Journalist/Teacher/Broadcaster Cathy Shafran (Photo courtesy of Facebook)

The Flint Festival Chorus’ new director Wendy Bloom talks about the group and their upcoming performance at West Court Street Church of God, award winning columnist and New York Times best selling author W. Bruce Cameron (“8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter,” / “A Dog’s Purpose”) talks about his new book “A Dog’s Journey,” and journalist, teacher and broadcaster Cathy Shafran (pictured) talks about her upcoming plans during The Tom Sumner Program Thursday May 17 beginning at 6 p.m.

Michigan Municipal League, Flickr

Governor Snyder recently signed legislation to simplify the process for low-income residents seeking a property tax exemption on their home.

House Bill 5178 makes it easier to apply for a poverty exemption on a principal residence, ensuring Michigan’s neediest residents get the help they need. The bill allows residents to file an affidavit to claim the exemption, rather than requiring federal and state income tax returns.

Snyder said “this exemption must be easily available to families needing assistance. Low income residents who are not required to file state and federal taxes should not need those documents to receive the exemption.”

The bill is now Public Act 135. Visit www.legislature.mi.gov for more information on this bill and others.

SueJayeJohnson, Flickr

Olympic hopeful Claressa Shields is still in the hunt for a spot on the 2012 Olympic Team according to the Detroit News.

The Flint boxer lost a preliminary bout on Sunday at the women’s world championships in China. The good news is the other four entrants from the America’s – North, Central and South – also lost their preliminary bouts.

The 17-year-old Shields is now one of three boxers vying for one of the final two spots.

courtesy Rep. Jim Ananich

Representative Jim Ananich (D-Flint) and Senator Vincent Gregory (D-Southfield) praised the Senate Reforms, Restructuring and Reinventing Committee’s passage yesterday of Senate Bill 1094, legislation sponsored by Senator Bruce Caswell (R-Hillsdale) to implement a work-sharing program in Michigan to help part-time workers. The bills closely mirror legislation introduced by Senator Gregory and Representative Ananich in 2011.

Gregory said “it doesn’t matter whose name is on the bill, what matters is the legislature taking action to provide help for Michigan workers struggling to get by and enable companies to retain top-flight talent. We have been calling on work-sharing legislation for more than a year and I applaud Senator Caswell’s efforts to finally get some traction on this important lifeline for working families.”

Similar to SB 1094, SB 697 and HB 4516 would create a work-sharing program for qualifying employers in Michigan that would allow for the payment of unemployment benefits to individuals whose wages and hours have been reduced. This would allow employees working part-time to also collect unemployment benefits and enable companies to retain multiple employees rather than laying them off. Work sharing has proven to be an effective tool in other states to reduce unemployment and help part-time workers stay afloat. It has also enabled businesses in other states to keep their payroll commensurate with their production and adjust to downturns in demand without losing valuable employees.

“Work sharing is a great example of lawmakers helping other people save their job, instead of just maneuvering to save their own,” said Ananich. “Thanks to Senator Caswell’s leadership, this effort to prevent layoffs in Michigan took a huge step forward.”

Elisabetta Villa, Getty Images Entertainment

Let’s face it; The Avengers was an endeavor so ambitious and so large, that had the end result been of mediocre quality, one could have paid the picture respect.  Yet lo and behold The Avengers, a culmination of four other big budget Marvel Comic adaptations, is a film so stunningly entertaining in every aspect, it almost leaves one thinking this to be a fluke of Hulk like proportions.

How could a film made up of legendary characters, some of whom could barely carry the weight of their own films (i.e Captain America, The Hulk) nail it oh so properly?  Not to mention, how do these cats share the spotlight with the revelation that is Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man?  You put the material in the hands of a respected super geek who knows how to carry that weight; Mr. Joss Whedon.  And boy, he can carry that weight.

