Lockdown at URL lifted , probe continues into gunman report

Authorities have lifted a lockdown at the University of Rhode Island after a report of a gunman proved bogus at the leafy Kingston campus.

School officials said in a statement this afternoon that an investigation proved “at no time was there a gun or an active shooter on the campus,” roughly three hours after hundreds of panicked students went running from Chafee Hall, an arts and sciences building on campus, and police stormed in armed with assault rifles and bullet-proof gear to investigate, officials and witnesses say.

Col. Steven O’Donnell, head of the State Police, said in a statement that local, campus and state police responded to a phone call shortly after 11:20 a.m., reporting an active shooter on campus. Speaking in a phone interview aired on NECN, he said the call “was in reference to someone knocking on the door at Chafee Science Center saying, ‘I’m a good guy and I have a gun.’”

“We’re looking to track down the person who was the one who made those comments,” O’Donnell said.

Dispatcher Penney Hanson of the South Kingston Police told the Herald earlier that police were investigating an “isolated incident specific to one hall” on campus, but added that the building was “locked down and checked.”

Asked if police found anything relative to the report, Hanson said, “Nothing.” There were no reports of any injuries, she said.

“Everyone can resume their normal activities,” the school said in a statement shortly after 2 p.m.

Panic gripped the campus and Chafee Hall for hours earlier this morning and afternoon.

TaylorKinzler, a URI junior, Lakeville native and Miss Massachusetts 2012, said in a phone interview that she was on the second floor of the building this morning when she heard screams from a first-floor auditorium.

Quickly, an announcement came over the public address system telling students and staff to evacuate, sending more than a thousand students running from the seven-story building, Kinzler said. Almost immediately, roughly a dozen police officers “stormed” in toting assault rifles, she said.

“They did an amazing job getting reinforcements here and the police came immediately,” said Kinzler. At first, “we thought it was a joke. Nothing like this ever happened before. But once the alarm went off and people started running in the hallway ... It’s been very scary with all the recent shootings. We were just hoping everyone is OK.”

Kinzler said she and hundreds of other students were initially kept outside about 20 to 30 feet from the building before they were ushered into a nearby building as part of the campus-wide lockdown.

A campus alert had been blasted across the top of the university’s website earlier today warned people on campus to “seek shelter and stay where you are.”

The university posted on its official Twitter feed that campus police were on scene and officials activated an emergency alert system. As a precautionary measure, officials said they cancelled all classes today on the Kingston campus only. Regular classes will resume tomorrow.

“It’s all based on a rumor,” a URI police dispatcher said earlier this afternoon. “We are still in lockdown. It’s only a rumor at this time, but we have to work on rumors as well.”

The frenzy around the report inundated the university’s website, shutting down the homepage because of what officials called “extraordinarily high volume.”

Roughly two hours after she initially fled Chafee, Kinzler said she “started to calm down a little” after she learned no one was hurt and it appears the situation wasn’t as dire as it initially seemed. She added that even as hundreds fled, some staff members were caught on Chafee’s top floor, though they were since escorted out by police.

“The campus is completely bare right now,” she said. “But we know the situation is OK.”

Source: bostonherald

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North Korea Moves Missile to Coast but little threat is seen

Last Thursday the South Korea's defense chief said that the North Korea had moved to it's east coast a missile with a “considerable” range, but that it was not capable of reaching the United States. The disclosure came as the Communist North's military warned that it was ready to strike American military forces with “cutting-edge smaller  lighter and diversified nuclear strike means.”

North Korea has been issuing a blistering series of similar threats in recent weeks, citing as targets the American military installations in the Pacific islands of Hawaii and Guam, as well as the United States mainland. In its latest threat on Thursday, it did not name targets but said it was authorized to “take powerful, practical military counteractions” against the threats from B-2 bombers from the United States, B-52 bombers from Guam and F-22 Stealth jet fighters from United States bases in Japan that have recently run missions over the Korean Peninsula during joint military exercises with South Korea.

“The moment of explosion is approaching fast,” the general staff of the North Korean People’s Army said in a statement carried by the North’s official Korean Central News Agency. “The U.S. had better ponder over the prevailing grave situation.”

