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A small group of seniors at Cascade High School in Clayton, IN celebrated their upcoming graduation with a prank, covering school doors, offices and windows with more than 12,000 colorful Post-It notes.

But the school superintendent apparently didn’t think it was so funny — he suspended almost 60 students, and a janitor accused of helping during the prank could lose her job.

Five seniors and one junior were suspended for two days, and superintendent Patrick Spray also recommended the custodian be fired. Dozens of outraged students took to the school gym to stage a sit-in protest — which resulted in scores of more one-day suspensions.

“Disrupting the school day and causing a disruption during the school day is not justified,” Spray said. “It’s part of every school’s code of conduct, and I believe it’s very consistent.”

Kim Rouse, the custodian whose job is at risk, said she didn’t let the students in the building as Spray believes, but is “overwhelmed with all the kids’ support. That does help me a lot.”

Watch a news story about the episode below.

[RTV6]

Ethan Miller, Getty Images

Disco legend Donna Summer has died after a battle with cancer, TMZ is reporting. She was 63 years old.

Insiders say she wanted to keep the disease quiet, and a friend said that as recently as two weeks ago, Summer seemed okay and was even finishing up work on a new album.

The five-time Grammy winner shot to fame in the 1970s with songs like ‘Love to Love You Baby,’ ‘Hot Stuff’ and ‘Bad Girls,’ and continued her reign on radio airwaves into the ’80s with hits including ‘She Works Hard for the Money’ and ‘This Time I Know It’s for Real.’

Summer was also the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach No. 1 on the US Billboard chart.

[TMZ]

This dramatic video of a father jumping out of a speeding car to save his daughter started making rounds yesterday. I first spotted it on Gizmodo. Apparently the little girl somehow managed to get into the front seat of the vehicle, unlock the door, and jump out into traffic. Her father somehow managed to get to the passenger seat and then jumped out into traffic to save his daughter’s life. I call that a hero. The comments on the video take a very different angle. Are they right?

Here are a few comments from YouTube. Commenter Covinus03 says:

Yea, this isn’t exactly “heroic”, it’s him trying to fix a mistake (not to mention with the cars going 20 mph and stopping 20 feet before the kid it’s not exactly an amazingly near death experience). The dad should have never let his daughter get into a position where she can fall out of a moving car, that’s just terrible parenting.

Jayson231984 shares a similar sentiment:

This isn’t being a hero, this is being a bad parent, this baby is small enough to where it should have been in a car seat. Or at least have the child lock doors on… the kids jumping all over the car, you would think it would be common sense.

Over and over I see the commenters chastising the father for not having his daughter properly restrained in a car seat, or how the cars aren’t going that fast, or how the father should have pulled the parking brake to keep his vehicle from careening out of control.

And I think these comments are madness. The report from the scene does say that the little girl wasn’t properly restrained in her car seat, but as a father I know how quickly your kids can get out of their seats and into trouble. You can look in the rearview mirror one moment and everything’s fine. Ten seconds later and you’re kid’s out of his seat and doing vaults off the back seat.

The little girl should have been in her car seat, but this dad acted like a hero to jump out into traffic and save his little girl. Watch the video for yourself and draw your own conclusions. He may not be Father of the Year, but at least he still has his little girl.

Rick Diamond, Getty Images

Saturday morning (May 12), country music fans were shaken by rumors that Aaron Tippin was involved in a fatal plane crash which occurred in Kansas, killing three individuals and sending the two survivors to the hospital. Tippin, well-known for his pilot skills and love for flying, was thought to be involved, as the plane that went down once belonged to him.

Tippin, however, is alive and well, and was home in Tennessee when the tragic accident took place on Friday afternoon, May 11. Reports say the aircraft landed in a field, skidded 200 feet and impacted a tree line, causing the small plane to spin 180 degrees, then catch on fire.

Tennessee dealer Bill Austin sold the aircraft a few of weeks ago and claims he knew of no prior problems with the plane that could’ve caused the wreck. Austin adds that the previous owner of the plane was a huge fan of Tippin and had the plane outfitted with the eagle and flag emblem after the singer’s hit, ‘Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly.’

Austin, who is a personal friend of Tippin’s, said the singer flew the plane to Tulsa, Okla. to Jones Riverside Airport just a few weeks ago, and met Luke Sheets, the man who was flying the plane at the time of the accident that ended his life.

Taste of Country sends our thoughts and prayers out to those who lost their loved ones in this heartbreaking accident.

