ASPEN, Colo. (AP) -- The image was chilling: Snowmobile rider Caleb Moore, launched over his handlebars on a backflip gone wrong, rolled down the landing hill with his 450-pound machine somersaulting behind him.

Run over by his sled, Moore lay on the snow for several minutes before being helped off the course. As of Wednesday, he was hospitalized in critical condition because of bleeding around his heart and a complication involving his brain.

Moore's was the worst accident at the Winter X Games, which wrapped up Sunday night after four days of competition, but it wasn't the only harrowing moment. The wipeouts included a runaway snowmobile that sent spectators scrambling.

Even the highlights were hardly tame. Snowboarding star Shaun White soared a competition record 24 feet into the air during the superpipe competition, and fellow boarder Elena Hight showed off a difficult trick called a"double alley-oop backside rodeo" that involved a couple of backflips and a 180-degree rotation. It had never been seen in a competition.

All that, plus Moore's crash, has some wondering whether dialing up the difficulty each year improves action sports or has simply made them too dangerous.

"Should we be asking these questions? We absolutely should be," said Dan Lebowitz, the executive director of Sport in Society at Northeastern University, which examines the role of sports to promote healthy development and social responsibility.

The people performing these superhuman feats "really are just human," he said. "How do we maintain safety in that progression when that progression sometimes pushes every envelope to some amazingly extreme point?"

Moore's injuries underscore the dangers at Winter X, which was filled with numerous cover-your-eyes crashes.

Halldor Helgason of Iceland over-rotated on a flip in the snowboard big air competition and had to be taken off on a sled with a concussion. Rose Battersby of New Zealand sustained a lumbar spine fracture in a wipeout during practice before the skiing slopestyle competition, which will be an Olympic sport next winter at the Sochi Games.

Then there was this: Summer X Games motocross champion turned snowmobile newcomer Jackson Strong tumbled off his machine during the best trick competition, the throttle sticking and the sled swerving toward fans as they scurried away. The machine came to a rest when it got tangled in some netting and no one was seriously hurt.

Such a scenario had already crossed the mind of Levi LaVallee, a snowmobiler who captured two gold medals only to be sidelined for the final two competitions after tearing a muscle in his back.

"I've always thought about, 'What happens if the thing tips over and the throttle sticks?'" LaVallee said. "It was good, though, because it showed that X Games has a good setup with the fencing."

Whether action sports are too dangerous is an issue that's been raised before.

When freestyle skier Sarah Burke died in a training accident a little more than a year ago in Park City, Utah, there were questions about the halfpipe. Before that, the sport was examined when snowboarder Kevin Pearce suffered a severe brain injury in a fall in the same pipe as Burke two years earlier. Pearce has recovered and served as an analyst at Winter X.

But in general, the athletes accept the risks and defend their disciplines.

"To lose Sarah was such a blow to this entire industry," said snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler, who didn't compete this year as she recovers from a serious eye injury she suffered in training. "This sport brings so much joy, happiness and balance to my life and that far outweighs what could happen. You can't ever live your life with what could happen."

In a statement, X Games officials said they've paid close attention to safety issues over the event's 18-year history: "We've worked closely with athletes, risk management specialists, sport organizers and event managers to present the best possible experience for athletes and spectators. Further measures are constantly being evaluated."

Athletes say they prepare as best they can by trying out new tricks into foam pits and air bags set up at the bottom of courses. But even all the caution in the world can't prevent the fact that sometimes well-practiced maneuvers can go wrong in the air.

"You don't want to live your life in fear because of a situation," LaVallee said. "Look, I'm driving down the road right now and the worst-case scenario is a car could swerve over into my lane and run over me there it is, end of the road.

"That's kind of the same thing we think when we're competing. Hopefully, the preparation and countless hours of training and practicing will prevent the worst-case scenario from happening."

Tucker Hibbert the Shaun White of snowmobiling after winning his sixth straight SnoCross title just hopes casual fans understand that what they see on television is not true snowmobiling.

"You're seeing the most extreme side of what we do," Hibbert said. "That's a lot different than what the average person does on a snowmobile."

Hibbert doesn't participate in events such as best trick because, "I just wasn't born with those skills. I sit back and watch those guys, enjoy what they do."

He paused.

"You just hate to see anyone crash, anyone get hurt," Hibbert said.

Moore was in the middle of an impressive run in the freestyle event when he caught the top of the hill that was serving as a landing area. He initially walked away with help and went to a hospital with a concussion.

Moore later developed bleeding around his heart and had surgery. His family said that Moore, of Krum, Texas, also had a complication involving his brain.

Colten Moore, Caleb's younger brother and defending champion in the event, separated his pelvis in a crash later that same night.

LaVallee is no stranger to horrific wipeouts.

While training for the "Red Bull: New Year. No Limits" daredevil series two years ago in Southern California, LaVallee lost control of his snowmobile high in the air and landed violently on his side, bouncing down the landing ramp. He broke ribs, cracked his pelvis, collapsed one lung and punctured the other.

But he returned the next year and jumped a record 412 feet, 6 inches.

"We're passionate about the sport that we're in," LaVallee said.

"Anyone who competes has that drive to succeed, to go bigger than the next person or be the first one to do it."

The mentality is similar throughout action sports, even if the bar keeps getting raised.

"There are going to be benchmarks set and people trying to exceed that benchmark," Lebowitz said. "That's just the essence of our society and our social culture."

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First up, those of you with Apple TVs wont have to do anything in order to access the live video feed. Apple has pushed out a small update that automatically added an Apple Events channel for WWDC to users home screens. Simply tune into that channel at 1:00 p.m. EDT, 10:00 a.m. PDT and youre all set.

