can be determined. That could take four to six weeks.

The coroner said there was no indication of external trauma or foul play.

The 50-year-old pop star was discovered unconscious Thursday by paramedics at his home, where Murray apparently had tried to revive him. He was rushed to a Los Angeles medical center, where he was pronounced dead. Video Listen to the 911 call »

Meanwhile, radio stations around the world dusted off the singer's records and fans took part in hastily-organized dance celebrations.

"I just felt I had to come, just to say goodbye," said Los Angeles nurse Lydia Cook. "I could never afford to go to his concerts but I kind of grew up with him. And I loved his music."

On the island of Cebu in the Philippines, 1,400 of the most hardened prisoners spent 10 hours perfecting a carefully choreographed 15-minute tribute to Jackson. Video Watch prisoners' tribute to Jackson »

"We idolize him really," said Mavin Cabido, a convicted robber. "The moonwalk is my favorite. I like that."

The prisoners at the Cebu Detention and Rehabilitation Center in central Philippines reprised their performance of "Thriller," which has garnered more than 24 million views since 2007 -- when prison supervisor Byron Garcia first uploaded it to the video-sharing Web site.
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Garcia said he had hoped Jackson would, one day, come to Cebu and dance himself.

"Now it's not going to happen," Garcia said.

Billy Mays, OxiClean pitchman, found dead

The 50-year-old known for his shouting OxiClean ads was pronounced dead at 7:45 a.m. The Hillborough County medical examiner will perform an autopsy, Tampa police Lt. Brian Dugan said.

Mays was on the US Airways flight from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Tampa on Saturday that had a hard landing at Tampa International Airport when the plane's front tire blew out. There were no reported injuries on Flight 1241, US Airways told CNN.

According to a local Tampa TV station, Mays said: "All of a sudden as we hit you know it was just the hardest hit, all the things from the ceiling started dropping. It hit me on the head, but I got a hard head."
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Airline spokesman Jim Olson told CNN Sunday there were no reported passenger injuries from flight 1241. The airline vowed to "cooperate fully" with authorities in the investigation.

"We were very sad to learn of Billy Mays' passing and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family," Olson said. Tampa officials say the Medical Examiner's Office expects to complete an autopsy by Monday afternoon. In a statement, Deborah Mays said that although "Billy lived a public life," the family does not plan immediate public statements about his death.

Mays was a spokesman for Orange Glo and detergent OxiClean and appeared in commercials for other products.
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He is featured on the reality TV show ''Pitchmen'' on the Discovery Channel, which follows pitch people in their jobs.

"It is with incredible sadness that we have to report that Billy Mays died in his sleep last night," said a statement from the Discovery Channel. "Everyone that knows him was aware of his larger-than-life personality, generosity and warmth. Billy was a pioneer in his field and helped many people fulfill their dreams. He will be greatly missed as a loyal and compassionate friend. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family at this time of incredible loss."

Missing Ohio girl found with mom, sex offender

(CNN) -- A tip from an isolated communal farm in rural San Diego County, California, may have led police to solve the well-publicized case of a missing 4-year-old Ohio girl.
Haylee Donathan was found with her mother and her mother's boyfriend, fugitive sex offender Robbie Potter.

Haylee Donathan was found with her mother and her mother's boyfriend, fugitive sex offender Robbie Potter.

Authorities stormed the ranch in a dramatic Tuesday afternoon raid to find young Haylee Donathan; her mother, Candace Watson; and Robbie Potter, Watson's boyfriend and a registered sex offender who had escaped from a half-way house.

Haylee had been missing for 27 days, and the search for her had been spotlighted on national television current affairs shows.

In a news conference Tuesday, police did not say what lead them to the remote Morning Star Ranch to rescue Haylee. Video Watch authorities announce the good news »

Despite exhaustive media coverage and hundreds of law enforcement agencies on the case, Haylee and the two adults had spent more than a week on the ranch without raising suspicions, said Kevin Carlin, a member of the ranch in the neighborhood of Valley Center.

Ranch members became suspicious when a former guest saw billboards urging help in finding Haylee and the two adults while traveling in Las Vegas, Nevada, Carlin said during a phone interview.

The ranch contacted police, who coordinated the secret rescue mission pulled off Tuesday.

In an Ohio news conference, Peter Elliott, United States marshal for the northern district of Ohio, said of the many tips that came in, one in particular helped break the case. But he did not elaborate.

Before ranch members became suspicious, Haylee, her mother and Potter seemed like a happy family, Carlin said.

"We thought they were a couple," Carlin said. "We thought she was their child. We treated them as guests. They helped us and we provided for their basic needs," said Carlin, explaining that no one at the ranch knew Watson and Potter were wanted.

They told their hosts they were married, he said.

"They seemed nice enough," Carlin said, adding that it is not in the group members' nature to be suspicious of others, so they take people at their word and do not grill new members about their lives or background.

"We pray to be delivered from evil every day, and we obviously were. We're just so thankful."

Watson and Potter kept a low profile, doing their chores in the kitchen and on the farm, Carlin said. He described Haylee as a sweet little girl who played well with the other children on the ranch, a 66-acre plot in rural San Diego County.

According to Carlin, the 6-year-old community is part of a worldwide messianic Christian organization known as The Twelve Tribes.

Just before the raid, Carlin said the other families were moved to safety but went about their own business, even going for a swim.

"It was pretty tense because there were armed men on our property and helicopters overhead," he said. '"The couple didn't resist arrest, and it went smoothly."

A few families live on the ranch in several separate homes, according to Carlin, who declined to give an exact number of people.
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Haylee, Watson and Potter slept in the same room, but Carlin said he was not sure if they slept in the same bed.

Last week, in an interview on HLN's Nancy Grace, Watson's roommate said she saw all three in one bed the morning they disappeared, a revelation that further alarmed authorities.

Transformers 2 Bumblebee Camaro SS exposed

You don't have to be a fan of cars turning into robots (or is it robots turning into cars) to love the svelte yet muscle bound styling of the new Bumblebee Transformers 2 (revenge of the Fallen) Camaro.

The Transformers 2 movie star car gets some Hollywood slightly pimped SS treatment for the newest movie going robot, or is it car?

GM is banking on a bounce in demand for the Camaro SS with the release of then new movie.
Transformers 2 features a 2010 Camaro "Bumblebee" that is quickly becoming one of the most popular vehicles of 2010. The 2010 Camaro base model has sold out at several Chevrolet dealerships across the country and is now considered a hard vehicle to find. (See "Where can I buy a 2010 Camaro?") The 2010 Bumblebee Camaro is now the choice of modern muscle car when compared to Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger. Orders for the Bumblebee Camaro started being place on June 1, 2009 with production starting on June 24, 2009. Expect to see a 2010 Bumblebee Camaro on the road near you very soon!

