In The Spotlite

Shopkeeper Miraculously Catches Boy Falling off Escalator - Caught on Video

2010-05-27T23:55:00.026-05:00

A heroic Shopkeeper miraculously catches a boy falling off the top of an escalator in the Basaksehir shopping center on the West side of Istanbul, Turkey, and the action is all caught on video.

The four-year-old boy and his father were shopping at the mall, when the boy began climbing on the outside of the escalator. Of course, children shouldn't climb on either the inside or the outside of the escalator, but the outside can be more dangerous.

The top photo shows the boy after he has "ridden" the outside of the escalator and has reached the top while hanging onto it from the outside. The boy is highlighted in red in the photo.

Ali Apari, the heroic shopkeeper, had followed the lad as he rode up on the outside of the escalator, putting Ali into a perfect position to perform his heroics. Ali is highlighted in yellow in the photo.

Once our adventurous lad had reached the summit, he unfortuitously lost his grip on the hand rail and tumbled backward off the escalator toward the unforgiving floor below. But the heroic Ali had prudently secured a spot on that very same floor beneath the lad, and lay in wait of the wayward boy.

As the lad plummeted toward what may very well have been his doom, Ali snatched him from mid-air preventing what would surely have been a tragic ending.

The second photo was taken as the boy is falling in mid-air. Again the boy is highlighted in red and Ali is highlighted in yellow.

The boy fell from a height of about 15 feet, so at the very least he would have broken some bones. The very worst might have been a total tragedy.

The Washington Post reported that the boy was waiting for his father at the time of the incident.

Swedish Mohammad Cartoonist Lars Vilks Attacked but Undaunted - Video

2010-05-12T21:57:00.002-05:00

Lars Vilks, the Swedish artist-cartoonist who depicted Islam's Prophet Mohammad as a dog in a caricature in 2007, was attacked in a classroom in Uppsala, Sweden, Tuesday, while giving a lecture regarding his experiences with censorship.

Vilks has been under a fatwa issued by Al Qaeda Muslim extremists offering a $100,000 reward to anyone who murders him. It appears that yesterday's assailant initially head butted Vilks, but was then quickly subdued by Swedish policemen before he could inflict more damage.

The lecture was being filmed by a Swedish TV station, but the cameraman missed filming the actual assault because he had directed his camera toward a screening of a film that Vilks was discussing. Once the assault had begun and by the time the camera was again pointed inVilks' direction, he was already on the floor.

Toward the end of the video, a second assailant moving into camera range from the left is seen taking a swing apparently at a policeman. That man is immediately tackled by three policemen andarrested. The second assailant's efforts at assault were utterly anemic as his listless attempt to strike the cop looked as if he had flunked fighting on the school playground when he was a lad.

The lecture hall was filled with shouts of "Allahu Akbar" (God is Great), and many of them came from apparently Muslim women in the back of the hall. It was also the cry of the first assailant as he attacked Vilks.

Vilks' glasses were broken in the altercation, but it has been reported he was not seriously injured. “This was the first time I’ve experienced a physical assault,” Vilks said. “It was a bit of a shock.”

Vilks has taken the fatwa on his life seriously, having installed a panic room and booby traps in his home, along with acquiring a specially trained guard dog he has named "Mohammed."

After Tuesday's assault Vilks remains adamant that he will not give in to the threats from the Muslim extremists. “What you get is a mob deciding what can be discussed at the university. I’m ready to go up again,” he said, meaning he would be agreeable to rescheduling the speech. “This must be carried through. You cannot allow it to be stopped.”

Vilks notorious cartoon of Mohammad was dubbed "Modoggie," and numerous variations of it can be viewed at The Christian News Wire. The cartoon would be considered insulting by nearly any religion, so you cannot blame Muslims for their anger. However, most of us limit our rage and do not push it to the point of issuing a fatwa.

Citations

1) "Fatwa Headbutt: Swedish “Roundabout Dog” Mohammed cartoonist Lars Vilks attacked." http://pajamasmedia.com/zombie/2010/05/11/fatwa-headbutt-swedish-roundabout-dog-mohammed-cartoonist-lars-vilks-attacked/. Zombie. Retrieved 5/12/2010.

2) "Lars Vilks attacked at Swedish University May 11 2010." Video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fg8KRTXDRU&feature=player_embedded. YouTube. Retrieved 5/12/2010.

3) "Lars Vilks attack Aftonbladet with English titles." Video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfW95sSaVVo&feature=related. YouTube. Retrieved 5/12/2010.

4) "'Muhammad cartoonist' Lars Vilks undaunted after new attack [UPDATED]." http://voices.washingtonpost.com/comic-riffs/2010/05/muhammad_cartoonist_lars_vilks.html.The Washington Post. Retrieved 5/12/2010.

5) "Lars Vilks: Swedish Cartoonist Attacked by Muslims Won’t Back Down." http://www.rightpundits.com/?p=6222.RightPundits.com. Retrieved 5/12/2010

6) "'Modoggie' Cartoon Published by Swedish Artist Lars Vilks." http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/912904201.html. Christian News Wire. Retrieved 5/12/2010

Cat Tries to Revive Injured Friend - Video

2010-04-30T23:09:00.006-05:00

Two cats are hanging out in Kızılsaray district of Antalya, Turkey when, suddenly, one of them is hit by a car. The ensuing scenes were caught on video. The male, white cat is seen trying to revive his mate, the female black cat.

Have a look:

When people tried to intervene, the white cat would not allow it. He held people off for two hours. When a vet finally arrived, the black cat was already dead.

Sometimes animals will amaze you when their emotions resemble those of humans.

Trucker Pushes Car Sideways on Highway at 60 MPH - Caught on Video

2010-03-22T15:02:00.002-05:00

The truck driver in this video really did not know he and his rig were pushing another vehicle sideways down the highway at highway speeds.

The female driver of the smaller vehicle survived the ordeal telling the media afterwards that she thought she was going to die.

Girl Brutally Beaten as Security Guards Merely Watch - Video

2010-02-14T14:38:00.007-06:00

A bus tunnel security video shows a 15-year-old girl, Aiesha Steward-Baker, being brutally beaten while three unarmed security guards for the Seattle Metro Transit appear to be merely watching making no effort to intervene.

