Monday, April 1, 2013

Detroit airport terminal evacuated over suspicious device

(CNN) A terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Airport was evacuated for about two hours Monday morning due to concerns over a suspicious device.

The north terminal the smaller of the two at the airport was cleared to reopen around 8 30 a.m. an airport spokesman said.

Earlier screeners with the Transportation Security Administration noticed something suspicious in a passenger's carry on luggage said airport spokesman Michael Conway. Explosive teams looked into it and in the meantime passengers in the terminal were moved a safe distance away he said.

The passenger carrying the suspicious item was not under arrest but was being detained Conway said.

The larger terminal continued normal operations he said.

Wayne County Airport Authority spokesman Scott Wintner later said the device was removed from the north terminal allowing operations to be restored.

No further details were given about the suspicious device.

An FBI official said no explosive device was found.

CNN's Carol Cratty contributed to this report.

Articles Source here

Fear shadows Nepal homosexuals Human Rights Watch

NEW YORK Nepal should allow lesbian gay bisexual and transgender (LGBT) groups to operate freely and end arbitrary arrests of LGBT people Human Rights Watch said on Monday.

The government should investigate threats and attacks against LGBT people the rights body said.

Widespread harassment including by the government has contributed to a climate of fear among LGBT people and activists in Nepal and has interrupted vital activities including HIV prevention work it said.

The LGBT rights movement in Nepal is a regional and international leader but is under serious threat said Graeme Reid director of the LGBT Rights Program at Human Rights Watch.

While Nepal has made immense progress on LGBT rights in the past decade the government cannot afford to ignore the many problems facing LGBT people inside its borders.

Attacks on Nepal's LGBT activists have escalated in recent months from threats against individuals to physical violence and abduction Human Rights Watch said.

Over the past six months LGBT rights activists have reported being harassed by threatening text messages and being followed by people wearing masks who attempted to extort money or sex.

Some have been forced by these masked figures to make negative on camera statements against Blue Diamond Society the national LGBT umbrella organization.

In December the Blue Diamond Society asked the inspector general of Nepal Police to investigate threats against staff members including threatening phone calls and being followed after dark.

However these and other threats and intimidation have neither been investigated nor punished and have contributed to a climate of fear among LGBT people.

Many have been unable to congregate in public conduct HIV prevention outreach activities or express their views without fear of threats or reprisal.

Government harassment of the Blue Diamond Society has seriously threatened the group's activities Human Rights Watch said.

Government officials have been delaying the renewal of the group's operating licence.

A series of television news stories alleging corruption and incompetence by the Blue Diamond Society led to a government probe which halted the annual NGO licence renewal process and froze its bank accounts.

Nepal's government has made significant strides toward ensuring equality for LGBT people in recent years including recognizing a third gender category on official documents.

The government has also completed a proposal to amend all laws that discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in line with a landmark 2007 supreme court decision.

Articles Source here

Faithful mark Easter at Jones Beach service

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March 31 2013 7 48 PM By DEON J. HAMPTON deon.hampton newsday.com

Photo credit Ed Betz Worshipers gather for Easter sunrise service at Jones Beach in Wantagh. (March 31 2013)

Other Columnists

Videos Surviving Sandy Galleries Celebrating Easter Passover on Long Island Helping Sandy victims Aerial photos of superstorm Sandy damage

Long Island worshippers still coming to grips with the lingering devastation from superstorm Sandy sought solace in their faith during an Easter sunrise service at Jones Beach Sunday.

The celebration of Christ's resurrection brought renewed strength and inspiration to Derwood Fish 65 who has been living with relatives since his Seaford home of 40 years flooded in the October storm.

It shows you that the Lord has the power to do anything he wants and if people don't straighten up we might see more of it he said.

During his brief sermon before 200 people the Rev. Thomas A. Goodhue an ordained United Methodist clergyman addressed Jones Beach and communities hit hard by Sandy.

Have you ever felt hopeless and in despair Goodhue asked the crowd in the sermon titled Hanging on for Dear Life or Leaping toward New Life.

Didn't you want to get your possessions and life back he continued. But maybe God wanted for us something new to do something on this island.

Samantha Siegler 22 of Bellmore quietly listened.

It's a lot to think about but we're standing on a beach that was underwater a few months ago she said.

Fish who isn't sure when he will return home said he doesn't blame anyone for his situation but will heavily lean on his faith. It's a choice we make to live on the water he said.

Attendees gathered on the beach at Field 6 for the 30 minute nondenominational service held by the Long Island Council of Churches one of several worship groups at the beach Sunday morning.

Away from the service dozens of people stood along the water silently watching the sunrise and waves move back and forth.

We're very blessed to be able to worship on the beach said Bellmore resident Nancy Schneider 52.

Michael Riccuiti 73 of Bellmore said he annually visits the beach on Easter morning. I like to start Easter days with bright sunshine the Lord provided us he said.

During his sermon Goodhue who has led the council of churches since 1999 spoke of how Jesus could have passed for an average working man or a gardener while on Earth.

He also told of how Jesus' mother Mary didn't recognize him after being resurrected bringing home Goodhue's larger point.

It's the thought that a resurrected life is different from life before he said after the service. We can rebuild the Island stronger and bigger rather than clinging on to the past.

Articles Source here

Dumpster sized boulders trap man in Calif. for days found by dog

April 1 2013 (RIVERSIDE Calif.) Ramon Llamas was taking his usual hike on busy Mount Rubidoux when his dog Mole began whimpering and tugging at his leg.

He was talking to me in his language he was pulling me from my pants to go down and see the hole the Riverside man told KTTV TV.

The puzzled Llamas turned back up the dirt trail he'd been using. The dog led him off the path to some rocks.