Coming together under one silver roof are the Marvel heroes Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, The Hulk,  Black Widow, and Hawkeye, in a crossover the likes of which the world hasn’t experienced since The Jetsons met The Flintstones.  Not the same thing?  Ok, moving on.  Fictionally bringing this team together is the cycloptic bad ass, Nick Fury, portrayed (finally in bulk) by Samuel L. Jackson, who despite being a sexagenarian, commands the screen and throws down with the baddies as proficiently and athletically as any other.

Helming the team in reality is Joss Whedon, who deftly peppers the film with cartoonish awe inspiring action sequences, heart and humor in a way that makes you wonder why this man hasn’t more than two films under his directorial belt.  Whedon’s love, and more importantly his respect, for science fiction and the fantastic, shows in every line delivered, and every punch thrown.  He balances the characters conflicts, inside and out, managing to give every lovely super being just enough time for you to give a damn about them before blowing your mind with their abilities against the Villainous Loki and his alien army.
And Loki, played with sinister and sympathetic charm by Tom Hiddelston, is a villain worth loving.

One could say that despite Marvels efforts and success with its heroes, a good memorable villain has yet to be produced, save for this young upstart from the Thor film.  He has reason for his psychosis and a fear behind those evil eyes that will never keep you from thinking about him as Thor’s tormented brother.

Every hero is portrayed wonderfully by their alter egos.  Without the need of mentioning, Robert Downey Jr. stammers wittily through his naturalistic dialogue, and charms as the billionaire Tony Stark.  Chris Evans gives a respectful and at times satirical approach as the all-American super soldier, Captain America.  Chris Hemsworth, too, brings Thor to life with humor and charm.

It is the Marvels newcomer, Mark Ruffalo,  that really breathes some much needed new life into the incarnation of The Hulk, whose rocky start, and rough reboot begged the question if the character was even capable of cinematic life.  Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner is always at odds with his anger, and holds himself delicately and quietly among his colleagues, unlike them, not wanting to display his super abilities.  Ruffalo has an intelligence about him befitting Banner, a simultaneously geeky and handsome persona.  And when The Hulk finally reveals himself (with Ruffalo actually continuing his performance through motion tracking ala Avatar) he owns the screen the way he should have two films ago.

The Avengers is an endeavor realized to its absolute fullest extent.  That they’ve made a film of this caliber is a testament to Joss Whedon and the potential of summer blockbusters.  The bar for summer flicks has officially been raised, as well as the bar for Marvel’s future films.  Good luck.

Paramount Pictures / Universal Pictures / Lionsgate

This weekend, you’ll have your choice between a goofy comedy, watching things blow up, and a tale about the joys and perils of new parenthood.

In ‘The Dictator,’ Sacha Baron Cohen stars as the title character who risked his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed.

Based on the classic board game, ‘Battleship’ is an epic action-adventure that unfolds across the seas, in the skies and over land as our planet fights for survival against a superior force.

And ‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting,’ inspired by the self-help book of the same name, tells the story of a group of expectant parents dealing with the surprise demands of pregnancy.

Here’s a sneak peek.

‘The Dictator’

Directed by: Larry Charles
Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen, Anna Faris, Ben Kingsley, Jason Mantzoukas
Get Tickets & Showtimes

‘Battleship’

Directed by: Peter Berg
Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgård, Rihanna, Brooklyn Decker, Tadanobu Asano, Hamish Linklater, Liam Neeson
Get Tickets & Showtimes

‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting’

Directed by: Kirk Jones
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, Chace Crawford, Brooklyn Decker, Ben Falcone, Anna Kendrick, Matthew J. Morrison
Get Tickets & Showtimes

slightlyeverything, flickr

Dating is tough, and interpersonal communication can be even tougher. But the electronic age has brought with a whole new layer of angst — it seems nothing is more perplexing to a man than talking to a woman via text message.

A recent survey conducted by TSB Magazine, an online dating advice and men’s interest site, asked participants to review some of the most traditionally frustrating or confusing aspects of dating, approaching women, and romance, and then choose which issue was paramount.