According to the Seattle-King County Metro Transit that is exactly what the guards are supposed to be doing, even though one guard apparently cannot keep himself from intervening when he is shown trying to shoo the female perpetrator away.

Unarmed security guards with Metro Transit are trained and under orders not to intervene physically when such violent situations arise in the course of their duties. They are, instead, trained to call it in to 911, which the guards in this incident did.

The first video is one from YouTube which shows the encounter pretty much in its entirety:

The public outcry over the video has prompted Seattle’s Metro Transit and King County authorities to remark that they wished the guards had broken up the fight even though they are directed not to do so.

"We are very disappointed in what people see in that video," Metro Transit General Manager Kevin Desmond said. "It was absolutely unacceptable."

Baker’s lawyer, James Bible, is playing the race card. "If this young lady had had blond hair and blue eyes and told police 'These black kids are following me,' the response would have been different," Bible said Friday.

Baker said she asked Seattle police for help several times at a shopping center and Macy's in the hour before the Jan. 28 attack, but her pleas were rebuffed.

However, the Seattle Times reports that friends and relatives of the four arrested have said the situation has been blown out of proportion. They said the two girls have fought often over the past two years, and that Baker has usually won.

The second video is a CBS News report of the incident:

The video has prompted both King County Metro Transit and the Seattle police each to instigate a review of the video to determine whether any policies need changing.

DC Cop Draws Gun Over Snow Ball Fight

2009-12-21T18:28:00.003-06:00

An off duty Washington, DC, policeman draws his gun when local kids pelt his private vehicle with snowballs.

The policeman, who identified himself as Detective Baylor, stopped his vehicle when the kids threw snowballs at it. Upon exiting his SUV, they then pelted him with snowballs.That appears to be when he drew his gun.

Watch the first vid, which is embedded from the Associated Press:

Washington police are now investigating the incident, and it is being reported internationally, with reports even as far away as Australia. Some of the videos have gone viral.

The second video clearly shows that, after Detective Baylor had appeared to have holstered his weapon, a uniformed police officer arrived on the scene and this second officer also has his gun drawn and is holding it down by his right side.

Eventually the second officer also holsters his weapon. Detective Baylor does arrest one young man, and during the arrest the crowd shouts for Baylor to release him.

The second video is a CBS version and is shot from a different angle:

One of the snowball fight participants can be heard telling the uniformed officer that Detective Baylor is "a moron for bringing a gun to a snowball fight."

At that point Detective Baylor confronts that same snowballer by walking up to the young man getting right in his face. Fortunately nothing else happens at that point and Detective Baylor backs off.

How Texting While Driving Ruins Lives

2009-12-19T21:09:00.003-06:00

It seems that virtually all age groups are texting, so all age groups are texting and driving too. The following video graphically shows why texting while driving is illegal in 19 states in the US and will eventually be illegal in all states

The video was made for and with the assistance of the Gwent Police Department, located in Tredegar, Gwent County, South Wales, which is approximately 150 miles west of London in the United Kingdom.

The video is a trailer for a 30 minute film on texting and driving called "COW" that was commissioned by the Gwent Police Department and was produced and directed by Peter Watkins-Hughes, who is an award winning former BBC producer. Hughes also lectures at the Documentary Film & Television department at the Newport School of Art, Media and Design in Wales.

The video was released in July, 2009, and immediately went viral world-wide. Unfortunately, many teens have commented on YouTube, where the video is hosted, that teens click the vid off after aboout 30 seconds. Hopefully, more of them will watch the entire video, and, just as importantly, perhaps their parents will watch it too.

YouTube states that the age groups most watching the video are females between 45-54 and males between 35-54, so at least the parents seem to be watching.

Please be forewarned that the video is graphic in nature.

Please watch:

More information on Peter Watkins-Hughes can be found here.

The YouTube site states that "State of the art digital special effects were utilised to show the impact of what would happen inside the car during impact." The vid's special effects were created by Zipline Creative which is also located in the United Kingdom.

The YouTube site for this vid is here, and it has been viewed over 3.2 million times thus far.

Please do not text while driving. It is just as dangerous as drunk driving.

Fatal Police Shoot Out Caught on Dashcam

2009-12-11T00:15:00.007-06:00

Kansas City, Missouri, police chief, James Corwin, released a video of a fatal shoot out between two police officers and a suspect who had driven his SUV into a tree. The video was filmed September 6th, at 7:45 PM by the dashcams of the police cruisers of the two officers involved.

The video was released today because the Jackson County, Missouri, Grand Jury ruled that the police actions shown in this video were justified.

The first video is an Associated Press raw video of the incident:

The video shows the suspect casually raising his arm to shoot at the officers, as if it was an action he did every day. Although the demeanor of the suspect might suggest he was under the influence, a tox screen of the perpetrator showed he had alcohol and marijuana in his bloodstream, but nothing else that might explain his bizarre behavior.

The two veteran Kansas City police officers exchanged dozens of shots with the perpetrator during the climax to what seemed to be a run-of-the-mill fender bender police call.

"It is a wake-up call," said Mike Perne, the night shift captain on duty that evening. "It was just such a routine call."

The second video is a report from a local TV station, KY3:

The second video shows a slightly different version of the beginning of the incident.The perpetrator, 36-year-old Exae Chavez-Gutierrez, died in the hail of bullets rained down upon him.

The first officer on the scene, who is a veteran of nearly 30 years on the force, was faced with a suspect who only wanted to shoot, not to talk.

Officer Eric Turner, who has 10 years on the force, was the back up officer who arrived on the scene just as the gunfire began.

Chavez-Gutierrez continued to point his weapon at the police officers even after he had been shot and had fallen to the ground, which explains why the officers continued to fire such a barrage of bullets at him.

Neither officer was wounded during the incident, and both have now returned to work.

We may never know why Chavez-Gutierrez acted as he did because nothing else stuck out to explain his behavior.

Chief Corwin commented on the shooting in his blog, saying, "I am releasing this video to show you the dangers KCPD officers face daily. We also are committed to being transparent. No officer ever wants to kill another human being, but as you can see in the video, sometimes they are left with no choice."

