Breaking: Senator Edward Kennedy Dies

Massachusetts Senator Edward M. Kennedy, the youngest brother of President John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy, died Tuesday in his vacation home at Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts, of brain cancer. He was 77.

Kennedy’s sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver passed away just a few days ago in August. Due to his illness, Edward Kennedy was not able to attend his sister's funeral service. However, he did attend a private mass held in her memory.

Even though Kennedy was ill in August 2008, he was determined to be the featured speaker on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention. And, he did a fine job. Edward Kennedy was elected as Democratic Senator from the state of Massachusetts in 1962. He has held that position since that time, making him the second most senior member of the US Senate.

In 2009 Kennedy was awarded an honorary knighthood by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. In March, he received the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award as part of his 77th birthday celebration at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Senator Edward Kennedy was born on February 22, 1932. He was the fourth son and ninth child of Joseph and Rose Kennedy.

Edward Kennedy is survived by his wife Vickie and three children, Kara Anne, Edward Moore, Jr. and Patrick Joseph.

RIP Senator Edward Kennedy.

Breaking: Michael Jackson's Death Declared Homicide | Coroner's Report

This is sad news, but at least now Michael Jackson's family, friends, and millions of devoted fans have the answer they so dreaded to hear. RIP Michael Jackson - "The King of Pop." Now you can sleep. Unfortunately, we won't be able to enjoy your musical creations but you have left a legacy that will last for all time.

This is the breaking news report from LA Times:

Los Angeles, CA - Michael Jackson died of "lethal levels" of the powerful anesthetic propofol, according to a search warrant affidavit unsealed today in Houston.

The court documents quote the L.A. County coroner's office as reaching that conclusion after an autopsy of the pop star.

The documents address one of the major unanswered questions surrounding Jackson's death. But they also raise new questions about how Jackson was treated, particularly in the hours before his death.

Conrad Murray, Jackson's personal doctor, told detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department that he had been treating Jackson for insomnia for about six weeks. He had been giving Jackson 50 milligrams of propofol every night using an intravenous line, according to the court records.

But Murray told detectives that he feared Jackson was forming an addiction and began trying to wean the pop star off the drugs. He lowered the dosage to 25 milligrams and mixed it with two other sedatives, lorazepam and midazolam. On June 23, two days before Jackson's death, he administered those two medications and withheld the propofol.

On the morning Jackson died, Murray tried to induce sleep without using propofol, according to the affidavit. He said he gave Jackson valium at 1:30 a.m. When that didn't work, he said, he injected lorazepam intravenously at 2 a.m. At 3 a.m., when Jackson was still awake, Murray administered midazolam.
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Over the next few hours, Murray said he gave Jackson various drugs. Then at 10:40 a.m., Murray administered 25 milligrams of propofol after Jackson repeatedly demanded the drug, according to the court records.

Although Murray acknowledged to police that he administered propofol, authorities said they could find no evidence that he had purchased, ordered or obtained the medication under his medical license or Drug Enforcement Administration tracking number. However, police detectives saw about eight bottles of propofol in the house along with other vials and pills that had been prescribed to Jackson by Dr. Murray, Dr. Arnold Klein and Dr. Allan Metzger.

Other drugs that were confiscated in the search included valium, tamsulosin, lorazepam, temazepam, clonazepam, trazodone and tizanidine. They also found propofol in Murray’s medical bag. Murray told detectives that he was not the first doctor to administer the powerful anesthetic to Jackson.

At least two unidentified doctors gave Jackson propofol in Germany. Between March and April 2009, Murray said he called Las Vegas doctor David Adams at Jackson’s request to arrange for Adams to administer propofol. Murray said he was present at a cosmetologist’s office, where Adams used propofol to sedate Jackson. Since he began treating Jackson, Murray said he repeatedly asked the pop star what other physicians were treating Jackson and what drugs they were prescribing. But Jackson declined to provide the information, Murray told authorities.

Murray said he noticed injection marks on Jackson’s hands and feet. When he asked Jackson about them, the pop star told him he had been given a “cocktail” to help him. In addition to Murray, authorities subpoenaed medical records from Dr. Arnold Klein, Dr. Allan Metzger and Dr. David Adams, the affidavit states. They also asked for medical records from Dr. David Slavitt, who conducted the independent medical examination of Jackson for Anschuntz Entertainment Group, Dr. Randy Rosen and nurse practitioner Cherilyn Lee. They also subpoenaed records from Dr. Mark Tadrissi, who stored medical records with Adams.

Jackson’s doctor told authorities he left Jackson’s bedside for no more than two minutes before returning to find the pop star not breathing. Jackson reportedly fell asleep at 10:40 a.m.

Murray said after monitoring Jackson for 10 minutes, he left to use the restroom. When he returned and saw Jackson wasn’t breathing at 11 a.m. He immediately began attempting to revive Jackson, administering CPR as well as a drug to reverse the effects of the sedative. But police are questioning that account. Cellphone records for the morning of June 25 show Murray made three separate phone calls for approximately 47 minutes beginning at 11:18 a.m.