Fully a third of men said confusion about when to send a text to a woman and what it should say was the most frustrating aspect of a budding romance, while others cited more traditional concerns like approaching women, having an in-person conversation and the awkwardness of an end-of-date kiss.

Of course, not everyone even had the chance to get that far — the survey also included the choices “having women see you are a friend, not a love interest” and “hitting it off with a woman only to have her shift her interest to someone else,” which garnered 10 percent and 6 percent of the votes, respectively.

[PR Web]

Mario Tama, Getty Images

The separation of church and state doesn’t mean religious leaders can’t express political opinions. And in the wake of President Obama’s endorsement of gay marriage there has been talk that some houses of worship may encourage their flock not to vote for the president in 2012 to protest his reversal on the issue.

However, the majority of Americans would rather that churches and other religious institution keep out of politics altogether. According to a Pew Research Center Poll of 1,503 adults, 54 percent said that churches should keep out of political matters, whereas 40 percent think churches should express views on political questions.

In 1996, these percentages were just about reversed, with 54 percent in favor of churches being involved in politics and 43 percent opposed.

[Pew Research Center]

victor1558, flickr

There are many different elements within the workplace that can increase a person’s risk of depression, but a new study suggests that men and women are affected differently.

According to study researcher JianLi Wang, an associate professor of psychiatry and community health sciences at Canada’s University of Calgary, women had increased levels of depression when they felt like they weren’t appreciated at work or given adequate incentives for a job well done. Men appeared to be unaffected by these factors. Some 2,700 people were surveyed.

However, high levels of job strain seemed to increase the risk of depression among men working full-time, but not among women. In fact, 11 percent of men who worked full-time had an increased risk for depression if their job came with a high level of strain. This compared to a 1.5 percent increase in men whose jobs didn’t come with high job strain.

Women, on the other hand, had increased levels of depression while simply working 35-40 hours a week.

Researchers also found that conflicts between family and work affected the risk for depression in both sexes. The difference being that men were more affected when their family life got in the way of work, while women were more distressed when work obstructed their family life.

Professor Wang says,

Major depressive disorder has a significant impact on the health of employees, and affects job performance. Employers should monitor the magnitude of these factors, such as job strain, in order to prevent their full-blown negative effects.”

Researchers believe that these studies could assist in the advancement of strategies for employers to help avoid depression in their employees.

[Fox]

terrybankert, Flickr

Prosecutors have rested their case against alleged serial stabber Elias Abuelazam who is charged with going on a murder spree in the summer of 2010. Fourteen people were stabbed in and around Flint and five of the victims died.

According to WNEM, one of the survivors, Bill Fisher, testified on Tuesday. He was the fourth victim to do so, testifying that a motorist had asked for his help before stabbing him. Fisher identified Abuelazam as his attacker.

Abuelazam has been on trial for five days. He is charged in the death of 49-year-old Arnold Minor. Attorneys for the defense are expected to state their case to the jury beginning Thursday morning.

courtesy Attorney General Bill Schuette

Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson and Attorney General Bill Schuette have announced criminal charges against a former Michigan Department of State employee after an investigation revealed fraudulent titles being issued from a Dearborn branch office. The charges result from an investigation by the Department of Attorney General following a Secretary of State’s Internal Security Division referral and were brought by the Attorney General’s Public Integrity Unit.

Johnson said “our department is committed to ensuring that all of our transactions are handled with utmost integrity. We take any ethical breach extremely seriously and in all instances will notify the proper authorities and pursue charges when warranted.”

Schuette added “the taxpayers expect public workers to exercise their duties with respect and integrity. Corruption will be tackled and eliminated whenever it is found.”

Former Dept. of State employee Shameshra Hall, 24, of Warren, is charged for her alleged role in the issuance of seven fraudulent Michigan motor vehicle title applications between December 2011 and January 2012. Hall’s job responsibilities included verifying the identities of individuals requesting motor vehicle titles, in order to ensure the requestor’s identity properly matched the identity listed on the title.

