Powerball Hits Half a Billion Dollars

Powerball mania is sweeping the US like never before.

Many first timers were joining in, after no one won on Saturday, setting Wednesday's drawing at $425 million.

But since then, thanks to a huge increase in sales, the prize amount was boosted up to a cool half billion dollars.

If sales continue as they're going, the prize could very well be higher than that.

Forty two states, and the US Virgin Islands, participate in the lottery game.

This is the highest amount it has hit, and close to the highest dollar figure that any lottery has gotten too.

Religion of Obama Continues to Grow

Even when he was candidate Obama in 2008, some of his supporters called him a messiah.

During his time in office such statements have come and gone, forgotten by many.

On Sunday we saw Jamie Foxx call him "our lord and savior".

Now a painting, called "Truth", has once again come to the forefront of the Obama religion.

Back in 2008 the painting, by Michael D'Antuono, was supposed to debut in New York City's Union Square.

Public outcry, against the painting, caused it's exhibition to be canceled.

But the painting is back, and has been displayed as part of an exhibit called "Artists on the Stump – the Road to the White House 2012".

The exhibit is being held through December 15, at Bunker Hill Community College Art Gallery, in Boston, Massachusetts.

Critics are calling it blasphemous, vile, disgusting, and the like.

D'Antuono says that the painting is simply an expression of his right to free speech.

Longoria Signed Through 2022 by Rays

On Monday, the Tampa Bay Rays signed Evan Longoria to an extended contract.

Longoria is now set to be with the team through 2022, and there's an option, in the contract, for 2023.

Over the next ten years he will be paid over one hundred and thirty-six million dollars.

The contract is the second longest in baseball, and the fourth in recent years to cover a decade.

More and more teams are looking to sign young players to extended contracts, in order to keep from losing them if they hit free agency.

Majoring in Fermentation at CSU

Colorado State University is preparing to become one of but a few states that offers a major in fermentation.

It will most likely be available on the 2013 Fall list of classes.

Only CSU's Board of Governor's has yet to approve the field of study.

All other boards and committees have already given the go ahead.

Fermentation science is the study of how beer, bread, cheese, wine, etc. come into being.

Brewers and food companies are excited about the new major, and local ones will likely be quick to grab those who have their degree in it.

US Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Kevin R Ebbert

NAVY Petty Officer 1st Class Kevin R Ebbert, thirty-two, of Arcata, California, died November 24 in Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan.

A Navy SEAL assigned to a Virginia Beach team was shot and killed while in combat Saturday in Afghanistan.

Petty Officer 1st Class Kevin R. Ebbert, thirty-two, of Arcata, California, died while supporting stability operations in southern Afghanistan, according to a Department of Defense news release.

Ebbert was a Special Warfare Operator assigned to a SEAL team out of Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, Fort Story. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of our teammate who has made the ultimate sacrifice," said Capt. Robert Smith, Commander, Naval Special Warfare Group Two. "We have lost a courageous patriot who selflessly answered our nation's call to defend freedom and protect us from terrorism."

Kevin Ebbert’s mother, Charlie Jordan, sent this message: “Kevin Ebbert, my thirty-two year old son, US Navy SEAL serving his second deployment in Afghanistan was killed Friday. Kevin was poised to return home early next year and start medical school completing his training started as a Corpsman to become an MD. We last spoke about he and his wife Ursula joining Rotary where he could work in clinics internationally. There are many details to be worked out. There will be a Memorial Service scheduled in Arcata.

"In the meantime we have set up the ‘Kevin Ebbert Memorial Fund’ with Humboldt Area Foundation for those of you who wish to donate to it in Kevin’s name.” A memorial service will be held on November 29 at 10am at the JEB Little Creek Base Chapel. A reception will follow at the SEAL Heritage Center onboard JEB Little Creek.

Detroit Man Charged With "Back Page Murders"

A Detroit man has been charged with the first degree murders of four women.

Twenty-four year old James Brown is accused of meeting the women online and then killing them.

He had met them on a website known as "Back Page", an escort version of craigslist.

On December 19, of 2011, two bodies were found in a trunk of a car.

They belonged to Renisha Landers, twenty-three, and her cousin Demesha Hunt, twenty-four.

Six days later, on December 25, two more bodies were found in the trunk of a car that had been on fire.

Those bodies were eventually identified as being Natasha Curtis and Vernithea McCrary, known escorts.

Since three of the four had profiles on Back Page, the police labeled them the "Back Page Murders".

Brown had already been in custody, since May, for charges of mutilating the bodies and setting the fire.

Over the weekend, police were finally able to gather enough evidence to charge him with their murders, as well.

USMC Lance Cpl. Dale W. Means

MARINE Lance Cpl. Dale W. Means, twenty-three, of Jordan, Minnesota, died November 18, in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
In honor and remembrance of Marine Lance Corporal Dale W. Means, Governor Mark Dayton has ordered all US flags and Minnesota flags to be flown at half staff at all state and federal buildings in the State of Minnesota, from sunrise until sunset on Wednesday, November 28.

Lance Corporal Dale W. Means was twenty-three years old and a 2007 graduate of New Prague High School. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in January 2011, and was stationed out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Lance Corporal Means was deployed to Afghanistan in July 2012 as a member of the Combat Logistics Battalion 2, Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force.