Fool Torches Car at Gas Pump - Caught on Video

2009-12-08T15:18:00.006-06:00

A motorist pumping gas at a Kentucky gas station unintentionally set his car on fire on Sunday evening in Versailles, Kentucky, which is near Lexington. The motorist was fortunate to escape uninjured.

No he wasn't smoking and his cell phone did not spark the fire either, but he did enter and exit his vehicle repeatedly while pumping gas. That is all that it takes to set your vehicle and yourself ablaze while pumping gas.

The police officer in the video explained how you might set your vehicle and yourself on fire just by entering and exiting your vehicle while pumping gas. According to News.Discovery.com leaving your car running while pumping gas can also start a fire.

Why and how? "Because a running car generates heat and heat can induce the separation of charges in the atoms or molecules of materials. Separation of charges in the atoms or molecules of materials causes static electricity, an accumulation of charges that desperately needs to discharge. Frequently that discharge feels like a little shock. But if you're near flammable gasoline fumes, that little charge can spark a flame." That is straight from Discovery News at http://news.discovery.com/tech/car-catches-fire-at-gas-pump.html.

The signs on the gas pumps telling you to shut down your engine and not to re-enter your vehicle while pumping gas are there for a reason. But it seems there are still a few folks who need to learn the hard way.

Here are a few posts similar to this one:

MN Vikings Get Speeding Tickets - Adrian Peterson at 109 MPH, Bernard Berrian at 104

2009-12-03T23:38:00.005-06:00

Minnesota Vikings' star NFL running back Adrian Peterson received a speeding ticket recently for driving at 109 mph in a 55 mph zone in a Minneapolis suburb. When the police officer pulled Peterson's BMW over, Peterson told the officer he was traveling at about 85 mph.

The policeman corrected Peterson telling him he was clocked at a cool 109 mph.

"You Sure?" asked Peterson.

"Yup!" replied the officer, and he handed the NFL running star his ticket.

The following is a local TV station report of Peterson's incident:

There may be no speed limit on the gridiron, where Peterson regularly speeds past opposing defenses, but if convicted, Peterson will automatically lose his driver's license for six months.

Just two days after Peterson was caught breaking the speed limit, Vikings' wide receiver Bernard Berrian was apprehended on a Minnesota highway doing 104 mph in a 60 mph zone. It seems that these two Minnesota Vikings have a need for speed both on and off the field.

So far Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress has remained mum on the issue. However, when Childress came to the Vikings as head coach, he made it clear that he prefers his players to make headlines from their on the field exploits, not off the field.

But Adrian Peterson is the Vikings star player, so the coach must walk a thin line between puninshing the player and alienating the fans. Times will tell how Coach Childress handles the situation.

Pittsburgh Steelers Fan Beats and Kicks Pitbull Puppy to Death Before Game

2009-11-23T17:59:00.004-06:00

A Pittsburgh Steelers fan was so upset at his pit bull puppy not behaving that he beat and kicked the poor animal to death right at the start of a Steelers game.

22-year-old William Woodson is being held in the Allegheny County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail, pending a preliminary hearing on animal cruelty next Monday. Mr. Woodson and his live-in girl friend, Christine Gielarowski, who appears to have purchased the dog without consulting Woodson, have argued more than once recently about the dog.

It seems that Woodson did not particularly like the 13-week-old pitbull name Flip. When the dog caused problems for him before the Steelers-Kansas City Chiefs game last Sunday, Woodson allegedly picked the puppy up and threw it down quite hard on the pavement in the street.

A witness told Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, police they saw Woodson kicking Flip down the street shortly after 1 p.m., which is when the Steelers game began. Police said Woodson was supposed to be walking the dog, but apparently he was angry that he was missing the start of the Steelers game on TV.

The witness said that Woodson kicked the dog so hard that he launched Flip into the air and the dog skipped on the pavement. The witness tried to help Flip, but it died in his arms.

"It needs to be told that stuff like this will not be tolerated, whether it's in Bridgeville or whatever community," said Bridgeville police Officer James Lancia. "It's not going to be put up with. You can't just run around abusing animals."

The maximum penalty for cruelty to animals is five years in jail and a $10,000 fine.

The following is an Associated Press report of the incident:

Perhaps the pit bull puppy was not enough of a Steelers fan for Woodson. If this is how angry Woodson gets before the game, imagine how he must get after a Steelers' loss.

Toddler Left Stranded Alone at Train Station by Broken Train Door

2009-11-21T19:20:00.023-06:00

A 3-year-old boy was left stranded all alone on a commuter train platform when a door on a train malfunctioned, separating the toddler from his dad, who was already on the train.

At that point the train promptly left the station leaving the bewildered child on the platform and what most probably was a frantic father stuck on the train with no way to get back quickly to his son.

Fortunately for the child, a good Samaritan stayed right with the boy waiting until the father found his way back to the platform.

A story that might have had a tragic ending turned out well for all involved.

Dad Executes Own Son for Molesting 3-year-old Sister

2009-11-19T18:28:00.135-06:00

A Michigan 37-year-old father has been arrested for executing his own 15-year-old son for molesting his three-year-old half sister. Jamar Pinkney, Sr., was arraigned today for first degree murder for allegedly shooting his own son, Jamar Pinkney, Jr., in the head after the son confessed to improper sexual contact with his sister.

Jamar, Sr., allegedly first pistol whipped his son in the living room of the home where Jamar, Jr., lived with his mother, Lazette Cherry, in Highland Park, Michigan. Then Jamar, Sr., forced his son to strip naked, after which Sr. marched his son outside forcing him to a nearby vacant lot over the protests of Cherry.

Jamar, Jr., apparently painfully aware of what his father was about to do, fell to his knees and cried out, begging for his life, "No, daddy, no!" At that point Jamar, Sr., pulled the trigger on his pistol, placing a bullet, execution style, into the head of his own son.

Lazette Cherry, the boy's mother, told the Detroit Free Press that her son confessed he had improper sexual contact with the three-year-old girl. "I called and told his father. This isn't something you sweep under the rug," she said.

“I hope he rots in jail,” Cherry said of her ex. “He did not deserve that,” she said speaking of her son. “There wasn’t nothing that my son wouldn’t do for his father. He loved his father so much."

