Recreation

SF Giants Pitcher Returns $500,000 After Noticing Mistake in Contract

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:32:32 +0100

Jeremy Affeldt makes $6 million a year pitching for the San Francisco Giants, but he gave a half-million back after a clerical error was discovered, despite already receiving the money back in 2010. Affeldt got three opinions saying the contract was ironclad and he could keep the extra $500,000, from the Players Association, agent Michael Moye and even Giants assistant general manager Bobby Evans, according to the SF Chronicle....

DiCaprio's Wildlife Charity Auction Raises $38 Million

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:50:06 +0100

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio and Christie's auction house raised $38.8 million through a charity art auction, Christie's said on Tuesday, with proceeds to benefit environmental and conservation causes. The sale of 33 art works that DiCaprio had persuaded artists to donate or create especially for the 11th Hour Action raised $31.7 million on the night, blowing away all the pre-sale estimates and setting 13 new price records for artists at auction....

University of Southern California Receives $70mil Donation to Help Young Innovators

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:09:08 +0100

Music industry icons Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre (Andre Young), already known as forward-thinking entrepreneurs, are giving $70 million to USC to foster innovation among under graduates. The duo’s gift will establish the Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation for students whose interests span fields such as marketing, business, computer science, audio/visual design, and the arts. The program will prepare them to become a new generation of inspired...

Real Life 'Major Tom' Performs David Bowie's “Space Oddity” From Actual Space

Wed, 15 May 2013 14:44:39 +0100

The Canadian commander of the International Space Station used his down-time in orbit to create a music video that has attracted 10 million views on YouTube with its rendition of the famous astronaut pop tune, David Bowie's Space Oddity. "Ground control to Major Tom" is the renown opening line of the song that was written and performed by Bowie in 1969, the release of which coincided with the Apollo 11 moon landing....

17-Year-Old Builds App to Prevent TV Spoilers on Twitter

Sat, 11 May 2013 08:07:10 +0100

Setting out to find a solution to the problem of accidentally reading spoilers of your favorite TV shows, 17-year-old Jen Lamere created the Twivo app, a mobile solution that acts as a Tivo for tweets. The app took home the top prize at the TVnext hack event in Boston, where she was the only female participating, according to Mashable.com. Twivo puts a block on tweets with keywords relevant to any show during certain periods of tim, so you don't have to stay away from Twitter while waiting to g...

Gas Pump Camera Ambushes Couple Whose Singing Lands Them on the Tonight Show

Thu, 09 May 2013 18:54:26 +0100

Would you sing a song for a man speaking from a gas pump? Will did -- and his impromptu performance so impressed the Tonight Show pranksters behind the stunt that he ended up entertaining millions in an NBC studio. In the middle of a suburban gas station, without any accompaniment, the bartender belted out Bon Jovi's Livin' on a Prayer while his wife howled with laughter. Not only that, when asked for a duet by the man in the gas pump, his wife, dressed in baggy sweatpants and bandana, g...

Baseball Star Moved to Give Shirt off his Back to Terminally Ill Fan (WATCH)

Wed, 08 May 2013 17:23:46 +0100

After a three-year battle with cancer, Joshua Jones may be living his final days. A group of family and friends pooled their money to buy four front-row seats so he could see his beloved Dodgers one last time. Dodger player Matt Kemp had promised to sign an autograph after the game, but instead was moved to do more, including give the shirt off his back -- and his shoes....

LeBron James Donates $1 million to Renovate Gym at Old High School

Mon, 06 May 2013 13:04:17 +0100

LeBron James said he always knew if he became an NBA professional, at some point in his life he would make sure the antiquated gymnasium at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School was renovated. Now a top star in the sport, he has donated $1 million to build a state-of-the-art gym for his alma mater to be completed this fall. LeBron graduated from STVM in 2003 after spending four memorable years playing basketball and winning three State Championships for the Akron area school under the leadership of ...

Giant Rubber Duck Floats in Hong Kong Harbor

Sun, 05 May 2013 18:27:57 +0100

A Dutch artist is cheering people in Hong Kong's Victoria Harbor with a yellow 50-foot-tall rubber duck. The motto of the Rubber Duck Project is 'Spreading Joy Around the World'. And indeed it has done that brilliantly. Since 2008, Florentijn Hofman's giant floating toy has glided its way into San Paolo, Auckland, Sydney, Amsterdam and Osaka....

Jefferson Starship Bassist Reunited With Custom-Built Guitar Stolen 35 Years Ago

Wed, 01 May 2013 13:56:13 +0100

Thirty five years ago, bassist Pete Sears' prized custom bass guitar was stolen during the melee of a cancelled music festival in Germany. After decades of mourning its loss, the former Jefferson Starship member will soon be reunited with the one-of-a-kind instrument, according to the Marin Journal. Sears had barely had the chance to play the new Doug Irwin bass, nicknamed "Dragon" for it's uniquely-shaped inlay, before looters made off with it during a riot at the 1978 festival, says the Huffi...

Kenny Chesney Starts Fund For Those Injured at Boston Marathon

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:50:54 +0100

Like so many others, Kenny Chesney watched the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings with "incredulity and horror." The country star didn’t know what to do, but he wanted to help. He talked to some Boston folks and decided to help fund and support prosthetics for the people who were having or would ultimately need amputations....

WWE Star Makes Wish Come True for Young Fan With Heart Defect

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:14:28 +0100

(TODAY) Nick Santillo's rare heart defect has kept him in and out of hospitals since he was an infant. The eight-year-old, who was born with only half the chambers in his heart, had his wish granted this morning when the TODAY show arranged for him to meet his hero, WWE champion wrestler John Cena....

