Streisand and others honored; Davis has baby news (AP)

LOS ANGELES ? Nine women were honored at the annual Women in Hollywood event, yet two ladies in particular stole the show.

Viola Davis surprised her fellow honorees and an audience of Hollywood insiders Monday night by announcing she had adopted a baby girl.

And Barbra Streisand was repeatedly credited by fellow honorees such as Michelle Pfeiffer, Evan Rachel Wood, Freida Pinto, Naomi Watts and Davis for being the inspiration for their success.

It was a love fest that continued throughout the evening at the 18th annual celebration of the industry's leading ladies sponsored by Elle magazine at the Four Seasons Hotel.

Jennifer Aniston told the 69-year-old Streisand that she loved her, and Pinto said onstage that "sharing the same oxygen" as Streisand was an incredible birthday gift. The actress turns 27 Tuesday.

"You're a legend not only in Hollywood but literally all over the world," the "Slumdog Millionaire" star told Streisand. "I can say that because I come from India."

She said Streisand's song "Putting it Together" is "like a reality check that every girl that wants to get into this big entertainment industry needs to listen to."

"That was a truly inspirational song, so thank you so much for that," Pinto said.

Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow introduced Streisand as "a world icon" and "somebody who has mastered virtually every art form imaginable: directing, acting, composing, singing, producing, writing."

Streisand returned the love in kind, congratulating her fellow honorees, which also included actress Elizabeth Olsen and DreamWorks Studios chief Stacey Snider.

"They're all so charming, so well spoken, and so thin," Streisand said, adding, "I ate the chocolate cake."

(Also on the menu: Alaskan halibut and a roasted peach salad.)

Streisand said that only seven percent of the top 250 films were directed by women and she urged her colleagues to be fearless about moving forward in the entertainment industry.

"Let's be bold and don't wait for the phone to ring," she said. "Create your own material. Tell me a story."

The love didn't stop with Streisand. Olsen said Pfeiffer inspired her to become an actress, and Reese Witherspoon said Aniston had "sex appeal and complete lovability."

"You just want to get your nails done with her and you want to make out with her at the same time. At least I do," Witherspoon said. "And that's what we do sometimes on Saturdays."

"The Help" co-star Octavia Spencer traded "I love yous" with Davis, and broke the news that Davis was a new mom with her husband, actor Julius Tennon. Davis thanked her husband and "my new baby new baby, Genesis, who really is a genesis, a beginning, a birth in me."

Davis gave no further details but her publicist later confirmed the child was a girl.

The Oscar nominee said it isn't love that drives her to keep working in Hollywood.

"What keeps me in the business is hope, and that's the hope that women of color are also part of the narrative," Davis said. "(I'm) sending a telepathic message to you: Every time some young actress of color comes in a room with a character they're auditioning for that's not ethnically specific, that you have a space in your brain that can open up and embrace them and allow them in, because I'm telling you, their lives are just as fascinating and multifaceted."

The audience gave her a standing ovation, and welcomed Streisand the same way.

The Women in Hollywood honorees are featured in Elle's November issue.

___

Online:

www.elle.com

___

Follow AP Entertainment Writer Sandy Cohen on Twitter at www.twitter.com/APSandy.

__

AP Entertainment Writer Natalie Rotman contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/music/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111018/ap_en_mu/us_women_in_hollywood

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High court to rule on lying about military medals (AP)

WASHINGTON ? The Supreme Court will decide if telling a lie about yourself is a crime ? if the lie claims military medals you didn't earn.

The court said Monday it will rule on the constitutionality of a law that makes it a federal crime for people to claim falsely, either in writing or aloud, that they have been awarded the Medal of Honor, a Silver Star, Purple Heart or any other military medal.

The Stolen Valor Act, which passed Congress with overwhelming support in 2006, apparently has been used only a few dozen times, but the underlying issue of false claims of military heroism has struck a chord in an era in which American soldiers are fighting two wars.

At the same time, the justices have issued a series of rulings in recent terms in favor of free expression, striking down California's violent video restrictions and a federal law involving cruelty to animals. It also upheld the right of protesters to picket military funerals with provocative, even offensive, messages.

The federal appeals court in California struck down the military medals law on free speech grounds, and appeals courts in Colorado, Georgia and Missouri are considering similar cases.