"There's no justification for what he did, you know, downright shoot your child," she said. "He didn't rape her or anything. So why did you have to come and take matters into your hands? We said we were going to get him help."

Corbett O'Meara, Pinkney, Sr.'s, lawyer, called the event a "devastating tragedy."

"My client is in shock and in mourning, but is hopeful that his family will be able to come out of this in as whole a state as possible," O'Meara said.

O'Meara said Pinkney Sr. turned himself into authorities and had no previous criminal history. He also said Pinkney had worked "for years" as a letter carrier for the United States Post Office.

Authorities filed a first-degree murder charge Wednesday against Pinkney, Sr., in the Monday shooting death of Jamar Pinkney Jr.

O'Meara said prosecutors should consider evidence of the father's state of mind because of the sex abuse report.

"If something were to happen that would cause a reasonable person to lose control of himself, that is something the prosecution would have to take into account," O'Meara told reporters outside Highland Park District Court.

Judge Brigette Officer entered a not guilty plea for Pinkney, who is also charged with assault. The judge ordered Pinkney jailed without bond until a preliminary examination on December 1st.

After the arraignment, Police Chief Ted Caldwell said, "This is something that's hard to deal with for all the parties concerned, including the police. Highland Park is a small city. These are people who have been members of the community for years."

Shocking Story - Cop Tasers 10-year-old

2009-11-18T23:52:00.003-06:00

Pardon the pun but this one's a bit of a shocker! Believe it or not but an Ozark, Arkansas, police officer tasered a 10-year-old girl because she would not take a shower.

It's a story making news worldwide. Officer Dustin Bradshaw was called to the home by the girl's mother because of a domestic disturbance. Upon arrival Bradshaw found the girl curled up on the floor, screaming. In his police report Bradshaw stated that the girl screamed, kicked and resisted when her mother tried to get her into the shower before bed.

"Her mother told me to tase her if I needed to," Bradshaw continued.

Bradshaw tried to take the 10-year-old into custody, however, the girl's behavior quickly changed and she soon was "violently kicking and verbally combative." He further stated that the girl kicked him in the groin.

That was when he tased her. Bradshaw said in his report that he delivered "a very brief drive stun to her back."

Ozark Mayor Vernon McDaniel said that the girl was not injured, and she is now residing at the Western Arkansas Youth Shelter in Cecil, Arkansas.

However, McDanial isn't sure if Officer Bradshaw acted appropriately. McDaniel asked the Arkansas State Police to investigate the incident, but they have declined to do so. Now McDaniel has asked the FBI to do so.

"People here feel like that he made a mistake in using a Taser, and maybe he did, but we will not know until we get an impartial investigation," said McDaniel.

Ozark Police Chief Jim Noggle, who said that Bradshaw is not facing disciplinary action, also claimed that Tasers are safe.

"We didn't use the Taser to punish the child — just to bring the child under control so she wouldn't hurt herself or somebody else," said Noggle.

Noggle said the officer might have accidentally broken the child's arm or leg if he had forcibly tried to handcuff her. Chief Noggle actually managed to say that with a straight face.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette has reported that the girl's father, Anthony Medlock, said the girl has emotional problems but she was not armed and should not have been tasered.

"My daughter does not deserve to be tased and be treated like an animal," said Medlock. He and the girl's mother are divorced and the mother has sole custody.

St Paul Somali Gang Films Assaults of Pedestrians and Posts on YouTube

2009-11-17T23:26:00.004-06:00

A group or perhaps even an organized gang of Somali men from St Paul and Minneapolis have been filming assaults they made against people unknown to them. The gang assaulted passersby, runners, bicyclists and even children, apparently solely for the purpose of filming the assaults.

Once they had accumulated a sufficient number of assaults on film, they then made a video out of the film and posted it on YouTube. They even filmed themselves, identifying themselves in the process and bragged that more videos were to come.

St Paul police have already identified all of the gang's members, but now they need the victims to come forward to press charges in order to prosecute any of the Somali perpetrators. At this point none of the victims are known to the police.

The first video is the local FOX affiliate's report of the assaults:

The second video is the actual video posted on YouTube by the Somali gang:

The quality of the group's film making leaves much to be desired.

Britney Spears Twitter Account Professes Love for Satan

2009-11-12T13:18:00.001-06:00

Britney Spears Twitter account was hacked early this morning and the hacker posted words professing Britney's love for Satan. Here is what Britney's account said this morning:

Glory be to Satan? Not very original but hackers are supposed to be good at getting into web sites illegally, not at penning memorable words of love. The hacker also papered her Twitter account with "dark and twisty images of the Illuminati" according to E online.

In addition the hacker reportedly wrote "I hope that the new world order will arrive as soon as possible! —Britney."

Once Twitter management was informed, the offensive words were taken down and Britney's account was back to normal with the following apology posted on her site:

What do you want to bet that Britney slept through the entire incident?

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Giant Mountain Rock Slide Caught on Video

2009-11-11T13:25:00.003-06:00

A Mountain rock slide caught on video on Tuesday has closed an East Tennessee highway with giant boulders, many of which are larger than cars, blocking the road. Officials had already been on the scene because of one rock slide discovered by a motorist at 5:30 AM when a second slide was caught on video.

Besides the giant boulders, many full size pine trees slid down the mountain covering US Highway 64 which runs through the Ocoee Gorge in Eastern Tennessee.

"It's pretty common to get rocks coming down, but it's the size and magnitude of this one," said Don Longworth, operations chief for West Polk Fire and Rescue. It requires very large bulldozer type equipment to clear the road of such huge boulders and trees.

Crews had cleared a single lane through the rocks from the first slide, but around 1 PM the mountain rumbled and the second slide tumbled down the mountain recovering the roadway.

Julie Oaks, Tennessee Department of Transportation spokeswoman, said geologists have not yet been able to assess conditions in the slide area. "The problem is it is still raining and there is concern about the stability of the slope," she said. "We will have to wait until the rain subsides before we can get in there to make an assessment."

