Ticking News

City officials and Queensbridge residents attended a press conference last Tuesday to announce the installation of security cameras in the complex. [1]

Queensbridge Houses is the largest public housing development in North America. [2]

‘God, we know you can do anything except for fail,’ chanted clergy at Queensbridge Houses on Tuesday. [3]

Yet with this collaboration, poetic hip-hop MC Nas and dance-hall mouthpiece/producer Marley go beyond genre and heritage to fashion a world music that borrows as much from Queensbridge as from Kingston. [4]

Dr. Thomas Rainey (1824-1910), a resident of Ravenswood, Queens, spent twenty-five years of his life and most of his fortune promoting the construction of a bridge across the East River connecting Manhattan and Long Island City. [5]

Across Vernon Boulevard lies Queensbridge Park, which has a fully-lit baseball diamond, running paths, lawns and areas for picnicking. [2]

This park is named for the nearby Queensboro Bridge, which is also known as the Queensbridge or 59th Street Bridge. [5]

Nas and Damian Marley are both veteran recording artists and sons of famous fathers. [4]

The 3,142-unit complex is owned by the New York City Housing Authority. [2]

‘Just a gunshot away from Queensbridge Houses, wine sells for $9 a glass,’ he wrote in a press release announcing Middleton’s murder, pointing out the inequity between his community and the gentrified surrounding area. [3]

Long Island City is located in the northwestern part of the New York City borough of Queens, with Newtown Creek and East River waterfronts. [2]

Seewe African Dance Company uses traditional African instruments such as the Bote, the Krin, the Balaphone and the Djembe orchestra, to accompany its high-energy performances that emphasize traditional African rhythms. [6]

At the makeshift memorial near 12th Street and 40th Avenue, in front of the building Middleton grew up in and just feet away from where he was shot, residents and clergy joined hands in prayer. [3]

Renowned bridge engineer and City Bridge Commissioner Gustav Lindenthal (1850-1935) collaborated with architects Leffert L. Buck (1837-1909) and other designers and builders of the Williamsburg Bridge, to create the Queensboro Bridge. [5]

On “Undertaker,” however, the sisters, of Syrian-Native American ancestry, take things home: The song builds off a rediscovered old tape of their mother singing in Cherokee. [4]

Sources:
[1] Queens Chronicle - At Nation’s Largest Project …
[2] Queensbridge, Queens - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[3] Queens Chronicle - Queensbridge mourns a native son killed
[4] New Recordings | Philadelphia Inquirer | 05/23/2010
[5] Queensbridge Park : New York City Department of Parks …
[6] SummerStage

A man who agreed to plead guilty in a plot to extort more than $US1 million ($1.14 million) from Tom Cruise for the actor’s stolen wedding photos was found dead in his home, authorities said. [1]

Five things to know about Tom Cruise 1) He’s three-time Academy Award -nominated, Golden Globe Award -winning American actor and film producer. [2]

Well, he may have been a bit quiet of late, but Tom Cruise insists that despite what you may have heard, he’s certainly not dead. [3]

??” (Tom Cruise on vacation in Dubai, dead, rumor shocked the world”. [4]

While his filming schedule for The Romantics must be killing him, Tom Cruise is not dead. [5]

For some reason it seems to be time for another celebrity death hoax on the web because there is some ‘Tom Cruise dead’ terms floating around at the moment. [6]

Our favourite – “Tom Cruise Dead! [3]

Saturday a popular search online was the phrase “Tom Cruise dead,” marking at least the second time the public has heard buzz about Tom Cruise dying. [5]

Tom Cruise did not plunge to his death from a cliff in New Zealand on Wednesday morning (Oct 15, 2008). [7]

PHOENIX, Arizona (September 29, 2007) — A man who agreed to plead guilty in a plot to extort more than $1 million from Tom Cruise for the actor’s stolen wedding photos was found dead in his home, authorities said. [8]

Deleted scene from Paul Thomas Anderson’s film, Magnolia, in which Frank TJ Mackey (Tom Cruise) gives a seminar to a group of men on how to score women. [1]