2010 Bumblebee Camaro specifications:

* 0-60 in 4.8 seconds
* 6.2 liter V8
* 3860 lb curb weight
* 426 hp @ 5900 RPM
* 420 tq @ 4200 rpm
* Rear wheel drive
* Special bodykit
* Bumblebee graphics & interior package

Buy 1:24 Bumblebee Camaro die cast

Several video clips of crowds "chasing" the Bumblebee Camaro with video camera's are lining websites like Streetfire.net, Youtube.com, and others. Will you be one of the lucky few that get to see a 2010 Bumblebee Camaro? If you are lucky enough you might just get to own one! This highly collectible modern muscle car is the "special edition" of the 2010 Camaro's return. Immortalizing the Camaro Bumblebee , Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen release in USA June 22, 2009 is also going to help drive sales and establish this vehicles proper place in automotive history. Check out the Bumblebee Camaro paparazzi below!

New Mafia Game Hits Up Twitter Players for Money

Lolplaying, the maker of a new role-playing game on Twitter called 140 Mafia, is trying to explore Twitter's moneymaking potential with Super Rewards, a "virtual currency" service that already has been reaping revenue from various forms of online recreation.

The alliance is being announced Tuesday at a social gaming conference in San Francisco.

Super Rewards gives players of online and mobile games ways to gain the upper hand against their opponents. The price: a fee, or a willingness to accept offers from advertisers.

It's already proven to be a lucrative model at Facebook and MySpace, as well as on the iPhone. Now Super Rewards co-founder Jason Bailey is confident it will pay off on Twitter as 140 Mafia attracts more players. He already is impressed with the results since Super Rewards quietly began selling extra points and additional powers to "tweeple" this month when 140 Mafia's text-based take on organized crime made its Twitter debut.

"I'm already making more money from Twitter than Twitter is itself," Bailey boasted. And Bailey figures other programmers who have designed games and other applications for the service will be scrambling to capitalize on their innovations.

If that happens, Bailey thinks Twitter will need to impose more controls over the external applications and perhaps even demand a cut of the sales — an approach that Apple Inc. has embraced for its iPhone.

Twitter co-founder Biz Stone didn't respond to a request for comment. He has previously emphasized the San Francisco-based startup doesn't need to generate revenue right now, partly because it still has most of the $55 million that it raised from venture capitalists.

Super Rewards doesn't need any venture capital, according to Bailey, who said the 40-employee company is on pace to reach $100 million in revenue this year. Super Rewards shares some of its revenue with game makers.

Most people pay Super Rewards about $10 for a competitive advantage, but some game players have forked over thousands of dollars, Bailey said.

"It's all about ego and status for them," he said. "Clearly, some people have more money than brains."

Girl Tells 911 in Indiana: 'Daddy Stabbed Mommy'

BROWNSBURG, Ind. — A man was being sought on a murder warrant Monday after his 12-year-old daughter told a 911 dispatcher, "Daddy stabbed Mommy," two days after the woman had a protection order against her estranged husband extended.

The arrest warrant was issued Monday for Joseph L. Warnock, 41, after the death of his wife late Sunday in their home just west of Indianapolis. He and Angela Warnock, 38, were divorcing and she had obtained a two-year extension of a protection order at a court hearing Friday.

Hendricks County Sheriff's Lt. Roger Call said Warnock remained at large late Monday but officers were conducting interviews and looking for leads to help find him.

Detective Sgt. Charles Morefield said Warnock forced his way into the home through a patio door and went to a bedroom where his wife was sleeping with the girls, ages 8 and 12.

Police said that when he began stabbing his wife, the girls ran into a closet and hid there for at least 15 minutes while their father was in the home.

When he left, the 12-year-old girl called 911 and told a dispatcher "Daddy stabbed Mommy."

Police said Joseph Warnock didn't drive to his family's subdivision but parked his car in a church parking lot and walked across a field to reach the house. After the stabbing, he walked back to the parking lot but did not get into his car, the detective said.

"He's still on foot somewhere. Why he didn't get back into the car and drive away, we don't know," Morefield said.

Chris Brown Pleads Guilty

Brown entered his plea before a preliminary hearing was scheduled to start in Los Angeles on Monday.

Rihanna had been on standby to testify.

Brown will be sentenced on Aug. 5, but the terms of the plea deal call for him to serve five years of formal probation and six months — roughly 1,400 hours — of community labor. Brown will be able to complete his probation in his home state of Virginia; he will have to do either graffiti removal or roadside cleanup for his service.

A spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney's office said the terms were in line with what others receive when they're charged with similar crimes and who have no prior criminal history.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg also ordered the singer to stay away from Rihanna.

After Brown entered his plea and left the courtroom, Rihanna entered and was addressed by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg, who explained to the Barbados-born singer that she had issued a stay-away order.

PHOTOS: Click here to see photos of Chris Brown.

Rihanna, 21, had not been seeking a stay-away order, but the judge imposed one. The order requires that Brown and Rihanna stay at least 50 yards from each, except at industry events when the distance is reduced to 10 yards.

The judge also told Rihanna it's not a one-way order and she will be in violation if she gets closer to Brown than the order allows.

Rihanna was informed of the deal about an hour she could have been called as a witness, her attorney, Donald Etra, said. He said the singer "did not object" to the terms of the deal.

Schnegg accepted Brown's plea, but expressed some concerns because Brown is not a California resident. She said Brown likely will be allowed to do his community service in his home state of Virginia. He'll have to return to California for updates every three months. He'll also be required to attend domestic violence classes.

Brown spoke softly throughout the hearing as he waived his rights and told the judge he understood the gravity of his plea.

"I think it's commendable you took responsibility for your conduct," Schnegg told Brown.

She said she hoped "the terms and conditions of your probation will have some meaning."

The deal provides an end to a case that sparked intense media interest and severe backlash against Brown. Sponsors and radio stations dropped him, and the singer had to cancel several high-profile appearances, including a performance at the Grammys.

The singer once known for his squeaky-clean image now has a substantial blemish on his record. He must now also remain out of trouble for the foreseeable future.

Lawyers for Brown and Rihanna have refused to discuss the status of the pair's relationship.

Brown was arrested Feb. 8, hours after police say he hit and threatened Rihanna after leaving a pre-Grammy party in Los Angeles. He was later charged with felony assault likely to produce great bodily harm and making criminal threats.

If convicted, the singer faced sentences ranging up to nearly five years in prison.

Brown, 20, rose to fame after the 2005 hit "Run It!" and his popularity has only grown. He was nominated for a Grammy for "No Air" with Jordin Sparks and named Billboard's top artist in 2008.

In the months since the incident, both musicians have gradually appeared in public more frequently. Lately they have been photographed separately, including at a National Basketball Association finals game between the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers.

Rihanna, 21, recorded one of 2007's most popular songs with "Umbrella" and has numerous other hits. Her looks have made her a cover girl for magazines, as well as a pitchwoman for Cover Girl cosmetics.

Perez Hilton Says Black Eyed Peas Posse Assaulted Him

Hilton continued in three subsequent tweets:

"Still waiting for the police. The bleeding has stopped. I need to document this. Please, can the police come to the SoHo Met Hotel."

"I spoke to my lawyer. I really need to talk to the authorities. Please come to the SoHo Met Hotel. Have called the police. Need them here."

