The Grammy nominee is set to open the event on Sunday, February 10 and confirms her next single is ’22.’ By Christina Garibaldi Taylor Swift Photo: WireImage
Selena Gomez was targeted by protesters last night. But not because she refuses to get back together with Justin Bieber . The singer was in New York City, sitting in the front row for the first-ever NEO by Adidas fashion show (she serves as brand ambassador) when a woman handed her a flyer that read: “Selena Gomez: Be an ambassador for children, not for sweatshops.” A similar message was also printed on a much larger sign at the event, as you can see here: The protester was escorted away by security, while Gomez recovered from an initial shock and went on to show her appreciation for the young designers on hand. “Thank you so much for coming out,” she said. “I’m so excited to be a part of this and so excited to see what you guys did with it, you did an amazing job!” The protest was led by a group called United Students Against Sweatshops. Among other complaints, it says that Adidas has refused to pay $1.8 million in legally owed severance to thousands of workers in Indonesia. As a result, they cannot afford school for their children. “We’re here to tell Selena Gomez that she should cut ties with Adidas because Adidas has refused to pay severance to 2,800 garment workers who sewed its apparel for over 10 years,” Claire Lewis, a 22-year-old member of the group told Yahoo. “We’ve been campaigning for the last year.”
An shooting in a parking structure outside a Las Vegas Strip movie theater left two people critically wounded and another with a minor injury last night. Police don’t believe the shooting just after midnight was a random act, and Officer Laura Meltzer said the shooter or shooters hadn’t been identified. Las Vegas Strip Shooting She adds that earlier reports of the shooting taking place in the theater are false, and that it was more likely an ongoing conflict between two groups. “The theater had nothing to do with it,” Meltzer told The Associated Press. “They were not coming from a movie. It was not in the theater lobby.” It wasn’t immediately clear how many shooters there were, but Meltzer said multiple shots were fired in the event, the latest in a string of shootings nationally. Police arrived to find one of the most seriously wounded people in the parking structure lobby and another in an elevator car on the fifth floor of the six-story structure. Both are in critical condition at University Medical Center in Las Vegas. A third victim was found near the street in front of the elevator lobby. He was treated at the scene for an injury that Meltzer said wasn’t believed to be life-threatening. The wounded were described as males, ages currently unknown. Meltzer said investigators don’t believe the confrontation between the two groups was gang-related, but they were still trying to determine their relationship. Police and property security officers closed exits and entrances to the Showcase Mall parking structure for more than two hours while they investigated.
A flight from Halifax bound for the Dominican Republic was forced to land in Bermuda Friday night after three passengers refused to stop smoking. Bermuda police said they were called to the airport around 9:55 p.m. local time to meet Sunwing flight 454, which was on its way to Punta Cana. Police boarded the plane and arrested the three smokers. “It appeared to be a father, a mother and a son. The parents appear to be in their 50s. The son, I believe, is around 22 or so,” said acting Insp. Paul Simons. Dave Shellington’s wife was on the plane. She texted her husband: “They were smoking in the plane’s washroom and when they came out they got into a little bit of an argument with the attendants.” “They couldn’t say where they put their cigarette butts and that caused a bit of a commotion, I guess. From there it kind of escalated with the father, the mother and the son. Apparently there was a lot of screaming and swearing. Simons said he couldn’t confirm the family’s nationality or if they had also been drinking, but said they were co-operative when they were removed by police. They were taken to the police station and have since been released; the flight was grounded overnight and the crew and passengers were put up in a hotel. The flight was rescheduled to leave on Saturday, the family not so much; they’ve had their passports and travel documents seized by the Bermuda police. Totally worth it for those sweet, sweet carcinogens …
Anonymous and its “Operation Last Resort” appear to have conducted another strike, publishing login and private info of more than 4,000 U.S. bank executives. The effort is believed to be anchored by the death of Aaron Swartz . A spreadsheet has been published allegedly containing login information and credentials, IP addresses, and contact information of bank executives. If true, it could be that the infamous hacker collaborative has released banker information that could be connected to Federal Reserve computers. The website used in this attack belongs to the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center (ACJIC). The page extension URL is titled, “oops-we-did-it-again.” The spreadsheet document contains usernames, names of individuals and their titles at U.S. banks, and hashed passwords (not passwords in plain text). It was placed on a .gov website and Pastebin, and publicized via various Anonymous accounts on social media. A Reddit member called the numbers and commented: “OK, I called a few of them. What must be so problematic for the Federal Reserve is not the information so much as this file was stolen from their computers at all.” “The ramifications of that kind of loss of control is severe.” Banks listed on the document claim credentials from management at community banks, community credit unions, and more, across the United States. So what’s the impetus behind this new leak? Anonymous stated in its first Operation Last Resort defacement last Friday that it had infiltrated multiple federal websites over a period of time. The significance of Monday, February 4 may be that it is deadline for Attorney General Eric Holder to answer specific questions regarding the Aaron Swartz prosecution. The Reddit co-founder’s prosecution – and suicide, which many believe was brought upon by the fact that he was wanted on federal charges – enraged Anonymous. The group called the event “a line that has been crossed” and suggested retaliation for what they believe was the overzealous prosecution and bullying of Swartz.