He was found dead in his townhouse around 3 p.m. [...] Investigators said it appeared David Hans Schmidt, 47, who was under house arrest and faced up to two years in federal prison, had committed suicide. [8]

Hollywood Hookup: Tom Cruise Not Dead, Despite Internet Reports! [9]

His attorney, Nancy Kardon, said she had spoken to Schmidt earlier this week and was preparing for an Oct. 11 hearing in federal court where he would enter his formal guilty plea to attempted extortion. [8]

Sources:
[1] Tom Cruise blackmailer found dead - Worldnews.com
[2] Tom Cruise Dead - Tom Cruise - Zimbio
[3] Tom Cruise: Not Dead on SameSame.com.au
[4] say jeez! ” Tom Cruise dead?
[5] Tom Cruise Is Not Dead - Fafarazzi
[6] Tom Cruise Dead Rumors Circulating on Web | NowPublic News …
[7] TOM CRUISE NOT DEAD
[8] Man In Tom Cruise Extortion Plot Found Dead | Access …
[9] tom cruise dead

Rat kings are composite creatures formed when several rats become permanently intertwined at their tails, which become stuck together with blood, dirt, and excrement. [1]

A rat king is a rare phenomenon arising in rats. [2]

The Rat King is a man who is able to control rats telepathically. [3]

This mummified “rat king” was discovered in 1828 in Buchheim, Germany and is currently on display at the museum Mauritianum in Altenburg, Germany. [...] Seen here is an example of a purported rat king, a giant rat beast created when many rats get their tails tangled together. [4]

The only find involving sawah rats (Rattus rattus brevicaudatus) occurred on March 23, 1918, in Bogor on Java, where a rat king of ten young field rats was found. [2]

Rat kings are phenomena said to arise when a number of rats become intertwined at their tails, which become stuck together with blood, dirt, ice, excrement or simply knotted. [...] If real, the phenomenon may have diminished when the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) displaced the black rat (R. rattus) in the 18th century. [5]

If real, the phenomenon may have diminished when the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) displaced the black rat (R. [1]

With the displacement of the black rat by the brown rat in the 18th century, the phenomenon has died down. [...] Alcohol-preserved rat kings may be viewed in museums in Hamburg, Hameln, Goettingen and Stuttgart. [2]

The Rat King remains one of the more enigmatic characters in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, with various appearances depicting him as either a villain, a neutral character and even an ally of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. [3]

This article is about the fictional Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles character. [6]

The Tartu Ulikooli Zooloogiamuuseum (Museum of Zoology in Tartu, Estonia) has a specimen. [1]

The museum Mauritianum in Altenburg (Thuringia) shows the largest well-known mummified “rat king”, which was found in 1828 in a miller’s fireplace at Buchheim. [5]

Sources:
[1] Rat king - Monstropedia - the largest encyclopedia about monsters
[2] Rat King - Weird Encyclopedia
[3] Rat King - TMNTPedia
[4] Rat kings - Boing Boing
[5] Rat king (folklore) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[6] Rat King - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pictures released by magazine Us Weekly show 50 Cent’s dramatic weight loss when he slimmed down for a movie role of a football player who dies of cancer called Things Fall Apart. [1]

Shocking images of rapper-turned-actor Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s dramatic weight loss hit the internet today via his own website Thisis50.com. [2]

50 cent lost weight movie slim skinny thisis50 More pics after the break.. [3]

But the weight loss appears to be real and not a Photoshopped hoax — and all for a starring turn as “Deon” in the movie called Things Fall Apart — named after the famous book, a title The Roots used for their popular song as well. [4]

50 Cent wrote and stars in the film based on a friend of his and he was so committed to the role that he lost 54 pounds and slimmed down to 160 pounds from his usual muscular 214 pound frame. [1]

Jackson dropped the weight for a role in the upcoming film Things Fall Apart, in which he plays a star football running back who has been diagnosed with cancer, and he’s definitely achieved the look. [...] The release of the photos came just days before the launching of his 21-city U.S. tour, “The Invitation”, which takes off Saturday in Detroit, MI. [2]

There are some photos posted on 50 Cent’s site as well. [1]