"The Toronto police are here now. Thank you. Please stop calling them."

Will.I.Am posted his own online video statement early Monday morning telling his side of the story. The singer said fellow Black Eyed Peas member Fergie had approached Hilton at an afterparty at the club Ultra and asked what the blogger had against their group. Fergie then relayed the back-and-forth to Will.I.Am, who described the blogger as being "rude."

At a subsequent afterparty at Cobra, Will.I.Am says he and Hilton exchanged words. "So I go up to him and say, 'Hey, can you do me a favor, Perez?... Can you not be so blatantly rude to our group on your website? That's just wrong - you don't have to be disrespectful,'" Will.I.Am said in his video statement. "He said, 'I don't respect you.' I was like, 'What? Ok, if you don't respect me that's cool.'

Will.I.Am then says Perez called him "a f**got" at which point "the fans get all crazy and start on Perez Hilton. I'm just sitting there minding my own business waiting for a car."

However, the entertainment website TMZ reported that the general manager of the Black Eyed Peas -- Polo Molina -- had turned himself in to Toronto police early Monday morning. Hilton corroborated this in his own video release Monday morning, saying that The Black Eyed Peas' manager "Polo clocked me right here [motioning to his black eye], and punched me two or three times."

An extremely emotional Hilton also addressed Will.I.am's video statement, saying "You know very well, and I know very well, and God knows that it was not a random fan that hit me."

Hilton did admit calling Will.I.Am a "f**got," saying it was the worse thing he could think of to call the singer at the time. He went further in his video statement, calling the singer "a f***ing coward," and adding he would have had more respect if he would have punched him in the face himself.

Top 10 Reasons to Skip Work and Go See Transformers 2

As we all know, Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen opens this week. If you are a true fanboy, you’ll skip work and go see the flick at the afternoon showing. If you feel like you can’t skip work to go see a movie, here are ten reasons that will hopefully persuade you to play sick for the afternoon:

10: Fred Jones is in it. Not really, but legendary voice actor Frank Welker is. While he provided the voice of Fred on Scooby-Doo, he also was the dulcet tones behind such Transformers greats as Megatron, Soundwave, Skywarp, Lazerbeak, Rumble, Frenzy, Ravage, and Buzzsaw. He voices Soundwave & Devastator in Fallen.
CGI or Flesh & Blood? You decide! (image: Google)

9: Megan Fox is in it. While there are rumors that she’s actually CGI-animated herself, Megan Fox is proving that she’s much more than just eye candy. She’s eye candy that can run really fast from giant CGI robots.

8: All right—for the ladies—Josh Duhamel is in it. It’s only fair. Look at that jawline! While Shia LaBeouf is the hero of Fallen, Josh is the beefcake.
Isn't he dreamy ladies? (image: Google)

7: Lots of things blow up. To put it simply, Michael Bay likes to destroy pretty much everything. Even if the plot is vacant (see: Bad Boys II) or if he’s slaughtering history (see: Pearl Harbor) there is always plenty of action. Not bad for a guy who used to direct Meat Loaf music videos.

6: It’ll knock The Proposal out of the Top 10 Box Office. Let’s put the shlock romantic comedies to bed for the rest of the year, or at least the remainder of the summer. First Fallen then G.I. Joe and Harry Potter are sure to keep them down for a while.

5: The Constructicons are in it. Remember this line of Decepticons? They were the best because if you got all six of the toys together, you could make Devastator. One of the best Transformers toys ever.
Also voiced by Welker. (image: Google)

Also voiced by Welker. (image: Hasbro)

4: Peter Cullen is still the voice of Optimus Prime. He damn well better be. The studio probably didn’t want to even bother considering a Transformers movie until Cullen signed on. The fan outcry when the first one was in the works was so huge, that there was no chance it would have made any money without him. Prime only has one voice.

3: It’s coming out in the middle of the week. Which means it’s not coming out on the weekend. Which means you’ll only have one night instead of three to see it before going into work the next day and being the only fanboy that hasn’t seen it. You really want to be that guy?

2: It’s not Wolverine. Which means it’s a movie full of giant space robots beating the crap out of each other. That is, no matter what happens you won’t be set up for disappointment.

1: There is no school. It’s summer. Your kids don’t need an excuse to be pulled out of school to go see a movie. You’re the only one that needs an excuse. And now you’ve got ten. Go get your kids and a couple giant tubs of popcorn and let me know how awesome it is… I don’t get out of work until five.

Obama to Sign Anti-Smoking Bill Monday

WASHINGTON -- President Obama is set to sign into law an anti-smoking bill that will give the federal government unprecedented authority to regulate tobacco.

Obama is scheduled to sign the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act on Monday. The law allows the regulatory Food and Drug Administration to reduce nicotine in tobacco products, ban candy flavorings and block labels such "low tar" and "light." Tobacco companies also will be required to cover their cartons with large graphic warnings.

The law won't let the FDA ban nicotine or tobacco outright, but the agency will be able to regulate the contents of tobacco products, make public their ingredients and prohibit marketing campaigns, especially those geared toward children.



Anti-smoking advocates looked forward to the bill after years of attempts to tame an industry so fundamental to the U.S. that carved tobacco leaves adorn some parts of the Capitol.

Opponents from tobacco-growing states argued that the FDA has proven through a series of food safety failures that it's not up to the job. They also said that instead of unrealistically trying to get smokers to quit or to prevent others from starting, lawmakers should ensure that people have other options, like smokeless tobacco.

As president, George W. Bush opposed the legislation and threatened a veto after it passed the House last year. The Obama administration, by contrast, issued a statement declaring strong support for the measure.

Obama has spoken publicly of his own struggles to quit cigarettes.

Dad Kills Son During Argument on Father's Day,

STROUDSBURG, Pa. — Police say a 62-year-old northeastern Pennsylvania man shot his 19-year-old son to death during an argument on Father's Day.

Authorities say Bernard Uckele killed his son Justin with a handgun about 12:45 p.m. Sunday in the garage of Uckele's home in Jackson Township.

Justin Uckele was dead when troopers arrived. Bernard Uckele fled but was arrested after a short chase by police.

Police say Justin's girlfriend had fought with Justin's sister earlier Sunday afternoon and the father had become involved.

The shooting occurred after Justin returned home from work.

Bernard Uckele is being held without bail on a homicide charge at the Monroe County jail.

Rihanna's ready to tell her story in Chris Brown case

LOS ANGELES, California -- If Rihanna takes the stand at Chris Brown's preliminary hearing Monday, it will be her first time publicly talking about what happened the night her boyfriend allegedly attacked her.
Rihanna has cleared her schedule so she could be in court if prosecutors call her as a witness.

Rihanna has cleared her schedule so she could be in court if prosecutors call her as a witness.

The singer could face questioning by Brown's lawyer, Mark Geragos, about her argument with Brown inside a rented Lamborghini on a Hollywood street last February.

Geragos has said he hoped to avoid the spectacle of public testimony, but plea-deal talks failed and California's Supreme Court last week rejected his request to delay the hearing to decide if the case should go to trial.

