Far and Wide

INSIDER INSIGHT: The buzz at NowPublic

The latest reports on the California wildfires -- including an AP story on the impact of red tape on response times -- are dominating the attention of contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.

NowPublic contributors are also debating the new route for the next Tour de France, and some are salivating over a new Honda motorcycle.

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

NowPublic contributors are also debating the new route for the next Tour de France, and some are salivating over a new Honda motorcycle.

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

-- Eric Carvin

-- Eric Carvin

INSIDER INSIGHT: The world in focus

(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
The California wildfires are dominating the top images in the AP photo report at the moment, according to AP International Photo Editor Michael Feldman, who highlighted some of the best pictures at this morning's AP global news meeting.

The photo above shows a back fire on a hillside in Jamul, Calif., while the one below was shot in the Santiago Canyon hills in Silverado.
(AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
See below for more of Feldman's top photos picks.

-- Eric Carvin

INSIDER INSIGHT: The buzz at NowPublic

The California wildfires are still dominating the attention of contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.

Listen to this audio clip to hear the latest from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy -- and to learn about a punk rock street fair in Mexico.

-- Eric Carvin

-- Eric Carvin

-- Eric Carvin

INSIDER INSIGHT: The world in focus

(AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
A lot of the top images AP International Photo Editor Michael Feldman highlighted at this morning's AP global news meeting came from Southern California, where several devastating wildfires continue to burn. The photo above comes from the Malibu Hills; because of an extended exposure, embers blown in the wind appear as streaks at the bottom of the image.

Below, a helicopter scoops water from a golf course in Valencia, Calif., for use in the firefighting efforts.
(AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
See below for more of Feldman's top-photo picks.

-- Eric Carvin

INSIDER INSIGHT: The buzz at NowPublic

Wildfires in California, zombies in Seattle and safety in the air are all getting a lot of attention among contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

Former spy catcher can call your bluff

(AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

If you're a poker fan, you'll definitely want to check out this story by AP's Pat Milton.

It's about a former FBI spy catcher who's now bringing his investigator's eye to the poker table and sharing his decoding techniques with players eager for an edge in the world of professional poker.

Joseph Navarro says he can size up anyone -- even professional card sharks -- by observing their behavior for mere minutes.

Here's one of his quick tips: When players are confident, they tend to use their hands more and claim more territory at the table. When they have good hands, they generally look down at their chips.

-- Jaime Holguin

In the news Saturday

Straight from the AP wires:

Iran's top nuclear negotiator resigns 
Panel: Kids shouldn't use cold medicines 
Courts-martial for two in Haditha deaths 
Pakistan says It tried to protect Bhutto
J.K. Rowling outs Hogwarts character

Bonfire photo resembling late pope causes stir

(AP Photo/Grzegorz Lukasik/Plinio Lepri)

Do you think those flames on the right look like the late Pope John Paul II on the left?

The bonfire photo was taken by Grzegorz Lukasik, 26, during an April 2 mountainside ceremony in Poland marking the second anniversary of the pope's death. The resemblance of the flames to a silhouette of the country's beloved son is causing quite a stir.

For more on the bonfire-pope photo, read this report filed today from Warsaw, Poland, by Monika Scislowska.

--Paul Chavez

INSIDER INSIGHT: The world in focus

(AP Photo/Jacques Brinon)

The following photos were highlighted at this morning's AP global news meeting.

Above: Parisians ride bicycles in the streets of Paris during a public transport strike billed as France's biggest in years.

And this, former  Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto disembarking the airplane that brought her from Dubai, to Karachi, Pakistan.

(AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

Finally, there's this photo from Iraq (follow the jump).

The buzz at NowPublic

Tornadoes in the Midwest, You Tube blocked in China and a transit strike in France are the top items at NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -- especially photos and video -- into its news report.

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.