Obama's Got Game Joking at White House Correspondents' Dinner (WATCH)

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 16:49:24 +0100

Hollywood celebrities, political bigwigs and journalists shared dinner and laughs last night at the 2013 White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC. Conan O'Brien hosted the evening but the highlight of the night was the 20 minutes of stand-up comedy when President Obama joked about himself, the second term, Republican leaders, and Jay-Z....

College Athlete Gives up Shot Put Career in Order to Donate Bone Marrow

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:08:58 +0100

Like the rest of the University of New Hampshire track and field team, Cameron Lyle, 21, joined the bone marrow registry in his sophomore year. After all, it was a one in 5 million chance of ending up a match for a non-family member. Then, a few weeks ago, the shot put star learned he was an exact match for a 28-year-old man on his last fight against leukemia....

Free Admission at Every National Park This Week Until Sunday

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:46:00 +0100

If you are looking for something fun and fantastic to do with family and friends, head out to America's national parks this week where nature and history come together -- and it's all free. The National Park Service presents National Park Week, a presidentially proclaimed celebration of our national heritage. From Saturday April 20 through Sunday, April 28 every national park will have free admission....

Registration Surges for Sunday's Vancouver Race After Boston Blasts

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 06:09:43 +0100

Registration has surged for the annual race since Monday and participants are being encouraged to honor the victims of the explosions by wearing the Boston Marathon colors of yellow and blue. There will also be an official tribute at the start line. Jamie Pitblado, vice-president of promotion and community investment at The Vancouver Sun and Province, said 691 new participants signed up Monday, compared to 343 on the same day last year....

'42' Immortalizes Jackie Robinson as Real-life Super Hero While Avoiding Melodrama (Watch)

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 08:12:33 +0100

“42” is an old-fashioned inspirational and ultimately uplifting drama about perseverance in the face of turbulent opposition. And the greatest credit to writer-director Brian Helgeland is that none of this is shown through grand melodramatic movie monologues, but through the simple restraint of Chadwick Boseman's portrayal of a determined and resilient Jackie Robinson....

College Athletes Hand the Football to Boy With Cancer (Top Videos)

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:28:48 +0100

To the Nebraska college football team and fans, this play was truly one of your finest moments the school has ever seen. Little Jack Hoffman, who has cancer, led a very special Husker play into the end zone with the ball. Watch the heartwarming video below......

Basketball Stars Gift Hundreds of Local Kids with Tickets to NBA Game

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 14:25:00 +0100

Hundreds of California youngsters got the chance to experience a live NBA basketball game for the first time after the athletes themselves reached out to community groups with stacks of free tickets. Golden State Warriors players Andris Bierdrins, Andrew Bogut, Draymond Green, Jarrett Jack, Richard Jefferson, David Lee, and Klay Thompson bought 50-to-100 tickets each, and donated them to local groups in San Francisco....

Woman Emerges From Coma Asking for Bob Seger Concert - Tonight She's Going

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:24:02 +0100

Seven years ago, Evie Branan suffered a stroke that left her in a semi-coma. In May of 2011, she tumbled out of bed, bumped her head and woke up. Her first words: "I want to go to a Bob Seger concert." Tonight in Flint, Michigan, a limousine is going to pull up to her nursing home and take the 79 year-old patient to see Bob Seger. Not only that, she will get to meet him....

This Champion Racehorse Paints, Raises Thousands for Retired Thoroughbreds

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 16:18:51 +0100

A speedy horse named Metro Meteor won $300,000 over his career on the track. Now he's picked up a new vocation. Forced to retire after knee injuries, he was given a new life when adopted by artist Ron Krajewski and his wife, Wendy. The equine was constantly moving his head around, so Ron put a paintbrush in his mouth. The 9-year-old thoroughbred is now painting to benefit other horses in need....

Small Statured Football Star is on Anti-Bullying, Pro-Kindness Crusade

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 23:16:42 +0100

"I knew something had to be done," said Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, whose foundation was adrift without a focus. It began when a co-worker at his foundation told the running back about how her daughter was being bullied at school. The final straw came on Easter Sunday 2012 when a 15-year-old girl in nearby Maryland took her own life after months of cyber-bullying. “Words killed this person,” Rice said. “It’s become an epidemic.” The 5-foot-8 running back began his crusade...

Actor Wendell Pierce Opens Grocery Stores in Urban Food Deserts

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 21:38:24 +0100

As a boy, Wendell Pierce dreamed of leaving his hometown one day for the world stage. Today, the veteran actor with global credits has returned on a mission: rebuilding neighborhoods, brick by brick, aisle after aisle. After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, Pierce seized an opportunity to help his childhood neighborhood. He started a nonprofit with the goal of replacing hundreds of destroyed, 1950s-era homes with new ones. The next item on his agenda was to solve the food deser...

Round-up of Best April Fools Day Pranks on the Web

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:27:37 +0100

From Google to YouTube, Twitter to Netflix, companies tried to bait the public into falling for a prank on April 1. Google always takes April Fools Day pretty seriously, and cats are usually involved. But this year Google poked fun of its Glass Project launching "Google Nose" for cataloguing smells. YouTube produced a message that it had decided to shut down its website and delete all the videos....

Basketball Star Hugs His Heart Surgeon After Making Game-Winning Layup

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:42:45 +0100

Baxter Holmes, a Boston Globe sports reporter, tweeted a photo after last night's Celtics game that will tug at your heart strings (and perhaps encourage a little more gratitude for your own heart). After Jeff Green scored the winning basket with a fraction of a second left in the game, he went over to hug the doctor who performed heart surgery on him just one year earlier. Green said of his perfectly executed play, "That was for him." (READ the story in the Boston Globe) Photo by @BaxterHolm...

Why Not Place a Mini Library in Your Front Yard?

