Obama visits with Pope Benedict at end of Italy trip

His recent graduation speech at Notre Dame University drew protests. However, Obama won a majority of the Roman Catholic vote, has had cordial relations with many church leaders and lauds the church’s teachings on social justice and help for the poor. “The president, in both his words and in his deeds, expresses many things that many Catholics recognize as fundamental to our teaching,” McDonough said. “One is that the president often refers to the fundamental belief that each person is endowed with dignity, and as it relates to the issues I work on most frequently with the president, the president often underscores that dignity of people is a driving goal in what we hope to accomplish in development policy, for example, and in foreign policy.

” He said the president also had spoken about the late Cardinal Joseph Bernadin of Chicago, who talked about the “seamless garment” of respect for human life. “That garment speaks to not just taking care of the poor and the needy but also investing in the kind of health care infrastructure that would ensure that people like those on the South Side of Chicago, who the president is very familiar with, are oftentimes finding their health care not in publicly funded hospitals but in Catholic hospitals, for example.” As a community organizer, Obama was helped by financing from the Catholic campaign for human development, McDonough said. While opposing the president’s stand on abortion rights and stem cell research, the pope and the Vatican have been open to him.

Memorial. CNN Live Stream of Michael Jackson Memorial: 9.7 Million Views

Today I watched the memorial tribute to a Legendary Icon (Michael Joesph Jackson). I celebrated his life in my home in front of my television as I was not fortunate to attend in person. MJ was and will always be as one of his hits so clearly defined (HUMAN NATURE).

I have followed Michael from childhood to adulthood and his music touches the lives of all of us! Michael was a gift from GOD who shared his love on earth, he has gone home, but will never be forgotten. (His memory will forever live on)…The celebration, performances, speakers all presented there contribution to MJ’s memory with grace , style and love. John Mayer’s instrumental rendition of Human Nature brought me to my feet.

Houston High Speed Chase. Dock dogs take the plunge

The dogs weren’t the only ones enjoying themselves on yet another day of triple-digit heat. Spectators crowded under covered bleachers while an emcee bragged on the canine contestants and familiar tunes blared overhead. Excited kids lined “the splash zone” along the pool in hope of being doused by cold water from the doggie belly flops. Entrants competed for cash and medals. There were 283 competitors in Houston this year, up almost 200 entrants from last year’s event.

The event also helped raised more than $800 for research for Chase Away K-9 Cancer. Although there were plenty of dedicated hunters and some trainers on hand, there were scores of first-timers and families who just wanted to test their dogs’ skills and have some fun. Any dog more than 6 months old is welcome, as are human handlers older than 7. Morgan Nicholas, a 13-year-old Huntsville girl, trained her year-old yellow Lab, Ranger. It was his first year at Dock Dogs, and the two practice every day at the pond in her family’s pasture.

Usbank. Online Scams Jump as More Africans Go Online

A phishing attack aimed at Absa customers features a plain, yet clever unsolicited message instructing them to follow a link and confirm their account information as a way for criminals to obtain passwords and user IDs. Absa’s online customers can download Trend Micro’s Internet Security Pro 2009 for free, said Christo Vrey, managing executive of Absa Digital Channels. The software is expected to protect home or office computers against viruses, spyware and other malicious threats.

The phishing attacks have risen since 2005 when Barclays Bank bought Absa. South African consumers are exposed to more phishing attacks because it is the only Sub Saharan country with a developed online banking service. Other countries do not offer full-fledged online banking services and most of the population lacks bank accounts, but cybercriminals have not spared them either. The Communications Commission of Kenya has set out on an exercise to educate consumers on cybercrime and other threats posed by the expected increase in Internet usage as a result of cheaper bandwidth.

Lisle Fest 2009. Ribfest returns with big flavor, big acts

Ribfest: This festival will be from noon to 10 p.m. to July 5 at Knock Park in Naperville. It will include fireworks, food and live entertainment on two stages.

Headliners include: Heart, Blue Oyster Cult and Huey Lewis and the News. Visit www.ribfest.net/. Proceeds benefit the Exchange Club of Naperville. How much: Admission at the gates is $10. Children 11 and under are admitted free. $2 pre-sale discounts available.