In a crack between the boulders was the thin dirty face of a man who may have been trapped there for days without food or water.

On Tuesday the man whose name hasn't been released remained hospitalized for severe dehydration but he was alert and listed in good condition city fire Capt. Bruce Vanderhorst said.

Mole meanwhile was being praised as a hero.

If Mole hadn't acted I think it would be too late Llamas told the Riverside Press Enterprise. We find him at the right time.

No one reported hearing the man shout for help even though Mount Rubidoux is popular with hikers and daily exercisers.

Located within the city east of Los Angeles it has both paved and dirt trails that can draw hundreds of people every day.

Llamas is one of them hiking every day that he doesn't work.

His dog pulled him to a place off the dirt path and about 100 feet below the paved main access road.

When he first saw something in the boulders he thought it might be an animal.

It was dark and it was dusty because he was digging the dirt and I see his big eyes in his face and I thought it was a bear Llamas said.

Eventually he and another hiker recognized that the dirty weak figure was a man caught in a hole in between two boulders. The man called himself Paul.

He said 'I need water please don't leave me.' So I gave him water from my backpack and in a minute he said 'You got more ' So I give more water Llamas told KABC TV (http //bit.ly/YEahyP).

He said he'd been there between four and six days with no food Llamas said.

Rescuers were called and pulled him up from the Dumpster sized rocks in about 90 minutes Vanderhorst said.

The man seems unclear about how long he'd been trapped Vanderhorst said.

He's claiming up to five nights but also said he came up Sunday which would be a single day the captain said.

It looked like he slipped and fell down between two boulders almost like a funnel into a hole he said.

The man's shoes remained in the hole and his pants came off during the rescue Vanderhorst said.

The pants were later retrieved. Llamas told KTTV TV that he went back up the mountain on Tuesday and retrieved the red laced dirt scuffed white sneakers in order to return them.

He also said Mole a year old brindled shepherd chow mix has become a celebrity.

I went for a walk today Llamas said. The walk was OK but everybody stopped me just to pet Mole. They don't care about me they care about Mole.

Somebody give him a medal up there on the mountain. He's a hero right now.

Get more National/World

national/world Comment Now Email Print Report a typo

Articles Source here

Calif. officers stop Easter Bunny driving motorcycle

A man dressed up as a giant rabbit was pulled over on a Southland freeway while heading to a charity event for failing to wear a helmet. (credit California Highway Patrol) A man dressed up as a giant rabbit was pulled over on a Southland freeway while heading to a charity event for failing to wear a helmet. / CBS Los Angeles/Califronia Highway Patrol

Articles Source here

Madison Avenue Springs April Fools Pranks Early

By now it has become commonplace for marketers and advertising agencies to front run holidays and big calendar events starting their campaigns centered on Christmas the Super Bowl or the back to school shopping season earlier each year.

For 2013 it seems April Fool s Day can be added to that list as waiting until April 1 to spring pranks on unsuspecting consumers becomes increasingly pass . The reason for the April Fool s front running is the same as the reason for the front running of other noted days the ability of social media like Facebook Twitter and YouTube to convey and amplify marketing messages.

For instance two major marketers started their April Fool s jokes last week. (Or officially it ought to be said seem to have started them in that neither is talking about whether their announcements were the real deal or tomfoolery.)

One company Procter Gamble along with several of its agencies introduced a Web site a video clip on YouTube and a Twitter hashtag for a new variety of Scope mouthwash called Scope Bacon billed as the mouthwash for breath that sizzles.

Bacon flavored mouthwash Really It appears that America must wait until Monday to find out if Procter is pulling its collective leg or perhaps pulling on a pig s foot. The other marketer the American Eagle Outfitters retail chain introduced what it described as a line of Skinny Skinny jeans for young men and women billed as our skinniest fit yet.

But in a video clip on YouTube the models appear to be wearing body paint rather than pants. And on the retailer s Web site there are cans of paint labeled Skinny Skinny in two colors at the preposterous price of $49.95.

Again American Eagle cautioned patience to those waiting for an explanation.

Some potential pranksters that pulled forward their mischief at least had the courtesy to label what they had planned as related to April Fool s Day. One was CBS which issued a news release on Tuesday that the April 1 episodes of The Price Is Right and Let s Make a Deal would have April Fool s Day themes.

In other instances April Fool s jokes were shared with reporters on Friday with the proviso that they be embargoed until Monday.

One example was a mock news release from the New York office of the Mother advertising agency announcing that Mother New York had been named the new agency of record for the shadowy conspirators known as the Illuminati after the mysterious organization spent nearly 237 years with its previous agency.

(Maybe the release is real in that as is the case with so many announcements about ad accounts changing hands Mother New York omitted the name of the previous agency.)

Munchkin a maker of products for babies and children is to announce on Monday an imaginary product named Naughty Mouth soap to make your point when baby s language isn t the cleanest. Flavors are to include lying liver and whining wasabi.

And the Professional Association of Diving Instructors is to announce on Monday an April Fool s addition to its offerings scuba diving certification for dogs and cats.

Articles Source here

Google Nose April Fools Day Prank Practical Joke Promises Sharpest ...

Ever wish you could search Google by smell Now you can.

APRIL FOOLS

Google as per tradition is out with their latest April Fools' Day prank to celebrate the practical joke based holiday.

Google Nose BETA the company's new fictional product promises to offer the sharpest olfactory experience available.

A video introducing Google Nose (viewable above) explains that the feature allows users to search for smells. Seems complicated right Well that's because it is (it's also fake). The product intersects photons with infrasound waves and temporarily aligns molecules to emulate a particular scent. The mobile aroma indexing program at the heart of the product has amassed a 15 million scentibyte database of smells from around the world.