The Obama administration is arguing that the law "serves a crucial purpose in safeguarding the military honors system." The administration also says the law is reasonable because it only applies to instances in which the speaker intends to portray himself as a medal recipient. Previous high court rulings also have limited First Amendment protection for false statements, the government said.

The court almost always reviews lower court rulings that hold federal laws unconstitutional.

The case concerns the government's prosecution of Xavier Alvarez of Pomona, Calif. A member of the local water district board, Alvarez said at a public meeting in 2007 that he was a retired Marine who received the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration. In fact, he had never served in the military.

He was indicted and pleaded guilty with the understanding that he would challenge the law's constitutionality in his appeal. He was sentenced under the Stolen Valor Act to more than 400 hours of community service at a veterans' hospital and fined $5,000.

A panel of the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals voted 2-1 to strike down the law. The majority said there is no evidence that lies such as the one told by Alvarez harm anybody and no compelling reason to make a crime out of them.

In a dissent, Judge Jay Bybee said his colleagues should have followed previous Supreme Court rulings holding that false statements are not entitled to First Amendment protection.

The appeals court refused the government's request to have the case heard again by a larger group of its judges. Chief Judge Alex Kozinski, agreeing with the majority, said people often tell lies about themselves in day-to-day social interactions. He said it would be "terrifying" if people could be prosecuted for merely telling lies.

But seven appellate judges said they would have heard the case, suggesting that they would have upheld Alvarez's conviction.

The law had been the latest congressional effort to try to keep people from wearing medals they did not earn. But it was the first time that lawmakers made it a crime for someone to claim falsely that he had been awarded a medal.

A proposal in the House of Representatives would amend the law to apply only when the deception is aimed at getting something of value in return.

Many of the cases to date involve men who were not accused of trying to profit from their claims. Almost everyone convicted under the law has been ordered to perform community service.

Arguments will take place early next year.

The case is U.S. v. Alvarez, 11-210.

___

Follow Sherman on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/shermancourt

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/usmilitary/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111017/ap_on_go_su_co/us_supreme_court_military_medals

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Motorola Atrix 2 spotted in AT&T store a bit early

Atrix 2

The Motorola Atrix 2 should be hitting AT&T store shelves Sunday Oct. 16, but in at least one location they are already sitting pretty and ready for fondling.  A reader sent these pics in, saying that the manager of his local AT&T store has already put them out "by mistake".  He goes on to tell us two pretty interesting things -- the H+ icon in the status bar has been replaced with a "4G" logo, and the screen on the new models is good enough that he doesn't think it's a pentile matrix display.  While the network icon is pretty lulzworthy, the news about an improved screen is good to hear.  Maybe this is a worthy refresh after all?  hit the break for another pic, and check out our hands-on.

Thanks, anon!

read more


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/028xhFkrFu8/motorola-atrix-2-spotted-att-store-bit-early

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Searching For a Serious Long-Term RP Buddy! (Advanced)

EDIT: This is strange. I could swear I've started this thread in "Interest Checks", not in the "Roleplayers Wanted" forum... Apologies!

Hi, everyone!

I am (once again, times two) looking for a long-term role-playing partner that would be willing to share many fun hours, days, weeks and months (and more!) with me in role-playing settings. So, without further ado, let's see what I'm offering and what I'm expecting of a potential RP partner.

***I OFFER YOU***
- Literate, several paragraphs long posts (my usual post will be about 500 words long. My longer posts will be about 1300ish) with imagination and character development (I do not, however, like to read nor write entire novels in a single post). Please be aware that I am NOT a native English speaker, so you can expect some language mishaps.
- Daily posting (if we're online at the same time and we both have time, I'm no stranger to chains of dozens of posts at once - I LOVE developing the story with more than merely one post per day).
- Dedication; for advanced role-plays, I like to devote my time to them and not have other role-plays going on at once. You can expect me to stay devoted to the role-play, provided we're both happy with it. If not, I'll voice my concerns.
- Friendly out-of-character (OOC) chat on messaging programs. I'm a friendly guy and I like to chat, simple as that. Whether this is about the story itself or what you've been eating for lunch - I'm fine with all of it and actually encourage it!
- The choice of talking over your own ideas for the role-play, in case you'd wish to bring something of your own into the world, apart from your character (and supporting characters). I'm always open to ideas. However, be aware that this is a fairly fully-formed world that has its details already quite defined.

