The Band's Levon Helm, dead at 71

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kingsnake

Famed drummer of acclaimed and influential roots rock group The Band Levon Helm died today in New York after a long battle with cancer.

According to the Chicago Tribune:

Levon Helm, the founding drummer of the Band who became a creative force in roots music and cherished Americana icon as a solo performer, died today at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York after a long battle with cancer. He was 71. "We lost Levon at 1:30 today surrounded by friends and family, and his musicians have visited him," guitarist and frequent Helm bandmate Larry Campbell told the Times Herald-Record. "As sad as this was, it was very peaceful." The Arkansas-born musician -- who formed the influential group as the Hawks, the Toronto-based backup unit for rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins -- was the original drummer for Bob Dylan's first touring electric group.

For more of this breaking news, click here.

Stallone and Schwarzenegger Finally in One Movie: The Tomb

Stallone and Schwarzenegger finally team up in The Tomb

This is probably one team-up that has been long overdue. Long-time pals Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger is finally teaming up for what probably be the most-awaited action movie of the decade: The Tomb.

According to Collider.com:

We recently heard that Stallone was talking with his pal Schwarzenegger about joining the film in a different role, and today that news has been confirmed as both Stallone and Schwarzenegger are set to star. Stallone plays Ray Breslin, the world’s foremost authority on structural security. Breslin is framed and incarcerated in a prison of his own master design, and must now figure out how to break out (shouldn’t be too difficult if he designed the damn building). Hit the jump for more, including details on Schwarzenegger’s character.

Schwarzenegger will play Church, “a complex inmate with multiple shades of grey.” He’s described as “the guy who fights to keep the prisoners from losing their humanity in their darkest hour as they struggle together to stay alive.” 

The two giants could be seen this spring in The Expendables 2.

Setback for Romney as Santorum wins over Minnesota, Missouri and Colorado

Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum caused a major setback to the 2012 US Presidential candidacy of Republican front-runner Mitt Romney by winning votes from Missouri, Minnesota and Colorado.

According to the Los Angeles Times:

Republican long shot Rick Santorum poked holes in Mitt Romney's aura of inevitability Tuesday night with a trio of upset victories that shifted the dynamic of the 2012 presidential contest.

The former Pennsylvania senator's wins in the Minnesota and Colorado caucuses and Missouri primary were setbacks for Romney, the national front-runner, who had been expected to cruise easily through a series of relatively minor February voter tests. He must now wait three weeks to regroup, when Arizona and Michigan hold what suddenly are shaping up as unexpectedly important primaries.

Death Toll in Southern Philippines Earthquake Rising

As rescue efforts go underway, Philippine authorities struggle to save victims of the recent earthquake in the southern part of the Philippines. 52 people have been reported as fatalities of the 6.7-magnitude earthquake.

According to China Daily:

The death toll from the maganitude 6.7 earthquake that jolted the central Philippineprovince of Negros Oriental on Monday rose to 52, local officials said Tuesday.

At least 29 people were killed in a quake-triggered landslide in the village of Planas inGuihulngan City, mayor Ernesto Reyes said.

Reyes said 10 others died due to a landslide on the Guihulngan national road.

http://www.nst.com.my/galleries/reaching-for-help-1.43689

In the New Straits Times, rescuers continue to hear cries for help from underneath the landslide in Negros Oriental triggered by the earthquake.