Hall was charged with 17 counts in Dearborn’s 19th District Court and faces up to 20 years in prison. She had been arrested by Special Agents from the Dept. of the Attorney General. Her bond was set at $50,000 and will next appear in court on May 25, 2012. Her employment with the Department of State had been terminated at the end of February.

Progran Host Tom Sumner (Photo courtesy of John Cook Photography)

Motorcycle rides for charity is the topic for a one hour edition of The Tom Sumner Program Wednesday beginning at 6 p.m. followed by Race Talk with Larry Loynes at 7 p.m.

ConnectionsAcademy, Flickr

Governor Rick Snyder signed legislation yesterday expanding educational opportunities and choices for students and families by increasing the number of cyber charter schools and broadening eligibility for dual enrollment programs.

The reforms help students to best meet their needs while contemplating Michigan’s already outstanding traditional public schools.

Snyder said “Michigan students can now achieve a quality education without boundaries. Empowering more parents and students with the option to enroll in cyber charter schools and attend college level courses increases not only their educational opportunities , but also their potential for success.”

Senate Bill 619 lifts the cap on the number of cyber charter schools, and sets an enrollment limit of two percent of student population. It also removes the requirement of cyber school students having been previously enrolled in a public school.

Any applicant for a cyber school contract must demonstrate experience delivering a quality education program that imposes student academic achievement, and offer any configuration of grades K-12 or all of those grades. Students will be issued a computing device by the school and the school will be responsible for subsidizing the cost of Internet access.

Senator Patrick Colbeck who sponsored the bill said “providing more choice in public education empowers parents and gives them greater input in determining the best learning environment for their children. Cyber charter schools are a unique way to broaden that choice for many of Michigan’s families.”

Visit www.legislature.mi.gov for more information on this and other bills.

uggboy ugggirl, flickr

Buying airfare shouldn’t be as complex as trying to handicap a race horse, but the truth is sometimes it’s trickier.

Most people at least have a fighting chance with a little beginner’s luck when making their first bet on the ponies, yet those of us who have been flying for years can’t seem to get a grip on this airfare game.

Americans typically get a little jumpy when they feel like they’re being ripped off, but losing money on a bet is just part of the fun.

However, there is nothing fun about paying too much for airfare. According to Jetsetter, there are some specific tips you can follow in order to get the best possible deal.

• Book airfare six weeks in advance during normal time (not during the holidays)
• Book airfare three months in advance to a popular location in high season
• Book airfare for Thanksgiving the day after Labor Day
• Book airfare as soon as possible during the summer months because rates get higher as summer progresses
• Book airfare two-to-four weeks in advance during the fall months because you can wait longer for last minute deals in the off-season
• Book airfare for winter vacations as early as September
• Book airfare for spring break three months in advance

So plan all of your trips well in advance to ensure the best possible bet on your next airfare purchase. And remember, it’s a gamble.

[LearnVest]

Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images

President Obama might not be the most popular politician on the federal level, but compared to the approval ratings for other federal officials, at least his are in double digits. Seriously, that’s not a joke. We wish it was.

Earlier this year, Congress earned a staggering nine percent approval rating, the lowest recorded number in the history of US government. Senators and representatives got the message that the American people weren’t pleased, so they buckled down and managed to improve that rating to just over 14 percent. Here are some ways they can turn things around even more.

1. Turn the Capitol dome into a Transformer.

2. Anyone attempting to filibuster has to do so while being shot at by a paintball firing squad.

3. Hire Taylor Swift to open for them.

4. Rush through any legislation that requires monkeys to dress as humans.

5. Pass a law that would make compiling statistics punishable by death.

6. Tell the American people, “If you check under your seats…you get a bailout! YOU GET A BAILOUT! YOU GET A BAILOUT! EVERYONE…GETS…A…BAILOUT!”

7. Any time anyone uses the word “yield,” they have to do a shot.

8. All of their C-SPAN proceedings are aired in a small box in a corner of the screen on the Playboy Channel.

9. Anyone entering the House or Senate chamber is allowed to give any member of Congress the finger for a full 20 seconds.