Most analysts do not believe that North Korea has a missile powerful enough to deliver a nuclear warhead to the United States mainland or that it is reckless enough to strike the American military in the Pacific. Still, with the North’s bellicose postures showing no signs of letting up, the United States announced Wednesday that it was speeding the deployment of an advanced missile defense system to Guam in the next few weeks, two years ahead of schedule, in what the Pentagon said was a “precautionary move” to protect American naval and air forces from the threat of a North Korean missile attack.

Testifying before a parliamentary hearing, Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin of South Korea said the missile North Korea had moved to the east coast, possibly “for demonstration or for training,” appeared not to be a KN-08, which analysts say is the closest thing North Korea has to an intercontinental ballistic missile, though its exact range is not known. The new missile was unveiled during a military parade in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, last April.

South Korean media quoted unnamed military sources as saying that the missile was a Musudan. Deployed around 2007, the Musudan is a ballistic missile with a range of more than 1,900 miles, according to the South Korean Defense Ministry. Guam is nearly 2,200 miles from North Korea.

Wee Yong-sub, an army colonel and deputy spokesman for the Defense Ministry, would say only that the South Korean and American military have been closely monitoring the movements of all North Korean missiles, including the Musudan.

“Chances are not high that they will lead to a full-scale war,” said Mr.Kim, the defense minister, referring to the North Korean threats. “But given the nature of the North Korean regime, it’s possible that they will launch a localized provocation.”

On Thursday, for a second straight day, North Korea blocked South Koreans from crossing the border to enter a jointly operated industrial park, threatening the future of the last remaining symbol of inter-Korean cooperation. It also warned that it would pull out more than 53,000 North Korean workers from the joint factory park, located in the North Korean city of Kaesong, if taunts from the South Korean news media continued.

After the North’s threat to close the industrial complex last week, some South Korean media reports said the North Korean leader, KimJong-un, would be all talk but no action when it came to the park because he did not want to risk one of his most precious sources of hard currency.

After the United Nations Security Council imposed further sanctions against the North for its launching of a three-stage rocket in December and its third nuclear test in February, North Korea has appeared to harden its stance considerably. It said it would never negotiate away its nuclear weapons arsenal, but would instead expand it. On Tuesday, it declared that it would restart a nuclear reactor that gave it a small stockpile of plutonium and would readjust its uranium-enrichment plant for weapons efforts.

Photographs published Wednesday on the Web site 38 North, which follows North Korean developments, show new construction at the aging reactor, dating back several weeks. Once operational, the reactor can produce one bomb’s worth of plutonium a year.

The Pentagon’s decision to deploy a new missile defense system to Guam now is the latest in a series of steps intended to deter the North from either military action or new missile tests.

Earlier this week, the Defense Department announced that two of the Navy’s Aegis-class missile defense warships were positioned in the Pacific to monitor North Korea. Installing the land-based missile system in Guam will free up the ships, which have radar and interceptor missiles, to be repositioned closer to the North Korean coast. That would give President Obama a wider range of options if the North Koreans fire their missiles in a test or at a target.

“We haven’t made any decisions,” a senior administration official said. “But we want as many options as possible.”

Source: nytimes

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Roger Ebert dies at age 70

The last hand in the "two thumbs up" film critic team, Roger Ebert, died Thursday, two days after revealing cancer returned to his body.

Ebert and Gene Siskel co-hosted the iconic review show "Siskel and Ebert At The Movies" until Siskel's death in 1999 after a battle with a brain tumor.

The Chicago Sun-Times, the base of operations for Ebert's syndicated reviews, announced his death at age 70.

"I'llsee you at the movies," were the last word's Ebert wrote to his readers. It was published in an essay titled "Leave of Presence" on his blog Tuesday, in which he explained he was planning to slow down and reduce the number of movie reviews he wrote.

"My intent is to continue to write selected reviews but to leave the rest to a talented team of writers handpicked and greatly admired by me," Ebert wrote. "What's more, I'll be able at last to do what I've always fantasized about doing: reviewing only the movies I want to review."