Watch the Aaron Tippin ‘Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly’ Video

Source: TasteofCountry.com

AndersonCooper.com

When Charles Kelley, Dave Haywood and Hillary Scott — who make up the mega-talented country music trio Lady Antebellum — say that they love their fans, they really mean it. In fact, when Lady A superfan Jessica Stokes appeared on ‘Anderson’ on Tuesday, she couldn’t stop talking about how much she loves the group and how she’s never seen them in concert — that’s when the trio gave her the surprise of a lifetime.

Basically, Stokes sat down with host Anderson Cooper under a cleverly disguised ruse. She thought she was on the new daytime talk show to simply chat about her fandom and to try and win Lady A tickets by passing a quiz about the band. Stokes told Cooper that since her husband is in the military and her family has been stationed in Germany for a few years, she hasn’t had much opportunity to see a live Lady Antebellum show, and when she did, she missed it.

The wife and mother shared the sad story of when she and her husband actually scored tickets to see the ‘We Owned the Night’ hitmakers play in London, but were then unable to board their flight in time to make the concert and spent the length of the show in the terminal.

As a military wife who doesn’t always get to see her husband often, Jessica talked about how the Lady A hit ‘I Run to You’ really hits home with her. “That song makes me think about him… and there are so many songs that remind me of our relationship,” she said.

When Cooper tested Stokes’ knowledge about Lady Antebellum, she answered the first two questions correctly with absolutely no hesitation. Then came the third question: “What song is this?” Cooper asked, as a truly live version of ‘Need You Now’ started playing in the background. Stokes had no idea that all three members of the group were there, miced up and singing the tune backstage.

The second the trio walked out singing, the world’s biggest Lady Antebellum fan jumped out of her seat screaming. “Shut up!” she yelled in disbelief (at least a dozen times).

Stokes will get to see a full live show soon, but we have a feeling that hugging her three favorite country stars more than makes up for that missed show in London. Lady Antebellum sure know how to treat their fans right!

Watch Lady Antebellum Surprise a Fan on ‘Anderson’

Source: TasteofCountry.com

Rick Diamond, Getty Images / WTSP.com

Taylor Swift has gotten her fair share of prom invitations this year. In February, 18-year-old New Jersey native Kevin McGuire asked the ‘Love Story’ songstress to his prom, and with a little help from his friends, caught her attention. This time, it’s 19-year-old Devon Whitney from Aurora, Colo. who is requesting Swift’s presence at the big senior dance.

Devon suffers from a rare disease called Oto-Palatal-Digital Syndrome (OPD), which affects his body from head to toe. Afraid of being rejected, Devon was too shy to ask anyone at his school to the prom. Instead, he chose to take a shot in the dark and ask his famous ideal date to be his escort to the biggest dance of the year.

OPD makes Devon look a little bit different, but that’s no reason for him to be put down. Because he feels self-conscious around his classmates, at first Devon felt too shy to get dressed up and go to the formal dance at all. But for country music’s sweetheart — his self professed dream girl — Devon came out of his shell.

The teen made a video, in which he holds up index cards which tell his story to the camera. “My senior prom is coming up and at first I didn’t want to go. It just seemed like another opportunity for kids to be mean. And let me tell you, kids can be REAL mean!” he wrote.

He continued, “But then I started to think. If I had a crazy beautiful date. How could they possibly make fun of me?,” he wrote in the clip. “So then I started to think of who that might be? No ordinary girl would do. Then you popped into my head. I’ve seen you in concert before. And you’re BREATHTAKING!! So I decided right then that even though it is a long shot, there’s nobody else in this world that would compare to you as a date. So what do you say? Taylor will you go with me to prom?”

Although Devon didn’t speak in the recording, it’s easy to tell that he’s a sweet guy. So far, his video has received more than 7,000 views, but no word on whether or not it has reached the eyes of the 22-year-old superstar yet.

Though as we mentioned, this isn’t Swift’s first invitation to prom. After the singer received some very public pleas from Kevin McGuire — a one-time cancer survivor who is plagued with the disease again — Swift answered his request. While the ‘Safe & Sound’ songstress wasn’t able to accept the first invite to the prom, she did Kevin one better by inviting him to the ACM awards in April. Unfortunately, McGuire was too sick to make it to the event.

Will Devon Whitney get his wish? We’ll have to wait and see.