10. Congressmen can only earn their annual raises by winning a ‘Glee’ inspired dance-off.

11. Make lobbyists wear ankle bracelets that electronically shock them if they try to enter a government building.

12. Re-name the “Capitol Dome” the “Thunderdome.”

13. Take the next century off.

Warner Bros.

Actor Nick Stahl, perhaps best known for his portrayal of John Connor in ‘Terminator 3: Rise of the Machine’ was reported missing by his wife in Los Angeles on Monday after he disappeared for five days.

Stahl’s wife, Roseann, filed a missing persons report with the LAPD on Monday afternoon after she lost contact with the actor for five days. The pair have a two-year-old daughter together.

Stahl has had a difficult year: he was arrested in January after trying to ditch a cab ride without paying and his wife filed papers in Los Angeles County Superior Court asking for monitored visitation between Stahl and his daughter. In addition, his much-hyped return – the Fox TV series ‘Locke & Key’ was not picked up to series despite an expensive pilot from feature director Mark Romanek.

Ms. Stahl alleges the actor has a serious drug habit and the current fear is that his addiction is behind his disappearance.

Anyone with information on Stahl’s whereabouts can contact the LAPD’s Missing Persons Unit 24-hours a day at 213-996-1800.

Source: ScreenCrush.com

Scott Olson, Getty Images

It’s no secret that certain kinds of cribs — especially the drop-side variety — can pose a danger to your children. But a new report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention says that toys, bumpers and blankets kept in cribs can be hazardous, as well.

According to the CDC, cases of infant suffocation are on the rise, and it blames the accessories that parents typically use along with cribs. In fact, doctors say, babies under the age of one could easily suffocate if a crib product cuts off their flow of air.

In 2009 alone, the CDC says that 665 babies died from “accidental suffocation of strangulation while in bed.” The American Academy of Pediatrics has warned that bumpers, for example, can be dangerous and should never be used. In Chicago, stores are banned from selling them altogether.

“The manufacturers should stop making the bumpers, which really have no place in a baby’s crib and no place, therefore, ever,” said Dr. Eileen Tyrala, medical director of Cribs for Kids.

And yet, crib accessories are still widely available and used by many parents. Linda Woody of the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association said that bumpers can actually be beneficial, and prevent head injuries and limb entrapment. Parents should decide what accessories to use for themselves after consulting with a pediatrician, she argued.

“Parents need to make a decision for themselves what items they would like to use inside their crib,” she said. “Parents in concert with their pediatricians and themselves, they know what’s best for their family.”

[Today]

NBC

We’re still in the middle of the audition process for ‘America’s Got Talent,’ so at this point audiences are prepared to see anything from the sweet to the absolutely absurd. What better place to find that all than in San Francisco?

We’re technically on the second episode of ‘America’s Got Talent,’ so naturally at this point the judges are ready to ‘go into battle’. “I’ve been waiting in my hotel room since five in the morning, waiting to judge something,” says Howard Stern as he’s greeted by crowds of San Franciscans. And obviously the rest of the crowd is anxious to move forward with the auditions. After all, if the contestants manage to win this competition then they will snag a million dollars. And no matter what you tell us, we don’t believe that Howie Mandell actually flew in on some form of a jet pack. That’s just careful editing at work there.

We begin the festivities with the Sacramento dance group called CMYB, headed by David Garblandi. Now here’s the kicker: they’re not just a dance group, but a painting dance group. Yes, they manage to combine their love of dance with their incredible painting skills. To think that he’s able to paint Mozart while actually dancing to it along with his group is just amazing. Color the judges impressed. (Sorry)

Then the audience isn’t introduced so much as exposed to Mr. Special. His name should sum it up. He comes in a little tricycle playing “Anchors Away” on a trumpet while wearing half of a chicken outfit. He gets an automatic fail from Sharon and Howard, but pushover Howie gives him a chance for a split second until he decides to vote against him. Mr. Special doesn’t take the news well as he almost calls Sharon a b—-, then tells her to give him a call. Mr. Special even manages to slightly harass Howie and Howard back stage. Rude much?