But what about mobile Well Google has you covered. Their Android Ambient Odor Detection allows you to collect smells on your phone.

It all sounds so great. But your nose will have to wait because this incredible technology only exists in a fictional universe. Check out Google's 2011 and 2012 April Fools' Day pranks here and here.

For more on Google Nose click here.

Related on HuffPost

Loading Slideshow Let It Snow

When you type let it snow into the search bar Google sends a shower of snowflakes down your screen. But watch out It gets frosty fast. If that happens just use your cursor like an ice scraper or click defrost. It's a good way to prepare for those frosty mornings in the car.

Do A Barrel Roll

Wanna feel like you're flying a fighter jet while you look for things on the internet Type a href https //www.google.com/webhp hl xx piglatin hl xx piglatinsource hpq do a barrel rollbtnG Google Earchsaygbv 2bav cf.osbfp d9b1dc2a24b11a17biw 1280bih 615 target _hplink do a barrel roll /a into the Google search bar and watch the whole page roll over.

Zerg Rush

If you query Google for Zerg Rush you'll unlock a playable Starcraft homage that unleashes dozens of letter Os on the page. You can earn some points by clicking on the letters and stopping them in their tracks but eventually they'll overwhelm and devour your search results. You can't win no matter how speedy your point and click skills.

What Is The Loneliest Number

You shouldn't be afraid to ask Google the hard questions. Query a href https //www.google.com/ pq askewhl ensugexp kjrmccp 28gs_id 42xhr tq what is the loneliest numbertok D9RnikF6EoRNko2269EJ5Qpf psclient psy absource hppbx 1oq what is the loneliest numberaq 0aqi g1aql fgs_sm gs_upl bav on.2 or.r_gc.r_pw. cf.osbfp 54eccb786198c044biw 1280bih 615 target _hplink What is the loneliest number /a and Google's calculator will tell you that it is 1 . The calculator returns the same answer when you query the answer to life the universe and everything as well as the number of horns on a unicorn. Image via a href www.google.com target _hplink Google/a

Askew

Get Google a little tipsy when you searcha href https //www.google.com/ sclient psy abhl ensource hpq askewpbx 1oq askewaq faqi g z2g2aql 1gs_sm egs_upl 15450l16004l1l16189l5l4l0l0l0l0l171l599l1.3l4l0bav on.2 or.r_gc.r_pw. cf.osbfp 54eccb786198c044biw 1280bih 615 target _hplink askew ./a Image via a href www.google.com target _hplink Google/a

Google Gravity

Tired of Google being so weightless all the time Bring it down to Earth by entering Google gravity and clicking I'm Feeling Lucky . Once the search bar buttons and logo have collapsed into a heap at the bottom of the page you can toss them around the page by clicking dragging and releasing them.

Recursion

You know when you're in a bathroom with lots of mirrors and you look into one and see your reflection a href http //farm4.static.flickr.com/3043/2683236467_d9bce06ae5.jpg target _hplink repeated into infinity /a That's called recursion. a href http //www.merriam webster.com/dictionary/recursive target _hplink According to Merriam Webster /a the word means a procedure that can repeat itself indefinitely. If you a href http //www.nochucknorris.com/ target _hplink Google with the word recursion /a Google will suggest the following at the top of its list of search results Did you mean recursion. If you click Google's suggestion a new page will load but Did you mean recursion will remain at the at the top of the results list. (With the time and inclination you could go on and on like this forever.)

Where Is Chuck Norris

Google saves you from a roundhouse kick to the face by coming up empty when you attempt an I'm Feeling Lucky search for a href http //www.nochucknorris.com/ target _hplink Where is Chuck Norris /a Instead users are a href http //www.nochucknorris.com/ target _hplink taken to www.NoChuckNorris.com/a which displays text that reads Google won't search for Chuck Norris because it knows you don't find Chuck Norris he finds you. The page also gives users an option to search pages from Chuck's Beard.

Once In A Blue Moon

The Google Calculator also returns more complicated answers. Query baker's dozen and the calculator returns 13. Searching once in a blue moon yields a comically small number (seen above).

Google Pig Latin

Otay eesay Oogle'sgay omepagehay anslatedtray intoway Igpay Atinlay ypetay a href https //www.google.com/webhp hl xx piglatin target _hplink ooglegay igpay atinlay /a intoway Ooglegay andway ithay I'mway Eelingfay Uckylay . You can also customize your Google search to a href http //www.google.com/language_tools hl en target _hplink display text in a number of languages/a such French German and Japanese as well as Latin Pirate and Klingon.

BONUS Play 'Snake' In YouTube Videos

If you're watching a dull video on YouTube.com you can press the Up Left arrows simultaneously to enjoys a game of Snake over the video. a href http //thenextweb.com/apps/2010/07/24/did you know you can play snake on youtube while watching videos hold left/ target _hplink According to The Next Web/a this trick doesn't work for videos with annotations or ads. It's limited to the videos played on YouTube's site and it doesn't work for embedded videos. Check out the video (above) to see how it's done.

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Kevin Ware Injury Rallies Louisville Team

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In his first Easter as pope Francis calls for peace in his own style

Articles Source here

Detroit airport terminal evacuated over suspicious device

(CNN) A terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Airport was evacuated for about two hours Monday morning due to concerns over a suspicious device.

The north terminal the smaller of the two at the airport was cleared to reopen around 8 30 a.m. an airport spokesman said.

Earlier screeners with the Transportation Security Administration noticed something suspicious in a passenger's carry on luggage said airport spokesman Michael Conway. Explosive teams looked into it and in the meantime passengers in the terminal were moved a safe distance away he said.

The passenger carrying the suspicious item was not under arrest but was being detained Conway said.

The larger terminal continued normal operations he said.

