Google honors Freddie Mercury with rockin' birthday tribute video

Today, September 5, would be the 65th birthday of British rock legend Freddie Mercury, the Queen frontman who died on November 24, 1991 from bronchopneumonia that resulted from a years-long battle with HIV/AIDS. He was 45-years-old.

To honor this musical genius, Google has created a 98-second-long animation, set to Queen’s 1978 hit “Don’t Stop Me Now,” which was written by Mercury. The Google Doodle appears on the Google homepage for many countries around the world — not the US, however, as we are celebrating Labor Day, not Freddie Mercury’s birthday.

Accompanying Mercury’s Google Doodle is a revealing and heartfelt blog post by Queen guitarist, Dr. Brian May, which appears on the official Google blog. A selection:

“To create with Freddie was always stimulating to the max. He was daring, always sensing a way to get outside the box. Sometimes he was too far out … and he’d usually be the first to realise it. With a conspiratorial smile he would say ‘Oh … did I lose it, dears?!’ But usually there was sense in his nonsense—art in his madness. It was liberating. I think he encouraged us all in his way, to believe in our own madness, and the collective mad power of the group Queen.

“Freddie would have been 65 this year, and even though physically he is not here, his presence seems more potent than ever. Freddie made the last person at the back of the furthest stand in a stadium feel that he was connected. He gave people proof that a man could achieve his dreams—made them feel that through him they were overcoming their own shyness, and becoming the powerful figure of their ambitions. And he lived life to the full. He devoured life. He celebrated every minute. And, like a great comet, he left a luminous trail which will sparkle for many a generation to come.”

The Google Doodle is the work of illustrator Jennifer Hom and her team, who spent three months creating the intricate illustration.

“Considering how colorful Freddie’s career was, we wanted to create a doodle that was just as colorful,” Hom told NBC.

“We’re all really excited because it is such a big doodle,” Hom added. “It’s definitely not our normal doodle.”

In addition to the Google Doodle, the Freddie For A Day fundraising campaign has released the entire one-hour-and-36-minute video of Queen’s classic performance at Wembley Stadium in 1986, in honor of Mercury’s 65th birthday. Proceeds raised by the Freddie For A Day campaign go to the Mercury Phoenix Trust, a charity set up in Freddie Mercury’s name to help fight HIV/AIDS.

Watch both videos below:

Freddie Mercury Google Doodle

Queen’s 1986 Wembley performance

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Giant crocodile captured alive in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Villagers and veteran hunters have captured a one-ton saltwater crocodile which they plan to make the star of a planned ecotourism park in a southern Philippine town, an official said Monday.

Mayor Edwin Cox Elorde said dozens of villagers and experts ensnared the 21-foot (6.4-meter) male crocodile along a creek in Bunawan township in Agusan del Sur province after a three-week hunt. It could be one of the largest crocodiles to be captured alive in recent years, he said, quoting local crocodile experts.

Elorde said the crocodile killed a water buffalo in an attack witnessed by villagers last month and was also suspected of having attacked a fisherman who went missing in July.

He said he sought the help of experts at a crocodile farm in western Palawan province.

"We were nervous but it's our duty to deal with a threat to the villagers," Elorde told The Associated Press by telephone. "When I finally stood before it, I couldn't believe my eyes."

After initial sightings at a creek, the hunters set four traps, which the crocodile destroyed. They then used sturdier traps using steel cables, one of which finally caught the enormous reptile late Saturday, he said.

About 100 people had to pull the crocodile, which weighs about 2,370 pounds (1,075 kilograms), from the creek to a clearing where a crane lifted it into a truck, he said.

The crocodile was placed in a fenced cage in an area where the town plans to build an ecotourism park for species found in a vast marshland in Agusan, an impoverished region about 515 miles (830 kilometers) southeast of Manila, Elorde said.

"It will be the biggest star of the park," Elorde said, adding that villagers were happy that they would be able to turn the dangerous crocodile "from a threat into an asset."

