Obama At Fort Hood Memorial

Fort Hood Service: Meaning Behind the Memorial

The service honoring those killed at Fort Hood invokes many somber military traditions.

The memorial service that honored the 13 killed in the shooting rampage at Fort Hood invoked many somber military traditions. Here, the meaning behind some of the most common.

Taps
The lone bugle call has been played since the Civil War to musically mourn the fallen soldiers. The composer, Union Army Brigadier General Daniel Butterfield wrote it in the year 1862 to replace the earlier "Extinguished Lights Out," which he thought was too formal. The tune became known as "Taps" because the 24 notes can be tapped on a drum when there is no bugler. Although the call originated with the Northern army, the tradition spread to camps in the north and south, and has become the tradition for the armed forces ever since.

The rifle volley
Firing three shots originated from the battlefield. Once the dead were removed, a volley of three shots would be fired to signal that the battle could continue. That's different from a 21-gun salute, which is generally reserved for heads of state.

The boots on display
President Obama spoke in front of the grim reminders of the deceased men and women: Each of the 13 was remembered with a photo, boots, and a helmet atop an inverted gun. According to army lore, helmet and ID tags represent the fallen soldier. The rifle pointed toward the ground notes a break in action to pay tribute to the dead. The combat boots symbolize the soldier's last march.

The Commander-in-chief coin
After the president spoke, he and the first lady paid their respects. The president left a commander-in-chief coin for each of the fallen. This is a tradition among military officers but considered the highest honor coming from the commander in chief.

The roll call of the dead — the name is called but there is no response — and a final salute are also invoked to bring some closure for the grieving families. As Obama said in his tribute to the 13 lost on the base, not the battlefield, "They were killed here on American soil ... It's the fact that makes the tragedy ever more painful, even more incomprehensible."

Shaquille O'neal Wife Files For Legal Separation

Shaquille O'Neal's wife Shaunie has abruptly flown to Los Angeles and filed a petition for legal separation in Los Angeles County Superior Court ... and Shaq's people think it's all about money.

5peek@n!t have learned Shaunie filed legal papers yesterday in L.A., even though the couple lives in Florida. The petition says although Shaunie is filing for legal separation, she intends to file for divorce. She lists "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for separation.

We're told Shaunie pulled her kids out of school in Florida several days ago and they are with her now in L.A.

Why, you ask, would Shaunie cross the country to file in L.A.? Well, a spouse generally does a lot better in the spousal support department here in California. Shaunie is asking for both spousal and child support -- though she did not specify an amount for either.

Shaunie claims in her papers to be a resident of L.A. since November 8, 2009 -- 2 days ago.

The date of separation is listed as 11-9-09. The couple has 4 minor children. Shaunie wants legal and physical custody of all the kids.

They have been married for 6 years, 11 months.

Letterman Lied About Ending His Affair -- Allegedly

Liar liar Letterman on fire

Mmm! i wonder if David had an affair with Oprah too, they could have acted like they hated each other but getting it on behind the scenes, i'm just sayin--then they kissed and made up, well there's nothing better than make up S3x!!

Letterman was having an affair with his former personal assistant way more recently than David's rep made us believing -- according to documents filed by the alleged extortionist's lawyer.

According to legal papers filed today by the defense, Robert Halderman confronted Stephanie Birkitt in December 2008 with evidence of the affair and she promised to end it. But Gerald Shargel, Halderman's lawyer, claims the relationship continued "unabated" into this past summer.

David Letterman's rep has said the affair ended before Letterman's marriage in March. Dave blew the whistle on the alleged extortion plot in early September.

Today David Letterman's lawyer refused to say when the talk show host broke off his affair with Birkitt. Halderman's lawyer was coy outside court about the Letterman/Birkitt relationship and said we'll be hearing a lot more about this.

In court papers filed today, Halderman's lawyer asked the judge to dismiss the extortion case, on grounds authorities were swept up in "the sensationalism surrounding the indictment" and the grand jury didn't have enough evidence to target Halderman.

The lawyer claims the $2 million demand was "a pure commercial transaction" over a screenplay.

Criminal Case Against Balloon Boy Sheriff Alderden Bursts

Sheriff Alderden from the Balloon Boy fiasco Won't be charged with a crime for running his pie hole about the Heene family -- and revealing that the county's Child Protective Services team had been asked to investigate Richard and Mayumi in the wake of their hoax.

Heene's attorney had claimed Alderden broke a Colorado law, which bars officials from discussing information about a family investigation publicly.

But now, the Larimer County District Attorney's office Says that they "have carefully reviewed all public statements we were able to find of Sheriff Alderden with regard to the Heene investigation ...

... Although Sheriff Alderden references the fact that the Department of Social Services has become involved, he discloses no data or information obtained from a Deparent of Social Services report, nor does he improperly release any identifying information obtained from records or reports of child abuse.

Thus, no criminal charges are warranted."

Janet Jackson Put Up $49,000 For MJ's Funeral

This Jackson was flush with cash -- Janet -- put her money on the line to cover some of the cost of Michael Jackson's funeral, this according to legal documents that were just unsealed.

In the docs, it shows Janet Jackson signed an "initial contract with Forest Lawn for mortuary services in the amount of $103,578.50" and paid $49,372.50 of the bill up front.

According to the docs, the special administrators of Michael's estate were granted permission to pay Janet back the $49k and to pick up the remainder of her outstanding tab.