Drunk Woman Falls in Front of Train, Narrowly Escapes Death - Video

2009-11-10T13:45:00.002-06:00

An apparently inebriated 26-year-old woman narrowly escaped death Friday in the Boston MBTA subway as she fell into the path of an oncoming train. The heroic train driver somehow managed to stop the train just as the very tip of the front of the first car passed over the woman who by this time was lying on the tracks and possibly fearing the worst.

The woman had attempted to stomp out her cigarette and watch for the train at the same time as the train approached, and that is when she stumbled and fell directly onto the tracks. During the whole process she also somehow managed not to touch the electrified third rail, which also might have meant death for the woman.

After the woman fell onto the tracks, other commuters frantically attempted to alert the train driver that someone was on the tracks by waving their arms at the train's driver.

MBTA train operator Charice Lewis saw the passengers at North Station flailing their arms as the train approached the station. At approximately the same time, she heard her radio frantically warn her to pull the emergency brake because someone had fallen onto the tracks.

“It was so close, I thought it was not good,’’ said the 27-year-old Lewis, a train operator from Mattapan. “Afterward she came up with a big smile on her face and I’m like ‘Oh my God, you really scared me,’ ’’ Lewis said. “The most exciting part for me is she crawled out from under (the train).’’

Lewis received a called from the governor after the incident and also was honored as a hero yesterday by Secretary of Transportation Jeffrey Mullan.

The woman on the tracks has not been identified; however, she had scraped her knees but was otherwise was reported to be okay. According to police she had been drinking for several hours before the event. The woman was treated and evaluated at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Lawrence Taylor Mug Shot

2009-11-09T17:12:00.003-06:00

Former NFL great for the New York Giants, Lawrence Taylor, considered by some to be the best linebacker ever, was arrested in Miami for leaving the scene of an accident with property damage, which is a second-degree misdemeanor.

Naturally we have provided you Taylor's mug shot from his hit-and-run accident. Taylor was released on $500 bond, an amount that tells you this was not a high profile incident; however celebrity mug shots are high profile incidents regardless of the bond amount. Now LT's mug has been forever added to the mix.

A Florida Highway Patrol spokesperson said that Taylor was involved in a hit-and-run accident on Sunday in Hialeah, Florida. CBS News Crimesider has reported that Taylor told the cops that he thought he hit a guard rail. State troopers reportedly did not conduct a sobriety test.

LT will be one of the first to tell you that he was one of the greatest linebackers of all time, and he was inducted into the NFL football Hall of Fame in 1999. He had also recently been featured on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars."

Schwarzenegger Tells Assemblyman "F**k You" in Cryptic Letter

2009-10-28T18:03:00.003-05:00

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the hubristic Governator of California, appears to have a puerile streak in him because it has been discovered that he sent San Francisco Assemblyman Tom Ammiano a letter in which a profanity was expressed in a cryptic and surreptitious fashion along the left margin of the letter.

If one extracts just the first letter of each line, you would spell out a rather juvenile insult that read "F*ck You." A copy of the letter is reproduced below with the offending letters highlighted in yellow.

Schwarzenegger typically attaches a message to bills he signs or vetoes telling assemblymen why he took the action. It is assumed that Arnold's profane missive is in response to Ammiano's request that the Governator "kiss my gay ass" during a local Democratic Party fundraiser earlier this month in San Francisco.

Schwarzenegger, who is a Republican, was invited to the normally Democrat only event by former San Francisco mayor and Assembly speaker Willie Brown, also a Democrat.

Arnold gave a brief speech at the event, during which Ammiano and other Dems booed and heckled him, shouting "You lie." After Schwarzenegger left, Ammiano gave a speech criticizing Schwarzenegger for a wide variety of real or imagined offenses.

Aaron McLear, a spokesperson for Schwarzenegger explained to reporters' queries about the letter: "My goodness. What a coincidence. I suppose when you do so many vetoes, something like this is bound to happen."

Ammiano's spokesperson, Quintin Mecke's response was that the assemblyman wants to move on. "We will call it even and start with a clean slate with the governor from here on out."

One might quip that golden state pols have sunken to a social level on parr with junior high school boys, but junior high school boys would probably be insulted by the comparison.

Maria Shriver Caught Talking on Cell while Driving

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Sarah Palin Condemns the Associated Press

Walmart Patron Slaps Stranger's Toddler Daughter

America's Best Public Restrooms

Baby in Stroller Falls under Moving Train - Survives - Video

2009-10-17T17:10:00.000-05:00

An extremely fortunate six-month old baby boy strapped into his stroller rolled off a train platform into the path of an oncoming train on Thursday in Melbourne, Australia. Despite being pushed along the train track for 131 feet, the baby ended up with only a small bump and cut on the forehead.

John Rees, a spokesman for train operator Connex, said "It's a miracle this baby wasn't killed. The baby managed to escape with just a cut to the forehead, I'm told. It's a complete miracle."

The entire incident was captured on closed circuit TV at Ashburton railway station in Melbourne, Victoria. The footage shows the baby's mother momentarily releasing her grasp on the stroller to adjust her clothing, after which the stroller rolls over the edge of the platform just as a train pulls into the station.

One can see in the video that the baby's mother was so distraught that she almost went off the platform after the baby. She probably would have had the train not arrived immediately after the stroller slipped onto the tracks.

The miracle baby was treated at Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital and then released to his mother.

The following video is an Associated Press report of the incident:

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Maria Shriver Caught Talking on Cell while Driving

2009-10-13T18:29:00.006-05:00

Maria Shriver, the celebrity wife of California celebrity Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, was captured on film by paparazzi while she was allegedly violating the law by allegedly talking on her cell phone while driving.

In fact, it happened not once, but twice.

In the photo above published by TMZ.com we see Maria happily chatting away while tooling down some LA roadway last Sunday, October 11, 2009.

If that were not bad enough, they caught her again in July, which is plain enough in the second photo. It would seem that Maria has chosen to carelessly violate the no cell phone use while driving law habitually, even though her husband Arnold supported the law and signed it into law just last year.

Arnold appears to be none too pleased about the matter because he tweeted the following message to TMZ's Harvey Levin, "Thanks for bringing her violations to my attention, @harveylevintmz. There's going to be swift action."

What do you want to bet Maria gets grounded?