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 17:15:21 +0100

While messing around and building things on his deck one day, Todd Bol took a dollhouse-size structure and turned it into a free community library that would have global impact. He started a movement called Little Free Library, a nonprofit that seeks to place small book exchange boxes in neighborhoods around the world. The idea has taken off, growing from 100 libraries in 2011 to 6,000 libraries in 2013....

Tiny Gulf Coast School Beats Powerhouse Georgetown in a Cinderella Story to Top All Others

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 17:18:48 +0100

Harvard pulled off a huge upset to begin the college basketball "March Madness" last week, but all eyes have turned southward to a little school with a load of confidence: No. 15-seed Florida Gulf Coast is in the midst of what could be the greatest Cinderella story in NCAA tournament history. The FGC University men’s basketball program was formed just 11 years ago in 2002. Their record last year was 15-17, before getting a new coach, Andy Einfield, in April. And now, in just their second year...

Good Karma Update: Teen's Basketball Sportsmanship Rewarded with College Scholarship

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:39:44 +0100

CBS shared an update to Steve Hartman's story about the El Paso high school basketball game last month, in which a player threw the ball in the final seconds to a developmentally challenged boy, who was the manager on the opposing team, suited up for the final game of the season. The kindness allowed the boy to score, and the cheers to erupt throughout the entire gymnasium: "After seeing our story, the chancellor of Texas Tech called Jonathon Montanez and offered him a university scholarship....

The Gangsta Gardener of South Central L.A.

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 16:48:59 +0100

A Los Angeles-based fashion designer is starting an urban garden revolution in his neighborhood in South Central Los Angeles. Instead of vacant lots -- the city owns miles and miles of these in LA county -- Ron Finley wants to help residents to plant a million tomato plants. He is co-founder of LA Green Grounds, a company that plants gardens at low-income homes as a part of a recovery system to transform neighborhoods....

Picked Up for 3 Bucks, Chinese Bowl Goes for $2.2 million at Auction

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 14:52:34 +0100

A Chinese bowl that a New York family picked up for $3 at a garage sale turned out to be a 1,000-year-old ceramic treasure by a Chinese master. The bowl — 5 inches in diameter with a saw-tooth pattern etched around the outside — was sold at auction for $2.2 million at Sotheby’s auction house in New York on Tuesday. The only other known bowl of similar size and design has been in the collection of the British Museum for more than 60 years....

Anchor Reads Her Own Wedding Proposal Live On Air After Fiancé Hijacks Script

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:50:31 +0100

An on-air personality at the news desk for the Fox-54 station in Huntsville, Alabama, was tricked into reading a "breaking news" story that included a wedding proposal from her own boyfriend. After he planted the "breaking news" script on the reporter's teleprompter, news anchor Jillian Pavlica began to unwittingly read the surprise:...

Disabled Find Outlet to Create Artwork Worth Thousands

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:30:40 +0100

A huge indoor space in Oakland, California serves as a professional art studio for adults with developmental, mental and physical disabilities, and provides an environment for artistic development, gallery exhibition and even representation. Instead of staying at home and sitting in front of the television, adults, like Dan Miller who has autism, can express themselves at the Creative Growth Art Center in a social setting among their peers. An added benefit, he and others are earning money throu...

How Far Can You Travel With No Money? 7000 Miles for These Students

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:31:11 +0100

A group of Irish travelers set out to see how far they could get without spending a cent — and you’d be amazed at how far they made it. In an event known as the Trinity College Jailbreak, nearly 70 students from the Dublin University were given a day and a half to get as far away from the Irish capital as they could without spending any money....

College Fan Gets to Play With Billy Joel on Stage, 'Greatest Moment Of My Life'

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 13:38:39 +0100

Vanderbilt University student Michael Pollack got the chance to ask a question at a college-hosted Billy Joel appearance. He told the 'Piano Man' that he had performed "New York State of Mind" with Joel's saxophonist in the past and wondered if he could go onstage and play it with Joel himself. Taken by surprise the celebrity could have easily demured, but he said, "Okay." The impressive performance was recorded on video and Pollack is now making the rounds on national media shows....

Winning Musher Is Oldest Champion In Iditarod History

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:37:20 +0100

Mitch Seavey scored one for the senior crowd Tuesday night by becoming the oldest champion in Iditarod sled dog race history, finishing the 1,000-mile trek in nine days and seven hours. The 53-year-old who won the race this year, is father to Dallas Seavey who last year became the youngest ever to win the race at age 25....

Best Daring, Acrobatic Stunts by Amazing People on YouTube

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 18:11:30 +0100

These athletic daredevils were chosen as best on YouTube to represent this year's Amazing People collection.

From jumping with skateboards, bikes and snowmobiles to doing flips over cars before scoring a basket, they all tested themselves -- and emerged victorious. Don't try this at home.

US Wrestlers Honored by Iran's President and Fans, Easing Tensions at Nuclear Talks

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 15:36:21 +0100

For a brief moment on Tuesday, the nuclear dispute between Iran and the United States took a back seat to sport. American Diplomats found rare common ground with the Islamic Republic at a recent round of nuclear negotiations, noting Iran's victory in the freestyle wrestling World Cup in Tehran. U.S. wrestlers competed, including the 2012 Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs who was cheered on wildly by wrestling-crazy Iranian fans. Burroughs tweeted a photo (above) of the eager Iranians with ...

Oscar Night: 9-Year-Old and 86-Year-old Make Oscar History

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 17:32:54 +0100

Quvenzhane Wallis could make Oscar history tonight by taking home the Best Actress statue for her role in the critically acclaimed drama Beasts of the Southern Wild, for which she became the youngest actor ever nominated for an Academy Award. She was 6 years old when she played the part of Hushpuppy, the indomitable child prodigy and survivalist who lives with her dying father in the backwoods squalor of a Louisiana bayou....

