Where the Wild Things Author Maurice Sendak Dead at 83

Maurice Sendak, the author of the beloved children's tale Where the Wild Things Are, has died at the age of 83.

Sendak published the classic children's book, which he had lovingly and beautifully illustrated, in 1963. The book was an immediate bestseller and won international acclaim, and was awarded the prestigious Caldecott Medal, considered the Pulitzer Prize of children’s book illustration. Sendak was primarily a self-taught artist and illustrator. Comparisons to other popular children's book authors of the time, such as Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein, were inevitable, but Sendak preferred to remain largely out of the limelight.

Where the Wild Things Are would go on to become one of the bestselling children's books of all time, selling over 19 million copies and has been translated into countless languages around the world. A film adaptation directed by Spike Jonez was released in 2009.

His last book was The Bumble-Ardy, released last October, and was the first new book written and illustrated by Sendak in over thirty years.  A posthumous picture book, My Brother's Book— a poem written and illustrated by Sendak and inspired by his love for his late brother, Jack — is scheduled to be published in February, 2013.

Sendak passed away near his home in Danbury, Connecticut, of complications from a recent stroke. 

What's in a Name? Woman With World's Longest Name Experiences Problems

A woman from the UK has discovered that having a 161-word name can be a little problematic after she changed her name to a more-than-a-mouthful moniker for the sake of her pet charity.

The lady, née Dawn McManus of Hartlepool, England, legally changed her name to a jaw-dropping:

 Red Wacky League Antlez Broke the Stereo Neon Tide Bring Back Honesty Coalition Feedback Hand of Aces Keep Going Captain Let’s Pretend Lost State of Dance Paper Taxis Lunar Road Up Down Strange All and I Neon Sheep Eve Hornby Faye Bradley AJ Wilde Michael Rice Dion Watts Matthew Appleyard John Ashurst Lauren Swales Zoe Angus Jaspreet Singh Emma Matthews Nicola Brown Leanne Pickering Victoria Davies Rachel Burnside Gil Parker Freya Watson Alisha Watts James Pearson Jacob Sotheran Darley Beth Lowery Jasmine Hewitt Chloe Gibson Molly Farquhar Lewis Murphy Abbie Coulson Nick Davies Harvey Parker Kyran Williamson Michael Anderson Bethany Murray Sophie Hamilton Amy Wilkins Emma Simpson Liam Wales Jacob Bartram Alex Hooks Rebecca Miller Caitlin Miller Sean McCloskey Dominic Parker Abbey Sharpe Elena Larkin Rebecca Simpson Nick Dixon Abbie Farrelly Liam Grieves Casey Smith Liam Downing Ben Wignall Elizabeth Hann Danielle Walker Lauren Glen James Johnson Ben Ervine Kate Burton James Hudson Daniel Mayes Matthew Kitching Josh Bennett Evolution Dreams

Wow!

She did so to bring attention to her charity Red Dreams, which encourages children to be creative by participating in the Arts.

But, as you might imagine, having a 161 word name with 1,055 letters can be a bit daunting, especially when applying for a new bank card or trying to renew your passport!

On further note, her status as the person with the longest name in the UK is already in peril, as the former record holder has threatened to change his name again to something longer so he can reclaim the title!

We'll keep you updated on this Battle of the Words!

Murder Beneath the Twin Spires: Kentucky Derby Death Ruled a Homicide

Murder Beneath the Twin Spires: No, it isn't the title of a Dick Francis murder mystery novel, but rather a real life homicide investigation.

The discovery of a dead body in a stable at world famous Churchill Downs the morning after the Kentucky Derby is now officially being investigated as a homicide.

The body of 48-year-old Adan Fabian Perez, a track worker originally from Guatemala, was discovered by a security guard in the early-morning hours on Sunday, a day after the track hosted the 138th running of the annual Kentucky Derby horse race. The body was found at the back of a barn occupied by Louisville trainer Angel Montano Sr. Investigators said Perez was apparently injured during a violent altercation and those injuries led to his death, but released few additional details.

"Homicide detectives later got to the scene and were able to determine that there is foul play involved; however we still do not have an exact cause of death,” said Louisville Metro Police spokesperson Alicia Smiley. She continued: "At this point we don't have anything pointing to the fact that this had any association with Churchill Downs or the Derby itself".

Approximately 200 people reside at Churchill Downs at any given time — either in dormitories on the edge of the property or in small apartments above some of the barns themselves. Although the body was discovered only 150 yards away from the stable where the Derby winner I'll Have Another was kept, there was little talk of the murder in the stable area, people on the scene report.

Most of the talk the morning after the Derby was not about the murder but rather the long list of world-famous celebrities who hit town for the annual party circuit, including Ashton Kutcher, Cyndi Lauper, country star Miranda Lambert and rapper/actor Ice-T and his wife Coco. 

 Metro Louisville police said the investigation is ongoing.

Peruvian Government Urges Public to Stay Away from Beaches Where Mass Animal Deaths Occurred

Thousands of pelicans were discovered dead on a beach in Peru.

The Peruvian government has issued health alerts warning citizens and tourists alike to avoid a large stretch of beach on the country's Pacific coast, where a series of mass animal deaths have occurred.

The area witnessed a baffling mass dolphin beaching in early February, where more than 200 of the aquatic mammals mysteriously washed ashore dead. This was followed by an incident in late April, where more than a thousand dead or dying pelicans washed onto the exact same stretch of beach. In addition to the dolphin and pelican deaths, sea lions, boobies as well as several sea turtles were discovered dead. 

The Peruvian health ministry recommended people to stay away from the popular beaches, although it stopped short of a ban, and called on health officials to use gloves, masks and other protective gear when collecting dead birds or other animals from the region. The peak tourist season for the area is over, but many surfers head to the beaches to take advantage of the excellent surfing conditions throughout the year.

The agriculture ministry said preliminary tests on some dead pelicans pointed to malnourishment as a reason for their deaths. Oscar Dominguez, head of the ministry's health department, assured that scientists had ruled out bird flu as a possible cause of the mass deaths. 

Whoa, Nessie: Wisconsin Wants Loch Ness Monster Sculpture Removed from River

Photo courtesy of the Huffington Post

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources wants to capture the famed Loch Ness Monster, spotted in a local river!

Actually, it's only a metal sculpture of the Scottish lake creature, dubbed "Nessie" by kilt-wearing locals. A spokesperson for the Department of Natural Resources has said that the large "guerrilla art" sculpture that was placed in the Chippewa River near Eau Claire anonymously must be removed. The eye-catching art work is illegally blocking the waterway and is a potential hazard to boats traveling the river for both commerce and leisure.

The creative sculpture does have a potential home, however. Home improvement retail outlet Menards has offered the artwork a new, safer location, much brighter than the murky depths of the mighty Loch Ness. The store has offered the metal monster the use of one of its many on-site retention ponds and fountains, which is sure to bring in curious on-lookers hoping to catch a glimpse of the mysterious beast.

Hmmm...wonder if this has anything to do with those strange booming noises heard nearby? 

Au Revoir, Sarkozy: François Hollande Is New French President

France will have a new President, as the country elected François Hollande as the nation's new head of state, ousting Nicolas Sarkozy from the presidency after serving only one term. 

In a widely-expected result, Socialist candidate François Hollande unseated Conservative incumbent Sarkozy, winning 51.9 percent of the votes to Sarkozy's 48.1 percent. Sarkozy is the first French president since 1981 not to win a second term of office, while Hollande is the first Socialist president since François Mitterand, who was president from 1981 until 1995.

Boisterous crowds gathered at Paris' famed Place de la Bastille, the iconic plaza where the French Revolution began in 1789, to celebrate Hollande's victory. Many French see Hollande's victory as a new beginning for the nation, which has been battling toughening austerity measures and a weakened economy resulting from the Euro crisis, which has nearly seen Greece and Spain default on their national debts.

Hollande has called for a renegotiation of a European treaty on budget discipline that was championed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Sarkozy only last year. Sarkozy thanked his supporters during his exit speech, stating "I take responsibility ... for the defeat". He will hand over power to Hollande on May 15, following talks between the two camps. At that time, Sarkozy, his wife, former model and pop singer Carla Bruni and their infant daughter Giulia, will leave Élysée Palace, the official residence of the French President.

Beasts of the Southern Wild Has Critics Talking Oscar

A small, independent film has critics around the world already talking Oscar buzz (and the nominations won't even be revealed until next January!).

The fantastical drama titled Beasts of the Southern Wild was the unanimous critical darling of the Sundance Film Festival this past January where it won the Grand Jury Prize, and was also an official selection at the Cannes Film Festival. The movie stars incredibly talented newcomer Quvenzhané Wallis as a young girl  named Hushpuppy who tries to overcome incredible odds to save her father and her beloved bayou home after a catastrophic, Hurricane Katrina-like storm strikes.