Watch Devon Whitney’s Taylor Swift Prom Invite Video

Source: TasteofCountry.com

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

The last time Carrie Underwood visited the ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show,’ she got into a bit of hot water for calling her husband — Nashville Predators hockey star Mike Fisher — a hoarder. This morning (May 9), she stopped by ‘Ellen’ again, this time to chat about how her marriage has developed, as well as her ever-growing aspirations in the kitchen, and most importantly, her new LP ‘Blown Away.’

Although Underwood and Fisher may appear picture perfect, the ‘Good Girl’ hitmaker has no problem admitteing that sometimes marriage isn’t so easy. She spilled that when she called Fisher a hoarder the last time around, he had just moved into her place, and they had trouble sharing the space at first.

“I had my closet full of my stuff, and then he’s there with his stuff,” she said. “Now we’re better. Now we share.”

DeGeneres asked if Underwood might want to tell viewers anything else about Fisher, but she politely declined, which garnered quite a few laughs from the audience. Sweet as she is, sometimes Underwood’s quips about her new husband get turned around — like the time she said she prefers not to take him on the tour bus, as she likes her space.

Although the gorgeous songstress got into a “wee bit of trouble” the last time she talked about her husband on air, you’ll notice that there aren’t any break-up songs on her new album. Things must be going well, because she also admitted that she wants to become a better cook so that her future children (not near future) will brag about the delicious food she makes.

“I want to be that mom someday, so it’s like, ‘Oh, my mom makes the best fill-in-the-blank,” she told the ‘Ellen’ crowd. Underwood even shared that she is slowly getting her husband to come around on the idea of being vegan.

The ‘Good Girl’ singer’s fourth album, ‘Blown Away,’ hit stores last week. The 14-song collection continues her streak of No. 1 albums, debuting at the top spot on the all-genre Billboard 200 albums chart this week. After interviewing with Ellen, Underwood performed her old hit ‘Undo It’ and her new smash ‘Good Girl’ to give viewers a sneak peak of what’s in store for her Blown Away Tour.

For a list of 2012 Blown Away Tour dates, click here.

Watch Carrie Underwood Talk Mike Fisher + More on ‘Ellen’

Watch Carrie Underwood Perform ‘Undo It’ on ‘Ellen’

Source: TasteofCountry.com

Warner Bros.

Limited releases aside, there’s only one movie you need to worry about seeing this weekend — Tim Burton’s ‘Dark Shadows.’

Johnny Depp revises the role of cursed vampire Barnaby Collins, originally portrayed by Jonathan Frid. After a jealous witch (Angelique Bouchard) casts a spell on Collins and imprisons him inside a coffin, he awakens centuries later to find that his family’s once-grand estate is in shambles. Not only must he help save his family and business before they fall into bankruptcy, but he also has to deal with the crazy-obsessive sorceress.

Here’s a sneak peek:

‘Dark Shadows’

Director: Tim Burton
Starring: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, Jackie Earle Haley, Jonny Lee Miller, Bella Heathcote, Chloë Grace Moretz
Get Tickets & Showtimes

Chris Trotman/Vincent Laforet, Allsport/Scott Cunningham, Getty Images

Over the weekend, at the end of the Washington Redskins’ rookie minicamp, head coach Mike Shanahan annointed Robert Griffin III the starting quarterback going forward. Griffin was the second pick of the 2012 NFL draft last month, and the Redskins are ready to hand him the keys to the team.

Whether the Redskins are making the right call putting Griffin front and center right away is left to be seen. Some rookies have had success on the field, while others faltered. Each of these players were crowned the saviors to turn a struggling franchise around. Here’s a look back at 10 recent ones and how their efforts turned out:

Peyton Manning

One of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time, Manning stepped in for the Colts right away in 1998 and started all 16 games that years and every other year through the end of the 2010 campaign. Just because he started, though, doesn’t mean he found immediate success. In fact, the Colts went 3-13 in 1998 with Manning throwing more interceptions (28) than touchdowns (26). But with the team’s support behind him, Manning kept his starting spot, and he turned things around in 1999 leading the Colts to a 13-3 record, and he never looked back.

Ryan Leaf

On the other side of the coin in 1998 was Ryan Leaf, who was supposed to bring San Diego to new heights. Unfortunately, things didn’t go that way, as the Chargers finished 5-11 and the defense led the league in yards allowed. Leaf went just 3-6 before being benched in favor of backup Craig Whelihan. Overall in his rookie seasons, Leaf threw just two touchdowns and 15 interceptions. After three years in San Diego, Leaf was gone, and by 2002 he was out of football entirely.