Urban Cowboy. Like many of the over 50 top names in Italian fashion who showed this round, Armani livened up his basic grey and beige palette with flashes.

MILAN – Second lines, D&G and Emporio Armani closed the four days of menswear preview showings for the spring-summer 2010, and summed up the current “all business” fashion mood. Returning to the urban styles which made them famous, Italian designers are putting men back into suits and ties after many a season of wardrobes for globe-trotting vacationers. Hit hard by the current economic crisis they know that a good suit is a good sell. “The collection is very ‘city smart,’ ” Giorgio Armani said of his much applauded show Tuesday, which combined classic cotton suits with intricately knit pullovers and workout stretch pants. The group of bikers who rode down the runway at the end of the show underlined the contemporary city feel of the collection.

Like many of the over 50 top names in Italian fashion who showed this round, Armani livened up his basic grey and beige palette with flashes of colour including bright red and orange which he used for suits and sweaters alike. Also Tuesday designing duo Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, presented their own take on urban fashion for the younger set – a contemporary version of Midnight Cowboy. The D&G cowboy wears distressed jeans and Camperos boots with a gold buttoned blazer or velvet tuxedo jacket, but he also likes the showy feel of a beaded jeans jacket. Like the flashes of colour, beading was another fashion ploy used in many of the shows to spiff up the staid classic styles.

Calorie Restriction Plan. Myth – Eat packaged diet foods for speedy results It is amazing to see the kinds of food packaged as ‘diet’ or ‘weight loss’ aids.

There’s a good chance you’ll find yourself in a bathing suit sometime this summer. If you are like most people, that realization will bring a grimace to your face and will motivate you to lose some weight. While I commend your desire to slim down before baring it all, I’m here to warn you of the five myths most people fall for.

Don’t waste your time on these: Myth – Starve the pounds away Attempting to lose weight by starving yourself is not only ineffective, it’s also dangerous. It may seem severe calorie restriction would deliver the quickest weight loss, but your body is complex and by doing so you’ll disrupt your metabolism and slow your results. Tip: Don’t starve yourself – instead eat healthy small meals throughout the day. Myth – Take diet pills to boost your effort It’s so tempting as commercials make compelling claims about the power of diet pills. But don’t fall for it – the ‘magic pill’ has yet to be discovered.

Wormwood. How big is this group? A: That’s the nightshade family, and you’re right – there are a lot of wicked plants in that group,

In her new book, “Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln’s Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities,” the Eureka, Calif.-based writer offers up more than 200 examples of botany’s bad boys and girls, along with anecdotes - and fun, if sometimes horrific, facts – that place the plants in the context of history, legend and science. Stewart recently answered a few questions about the plant kingdom’s “criminal element.” Q: Please explain your insatiable fascination with the dark side of the horticultural world.

A: I’m interested in these plants as characters, and the most interesting characters are somehow flawed. I like outcasts and miscreants. Plenty has been written about all the pretty plants we love. I thought it would be fun to explore the plants we hate.

Awards Live Stream. Police find no crime by Jackson doctor says LA Times

The Jackson family had yet to announce funeral arrangements for the 50-year-old King of Pop. But a family friend told Reuters that a service could be held on Thursday and that the family wanted to bury Jackson at his famous Neverland Ranch.  The death of one of the most gifted musical performers of his generation prompted tributes and condolences, from US President Barack Obama to legions of fans in Hollywood. Top performers were set to honor Jackson at the BET Awards in Los Angeles on Monday.  It was still unclear what, if any, role Jackson’s prescription medicines might have played in his sudden death on Friday.

The family carried out its own autopsy on Sunday after the Los Angeles Coroner said it would need four to six more weeks to determine the exact cause of death.  Late on Sunday, police interviewed cardiologist Dr Conrad Murray in a second meeting that lasted three hours. The doctor was hired ahead of Jackson’s comeback concert series in London this month. .

Harold White Castle. ‘Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay’

Greasy, hazy good fun, “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle” (2004) got by on a 4 a.m. mixture of explosive-emission toilet jokes, gratuitous nudity and as himself.

Everything took place in one night, hinging on a single quest rife with detours. Crass? Yes. But there was a merry spirit to it all. A far more strident sort of crassness pervades “Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay.