Top Stories Salt Lake City

Views of Hurricane Earl from the International Space Station and from a hurricane hunter aircraft inside the eye wall.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP…

Did you know this is the fourth Hurricane Earl?

"There've been three others, as well as some lesser Tropical Storms of the same name. The naming lists for these things are used again every seven years, and individual names are only retired after they've been attached to a particularly damaging storm. Earl, so far, has not."

Here's the latest forecast map.

The storm has not made landfall in North Carolina, after sitting offshore for a number of hours:

"The impact of the Category 2 storm appeared to be less than originally expected as Earl churned north parallel to the U.S. Atlantic coast hours after it was downgraded from a Category 4 hurricane. Surging waves pounded North Carolina's Outer Banks low-lying barrier islands, the most exposed areas to Earl. Local emergency officials said no casualties or major structural damage had been reported so far. At least one coastal road was cut by waves washing over it."

Watch the Earl clips, AFTER THE JUMP…

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Five Star Auto may be the car repair shop that you should visit. Auto mechanics are the only people that have the qualifications necessary to repair your vehicle. They train to do the repairs properly. A good mechanic has the ability at working with his hands. He also is aware of the proper tools to use. This is very important to you as a consumer. The mechanics are professionals in their field. They will repair your car properly.

David Garn is the auto repair shop owner. Since he is an outstanding mechanic, he has the same expectations from the employees. He is proud of their expertise in diagnosing problems and repairing the autos to the satisfaction of his clients. He knows that his mechanics treat the client with honesty, respect, and provide excellent service.

Customers are constantly looking for good deals and fast service. When a shop can diagnose what is wrong and then repair this problem rapidly, they do not lose any time trying a couple of repairs hoping that they will fall upon the correct solution. The shop does the repair quickly; therefore, the client saves money.

Transmission is a word any car owner does not want to hear. A transmission is a mystery to most of us as we do not know how to tell if the problem is serious are not. If you have an excellent mechanic, he will be able to help you find out if it is simply a clogged filter or if really need the transmission rebuilt or replaced.

When you have a problem with the clutch, the person you need is your mechanic. When the clutch is rough, there is a good chance you will have trouble changing gears. There could be numerous reasons why your clutch is rough. What is important is that the repair shop can determine the problem and fix it quickly.

Your needs are simple. You need a shop where the mechanics have the ability to diagnose and to repair your car. When they start working on the clutch, you need to be sure that their diagnosis is right. Since repairing a clutch is very labor intensive, you should not be spending money on a hit and miss diagnosis or repair.

You may simply need a tune up and lube job. The shop is also ready to perform maintenance on your vehicle. A good inspection of the car is also a form of maintenance to avoid problems in the future.

Before deciding on an auto repair shop, visit the shop, and speak with the owner about the services they provide and their prices. Try to speak to others in the area that have brought their car in for repairs. Ask about certifications and watch the mechanics at work. This can help you in making a decision.

You might be tempted to go to another auto shop for some reason. However, Five Star Auto will repair problems other shops may not even be able to find although they do not do auto body repairs. If you live in Utah and you need a good, reliable, and timely repair shop for your car you may want to see the mechanics at this shop.

If you need to get your vehicle repaired completely and quickly, Five Star Auto has the knowledge and experience to diagnose and fix the problem. Learn more about this quality business and how they make sure your auto is in good working order by visiting http://www.fivestarauto.org today.

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It is important as to who you know when it comes to vehicle repairs. One of the best auto repair shops is five star auto in Grantsville, Utah. Experienced mechanics will provide training for their technicians to guarantee they will be able to find problems, which other technicians could not find. These shops would do different repairs and there is no job to small or too big.

Finding a good mechanic is much easier than it seems. This is the one industry where word of mouth referrals are popular. It would seem that everyone has a story to tell about his or her auto mechanic. Simply ask around in your neighborhood and you will soon find out where you will be able to get the best service. Ask about the type of work that people had done at the local mechanic, the time it took, and the price that was quoted.

There are people who would expect to get their services to be done at the car dealership directly and that would be the only people they wish to deal with. They may have the best and most up to date equipment but you will not be guaranteed a better service. Majority of repair shops will now have new equipment and they will have qualified mechanics.

Look for a repair shop that has been accredited by mechanical groups. This shows that they go the extra mile to ensure they are educated in the latest techniques. A qualified mechanic may specialize in certain areas such as suspension, heating, air-conditioning or electro mechanic work.

The general appearance of the workspace will give you an idea of the type of service you can expect. A dirty workshop with rubbish and old parts scattered all over is a bad sign. So is an office that is cluttered and disorganized. On the contrary, a neat, smooth flowing and professional office environment and workshop will indicate that the company is organized and you can expect a good level of service.

When going to a company for the first time, rather let them do a small job on the car. This will give you an idea of the quality of the work without having to spend a lot of money. Doing an oil job or repairing brakes is a small enough job to assess the quality of the workshop. By doing this one can avoid losing money on a poorly done job.