CHRIS WEINKE

Weinke, 28, was the oldest player to win the Heisman Trophy, and was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the 2001 NFL Draft. But Weinke didn’t bring answers for the struggling franchise as they finished the year 1-15, including a then single-season record 15 consecutive losses. After that first year, Weinke lost his starting spot but remained on the roster for many years afterward. In 2006, he got another chance to start a game, which the team lost, but he did throw for 423 yards, setting a franchise record.

Matt Ryan

The Falcons took Matt Ryan in the 2008 NFL draft as a replacement for the jailed Michael Vick. Ryan was supposed to steer the organization back to winning and respectable days. And Ryan came through, helping the Falcons to an 11-5 record. His 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions weren’t impressive stats, but Ryan did enough to get the job done. He went to the Pro Bowl for the first time in 2011 and is poised to be Atlanta’s leader for many years to come.

Joe Flacco

Like Ryan, Flacco arrived to great fanfare and triumph in 2008 when he led the Ravens to an 11-5 record. Baltimore was still very much a defense-oriented team, and Flacco’s serviceable job kept them scoring. In the years since, though, Flacco has propelled the Ravens’ offense to bigger numbers, and the Ravens have gone 12-4 the past two years behind Flacco. They lost in the AFC Championship game last year, but Flacco showed his ability to step up when the time was right, posting even better numbers than during the regular season.

Matthew Stafford

After agreeing to take Stafford with the first pick of the 2009 draft, the Lions announced that he was the quarterback of the future. “This isn’t an internship or an experiment,” Lions head coach Jim Schwartz said. But one man isn’t enough to turn things around for the Lions. Stafford went 2-8 and threw 20 interceptions. Just two years later, Stafford had righted the ship propelling the team to a 10-6 record and earning himself the 2011 AP Comeback Player of the Year, among other awards.

Mark Sanchez

Sanchez was picked to be the Jets new gunslinger in 2009. Like Stafford, Sanchez also struggled. However, the Jets were still able to post a 8-7 record during his starts. That was enough for Sanchez to build on, leading the Jets to an 11-5 record in 2010 when he showed real signs of prowess. After a disappointing 2011 season, some Jets fans have called for Sanchez’s starting job. Even with a quarterback controversy brewing, the team signed Sanchez to a three-year contract extension in March.

Sam Bradford

A 7-9 record in a rookie campaign might not seem like a great success, but for Sam Bradford and the Rams in 2010 that was a great sign of improvement. Bradford did just enough to get by, throwing for 18 touchdowns while also tossing 15 picks, but his 3,512 yards were many more than what his supporters would have expected from him and the Rams’ pitiful receiving core. He set the record for most completions by a rookie and he was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Yet Bradford ran into some setbacks last year, going just 1-9 as a starter as the Rams fell apart.

Cam Newton

The first pick of last year’s draft, Newton took over the Panthers from the get-go. His 6-10 record is not exactly something to write home about, but Newton’s personal stats got the league buzzing. He set the record for most passing yards by a rookie quarterback with 4,051 and he also ran for another 706 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns. How good was he? Newton was the runner-up to Calvin Johnson for the cover of Madden NFL 2013.

Andy Dalton

Few people at the start of last season would have predicted that Dalton would lead the Bengals to one of the league’s biggest surprise seasons. Behind Dalton, Cincinnati finished 9-7 and went to the playoffs. He showed leadership by leading his team to four fourth-quarter comebacks. Dalton went to the Pro Bowl, capping quite a season for someone not even taken in the first round.

YouTube

Coleman Shannon was born without a right hand and forearm, due to a medical condition called Amelia, but that hasn’t slowed him down from chasing his baseball dreams. In fact, the 14-year-old left-handed pitcher recently threw a no-hitter in a Johnsonville, SC little league game.

Don’t believe us? Watch the footage for yourself.

“The other night, when he pitched the no-hitter, that was a tearful moment,” Kyle Daniel, one of Shannon’s proud coaches, said. “When you think about what he’s been through and how much it’s taken him just to get to this point, when he went out and threw the no-hitter, it was just a cheerful time for everyone.”

Shannon does way more than pitch and field — he’s an accomplished hitter who went 2-for-2 and delivered the game-winning hit in another little league matchup last week.

Oh, and did we mention he also knows how to play the guitar and hunt? When he was 2, he rejected his prosthetic arm and has since proved he never needed it to begin with.