Despite the catch, villagers remain wary because several crocodiles still roam the outskirts of the farming town of about 37,000 people.

They have been told to avoid venturing into marshy areas alone at night, Elorde said.

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The War on Terror: Key events

We look at the key moments in the years before and after the tragic September 11 attacks.

The September 11 terrorist attacks undoubtedly changed the face of the world we live in. But what were the key events that helped lead to that tragic day, and how did they help spark the wider War on Terror? Click below for our analysis of 9/11 in context.

However, officials in the state's home department did not confirm whether Anna had set these conditions.

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Anna Hazare in grave danger?

Maharashtra government has offered top level security to the 73-year-old.

Mumbai: Anna Hazare's life seems to be in danger if Maharashtra government is to be believed. For the government is mulling providing the anti-corruption activist Z-level security which is just one rung lower than the Z+ enjoyed by top politicians.

The moves comes after the anti-corruption crusader returned to his village, Ralegan Siddhi, in Ahmednagar district after ending his 12-day fast in New Delhi for the Lokpal Bill.

Ahmednagar SP Krishan Prakash has sent a proposal to the state government asking for the social activist to be provided the 'Z' security.

Under 'Z' category, 22 policemen will guard the Gandhian. The state government had on Saturday also sent a police team to visit Ralegan Siddhi to oversee security arrangements since a huge number of people have been visiting the village to see and hear Anna.

Normally, the government does not provide such high security to private citizens.

The Prithviraj Chavan government is, however, seems seriously concerned about Anna's well-being.

A senior government official explained: "He has become popular and people from all parts of the country are trooping in to meet him.

What if there is an incident? Considering that he was at loggerheads with the Congress over the Lokpal Bill, the blame would fall on us." Unlike in normal cases, where the non-VIP availing the security needs to pay for it, the government would make an exception for Anna and itself bear the cost. In the past too, the Maharashtra government has provided security to Anna.

Even as the proposal awaits clearance, Prakash has already sent in police personnel to guard Anna.

In fact, the security was so tight that when Anna returned, many of his close aides in Ralegan Siddhi - who used to have easy access - could not get to meet him.

Even journalists were not allowed to meet the activist.

This could be the reason why Anna, who probably interacts more with the media than with the common man, is reluctant about getting enhanced security.

He told reporters that freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh did not have any security.

"Why do I need it," he asked. He has reportedly set conditions for accepting the 'Z' security, the prominent ones being that the guards shouldn't be in uniform or curtail his interactions with people.

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Cash-for-vote: Amar Singh, 3 others likely to appear in court on Sept 6

Former SP general secretary Amar Singh, LK Advani's former close aide Sudheendra Kulkarni and two ex-BJP MPs, charge sheeted by Delhi police for their alleged involvement in the 2008 cash-for-vote scam, are likely to appear before a court on Tuesday.

Delhi Police, in its 80-page charge sheet filed before Special Judge Sangita Dhingra Sehgal, had named Amar Singh, Kulkarni, two former BJP MPs Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahabir Singh Bhagora, along with Sanjeev Saxena, former aide of Amar Singh and Suhail Hindustani, alleged BJP activist, who are in judicial custody.

The court had on August 25 taken cognizance of the charge sheet and issued summons to the accused to stand trial for their alleged role in the scam.

Besides asking Amar Singh, Kulkarni, Kulaste and Bhagora to be present in the court on September 6, the judge had also issued production warrants against Saxena and Hindustani who are now lodged in Tihar Jail.

"I take cognizance of all the offences mentioned in the charge sheet," the judge had said.

Crime Branch of Delhi Police, in its charge sheet, had indicted all the six accused for their roles in the scam, involving payment of bribes to some MPs to win their votes in a trust motion for the Congress-led UPA government.

Regarding the role of Amar Singh, the police alleged he had "conspired" with Saxena and others to bribe the then MPs and Kulkarni who had played an "active role" during the confidence motion.

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