A logbook should be kept in the car regarding all the services and repairs that have been done on the car. Keep the receipts of these jobs with the logbook. Should there be a current problem with the car then the mechanic can use this information to ascertain what the problem is. This logbook will be helpful should the owner wish to sell the car.

It gives the new owner the impression that the current owner has been serious about looking after the car. At Five Star Auto, the staff would welcome dealing with someone who keeps records and cares about their car.

You can depend on the knowledge of the team at Five Star Auto will meet all your needs and requirements efficiently! You can find the out about the services available now when you visit http://www.fivestarauto.org today!

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Earlier this week I posted about Focus on the Family and their efforts to stop anti-bullying efforts in school, saying it's a back door to homosexual indoctrination.

Candi Cushman of Focus on the Family, Eliza Byard of GLSEN, and author Rosalind Wiseman discuss their claims with Anderson Cooper.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP…

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Tasmania's legislative council is set to consider a bill approved by its Lower House of parliament that recognizes same-sex unions performed elsewhere, ABC News reports:

"Only three of the 25 Members of the House of Assembly – Liberals Rene Hidding, Michael Ferguson and Jacqui Petrusma – voted against the amendment to the Relationships Act. Attorney-General Lara Giddings says the changes will remove discrimination for same-sex couples in registered relationships. 'This is really a small step, but a significant and important step for those people who have registered or been through a civil union process elsewhere around the world and want us to recognise that relationship as indeed being in existence,' she said. Gay rights campaigner Rodney Croome has welcomed the bill and says he hopes it puts same-sex marriage back on the agenda."

The bill now goes before Tasmania's Legislative Council for approval.

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Terry Kroeger, the publisher of the Omaha World-Herald, today announced in a statement that the paper would publish same-sex marriage announcements following anger over its rejection of a local lesbian couple's request.

Writes Kroeger in his statement:

There has been quite a lot written online recently about a practice of this news organization to not accept same-sex marriage announcements.

Today we are changing that practice and setting the record straight on our approach generally toward gay and lesbian issues.

The “Celebrations” page of the Omaha World-Herald has provided a place to buy space to celebrate weddings, engagements, anniversaries and birthdays. It will continue to be just that. Celebrations announcements regarding legal weddings, engagements for legal weddings or anniversaries of a legal marriage will be welcomed, regardless of the genders of the couple. We will not run announcements regarding commitment ceremonies, partnerships and other non-marriage unions, again regardless of gender.

Some will criticize this action because they would prefer that same-sex announcements not appear in their newspaper. Others will say it doesn't go far enough. Our sense is that this change will provide for a public “celebration” of important milestones in the lives of people who take the significant steps toward legally sanctioned marriage. Iowa and four other states as well as the District of Columbia have legalized same-sex marriages. We will publish Celebrations announcements of marriages from those jurisdictions.

Kroeger also personally congratulates the lesbian couple who inspired the change:

Last week, Omaha businessman Jeff Wilke called me about placing an announcement for the planned union of his daughter, Kristy, and Jessica Kitzman. Unfortunately, the conversation ended before we had a chance to fully discuss the matter. Instead, the matter went public on Facebook and generated a firestorm among folks who care passionately about the issue.

So, given that Kristy and Jessica's plans were the genesis of this controversy, let me pause here to congratulate them on their plans. Kristy, Jessica: I wish you a long and happy life together, and congratulate you and your families.

Kroeger concludes: "This news organization is not guilty of hating gays and lesbians. Should we have seen this issue more clearly? Probably. Have we been too slow in reacting to this matter? Maybe. But hateful? Never."

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If you drive a car you are going to experience car trouble. That’s just the way it is, whether you have a relatively new one or an older model, and there isn’t much that is more frustrating that having car trouble. Then again, dealing with incompetent mechanics who require you to being your car back to the shop time and time again might very well come close. When you need work done on your car you need to get it done right and at a reasonable price. It also helps to have the job done right the first time. For these reasons and more you should trust your ride to Five Star Auto.

Located in Grantsville, Utah, Five Star Auto has been around the block. You are not likely to bring your car in with a problem they have seen before. The employees and auto technicians are the best trained in the business and they have the experience that comes from years of working on car problems of all types. There is no make or model they haven’t seen before, and it helps to know when they open the hood they aren’t seeing something for the first time.

David Garn, the owner, requires his technicians to meet the highest quality standards, and as a result he employees seasoned mechanics with years of experience. They can get you in and out quickly with small or minor problems and they get the larger ones corrected in a timely way too. They also get it right the first time.

David is known as someone with the skills to identify even the most unique engine problems. When you have a problem that does not present an obvious solution, you are frequently going to end up bringing the vehicle back time and again. Each trip results in some new diagnosis, and of course a new bill. At Five Star Auto, they pride themselves on finding the real problem, and fixing it, the first time. You will spend a lot less by avoiding all those return trips due to repeated attempts to find the real problem.

There really is no other shop that measures up to Five Star Auto. Some places make it a point to focus their efforts on break service. Others claim to be transmission experts or foreign car experts. The fact is that Five Star Auto can do it all. Remember no problem is too big or too small. They will determine the problem, give you an honest estimate, and get the job done properly.