It’s time for a horrible audition montage! We’re exposed to the worst of the bunch which includes lame fire performers, a band who plays solely on guitars made out of suitcases and Mars Green, a man who’s painted like a lizard and sings an awful rendition of Katy Perry’s “Supernatural.” That poor, poor audience.

Obviously the saddest one in the group was Kim McAffe, a singer who’s duet became a solo thanks to her flaky singing partner. She may have given Howard Stern praise for his show, but that doesn’t stop him from giving her an automatic no for her performance. Suddenly Nick Cannon pops up, trying to help her out by “scratching,” which makes her performance a bit worse.

Let’s bring on the balancing act! We’re referring to Cristin Sandu, a seventeen-year-old who balances on several metal circles. It terrifies the audience to a degree, afraid that Cristin will be splattered all over the AGT floor, but he manages to pull off his act without a hitch and wins most of the judges over.

Then we’re sprinkled with a bit of humor as the auditions continue on with LCD – The Lisa Clark Dancers. This has to be one of the funniest dances that’s been seen on the show so far, mixing contemporary dance with classical music. Everyone’s won over except for Howie, which nobody gets, not even us. For some reason Howie is happy when he sees the magician and the concert piano player who pull off a cool sawing act that ends with half of the piano player performing one of his tunes. And then he gives a yes to a juggler who screws up the first time he performs his act. What’s going on in that noggin, Howie?

We get our first dose of impressions on the show thanks to Dave, a comedian impressionist. He manages to imitate the voice and movements of a few celebrities including Nicolas Cage and Vince Vaughn but doesn’t entirely hit the mark the whole time. All of the judges basically tell him to get a little “edgier” with writing his impression skit, but still think he’s good enough to move forward in the competition.

We slip into the more emotionally touching portion of the show when we’re introduced to Luiz Meneghin, a normal man with a solid opera voice. His performance is fine but at the same time you can tell he picked a safe song to sing instead of really pushing his vocal cords to the limit. Either way, he managed to wow everyone in the audience. Here’s hoping he really challenges himself when he’s in Las Vegas.

Day two of the San Francisco auditions kicks off with Paula Nelson, an eighty-year-old woman who’s known as Granny G. What makes Granny G so unique? Why she’s a grandmother who can rap about moral values. The judges suggest that Granny G could be even cooler if she blings up her walker. She’ll certainly be doing that when she’s in the next round. At least she’s loads better than Kotton Kandy, a heavy-set male street performer who wears a glowing showgirl outfit. Hey, he may not be what everyone wants to see but at least he gave it the good old academic try while dancing to the “Tootise Roll.”

Crappy audition montage part two! This round includes motorcycle stunt men who can barely do any tricks, a lady with a performing mini-horse and puppy that just walks around in circles. And though you would have figured the man who transformed his broom and dust pan into musical instruments wouldn’t move forward, you’re wrong.

It’s sympathetic time once more with Tim Hockenberry, an alcoholic who turned his life around and is now ready to sing in front of the nation. He performs a great rendition of “You Are So Beautiful” which almost moves Howie to tears. Everyone is absolutely in love with him, especially Howard who describes his performance as “a breath of fresh air.”

The last dance group we’re presented with is the FBC (Funk Beyond Control). They’re all right, but the one thing that almost killed their routine is that one of the kids immediately messed up. Thankfully, Howard Stern and company were in more of a forgiving mood at this point in the show.

Speaking of decent performances, the judges managed to let an indie folk hipster-like band, called The Emily Ann Band, move forward. They sang a really strange rendition of Britney Spears’ “Toxic” that left half of the audience wondering what they just listened to. Oh well, they advanced to the next round along with so-so stand up comedian Kellen and a martial arts dance group that messed up at one point.