Act of Sportsmanship Gives Texas Basketball Fan a Shot at Glory

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 18:41:01 +0100

Mitchell Marcus has a developmental disability, but he far surpasses all the other students in his El Paso high school when it comes to his love for basketball. He has served as team manager for the Thunderbirds and all the players and fans love his spirit. On the last game of the regular season, the coach told Mitchell to suit up....

Tiny Fifth Grade Phenom Stars on the High School Varsity Basketball Team

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 13:38:23 +0100

Julian Newman is 11 years old. At 4-foot-5-inches he has become an internet sensation thanks to a viral video of his phenomenal basketball skills. Even though he is only in the fifth grade, he plays for an Orlando, Florida high school varsity team. His speed and agility -- not to mention how close he is to the ground -- makes catching him hard even for opponents who are 6-years older than him....

Basketball All-Stars Show They Care With Day of Service

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 15:06:53 +0100

On Friday, Feb. 15, more than 1,500 members of the NBA family, including the NBA All-Stars, joined in service projects throughout Houston, including the renovation of 5 homes, repairs and improvements to the Foster Place Elementary basketball court, and much needed yardscaping. In the video below, stars like Andre Drummond of the Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat's Chris Bosh and LeBron James talk about the impact of giving back during the 2013 NBA Cares All-Star Day of Service....

Famous Musicians Bring Healing Power of Songs to Hospitals (w/ Video)

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 15:20:20 +0100

At the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Nashville, Tenn., it is not uncommon for the crisp, clean, soothing sound of an acoustic guitar to echo down the hallway. Patients, their families, and medical staff members alike light up when musicians come in to sing. It’s all part of a six-city program called Musicians on Call, whose mission is to bring local musicians to the bedsides of patients too sick to leave their hospital beds....

Football Superstar Surprises Longtime Fan Before Exiting Career

Sat, 09 Feb 2013 13:31:03 +0100

Before the retiring NFL football star Donald Driver caught a flight out of town closing a 14-year career of record-breaking performance in Wisconsin, he made one last stop. He surprised a 78-year-old woman, a Green Bay Packer fan and cancer survivor who wanted nothing more than to hug her hero....

Astronaut And Rocker Record First Earth-Space Duet

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 17:44:49 +0100

Talk about the ultimate space jam. The song is called "I.S.S. (Is Somebody Singing)," and it's billed as the first space-Earth musical collaboration. It's a very long-distance project from Canadians Ed Robertson of Barenaked Ladies and Chris Hadfield, who currently commands the International Space Station. The song premiered Friday morning as a prerecorded video -- Hadfield performing on the space station with Earth floating outside his window and Robertson in a Toronto studio with a collegiate...

Madonna Donates Costumes to Auction for Sandy Storm Victims

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 20:43:57 +0100

Madonna is auctioning her tour costumes to benefit those affected by Hurricane Sandy. Some of the outfits the singer donned on her MDNA Tour, including the much-photographed majorette costume and caged basque, will be included in the auction, according to New York Post. Madonna visited some of the hard hit neighborhoods in the Northeast after the storm....

George Clooney Picks Up Stranger’s Tab at Restaurant

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 13:51:46 +0100

George Clooney has once again shown himself to be the perfect gentleman.

Fearing that he and his party had been too loud while dining at the Grill Royal restaurant in Berlin, the actor picked up the $120 tab for a nearby table, Oliver Hermann, told the newspaper Bild.

Super Bowl: Real Life 'Blind Side' Players are Survivors in Life and On Field

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:23:38 +0100
Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman Michael Ohre, who was made famous by the movie "Blind Side", will be facing a player on the opposing team Sunday, who also was blessed in the same way with a happy ending. The two, who aren't brothers by birth, are brothers in survival -- both having been adopted by white families showing what love really is. San Francisco 49er linebacker Patrick Willis (in photo, with his adoptive mom) was Oher's teammate in college and travelled the same difficult road ...

Group of Men Played Game of Tag for 23 Years

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:59:12 +0100
Mr. Dennehy and nine of his friends have spent the past 23 years locked in a game of "Tag." It started in high school when they spent their morning break darting around the campus of Gonzaga Prep School in Spokane, Wash. Then they moved on—to college, careers, families and new cities. But because of a reunion, a contract and someone's unusual idea to stay in touch, tag keeps pulling them closer, flying around the country surprising each other. That means players get tagged at work and in bed....

Mystery Bible From Baseball History Found Among Pile of Donated Books

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 19:07:07 +0100
Joanne Murphy didn't see much in the old Bible that someone donated with a pile of books to the Sacramento Public Library. The only interesting thing about it was the inscription page. "Pirates," it said, "1953," followed by a long list of signatures. The Bible, it turned out, had been a gift to baseball legend Branch Rickey, the baseball executive who broke the sport's color barrier in 1947 by hiring Jackie Robinson to be the first African-American player....

20 Reasons Why People Are Seriously Amazing: BuzzFeed Video Clips

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 14:22:14 +0100
Buzzfeed threw together some tiny video clips of people doing amazing things, like turning one's morning toast-making experience into sublime artistic expression, and waterskiing on one's hands. Even a boy with crutches makes an athletic appearance by flipping a skateboard underneath himself while moving over a barrier....

Band Dumps Record Label, Raises $125,000 For New Album In One Day

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 11:31:49 +0100
After 13 years and three albums, Protest The Hero, has wrapped up their obligations with their record label and is turning to their fans to fund their fourth full-length album. Within hours of launching a crowd sourcing plea on Indiegogo, the Canadian band smashed through it’s $125,000 goal — on its way to doubling that total — by offering appealing perks like downloads and exclusive parties for fans who open their wallets in advance....

David Beckham Delights Injured Soldiers and Cancer Patients on Surprise Hospital Visit

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 21:41:08 +0100
Injured troops and cancer patients were given a massive boost this week after receiving a surprise visit from David Beckham. The international footballer dropped in for a secret visit at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham on Wednesday. Adam Woods, a patient in the Teenage Cancer Trust Young Persons Unit, poses with Beckham in this photo from Queen Elizabeth Hospital....