[via The Huffington Post]

Source: TheFW.com

YouTube

Whether you’re tight on cash or simply want to shower mom with gifts from the heart, opting for the do-it-yourself route is a great alternative to store bought treats. And even though she’ll love anything you get her, she’ll definitely notice — and appreciate — the extra bit of elbow grease you put into Mother’s Day this year.

Here are a few instructional videos on how to make creative Mother’s Day gifts from scratch.

1. Indoor Mini Planter

Have a mom with a green thumb? She’ll adore this precious planter.

2. Candy Bouquets

Instead of a floral arrangement this year, give mom an edible bouquet.

3. DIY Bath Bombs

Treat your mom to a spa day with these homemade bath bombs.

4. DIY Handprint Flower Card

Get the kiddos involved with this truly handmade card.

5. Paper Flower Gift Bag

Go DIY with the gift wrap, too, by making a decorative bag to hold your gifts for mom.

- Additional reporting by Wendy Gould

YouTube (3)/@JGuthrie46, Twitter/YouTube

For many professional athletes, it’s hard to stay away from the court or off the field. During their free time, they will occasionally surprise fans by showing up for a game of hoops or to throw the pigskin.

For the strangers who get to play with their idols, it’s a dream come true. Bryce Harper is just the latest player to drop in on unsuspecting amateurs when he took some swings at a softball game on Washington, DC’s National Mall on Monday night. Here’s a roundup of some well-known players showing off their stuff in lesser-known locations:

BRYCE HARPER

“I hadn’t seen the Lincoln Memorial before so I wanted to go over there and check that out,” Harper said. “I was just walking through and they asked me if I’d take a few hacks.” In his performance, Harper didn’t exactly light up the night during the matchup between the World Wildlife Fund Fighting Pandas and the Alliance to Save Energy Killer Watts. He can take solace in the fact that it was underhanded softball, a sport the major leaguer likely hasn’t mastered yet.

DWYANE WADE

Wade was walking by New York City’s Thompson Street Playground last month when he spotted a group of kids playing a game of hoops. So he decided to join them, showing off his best moves and jukes. The thing was that Wade was clad in his Sunday best at the time, including a tie. It didn’t stop him from playing with the teens. Besides, if they beat him to the basket, he could use that as a worthy excuse for his defensive lapse.

KEVIN DURANT

Oklahoma State University student George Overbey responded to a Durant tweet last November inviting the Thunder forward to participate in his intramural flag football game. And Durant accepted the offer. Playing quarterback and cornerback, Durant helped lead his team to victory in what was an “unforgettable night” for the 500 spectators on hand.

JEREMY GUTHRIE

The Rockies pitcher had a catch with fan Woody Roseland last month after Roseland responded to Guthrie’s tweet looking for a partner. Roseland is a cancer survivor who had to have his leg amputated, and it gave him a day to remember. Roseland is a motivational speaker and has been a personal guest of Tim Tebow for a Broncos’ game.

LAWRENCE PHILLIPS

Not all of these surprise drop-in stories have such a happy ending. Young running back Lawrence Phillips was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in 2005 after allegedly driving a car into three teenagers after he played in a pick-up football game in California. Phillips was eventually sentenced to 31 days in jail, but claimed that the trial wasn’t fair. He’s widely accepted to be one of the biggest busts in NFL history, and his temper is at least partially to blame for his failures as a pro.

YouTube

Nothing shows the mom in your life more love and thoughtfulness than the quintessential breakfast in bed. This Mother’s Day you can go basic with eggs, bacon and pancakes, but don’t be afraid to spice things up a bit, either.

Take a peak at some of these high-concept — but still easy — recipes. If possible, practice your recipe ahead of time to perfect it and serve to the mom in your life for the ultimate breakfast in bed experience.

Cheddar Frittata Recipe

Don’t let the word “fritatta” intimidate you. It’s basically a more-hearty omelette.

French Toast with a Twist

Head to your local bakery, pick up some brioche and make Mom some delicious French toast this Sunday. This recipe adds a little twist to the brunch favorite at the end.

Mimosa

Too early to drink? Not if you add orange juice! Break out the bubbly with this morning-appropriate mimosa.

Raspberry Chocolate Scones

Mom will sing your praises through July if you make her a batch of these chocolate raspberry scones. Take it one step further by providing some clotted cream to spread on top.