Wayne County Airport Authority spokesman Scott Wintner later said the device was removed from the north terminal allowing operations to be restored.

No further details were given about the suspicious device.

An FBI official said no explosive device was found.

CNN's Carol Cratty contributed to this report.

Articles Source here

Fear shadows Nepal homosexuals Human Rights Watch

NEW YORK Nepal should allow lesbian gay bisexual and transgender (LGBT) groups to operate freely and end arbitrary arrests of LGBT people Human Rights Watch said on Monday.

The government should investigate threats and attacks against LGBT people the rights body said.

Widespread harassment including by the government has contributed to a climate of fear among LGBT people and activists in Nepal and has interrupted vital activities including HIV prevention work it said.

The LGBT rights movement in Nepal is a regional and international leader but is under serious threat said Graeme Reid director of the LGBT Rights Program at Human Rights Watch.

While Nepal has made immense progress on LGBT rights in the past decade the government cannot afford to ignore the many problems facing LGBT people inside its borders.

Attacks on Nepal's LGBT activists have escalated in recent months from threats against individuals to physical violence and abduction Human Rights Watch said.

Over the past six months LGBT rights activists have reported being harassed by threatening text messages and being followed by people wearing masks who attempted to extort money or sex.

Some have been forced by these masked figures to make negative on camera statements against Blue Diamond Society the national LGBT umbrella organization.

In December the Blue Diamond Society asked the inspector general of Nepal Police to investigate threats against staff members including threatening phone calls and being followed after dark.

However these and other threats and intimidation have neither been investigated nor punished and have contributed to a climate of fear among LGBT people.

Many have been unable to congregate in public conduct HIV prevention outreach activities or express their views without fear of threats or reprisal.

Government harassment of the Blue Diamond Society has seriously threatened the group's activities Human Rights Watch said.

Government officials have been delaying the renewal of the group's operating licence.

A series of television news stories alleging corruption and incompetence by the Blue Diamond Society led to a government probe which halted the annual NGO licence renewal process and froze its bank accounts.

Nepal's government has made significant strides toward ensuring equality for LGBT people in recent years including recognizing a third gender category on official documents.

The government has also completed a proposal to amend all laws that discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in line with a landmark 2007 supreme court decision.

Articles Source here

Faithful mark Easter at Jones Beach service

Tweet Google Pin It

March 31 2013 7 48 PM By DEON J. HAMPTON deon.hampton newsday.com

Photo credit Ed Betz Worshipers gather for Easter sunrise service at Jones Beach in Wantagh. (March 31 2013)

Other Columnists

Videos Surviving Sandy Galleries Celebrating Easter Passover on Long Island Helping Sandy victims Aerial photos of superstorm Sandy damage

Long Island worshippers still coming to grips with the lingering devastation from superstorm Sandy sought solace in their faith during an Easter sunrise service at Jones Beach Sunday.

The celebration of Christ's resurrection brought renewed strength and inspiration to Derwood Fish 65 who has been living with relatives since his Seaford home of 40 years flooded in the October storm.

It shows you that the Lord has the power to do anything he wants and if people don't straighten up we might see more of it he said.

During his brief sermon before 200 people the Rev. Thomas A. Goodhue an ordained United Methodist clergyman addressed Jones Beach and communities hit hard by Sandy.

Have you ever felt hopeless and in despair Goodhue asked the crowd in the sermon titled Hanging on for Dear Life or Leaping toward New Life.

Didn't you want to get your possessions and life back he continued. But maybe God wanted for us something new to do something on this island.

Samantha Siegler 22 of Bellmore quietly listened.

It's a lot to think about but we're standing on a beach that was underwater a few months ago she said.

Fish who isn't sure when he will return home said he doesn't blame anyone for his situation but will heavily lean on his faith. It's a choice we make to live on the water he said.

Attendees gathered on the beach at Field 6 for the 30 minute nondenominational service held by the Long Island Council of Churches one of several worship groups at the beach Sunday morning.

Away from the service dozens of people stood along the water silently watching the sunrise and waves move back and forth.

We're very blessed to be able to worship on the beach said Bellmore resident Nancy Schneider 52.

Michael Riccuiti 73 of Bellmore said he annually visits the beach on Easter morning. I like to start Easter days with bright sunshine the Lord provided us he said.

During his sermon Goodhue who has led the council of churches since 1999 spoke of how Jesus could have passed for an average working man or a gardener while on Earth.

He also told of how Jesus' mother Mary didn't recognize him after being resurrected bringing home Goodhue's larger point.

It's the thought that a resurrected life is different from life before he said after the service. We can rebuild the Island stronger and bigger rather than clinging on to the past.

Articles Source here

Dumpster sized boulders trap man in Calif. for days found by dog

April 1 2013 (RIVERSIDE Calif.) Ramon Llamas was taking his usual hike on busy Mount Rubidoux when his dog Mole began whimpering and tugging at his leg.

He was talking to me in his language he was pulling me from my pants to go down and see the hole the Riverside man told KTTV TV.

The puzzled Llamas turned back up the dirt trail he'd been using. The dog led him off the path to some rocks.

In a crack between the boulders was the thin dirty face of a man who may have been trapped there for days without food or water.

On Tuesday the man whose name hasn't been released remained hospitalized for severe dehydration but he was alert and listed in good condition city fire Capt. Bruce Vanderhorst said.

Mole meanwhile was being praised as a hero.

If Mole hadn't acted I think it would be too late Llamas told the Riverside Press Enterprise. We find him at the right time.

No one reported hearing the man shout for help even though Mount Rubidoux is popular with hikers and daily exercisers.

Located within the city east of Los Angeles it has both paved and dirt trails that can draw hundreds of people every day.

Llamas is one of them hiking every day that he doesn't work.