"Visually stunning and boldly unorthodox, Beasts of the Southern Wild spins a fearsome and intoxicating tale of life beyond the borders of civilization," writes The Huffington Post, while film critic Todd McCarthy says the film possesses  "One of the most striking narrative debuts ever to debut at the Sundance Film Festival".

The movie is set to premiere in select theaters on June 27. For a special sneak peek at the film, you may watch the trailer for Beasts of the Southern Wild on YouTube:

The Dog Days Are Over: Clean Up Your Dog's Poo, Get Free WiFi

Mexico City park services have started an ambitious new plan to get dog owners to clean up after their pets by offering them free Wi-Fi!

It would seem that people have not been doing that good of a job cleaning up the tootsie rolls and pooch piles left behind in public parks. Mexican Internet provider Terra has teamed up with local advertising agency DDB to offer free Wi-Fi in 10 public parks located around Mexico City in an attempt to get pet owners to clean up after their doggie's messes.

Pet owners who deposit the poo into special receptacles located throughout the selected parks will be rewarded with free Wi-Fi minutes, broadcast through unique routers shaped like doggy bones. A heavier load means more minutes, so you will be a bit luckier if you take a lumbering Great Dane to the park rather than a diminutive chihuahua.

But don't try to be a wise acre by trying to add rocks to the poo to make it heavier: the parks plan to hire poo monitors who will check the excrement for any extraneous materials! You can watch the insane video promoting the new policy below:

50 Shades of Red? Alexander Skarsgård & Ian Somerhalder Vie for Role in Erotic Thriller

Two of television's hottest bloodsuckers are competing for a killer movie role based on the hottest, most erotic book in stores today, Fifty Shades of Grey!

It seems both True Blood's Alexander Skarsgård and The Vampire Diaries Ian Somerhalder would both like to sink their teeth into the role of  businessman Christian Grey, who embarks on a erotically-charged relationship with submissive young student Anastasia Steele in the bestselling series of books authored by E.L. James.

Ian Somerhalder from the CW network's popular Vampire Diaries told Ryan Seacrest on his radio show that he "absolutely would be up for that... It could be amazing. It could be very, very amazing," regarding rumors he would play the romantic character in a movie version of the book.

Ian has some tough competition from True Blood's Alexander Skarsgård, however. The Swedish actor told Access Hollywood that he was "born to play" the character, commenting: “He’s got a sex chamber? My character has that on True Blood. He’s got his little dungeon."

The movie rights to Fifty Shades of Grey were recently sold to Universal Pictures and Focus Features. No casting decisions have been announced.

Fifty Shades of Grey: A Story of O for today's generation?

Something About the Weather: Extremely Rare Tornado Kills 1 in Japan

A very rare tornado struck outside of Tokyo, Japan,  killing at least one person, injuring dozens of others and destroying scores of houses.

Firefighters and emergency medical teams rushed to the area after the tornado struck the city of Tsukuba, 40 miles from the capital of Tokyo. The city is a renowned science center, with dozens of research and academic institutes, but the tornado appeared to hit mostly in residential sections of the area.

A 14-year-old boy has died from injuries suffered during the tornado, local media is reporting. More than thirty people were injured, with at least ten seriously and being treated at local hospitals. Japanese news networks are showing video of rows of houses without roofs, apartment complexes with smashed balconies and shattered windows as well as telephone poles tilted over by the powerful winds.

Tokyo Electric Power Co. estimates that at least 24,000 homes were without electricity as cloud-to-ground lightning strikes added to the storm's total damage. Tornadoes are an extremely rare occurrence in Japan.

Live from New York: Mick Jagger to Host SNL

Longtime Rolling Stones front man Sir Mick Jagger is set for a first in his life at the age of 68: He will be the guest host on the season closing episode of the 36th season of Saturday Night Live.

The iconic rocker will serve as the show's musical guest as well.  Jagger did appear in a 2001 skit on SNL with Jimmy Fallon where he played himself. Over the decades, Jagger has also made occasional appearances in film and TV productions. He received good notices for his portrayal of an escort service agency owner in the 2001 movie The Man from Elysian Fields, which co-starred Andy Garcia.