Bow Wow Upset With Kandi Burruss Over Jermaine Dupri Snub Forever five-foot rapper turned 106 & Park host Bow Wow is yet again doing what he does when he has nothing better to do: running his mouth. The Young Money mini man was reportedly none too happy to find out that his former label mate and RHOA cast member Kandi Burruss declined to attend the upcoming 20th Anniversary event for So So Def Records. Bow Weezy felt that Kandi’s decision not to attend the event due to a prior scheduling conflict was a slap in the face to So So Def bossman Jermaine Dupri, who was largely responsible for the success of Kandi’s former group Xscape. Mr. Moss took to his Facebook with this message to put Kandi on blast: “JD likes to keep quiet but… Yo Kandi is wack for not wanting to show up for jd for “20th anniversary so so def show” put ego to the side and give the fans what they want and understand w/ out jd know no one would even know who you are. You aint Michael, this aint the Jackson 5. She act’n like she booked out like she too busy! Better yet dont come. The ones thats there are the ones who really got love for JD and the history of the label.” Bow Wow’s “loyalty” is admirable, but should he be really be trying to check Kandi when he had his own issues with JD not too long ago? Surely whatever reason Kandi has for not attending can be handled between she and Jermaine. Must have been a slow work day for Shad…
President Barack Obama had a big day Monday, being sworn in, delivering a speech before 800,000 strong and probably getting some from Michelle Obama . Not everyone descended on D.C. to celebrate the man, however. Westboro Baptist Church braved the weather and the pro-Obama crowds to protest the event, and the administration, for its tolerance of homosexuality. What’s the crux of their argument? What’s their prognosis for a second Obama term? How do they differ from thousands of others of churches out there? Here’s what one interviewer learned about WBC at the event: Westboro Baptist Church at Obama Inauguration
This just in: Kelly Clarkson can SERIOUSLY sing. The first-ever American Idol champion once again showed off her vocal chops today, this time with a rather important audience surrounding her at Barack Obama’s second Inauguration in Washington, D.C. We elect her one of the best artists on the planet. Watch this rendition now for visual and audio proof: Kelly Clarkson “My Country Tis of Thee” Yesterday, meanwhile, Katy Perry performed at the 2013 Kids’ Inaugural Concert. Compared to Clarkson, hers is a slightly more energetic, less harmonized show.
Barack Obama who?!? Today’s Presidential Inauguration was dominated by two of the biggest names in the music business. First, Kelly Clarkson blew us away with a version of ” My Country ‘Tis of Thee .” Then, with a crowd of nearly 800,000 in front of her, Beyonce took to the stage and belted out as impressive a rendition of our national anthem as you’re ever likely to hear. Sit back and be amazed by it now… and then get extra excited for her Super Bowl halftime show ! Beyonce – Inauguration National Anthem
President Barack Obama gave his inaugural address today, beginning his second White House term with an ambitious agenda and a call for national unity. On a cold morning in Washington, D.C., the 44th President asked this great nation to live up to its founding ideals and to bringing about needed change. Obama Inaugural Address 2013 Obama invoked the country’s history of hardship – be it from the deficit, rising health care costs, climate change and equal rights – and overcoming adversity. “We are made for this moment, and we will seize it – so long as we seize it together,” Obama said, after taking the oath and being sworn in for a second term . He urged citizens to meet “the obligation to shape the debates of our time – not only with the votes we cast, but with the voices we lift in defense of our enduring ideals.” Amid the pomp and ceremony, the event symbolized U.S. democracy with a peaceful extension of power based on 2012’s bitterly contested election. While focusing on broader themes of democracy and citizenship, Obama referred to some specific issues facing the country after his first four years in power: Economic disparity : Obama said Americans understand that “our country cannot succeed when a shrinking few do very well and a growing many barely make it.” Spending : He rejects “that we must choose between caring for the generation that built this country and investing in the generation that will build its future.” Climate change : Obama vowed to “respond to the threat … knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations.” Gun control : The President said “all our children, from the streets of Detroit to the hills of Appalachia to the quiet lanes of Newtown” should be safe from harm. World peace : Americans “still believe that enduring security and peace do not require perpetual war” and that “engagement can more durably lift suspicion and fear.” Equality : Perhaps Obama’s loudest cheer came when he said we should not rest “until our wives, our mothers, and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts,” and “until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law.” Unlike Obama’s 2009 inauguration, he cast a more optimistic tone for the next four years as he laid out his vision for America in strokes both broad and specific. The ceremony featured Beyonce’s national anthem and Kelly Clarkson’s performance of “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” and will be followed by events throughout today. What did you think of the speech? And of the prospects for the next four years under Obama’s leadership in general? Comment (and vote) below! President Obama’s second term: How will it go? Very well, we’re on the right track! Better than the last four years at least Better than the first term of Mitt Romney would have been Terrible, we’re doomed! View Poll »
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