Elton John Performance Will Play Simultaneously on 20 Pianos Around the World

Sat, 19 Jan 2013 21:59:04 +0100
Elton John and Yamaha are teaming up taking piano technology to a new level next week, performing a concert that will reproduce on 20 different pianos LIVE around the world. John will play at Disneyland's Hyperion Theater in Anaheim, Calif., on Jan. 25 with a 70-piece orchestra. The performance — note for note and in real time — will be reproduced through a Yamaha DisklavierTV piano and RemoteLive technology. John's keystrokes will stream over the internet and be recreated in about 20 citie...

Honest Spanish Runner Won't Take Advantage of Competitor's Error

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 02:49:28 +0100

Vitoria-based athlete Iván Fernández Anaya refused to take advantage when his Kenyan rival mistakenly stopped short of the finish line in a December cross-country race.

"I didn't deserve to win it," says 24-year-old Fernández Anaya. "I did what I had to do. He was the rightful winner."

This Slick, Foldable Electric Bicycle Is Almost Impossible To Steal

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 20:21:10 +0100
The concept e-bike, called the NCycle, has everything a cyclist could dream about: a holographic display, an innovative locking system, even a hidden pocket for your stuff. The skinny concept foldable electric bike even comes with a handlebar locking system--no outside lock necessary. "The handle bar is appropriately loop-shaped to fit most of the poles and steel bars in the city," explain the designers, Skyrill and Marin Myftiu. "Closing the loop when locked is a hardened steel tube sliding fr...

College Basketball Star Saves Wheelchair-using Fan From Crowd

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 16:19:24 +0100
North Carolina State may have upset top-ranked Duke over the weekend, but the real play of the game came after the victory when Wolfpack fans stormed the court. Wheelchair user Will Privette was one of the first students to rush the court, only to be swallowed up seconds later by the rowdy celebrants. The senior communications major, who had been recording the victory with his cell phone, immediately got knocked to the ground. Luckily, C.J. Leslie spotted Privette on the floor and sprung into a...

And the Oscar Nominees are...

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 14:19:07 +0100
It was no surprise that the period films Lincoln and Les Miserables figured prominantly in the list of Oscar nominations released this morning, with both male and female co-stars receiving nods. Lincoln received the most nominations with 12, including best film and best director, for Steven Spielberg. The shipwreck story "Life of Pi" surprisingly ran second with 11 nominations, including Best Film and Best Director for Ang Lee. Emma Stone and Seth MacFarlane will host the 85th Academy Awards on ...

With Cancer in Remission and Team in Playoffs, Colts Coach Pens Touching Letter to Fans

Sun, 06 Jan 2013 20:25:18 +0100
From the moment the Indianapolis Colts football team announced that head coach Chuck Pagano had been diagnosed with leukemia back in October, the team and city rallied in support. Even the coach's players shaved their heads in solidarity as he underwent chemotherapy, according to the Huffington Post. With Pagano back with the team, his cancer in remission and his team on the eve of a playoff game, the 52-year-old coach shared his gratitude in an open letter to "The people of Indiana" published i...

Why a German Pilot Escorted a U.S. Bomber to Safety During World War II

Sun, 06 Jan 2013 01:01:10 +0100
Once in a while, you hear an old war story that restores your faith in humanity. A new book explores the incredible encounter of two WWII pilots in mid-air -- a rookie American on his first bombing mission, piloting a crippled aircraft that was missing an engine and a German flying ace who not only saluted, then spared the rookie, but escorted him out of enemy airspace....

The Day William Shatner Tweeted at an Astronaut (and the Astronaut Replied)

Sat, 05 Jan 2013 14:12:57 +0100
This makes me giddy.... The Atlantic shared this Twitter exchange between Star Trek legend, William Shatner, and a Canadian astronaut who is currently serving aboard the International Space Station. On January 3, Shatner sent a tweet to Chris Hadfield, whose Twitter handle is @Cmdr_Hadfield: @Cmdr_Hadfield Are you Tweeting from Space?...

Former Michael Jackson Guitarist Gets Stolen Guitar Back Thanks to Alert Pedestrians

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 14:47:11 +0100
A priceless one-of-a-kind electric guitar belonging to Michael Jackson's touring guitar player, Jennifer Batten, was stolen from her car outside a restaurant on Saturday night. The guitar, decorated with an image of Masai tribesmen, was made especially for her and was covered with autographs of her fellow guitar players, including Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page. The good news followed a few days later when a pair of alert neighbors found the instrument and wanted to return it....

Hail and Farewell to Those We Lost in 2012

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 18:39:39 +0100
Today on New Year's Eve we remember those in public life who left us in 2012. They were wonderful singers and actors, politicians and astronauts who made our spirits soar. They were memorable writers and novelists, sports heroes and composers. Watch the video montage from NBC honoring those famous names who left us this year....

Patrick Dempsey to Buy Beloved Seattle Coffee Co., Saving 500 Jobs

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 14:30:42 +0100

Patrick Dempsey says he wants to rescue a Seattle coffee house chain and more than 500 jobs.

The "Grey's Anatomy" star said Wednesday he's leading a group attempting to buy Tully's Coffee. The Seattle-based company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October.

Knicks Players Bring Needy Families on Shopping Sprees

Wed, 26 Dec 2012 16:24:28 +0100
The Garden of Dreams Foundation paired nine Knicks players with deserving families to go on Christmas shopping sprees worth thousands of dollars. Amare Stoudemire spent hours with one family, paying $5,500 for their carts filled with toys, clothes and goodies from the local Target department store....