- A GMed (game mastered), fleshed-out medieval fantasy world filled with denizens both benign and horrible (like in the real world, I never have black and white characters in the story; they will all have both sides of the story and their ideas of how the world should be run) and magic
- An epic quest complete with twists, mysteries, intrigue and morally ambiguous choices which affect the outcome of the story and take our characters to fantastic places. The role-play will focus on mystery, uncertainty and character development.
- Character romance (if your character pursues it and if they 'work' together - I don't do love on first sight); however, the romance part is completely optional and secondary to the story itself.
- The choice of having 'side-quests', namely in the form of resolving your character's past, helping him/her fulfil some kind of a life-long task, wish or whatever. This part is up to you and your imagination! I'm flexible and love such things, especially when my character(s) can help out.

***I EXPECT FROM YOU***
- Be over 20 years old; not for mature content but for maturity. Yes, age does not necessarily reflect maturity but it does increase the chances of a person being more mature, right?
- Preferably play a female character.
- Literacy, imagination, a love for character development. Post length does not bother me that much; action posts, naturally, shall be shorter, while calmer, more descriptive posts shall be longer.
- Dedication. I completely understand we all have obligations and unforseen things popping in; I'm not unreasonable. All I'm asking for is frequent posting and at least saying HI to me if you come online. This would also require you to focus on this role-play. I will devote most of my role-playing time to this role-play and I would be happy if you would as well. I'm looking for someone with too much time on their hands, if you will...
- Friendliness. Might sound funny but, no, that doesn't mean I'm such a horrible person that every one runs from me, either. Feel free to say "hi" and "bye" and "good night" and so forth when appropriate; really, I won't mind it one bit. ;) Also, chatting via a messaging program (MSN, Yahoo) - this is required.
- Be on at European times. This is truly important for me. I really like chatting with my role-playing partner and posting more than simply one post per day, so both of us getting online at the same time and enjoying a session of role-playing is great fun. However, for that, you can't be sleeping when it's day over here in Europe. :) I don't expect you to be online every single minute I'm online but having a few hours together would be nice. I will not accept people who would never be online at my own times.
- You like dragons! :D
- You think character introspection is a fundamental part of role-playing.

***I DISLIKE/DO NOT DO***
- Being ignored and kept in the dark/being dumped without being told so. Seriously, I hate this. If you don't like the role-play, if you're bored, if you're sick of me, PLEASE - SAY SO. Don't just disappear or ignore me. We're adults so let's act like them.
- Infrequent posting. Let's face it; it's no fun being stuck in an intriguing story.
- The 'something x something' stuff that I keep seeing. I'm not going to tell people how to role-play or anything, I've just seen SO many posts with these 'pairings' (I guess) and, as far as I can tell, they mostly aim for romance. This goes hand-in-hand with all the vampire and werewolf craze and such.
- Superhero role-plays, role-plays based on comics, any kind of anime or realistic role-plays. My place is in fantasy and sci-fi.
- OOC Drama. I'm glad to say I haven't been in any OOC drama for years and years but I'm just putting it out here. If you don't like something in the role-play, please say so. We can work it out. Chances are, I will warn you of any uncommon role-playing practices I use before we even start.
- Detailed sex-scenes. I'm here for the story and, while I'm not offended by explicit stories, they're not what I'm here for.

I should probably also mention that I absolutely LOVE playing orchestral music for different scenes, usually only for myself. Epic/atmospheric songs fuel my imagination to no end. So, if you're like me, I'll be happy to share what I'm listening to while RPing - it's a plus but I don't expect everyone to like it. :)

Now, if you've read all of this, then kudos to you. All these 'demands' and requirements might sound pretentious, but I'm really a nice guy merely in search of a good, fun-loving, reliable role-playing buddy. I've been let down so many times and, to be honest, I'd rather not role-play than role-play with someone who will drop out after a few weeks. Be aware that this is an epic story which will take months to complete, so it's important we both have fun!

I haven't told you anything about what the world is like and what the story involves but, if you're interested and share the same ideals and are bored, then, by all means, send me a private message and say so! :)

I await you!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/NLUP6KQSyi8/viewtopic.php

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Vankoryth D?tente

Vankoryth D?tente


"Expect from thy blood no more than thy blood expects from thee"

Glossary of Terms
Blood- Fellow members of the Vankoryth Detente.
Kin (e) - Those that are turned by you
Sire (s) - Those that have turned you.
Elysium - Neutral ground
Creed (s) - Ordinances of the clan that shant be disobeyed.

