World News Korner

Los Angeles (CNN) -- Either Justin Bieber is having a wild time on his South American tour or media reports of the 19-year-old singer's antics are off the mark.

Many reports barely rise above the gossip threshold, but they echo throughout the tabloids and mainstream media.

What you should believe -- and why you should care -- is a raging debate online with Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and beyond.

"My truth is in the music," Bieber said in a message to his 46 million Twitter followers this week. It was posted the same day his newest single, "Bad Day," released.

Journalists know very little about what goes on in Bieber's private life. He is constantly surrounded by bodyguards and his representatives consistently refuse to confirm, deny or comment on any reports that surface.

But that does not limit speculation, much of it based on paparazzi photos and video of the teen's comings and goings.

The New York Post's "Page Six" column published several photos last weekend that the newspaper said implied the singer was enjoying the services of Brazil's legal prostitutes while on his South America tour.

One photo showed a man walking out of a Rio de Janerio brothel under a blanket and surrounded by bodyguards. No face is visible, but the Post says Bieber could be identified by "his gray wraparound wrist tattoo, which is visible in some photos, and his signature sneakers."

Another photo shows two women in a vehicle that the newspaper said took them from the brothel to the hotel where Bieber was staying.

Stormtroopers line the Red Carpet at the Premiere Of Warner Bros. "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" on August 10, 2008 at the Grauman's Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles, California.


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Courtesy of Raw Story:

The outspoken evangelical Christian uploaded video of himself preaching to attendees of a Pearl Jam concert in Charlotte, North Carolina last week.

“If you claim to be a Christian, you better check your life,” he shouted. “There is no such thing as a Christian liar, there is no such thing as a Christian thief, there is no such thing as a Christian fornicator, there is no such thing as a Christian pro-choicer, there is no such thing as a Christian homosexual.”

“There is no such thing as a Christian gossipy-mouthed woman,” he continued, as a woman confronted him. “There is no such thing as a Christian foul-mouthed, immodestly dressed woman.”

“Come on over, we are offering free judgment,” Fisher added as the woman stormed off.

Uh hang on just a minute.

There are NO fornicators, liars, or thieves who can call themselves "Christians?"

Has anybody told this lady yet?

"Don't care, still writing the book."

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"What? We got a letter?"

Courtesy of the FEC:

Dear Treasurer:

Response Due Date 12/12/2013 This letter is prompted by the Commission's preliminary review of the report referenced above. This notice requests information essential to full public disclosure of your federal election campaign finances. Failure to adequately respond by the response date noted above could result in an audit or enforcement action. Additional information is needed for the following 1 item(s):

- Schedule A supporting Line 15 of your report discloses an offset to an operating expenditure(s) totaling $11,169.86 from "National Rifle Association"; however, your report(s) does not appear to disclose a disbursement to this entity. Please provide clarifying information regarding this activity and amend your report(s) if necessary. (11 CFR § 104.3(a) & (b))

Please note, you will not receive an additional notice from the Commission on this matter. Adequate responses must be received by the Commission on or before the due date noted above to be taken into consideration in determining whether audit action will be initiated. Failure to comply with the provisions of the Act may also result in an enforcement action against the committee. Any response submitted by your committee will be placed on the public record and will be considered by the Commission prior to taking enforcement action. Requests for extensions of time in which to respond will not be considered.

What the FEC is referring to appears to be a refund for travel expenses claimed by SarahPAC from the NRA, which can be found here. I have to imagine that this is connected to Palin's speech at the NRA convention on May 3rd, which would indicate that at least some of her travel expenses were paid for by the NRA.

Now I am not an expert on PAC's but is that legal? It must not be since the FEC is asking for information as to when SarahPAC directly sent $11,169.86 to the NRA itself.

The FEC must know about the speech, and be able to put two and two together, so it is highly doubtful they have not figured out the connection.

Things that make you go "Hmmm."

This could a very big deal and if the treasurer Timothy Crawford cannot come up with a reasonable explanation this may be the end of Sarah Palin's free ride on the backs of the dumbest people on the planet.

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"So again, and I hate to keep bringing this up, have you thought about who would take over your ministry once you are dead?"