His dog pulled him to a place off the dirt path and about 100 feet below the paved main access road.

When he first saw something in the boulders he thought it might be an animal.

It was dark and it was dusty because he was digging the dirt and I see his big eyes in his face and I thought it was a bear Llamas said.

Eventually he and another hiker recognized that the dirty weak figure was a man caught in a hole in between two boulders. The man called himself Paul.

He said 'I need water please don't leave me.' So I gave him water from my backpack and in a minute he said 'You got more ' So I give more water Llamas told KABC TV (http //bit.ly/YEahyP).

He said he'd been there between four and six days with no food Llamas said.

Rescuers were called and pulled him up from the Dumpster sized rocks in about 90 minutes Vanderhorst said.

The man seems unclear about how long he'd been trapped Vanderhorst said.

He's claiming up to five nights but also said he came up Sunday which would be a single day the captain said.

It looked like he slipped and fell down between two boulders almost like a funnel into a hole he said.

The man's shoes remained in the hole and his pants came off during the rescue Vanderhorst said.

The pants were later retrieved. Llamas told KTTV TV that he went back up the mountain on Tuesday and retrieved the red laced dirt scuffed white sneakers in order to return them.

He also said Mole a year old brindled shepherd chow mix has become a celebrity.

I went for a walk today Llamas said. The walk was OK but everybody stopped me just to pet Mole. They don't care about me they care about Mole.

Somebody give him a medal up there on the mountain. He's a hero right now.

Get more National/World

national/world Comment Now Email Print Report a typo

Articles Source here

Calif. officers stop Easter Bunny driving motorcycle

A man dressed up as a giant rabbit was pulled over on a Southland freeway while heading to a charity event for failing to wear a helmet. (credit California Highway Patrol) A man dressed up as a giant rabbit was pulled over on a Southland freeway while heading to a charity event for failing to wear a helmet. / CBS Los Angeles/Califronia Highway Patrol

Articles Source here

Madison Avenue Springs April Fools Pranks Early

By now it has become commonplace for marketers and advertising agencies to front run holidays and big calendar events starting their campaigns centered on Christmas the Super Bowl or the back to school shopping season earlier each year.

For 2013 it seems April Fool s Day can be added to that list as waiting until April 1 to spring pranks on unsuspecting consumers becomes increasingly pass . The reason for the April Fool s front running is the same as the reason for the front running of other noted days the ability of social media like Facebook Twitter and YouTube to convey and amplify marketing messages.

For instance two major marketers started their April Fool s jokes last week. (Or officially it ought to be said seem to have started them in that neither is talking about whether their announcements were the real deal or tomfoolery.)

One company Procter Gamble along with several of its agencies introduced a Web site a video clip on YouTube and a Twitter hashtag for a new variety of Scope mouthwash called Scope Bacon billed as the mouthwash for breath that sizzles.

Bacon flavored mouthwash Really It appears that America must wait until Monday to find out if Procter is pulling its collective leg or perhaps pulling on a pig s foot. The other marketer the American Eagle Outfitters retail chain introduced what it described as a line of Skinny Skinny jeans for young men and women billed as our skinniest fit yet.

But in a video clip on YouTube the models appear to be wearing body paint rather than pants. And on the retailer s Web site there are cans of paint labeled Skinny Skinny in two colors at the preposterous price of $49.95.

Again American Eagle cautioned patience to those waiting for an explanation.

Some potential pranksters that pulled forward their mischief at least had the courtesy to label what they had planned as related to April Fool s Day. One was CBS which issued a news release on Tuesday that the April 1 episodes of The Price Is Right and Let s Make a Deal would have April Fool s Day themes.

In other instances April Fool s jokes were shared with reporters on Friday with the proviso that they be embargoed until Monday.

One example was a mock news release from the New York office of the Mother advertising agency announcing that Mother New York had been named the new agency of record for the shadowy conspirators known as the Illuminati after the mysterious organization spent nearly 237 years with its previous agency.

(Maybe the release is real in that as is the case with so many announcements about ad accounts changing hands Mother New York omitted the name of the previous agency.)

Munchkin a maker of products for babies and children is to announce on Monday an imaginary product named Naughty Mouth soap to make your point when baby s language isn t the cleanest. Flavors are to include lying liver and whining wasabi.

And the Professional Association of Diving Instructors is to announce on Monday an April Fool s addition to its offerings scuba diving certification for dogs and cats.

Articles Source here

Google Nose April Fools Day Prank Practical Joke Promises Sharpest ...

Ever wish you could search Google by smell Now you can.

APRIL FOOLS

Google as per tradition is out with their latest April Fools' Day prank to celebrate the practical joke based holiday.

Google Nose BETA the company's new fictional product promises to offer the sharpest olfactory experience available.

A video introducing Google Nose (viewable above) explains that the feature allows users to search for smells. Seems complicated right Well that's because it is (it's also fake). The product intersects photons with infrasound waves and temporarily aligns molecules to emulate a particular scent. The mobile aroma indexing program at the heart of the product has amassed a 15 million scentibyte database of smells from around the world.

But what about mobile Well Google has you covered. Their Android Ambient Odor Detection allows you to collect smells on your phone.

It all sounds so great. But your nose will have to wait because this incredible technology only exists in a fictional universe. Check out Google's 2011 and 2012 April Fools' Day pranks here and here.

For more on Google Nose click here.

Related on HuffPost

Loading Slideshow Let It Snow

When you type let it snow into the search bar Google sends a shower of snowflakes down your screen. But watch out It gets frosty fast. If that happens just use your cursor like an ice scraper or click defrost. It's a good way to prepare for those frosty mornings in the car.