Think about how great it would be if you could trust the same shop for everything you need. You would no longer have to take your automobile to one place for tire repair, another place for break work, yet another one for transmission service, and still another to find a fix an electrical problem. The technicians are qualified to handle each of these issues and anything else you bring in.

Remember that when you hand the keys to your mechanic you are putting a lot of trust in that individual. You are trusting them with an expensive machine and with your bank account. A shops reputation is everything. Some have developed a reputation for getting every penny they can from their customers. Five Star Auto, on the other hand, makes is a point to communicate with you every step of they way. Their approach is professional and honest, and that is why people come back again and again when their car needs service.

So the next time you have car trouble, regardless of what kind of trouble it is, take your vehicle to a shop that will get the work done in an honest and timely manner. Go to Five Star Auto and relax knowing their experienced technicians will properly identify the problem the first time, saving you both time and money.

Call the professionals at Five Star Auto today and find out how you can save money on car and brake service easily! When you visit http://www.fivestarauto.org now, you can find the top repair team available now!

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Man attemps to mace Fred Phelps' group at soldier's funeral: "Officers on duty for the funeral say Vogel drove up in his Ford F-150 pick-up truck and as he was passing by Westboro Baptist Church protesters he extended his arm out the truck's window and sprayed a large amount of mace into the air from an industrial-sized container."

Weir Johnny Weir is still dodging questions about his sexuality: “'I’m completely self-sufficient,' he says. 'I don’t need anyone for anything. I can have sex with myself, I can love myself, I can do all those things myself. The importance that people place on me not having another half even if it’s just for sex, it’s irrelevant to me. It’s very old-school. When you put people in boxes, you take away a lot of who that person is.'"

Modern Family's Jesse Tyler Ferguson says that the show's much-anticipated gay smooch episode has been shot: "Yes, we filmed the kiss episode. It's a very organic kiss. People are going to be very surprised when they see it."

Alexander Skarsgard arrives at LAX looking as cool as ever.

The beautiful men of gay pornography are becoming less homogeneous.

Get ready for Kylie's Les Folies Tour in 2011.

Pennsylvania makes a progressive decision about driver's licenses for that state's transgenders.

Jane Lynch's purple number on the read carpet.

Edinburgh rugby player Alex Grove tweets a preview of what you'll see in the team's 2011 calendar come Christmas-time.

If you only watched Fox News last week, you wouldn't even know about Ken Mehlman's coming out.

Crispin Blunt's recent coming out has apparently "completely traumatised" his unsuspecting wife.

Focus on the Family plays the victim card: "We feel more and more that activists are being deceptive in using anti-bullying rhetoric to introduce their viewpoints, while the viewpoint of Christian students and parents are increasingly belittled."

Rihanna has an unfortunate run-in with a curling iron.

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Could Colombia be the next country in Latin America to make an attempt at bringing marriage equality to their people? According to Colombia Reports, many people in Bogota are open to the idea:

"A government-sponsored poll conducted in Colombia's capital found that 63% of Bogota residents are in favor of same-sex marriage, newspaper El Tiempo reports."

"The telephone poll, conducted between December 2009 and January 2010 and published Thursday, asked 1,200 Bogotanos between the ages of 18 and 59 if they supported gay civil unions. Of those interviewed, only 36% said they thought it should not be permitted. The poll found that women were more likely to be in favor of same-sex marriage than men, and also reported a positive correlation between socio-economic status and liberal views."

"'In the lower stratas more work needs to be done … There was a greater acceptance of the issue among those with higher education,' said Carolina Giraldo, director of the Bogota Mayor's Office's Sexual Diversity Department."

"Giraldo said the study was undertaken to investigate discrimination, and the vulnerability of the rights of the LGBT community in Bogota. The study suggests that there is more acceptance of homosexuality in Bogota than in other parts of Colombia."

Earlier this week, the lesbian mayor of Chapinero, a municipality in Bogota, recently announced that she will intends to marry her girlfriend in October.

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On the heels of Ken Mehlman’s coming out earlier this week…

Conservative minister Crispin Blunt has separated from his wife of 20 years and issued a statement on his coming out:

“Crispin Blunt wishes to make it known that he has separated from his wife Victoria. He decided to come to terms with his homosexuality and explained the position to his family. The consequence is this separation.

“There is no third-party involvement but this is difficult for his immediate and wider family and he hopes for understanding and support for them. The family do not wish to make any further public comment and hope that their privacy will be respected as they deal with these difficult private issues.”

Blunt’s friends tell the Daily Mail that the politician, who is 50, has been undergoing a ‘30-year journey’ wrestling with his sexuality

His voting history on gay rights is mixed. While he did vote in favor of adoption rights for gay couples, in 1998 he was opposed to removing the ban on gays in the miltary saying “Military ethos has been progressively undermined. Letting overt gays in is another stage in the process.” The UK lifted that ban one year later.Blunt himself served in the British Army for over 10 years.

Click here to see how he voted on other issues related to gay rights.

Blunt’s niece is actress Emily Blunt, who while promoting the movie Sunshine in which she played a lesbian told the Guardian she wanted “to become a gay icon.”

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