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Wow! Just Released Tsunami Footage Shows Large Wave Swamping FBI Office - Video

More Footage of Tsunami Destruction

Drunk Kicks Blind Woman's Seeing Eye Dog - Video

Cops Who Screw Up - Videos

Minneapolis Cops Again Caught Beating Suspect - Video

Wow! Just Released Tsunami Footage Shows Large Wave Swamping FBI Office - Video

2009-10-11T12:14:00.009-05:00

A Newly released video by the FBI shows a giant tsunami wave approaching the FBI office in Pago Pago, which is in American Samoa in the South Pacific. The wave generates a path of destruction in its wake, tossing vehicles about as if they were toy cars.

A young man on foot at first heads directly toward the wave, but he soon corrects his path, turning about completely. Hopefully, he made it to safety in time. It is difficult to know that he did, however, unless he had a vehicle to escape in. A man on foot would not stand much of a chance against a wave moving as quickly as this one.

Watch:

The death toll has risen to at least 184 including Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga. From 6-8 people are still missing according to different reports. The video footage is taken from a security tape in the FBI office on the 2nd floor. The video camera takes periodic intermittent photos which is why the video movement appears jerky.

The FBI office is reportedly about 100 yards from the ocean.

More Footage of Tsunami Destruction

2009-10-04T23:31:00.000-05:00

The death toll from the tsunami that hit the Samoan Islands has risen to 176, plus we have added additional video footage of the destruction from last Tuesday's tsunami.

This video is footage from a helicopter as Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) representatives toured the area of destruction.

The footage is provided by the Associated Press:

**

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Derrion Albert Uncut Video - Chicago Teen Beaten to Death

2009-10-03T22:07:00.011-05:00

16-year-old Derrion Albert was a Chicago honors student at Christian Fenger Academy High School on Chicago's notorious South Side who was beaten to death Thursday, September 24th, during a gang fight only three blocks from school.

Derrion was not a gang banger, but it is understandable why he was mistaken for one because he was wearing clothes similar to many of the gang members. Although none of the gang members were armed with guns or knives, some were fighting with long boards, which appears to be the weapon that took young Derrion's life that fateful Thursday afternoon.

In the following raw uncut video of the fight one young teen in a red jacket can be seen swinging an especially long 2x4 piece of lumber hitting Darrion square in the head. A loud crack can be heard as the plank strikes Derrion's skull, and he then falls to the ground immediately.

Once he is on the ground other teens begin punching and kicking Derrion, while another youth strikes him with another wooden post. Derrion's mother is quoted by WFLD TV, the local FOX affiliate in Chicago, as saying he was "trying to help another student and kind of got mixed in with the crowd of the fight and he was hit.”

Other students and workers from nearby Agape Community Center intervene on Derrion's behalf removing him from the scene of the fight, but he had already suffered sufficient blows to end his life.

The following video is raw uncut footage taken by a student's cell phone and is embedded from WFLD TV. Be forewarned that the footage is violent and graphic:

**
Police have arrested three young men and one juvenile thus far for Derrion's murder. 18-year-old Eugene Bailey, allegedly the teen who delivered the knock-out blow to Derrion's head with the long 2x4, has been denied bail and currently remains in jail.

In addition, three other teens, Silvonus Shannon, 19, Eugene Riley, 18, and Eric Carson, 16, are also being held without bail for their alleged roles in the fight. It is not clear at this time whether Carson will be tried as an adult or as a juvenile.

A spokesperson for the Cook County prosecutor's office said that the melee stemmed from a shooting earlier in the day between two groups of students from different neighborhoods. The melee broke out after classes ended for the day.

Funeral services were held Saturday morning for Derrion at Greater Mount Hebron Church on Chicago's South Side.

Drunk Kicks Blind Woman's Seeing Eye Dog - Video

2009-10-01T20:03:00.000-05:00

It's caught on video! A woman's seeing eye dog is assaulted by a drunk female pedestrian at the entrance to the downtown Target store in Minneapolis.

It is very difficult to see happen in the video, but the woman in the blue shirt gradually angled her walking path over toward 53-year-old Lynnette Lijewski and her service dog, Brook. When she passed Lynnette and Brook, she kicked Brook in the face.

It had to be deliberate because she had such a short amount of time to angle her way over to the pair of them.

Watch this woman and her nasty deed in action:

Is that crazy or what? What could possibly motivate someone to do something like that? It is just so weird! The perpetrator is a 46-year-old local woman, but the police would not release her name initially.

I, for one, would love to embarrass her by publishing her name. She has been cited for animal cruelty, which means she merely receives a ticket, I believe.

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Raw Samoan Tsunami Footage: Photos and Video

2009-10-01T13:18:00.004-05:00

The Samoan tsunami death toll reaches 150 and climbing. The below photos are raw footage of the destruction wreaked upon Samoa and American Samoa, islands in the South Pacific Ocean about 2,300 miles South of Hawaii where the tsunami hit hard. Click on any photo to enlarge it.

Above left: A damaged shop front is seen after a tsunami hit the village of Si'umu in Western Samoa September 30, 2009 in this photo taken by a resident of Western Samoa and forwarded to Reuters. Above right: A car is seen inside a building after a tsunami struck the village of Si'umu in Western Samoa.

Above left: A boat is stranded among wreckage in the village of Si'umu. Above right: Residents walk past wreckage in the village of Si'umu.

Above left: The roof of a destroyed house sits on a road in Leone, in American Samoa, on Tuesday morning. Above right: Damaged vehicles in Si'umu.

Above left: A destroyed structure is seen among debris near a church in the village of Leone, American Samoa. Above right: The roof of a destroyed house sits on a road in Leone.

Above left: A damaged vehicle is stranded among wreckage after a tsunami hit the village of Si'umu. Above right: Wreckage at the site of a village meeting house in Leone.

Above left: The downtown area of Fagatogo, a town of 3,000 on the shore of Pago Pago Harbor in American Samoa, is submerged by seawater early on Tuesday. Above right: A damaged truck in Leone.

