Obama’s 'Jedi mind meld' reference ridiculed by sci-fi fans

WASHINGTON — Now that’s illogical.President Obama yesterday outraged nerds everywhere when he committed sci-fi heresy by mixing up “Star Wars” and “Star Trek” in remarks about budget cuts.Speaking at a White House press conference, Obama joked that he couldn’t use a “Jedi mind meld” to get Republicans to agree to his budget plan.“I know that this has been...

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Ja Rule jail (hip)-hopping

ALBANY — Ja Rule will be a free man in the Big Apple in July when he’s released from Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, the feds said yesterday.The 36-year-old rapper was released last week from an upstate prison after serving most of a two-year sentence for illegal gun possession, and went straight into federal custody in a tax-evasion case. He’s...

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Black voters overwhelmingly sour on Bloomberg's sugary drink ban: poll

Getty ImagesOnly Manhattan voters support Mayor Bloomberg's plan to cap the size of sweetened drinks.There's a racial divide in how New Yorkers view Mayor Bloomberg's plan to cap the size of sweetened sodas. White voters were ready to go either way on the issue at 48/49 percent in favor/opposed, while black voters were overwhelmingly sour on the idea 60...

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In sendoff, Pope Benedict XVI recalls 'joy' of papacy, and difficulties

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI basked in an emotional sendoff Wednesday at his final general audience in St. Peter's Square, recalling moments of "joy and light" during his papacy but also times of great difficulty. He also thanked his flock for respecting his decision to retire.Tens of thousands of people toting banners saying "Grazie!" — "Thank you"...

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Horror as hot air balloon catches fire and crashes in Egypt, killing 18 foreigners

REUTERSPolice and rescue officials check the wreckage of a hot air balloon that crashed in Luxor, Egypt, killing at least 18 foreigners.LUXOR, Egypt —A hot air balloon flying over Egypt's ancient city of Luxor caught fire and crashed into a sugar cane field on Tuesday, killing at least 18 foreign tourists, a security official said.It was one of the worst...

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Neutral colors all the rage on Academy Awards red carpet

Go neutral or go home.At least, that seemed to be the memo on last night’s red carpet, as Hollywood’s brightest stars played it cool in pale, icy hues at the 85th Academy Awards.It kicked off with Best Actress nominee Jessica Chastain, who chose her nude-colored, beaded Armani Prive strapless gown because “I love cinema so much . . . it’s a very ‘Happy...

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Crowds gather for Pope Benedict XVI's final Sunday blessing

Getty ImagesPope Benedict XVI delivers his last Angelus Blessing from the window of his private apartment to thousands of pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter's Square Sunday.VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI has given his pontificate's final Sunday blessing from his studio window to the cheers of tens of thousands of people in St. Peter's Square.Benedict says...

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Barney fans dunno dinos

A new study blames toys like Barney for misconceptions about Tyrannosaurus rex. When researchers asked children to draw the dinosaur, most gave it a posture that was far too upright. Why? They’d apparently soaked up the wrong idea from Barney. “It doesn’t matter what they see in science books,” says Warren Allmon, a paleontology professor at Cornell University...

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Oscar Pistorius bail hearing nearing decision

APOscar Pistorius stands in the dock during his bail hearing at the magistrates court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday.PRETORIA, South Africa — The defense and prosecution both completed their arguments Friday in Oscar Pistorius' bail hearing, with the magistrate soon to rule if the double-amputee athlete can be freed before trial or if he must stay behind...

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Nike suspends contract with Pistorius

EPAOscar Pistorius, seen in court Thursday, has lost the support of sponsor Nike.Nike suspended its contract with disgraced Olympian Oscar Pistorius.The athletic apparel company released a statement on its website Wednesday announcing a split with Pistorius, the South African Paralympic runner accused of shooting his model girlfriend to death."We believe...