[More from BGR: ]

For the rest of the Apple fans out there, Apple has confirmed that it will stream its WWDC keynote live on its website. The stream will work on computers using the Safari browser and on iOS devices, so simply tune intofor the live video feed.

Apple is expected to focus mainly on software and services at this years WWDC, and expected announcements include an overhauled , a new version of OS X, a new streaming music product, enhancements to several of Apples existing services and a few refreshed MacBook computers.

This article was

Starting this month, the fast-food chain says participating 24-hour restaurants in select locations will offer an "After Midnight" menu that includes its Egg McMuffin, Big Mac and Chicken McNuggets. Customers will be able to create "Midnight Value Meals," with either fries or hash browns as their side items, McDonald's says.

A mockup of the menu provided by the company showed an Egg McMuffin paired with French fries, next to the heading, "Dinner or Breakfast? Yes"

The rollout of the menu, which is available from midnight to 4 a.m., builds on a "Breakfast After Midnight" menu the company has been testing. McDonald's notes that franchisees may adapt their offerings based on local preferences.

McDonald's CEO Don Thompson had said in a CNBC interview earlier this year that the company was open to expanding its breakfast hours. Fans of McDonald's breakfast have long wanted the chain to make its Egg McMuffins and biscuits available later in the day. But a hurdle for the company is that operations behind the counter would get too complicated, with workers having to juggle such a wide array of items in a limited space.

Still, Thompson noted at an analyst conference last week that the company is looking to improve its performance by expanding hours and noted that breakfast is a "growing category."

The "After Midnight" menu is already available in northern Delaware and College Station, Texas, according to McDonald's. A spokeswoman did not immediately know how many of its more than 14,000 U.S. restaurants would offer the menu.

McDonald's says nearly half of its restaurants are open 24 hours.

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LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Ang Lee apparently isn't feeling very tyrannical anymore.

The "Life of Pi" director has dropped out of the FX pilot "Tyrant," which would have marked his television directorial debut.

The pilot, from "Homeland" producers Howard Gordon and Gideon Raff, along with Craig Wright ("Six Feet Under"), follows an unassuming American family drawn into the workings of a turbulent Middle Eastern nation. Raff created the pilot, which was developed by Gordon and Wright.

Raff handled writing duties for the pilot, which comes from Teakwood Lane, Gordon's production shingle with 20th Century Fox Television.

(Logo - )

Recall Summary

Name of product: Easy Go XP Lock Via Ferrata Lanyards

Hazard: The elastic webbing on the lanyards can deteriorate over time and break while in use, posing a risk of serious injury or death to the climber.

Remedy: Replacement, Refund

Consumer Contact: Liberty Mountain; toll-free at (800) 366-2666, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. MT Monday through Friday, or online at . Click on "Contact Us" for more information.

Photos are available at.

Recall Details

Units: About 140

Description: This recall involves Easy Go XP Lock Via Ferrata Lanyards used for shock absorption on Via Ferrata mountain climbing routes. The lanyard has two elasticized webbing branches with self-locking carabiners at each end. Recalled units can be identified by the elasticized webbing. "EASY GO XP LOCK" is printed on a white tag sewn into the zipper pouch.

Incidents/Injuries: None reportedRemedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled lanyards and contact Liberty Mountain for a refund or replacement.Sold at: Specialty climbing shops nationwide and online at Amazon.com and other internet retailers between April 2011 to August 2012 for about $120.Importer: Liberty Mountain, of Salt Lake City, Utah

Manufacturer: Singing Rock, of Ponikla, Czech Republic

Manufactured in: Czech Republic

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on .

Media Contact

Please use the phone numbers below for all media requests.

Phone: (301) 504-7908

Spanish: (301) 504-7800

CPSC Consumer Information Hotline

Contact us at this toll-free number if you have questions about a recall:

800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054)

Times: 8 a.m. 5:30 p.m. ET; Messages can be left anytime

Call to get product safety and other agency information and to .

CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals contributed to a significant decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online toor call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at , on Twitteror by subscribing to CPSC's .

SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Lee Rigby, of 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, who had joined the army in 2006, was posted in Cyprus, Afghanistan and Germany before becoming a recruiter, assisting with duties in the Tower of London.

"All he wanted to do from when he was a little boy was be in the Army," Rigby's family said in a statement issued through the Ministry of Defense. "He wanted to live life and enjoy himself."

The family said that Rigby would "do anything for anybody," always looked out for his sisters and took a "big brother" role with everyone he met.

"He was a loving son, husband, father, brother, and uncle, and a friend to many," the statement added.

Rigby, nicknamed Riggers, was an important member of the Corps of Drums who was known for his good nature and wit, as well as his love of his hometown soccer team, fellow soldiers said. Two men believed to have extremist Islamic beliefs are suspected of attacking and killing him.

"He was one of the battalion's great characters, always smiling and always ready to brighten the mood with his fellow Fusiliers. He was easily identified ... on parade by the huge smile on his face and how proud he was to be a member of the Drums," Warrant Officer Class 1 Ned Miller said in a statement issued by the defense ministry. "He would always stop for a chat just to tell me Manchester United would win the league again."

The ministry said Rigby had a 2-year-old son, Jack.

"His loss will be felt across the battalion, but this is nothing compared to how his family must be feeling at this difficult time," said Capt. Alan Williamson, the adjutant of the 2nd Fusiliers in the statement.

A small group of mourners gathered Thursday at a church in Woolwich near where Rigby was killed to remember him. The Rev. Christopher Chessun said he had come to show solidarity with members of all faiths shocked by the killing.

Help for Heroes, a military support charity, said it was working hard to keep up with the many people who were showing their solidarity by buying T-shirts and hoodies.