Creeds
To break the Creeds is to claim a fate worse than that which you already suffer.

Imprimis
Present forth respect

Secundus

    Thou shall not betray thou blood.

    Thou shall respect thy elders

    Thou shall not sire a kin out of children or love.

    Thou shall not condemn thy blood.

    Thou shall bear responsibility of thy kine.

    Thou shall Honor Sovreignity
    When entering a foreign domain, thou shalt present thyself those whom preside. Without permission thou art Nothing.


Tertrius
Vampire fetuses are ok to snack on when opportunity arises, and are not allowed to feed off / sire anything under the age of 10.Blood in Order of Hierarchy of Age

Image
Mortuus
[Never sired]
An undead dragon, too old to be living, too old to have thought, but somehow holding on to a string of existance, feeding from the life and the death of others. Roughly 250million years old earth time (But not always as a sentient being)

Image
Casren Bistreo
[Unknown]
He's passive and flamboyant , loves chaos, and is inherently apathetic. It comes with age. Is roughly 1200, but youd never know it.

Image
Charles Lemarr
[Unknown]
Violent and overbearing he has a strong sense of pride and acts to this sense.

Image
Daemala Tauvyr
[Casren]
Slightly uptight, easy to annoy, this vampire elitist enjoys social games and poetry. Turns 806 years old on Aug. 16 2012

Image
Dominic Mulligan
[Unknown]
Irish Vampire, victim of Child Siring - Is around 350 years of age.

Image
Dayo Jamilla
[unknown]
Child victim, trapped in the body of an eleven year old, utlilizes her youth as a weapon, survived slave trade, is roughly 300 years old

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Mariotto Valrez Spencer
[Unknown ]
Greedy and always willing to do more if it helps his own couse. 197 years of age.

Image
Kaiser Zaun
[unknown] A highly arrogant and near-racist vampire, has a very long tearm goal in mind and uses his vast array of connections to ensure its success. 124 years of age.

Image
The Harlequin
[Daemala]
58 years since he was turned. A mass murderer who hates this clan shit, but is in it anyway.

Image
Daciana Johannesque
[Charles Lemarr]

Uncategorized:

Image
Xiucosendr
[unknown]

Domains

Castle Vankoryth - Elysium
Cursed Wood - Main Hunting Grounds


Summaries/Timeline
: (UNDER REVISION)

Casren Bistreo wakes up inside and/or finds Castle Vankoryth.

Daemala and Harlequin meet for the first time during massacre.

Daemala and Harlequin meet several more times, then Daemala sires Harlequin to stop him from interrupting her meals with slaughter.

Harlequin joins the clan and begins restoration at Castle Vankoryth. During which he discovers something, but keeps it to himself.

Mariotto is welcomed into Castle Vankoryth, joins.

Charles LeMarr is welcomed into Castle Vankoryth, joins.

The Creeds are written.

Kaiser Zaun is invited to join.

Dayo and Dominic arrive to the castle and sign up to the cause, pledging alliegance. Dayo's motives aren't clear, but Dominic seems sincere about the joining.

Xiucosendr Von Delacroix is welcomed into Castle Vankoryth, joins.

A Hunt occurs in Wing City Main Street.

To recap, the group attacks the citizens of main street. During the mayhem and slaughter, A dragon, Mortuus, appears in the fray, attracted by the sounds and smell of blood. The Vankyroth, notably Dominic, talk to the beast, asking it to join their side. After shifting into a woman, Mortuus agreed, with some cryptic words about her past.