Antioxidant Smoothie

Whether mom’s on a diet or simply enjoys her fruit, spoil her with this smoothie. It’s chock-full of antioxidants and delicious to boot.

- Additional reporting by Wendy Gould

Streeter Lecka, Getty Images/YouTube/Jim McIsaac, Getty Images

The Charlotte Bobcats made history last week when they lost their 23rd consecutive game, ending the season with the worst winning percentage in NBA history — a paltry .106, thanks to a 7-59 record. The Bobcats surpassed the futility of the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers, who finished 9-73 and a .110 winning percentage.

Here’s a look at how the Bobcats shape up against some of the worst of the worst in professional sports:

1972 76ers

They finished the season with 13 consecutive losses, including the last one before fewer than 2,000 fans on hand. During the rebuilding years after Wilt Chamberlain left and before Julius Erving arrived, the Sixers really stunk. The team finished 59 games behind the Celtics in their conference, an impressive feat in its own right.

2008 LIONS

The Lions finished 0-16, which led quarterback Dan Orlovsky to comment, ”I don’t even know the last time we won a game” after the final game of the tumultuous season. Along the way, they surrendered the second most points for any season, 517, and their defense was one of the all-time worst. Orlovsky, who was on that team, was back in familiar territory this past season when the Colts started 0-13 before picking up two late-season wins.

1962 mets

The 1962 Mets went 40-120, which led manager Casey Stengel to comment: “You look up and down the bench and you have to say to yourself, ‘Can’t anybody here play this game?” They finished last in the league with a pitiful .240 batting average. They also let up more runs than any other team. Other franchises have rivaled the ’62 Mets’ awful season with terrible ones of their own, but nobody has matched the Mets’ poor performance during the modern era.

1974 CAPITALS

The 1974 Washington Capitals went just 8-67-5 under the reign of an amazingly embarrassing three different coaches. One of them, Tom McVie, said, “I’d rather find out that my wife was cheating on me than to have to keep losing like this. At least I could tell my wife to cut it out.” They set records for fewest wins, most losses, most road losses, and most consecutive losses. How’s this for a personal stat? Goalie Michel Belhumeur went 0-24-3.

1976 BUCCANEERS

They tallied an 0-14 record in 1976. They were shut out five times that year, and when coach John McKay was asked about the team’s execution, he replied, “I’m in favor of it.” This expansion team actually dropped the first 12 games of the following season. The Bucs were the joke of the NFL for decades before finally turning things around near the end of the 20th century and capturing Super Bowl XXXVII.

1980 WINNIPEG JETS

This team went 30 games without a win in November and December, leading fans to call the team “Lose-ipeg.” They finished 9-57-14. It remains a mystery why this team was so bad, coming off of winning the WHA championships in 1978 and 1979. And in the 1981-82 season, the Jets turned things around and made the playoffs, going 33-33-14.

YouTube

Dan Savage, known for creating the anti-bullying series ‘It Gets Better,’ sparked a controversy with a speech he gave recently at a high school journalism conference. While discussing the Bible, he reportedly so offended the Christian teens in attendance that many of them simply walked out.

Savage was invited as a keynote speaker to the National High School Journalism Conference in Seattle. While trying to make a point about bullying in association with the Bible, he said, “We can learn to ignore the bull***t in the Bible about gay people.” He then went on to refer to the religious text as a “radically pro-slavery document.”

When students proceeded to exit the auditorium in response to these aggressive statements, Savage continued by saying, “It’s funny, as someone who’s on the receiving end of beatings that are justified by the bible, how pansy-assed some people react when you push back.”

What he probably didn’t expect from his comments, however, was a backlash from a gay organization. Jimmy LaSalvia, executive director of the gay conservative group GOProud, called what transpired “outrageous.”

“It is ironic that someone whose claim to fame is fighting bullying would resort to bullying tactics in attacking high school students who were offended by his outrageous remarks,” said LaSalvia. “There is nothing incompatible between being a Christian and believing that all people should be treated equally, and Dan Savage’s attacks on Christianity only fuel those on the extremist fringe who oppose gay rights.”

Savage reportedly apologized for hurting anyone’s feelings, but is refusing to apologize for what he said.

Watch Students Walk Out During Dan Savage’s Speech [Semi-NSFW Language]

[via FOX Radio]

David Livingston/Ian Walton/Christian Petersen, Getty Images

Receiver Mohamed Sanu was the victim of a practical joke on Thursday night when someone called him pretending to be from the Cincinnati Bengals intending to draft him with the 27th pick. The Bengals wound up taking the Rutgers product in the third round and there were no hard feelings toward the kid who had pranked Sanu.