Do A Barrel Roll

Wanna feel like you're flying a fighter jet while you look for things on the internet Type a href https //www.google.com/webhp hl xx piglatin hl xx piglatinsource hpq do a barrel rollbtnG Google Earchsaygbv 2bav cf.osbfp d9b1dc2a24b11a17biw 1280bih 615 target _hplink do a barrel roll /a into the Google search bar and watch the whole page roll over.

Zerg Rush

If you query Google for Zerg Rush you'll unlock a playable Starcraft homage that unleashes dozens of letter Os on the page. You can earn some points by clicking on the letters and stopping them in their tracks but eventually they'll overwhelm and devour your search results. You can't win no matter how speedy your point and click skills.

What Is The Loneliest Number

You shouldn't be afraid to ask Google the hard questions. Query a href https //www.google.com/ pq askewhl ensugexp kjrmccp 28gs_id 42xhr tq what is the loneliest numbertok D9RnikF6EoRNko2269EJ5Qpf psclient psy absource hppbx 1oq what is the loneliest numberaq 0aqi g1aql fgs_sm gs_upl bav on.2 or.r_gc.r_pw. cf.osbfp 54eccb786198c044biw 1280bih 615 target _hplink What is the loneliest number /a and Google's calculator will tell you that it is 1 . The calculator returns the same answer when you query the answer to life the universe and everything as well as the number of horns on a unicorn. Image via a href www.google.com target _hplink Google/a

Askew

Get Google a little tipsy when you searcha href https //www.google.com/ sclient psy abhl ensource hpq askewpbx 1oq askewaq faqi g z2g2aql 1gs_sm egs_upl 15450l16004l1l16189l5l4l0l0l0l0l171l599l1.3l4l0bav on.2 or.r_gc.r_pw. cf.osbfp 54eccb786198c044biw 1280bih 615 target _hplink askew ./a Image via a href www.google.com target _hplink Google/a

Google Gravity

Tired of Google being so weightless all the time Bring it down to Earth by entering Google gravity and clicking I'm Feeling Lucky . Once the search bar buttons and logo have collapsed into a heap at the bottom of the page you can toss them around the page by clicking dragging and releasing them.

Recursion

You know when you're in a bathroom with lots of mirrors and you look into one and see your reflection a href http //farm4.static.flickr.com/3043/2683236467_d9bce06ae5.jpg target _hplink repeated into infinity /a That's called recursion. a href http //www.merriam webster.com/dictionary/recursive target _hplink According to Merriam Webster /a the word means a procedure that can repeat itself indefinitely. If you a href http //www.nochucknorris.com/ target _hplink Google with the word recursion /a Google will suggest the following at the top of its list of search results Did you mean recursion. If you click Google's suggestion a new page will load but Did you mean recursion will remain at the at the top of the results list. (With the time and inclination you could go on and on like this forever.)

Where Is Chuck Norris

Google saves you from a roundhouse kick to the face by coming up empty when you attempt an I'm Feeling Lucky search for a href http //www.nochucknorris.com/ target _hplink Where is Chuck Norris /a Instead users are a href http //www.nochucknorris.com/ target _hplink taken to www.NoChuckNorris.com/a which displays text that reads Google won't search for Chuck Norris because it knows you don't find Chuck Norris he finds you. The page also gives users an option to search pages from Chuck's Beard.

Once In A Blue Moon

The Google Calculator also returns more complicated answers. Query baker's dozen and the calculator returns 13. Searching once in a blue moon yields a comically small number (seen above).

Google Pig Latin

Otay eesay Oogle'sgay omepagehay anslatedtray intoway Igpay Atinlay ypetay a href https //www.google.com/webhp hl xx piglatin target _hplink ooglegay igpay atinlay /a intoway Ooglegay andway ithay I'mway Eelingfay Uckylay . You can also customize your Google search to a href http //www.google.com/language_tools hl en target _hplink display text in a number of languages/a such French German and Japanese as well as Latin Pirate and Klingon.

BONUS Play 'Snake' In YouTube Videos

If you're watching a dull video on YouTube.com you can press the Up Left arrows simultaneously to enjoys a game of Snake over the video. a href http //thenextweb.com/apps/2010/07/24/did you know you can play snake on youtube while watching videos hold left/ target _hplink According to The Next Web/a this trick doesn't work for videos with annotations or ads. It's limited to the videos played on YouTube's site and it doesn't work for embedded videos. Check out the video (above) to see how it's done.

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In his first Easter as pope Francis calls for peace in his own style