He called Jackson’s personal assistant to request that they send security upstairs. After a few minutes without a response, Murray told authorities he ran downstairs to the kitchen. He asked the chef to send Jackson’s eldest son, Prince Jackson, upstairs. Murray said he continued CPR and waited for the arrival of paramedics.

Murray has already acknowledged obtaining and administering propofol to Jackson the morning that the pop star died. In an interview with police, Murray told them that he had left Jackson alone under the influence of the medication to make telephone calls to his Houston office and family members.

When he returned, he discovered Jackson was not breathing. He performed CPR, and one of Jackson’s staff members called 911. The 50-year-old pop star was rushed to UCLA Medical Center, where he was later declared dead. Much of the investigation has focused on propofol -- a drug typically administered by anesthesiologists during surgery -- and whether Murray’s decision to give it to Jackson as a sleep aid outside a hospital setting reaches a level of negligence required for an involuntary manslaughter charge.~source

Michael Vick Starts Practice with Philadelphia Eagles | Video

Donovan McNabb says that he lobbied to have former Atlanta Quarterback, Michael Vick, sign with the Eagles. McNabb and Coach Dungy have already publicly stated that Michael Vick has paid his debt to society for his heinous acts against defenseless dogs and should be given a second chance.

Michael Vick has signed a 2-year contract with the Eagles and just might play in the last 2 games of the preseason. Check out the ESPN Video below:

Did Chat About Dead Cat Cause Crash?

Well... of course a 'chat about a dead cat' did not cause the crash between the plane and helicopter over the Hudson River in New York a few days ago, but the accident could have been prevented. Air Traffic Controllers failed to do their job when they were distracted over a silly phone conversation. Because of this lapse in their daily duties two employees are suspended and 9 people lost their lives.

Check out the AP video report, below. It's a tragedy, indeed.

Lost In Translation | Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Angry | Video

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton got angry and completely lost it when a question was misunderstood by her translator. The question came from someone in the audience during her visit to the Congo on Monday. Clinton thought the question was about her husband's thoughts on a subject. Hillary Clinton's husband is former US President Bill Clinton.

It turns out the question was about President Obama's opinion on an international matter. Wow... Hillary needs to take a "chill pill." I mean, after all, her husband was President of the United States, serving 2 terms. Didn't she learn anything about diplomacy in the White House? Isn't she the former 2-time First Lady? I guess I'm surprised at her behavior because I expected more from Hillary Clinton.

We love you too, Hillary. Let's all give Hillary an "e-Hug."

Check out the video, below:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Bill Clinton The Man | Receives Hero's Welcome | Video

Having secured the release of journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling from a North Korean jail, Bill Clinton received a hero's welcome in New York City on Friday, August 7 2009.

Job well done, Mr. [former] President! From the bottom of my heart, I salute you!

Check the raw video, below, from TMZ:

Euna Lee (left) and Laura Ling

Plane Collides with Helicopter Over Hudson River | 9 Dead | Video

A tour helicopter and small plane collided in mid-air and crashed into the Hudson River in Mahattan this afternoon. Five Italian tourists were reported aboard the helicopter. A total of nine people are presumed dead. Two bodies have been recovered from the Hudson River. And relatives from Europe already are in transit to identify their loved ones. This has to be almost unbearable for the living relatives.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg told reporters on Saturday.

New York City Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, said the accident was "not survivable" and efforts had "changed from a rescue to a recovery mission."

There had been two passengers, including a child, plus a pilot on board the small plane.

According to eyewitnesses, the plane appeared to hit the back of the helicopter, which immediately broke up and fell into the river. Mayor Bloomberg said a full investigation would be carried out by the NTSB.

Aerosmith Steven Tyler Fell On Stage | Broke Shoulder | Video

Check out the 'amateur video' of Aerosmith's lead singer, Steven Tyler, fall several feet after dancing around on stage. They are were performing in South Dakota. Also, Tyler had to have stitches in his head as a result from his injuries.

Steven Tyler is 61-years-of-age. He was dancing around like a 25 year old. I hope he 'gets well soon.' Check out the amazing video footage, below.

Legendary Filmmaker John Hughes Dies | Heart Attack

Legendary filmmaker, John Hughes, died from a heart attack while taking a walk Thursday morning in New York City. He was in town visiting family.

John Hughes was a writer, director, and producer of some classic teen angst movies. Some of his most famous teen and young adult movies were The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, Weird Science, Sixteen Candles, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Planes, Trains, & Automobiles, Uncle Buck, and Some Kind of Wonderful. Hughes also was responsible for the extraordinarily successful Home Alone movie.

John Hughes was 59-years-old. He is survived by his wife, Nancy, of 39 years; two sons, John and James, and 4 grandchildren.

Since 1994 Hughes had been living in Wisconsin and writing under the pen name 'Edmond Dantes.'

R.I.P. John Hughes. . . .