Lance Corporal Dale W. Means gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and died a hero on Sunday, November 18, 2012, when the convoy in which he was riding struck an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Lance Corporal Means was an exemplary Marine, and has the honored distinction of having been awarded the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

Lance Corporal Means is survived by his wife, Andrea; mother, DaleLyn Means; father, John Means; sister, JoLyn Means; grandparents, and countless in-laws, family members, and friends.

US ARMY Spc. Joseph A Richardson

ARMY Spc. Joseph A Richardson, twenty-three, of Booneville, Arkansas, died November 16, in Paktika province, Afghanistan.

A soldier from Booneville died in combat Friday in Afghanistan, the Department of Defense said Sunday. Spc. Joseph A. Richardson, 23, was killed in the Paktika province while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Richardson was posthumously promoted to sergeant after his death, according to his military unit’s Facebook page. The Department of Defense said Richardson and another soldier died from wounds sustained from small arms fire and an improvised explosive device. “Specialist Joseph A. Richardson was a true American hero – giving his life in service to our great country,” said U.S. Representative Mike Ross in a released statement. “His bravery, dedication and patriotism exemplified what it means to be an American soldier and I am eternally grateful for his selfless sacrifice. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, parents and the rest of his many family and friends during this very difficult time.” Richardson’s wife lives in Manhattan, Kan., while his mother lives in Dakota City, Iowa, and his dad in Gilmore City, Iowa. Richardson and the other soldier were with the 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division based in Fort Riley, Kan.

Read more: http://sgt-jim.blogspot.com/2012/11/rip-sgt-channing-b-hicks-spc-joseph.html

A soldier from Boonevile, Arkansas, died in combat Friday, November 16, in Afghanistan, the Department of Defense said Sunday. Spc. Joseph A. Richardson, twenty-three, and Sgt. Channing B. Hicks, twenty-four, were killed in the Paktika province while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Richardson was posthumously promoted to sergeant after his death, according to his military unit’s Facebook page.

The Department of Defense said Richardson died from wounds sustained from small arms fire and an improvised explosive device. “Specialist Joseph A. Richardson was a true American hero, giving his life in service to our great country,” said US Representative Mike Ross in a released statement. “His bravery, dedication and patriotism exemplified what it means to be an American soldier and I am eternally grateful for his selfless sacrifice. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, parents and the rest of his many family and friends during this very difficult time.”

Richardson’s wife lives in Manhattan, Kansas, while his mother lives in Dakota City, Iowa, and his dad in Gilmore City, Iowa. Richardson and the other soldier were with the 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division based in Fort Riley, Kan.

Read more: http://sgt-jim.blogspot.com/2012/11/rip-sgt-channing-b-hicks-spc-joseph.html

Anti Morsi Protests Grow in Numbers

Tharir Square

Tens of thousands of Egyptians gathered in Tahrir Square demanding that President Morsi resign, on Tuesday.

They say it's too late for him to back down from his decrees from Thursday.

His deal with judges was not enough for the masses arriving to stop protesting him.

Egyptians will not allow another man to try and become dictator, again, not so soon.

Protesters clashed with police and Morsi supporters, leaving one man dead after he inhaled tear gas and suffered a heart attack.

Morsi supporters, including the Muslim brotherhood, backed down from having a rally on Monday, saying they feared for their safety.

If these protests continue, and most of his followers won't show their faces, Morsi will have no choice but to resign.

US ARMY Sgt. Channing B. Hicks

ARMY Sgt. Channing B. Hicks, twenty-four, of Greer, South Carolina, died November 16, in Paktika province, Afghanistan.

A soldier from Greer was killed in Afghanistan on Friday, November 16, when his unit was attacked by enemy forces, according to the Department of Defense. US Army Sgt. Channing B. Hicks, 24, of Greer and US Army Spc. Joseph A. Richardson of Booneville, Arkansas, twenty-three, died Friday in Paktika province.

He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, at Fort Riley, Kansas. Officials say he died from injuries suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device and small arms fire.

Hicks, known as “Bo” to family and friends, grew up in Greer and graduated from Greer High School in 2006, where he played football. Greer High School athletic director Travis Perry knew Bo Hicks and grew up with Hicks' father, Chan Hicks Sr. “He was really a fine young man,” Perry said Sunday. “He was always, ‘Yes, sir. No, sir.' He was a quiet kid and didn't play a whole lot, but he played for our scout team and found a way to contribute. He was part of the foundation of our team, helping the other players prepare for the games each week.”

Perry said he spoke to Hicks' father early Saturday. The family left early Sunday morning for Dover, Md., to meet the plane carrying Hicks' body back to the United States. “They're having a really hard time with it, as can be expected,” Perry said. “He made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. It's a loss for our whole country.”

Hicks' younger brother, John, is a star senior linebacker with the Greer High School football team. Perry said John Hicks looked up to his older brother.

During the weekend, friends and family posted on Bo Hicks' Facebook page, sharing their memories, including four-wheeling and fishing with him, and hailing the twenty-four year old as a hero. John Hicks also shared his feelings about his brother on Facebook. “First I would like to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers,” John Hicks wrote. “I also wanted to say that my brother was a good man, he served our country well and did it with pride. He was not just my brother but my best friend and my hero. I could talk to him about girls, fights, and Friday night football games. There will never be a moment forgotten with Bo. R.I.P Bo Hicks. I love you.”