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Dzhokhar Tsarnaev flipped off a security camera. Does that mean he should die?
A cruel middle finger to America? Or simply a crude gesture from a kid? The image of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev with his middle finger up for a security camera in 2013 became a flash point today in the Boston Marathon bomber's sentencing trial. Jurors saw video of the incident, during which he paces in his cell, looks into the lens and fixes his hair in the reflection. Tsarnaev then briefly makes what the defense called a "V sign," followed by the middle finger and walks away. Prosecutors characterized the photo as encapsulating Tsarnaev's "callous" character. The defense said he was just a teenager looking at himself in a mirror. What do you think? Tweet us using #TheShortList. Here's what else happened in court today.
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev extends his middle finger to a security camera on July 10, 2013, in his jail cell in Devens, Mass.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: U.S. Attorney's Office via AP)
Tim Tebow would make more money this summer if he wore a suit
Tim Tebow's Eagles contract has no money guaranteed. Is anyone surprised? It's a typical, one-year, $660,000 deal that comes without a signing bonus or other guaranteed money. The $660,000 base salary — due in weekly installments of $38,824 during the regular season as long as Tebow's on the team — is the minimum for a three-year veteran, which he is. If Tebow gets cut before the season, the Eagles owe him nothing other than standard stipends, including $195 for each day participating in offseason workouts and $1,800 a week in training camp. The 27-year-old last played with the New York Jets in 2012 and was in training camp in 2013 with the New England Patriots, who gave him no guarantees on a two-year deal and cut him less than three months later. Tebow previously worked as a college football analyst for ESPN and as a co-host on Good Morning America. He wore a suit in both gigs.
Obama uses his pen to fight the lame duck curse
He used to avoid saying the words. Not anymore. "Executive action" — a phrase President Obama never uttered publicly in the first two and a half years of his presidency — is now a part of his daily lexicon. It's how he's getting stuff done, without having to deal with the Republican Congress. An executive action can be anything from a presidential memorandum on overtime pay for workers to an executive order reducing greenhouse gas emissions from federal facilities. The White House often announces executive actions with a fact sheet from the press office. It issued 228 fact sheets in 2014, more than the first three years of Obama's presidency combined. This year, the White House has already issued three more fact sheets than last year at the same time. "I've got a pen, and I've got a phone. And that's all I need," Obama said in 2014.
President Obama speaks at Howard University on April 7, 2015, to discuss the impact of climate change on public health.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais, AP)
Google wireless service: Here's why everyone is excited
Project Fi became official today. Google announced it was looking at its project to offer cellphone service as a way "to push the boundaries of what's possible." If you're all, 'So what's in it for me?' Here's what's in it for you — Fi service will switch between Sprint and T-Mobile networks depending on which signal is stronger. For $20 a month, subscribers get the basics: talk, text, Wi-Fi tethering and international coverage. It's $10 per gigabyte of data after that for cellular data while in the U.S. and abroad. Key point: The plan refunds any data you don't use. However, the biggest drawback — Fi is only available on the Nexus 6. Is this plan so appealing that people will switch phones? Time will tell. But as T-Mobile's CEO John Legere said, "Project Fi is going to make people think differently about wireless — and I love that."
Google's new wireless works only on the Nexus 6.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Google)
Is one of them yours? Feds recall nearly 1 million bikes
Trek Bicycles is recalling almost a million bikes for a serious safety issue that left a rider paralyzed, another with a fractured wrist and a third with facial injuries. Here's what you need to know about the recall:1) It involves all Trek bicycles from model years 2000 through 2015 equipped with front disc brakes and a black or silver quick release lever on the front wheel hub that opens far enough to contact the disc brake. 2) When an open quick release lever on the bike's front wheel hub comes into contact with the front disc brake assembly, the front wheel can come to a sudden stop or separate from the bicycle. 3) If you have one of these bikes, stop using it immediately and contact an authorized Trek retailer for free installation of a new quick release on the front wheel. Here's the recall hotline: 800-373-4594. Bonus: Trek will provide each owner who participates in the recall with a $20 coupon that's redeemable by Dec. 31 toward any Bontrager merchandise.
Short on time? Listen to today's top stories in the audio player below:
Stories you're clicking on today:
At 60, John Hinckley looks to gain more freedom
3 ex-educators in cheating scandal to be resentenced
The 10 most outrageously priced stocks
Oregon farmer convicted of killing men, feeding to pigs
11-ton 'fatberg' breaks London sewer
Extra Bites:
Here's a look at today's Day in Pictures gallery. And in honor of Earth Day, here are some amazing photos of our planet worth seeing.
Speaking of Earth Day here's how you can kick your plastic habit (yes, you've got it, got it bad).
People names Sandra Bullock the Most Beautiful Woman. Her response: "That's ridiculous."
This is ... interesting. Rumer Willis apparently had the hots for Ashton before he married her mom. There were posters. Need we say more?
A pregnant shift manager at Popeyes said she was fired for refusing to reimburse the company money that was stolen when the restaurant was robbed. A company spokesman said she was fired because she left too much money in the register. More here.
What else is on our reading list:
Resumption of Yemen strikes a sign battle entering new phase
Protests heat up in Baltimore after suspect's death
Want no worries? Get rid of that debt before you retire
We all need a little distraction at some point during the day (what else are smartphones for?), so add DISTRACTME on the YO app. It'll be fun, we promise.
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This is a compilation of stories from across USA TODAY.
Contributing: Gregory Korte, Edward C. Baig, Jessica Guynn, Patty Michalski, USA TODAY; G. Jeffrey MacDonald, Special for USA TODAY; Tom Pelissero, USA TODAY Sports; Derry London, WLTX-TV, Columbia, S.C.
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