Above left: An earthquake event location map generated and released by the United States National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National Weather Service West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center shows the location of an earthquake that the center measured as having a preliminary magnitude of 8.3 occurring in the Samoa Islands Region of the Pacific Ocean on September 29, 2009. New Zealand can be seen at center and Australia at left. Above right: An earthquake location map generated and released by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) shows the location of an earthquake that the USGS measured as having a magnitude of 8.0 occurring in the Samoa Islands Region of the Pacific Ocean on September 29, 2009.

Above left: A tsunami travel time map and table generated by the United States National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National Weather Service West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center shows projected travel times.

The following video is raw footage of the tsunami in the Samoan islands provided by the Associated Press:

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The following Video is raw footage of the destruction in Si'umu, Samoa, and is provided by Reuters:

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Cops Who Screw Up - Videos

2009-09-24T21:21:00.000-05:00

Cops who screw up! One would think there would be so many possible videos on that subject that you could almost post non-stop forever. But this post is going to stick to cops driving their squad car improperly to the point where they end up in very hot water.

Our first vid is about a police car chase that goes wrong, as far too many of them do, it seems. The cop in this first video actually goes through...well, maybe you should just watch it:

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If you think a police officer driving his squad car through the brick wall right into a building is bad, this next video isn't any better. This cop runs into a man in a wheelchair while driving his squad car. Watch:

In grammar school in basic first aid class I was taught: do not move someone injured in an accident. The man in the wheelchair could have further injuries to his spinal cord and not know it. So what does John Law do? He picks the man up and returns him to his chair. John Law flunks Rescue 101.

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Sarah Palin Condemns the Associated Press

2009-09-07T18:07:00.008-05:00

Sarah Palin posted the following note on her Facebook page (1) on Sunday, 9/6/2009 at 11:25 PM

Shame on the Associated Press for Ignoring the Wishes of a Grieving Family

Many of us join Secretary Gates in condemning the Associated Press for its heartless and selfish decision to turn its back on the wishes of a grieving family in order to exploit the tragic death of a true American hero.

Lance Corporal Joshua 'Bernie' Bernard was a selfless young American who sacrificed everything for our freedom.

Shame on the AP for purposely adding to the grieving family's pain. Ignoring the family's wishes by publishing a sacred image of their loved one proved a despicable and heartless act by the AP. The family said they didn't want the photo published. AP, you did it anyway, and you know it was an evil thing to do.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Bernard family. Words can not adequately express our sorrow and appreciation for your sacrifice. We will never forget your Marine or his fallen comrades.

May God bless the Bernard family.

-Sarah Palin

**********************************

Less than 24 hours after posting this Sarah had received nearly 2,800 comments and had also received over 13,000 Facebook members who indicated they agreed with her.

The photo in question is part of a photo gallery on the AP site about the fire fight that resulted in Corporal Bernard's death and can be found here (2). The AP also released an article (3) explaining why they distributed the photo and how anguished they were in deciding whether to use it.

There has been considerable discussion, both pro and con,(4) of AP's decision to use the photo. In all fairness to the AP, in most other wars such photos were commonly used by the media.

In fairness to Sarah Palin and her viewpoint, both Defense Secretary Robert Gates and the parents of the Marine requested that the AP not use the photo.

Palin calls the AP's action "despicable and heartless" and "evil." If one reads the AP's explanation of why they distributed the photo, it is difficult to reach Sarah's conclusion, especially since use of such photos is common throughout much of the world.

But it is also quite likely that Palin is trying to make political hay from her condemnation of the Associated Press. Sounds like she is running for something.

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Citations:

(1) Shame on the Associated Press for Ignoring the Wishes of a Grieving Family, http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=129417598434#/note.php?note_id=129417598434&id=24718773587&ref=mf, Facebook - Sarah Palin, Retrieved 9/7/2009

(2) Death of a Marine: A Photographer's Journal, http://hosted.ap.org/specials/interactives/_international/afghan_marine/, Associated Press, Retrieved 9/7/2009

(3) AP and the Death of a Marine, http://www.ap.org/fallen_marine/, Associated Press, Retrieved 9/7/2009

(4) AP picture of wounded Marine sparks debate, http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AFGHAN_DEATH_AP_PHOTO?SITE=TNMEM&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT, Associated Press, Retrieved 9/7/2009

Minneapolis Cops Again Caught Beating Suspect - Video

2009-09-06T17:39:00.004-05:00

Minneapolis police are once again caught on film viciously beating a suspect, who in this case had already surrendered. Nicolas Kastner is the passenger in the getaway vehicle the police are chasing in the below video. When that car stops and the driver, Brian McCarthy, of the vehicle flees the scene, Kastner does not flee. Instead he lies on the pavement with his arms spread indicating that he is surrendering.

Instead of simply arresting him, however, the two officers beat him severely, kick him several times and tase him at least twice.

The following video is a news report of the incident:

Officer Sherry Appledorn, who has been a Minneapolis police officer for 16 years, is seen in the video standing over Kastner and then is seen stomping on his back with her foot. She stomps on him four times, then she proceeds to kick him nine times.

The police state that Appledorn believes at this point that her partner may have been killed from action that took place prior to what is shown in the video, although they do not say if Kastner is a suspect in that regard. Appledorn's partner, however, is perfectly fine.

Officer Joe Will, who is also a long time veteran of the Minneapolis police with 14 years on the job, next sits on Kastner, after which Appledorn begins kicking him once again.

At this point Appledorn uses her taser on Kastner, tasing him twice.

In a video statement three days after the incident Appledorn states, "The passenger failed to get on the ground. I grabbed him and threw him on the ground face first. [He] started crawling under the squad in an attempt to get away. The suspect refused to place his arms behind his back."

The video clearly shows that Appledorn's statement is a blatant falsehood. Officers Appledorn and Will were not charged in the incident and both are on active duty on the Minneapolis police force at this time.

Kastner's attorney states that he and Kastner have filed a federal lawsuit alleging police brutality, excessive force, and a cover-up - especially by Appledorn.

Minneapolis police chief Tim Dolan said that his department has referred this case to the St. Paul City Attorney for possible prosecution. St. Paul is directly across the Mississippi River from Minneapolis.

This is the second time in less than a month that Minneapolis police officers have been involved in a beating incident that was caught on tape. (1)

The Minneapolis Police department is also suffering criticism because seven of its officers were recently named for being under federal investigation for possible illegal activities while they were members of the multi-jurisdictional Metro Gang Strike Force.