But Sanu isn’t the first athlete to be the target of a hoax.

Here’s a look back at 10 other athletes who fell victim:

SHAQUILLE O’NEAL

He’s known as a bit of a jokester, so Shaq got a served some of his own medicine in 2009 following a practice. Suns’ forward Lou Amundson filled Shaq’s car with pink packing peanuts. It was done as revenge for Shaq supposedly stealing Amundson’s bicycle from its spot over the course of the season.

DIRK NOWITZKI

Ashton Kutcher’s MTV show ‘Punk’d’  took on the Mavericks’ forward in 2005 by sending an adoring young fan into the restaurant seeking an autograph. And then having him return to interrupt Dirk’s dinner again with some more paraphernalia for him to sign. Nowitzki had a heart and the patience to deal with the kid for quite a while before he cut him off to the dismay of the kid and his waiting mother. After some pressure, Dirk agreed to continue the signature fest. “You might be the nicest guy in the NBA,” a member of his dinner party says.

KIRK GIBSON

In 1988, the Dodgers’ slugger had issues with a practical joke perpetrated by his new teammates who put eye-black inside of his hat that left a black mark on Gibson’s forehead. He took exception to the prank, and left the clubhouse in protest before the team’s exhibition game against the Chunichi Dragons. Years later, Gibson, now manager of the Diamondbacks, was in better spirits when his team all wore ties for a flight that featured pictures of Gibson. ”I’ll pick a good opportunity,” Gibson said about reliever J.J. Putz, who orchestrated the whole thing. “I’ll get him. If he keeps getting guys out, he can prank me all he wants.”

ED WELLS

Babe Ruth was notorious as a lovable prankster, and he pulled off one of his best stunts in 1929 on his new teammate, Ed Wells. Ruth invited Wells to go on a double date with him, but when they arrived to pick up the ladies, someone else greeted them, accusing Ruth of committing adultery with his wife. He then shot a blank from his gun at Ruth, who pretended to be hit. Wells took of running, and the Yankees all carried on the ruse for days that Ruth was on his deathbed. Even after Wells was filled in — after passing out — he reportedly never had a sense of humor about the encounter.

LEW KRAUSSE

Moe Drabowsky might not be a household name, but the former journeyman pitcher was one of the best practical jokers in MLB history. In one of his most memorable stunts, he called the Kansas City bullpen during a game to get his teammate Krausse up and loose, pretending that Krausse was going to be coming into the game. Then, minutes later, Drabowsky informed the bullpen to have Krausse sit back down, and he wasn’t entering the game. Earlier in his career, Drabowsky used a wheelchair to get to first base after he was hit by a pitch.

JAVARIS CRITTETDON

It’s one of the league’s worst moments in recent years, and it all started as a practical joke. Wizards’ star Gilbert Arenas pulled a gun on teammate Javaris Crittenton in 2010 after a locker room dispute escalated. ”I know Gilbert is a good guy,” Pacers guard T.J. Ford said. “I don’t think, like he said in his statement, that he was trying to hurt anybody.” Most people didn’t have a sense of humor about the incident, and the Wizards parted ways with Arenas later that year via trade.

MICHAEL HARRINGTON

Soccer player Michael Harrington was the victim of an innocent April Fools’ Day prank orchestrated by his Kansas City Wizards’ teammates in 2010. They told Harrington that Maxim magazine was doing a photo shoot that required him to dress up like a cat. Cameramen shot Harrington from all angles, purring and pawing around the field, and his teammates watched the footage later on.

JAMES ELLINGTON

ORINOCO FAAMAUSilI-BANSE-PRINCE

Ellington isn’t the only Olympian to fall victim to a prank leading up to an Olympics. Back in 2008, New Zealand relay swimmer Orinoco Faamausili-Banse-Prince fell for a practical joke of teammate Matt Herring: “He texted me and said: ‘I’ve got some bad news.’ I was preparing myself for the worst, then he texted back and said ‘just kidding.’” With so much on the line leading up to the world’s biggest games, even a small prank can have damaging effects. But Faamausili-Banse-Prince shook it off.

MATT COCHRAN

Beware of the perils of social media. Matt Cochran’s college football recruitment included YouTube videos and some interaction via social networking. After Cochran’s teammate Aziz Shittu signed onto Cochran’s Facebook account and posted that he had committed to Auburn this winter, all hell broke loose. ”I found out two hours after he did it,” said Cochran. “It was kind of funny. But it was a mess for a little while.” Especially after Cochran really committed to play with the California Golden Bears. Good joke? You decide.