Brown, 20, entered a "not guilty" plea at an earlier hearing to felony counts of assault and making criminal threats, charges that carry up to four years, eight months in prison if he is convicted.

Los Angeles Criminal Court Judge Patricia Schnegg decided against allowing cameras into the courtroom during Rihanna's testimony, court spokesman Allan Parachini said.

At the end of the hearing, which Parachini said could last two or three hours, Judge Schnegg will decide whether there is enough evidence to send the case against Brown to trial.

Rihanna -- whose full name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty -- cleared her schedule so she could be in court if prosecutors call her as a witness, her lawyer, Donald Etra, said last month. Prosecutors told him they would call her, Etra said.
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She has not attended any of the hearings, but she has been following the case closely, he said.

Rihanna's testimony could reveal her current feelings about Brown, with whom she was in a relationship for more than a year before the February 8, 2009, incident.

Her lawyer told the judge at Brown's first hearing four months ago that she did not want his bond to bar him from having contact with her.

"Rihanna requested that no such order be issued," Etra said.

Rihanna did not file a complaint against Brown, but the prosecution's case is built on what she told detectives and on physical evidence they collected from her -- including photographs of her bruised and battered face.

It was not Rihanna who called police, but someone who heard her screams for help, according to a sworn statement by Los Angeles Police Detective DeShon Andrews.

The statement, filed with the court to support a search warrant for cell phone records, described a brutal attack against Rihanna allegedly by Brown.

Andrews said the incident began when Rihanna, who was riding in the sports car driven by Brown, found a text message on his cell phone from "a woman who Brown had a previous sexual relationship with."

"A verbal argument ensued and Brown pulled the vehicle over on an unknown street, reached over Robyn F. with his right hand, opened the car door and attempted to force her out. Brown was unable to force Robyn F. out of the vehicle because she was wearing a seat belt. When he could not force her to exit, he took his right hand and shoved her head against the passenger window of the vehicle, causing an approximate one-inch raised circular contusion," the statement said.

"Robyn F. turned to face Brown and he punched her in the left eye with his right hand. He then drove away in the vehicle and continued to punch her in the face with his right hand while steering the vehicle with his left hand. The assault caused Robyn F.'s mouth to fill with blood and blood to splatter all over her clothing and the interior of the vehicle," the statement continued.

"Brown looked at Robyn F. and stated, 'I'm going to beat the s--t out of you when we get home! You wait and see!'" The detective said "Robyn F." then used her cell phone to call her personal assistant Jennifer Rosales, who did not answer.

The statement continued:

"Robyn F. pretended to talk to her and stated, 'I'm on my way home. Make sure the police are there when I get there.'

"After Robyn F. faked the call, Brown looked at her and stated, 'You just did the stupidest thing ever! Now I'm really going to kill you!'

"Brown resumed punching Robyn F. and she interlocked her fingers behind her head and brought her elbows forward to protect her face. She then bent over at the waist, placing her elbows and face near her lap in [an] attempt to protect her face and head from the barrage of punches being levied upon her by Brown.

"Brown continued to punch Robyn F. on her left arm and hand, causing her to suffer a contusion on her left triceps (sic) that was approximately two inches in diameter and numerous contusions on her left hand.

"Robyn F. then attempted to send a text message to her other personal assistant, Melissa Ford. Brown snatched the cellular telephone out of her hand and threw it out of the window onto an unknown street.

"Brown continued driving and Robyn F. observed his cellular telephone sitting in his lap. She picked up the cellular telephone with her left hand and before she could make a call he placed her in a head lock with his right hand and continued to drive the vehicle with his left hand.

"Brown pulled Robyn F. close to him and bit her on her left ear. She was able to feel the vehicle swerving from right to left as Brown sped away. He stopped the vehicle in front of 333 North June Street and Robyn F. turned off the car, removed the key from the ignition and sat on it.

"Brown did not know what she did with the key and began punching her in the face and arms. He then placed her in a head lock positioning the front of her throat between his bicep and forearm. Brown began applying pressure to Robyn F.'s left and right carotid arteries, causing her to be unable to breathe and she began to lose consciousness.

"She reached up with her left hand and began attempting to gouge his eyes in an attempt to free herself. Brown bit her left ring and middle fingers and then released her. While Brown continued to punch her, she turned around and placed her back against the passenger door. She brought her knees to her chest, placed her feet against Brown's body and began pushing him away. Brown continued to punch her on the legs and feet, causing several contusions.

"Robyn F. began screaming for help and Brown exited the vehicle and walked away. A resident in the neighborhood heard Robyn F.'s plea for help and called 911, causing a police response. An investigation was conducted and Robyn F. was issued a Domestic Violence Emergency Protective Order."

At the end of his statement, the detective said Brown sent a text message nine days later apologizing.

"In the text message, Brown apologized for what he had done to Robyn F. and advised [Rihanna's assistant] Ford that he was going to get help," Andrews wrote.

Brown issued a public apology for the incident just days after his arrest.

"Words cannot begin to express how sorry and saddened I am over what transpired," he said in a statement released by his spokesman. "I am seeking the counseling of my pastor, my mother and other loved ones and I am committed, with God's help, to emerging a better person."

Girl's iPod Saves Her Life During Lightning Strike

A British teenager who was hit by lightning in a storm says that her life was saved by her iPod — and the fact that she was holding her boyfriend's hand at the time.

Sophie Frost and Mason Billington, both 14, took shelter under a tree in a playing field, in Rayleigh during a thunderstorm on Monday night when they were hit by the 3,000-volt lightning bolt.

Frost passed out as the current travelled through her iPod headphones, which were hanging from her school uniform, and burned her chest and stomach.

Although his eyesight was affected by the bolt, Billington put Frost over his shoulder and carried her to get help. A female motorist stopped and drove the pair to the Hospital.

Frost, who received burns to her neck, chest and leg, is now being treated at a hospital in Chelmsford, while Billington is still being treated in Southend.

"Everybody's said the iPod must have diverted the lightning away from my body, which probably saved my life," Frost, who has been dubbed "Sparky" by her friends and family, said. "I've got a few burns but it's all healing OK."

Frost's mother, Julie, told The Sun: “I just thank God my daughter is still alive. The doctors say her iPod saved her. Her nan only bought it a few days ago. Luckily, she wasn’t actually wearing the headphones. If she had been, she might not be here today.

“Mind you, the only thing Sophie seemed worried about was that her new iPod was frazzled.”

Paul Knightley, a forecaster with MeteoGroup U.K., said it was likely that the tree had been struck by lightning which then passed to the teenagers through their wet clothing. He said lightning takes the easiest route to the ground and the metal in Sophie’s iPod would have been the best conductor.

Obama Promotes Fatherhood as National Priority

In an unusual devotion of time for the president, Barack Obama is blocking out nearly an entire afternoon to promote the importance of being a good dad as a national priority.

The emphasis on responsible fatherhood is personal for Obama. When he was a presidential candidate he rebuked absentee dads -- particularly those in his own black community -- for acting like boys and putting their kids at risk. Now one of the world's most famous fathers has a presidential megaphone.