Mortuus is acquired.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/FBe54k3spRo/viewtopic.php

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Campaign reports show disparity among GOP

FILE - In this Oct. 11, 2011 file photo, Republican presidential candidate former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks during a Republican presidential debate at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., Republicans Mitt Romney and Rick Perry are neck and neck in filling their presidential campaign coffers after a summer of strong fundraising amid voter anger over jobs and the economy. They're pulling in big bucks, $30 million combined, though not nearly as big as the man they hope to replace in the White House. (AP Photo/Daniel Acker, Pool, File)

FILE - In this Oct. 11, 2011 file photo, Republican presidential candidate former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks during a Republican presidential debate at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., Republicans Mitt Romney and Rick Perry are neck and neck in filling their presidential campaign coffers after a summer of strong fundraising amid voter anger over jobs and the economy. They're pulling in big bucks, $30 million combined, though not nearly as big as the man they hope to replace in the White House. (AP Photo/Daniel Acker, Pool, File)

In this Oct. 12, 2011 file photo, Republican presidential candidate Texas Gov. Rick Perry speaks at GOP forum in Indianapolis. Republicans Mitt Romney and Rick Perry are neck and neck in filling their presidential campaign coffers after a summer of strong fundraising amid voter anger over jobs and the economy. They're pulling in big bucks, $30 million combined, though not nearly as big as the man they hope to replace in the White House. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)

Herman Cain addresses the crowd in Bartlett, Tenn. on Friday, October 14, 2011. He explained his ideas about taxes, he said he loved his bible, his guns and that the people running the country are stupid. The GOP presidential candidate held a rally Friday morning at Freeman Park at Bartlett. (AP Photo/The Commercial Appeal, Karen Pulfer Focht) MAGS OUT; NO SALES; TV OUT; ONLINE OUT; MEMPHIS OUT

Republican presidential candidate Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., is greeted by supporters after a Republican presidential debate at Dartmouth College Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011, in Hanover, N.H. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)

Republican presidential candidate former House Speaker Newt Gingrich looks to his wife Callista during a break in a Republican presidential debate at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH., Tuesday night, Oct. 11, 2011, as former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum looks on. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? With just over a year left in the race for the White House, campaign finance reports released Saturday offered the first detailed look at the haves and the have-nots among the Republican presidential candidates.

Two of the top Republican contenders, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Texas Gov. Rick Perry, brought in more than $14 million and $17 million respectively. Meanwhile, candidates like former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and businessman Herman Cain raised significantly less.

The financial reports show how flush some GOP candidates are with cash ? and how nearly broke others are ? heading into the final weeks before contests in key primary states. Reports on two of the biggest money-raisers so far ? Romney and President Barack Obama ? reveal millions in contributions from party devotees and small donors alike.

Reports filed late Friday offered a mixed financial picture of the field, with Obama raising more than $70 million between his campaign and the Democratic Party. At the same time, GOP candidates raised a combined $52.6 million, more than the $42 million Obama brought in through his campaign alone.

Other candidates are saddled with debt, such as former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann.

The reports didn't capture the tens of millions raised by new, outside groups known as super political action committees, which can collect unlimited amounts of money to influence elections. Leading contenders Perry and Romney have at least one super PAC each working to boost their candidacies, and another group is backing Obama's re-election bid.

Texas Rep. Ron Paul, a favorite among libertarians, collected $8.2 million, spent $7.5 million during the period and has no debt. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum reported raising more than $700,000 during the quarter, spent nearly $750,000 and owes about $70,000.

But some in the GOP field owe much more, particularly as their campaigns struggle to compete with big money that fuels increasingly expensive elections.

Gingrich owes the most among all candidates who have filed so far, with more than $1.1 million in debts for expenses like office supplies, direct mail and outside experts ? including $5,250 for a "Hispanic outreach consultant" and $724 for a "social media consultation." His campaign raised about $793,000 this period, about a third of which came from small donors.

Bachmann, a leading tea party figure, reported nearly $550,000 in debt after raising $3.9 million. Her expenses included more than $130,000 spent on chartered flights with Moby Dick Airways of Virginia. She also owes former campaign chair Ed Rollins about $30,000.

And while businessman Herman Cain's report said he raised $2.8 million and has $1.3 million in the bank, the former Godfather's Pizza CEO loaned his campaign $675,000, most of it borrowed in the spring.

Candidates with much more cash on hand means more money for advertising and overhead costs. But it also means more flexibility: Romney spent about $240,000 in private jets, although he has tweeted in the past about flying commercial on low-cost air carrier Southwest Airlines.

Romney, like his opponents, garnered support from small-dollar donors, drawing 80 percent of his contributions from checks less than $250. A former venture capitalist, he raised $18 million during the previous April-June period.

____

Associated Press writer Ken Thomas contributed to this report.