This video comes to us from northern Spain, where a recent storm ravaged the area and airplanes were forced to land under 62mph crosswinds. The pilots in these airliners are superheroes. But more importantly, why weren’t later planes diverted in the face of the storm?

This could be one of the more terrifying videos I’ve ever seen.

Thor, Brad Weiser, and Captain America

It’s hard to describe how excited I am for the ‘Avengers’ movie opening this Friday. My son Jack and I have been watching all the cartoons, he has his own Captain America Shield and Thor’s Hammer. I’ve watched the trailer what seems like a million times now, and I even have Captain America wallpaper on my iPhone.

The early reviews have been excellent, and ticket pre-sales are projecting this to be Marvel’s biggest movie ever. We even had an Idaho Lottery Avengers contest here in Twin where fans dressed up! It was awesome!

And now I find that Interstate Amusement will have a special midnight showing of the ‘Avengers’ this Thursday at the Twin Cinema 12! I say we dress up and go! I’m pretty sure Jack will let me borrow Thor’s Hammer. Who’s with me?

YouTube

At PS22 in Staten Island, N.Y., a chorus of talented fifth graders has garnered some national attention by performing hit songs with famous musicians like Gym Class Heroes, Ingrid Michaelson, Adele… and now, country’s own gem Carrie Underwood. Led by their instructor, talented piano player Gregg Breinberg, a few dozen chorus members gathered in the school auditorium recently to sing ‘Good Girl’ with Underwood, whose typically larger-than-life voice was almost overpowered by the kids’ skills.

In the goosebump-inducing performance, one of the fifth grade students pounded on the drums, while Breinberg played the keys and the country songstress shared vocals with a really lucky young guy. The boy, who looks to be about 11 years old, had no trouble hanging with Underwood. In fact, he was so talented in his performance that she had some kind words to say about him and his fellow classmates at the song’s end.

“I think myself and everyone else in the music industry right now needs to be worried, because they’re getting older, and so you guys are going to put us all out of a job!” she said during a video interview after the performance.

The ‘Good Girl’ singer also had kind words to say about the choir instructor.

“I feel like I’m a part of the choir now, and my experience at PS22 has been amazing,” she told him. “I would like to thank all of you guys for having me here and singing my songs, and making them sound better than I ever could! It just made my heart happy to be here. I would have loved to have been a part of your choir way back when.”

Of course, PS22 was delighted to share the stage with Underwood for the day. They even presented her with her own adult-sized chorus T-shirt, and she said she would wear it proudly. Our description of these talented fifth-graders just doesn’t do them justice. You’ll have to watch the video to see for yourself!

Watch Carrie Underwood Sing ‘Good Girl’ With the PS22 Chorus

Source: TasteofCountry.com

YouTube / HarperCollins

It’s hard to believe it’s been more than 20 years since the brutal beating of Rodney King by Los Angeles police officers was videotaped and horrified a nation. Now, on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the riots incited by his case, King looks back on the ordeal and his life since then in a new memoir, ‘The Riot Within: My Journey From Rebellion to Redemption.’

On March 3, 1991, King was driving under the influence and initially didn’t stop when he saw the blue lights of the LAPD in his rearview mirror. When he eventually did pull over, four officers hit him more than 50 times with their batons, kicked him and shot him with stun guns, with the whole incident caught on tape by an onlooker.

Those officers went to trial and were acquitted by an all-white jury on April 29, 1992, sparking a three-day riot in LA that left 55 people dead and caused billions in property damage. As the riots raged on, King issued a public plea for peace, uttering the now-famous line, “Can we all get along?”

In a civil suit, King was later awarded almost $4 million from the city, but thanks to bad investments, that money is gone. King still suffers physical problems from the beating and alcoholism has also resulted in several more arrests. Even after all this time, though, he’s not bitter.

“America’s been good to me after I paid the price and stayed alive through it all,” he says. “This part of my life is the easy part now.”

Asked for comment about the Trayvon Martin case in which a young unarmed black man was recently shot and killed, King told TMZ, “I’m hoping he gets justice for his family…’cause he’s no longer here, so for his family,” adding, “Luckily I got [my attack] seen on tape.”

Watch him talk about his own traumatic ordeal below.

[NPR]