Courtesy of the Washington Post:

The elder Graham was flanked by real estate mogul Donald Trump and former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Franklin Graham said prior to the event that former President Bill Clinton, who had been listed as one of the guests, couldn’t attend.

“Billy Graham, we need you around another 95 years,” Palin said. “We need Billy Graham’s message to be heard, I think, today more than ever.”

She does realize that Graham can barely move around or talk right?

And I think I know EXACTLY why Bill Clinton couldn't attend. After all what would it do for Hillary's political future if he allowed himself to be photographed with Sarah Palin and Donald Trump?

Palin is really hitting all of the evangelical hotspots in preparation for her upcoming book tour.

This was perhaps my favorite gif from the event.

"Hey, you and me in 2016. Deal?"

Oh even I can't get that lucky. Right?

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Courtesy of TMZ:

Bristol Palin's baby daddy Levi Johnston is tired of getting squeezed out of their son's life -- TMZ has learned, he just filed court docs to obtain 50/50 custody of 4-year-old Tripp Palin.

In the docs, Levi says he wants Tripp to be in his life as much as Bristol's because it's in their son's best interest. Bristol currently has full custody of the child, but now Levi wants Tripp on alternating weeks. (They both live in Alaska.)

Meanwhile, Bristol's attorney is insinuating it's simply a move to reduce Levi's child support payments, saying Levi owed roughly $66,000 in back child support as of October -- and now he wants to pay less.

In the docs, Levi says he's willing to pay whatever child support amount he's ordered to, but urges the court to be fair "as I have a wife and daughter to support." It's unclear what Levi is currently required to pay Bristol.

I disagree with TMZ that both parents are currently living in Alaska, I think Bristol has had Tripp in Arizona with her for quite some time, as the pictures below seem to support.

Recent pictures of Tripp with Bristol clearly show them living in Arizona.

And as indicated by this recent post on Levi's Facebook page:

Forgot to mention that I've managed to keep this beautiful mama married to me for a year now:) and I do miss my son very much. I Love you both.

Which I think is the real reason that I think Levi is going back to court.

Let's face it Bristol is ALWAYS going to keep Levi from seeing his son, and mess with his visitation, unitil the courts tell her can't do that anymore.

After all, like mother like daughter.

(Tripp photos courtesy of Bristol's blog.)

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Courtesy of The Register Guard:

Eric Fromm has received a lot of hugs on campus lately — at least once a day since he “came out” as an atheist last week in an article in his Christian university’s online newspaper.

And while the Northwest Christian University student body president doesn’t quite know what to do with all the new attention he’s receiving, he says it’s a welcome change from the isolation, verbal attacks and accusing questions that he’d grown to expect as rumors about his nonbelief circulated.

“I don’t have to hide anymore,” said Fromm, 21. “I know that people accept me for who I am.”

Though his active campus involvement was enough to win him the student government presidential election, Fromm said he’s felt judged by some of his peers throughout college because, as he wrote in the article that appeared in the school’s Beacon Bolt newspaper last week, “I couldn’t force myself to believe in God.”

It was his peers’ criticism, rather than his own doubts, that Fromm said ultimately compelled him to reject his faith.

While initially drawn to his peers’ faith and sense of community, Fromm said some students responded with shock, shame or fear when he divulged his doubts and lack of faith. Some avoided bringing up the Bible around him, some stopped talking to him for fear of losing their own faith, and others poked fun at him for his views, he said.

“The more I got shunned, the more cold shoulders and verbal attacks, I realized, ‘OK, I’m part of the ‘out’ group,’ ” he said.

It is unfortunate that Eric had to be subjected to that kind of rejection, but at least now he can take comfort in the fact that he is now free. And he will soon find a community of like minded folks who will welcome him with open arms, and who will be far less likely to judge him.

A community by the way which is growing by leaps and bounds on a daily basis

On that same topic there is a recent report that a very popular Bible app is being used by non-theists to help state their case when discussing their point of view with their religious friends and families.

I have always said that the single best way to turn a Christian into an Atheist is to get them to read the Bible. To REALLY read the Bible that is.

I cannot tell you how many atheists I have talked to that said the Bible led them to reject Christianity, or any faith for that matter.

(H/T to Reddit for the image.)

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