Indiana Jones Mystery Package Arrives at University of Chicago in Amazing Coincidence

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 14:24:42 +0100
A mysterious package arrived last week at the University of Chicago addressed to Henry Walton Jones, Jr., which looked like it had been postmarked in Egypt. Admissions officials had no clue who Jones was, but a student "snapped out of his finals-tired haze" realizing who Dr. Jones was: the fabled archeology professor, Indiana Jones. The mystery grew deeper when they realized the postage was faked and inside was an incredibly detailed replica of “University of Chicago Professor” Abner Ravenwo...

FarmVille's Game Players Bring Clean Water to the Real World

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 15:58:10 +0100
Zynga Inc., the provider of some of Facebook’s most popular games like FarmVille and Mafia Wars, has partnered with Water.org to raise money for a resource precious to both FarmVille 2 farmers and actual communities all over the world – water. Last year FarmVille players could receive a an item for their online game world with a contribution of $5 or more to the World Food Programme in a promotion sponsored by Pizza Hut. This month players can make donations when they buy certain items, beca...

From Slum Life in Uganda to Teen Chess Champion

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 15:14:06 +0100
She grew up in Kampala, one of the poorest places on earth. She couldn't read or write. As a child, she scrounged for food each day, and without money for school fees, she lived on the streets. But a chance encounter with a Ugandan chess coach turned her into a rising international chess star, the subject of a book -- and the protagonist in a future Disney movie....

Thanks to Friends on Twitter, Tim Tebow and Missy Franklin Call Students After Tragedy

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 13:22:18 +0100
A group of high school students wanted to lift the spirits of their friends who had survived a deadly automobile accident over the weekend that killed two others in the car. Their goal, to get two celebrities to call the hospital, has once again proven the power of social media. Within an hour the football star Tim Tebow learned of the kids' Tweets, and the hashtag #TebowCallMatt that began nationally trending on Twitter. Still in his Albany, New York hospital bed, Matt Hardy received a call fr...

Tribute to Jazz Legend Dave Brubeck (1920-2012)

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 03:26:03 +0100
Jazz pianist and composer Dave Brubeck died Wednesday -- a day before his ninety-second birthday. He was best known for his 1959 album "Time Out," recorded by his band, the Dave Brubeck Quartet. With its complex and unusual beat patterns, many experts believe a new age for jazz was launched. The inspiration for an American to use such odd time signatures came from the sounds and rhythms of the developing world, including Turkey, where Brubeck traveled. The most famous jazz song in history, "Tak...

Alaska Inmates Find Identity in Orchestra

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 15:29:43 +0100
After serving a 14-year sentence for murder, no one would have expected Sarah Jane Coffman to go anywhere near the Hiland Mountain Correctional Center once she was released. But every Saturday she makes the 10-mile drive with a viola in tow for orchestra practice at the prison just north of Anchorage. Coffman is a founding member of the women's string orchestra at the prison, playing since 2003....

Basketball Stars Across the U.S. Give Thanks This Week Helping Families in Need (Watch)

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 17:21:17 +0100
Professional basketball players are out in the neighborhoods this week giving back to the community. From taking families shopping for holiday gifts, to handing out hundreds of grocery bags with everything they need for a Thanksgiving feast, these players enjoy meeting their fans and stepping up. "We understand that this time of year is difficult for a lot of people," said David West of the Indiana Pacers. "We want to make sure that we impact their life, giving them an opportunity for joy at the...

Entertainers and Fashion Icons Pitch in With Storm Relief Donations, Benefit Concerts, Auctions

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 18:00:54 +0100
Stars from Hollywood to Virginia are pitching in to help New York and New Jersey recover from Hurricane Sandy. A celebrity auction has even been launched to accept bids on exciting opportunities to rub elbows with the stars... • Newlyweds Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel, just back from their honeymoon, spent hours unloading truckloads of donations, including backpacks full of school supplies for the Rockaway neighborhood, giving the people something to talk about besides the devastation. �...

It's Time for a Hero: Lincoln Opens in Theaters Friday to Gushing Reviews

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 17:36:27 +0100
Just when the American people may be exhausted from presidential politics, along comes "Lincoln". Steven Spielberg’s highly anticipated film, set during the last, tumultuous few months of Abraham Lincoln’s life, shows a man who is passionate, intelligent and heroic, writes Charlie Moss this week. In the film, which opens nationwide on Friday November 16, Daniel Day-Lewis stars as Lincoln, the great leader and speaker who, despite his many personal hardships, worked to abolish slavery in the...

Guitar Hero: Rock Star Dave Navarro Replaces Musician’s Stolen Guitar

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 17:43:49 +0100
When an Ontario band asked friends for help in recovering their stolen guitar, they had no idea a rock star would come to their rescue. Last month Kevin Kennedy experienced a musician's worst nightmare after his white acoustic Yamaha Dave Navarro edition guitar was stolen at a local club. He shared the news on Twitter and Facebook and offered a $1,000 reward for its return....

Girl of Nine Dominates Boys in Spectacular Football Highlight Reel

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 15:57:22 +0100
It is unusual to see a highlight reel of a peewee football player whose stats are so impressive – 35 touchdowns, 65 tackles and nearly 2,000 rushing yards. Such numbers would make an NFL scout do a double-take. What’s even more unusual is that this particular football player is a 9-year-old girl from Salt Lake City named “Sam” Gordon....

George Lucas Will Donate $4 Billion (Gained in Disney Sale) To Education

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 13:01:20 +0100
George Lucas is ensuring that the force may be with young Jedis everywhere. The "Star Wars" director will donate the $4.05 billion he will receive from the sale of Lucasfilm Ltd. to Disney to a foundation focused on education. On Tuesday, the Walt Disney Company announced it had paid the huge sum to acquire Lucasfilm Ltd., which produced "Star Wars" and is 100 percent owned by George Lucas himself....