Here is a video clip of a scene from Ferris Bueller's Day Off, my favorite Hughes creation. The film starred Matthew Broderick as 'Ferris Bueller.' Check it out:

Born in Lansing, Michigan in 1950 to a middle-class family, Hughes began his career as an advertising writer in Chicago. He later went on to write jokes for professional comedians Joan Rivers and Rodney Dangerfield, prior to entering the film industry.~source

Video | Bill Clinton Negotiates Freedom For Euna Lee and Laura Ling | Board Plane

Photo: KCNA via Reuters
This is great news! Former president Bill Clinton went to North Korea and successfully negotiated the release of two American journalists, Euna Lee and Laura Ling. The two women had been sentenced by North Korea's highest court to 12 years of hard labor. Lee and Ling, reporters for Current TV, were arrested in March while working on a story near the border between North Korea and China.

Here is some great raw video footage of Euna Lee and Laura Ling boarding the plane, August 4 2009, and joining former President Clinton on their trip back home to the United States of America.

Congratulations to President Clinton, the State Department, and the thousands of folks who petitioned for the reporters' release. This is a wonderful day for good news!

Happy Birthday Mister President | Barack Obama Turns 48

Happy Birthday Mister President, Barack Obama. On August 4 2009 President Obama turned 48-years-old. However, he chose to surprise Helen Thomas by honoring her on her 89th birthday. It was a nice gesture. Check out the video, below.

President Obama made a surprise visit to the White House press room on his birthday to deliver cupcakes to veteran White House reporter Helen Thomas, who shares a birthday with the president. Thomas is 89. (Aug. 4)

View the legendary Marilyn Monroe singing "Happy Birthday Mister President" to President John F. Kennedy in 1962. It's a good one:

LA Fitness Shooting : 5 or 6 Dead

A lone gunman walked into an LA Fitness Center, in a small town outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Tuesday night and opened fire killing 4 people and himself. About 11 other people were injured. In the final police report there could be a total of 6 dead since it has been reported that another person died at the hospital.

This town's population is about 5,000, so most likely they will be able to identify the shooter unless he appeared out of nowhere, so to speak. No motive is known at this point. This is a developing story...

Lauren Dooley, one of the witnesses, said:

I saw people flying off the treadmills, hitting the ground. We crawled through the fire escape, and I sprinted out the back.

A gunman burst into an exercise class at a health club in suburban Pittsburgh on Tuesday night and started spraying bullets. Local media reported at least four people were dead, including the shooter, and a hospital reported another death later.~AP

Women Tied and Glued Man | Facing Prison | Video

This is a funny story and it's a tragic one at the same time. This goes to show you that cheaters always get caught. However, rarely is there retaliation for their devious ways. Now, I do not agree with what these 4 women did to this "Don Juan" but I must say that I can understand their hurt and frustration. Unfortunately, his own wife was among the vigilantes. Remember, it's against the law to 'take the law in our own hands.'

These 4 women are facing charges for plotting and carrying out what they did to the "cheater." So... I guess they now are realizing that their act of "vigilante justice" wasn't worth it.

Check out the whole story in the Video Report. You'll find out exactly what these 4 women did to the poor 'cheating man,' below:

A group of women confront a man in a Wisconsin motel room, angry that he had multiple lovers. They tied him up and glued part of his body, court documents say. Now, they are facing charges.~AP

Exclusive: Katherine Jackson Speaks After Michael Jackson's Death | Video

For the first time since the death of her famous son, Michael Jackson, Katherine Jackson talks to Geraldo Rivera to dispute rumors that her husband beat Michael. Mrs. Jackson adds that Michael's three children are doing fine and having fun with their cousins.

Listen in on the conversation, below:

Two Murdered At Israel Gay Youth Center | Gunman Escapes | Video

Israelis Rally after two people were murdered at a Gay Youth Center in Downtown Tel Aviv, August 1 2009. The gunman walked in the place Saturday night, dressed all in black, pulled out a gun, and murdered a 17-year-old girl and the Center's 26-year-old counselor.

This was the worst attack aimed at homosexuals in Israel's history. The Center was meant to be a safe place for gay teens. A crowd gathered at the Rally to mourn the two victims. Unfortunately, the gunman escaped. He fled the scene, on foot.

This is a tragedy. My condolences go out to the friends and families of the victims. View the video footage of the Rally and more information, below:

Captain Michael Scott Speicher's Remains Found | Iraq

The remains of US Navy Pilot Captain Michael "Scott" Speicher were found after 18 long years, in Iraq. He was the first American soldier killed in the Gulf War when his jet was shot down in 1991.

It now appears that Captain Speicher was buried by nomadic Bedouin tribesmen close to where his F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet was shot down during a combat mission on January 17, 1991, the first night of Operation Desert Storm. His plane crashed in a remote, uninhabited wasteland. It is believed he was shot down by a missile fired from an Iraqi aircraft, probably a MiG-25.

Family spokeswoman Cindy Laquidara said relatives learned on Saturday that Speicher’s remains had been found. “The family’s proud of the way the Defense Department continued on with our request” to not abandon the search, she said. “We will be bringing him home.”~source

The 33 year-old Captain left a wife and two children. RIP Captain Speicher. Now the Speicher family finally has closure.