Obama on Friday planned to visit a nonprofit center that helps train young adults for professional careers; host a town hall on personal responsibility, where successful everyday dads will share their stories; and invite male students from local schools to the White House to have fun hanging with some famous faces.

The day's events were intended to kick off a White House effort on fatherhood and mentoring. The White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships will host forums around the country this summer and fall to gather ideas on good programs and to help promote them.

"We think if we can lift some of that up, we can inspire more activity and engagement on these issues," Joshua DuBois, the director of the office, told The Associated Press. "Is everything going to change because of one day at the White House and a sustained commitment throughout the year? No. But the president thinks it's important to lead by example, and to do something about these matters."

It is common for presidents to celebrate strong fatherhood, particularly heading into Father's Day weekend.

But Obama is purposely giving the matter prominent attention, knowing that alone might draw the kind of media coverage the topic otherwise would not get at a time of war, economic crisis and other important news.

While the president is visiting Year Up, a highly regarded program that helps young adults, athletes and other figures will be visiting different nonprofits to broaden the outreach. Obama also recorded a video to be shown during Saturday's Rally for Responsible Fatherhood on the National Mall.

Obama spent much of his own life without a father around. His dad left home in Hawaii when Obama was 2 years old and the future president saw his father only one other time after that. The president and his wife, Michelle, have two daughters, Sasha, 8, and Malia, 10.

"This is an issue that he takes very seriously both because he grew up without a father in his own life, but also because he's seen the impact that present fathers can have, and absent fathers can have, in our communities," DuBois said.

An estimated 24 million children are growing up with absent fathers, and a disproportionate number of them are African-American. Those children are at higher risk of falling into lives of poverty and crime and becoming parents themselves in their teenage years.

Obama bemoaned those trends last Father's Day in an attention-grabbing speech at the Apostolic Church of God in his hometown of Chicago. He said families need help -- more police on the street, more job opportunities, more good teachers -- but that responsibility starts at home.

And he has spoken about the issue many other times, too.

The White House is not expected to unveil any new public policy. But part of the effort is designed to figure out how the federal government can support or adopt programs that help fathers and at-risk children succeed.

FDA Takes Cheerios Is This A Drug?

President Obama isn't just rewriting rules regulating the environment and the financial markets -- he is also going after the food industry.

Target and example No. 1: Cheerios.

"Based on claims made on your product's label," the FDA said in a letter to manufacturer General Mills, "we have determined (Cheerios) is promoted for conditions that cause it to be a drug because the product is intended for use in the prevention, mitigation and treatment of disease."

If the government's enforcement action against Cheerios were to hold up, the cereal would be pulled from grocery shelves and consumers would need a prescription to buy a box of those little oats.

That's unlikely, but experts say the message is clear: There is a new sheriff in town and when it comes to false, misleading and exaggerated labeling, you had better clean up your act.

"It is showing us that there is a new era," says dietician and a former advertising executive Ashley Koff. "They are saying, we are coming into town and we are going to show you what will and won't be allowed, and we're going to be going after every single claim, whether it's on a package or in TV."

Bruce Silverglade of the consumer advocacy group, Center for Science in the Public Interest, said it was a welcome and needed change.

"The Obama administration is reversing course, thank goodness, and enforcing the law," he said. "Cheerios was the first target. We hope though the FDA under the Obama administration clamps down on misleading health claims by other food manufacturers as well.

"During the Bush administration the Food and Drug Administration essentially took a policy of non-enforcement and failed to stop what became increasingly exaggerated claims, first by small food companies and by larger and larger food manufacturers," Silverglade told FOX News.

At issue are two claims made by Cheerios on their cereal box.

1. "Cheerios is clinically proven to reduce cholesterol 4 percent in 6 weeks."

2. "Cheerios can help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, by lowering the 'bad' cholesterol."

Both General Mills and the FDA declined to comment -- but issued statements saying the two sides were in negotiations over the claims that have helped make Cheerios America's best-selling cereal, amounting to one of every 8 boxes of cereal sold in the U.S.

General Mills is a titan of the food business with an army of lawyers. If the FDA can make it back down, others will follow.

"If I were an industry member and I saw what happened with Cheerios, I would look at this example and say the FDA is going after General Mills," said Koff. "If I'm a maker of a small product I better start to look at any study that I am basing my claims on and what I put on my packaging."

Koff argued that the General Mills study was suspect, as the company paid for the research and two staff members helped author it. That is not the type of rigorous, double-blind, peer-reviewed science necessary to back up drug claims.

"What we are seeing today is a government that understands that the obesity problem in America and the disease that is everywhere in America is not solely a consumer responsibility nor is it solely a marketer responsibility," said Koff, who agrees with the FDA action, but said there are many other more egregious cases on store shelves.

Consumers outside a Los Angeles grocery store were less supportive of a move some called "silly" and heavy-handed.

"No, Cheerios should not be regulated by the FDA, because this is not a drug."

New iPhone draws out Apple fans early

(CNN) -- Apple fans in the United States and seven other countries lined up Friday morning to be among the first to get their hands on the new iPhone 3GS, billed as the fastest, most feature-laden iPhone yet.
An iPhone 3GS with 16 gigabytes of storage costs $199 with a two-year AT&T contract; a 32G model is $299.

An iPhone 3GS with 16 gigabytes of storage costs $199 with a two-year AT&T contract; a 32G model is $299.

The popular phone went on sale Friday in six European countries -- France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom -- followed hours later by its release in Canada and the United States.

About 300 people stood outside the Apple Store on New York's 5th Avenue -- some of them since early Thursday -- waiting for the doors to open. Inside the store, employees were seen being briefed about the new phone before selling it to customers.

"I got on line at 2 a.m.," said Luis Palcios, 22, of New York, who was one of the first to emerge from the store with a new iPhone. "It was really early, but it was worth it for the video."

Though lines were long, they were shorter than anticipated -- the Apple Store put out many more yards of metal barriers than necessary. An Apple Store employee said it would likely take about three hours to sell iPhones to the customers who were lined up before the store opened. He said the line was longer during the last iPhone release in July.

More than 100 people were in line early Friday outside an Apple Store at Lenox Square mall in Atlanta, Georgia.
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"It doesn't seem like it's the Apple fanatics [this time]. It's moms and dads," said Robin Cutshaw, 51, who lined up for previous iPhone launches in 2007 and 2008.

An IT specialist, Cutshaw said he travels everywhere with his iPhone and once even used it to work remotely from a beach in Brazil. "It doesn't go in the shower with me, but that's about it," he said.

Apple's 211 retail stores in the United States planned to open at 7 a.m. in their time zones to accommodate AT&T customers who preordered the new phone. Other customers were to be admitted to the stores at 9 a.m. to battle over the remaining inventory.

Some who had preordered phones were frustrated by how slowly their line moved outside the Atlanta store. But Marc Kagan, 31, said that buying his new phone took him about three hours, much less than the 10 hours it took last July, when the iPhone 3G went on sale.

That launch was marred when customers encountered problems activating their new phones because the demand overwhelmed Apple's iTunes servers. But on Friday, Kagan said it took Apple employees about 15 minutes to activate his phone in the store.

