In the News;July 5th 2008

Former Sen. Jesse Helms dies.
The champion of the conservative movement who battled against liberals, Communists and occasionally a fellow Republican, died at 86 on the Fourth of July due to natural causes.

Helms is best remembered for his opposition to the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
In 1950 he helped to elect segregationist candidate Willis Smith to the Senate, and he later fought against much of the civil rights movement.
In 1993, when then-President Clinton sought confirmation for an openly homosexual assistant secretary at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Helms was quoted as saying "I'm not going to put a lesbian in a position like that, If you want to call me a bigot, fine."


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A man ripped the head off (waxwork ) of Adolf Hitler at Berlin's Madame Tussauds wax museum.

Police said the 41-year-old entered the exhibit shortly after the museum doors opened and "made for the Hitler figure." His intent was tearing the head off the life-size statue.

The man was arrested and is now in custody according to police.

The man explained he wanted to protest the figure being included in the museum. It was the opening day of the Berlin branch of the famous Madame Tussauds wax museum.

The presence of the waxwork, which depicted the Nazi dictator sitting at his desk in his bunker during his last days, in the new museum led to criticism in German media over recent weeks. But the museum's defenders argued Hitler's role in German history must not be ignored.

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Dara Torres' Scores a bid.

The 41-year-old mother made the U.S. Olympic swimming team for a record fifth time , winning the 100-meter freestyle over Natalie Coughlin at the trials. A performance that prompted the crowd to applaud Torres as the new face of the middle-aged.
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The Mustard Belt Remains in California....

Joey Chestnut, right, after he defeated Takeru Kobayashi

Joey Chestnut edged Takeru Kobayashi in overtime during the 93rd annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest .

Chestnut, who was the defending champion, and Kobayashi, a six-time former champ, both consumed 59 hot dogs during the 10-minute regulation time period, forcing a five-dog eat off.

Chestnut, a 6-foot-1 and 225lbs, is the champion in hamburgers, chicken wings and grilled cheese sandwiches .

The 5-6, 170-pound Kobayashi holds titles in cow brains and rice balls and is a strong finisher.