The Huffington Post

This September 11, President Barack Obama has asked the country to pay tribute to the tragic attacks on the World Trade Center through action, dubbing the anniversary as a day of "service and remembrance."

Rather than just remember the lives of those lost, his hope is that thousands of Americans will take part in service-related activities to "rekindle the spirit of unity and common purpose felt in the wake of the 2001 terror attacks," he said in a press conference Friday.

To help achieve this, a new and innovative website, 9/11 National Day of Service offers ways for Americans to make their actions on September 11 felt year-round.

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The website for Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta current lists a temporary restraining order granted Thursday to a woman against former NFL player and current CBS commentator Shannon Sharpe.

The petition, filed by Michele Bundy, is classified as "Family Violence" and is currently listed as "filed."

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Since its formation in 1992, the Diavolo ensemble has used portable architectural units to create movement theater about our relationship to an unstable environment. Artistic director Jacques Heim has sent his fearless performers plunging off a rocking platform, bursting out of trapdoors inside a staircase, scrambling over fast-evolving pyramids and hanging onto wheels of every possible size at every possible height and angle.

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Fun stuff in celebration of 10 years of the Tate Modern - "It's ten years since Tate Modern opened its doors for the first time. For the film 'Tate Modern Turns 10′ we set up a booth in the Turbine Hall and asked visitors to confess their Tate Modern secrets. This special TateShots features some of the confessions that got away, including admissions of love, gallery gripes, flash mobs and mischief-making.

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By John Esposito and Sheila B. Lalwani
Religion News Service

(RNS) Tolerance is one of the hallmarks of democracy, particularly American democracy. In recent months we've witnessed numerous examples of misunderstandings, intolerance and ignorance. The ugliness has challenged our views on religious freedom and harmed interfaith relations.

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DES MOINES, Iowa — A 25-year-old soldier from Iowa who exposed himself to enemy gunfire to try to save two fellow soldiers will become the first living service member from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to receive the Medal of Honor, the White House announced Friday.

President Barack Obama phoned Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta, on Thursday at the base in Italy where he's stationed to tell him he'd be receiving the nation's highest military honor, Giunta's father told The Associated Press. He will become the eighth service member to receive the Medal of Honor during operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The seven previous medals were awarded posthumously.

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WHO: Anton Henning

WHAT: Ferien vom Du!/Abstract Masterpaintings

WHEN: September 11 - October 16, 2010

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LOS ANGELES — The police officer who shot and killed a Guatemalan immigrant who authorities said was threatening people with a knife is being sued by a man claiming he was unlawfully shot by the officer in 2008.

Joseph Wolf, who was 19 at the time of the incident, said in the civil rights and negligence lawsuit that Officer Frank Hernandez shot him in the leg then made up allegations to justify the shooting.

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This week on the Arts page: Takashi Murakami blogged about his upcoming exhibition at Versailles, some of the top films on view at the Venice Film Festival were unveiled, the Vitrahaus in Switzerland opened up before our eyes, and a study of comic art as propaganda was conducted. In case you missed any of it...

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CAIRO — Far from the din and controversy roiling interfaith relations in the West, Muslims worldwide thronged mosques, cafes and parks Friday in a solemn and joyful end to the fasting month of Ramadan.

Authorities increased security in some countries due to fears that violence could intrude on the celebrations, but for most Muslims it was a day of peace, family – and most important food.

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LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The budget crisis in L.A. has prompted many city officials and staff members to volunteer for a salary cut. But not everyone is willing to make the sacrifice.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa says he's taking a 16-percent pay cut to lead by example. Thousands of city workers have taken pay cuts, along with no raises.

As of Thursday, 10 Los Angeles City Council members have volunteered to share the pain. Five council members have refused to cut their own pay. That includes one councilman who gets a $265,000 yearly city pension on top of his salary.


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NEW YORK — Elated by a major court victory, gay-rights activists are stepping up pressure on Congress to repeal the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy this month. They want to avoid potentially lengthy appeals and fear their chances for a legislative fix will fade after Election Day.

The House voted in May to repeal the 17-year-old policy banning openly gay service members. Many majority Democrats in the Senate want to take up the matter in the remaining four weeks before the pre-election recess, but face opposition from Republican leaders.

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WASHINGTON — Struggling with sharp increases in suicides among U.S. military forces, the Pentagon is joining a new national effort to reduce the number of Americans who take their own lives.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday that it was a tragedy to see soldiers, sailors and other service members return from the battlefield only to die from what he called "this scourge."

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It wasn't until the end of President Barack Obama's first full press conference in three months that a problem became clear.

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NEW ORLEANS — The Justice Department says it will not seek the death penalty against four current or former New Orleans police officers charged in deadly shootings on a bridge after Hurricane Katrina.

Prosecutors disclosed the decision in court documents Friday. They did not say why they were not seeking the death penalty.

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LEMONT, Ill. — Tiger Woods is stuck between old and new, and it might cost him a spot at the FedEx Cup finale.

Woods is overhauling his swing, a process that can be downright ugly – even for the world's No. 1 player. Needing to make a big move up the leaderboard at the BMW Championship on Friday, he instead failed to break par for the second straight day at Cog Hill, a course where he's won five times.

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Jason Wu showed his Spring 2011 collection on Friday and after looking at the pictures, all we can think is Michelle, Michelle, Michelle! We can tell why Wu is a First Lady favorite, and a HuffPost favorite at that. Take a look at Wu's newest creations and tell us which you'd like to add to Michelle Obama's wardrobe (with a camisole, of course, for the sheerer options) and which you'd leave at the boutique.

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Jurors in Colorado Springs have convicted a 23-year-old man of killing a mentally impaired adult to steal his Xbox 360 gaming system.

An El Paso County judge sentenced Derek Lee Hernandez to two mandatory terms of life in prison immediately after the jury's verdict Friday. His co-defendant, Kyle Sebastian Stott, is already serving a life sentence after being convicted earlier.

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WASHINGTON — A Georgia congressman awarded his stepdaughter, a niece and an aide's future wife college scholarships through the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, making him the second House Democrat known to use the lawmaker's group to steer money to relatives and associates.

The nonprofit foundation's records show Rep. Sanford Bishop picked his stepdaughter, Aayesha Owens Reese, to receive the money in 2003.

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CASPER, Wyo. — Police in Wyoming arrested a 67-year-old man for driving under the influence twice in the same night.

Police say Albert Metz Jr. posted bail on the first arrest Sunday night and was picked up again about three hours later after he drove away from the county jail in Casper.

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