Rip Torn charged with breaking into Conn. bank

SALISBURY, Conn. (AP) — Actor Elmore “Rip” Torn has been charged with breaking into a Connecticut bank and carrying a loaded handgun while intoxicated. State police say the 78-year-old Salisbury resident was arrested Friday night after police found him inside the Litchfield Bancorp with a loaded revolver. The “Men in Black” actor has been taken into custody and booked on charges including burglary and possession of firearm without a permit. He is being held on $100,000 bond and is scheduled for a Monday appearance in Bantam Superior Court. Last year, Torn was given probation in a Connecticut drunken driving case and granted permission to enter an alcohol education program. He also has two previous drunken driving arrests in New York. A spokesman for Torn did not immediately return phone calls Saturday.

Books pulled from Amazon in pricing dispute

NEW YORK (AP) — New copies of Hilary Mantel’s “Wolf Hall,” Andrew Young’s “The Politician” and other books published by Macmillan were unavailable Saturday on Amazon.com, apparently the biggest rift yet in the ongoing dispute over e-book prices. An official with knowledge of the dispute said the two sides were in discussions, but would not say why Amazon.com Inc. took such a public step. The official asked not to be identified, citing the sensitivity of the talks. Macmillan and other publishers have criticized Amazon for charging just $9.99 for best-selling e-books on its Kindle e-reader, a price publishers say is too low and could hurt hardcover sales. For its part, Amazon wants to keep a lid on prices as competitors line up to challenge its dominant position in a rapidly expanding market. The company did not immediately return messages seeking comment Saturday. Barnes & Noble’s Nook and Sony Corp.’s e-book readers are already on sale. But the latest and most talked about challenger is Apple Inc., which just introduced the long-awaited iPad tablet computer and a new online book store modeled on iTunes. Apple CEO Steve Jobs, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, suggested publishers may offer some e-titles to Apple before they are allowed to go on sales at Amazon.com The e-book market is an increasingly important one for Amazon. The company hasn’t given specific sales figures on the Kindle, but CEO Jeff Bezos said Thursday that “millions” own the device. The company now sells six digital copies to every 10 physical ones of books available in either format. Authors and publishers also see opportunity in e-books, particularly as a way to expand the market for older titles that are more difficult for readers to obtain otherwise. But they worry that discounting by retailers will cannibalize sales of print editions. While Amazon typically sells new releases for just $9.99 in its Kindle store, hardcover editions generally carry a list price of more than $24. To preserve the more lucrative hardcover business, publishers including Simon & Schuster and HarperCollins Hachette Book Group USA have said they will impose delays on the release of digital copies. — AP Business Writer Andrew Vanacore in New York contributed to this report.

Twelve arrested in prostitution sting

Twelve arrested in prostitution sting By WINK News Story Created: Jan 30, 2010 at 11:26 AM EST Story Updated: Jan 30, 2010 at 11:26 AM EST FORT MYERS, Fla.- On January 29 the Fort Myers Police Department’s Special Investigations Group with assistance from uniformed officers conducted a prostitution sting in the area of Palm Beach Boulevard and Oleander Avenue. The following 12 individuals were arrested and charged with Solicitation For Prostitution: Ezequiel Contreras (d.o.b. 05-03-83) Roberto Berdusco (d.o.b. 01-24-71) Jose Bernabe (d.o.b. 01-03-82) James Berg (d.o.b. 10-24-88) Trinidad Ramirez (d.o.b. 06-08-65) Antonio Perez (d.o.b. 04-25-67) Raul Matias (d.o.b. 03-19-69) Thomas Ryan (d.o.b. 05-10-62) Thomas Hayes III (d.o.b. 05-21-90) Tomas Martinex (d.o.b. 04-08-85) James Robert (d.o.b. 10-25-65) Baltazar Munoz (d.o.b. 01-05-85)

Capital Sexual Battery Arrest

Capital Sexual Battery Arrest By WINK News Story Created: Jan 30, 2010 at 2:26 PM EST Story Updated: Jan 30, 2010 at 2:26 PM EST FORT MYERS, Fla.- A Lehigh Acres man is in the Lee County jail accused of capital sexual battery and lewd and lascivious molestation of a child under the age of 12. On Friday, January 29, 2010, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a possible sex crime. The incident was reported to have occurred at a residence in Lehigh Acres. A deputy completed a preliminary report and notified detectives with the Sheriff’s Office Special Victim’s Unit. The investigation began when a third-party child confided with her mother statements made by the Hispanic female victim who is under the age of 12. The mother notified school officials who in turn called an investigator with the Florida Department of Children and Families. The victim was interviewed at the Child Advocacy Center and described incidents that occurred between December 27, 2009 and January 3, 2010 while in the care of the suspect, identified as 65 year old (d.o.b. 12/31/44) Enriques Ferrer of Lehigh Acres. Witness statements were obtained consistent with the statements of the victim. The incidents included the suspect making sexual contact and touching the victim in violation of Florida law. After questioning, the suspect was taken into custody and charged with one count of capital sexual battery and one count of lewd and lascivious molestation (a life felony). He has been booked into the Lee County Jail.