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Witness heard 'non-stop shouting' from Pistorius home before fatal shooting

REUTERSOscar Pistorius stands in the dock during a break in court proceedings at the Pretoria Magistrates court in South Africa today.PRETORIA, South Africa — A witness heard "non-stop shouting" coming from the home of Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius shortly before his girlfriend was shot dead, the lead detective in the murder investigation said on...

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Slick thieves heist $50 million in diamonds from Brussels jet, make clean getaway

BRUSSELS — Eight armed and masked men made a hole in a security fence at Brussels' international airport, drove onto the tarmac and snatched millions of dollars' worth of diamonds from the hold of a Swiss-bound plane without firing a shot, authorities said Tuesday.The gang used two vehicles in their daring raid Monday, grabbed the cache of stones and sped...

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Weird but true

A ménage à trois turned pleasure into pain — and not the good kind.Two Fargo, ND, men were simultaneously having sex with a woman when Ashley Hunter, 33, asked Orlando DeWitt, 37, to switch positions with him, police said.When Dewitt refused, it touched off a bitter argument that ended with Hunter stabbing his threesome buddy, cops said. *** “The Price...

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‘Bey-Z’ took a look at Jacko ranch

Jay-Z and Beyoncé toured Neverland Ranch — Michael Jackson’s shuttered, 2,700-acre Southern California estate — and are even interested in buying it, according to Jackson family sources. Shortly after the rap mogul released his “Watch the Throne” documentary last year, the superstar couple jetted off to the King of Pop’s abandoned palace, where they toured...

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‘Blade Gunner’ tear gusher as he’s hit with gal-pal slay rap

“Blade Runner” Oscar Pistorius bawled his eyes out yesterday in a South Africa courtroom, where he appeared on murder charges for allegedly gunning down his terrified gal pal through a locked bathroom door. Pistorius, 26, “repeatedly and intentionally” shot cover-girl model Reeva Steenkamp, 29, as she cowered in fear from the Olympic star, according...

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Olympian Oscar Pistorius weeps during court appearance over girlfriend's death

APOscar Pistorius weeps in court in Pretoria, South Africa Friday.PRETORIA, South Africa — Prosecutors say they will pursue a premeditated murder charge against Oscar Pistorius as the Paralympic superstar openly wept in court Friday after being charged with shooting his girlfriend to death.Pistorius was formally charged at Pretoria Magistrate's Court with...

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Track star Oscar Pistorius charged with murder in model girlfriend's shooting death: police

REUTERSSouth Africa's Oscar Pistorius was one of the most inspirational athletes in the 2012 London Olympics.South African track star Oscar Pistorius — who became an Olympic legend by becoming the first person to race on prosthetic legs — was arrested on murder charges in the shooting death of his girlfriend, stunning model Reeva Steenkamp, police said."FHM"...

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Police find charred body in burned cabin where rogue cop Christopher Dorner was holed up, believe it's him

As police scoured mountain peaks for days, using everything from bloodhounds to high-tech helicopters, the revenge-seeking ex-cop they wanted was hiding among them, holed up in a vacation cabin across the street from their command post.It was there that Christopher Dorner apparently took refuge last Thursday, four days after beginning a deadly rampage that...

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North Korea conducts third controversial nuke test, warns of second and third measures

REUTERSA monitor at the Japan Meteorological Agency's earthquake and tsunami observations division shows ground motion data from the nuclear test in North Korea.PYONGYANG, North Korea — North Korea said Tuesday that its widely condemned nuclear test was merely its "first response" to what it called U.S. threats, warning that it will continue with unspecified...

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Pope Benedict XVI resigning on Feb. 28 due to age, health concerns

REUTERSPope Benedict XVI leaves at the end of a mass at the St. Peter Basilica in Vatican February 9. Pope Benedict will step down as head of the Catholic Church on Feb. 28, the Vatican confirmed Monday.VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI announced Monday that he would resign Feb. 28 — the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years. The decision sets the stage...

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