Alec Baldwin Helps Neighbors, Lifts Spirits of NYU Dorm Evacuees

Sun, 04 Nov 2012 16:21:34 +0100
New York Universtiy alum Alec Baldwin, whose home in the Lower Manhattan neighborhood also lost power on Tuesday, walked room-to-room visiting students who had been evacuated from their dorms earlier that day. Wandering among rows of cots, he chatted with thousands of displaced students, many of whose spirits were raised to see the famous New Yorker at their door. In the wake of super-storm Sandy, the 30 Rock star, along with his wife, has been quietly helping his neighbors, like elderly people ...

Springsteen, Bon Jovi and Sting to Star in Hurricane Benefit Concert Friday

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 19:09:51 +0100
Superstar musicians born in the New York-New Jersey area will perform at Rockefeller Plaza Friday, part of a benefit concert for victims of Hurricane Sandy. New Jersey natives Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi, along with Billy Joel from Long Island are joining Sting, Christina Aguilera and Jimmy Fallon for the show, to be broadcast on NBC at 8pm....

A-Student Drop-out, Wins World Series of Poker and $8.5 Million

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 15:08:38 +0100
Greg Merson, an A student who dropped out of the University of Maryland and beat a drug addiction has also now beaten the table to win the World Series of Poker, outlasting eight other players to win $8.5 million. His parents, who had traveled to Las Vegas from Laurel, Maryland to witness the finals which started on Monday, rushed the table to hug and congratulate him as confetti flowed from above....

DeGeneres Honored for Her Humor and More at Kennedy Center's Twain Prize Ceremony

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 17:15:58 +0100
Ellen DeGeneres joined the ranks of top comedians as she became the 15th humorist to win the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor last night at the Kennedy Center. On the red carpet, she told reporters she felt honored and was "just trying to take it all in." The gala featured comedy clips from her performances such as her first on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1986, and tributes from stars like Lily Tomlin, Jimmy Kimmel and Kristin Chenoweth. PBS stations will broadcast the ceremony on...

Intimate, Spontaneous Moments Win Cell Phone Photo Contest

Sun, 21 Oct 2012 16:16:17 +0100
The Worldwide Photography Gala Awards announced the winners of their first Cell Phone Photo Contest. The call for entries attracted intimate family portraits, spontaneous street shots, and avant-garde imaginary that demonstrated the creativity of artists from 42 countries. Karen Divine from the U.S. was named the winner, with Vlad Sokhin from the Russian Federation as the Runner Up....

Saved from Dumpster: Amazing Map Collection Makes Librarians Tingle

Sun, 21 Oct 2012 14:25:42 +0100
The occupant of a 90-year-old cottage had stashed a huge collection of maps throughout their Mount Washington, Calif home. The maps, destined for the trash, will now put the Los Angeles Public Library "on the map". Tens of thousands of maps. Fold-out street maps were stuffed in file cabinets, crammed into cardboard boxes, lined up on closet shelves and jammed into old dairy crates. Wall-size roll-up maps once familiar to schoolchildren were stacked in corners....

Amazing Street Art That Fools the Eye

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 14:52:55 +0100
Whether using chalk outside on the sidewalks, or paint indoors, as in the room pictured here with alligators, Nikolaj Arndt, a Russian-born artist knows how to fool the eye with his trumpe l'oeil images. In just three years Arndt has become a master of the art of illusion, often depicting wild animals on city sidewalks with 3-D murals that demand of viewers to snap photos or jump into the scenes themselves. Educated in drawing and painting, the Russian moved to Germany in 2006. He currently wor...

Daredevil Breaks World Record with 24-mile High Freefall Jump

Sun, 14 Oct 2012 20:19:03 +0100
As the whole world watched him via live streaming video, Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner completed a record-breaking freefall from the edge of space Sunday morning. He reached speeds of more than 600 mph during the 128,000-foot fall to earth. Baumgartner broke the record for both the highest jump and the fastest jump in a freefall. On the ascent, he also broke the record for the highest manned balloon flight....

Orchestra Plays Hero to 4th Grade Student

Sun, 14 Oct 2012 16:29:55 +0100
Aidan Milligan's home will be alive with the sound of music once again. The orchestra says it will replace a trombone, the pride of a budding musician, if the instrument isn't found. The Philadelphia Orchestra has stepped in to offer a replacement trombone to a 9-year-old with Down syndrome, whose instrument was taken from the curb outside his house Thursday morning. Because it was a trash day, his mother, Helen, said, it was unclear whether the trombone was stolen or mistakenly thrown into the ...

CIA Plays the Hero for a Change in True Life Film Thriller, Argo

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 22:08:26 +0100
CIA spies are the good guys for a change in Argo, Ben Affleck’s shrewd reconstruction of a heroic real-life mission to retrieve six Americans from Tehran during the 1979-1980 Iran hostage crisis. There’s not a single gunshot fired over the course of the film and Affleck delivers an uplifting portrait by narrowing the story's focus to one mind-blowing chapter of the Agency's legacy....

Former Homeless Man Now a Star on the Opera Stage

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 16:07:20 +0100
Soloman Howard has something in common with the street people living outside the entrance to Washington's Kennedy Center Opera house. He was once homeless himself. Today, Soloman is onstage playing the pivotal role in the revival of "Don Giovanni". He grew up only a few miles away, in a rough D.C. neighborhood....

Baseball Gives Second Chance to Player Hit in Head Seven Years Ago

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 14:38:32 +0100
A major league baseball player hit in the head the very first time he came to bat, who never got a chance to take a pitch, will get a second chance seven years later, thanks to the very team whose pitcher decked him. Adam Greenberg's career seemed over without ever beginning. He suffered brain trauma after that blow to the head, which kept him from gaining his balance or coordinating movements. Now, at 31-years-old, following an online petition drive by fans begging for a single at bat, Greenber...