The pictures of 50 Cent’s weight loss were posted on ThisIs50.com Wednesday at noon - and within a few hours, news of 50 Cent’s shocking and scary-looking weight loss had traveled the web and back again. [4]

Wow, Curtis really slimmed down for his role in the upcoming film, Things Fall Apart. [3]

Adorable pet pics and adoption stories. [2]

Not much info goes into details about the plot of Things Fall Apart other than articles like this one in Variety, which bespeak of the newfound passion 50 Cent has for acting, and his obvious dedication to the craft. [4]

In the movie 50 Cent plays a football player diagnosed with cancer. [3]

“50 Cent lost a lot of weight for his upcoming movie Things Fall Apart,” reads the text between the pictures of 50 Cent, which goes on to describe the dangerous-sounding diet 50 Cent underwent to lose weight. [4]

Jackson is no stranger to finding a way to attract a great deal of media attention at the perfect time. [2]

Sources:
[1] 50 Cent Dramatic Weight Loss Pictures For Things Fall Apart …
[2] 50 Cent Reveals Dramatic Weight Loss
[3] 50 Cent - News, Video, Photos, and Rumors from ShowHype
[4] 50 Cent weight loss pictures show scary skinny actor, writer …

Los Angeles, May 26, (THAINDIAN NEWS) The two finalists of “American Idol” 2010 Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze came head to head last Tuesday and according to the latest reports it was a wonderful performance that they put up on stage. [1]

Zap2it readers have been voting in our Crystal Bowersox vs. Lee DeWyze “American Idol” finale showdown gallery for the past week and with the winner being announced Wednesday, May 26 during the Season 9 finale, we’re ready to reveal who the Zap2it readers pick as their winner. [2]

On the 2010 “American Idol” finale, Crystal Bowersox ruled the show (and may have beat Lee DeWyze) with her rendition of Patty Griffin’s “Up to the Mountain” and Alannah Myles’ “Black Velvet.” [3]

The show started off with Lee and Crystal making their way to the stage through the audience, a decision the producers might want to re-think in the future, since Crystal lost her microphone twice on the way down. [4]

Lee Dewyze arrives at the “American Idol” finale on Wednesday, May 26, 2010, in Los Angeles. [5]

The fans of both the singers were so mesmerized that it has become difficult for them and the judges to decide who will walk away with the title next week, though it is being said that judge Simon Cowell is placing Lee DeWyze on a higher pedestal. [1]

As announced on last night’s top-rated American Idol performance show, tickets for this year’s hotly anticipated American Idol Live! [6]

SUSAN PIERCE: More than 100,000 aspiring singers auditioned for Season 9 of “American Idol,” and tonight we’re down to two: Lee DeWyze and Crystal Bowersox. [7]

And Lee DeWyze got ticked off after he got hit with a violin bow. [8]

Randy said it wasn’t a high energy song, but it’s a great way to start off the night. [...] It’s clear that both Lee DeWyze and Crystal Bowersox are in it to win it. [4]

Despite his best performance being last week’s “Hallelujah!”, Lee chose Simon and Garfunkel ’s “The Boxer” as his favorite song. [3]

Ryan Seacrest noted that there would be three segments tonight: Lee and Crystal’s favorite songs from this season, songs chosen by executive producer Simon Fuller, and songs they’ll release if they win (though they’ll probably release them no matter what). [4]

The Season 9 Grand Finale ran a little over, so we’re pleased to offer the last five minutes of the show. [6]

Both DeWyze and runner-up Crystal Bowersox are good singers but markedly deficient in charisma. [5]

Sources:
[1] Who Will Win “American Idol” 2010? Judges Are Still In Doubt
[2] Who will win ‘American Idol‘ 2010? Zap2it readers weigh in …
[3] ‘American idol‘ finale 2010: Crystal Bowersox’s ‘Up to the …
[4] ‘American Idol‘ - ‘Lee DeWyze and Crystal Bowersox Compete’ Recap
[5] Ho-hum, DeWyze wins Idol crown | Philadelphia Inquirer | 05 …
[6] American Idol - Fox
[7] Chattanooga Times Free Press | Idol Chatter: Our picks to win …
[8] ‘American Idol‘ — Nerves Frayed During Rehearsal | TMZ.com