____

Follow Jack Gillum at http://twitter.com/jackgillum

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2011-10-15-Campaign%20Money/id-c91a0442950b4a6ea52fc0988d055674

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Behind-the-scenes of 'The Walking Dead' (omg!)

Nigerian pleads guilty to underwear bomb attack

FILE - This December 2009 file photo released by the U.S. Marshal's Service shows Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab in Milan, Mich. Abdulmutallab, on trial for a failed attempt to blow up a Detroit-bound plane with a bomb in his underwear, is acting as his own lawyer. In practice, he is relying on an experienced attorney to work the courtroom. (AP Photo/U.S. Marshals Service, File)

FILE - This December 2009 file photo released by the U.S. Marshal's Service shows Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab in Milan, Mich. Abdulmutallab, on trial for a failed attempt to blow up a Detroit-bound plane with a bomb in his underwear, is acting as his own lawyer. In practice, he is relying on an experienced attorney to work the courtroom. (AP Photo/U.S. Marshals Service, File)

Defense attorney Anthony Chambers talks to reporters outside the Federal Courthouse in Detroit on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011. Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, charged with trying to blow up a Detroit-bound plane for al-Qaida, pleaded guilty on the second day of the trial. He's accused of trying to blow up Northwest Airlines Flight 253 with a bomb in his underwear on Christmas 2009. ( (AP Photo/Robert Ray)

In this courtroom drawing, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, center, appears in U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds' courtroom in Detroit with Anthony Chambers, his lawyer who was assisting in his defense, left, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Tukel, right, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011. The Nigerian man who said he tried to bring down an international flight over Detroit with a bomb in his underwear took the court by surprise as he pleaded guilty on the second day of the trial. (AP Photo/Jerry Lemenu)

In this courtroom drawing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Tukel shows an airline seating chart in U.S. District Court, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011, in Detroit. Opening arguments in the trial of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Nigerian man accused of trying to bring down a jetliner with a bomb in his underwear, got under way Tuesday. (AP Photo/Jerry Lemenu)

(AP) ? A Nigerian man pleaded guilty Wednesday to attempting to bring down an international flight over Detroit with a bomb in his underwear, telling a surprised courtroom on the second day of his trial that the failed attack was retaliation for the killing of Muslims worldwide.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who had never denied the accusations against him, calmly answered questions from U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds before pleading guilty on the second day of his trial to all eight charges he faced, including conspiracy to commit terrorism and attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction.

He then told the court that the underwear bomb was a "blessed weapon to save the lives of innocent Muslims."

"The United States should be warned that if they continue to persist and promote the blasphemy of Mohammed and the prophets ... the United States should await a great calamity that will befall them through the hands of the mujahedeen soon," said Abdulmutallab, who faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison.

"If you laugh with us now we will laugh with you later on the day of judgment," he said.

Outside court, defense attorney Anthony Chambers said Abdulmutallab, who had chosen to represent himself and was being assisted by Chambers, pleaded guilty against the lawyer's wishes.

"We wanted to continue the trial but we respect his decision," Chambers said.

Abdulmutallab, 25, said he carried a bomb in his underwear onto Northwest Airlines Flight 253 on Christmas 2009 with the intention of killing the nearly 300 people on board. The bomb didn't work, and passengers jumped on Abdulmutallab when they saw smoke and fire.

The evidence was stacked high. Abdulmutallab was badly burned on a plane full of witnesses. The government said he told FBI agents he was working for al-Qaida and directed by Anwar al-Awlaki, a radical, American-born Muslim cleric recently killed by the U.S. in Yemen. There were also photos of his scorched shorts as well as video of Abdulmutallab explaining his suicide mission before departing for the U.S.

In September 2010, Abdulmutallab suggested he wanted to plead guilty to some charges. But he didn't, and instead dropped his four-lawyer, publicly financed defense team and decided to represent himself. He said relying on others wasn't in his best interest.

His lawyers at the time said they had talked to prosecutors about a possible plea deal. Abdulmutallab had asked the judge what he needed to do to plead guilty to some charges but nothing happened and a trial was set.

"Contrary to what some have claimed, today's plea removes any doubt that our courts are one of the most effective tools we have to fight terrorism and keep the American people safe," U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said in a Wednesday statement. "We will continue to be aggressive in our fight against terrorism and those who target us, and we will let results, not rhetoric, guide our actions."