Bigelow, Cameron, Tarantino vie for director honor

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A month into Hollywood’s awards season and the competition is still wide open. “The Hurt Locker” appears to be a front-runner, but “Avatar,” “Precious,” “Inglourious Basterds” and “Up in the Air” have won their share of awards, too. The directors of these films – Kathryn Bigelow, James Cameron, Lee Daniels, Quentin Tarantino and Jason Reitman – compete Saturday for the top prize from the Directors Guild of America, an award that almost always predicts the Oscar winner for best director. Bigelow’s “The Hurt Locker” has already won directing and best-picture honors from the National Society of Film Critics, the New York Film Critics Circle, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and at the Critics’ Choice Awards, where both competed against the same four DGA nominees. “The Hurt Locker” was also the Producers Guild’s best picture winner. Cameron, who is Bigelow’s ex-husband, was best director and “Avatar” best picture at the Golden Globes. “Precious” has won half a dozen awards for supporting actress Mo’Nique. “Basterds” won acting ensemble honors from Critics’ Choice the Screen Actors Guild. “Up in the Air” was the National Board of Review’s pick for best picture. The DGA Web site boasts that its winner has gone on to win the Academy Award for directing all but six times since 1948, and typically, the film that wins the Oscar for best director goes on to win for best picture. The guild will also present awards in documentary, television and commercial categories. Norman Jewison will receive the guild’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Distinguished Achievement in Motion Picture Direction at the ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza hotel. — On the Net: http://www.dga.org

Grammy weekend begins with Neil Young tribute

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Neil Young sat in the audience as 20 of his best known songs were performed on stage. Elton John, James Taylor, Dave Matthews and more than a dozen other artists launched Grammy weekend with performances honoring Young as the MusiCares Person of the Year. The annual event celebrates an artist’s philanthropy each year as it raises funds for the music industry charity that provides financial, medical and personal assistance to artists in need. Young was honored for his decades of philanthropic service, including work with Farm Aid and the Bridge School Concerts, which raise money to provide services for kids with severe speech and physical impairments. The singer-songwriter and more than 2,000 other guests at the Los Angeles Convention Center were treated to new interpretations of his timeless songs, including “Harvest Moon” and “Cinnamon Girl,” during Friday’s nearly four-hour program. “I’d forgotten how many songs I’d written,” the 64-year-old musician said. Jack Black served as the evening’s host. He said the night’s performers had been “unforgettably, awesomely and life-changingly” influenced by Young’s music. They included John, who said Young was “my hero” as an artist, philanthropist and humanitarian. John played piano and sang “Helpless” backed by Sheryl Crow, Leon Russell and Neko Case. Taylor performed “Heart of Gold.” Matthews offered a heartfelt version of “The Needle and the Damage Done.” John Fogerty and Keith Urban sang “Keep Rocking in the Free World.” Ben Harper, backed by three female singers, offered a stirring take on “Ohio.” Jones duetted with another acoustic guitarist on “Tell Me Why,” and Crow played the accordion as she sang with Stephen Stills on “Long May You Run.” “Neil, how are you enjoying your Bar Mitzvah so far?” Black cracked. Later in the evening, the actor-comedian auctioned off his tie and shoes to benefit MusiCares. (The shoes fetched $600. The tie, $100.) Then he inexplicably removed his pants, and for a brief moment stood on stage in his tuxedo jacket and red boxer shorts. Young’s one-time band mates – Stills, David Crosby and Graham Nash – were the last to perform for their friend. “We made some of the best music of our lives with you, man,” said Crosby, a previous MusiCares honoree. Young watched the show with his wife, Pegi, by his side. At the end of the night, a humble Young took the stage and said he hoped the songs he’s writing today are as good as the ones performed Friday. “It’s been a great night. It wore me out,” he said. “Now I’ve got to go back and try and write some songs.” He went on to say that he’s inspired by fellow MusiCares honoree Tony Bennett and his longevity in the business. “I look at him and say, ‘All right, I can do this,’” Young said. “I’m going to keep on going, and I hope you do, too.” — On the Net http://www.musicares.com

Test Flight Of Sukhoi T-50 In Russia

By SUNIL Sonkar
RUSSIA, Jan. 30 — Russia on Friday showed off its first stealth fighter, Sukhoi T-50 prototype. It proclaimed immediately that it is a challenger to the American military dominance of the skies.

The stealth fighter is a “fifth generation” fighter. It completed a maiden test flight of 47-minute in the Far East of Russia. [...]

Dog Found Skull in desert, belongs to missing Landers woman

By SUNIL Sonkar
SAN BERNARDINO, Jan. 30 — After the human skull was found by a dog in the desert, the remains of the woman is identified by the authorities on Thursday.

Last year early in December a dog after playing in the desert found a human skull and brought it to a house on the Mitch [...]

Obama Girl Lee Ettinger Loses Love For Obama

By SUNIL Sonkar
New York, Jan. 30 — The famous woman Amber Lee Ettinger, who became famous for a viral video named “I Got A Crush…on obama,” on Thursday made it clear that she has lost the feel of love for the former junior senator from Illinois.

To Sean Hannity on Fox News she said, “If I [...]

Mother Teresa’s Commemorative U.S. Postal Stamp Protested By Atheist Group

By SUNIL Sonkar
NEW YORK CITY, Jan. 30 — For decades of humanitarian work a person should not be honored echoes some atheists. They adds that if the person also happens to be a professing Christian.

This echoing voice was drawn to a conclusion from the recent uproar over the Postal Service’s commemorative stamp of United State [...]