"It went pretty smooth. I think they're a little more organized this year," he said.

AT&T stores, Best Buy and Wal-Mart also are selling the iPhone 3GS, although preorders through AT&T and Best Buy are sold out. Apple will have a number of the new phones available Friday at each of its stores, said Apple spokesman Steve Dowling.

The new iPhone contains a processor that Apple claims is more than twice as fast as its 3G model, plus a video camera, voice control, longer battery life and a built-in compass. It comes with an upgraded operating system -- which Apple released Wednesday for download onto older iPhones -- with 100 new functions, including the ability to copy and paste text.

Advance buzz about the iPhone 3GS has been largely positive. In a review, CNET gave it a four-star, or excellent, rating.

"We're thrilled by the customer response to the new iPhone," Dowling said.

An iPhone 3GS with 16 gigabytes of storage sells for $199 with a new two-year AT&T contract; one with 32G capacity will cost $299. Since June 8 Apple has been selling the iPhone 3G model for $99 -- half its original price.
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This year, Apple is again requiring customers to activate their new iPhones before leaving the store, Dowling said.

Apple has sold more than 17 million iPhones since the iconic device hit the market in 2007. Apple's phones are the second-best-selling consumer smartphones in the United States, according to the NPD Group, an online market-research firm.

The launch comes less than a week after rival Palm unveiled its much ballyhooed Pre smartphone on the Sprint network and Research In Motion announced it will debut the new BlackBerry Tour on Sprint and Verizon in the coming months.

Woman illegally downloads 24 songs, fined to tune of $1.9 million

(CNN) -- A federal jury Thursday found a 32-year-old Minnesota woman guilty of illegally downloading music from the Internet and fined her $80,000 each -- a total of $1.9 million -- for 24 songs.
Illegal downloads of musical files will cost a Minnesota woman $1.9 million, a jury has decided.

Illegal downloads of musical files will cost a Minnesota woman $1.9 million, a jury has decided.

Jammie Thomas-Rasset's case was the first such copyright infringement case to go to trial in the United States, her attorney said.

Attorney Joe Sibley said that his client was shocked at fine, noting that the price tag on the songs she downloaded was 99 cents.

She plans to appeal, he said.

Cara Duckworth, a spokeswoman for the Recording Industry Association of America, said the RIIA was "pleased that the jury agreed with the evidence and found the defendant liable."

"We appreciate the jury's service and that they take this as seriously as we do," she said.

Thomas-Rasset downloaded work by artists such as No Doubt, Linkin Park, Gloria Estefan and Sheryl Crow.
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This was the second trial for Thomas-Rasset. The judge ordered a retrial in 2007 after there was an error in the wording of jury instructions.

The fines jumped considerably from the first trial, which granted just $220,000 to the recording companies.

Ex-Major League Sentenced 45 Years for Raping Girl

FORT WORTH, Texas — Former major league outfielder Mel Hall was sentenced to 45 years in prison Wednesday after being convicted of raping a 12-year-old girl he coached on an elite basketball team.

Hall was convicted on three counts of aggravated sexual assault and two counts of indecency with a child. Among his accusers during sentencing Wednesday were others who said he carried on inappropriate relationships with them.

Hall, 48, looked skyward and swayed back and forth as the verdict was read. One of his two daughters who testified on his behalf during the punishment phase sobbed.

Jurors reached the verdict on the punishment after about an hour of deliberating. They took about 90 minutes Tuesday to convict Hall. He must serve about 22 1/2 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole.

After the verdict was announced, prosecutor Kim D'Avignon read a brief statement on behalf of the 12-year-old victim and other accusers.

"We believe that the verdict does on some level show that the jury understood," D'Avignon said after the trial. "They looked in these girls' eyes and said this is worth 40 years, and we agree with them."

The defense had argued in the sentencing phase of the trial that Hall was a good man who mentored a lot of athletes and had a lot of good still to do.

"For all the good this man has done in his life, it seems like this was an excessive verdict," defense attorney Brady Wyatt said after the verdict.

The prosecution's final witness during the punishment phase testified that she was 14 when Hall touched her inappropriately and told her he wanted to have sex with her. Late Tuesday, two women testified Hall sexually assaulted them when they were underage.

On Wednesday, a woman testified that Hall was her softball coach when, during an end-of-season pool party, he made lewd noises and grabbed her around the waist.

"He just grabbed me how I thought was inappropriate," said the woman, now 19. She said Hall also would watch her take batting practice and make crude comments and tell her he wanted to have sex with her.
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Hall's ex-wife and two daughters testified on his behalf.

"My dad would not do that," said his daughter, Bianca Hall, who had to stop to compose herself throughout her emotional testimony.

Hall, who had been stoic and unemotional throughout most of the trial that began Monday, smiled and nodded as his daughter spoke of their relationship. When she become emotional while describing how much she loved and trusted him, Hall bit his lip and looked away.

During the trial this week, witnesses testified that Hall was impressed with the 12-year-old girl's talent and wanted to start a basketball team. The woman testified that Hall exposed himself to her and her younger brother at home, when their parents were away. The boy testified that he thought they were playing a game and never told his parents.

"I trusted him," the woman testified. "I honestly had no idea anything was inappropriate at the time. I looked up to him. I just thought this is how normal people act."

Hall's interaction with the girl progressed to inappropriate touching and him showing her how to perform oral sex, she testified. She said he also showed her pornographic movies at an apartment Hall shared with his girlfriend and their infant son.

The two women who testified Tuesday told similar stories of how he won their parents' trust and then charmed the young girls.

One said she was 15 and Hall was in his first season with the New York Yankees when the abuse began in 1989. The other testified that she was a 14-year-old basketball teammate of the 12-year-old victim when she was raped in 1999. Hall has been charged in that case.

Hall's 13-year major league career ended in 1996. He hit .276 with 134 home runs and 620 RBIs in a career that included stints with the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, Yankees and San Francisco Giants. He also played four years in Japan.

Teen Asks for 3 Tattoos, Wakes Up With 56

A teenager got the shock of her life when she asked for a few small tattoo stars and woke up to find half her face was covered in them.

Kimberley Vlaeminck, 18, is now suing the tattoo artist who she claims went way beyond what she had asked for.

The Belgian teen says she woke up in pain after falling asleep as Rouslan Toumaniantz drew the permanent ink designs.

She then discovered 56 "frightening" black stars of different sizes from her nose to ear and brow to chin.

"I wanted him to tattoo on just three little points but he suggested three stars, saying it would look prettier,” Vlaeminck said.

"When he started the tattooing I didn't want to feel the pain and so I went to sleep. I woke up when he was starting to tattoo my nose and I saw what he had already done. I counted 56 stars, it's frightening."

But Toumaniantz, who works in the town of Courtrai, denied that his client had fallen asleep and said he fulfilled her request.

"She was awake the whole time," he said. "I don't use hypnosis or drugs. She agreed to it. The problems started when her father and his friend saw the tattoos."