Ebert had already lost his voice and much of his jaw after battling thyroid and salivary gland cancer.

He suffered a hip fracture in December, and it recently led to the revelations about cancer, he said.

Ebert started as the Sun-Times film critic on April 3, 1967, writing about 200 reviews each of those 46 years, he said. The last year however, was his most prolific.

"Last year, I wrote the most of my career, including 306 movie reviews, a blog post or two a week, and assorted other articles," he said. "I must slow down now, which is why I'm taking what I like to call 'a leave of presence.'"

Source: cnn

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List of Acne Treatments

Try some benzoyl peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide is used to kill the bacteria that contribute to acne. Benzoyl peroxide comes in different concentrations, but benzoyl peroxide with a 2.5% concentration is just as effective as 5-10% solutions, and it's less irritating to the skin to boot. Benzoyl peroxide also helps peel away layers of dead skin, leaving brighter, more rejuvenated skin in its place.

Use salicylic acid

Like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid kills bacteria responsible for pimple growth. It also causes skin cells to shed more rapidly, promoting the growth of new skin. Put small amounts of salicylic acid onto affected areas before you go asleep, after you have washed your face.

Use toothpaste

Toothpaste contains silica, which is the drying agent you find in bags of beef jerky, among other things. Basically, toothpaste will dry out your pimple overnight, reducing it in size.

• Make sure to use natural toothpaste when you dab it onto your skin. Some toothpastes containing sodium lauryl sulfate can irritate the skin. Watch out for it before applying.

Try tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is an antibacterial essential oil that can blast the microbes that have started to make a home inside of your pores. With a dropper, dab a Q-Tip with a bit of tea tree oil and apply to pimples as needed, being careful not to put on too much.

• Tea tree oil has anti-inflammatory properties that can make the redness and size of the pimple less noticeable.

Crush up some aspirin

Crush up an aspirin tablet and add just enough water to make it into a paste. With a Q-Tip, add the aspirin paste to the pimple(s) lightly, covering entirely. Let dry. Aspirin is another anti-inflammatory, meaning it will help the skin fight against inflammation, making the pimple less visible. Let the aspirin paste fight the pimple overnight.

Use astringents on oily skin

Astringents are agents that cause the skin to contract or get smaller. Some pharmaceutical astringents contain antimicrobial ingredients that will help fight the pimple in addition to reducing the size of the pimple. Here are some astringents to consider using:

• Store bought astringents. These come in different types and sizes. Look for one that contains benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Ask for astringents that are gentle on the skin.
• Natural astringents may also work in a pinch. They include:
  • Lemon juice. The citric acid here kills the bacteria that cause acne and act as a skin-tightener. Many people swear by it. Slice a lemon and gently rub it over the affected area.
  • Banana peel. Banana peels are helpful in treating insect and mosquito bites, and may be helpful in reducing the size of some pimples. Gently rub the banana peel over the affected area.
  • Witch hazel. Another great astringent with a ton of applications. Look for witch hazel that doesn't contain alcohol. Apply a small bit over affected area and let dry.
  • Green tea. Green tea is an astringent that's packed with lots of antioxidants, which help reduce signs of aging by fighting free radicals. Steep a tea bag in some hot water, remove the tea bag along with all the liquid, and place onto affected area briefly.

Apply ice cubes if necessary

Rub an ice cube over the acne on your face until the area goes numb. When your face goes numb, stop; leave your face alone until it's warm again.

• As mentioned above, ice will help diminish the size of the pores by constricting the blood vessels underneath the skin. If your acne is painful, it should help ease the pain.
• If you have a lot of acne, work in sections. When one section goes numb, move to the next section.
• Repeat this process around your face.

Use eye-drops on the affected area

Eye drops, at least the ones that reduce redness in the eyes, can be helpful in reducing redness and signs of irritation in acne. Drop a few eye-drops onto a Q-Tip and apply as necessary onto the pimple(s).

