Authorities Search For Answers As Fort Hood Shooter Lies In Coma Nov 6, 20092:22 PST

Friday, November 6, 2009.

In the aftermath of the worst shooting ever at a military base on U.S. soil, authorities, investigators, and journalists race to piece together details about the shooter, who lies in a coma after being wounded by police. In sports, the Yankees celebration in New Yok hasn’t managed to distract fans from reports of Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum’s run in with the law, and we get you ready for tonight’s movies with a look at the new Clooney film “The Men Who Stare At Goats”. This is your Daily Surf Report, using the best videos on the web to keep you abreast of the day’s top stories.

Who Is Nidal Hasan, The Fort Hood Shooter?

When the bullets stopped, when the suspected shooter was in custody, when the victims who remained wounded but alive were under the care of hospital staff, the search for an explanation began. Military, Federal, and state authorities have identified U.S. Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan as the one who opened fire during an assembly at Fort Hood Army Base in Fort Hood, TX; a blood bath that left 13 soldiers dead and 31 wounded. Of the wounded, 28 remain in the hospital in stable but critical condition, including Hasan, who received multiple gunshot wounds and is reported to be in a coma.

President Obama has ordered the flags at all Government facilities to be flown at half mast in honor of the soldiers who died.

Hasan is an Army psychologist who specializes in administering mental health therapy to soldiers returning from duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was himself scheduled for deployment to the front lines of the war, a situation that may have led to yesterday’s bloody incident.

Investigators and journalists are frantically assembling a portrait of who Hasan is, and what may have led to his decision to open fire with two automatic pistols on almost 300 unarmed soldiers in line for an exam. Hasan, who was born in Virginia and is a lifelong Muslim, reportedly shouted “Allah Akhbar” (God is great) as he opened fire. The barrage of gunfire lasted for over three minutes before a military police woman ended it by shooting Hasan multiple times.

This video report interviews one of the top military officials overseeing the case for an updated report on Hasan’s background and the events at Fort Hood:

Giants’ Lincecum Makes Giant Mistake

San Francisco Giants ace Tim Lincecum is arguably the best pitcher in baseball. Having just completed only his third year in the majors, Lincecum already has one Cy Young Award for the National League’s top pitching performance in 2008, and is a top candidate for a second one for his 2009 performance, where he went 15-7 with a 2.48 ERA. His early success have revitalized the Giants’ franchise and made Lincecum a celebrity and a role model, positions he may regret as his most recent exploits make him a headline for something that happened off the field.

Lincecum was charged with speeding and misdemeanor marijuana possession when he was pulled over by a highway patrolman in his home state of Washington.  Washington State authorities report that Lincecum, who entered a plea of “not guilty” in court today, complied fully when asked to surrender the pipe and 5.5 grams of marijuana in the center console of his vehicle.

Although the charge is a minor offense that carries only a fine as a penalty, as with Michael Phelps (who was caught smoking marijuana earlier this year), the repercussions from disappointed fans maybe far harsher than anything the Judge in his upcoming Dec. 22nd court decision will impose on him. This YouTube video, from a dedicated fan who goes by the nickname “lincecumfan55″, is an example of the type of message Lincecum will be hearing for months to come:

Opening Today: The Men Who Stare At Goats

Friday means new movies, and the highlight for this week must be the awkwardly titled “The Men Who Stare at Goats“. Starring George Clooney and Ewan McGregor and featuring Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges, The Men Who Stare At Goats chronicles the reportedly true story of a Government initiative to train a group of soldiers with psychic powers.

This scene shows Spacey and Clooney early in their training, with Clooney’s character, Lyn Cassady, shows an uncanny aptitude for telepathic reading.

Click below for the full trailer, but an alternate trailer takes a shot at the now infamous promo for this year’s big buzz winner, Paranormal Activity.

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