Lady Gaga Launches Project Encouraging Fans to Love Their Bodies

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 16:08:47 +0100
Lady Gaga, criticized in the press recently for gaining weight, launched a new "Body Revolution" project on her LittleMonsters website, hoping to help build confidence in her fans who might have body-image issues. The pop star revealed she has suffered from bulimia and anorexia since she was 15 and released a photo of herself dressed in underwear with no make-up to show solidarity with her fans who have posted their own images. "My weight/loss/gain since I was child has tormented me. No amount ...

US Museum Day Gives Free Admission at Selected Sites Nationwide

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 15:24:51 +0100
Is there a gallery or museum you've wanted to visit, but never wanted to pay the double-digit admission price? This Saturday you can get your culture fix for free. Smithsonian magazine hosts this event each year to encourage people to revisit their favorite museum or learn about a new one in their area. Here's how it works: Go to the Museum Day website and register to download a free pass for two admission tickets to any museum on the list, good for one visit on September 29....

The Black Count was Hero on The Field, And Now the Page

Sat, 15 Sep 2012 13:56:23 +0100
Gen. Thomas-Alexandre Dumas was one of the heroes of the French Revolution — but you won't find a statue of him in Paris today. He led armies of thousands in triumph through treacherous territory, from the snows of the Alps to the sands of Egypt. How did the son of a Haitian slave and a French nobleman become Napoleon's leading swordsman of the Revolution, then a prisoner, and finally almost forgotten?...

Christian Bale Turns Hero for Young Cancer Patient

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 15:05:23 +0100
Christian Bale answered the Bat-signal this week for a 4-year-old cancer patient who wished to meet his hero. Jayden Barber wanted to meet the real "Batman," so friends and family organized a Facebook page in hopes of attracting Bale's attention. The 38-year-old actor answered the call and earlier this week flew Jayden and his entire family out to Disneyland for an intimate lunch....

Britain Hails Hero Andy Murray's Historic US Open Victory

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 14:15:50 +0100
"Hail, Murray!" called leaders, tennis pros and fans on Tuesday after the gritty Scot Andy Murray became the first British man to win a Grand Slam since 1936. British Prime Minister David Cameron said his five-set defeat of Serbia's Novak Djokovic in the US Open final was continuing Britain's "golden summer of sport" following the Olympics and Paralympics....

I Died in 2001 - But Look at Me Now: Ex Auto Racer Wins Paralympics Gold

Sat, 08 Sep 2012 14:24:54 +0100
A horror crash almost cut the racing driver in half - but now he's back and has won two gold medals in handcycling at the paralympic games in London. Alex Zanardi astounded doctors by surviving the 220mph smash which sliced him in half. The story of the ex-Formula One driver, even among Paralympic triumphs of humanity over disaster, is one of the most heartwarming tales of London 2012....

US Networks Clear Schedules for Star-Studded Cancer Telethon Friday

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 16:20:17 +0100
Gwyneth Paltrow, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Michael Douglas, Jessica Biel, and Samuel L. Jackson... When enough A-list Hollywood actors come together for a cause, ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox networks will cooperate -- and even donate commercial-free air time. Tomorrow night, at 8:00pm Eastern/Pacific and 7:00 Central, even cable channels will clear their schedules to broadcast a continuous one-hour fundraiser produced by the entertainment-industry-favorite, Stand Up to Cancer, co-founded by Katie Cour...

Navy Lieutenant Swims To Gold In London Paralympics, Months After Injury

Sat, 01 Sep 2012 14:19:52 +0100
Less than one year after being blinded by an explosion in Afghanistan, U.S. swimmer Bradley Snyder has won a gold medal in the men's 100m freestyle at the 2012 Paralympics. He swam even faster during an earlier heat, setting a Paralympic record with a time of 57.18. To put that time in perspective, it would have put Snyder in first place in one of the early men's 100m freestyle heats at the London Olympics....

Pioneering as First Female Stand-Up Comic: Phyllis Diller Tribute (1917-2012)

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:21:04 +0100
Phyllis Diller, the first woman to make it big as a comedian, was an American pioneer. She created a stage persona of a wild-haired, eccentrically dressed housewife. She made self-deprecating jokes about her age and appearance, her terrible cooking and housekeeping, and her fictional husband named "Fang". Diller's signature was her unusual laugh, a booming cackle she let loose always while pretending to smoke from a long cigarette holder. Her jokes later in life about her many facelifts made the...

Augusta National Golf Club Finally Admits Women Members, After 80 years

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 16:02:16 +0100
For the first time in its 80-year history, Augusta National Golf Club has female members. The home of the Masters, under increasing criticism the last decade because of its all-male membership, invited former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina financier Darla Moore to become the first women members when the club opens for a new season in October....

Swimming Pool Built in the Sky - Transparent Bottom Looks Down 24 Stories to Street

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 14:34:44 +0100
The Holiday Inn Shanghai - Pudong Kangqiao features a cantilevered swimming pool that hangs over the building giving swimmers a bird's eye view onto the street more than 250 feet below. This gives guests a delirious sense of swimming in the sky -- they can see the street clearly down below while passers-by on Xiuyan Lu can see the swimmers way up above....

British Hometown Fave Andy Murray Routs Federer to Win Olympic Gold at Wimbledon

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 00:08:24 +0100
Four weeks to the day after Roger Federer downed him on the same patch of grass at the Wimbledon finals, Britain’s Murray dispatched the Swiss superstar in the Olympic men’s singles final, 6-2 6-1 6-4 to win Olympic gold. The victory broke a losing streak for British tennis players at the hallowed Wimbledon grounds. Not since Fred Perry in 1936 has a British male won a major contest on the center court here. While the ecstatic crowd, outfitted in Union Jack bowler hats yelled “An-DEE” (...