Thankfully the last performer of the night deserved to not only be on this stage but definitely deserves to make it all the way to the finals. Alonso Jones, aka Turf, is a hip hop contortionist dancer who was kicked out of his house for wanting to pursue his dreams. He was homeless for two years and danced for money on the street until he could afford his own apartment. The contortion may at times be uncomfortable to watch but man, he’s got some moves. Even Nick Cannon is speechless, his jaw hanging ajar while watching Turf at work. Once he’s done performing, Turf is moved to tears over the judges’ wonderfully kind words. “Just this right here… dream came true.” Yes, this man is going to Las Vegas.

That’s it for San Francisco’s portion of the auditions. Next week we’ll be watching the trio make their rounds in New York City, Howard Stern’s home turf, on ‘America’s Got Talent,’ airing this next Monday and Tuesday at 8 PM.

Source: ScreenCrush.com

ABC

With so many amazing contenders in the ‘Dancing with the Stars‘ semifinals, it was really anyone’s guess who’d leave after Tuesday night’s elimination show.

So which three couples will move on to next week’s big finale?

Hosts Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke-Charvet, who was nice enough to introduce first-time viewers to her cleavage, kicked off the show by letting the judges choose an encore dance from performance night.

Len announced the honors would go to William and Cheryl’s samba, so the bronzed pair again took to the stage to showcase William’s bouncy backside to a grateful nation.

Then we got a backstage look at what exactly happened to Katherine after she flubbed the end of her second routine on Monday. Apparently a twinge in her back chose to make itself known at an inopportune time, and she was devastated — although it seemed she was more concerned about possibly costing Mark a spot in the finals than she was about herself.

Brooke’s cleavage called Katherine and Mark to the stage to learn their fate, and after they were told they were the first to make it to the finals, they jumped so high it honestly looked like they’d both been launched from ejector seats. Much rejoicing ensued, and we have to say we’re pleased we’ll get to see them next week.

Next up: Derek and Maria, who had a helluva night on Monday. But even though they were at the top of the judges’ leaderboard, they must have fallen short on audience votes because they were the first couple in jeopardy.

Then we got a peek at the upcoming ‘Rock of Ages‘ movie, only live on stage, featuring ‘DWTS’ vet Julianne Hough and the always-amazing Mary J. Blige. It was … well, see for yourself:

Donald and Peta were the next to be told they were in jeopardy, which course meant William and Cheryl moved on to the finals.

And in what many people will probably feel was a really shocking result, Maria and Derek were eliminated, even after getting one perfect score and one near-perfect score on Monday. Yeah, those audience votes do matter. (Is this a good time to say we predicted they’d come in fourth?)

But if Maria was surprised, she sure didn’t let it show. “I learned so many things,” she said about her time on the show. “I learned how strong I was. I learned to persevere.” Classy lady — and as we said, it really could’ve been anyone who went home.

See you next week, when we’ll finally find out who wins the coveted mirror ball trophy.

Source: ScreenCrush.com

myfuturedotcom, Flickr

Many of us do our banking via ATM or other electronic means, but how would you feel if actual in-person tellers didn’t exist? A few banks are testing out new systems with the possible goal of making that idea a reality.

In an effort to reduce waiting time for customers and free up employees to sell profitable products like loans and mortgages, some banks are installing touch screens and self-serve kiosks that would allow people to conduct standard banking business as well as cash checks, buy money orders and get cash in unusual denominations — tasks typically reserved exclusively for tellers.

Bank of America is even trying out video teller machines with screens that would give customers access to employees located in a centralized call center who can remotely authorize transactions, review check images and dole out cash. North Carolina’s Coastal Federal Credit Union, which has already switched to such a system, has seen its costs drop by 40 percent.

Willard Ross, chief retail officer for the credit union, said product sales have nearly doubled in the branches and added, “Branch managers don’t have to worry about manning the teller operations anymore, so they can be totally focused on the members who walk in.”

[The Wall Street Journal]