Passenger Lori Haskell, 34, of Newport, Mich., watched Abdulmutallab's plea by video in an overflow room Wednesday. She called his statement in court "chilling" but not surprising.

"I'm just really relieved that it's done with," Haskell said.

Abdulmutallab had written a few court filings in his own hand, including a request to be judged by Islamic law. He at times appeared agitated in court, declaring that Osama bin Laden and al-Awlaki are alive. He also objected to trial testimony from experts who would have discussed al-Qaida and martyrdom.

On Tuesday, a passenger on Flight 253 testified that Abdulmutallab took a long bathroom break in the plane, during which prosecutors say he was preparing for death.

"I thought he was freshening up for arrival in Detroit. ... We had less than an hour to go," said passenger Mike Zantow of Madison, Wis.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Tukel said the son of a wealthy Nigerian banker believed his calling that day was martyrdom.

"He was preparing to die and enter heaven," Tukel said. "He purified himself. He washed. He brushed his teeth. He put on perfume."

After returning to his seat, Abdulmutallab pushed a syringe plunger into the chemical bomb, an action that produced a loud "pop" sound, then flames and smoke, the prosecutor said.

"Then all hell broke loose. While the fireball was on him, the defendant sat there. He didn't move. He was expressionless. He was completely blank," Tukel said.

The government says Abdulmutallab willingly explained the plot twice, first to U.S. border officers who took him off the plane and then in more detail to FBI agents who interviewed him at a hospital for 50 minutes, following treatment for serious burns to his groin.

Abdulmutallab told authorities he trained in Yemen, home base for Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, and was influenced by al-Awlaki, who was killed in a Sept. 30 U.S. military air strike.

Following the strike, a U.S. official outlined new details of al-Awlaki's involvement against the U.S., including Abdulmutallab's mission. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said al-Awlaki specifically directed Abdulmutallab to detonate an explosive device over U.S. airspace to maximize casualties.

Officials have said al-Awlaki was believed to be at a gathering of al-Qaida figures in Yemen's Shabwa mountains a day before the attack, after which bin Laden appeared in a video declaring Abdulmutallab a "hero." Abdulmutallab also has been lauded by al-Qaida's English-language Web magazine Inspire, whose editor was killed along with al-Awlaki.

___

Associated Press writers David Runk in Detroit and Matt Apuzzo in Washington contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2011-10-12-Airline%20Attack/id-f6c73993fa9c408e9e5b0413472fda1b

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Oil falls to near $85 ahead of corporate earnings (AP)

SINGAPORE ? Oil fell to near $85 a barrel Wednesday in Asia ahead of a stream of corporate earnings reports that could shape views on the strength of the U.S. economy and likely demand for crude.

Benchmark crude for November delivery was down 35 cents at $85.46 a barrel at late afternoon Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose 40 cents to settle at $85.81 in New York on Tuesday.

Brent crude was up 37 cents at $111.10 a barrel on the ICE Futures Exchange in London.

Alcoa Inc., the largest U.S. aluminum producer, reported third-quarter net income that fell far short of analyst forecasts. The company said demand from Europe dropped sharply in the July-September period, which helped pull down the price of aluminum.

Alcoa is the first company in the Dow Jones industrial average to report third-quarter results. Later this week, food and beverage producer PepsiCo Inc., investment bank JPMorgan Chase & Co., and tech giant Google Inc. are also scheduled to announce earnings.

Investors will be closely watching to what extent a slowing global economy may have undermined corporate profits and what companies forecast for coming quarters. Analysts expect earnings from S&P 500 companies to rise about 12 percent from the same period last year, according to data provider FactSet.

Oil prices fell from $90 last month to $75 last week amid investor concern Europe's debt crisis could spread and hurt global economic growth. Crude bounced back to $85 this week and has hovered near there for the last couple days as traders await more details about a plan led by Germany and France to capitalize the region's banks.

"From a longer term perspective, we still see a choppy, wide swinging trade that still includes the possibility of a retest of last week's lows," energy consultant Ritterbusch and Associates said.

In other Nymex trading, heating oil rose 0.1 cent to $2.91 per gallon and gasoline futures dropped 0.3 cents to $2.75 per gallon. Natural gas slid 1.1 cents to $3.61 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111012/ap_on_re_as/oil_prices

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