• Because cold also helps reduce inflammation in acne, place the Q-Tip soaked in eye-drops into the freezer for an hour before applying. The cold Q-Tip will soothe as it reduces inflammation

Try some natural antihistamines

Antihistamines suppress the swelling effect in the skin tissue of people. Most of these remedies can be ingested in pill form, but some can be consumed as tea or used as a topical agent. These should offer a reduction in redness. Natural herbal antihistamines include:

• Stinging nettle. This may sound weird, because touching nettles in the wild can produce a rash not unlike small pimples. Some doctors, however, recommend taking a freeze-dried preparation of stinging nettle, which is known for its ability to reduce the amount of histamine the body produces.
• Coldsfoot may be effective as a natural antihistamine. Europeans have a long history of using the plant to cure skin conditions. The leaves can either be ground up into a paste or coldsfoot extract can be ingested in pill form.
• Basil may also work as a natural antihistamine. Heat a couple sprigs of basil leaves up under some steam and apply gently to the hives. Basil may help reassure the body that the foreign agent causing the hives is not something it should be fighting.

If after all this, you still have some acne, consult a dermatologist.

There are antibiotics and other oral acne medications that can target infected skin and clear it up very fast.

Source: wikihow

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Lollapalooza 2013 Sold Out

Just an hour after they went on sale Wednesday, single-day tickets to Lollapalooza have sold out.

The festival was already fresh out of all of its "secret sale" souvenir, "early bird" and three-day passes, so now all that remains available for the Aug. 4-6 festival -- save a trip to StubHub or Craigslist -- are travel packages that will set you back at least $1,599 (but include three nights of lodging) apiece.

On Monday, Lollapalooza formally announced its 2013 lineup, a verbatim match of a leaked lineup that hit the Internet the week prior and appeared to prompt the festival to bump up its lineup announcement date from April 9.

Strangely, as Consequence of Sound points out, Sunday single-day tickets were the last of the bunch to sell out on Wednesday, despite The Cure -- arguably the festival's most noteworthy booking -- playing that day.

Also headlining the festival -- to be held in Grant Park before a capacity crowd of 100,000 people each day -- are Mumford & Sons, The Killers and Nine Inch Nails. They'll be joined by Phoenix, Vampire Weekend, New Order and a reunion of The Postal Service. All but three of those bands have played the festival before, some as recently as 2010.

Source: huffingtonpost

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Brittney Griner responds to Mark Cuban's offer

MarkCuban might have to keep a spot open on the Dallas Mavericks' SummerLeague squad. After the Mavs owner made waves Tuesday night by hinting that he might consider drafting Brittney Griner, the former Baylor star responded to his offerover Twitter.

This is looking like more than just a publicity stunt. Griner is clearly just as open to the idea as Cuban. Questions about whether a woman could cut it in the NBA have been brought up, including doubts expressed by University of Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma. And while it's unlikely that Griner would actually make an NBA roster, it sounds like she would be more than motivated to prove herself. There doesn't appear to be any kind of downside to an owner like Cuban at least giving her an invite to Summer League or training camp invite.

Source: usatoday

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Let's All Pretend Emma Watson is Her Slutty Role

In the excitement surrounding Emma Watson's first sexy film role in The Bling Ring, British GQ has decided to imagine Watson is her Bling Ring character. Photographer Mark Seliger presents Watson "In Character, Out of Control," "as you've never seen her before," styled as a "thieving Valley vixen" in a midriff-baring freakum dress and with a constellation of tattoos. A savvy choice for the magazine, given the level of excitement over Watson's turn "as a bad, bad girl." For the public, Watson's role will be like the moment when you finally have sex with someone after imagining it a hundred times. But in this case it's the milder — but more titillating — thrill of turning a wholesome starlet into a slut, even temporarily.

It's the same Hollywood bat mitzvah that the stars of SpringBreakers are currently undergoing. (And that the stars of Gleeunderwent. And that Miley Cyrus underwent. And that Xtina underwent when she got "Dirrty." On a vastly smaller scale, male star Zac Efron underwent it when NicoleKidman peed on him.) Though Emma Watson is 22 years old, she won't read as an "adult" until we've seen her as a sex symbol. Though many wish her BlingRing role speaks to some long-buried inner wild child, Watson tells GQ she chose it precisely because she "hated" the character:

Source: nymag

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