.cnn_html_media_utility before color red content '>>' font size 9px line height 12px padding right 1px .cnnstrylccimg640 margin 0 27px 14px 0 .captionText filter alpha(opacity 100) opacity 1 .cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a .cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a visited .cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a link .captionText a .captionText a visited .captiontext a link color 004276 outline medium none .cnnVerticalGalleryPhoto margin 0 auto padding right 68px width 270px > Swiss guards stand in St. Peter's Square before the Easter celebrations at the Vatican on Sunday March 31. Pope Francis led his first Easter Sunday celebrations with a Mass marking the holiest day in the Christian calendar. Francis greets the faithful prior to his first Urbi et Orbi blessing from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica after Easter Mass on Sunday. Francis arrives at St. Peter's Square on Sunday. The square is decorated with plants for Easter Sunday. An attendee looks at St. Peter's Basilica through binoculars on Sunday. Swiss guards stand in St. Peter's Square before the Easter celebrations on Sunday. Pope Francis leads the Easter celebrations on Sunday. A priest gives Holy Communion to attendees as Pope Francis delivers Easter Mass on Sunday. Francis delivers the Urbi et Orbi blessing for Rome and the world from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica after the Easter Mass. Pope Francis holds a candle during the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday at St. Peter's Basilica on Saturday March 30 at the Vatican. Francis is taking part in his first Holy Week as pontiff. Pope Francis speaks during the Holy Saturday Easter vigil mass. Pope Francis presides over the Way of the Cross procession at the Colosseum in Rome on Good Friday March 29. Pope Francis blesses the audience during the Way of the Cross ceremony on Good Friday. Catholics attend the Way Of the Cross procession at the Colosseum on Good Friday. Pope Francis puts his coat on during the celebration of the Way of the Cross on Good Friday March 29 at the Colosseum in Rome. In an act of reverence Pope Francis lies on floor of St. Peter's Basilica during Mass on Good Friday in the Vatican. Pope Francis kisses the foot of a prisoner at the Casal Del Marmo Youth Detention Center during the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Thursday March 28 in Rome. Pope Francis washes the feet of a young offender on March 28. Pope Francis leaves after conducting his first Chrism Mass inside the Vatican's St. Peter's Basilica on Holy Thursday. Francis has been following Christian traditions leading up to Easter during his first Holy Week as pontiff. Pope Francis is crowned with his miter on Thursday. Church leaders signal to the front of the church during the Chrism Mass on Thursday. Choirboys fill a line of church benches on Thursday. Pope Francis arrives in St. Peter's Square for his first weekly general audience as pope on Wednesday March 27. Pope Francis greets a child from an open air jeep on Wednesday. Cardinals proceed to the Obelisk as Pope Francis delivers his blessing of the palms during Palm Sunday Mass on March 24. Crowds gather as Pope Francis delivers his blessing on Palm Sunday March 24. People collect olive branches ahead of Pope Francis' blessing on Palm Sunday. Nuns hold olive leaves on March 24. Pope Francis walks after blessing the palms on Palm Sunday. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

(CNN) Pope Francis celebrated his first Easter Mass with departures from the style of his predecessor even as he delivered a traditional call for peace.

While it's traditional for the pope to deliver a message of peace on Easter Sunday his direct interactions with the crowd reinforced stylistic differences between him and the austere distant approach of Benedict XVI observers said.

Barely two weeks since his election the first Latin American pope celebrated Easter Mass from an outdoor altar in the presence of tens of thousands of followers in St. Peter's Square. Dressed in white unadorned vestments consistent with his modest image Francis celebrated Easter Mass alone without his cardinals.

After Mass he made his way through St. Peter's Square in an open top popemobile free of bulletproof glass so he could stop to greet followers with handshakes embraces and kisses.

In his first Urbi et Orbi blessing from the papal balcony Francis called for an end to conflicts in the Middle East and the Korean Peninsula. He also called for peace for Syrians both those devastated by violence in the country and refugees in need of help and harmony in the troubled African nations of Mali and the Central African Republic.

Pope Francis celebrates Easter Mass Pope washes prisoners' feet Pope turns down spacious apartment Priests hope to clear Pope Francis' name

Five things to know about Pope Francis

But while the world scrutinizes his every move papal observers said it was too early to make judgments about how he intends to lead the Catholic Church.

Benedict and Francis are like Pavarotti and Domingo the style is different but the songs are the same said Raymond Arroyo news director and lead anchor of EWTN Global Catholic Radio Network.

What's clear for now Arroyo said is that Francis is intent on bringing the message of the church out to the world as he demonstrated Sunday throughout Holy Week.

When he told his priests Thursday to go look for the lost sheep he added that when they come back they better smell like those sheep Arroyo said.

He wants them amid the people in the muck of life.

The pope was elected almost three weeks ago succeeding Benedict XVI. A former Argentinian cardinal he became the first non European pope of the modern era the first from Latin America the first Jesuit and the first to assume the name Francis.

Already Francis has repeatedly veered from tradition.

Three days ago on Holy Thursday he went to a youth detention center in Rome rather than the city's chief cathedral and washed the feet of a dozen young detainees.

Among the group at the Casal del Marmo were two females and two Muslims.

The pontiff poured water over the young offenders' feet wiped them with a white towel and kissed them. In his homily given to about 50 young offenders he said everyone should help one another.

As a priest and as a bishop I should be at your service. It is a duty that comes from my heart he said.

The act of foot washing is part of the Christian tradition that mirrors Jesus' washing of his disciples' feet.

Francis' decision to include two females an Italian and an Eastern European in the ceremony disturbed some traditionalists who believe the 12 people should reflect the 12 male apostles.

The Vatican Press Office responded Friday to questions and concerns related to the pope's washing the young offenders' feet calling it a simple and spontaneous gesture of love affection forgiveness and mercy.

If anything Francis' outreach to women along with his emphasis on reinvigorating the Christian faith in parts of the world where secularism has the upper hand continues the tradition of Benedict and popes before him said author and theologian Matthew Bunson a senior fellow of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology.

That hallmark of humility and simplicity are his personal expressions as pope Bunson said. There is something wonderfully new about him but he's also maintaining the teachings of the church in wonderful continuity with the popes who've gone before him.

CNN's Jim Bittermann contributed to this report.

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Storming the citadel of narrative on Game of Thrones

As with the George R.R. Martin series from whence it sprung Game of Thrones has redefined sprawling epic. And as Season 3 opens the sprawl factor is perilously high with the multitudinous characters seven families people from seven kingdoms scattered all over Westeros their story lines progressing in an ever climbing wall of overlapping layers a citadel of narrative.

For those just joining the show here's what you need to know Abu Nazir is about the only one not trying to sit on the Iron Throne. Everyone else from Dragon mistress and possibly true heir Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) to little crippled Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) is a potential contender they just have to get through the mud and cold and ravening armies to depose the current despotic brat king Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) whose murder every viewer is awaiting with morbid eagerness. Step by grimy blood and urine soaked step everyone on screen is slouching toward his or her destiny. Because winter is coming and three eyed ravens don't show up to herald an annual white sale.

PHOTOS Game of Thrones cast without their costumes

Having made the decision to stay true to the original text showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss challenge viewers just as Martin challenged readers. Each episode juggles half a dozen mini episodes.

In scenes that last but a few minutes the narrative shifts continually across wood and water and frozen sky slides in through windows and behind closed doors snakes between bodies as they sleep and shiver and mate.

We see first the grim horror of the blue eyed White Walkers risen once again beyond the wall where Jon Snow (Kit Harington) learns the ways of the wildings. We then sail to Kings Landing where denizens battle a similar fear though now cloaked in silk and courtly menace as Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) and Cersei (Lena Headey) regroup in wake of temporary victory. Now here's Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster Waldau) trotting cross country at the tip of Brienne's (Gwendoline Christie) sword and young Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) still trying to return to her home at Winterfell.

It's a lot of story to keep track of too much perhaps. An epic quest invariably begins with a host of characters participating in one story line until the molten hammer of a main event (in this case the death of King Robert Baratheon) sends everyone scattering like sparks into the dark. There each continues his or her journey meeting new characters discovering new landscapes conquering new foes until those who survive the tale return however many books later to one another's company.

Compared to Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings is compact and streamlined the film trilogy even more so. Peter Jackson famously jettisoned many beloved characters (oh Tom Bombadil the faithful still mourn) subplots and even entire races from his version of Tolkien's tale. Four episodes into Games of Thrones it's difficult not to wonder whether the writers shouldn't adopt a bit of their characters' near universal brutality and do a little hacking of their own. How important is Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) really And would anyone really miss creepy priestess Melisandre (Carice van Houten) who always seems as if she's wandered over from Grimm

PHOTOS Game of Thrones Hollywood premiere

No doubt howls of protest will greet such suggestions and it does seem like critical heresy to fault a show for such an admirable mix of characters male and female old and young weak and strong. The show's ability to keep so many swords in the air is fascinating in and of itself.

HBO has always prided itself on being willing to go where normal television will not though where many of its other shows are odd and prickly in their quirks and qualities Game of Thrones is very much of its time in both meat and bone. Recapping and episodic deconstruction has become a national obsession and fantasy which combines a gamer's love of journey and gore with a literati love of language has never been more popular.

So break out the Post it notes and the red string clear a big place on the back wall and buy the big box of colored Sharpies. Game of Thrones is back and we all need to keep our wits about us.

mary.mcnamara latimes.com

Articles Source here

Storming the citadel of narrative on Game of Thrones

As with the George R.R. Martin series from whence it sprung Game of Thrones has redefined sprawling epic. And as Season 3 opens the sprawl factor is perilously high with the multitudinous characters seven families people from seven kingdoms scattered all over Westeros their story lines progressing in an ever climbing wall of overlapping layers a citadel of narrative.

For those just joining the show here's what you need to know Abu Nazir is about the only one not trying to sit on the Iron Throne. Everyone else from Dragon mistress and possibly true heir Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) to little crippled Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) is a potential contender they just have to get through the mud and cold and ravening armies to depose the current despotic brat king Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) whose murder every viewer is awaiting with morbid eagerness. Step by grimy blood and urine soaked step everyone on screen is slouching toward his or her destiny. Because winter is coming and three eyed ravens don't show up to herald an annual white sale.

PHOTOS Game of Thrones cast without their costumes

Having made the decision to stay true to the original text showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss challenge viewers just as Martin challenged readers. Each episode juggles half a dozen mini episodes.

In scenes that last but a few minutes the narrative shifts continually across wood and water and frozen sky slides in through windows and behind closed doors snakes between bodies as they sleep and shiver and mate.

We see first the grim horror of the blue eyed White Walkers risen once again beyond the wall where Jon Snow (Kit Harington) learns the ways of the wildings. We then sail to Kings Landing where denizens battle a similar fear though now cloaked in silk and courtly menace as Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) and Cersei (Lena Headey) regroup in wake of temporary victory. Now here's Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster Waldau) trotting cross country at the tip of Brienne's (Gwendoline Christie) sword and young Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) still trying to return to her home at Winterfell.

It's a lot of story to keep track of too much perhaps. An epic quest invariably begins with a host of characters participating in one story line until the molten hammer of a main event (in this case the death of King Robert Baratheon) sends everyone scattering like sparks into the dark. There each continues his or her journey meeting new characters discovering new landscapes conquering new foes until those who survive the tale return however many books later to one another's company.

Compared to Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings is compact and streamlined the film trilogy even more so. Peter Jackson famously jettisoned many beloved characters (oh Tom Bombadil the faithful still mourn) subplots and even entire races from his version of Tolkien's tale. Four episodes into Games of Thrones it's difficult not to wonder whether the writers shouldn't adopt a bit of their characters' near universal brutality and do a little hacking of their own. How important is Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) really And would anyone really miss creepy priestess Melisandre (Carice van Houten) who always seems as if she's wandered over from Grimm

PHOTOS Game of Thrones Hollywood premiere

No doubt howls of protest will greet such suggestions and it does seem like critical heresy to fault a show for such an admirable mix of characters male and female old and young weak and strong. The show's ability to keep so many swords in the air is fascinating in and of itself.

HBO has always prided itself on being willing to go where normal television will not though where many of its other shows are odd and prickly in their quirks and qualities Game of Thrones is very much of its time in both meat and bone. Recapping and episodic deconstruction has become a national obsession and fantasy which combines a gamer's love of journey and gore with a literati love of language has never been more popular.

So break out the Post it notes and the red string clear a big place on the back wall and buy the big box of colored Sharpies. Game of Thrones is back and we all need to keep our wits about us.

mary.mcnamara latimes.com

Articles Source here