Vlaeminck, from the city of Kortrijk, about 50 miles north-west of Brussels, said she wanted to keep the tattoos on her forehead but would have the rest removed.

She now hopes they can be taken off using laser surgery, which would cost thousands of dollars.

As Protestors Boycott Show Letterman Continues to Make Jokes

As a group of boycotters staged a protest outside of the theater where “The Late Show” with David Letterman is filmed, the funnyman continued to mock demands to take him off the air after he made series of crude jokes about Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and her teen daughters.

Making light of the protest in his nightly countdown, the comedian presented the “Top Ten Things Overheard at the ‘Fire David Letterman’ Rally.” Among the items on the list were “David who?”, “Well, it was nice of CBS to provide the catering” and “We should have done this years ago.”

Meanwhile Tuesday afternoon, Firedavidletterman.com – the online group behind the protest — said it had received over 30,000 pledges to boycott products from companies that advertise on Letterman's show.

"David letterman's comments were disgraceful and beyond the bounds of common decency," Michael Patrick Leahy, one of the Web site's organizers, told FOXNews.com. "It is highly inappropriate for a 62-year-old man to make sexual insults about a 14-year-old girl."

One of the protesters, New York City real estate agent Tom Muller, said he just wanted "to see a little accountability come to the Letterman show ... And maybe urge him to get back to when he ran a funny TV show and didn't use it for his political pulpit."

TV Guide and the Washington Times reported that Embassy Suites, part of the Hilton Hotels Corporation, has pulled advertisements from CBS.com after receiving complaints about Letterman's remarks. The hotel chain told FOX News it is not an official sponsor of the Late Show.

But Embassy Suites told FOX News the issue is "between CBS and the Governor and her family."

"When a number of our guests complained about advertisements on CBS.com, we temporarily removed the ads from our rotation rather than become part of the controversy," said Kendra Walker, a vice president of Embassy Suites. "This action should not be viewed as an endorsement of either side, but rather a desire to let the parties resolve the issue independently."

Letterman apologized Monday for saying in his monologue last week that Palin and her daughter visited Yankee Stadium, and the girl was "knocked up" during the seventh-inning stretch by Yankees star Alex Rodriguez. Letterman said he was referring to Palin's 18-year-old daughter, Bristol, and not to 14-year-old Willow, who had accompanied the Alaska governor to a Yankees game.

"I would like to apologize, especially to the two daughters involved, Bristol and Willow, and also to the governor and her family and everybody else who was outraged by the joke," Letterman told his studio audience Monday. "I’m sorry about it and I’ll try to do better in the future."

Palin told FOXNews.com early Tuesday that she accepted Letterman's apology, but groups like Leahy's say won't be satisfied until CBS takes disciplinary action against the late night host.

Leahy said Letterman's apology is a "step in the right direction," but said he doesn't "buy" his explanation that his joke referred to Bristol Palin.

"We’re asking CBS to apply to the same standards to David Letterman that they applied to Don Imus," Leahy said.

Imus, a morning radio talk show host, was suspended and later fired from NBC and CBS Radio in 2007 for calling members of the Rutgers University women's basketball team "nappy-headed hos."

New York State Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb — also a supporter of the online group — is calling on CBS to issue a statement on Letterman's "offensive" joke.

Kolb said he wrote a letter Friday to CBS president and chief executive officer Leslie Moonves asking to know what CBS's "decency standards" are.

"Women across this country would like to know that answer," Kolb said. "If this was another company and he said this to one of its employees, he'd be fired."

When asked if CBS had any plans to seek disciplinary action against Letterman, Late Show spokeswoman Kimberly Izzo-Emmet had "no comment."

Teen Sentenced for Dragging Boy in Noose

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio — A central Ohio teenager accused of putting a noose around a Hispanic boy's neck and dragging him in a parking lot has been sentenced to 10 days in jail.

The 18-year-old was sentenced Wednesday in juvenile court in Mount Vernon, a city of 15,000 residents an hour's drive northeast of Columbus. He dropped his original plea of not guilty and pleaded no contest to ethnic intimidation.

A charge of aggravated menacing was dropped.

Seventeen-year-old Robert Cantu says in May 2008 he was dragged from a sidewalk to a parking lot with the noose wrapped around his neck by a group of teenagers shouting racial slurs. He says the teens threatened to hang him before a bystander intervened.

His family says it plans to sue the city, dubbed the state's Most Livable Community in 1994.

Baby Dies 24 Hours After Swine Flu Kills Mom

he baby son of Britain's first swine flu victim has died — just 24 hours after his mom.

Jacqui Fleming, 38, gave birth nearly three months prematurely at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, near Glasgow.

The baby, named Jack, lost his battle for life in the same hospital where his mother passed away on Sunday.

"My beautiful son was born June 1, 2009 — 11 weeks early,” his dad William McCann said in a statement.

"He suffered from a number of complications and despite his brave fight he passed away earlier this evening. Coming so soon after the death of his mom, this is an extremely distressing and difficult time for our family and I would ask the media to respect our privacy as we try to cope with the loss of Jacqueline and Jack."

Fleming's death came as the total number of U.K. swine flu cases swelled to more than 1,200

Could Feud With Palin Boost Letterman's Ratings?

NEW YORK — Palin would no doubt be horrified by the idea, but there's a chance she could become the same boon to David Letterman's career that Hugh Grant was to Jay Leno's.

Grant's 1995 appearance on NBC's "Tonight" show after a prostitution arrest, where Leno famously asked "what were you thinking?," was seen in retrospect as a turning point in the late-night race. It drew a huge audience and propelled Leno to the top of the ratings, a spot he would not relinquish.

Letterman did not court last week's battle with Palin, who called him "perverted" for making a joke about her daughter getting "knocked up" by New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez, and he said in retrospect the remark was in poor taste.

Palin rebuffed his invitations to appear on the show, but that might not matter. The story had the effect of turning the attention to Letterman at a critical time, during the second week of his new competition with Leno's replacement, Conan O'Brien.

"It will be interesting to see if that can be maintained or whether it is one of those temporary things," said Robert Thompson, director of the Center for the Study of Popular Television at Syracuse University.

The final numbers won't be out until later in the week, but there's a strong chance that Letterman could average more viewers than the "Tonight" show in the second week of O'Brien's new 11:35 p.m. job. That hasn't happened since 2005, and the timing is significant: some of Leno's old fans may be more amenable to searching for a new late-night habit during the transition period.

It's difficult to tell whether Letterman received a boost this week because of people interested in what he was going to say about Palin. Strong guests like Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington were a boost, too.

Letterman has referenced the NBC transition in a handful of jokes over the past two weeks, many of them poking fun of himself as much as his rival.

"Conan O'Brien, of course, is the new host of the `Tonight' show,"' Letterman said a week ago. "Did they even look at my audition tape?"
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On a top 10 list of Signs it's Time for Kim Jong-Il to retire, was No. 2: "Republic already named his successor, Conan Jong-Il. Topping the list of Surprising Facts about Sonia Sotomayor was: "Demonstrated impeccable judgment by watching Conan."

Despite the competition, no doubt it's hard for Letterman to exhibit the same animosity toward O'Brien as he did toward Leno. O'Brien has openly acknowledged his debt to Letterman, and his subversive anti-talk show style is more reminiscent of what Letterman did in the 1980s than what Letterman is doing today.

Letterman maintains his biting sarcasm, but at age 62 he has evolved into more of a traditional talk show host than his rivals. Thompson said he believes Letterman is more topical than ever, in part a recognition of Jon Stewart's success at Comedy Central. The Letterman of two decades ago attracted attention for dropping watermelons from the roof of a building or wearing a Velcro suit; now he gets it for charged interviews with John McCain or Joaquin Phoenix.

When Letterman did a brief filmed skit last week tied to Washington's new movie, "The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3" it seemed like a quaint throwback; O'Brien does such pre-filmed segments all the time.

"David Letterman's biggest problem is he was brilliant in going against the grain," he said. "David Letterman is now the grain. He's his own toughest act to follow. So that's why it is smart that he has tried to change the game."

Letterman, who went through a life-changing heart surgery and became a father in the past decade, seems committed to the new competition. It was revealed this week that he had agreed to a contract extension that will keep him on the "Late Show" into 2012, and there's no indication that he's looking toward retirement.

His longevity, however, may be his biggest handicap in getting back to the top.

"By and large, late-night comedy is a young wise-guy's business," Thompson said.

The fans who thought he was fabulously hip in the 1980s now have their own teen-agers looking to make their own late-night TV habits. Letterman has a love-him-or-hate him personality, and a transition by one of his competitors isn't likely to change the minds of viewers who made them up years ago. He jokes about all politicians but it's becoming clearer where his sympathies lie — something that Palin and her supporters sensed in their criticisms. NBC has touted O'Brien's show as the fun place to be in late-night, particularly for younger viewers, with the implication that Letterman is a cranky old man.

It would be foolish to count him out.

Palin may have inadvertently given Letterman a platform at a time when it is most valuable; the next few weeks will show how he's been able to use it.

Boy, 12, Was Kidnapped, Forced to Drink Urine at Camp, Police Say

HAWTHORNE, Fla. — The Putnam County Sheriff's Office says four people at a Boy Scout camp were arrested for holding a 12-year-old boy against his will and forcing him to drink urine.

Authorities say kidnapping charges were filed Friday against 21-year-old Wendell Reid and three juveniles, two who are 16 and one who is 15. The juveniles were turned over to the Florida Department of Justice. Jail records do not show if Reid has an attorney. He's being held without bond in the Putnam County Jail.

A message left with the Boy Scouts was not immediately returned Monday.

The sheriff's office says the four are all Ocala residents and that the incident was apparently over remarks made by the victim earlier in the week.

choices will shape futures of both Lakers and Magic

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Standing on a hastily erected dais at center court in Amway Arena, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak sported a toothy grin that extended from ear-to-ear. The team that he meticulously assembled over the last few years had climbed the NBA mountaintop, and for the next few days he would reap the rewards in the form of congratulatory phone calls and text messages from his peers and a raucous parade through the streets of Los Angeles.

Right around the time Kupchak was standing tall after Sunday's Game 5 clincher in the NBA Finals, Magic GM Otis Smith walked slowly through a winding hallway in the back of the arena. The feeling was less than sweet for Smith, who put together an unorthodox roster that shocked the basketball world with its march to the NBA Finals.

In the next few weeks, however, the emotions of Kupchak and Smith will eventually come in sync. Kupchak's euphoria will subside; for Smith, the sting of Orlando's loss will ease. And then both men will find themselves with the same task: How do they do it again?

Both teams have significant decisions to make this offseason that will affect their ability to get back to this stage. Let's examine both teams.
Lakers

Key potential free agents: G Kobe Bryant (early termination option); F Lamar Odom, F Trevor Ariza (unrestricted); G Shannon Brown (restricted)

Draft picks: 29th overall, 42nd and 59th

Skinny: Don't expect the drama that surrounded Bryant's foray into free agency in 2004 (when he flirted with the Clippers and Bulls) this time around. If Bryant does opt out of the final two season of his seven-year, $136 million deal, he likely would re-sign quickly with the Lakers.

Bringing back their other free agents won't be so easy. Ariza had a career year, highlighted by an 11.3-point, 4.2-rebound, 1.6-steal postseason. There will be a healthy market for the 23-year-old Ariza's services -- he could seek to at least double his $2.8 million salary from this season, though only a few rival teams will have significant cap room -- and L.A. may have to overspend to keep him.

Odom's situation could be trickier. At 29, Odom still considers himself a starter, and despite his success in a reserve role, he may balk at coming back to play behind Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. Odom won't come close to earning the $11.5 million he pocketed this season, but a point forward who can score and rebound is attractive to playoff teams eyeing that missing piece. Which presents the Lakers with another question: Do they want to pay in the neighborhood of $7 to $8 million a year for a backup?

The wild card in this situation is the unpredictability of free agency. With the crashing economy and teams stockpiling cash for the summer of 2010, the market for free agents could be limited. That could lead some high-profile players -- Jason Kidd, Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess, to name a few possibilities -- to take less money to play for a contender. And that could work in the Lakers' favor.
Magic

Key potential free agents: F Hedo Turkoglu (ETO); C Marcin Gortat (R)

Draft picks: None

Skinny: Since coming to Orlando in 2004, Turkoglu has developed from a spot-up shooter into a versatile offensive star. Turkoglu is prepared to walk away from the $7.3 million he is owed next season and become a free agent. One source said the 29-year-old forward could be seeking a contract worth as much as $10 million per season.

Will the Magic pay it? They almost have to. Turkoglu was the team's leading scorer in the fourth quarter the last two seasons. He is one of the few perimeter players in Orlando who can create his own shot. Allowing Turkoglu to walk with no compensation would be a crippling loss.

Meanwhile, Gortat's numbers (3.8 points, 4.6 rebounds this season) aren't impressive, but some NBA scouts believe his size and defensive skills will make him a starter in a few years. There are sizable holes in his offensive game, but he was solid in his role as the Magic's first big man off the bench in the postseason. He even had a nice chemistry when playing alongside starting center Dwight Howard.

Gortat is unlikely to command more than the mid-level exception, but given his age (25) and upside, there may be teams willing to overpay for him. The Magic have Tony Battie under contract through next season, but Battie is not a traditional center like Gortat. And if Gortat continues to develop, he could play a significant role with Orlando next season.

The biggest trade chip the Magic have this offseason is point guard Rafer Alston. With All-Star Jameer Nelson returning to a starting role next season, Alston, who has one year left on his contract, becomes a luxury. Because of his manageable $5.3 million expiring contract, Alston should be a valuable commodity.

Even if they bring back their own free agents, the Magic will need to upgrade if they hope to return to the Finals next season. Cleveland is expected to add another piece (possibly Howard nemesis Shaquille O'Neal), and Boston should be formidable again with a healthy Kevin Garnett. Adding talent appears to be a must, and Smith will need to be creative -- as he was in the midseason deal for Alston -- to do it.