2012 marks the 50th anniversary of The Rolling Stones forming in their native England. Plans to commemorate the special anniversary for the band have not yet been announced.  Sir Mick has been keeping busy with other projects however, including the rock ensemble SuperHeavy, featuring Jagger along with Eurythmics founder Dave Stewart, reggae star Damian Marley, soul singer Joss Stone and Bollywood singer, composer and musician A.R. Rahman.

The Saturday Night Live finale with Jagger airs May 19, on NBC.

 

The Little Prince: Original Draft of Beloved Children's Book Going to Auction

A recently discovered rough draft of the classic children's tale The Little Prince by French author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is currently on display in a Paris auction house. The draft of the beloved book was uncovered only two months ago and is in handwritten text, and includes original drawings and annotations made by the author.

The simple story, about a young royal who goes on an interplanetary adventure to seek the true meaning of life, is one of the bestselling books of all time, having sold over 140 million copies since it was first published in 1943. The timeless tale has been translated into over 260 known languages, second only to the Bible.

Unfortunately,  Saint-Exupéry did not live to see the huge success of his first children's book. The author, an experienced airplane pilot during WWII, died in a mysterious plane crash over the Mediterranean Sea only a year after the book's publication.

The newly discovered draft will be sold at Artcurial auction house, Paris on May 16. It is expected to fetch a more than princely sum.

The Bear & The Eagle: Russia Warns US On Euro Missile Plan

Russia says it is prepared to use "destructive force pre-emptively" should the United States go ahead with plans for a controversial  missile defense system based in Central Europe.

The saber-rattling came from the chief of the Russian defense staff General Nikolai Makarov, who stated that "A decision to use destructive force pre-emptively will be taken if the situation worsens." The warning comes after both the US and Russia have been at odds over the planned European missile defense program, which was first introduced in 2000 by then-US president George W. Bush.

Two days of talks opened on Thursday in Moscow between Russia, the US and NATO in an attempt to resolve the rising tensions between the two superpowers, who have seen relations between the countries deteriorate over the past decade, after an extended period of détente following the collapse of the former Soviet Union.

General Makarov also warned that if the US goes ahead with the missile system in Europe, Russia would respond by putting more powerful warheads on its own ballistic missiles throughout the region.

The $120 Million Scream: Edvard Munch Painting Sells for Record Sum

Update after iconic painting fetches record amount at Sotheby's auction house in New York City.

Sea of Garbage: Japanese Tsunami Island of Garbage Reaching North American Shores

Satellite imagery shows the massive size of the garbage "continent".

A portion of the estimated 1.5 million tons of debris, swept up by the catastrophic March 11, 2011, tsunami in Japan, has already started to arrive on North American shores.

The latest computer models using satellite imagery of the debris "continent", which stretches over 4,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean between North America and Japan, estimate that the larger portions of the garbage will begin hitting beaches as early as this October. This is several months earlier than previously predicted. The debris is expected to continue washing ashore until at least the end of 2013.

Last week, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle was found after it washed ashore in British Colombia, Canada, that had once belonged to a man in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. A few weeks earlier, a Japanese teenager who lost his home in the devastating tsunami was delighted after his soccer ball washed up on a remote Alaskan beach 3,500 miles from Japan. Misaki Murakami, 16, came forward to reveal that he was the owner of the ball discovered by American radar technician David Baxter on Middleton Island.


Washington, Oregon, Alaska and British Columbia are set to receive the brunt of the tsunami flotsam, while the majority of California will be protected by currents pushing objects back out to sea. The islands of Hawaii, however, are in line to receive several rounds of the floating refuse.

Party in His Pants: Man Arrested After Meth Lab Explodes in His Pants

An Oklahoma man was arrested this week for taking the party on the road when his portable meth lab exploded...inside his pants!

After police pulled over a vehicle for speeding, they also quickly noticed a strong chemical odor associated with the production of methamphetamine.  David Williams, a passenger in the vehicle, jumped out and tried to run from the officers. The police officers quickly caught up with Williams, but the mini-meth lab that he had shoved down his pants went kaboom during the scuffle to apprehend the suspect.

Police had to cordon off part of the street where the incident took place due to the hazardous chemical agents used in creating the highly-dangerous and addictive drug. Although an area of flesh on the suspect's leg had been exposed to the chemicals in the toxic brew, he was uninjured in the mini-blast.

He was arrested on a complaint of manufacturing a controlled and dangerous substance and resisting arrest.