Kindle Free Pick of the Week: Backstage Pass

From Olivia Cunning.

It’s been months since Brian Sinclair, lead guitarist for the famous rock band, Sinners, composed anything. Unable to write the music that once flowed so naturally, Brian is lost without his musical mojo. But when sexy psychology professor Myrna Evans comes on tour to study groupie mentality, Brian may have found the spark he needs to reignite his musical genius. When lust turns to love, will Brian be able to convince Myrna that what they have is more than just a fling, and that now that he’s found his heart’s muse, he doesn’t want to live without her?

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6.6 Magnitude Quake Hits Japan Coast

A 6.6 magnitude earthquake hit Japan's coast Monday night.

A preliminary estimate put the quake's magnitude at 7.1, which was later lowered to 6.6, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. A series of smaller quakes continued to shake the region. Residents in Tokyo also felt the jolts.

A tsunami warning issued by Japan's Meteorological Agency was later canceled.

Monday's initial quake was centered about 101 miles northeast of Tokyo, or about 31 miles southwest of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

Workers at the plant were asked to evacuate for a time, but later returned to resume their efforts to cool the troubled nuclear facility.

The latest aftershock came almost exactly one month after the 9.0 magnitude March 11 quake, which caused a tsunami that washed away whole towns and villages along the country's northeast coast.

 

Female Journalist Denied Access at Masters

Tara Sullivan, a sports columnist for the The Record of Bergen County, N.J., was denied access to a locker room where interviews were taking place at Augusta National after the completion of the Masters on Sunday.

Male reporters were allowed to speak with players but security stopped Sullivan at the entrance.

"Bad enough no women members at Augusta. But not allowing me to join writers in locker room interview is just wrong," Sullivan posted on her Twitter feed.  Following that tweet, the Twitter universe lit up with opinions and disbelief. 

It's more bad press for a tournament that has come under fire for not having women and enough monoritiy members.

The Record reported that officials later told Sullivan that, "It was a complete misunderstanding by the tournament week security and you should have rightfully been given access per the standard practices of major sporting events."

Augusta National spokesman Steve Ethun said the guard acted improperly in stopping Sullivan, since club policy is to provide equal access to all reporters. The club has no female members, but several female reporters at the tournament confirmed they had made numerous trips to the locker room for interviews in the past without incident.

Sullivan was among a crowd of reporters following third-round leader Rory McIlroy from the course into the clubhouse after his collapse in the final round.

"He just said women were not allowed and there was no official in sight," Sullivan said. By the time she located McIlroy's manager, the interview had been completed.

Ethun said the club hires a number of people to work the tournament and the guard was apparently unaware of the equal-access policy.

"It should not have happened," he said. "We will work as hard as we can to make sure it does not happen again."

RickLimpert.info Picture of the Week: Prince Charl of Augusta

Charl Schwartzel shocked the world by winning The Masters today.

He got hot at the right time and finished with four consecutive birdies to finish his round.

His final putt from 20 feet curled into the side of the cup for a 6-under 66, the best closing round at the Masters in 22 years. It gave the 26-year-old South African a two-shot victory over Australians Adam Scott and Jason Day.

The Amazing Race Preview for "You Don't Get Paid Unless You Win'

The race takes the teams to India.

Overwhelmed by the crowded streets, one team makes a costly blunder while another Racer takes a desperate plunge, on THE AMAZING RACE, Sunday, April 10 (8:00pm Eastern)