The second video is the raw video of the incident:

The Strike Force was disbanded because of scores of criminal activities by members of the force, (2) including confiscation of cash and property from illegal immigrants and suspected drug dealers. Very little of the confiscated property was ever turned in, but instead became the personal property of the confiscating officers.

Confiscated property included cars, cash, jet skis, TVs, furniture, jewelry, computers, electronic equipment, among other items.

One Minneapolis police officer who is under federal investigation as part of the Metro Gang Strike Force has quit his job amid charges that he used confiscated electronics (3) to stalk his ex-girlfriend.

Plus a Minneapolis Police sergeant who is a former member of the strike force is suing the city of Minneapolis, claiming he was reassigned after trying to blow the whistle (4) on the Metro Gang Strike Force in 2007.

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**********************************************************

Citations:
(1) Minneapolis Police Caught Beating, Kicking Suspect - Video, http://inthespotlite.blogspot.com/2009/08/minneapolis-police-caught-beating.html, In the Spotlite, Retrieved 9/06/2009.

(2) Investigator says gang strike force actions were 'criminal,' http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/08/20/strikeforce-report Minnesota Pubic Radio, Retrieved 9/06/2009.

(3) Minneapolis officer quits amid federal probe of Metro Gang Strike Force, http://www.twincities.com/ci_13227741, Pioneer Press, Retrieved 9/6/2009.

(4) Ex-Strike Force member sues Minneapolis, http://www.startribune.com/local/west/56349982.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUl, StarTribune, Retrieved 9/6/2009.

Walmart Patron Slaps Stranger's Toddler Daughter

2009-09-03T19:25:00.002-05:00

Stone Mountain, Georgia, resident, Roger Stephens, allegedly slapped a stranger's two-year-old daughter Monday in a local Walmart for crying too much.

Stephens had been shopping at the Rockbridge Road Walmart in Stone Mountain, which is a suburb of Atlanta, when he apparently grew increasingly annoyed at the continual crying of a two-year-old girl in the store.

The child's mother, Sonya Mathews, told police that her daughter was crying as they walked down one of the aisles.

Just moments later, slightly before noon, Stephens approached the child and Mathews, both of whom he did not know, and allegedly said, "If you don't shut the baby up, I will shut her up for you."

Shortly afterward, Mathews and her daughter were in another aisle, and the girl was still crying. Stephens allegedly grabbed the girl and slapped her on the face. According to Police he hit the child four or five times.

Afterward he allegedly told Mathews, "See, I told you I would shut her up."

Another shopper stepped forward and held Stephens until store security arrived. The police report stated that, before police arrived on the scene, Stephens did apologize to Mathews for hitting her child.

The toddler suffered redness to her face but, otherwise, was uninjured. She was treated at the scene and left with her mother, who later told CBS Atlanta that she forgives Stephens, but she feels he may have mental issues.

Stephens was arrested and is being charged with felony first degree cruelty to children. He is being held without bond at the Gwinnett County Detention Center.

The following video is a report of the incident by CNN:

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High Speed Police Chase Demolishes Pricey Boat - Video

2009-08-22T00:01:00.001-05:00

A high speed car chase by Connecticut police results in a total demolishing of a stolen high end boat an alleged thief had been towing behind his truck. It has been reported that the alleged bandit reached speeds of up to 95 miles per hour while trying to elude authorities with his purloined treasure in tow.

Perhaps 95 mph car chases may not be the wisest choice when trying to evade John Law while lugging a hijacked boat.

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America's Best Public Restrooms

2009-08-21T20:30:00.003-05:00

The 2009 winner of the award for the best public restrooms in America is presented in the photos below. These incredible public potties can be found at the Shoji Tabuchi Theatre in Branson, MO. Cintas Corporation, which provides restroom hygiene products and services, is the sponsor of the best public restroom award and has been presenting these awards annually for the last eight years.

The above photo is a shot of the men's washroom at the Shoji Tabuchi Theatre, and one would certainly be hard pressed to find a more elegant men's room than this. Click for an ultra high resolution copy of the same photo. Once you arrive at the high res page, click once on the photo to view an enlarged version in which you can view things in far greater detail.

The faucets here are gold plated, the same type found in bathrooms in high end homes. Notice both the fireplace at the far end of the room and the blue pedestals under the wash basins, which add even more color to an already colorful room.

Scan upward to the metal ceiling, which is a throwback to ceilings found in both public buildings and private homes in the late 1890's and the early 1900's.

The second photo finds us in the ladies' washroom at the Shoji Tabuchi Theatre. Click for an ultra high resolution photo of this room. Again click once to enlarge the high res photo. Notice the fireplace again at the far end of the room and the pedestal sinks with more gold plated faucets.

This ladies room features what appear to be dark black fixtures, which must be an absolute devil to keep clean. Like in the men's washroom plenty of flowers adorn the wall above the wash basins.

Our third photo is also from the men's room at the Shoji Tabuchi Theatre, where male guests may relax with a round of pocket billiards. This room provides a double row of visitor seating on either side of the table so guests can watch the pool table action. Once again click to view an ultra high resolution copy of the same photo.

Pay attention to the photos of the presidents at the far end of the room. The portraits deliberately cut off the top of the heads of the presidents, which presents a puzzle. Perhaps there was a time in US history when that was the norm for such a photo. If any of you know more about that, please inform us in the comment area below.

The quality of the rest rooms at the Shoji Tabuchi Theatre in Branson truly impresses. Obviously, not every company can afford to make its restrooms so luxurious, but it is fun to know that at least one company is willing to go to such lengths for the comfort of its guests.

View and read here about other top restrooms that made Cintas' list of tops in the US.

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Minneapolis Police Caught Beating, Kicking Suspect - Video

2009-08-17T12:20:00.010-05:00

Minneapolis police have been accused of beating a suspect while apprehending him. In the following video several Minneapolis officers are seen punching Derryl Jenkins of Brooklyn Center, MN, repeatedly and are also seen kicking him as well while he was being held face down in the snow during a traffic stop.

Arresting officer Richard Walker said Jenkins smelled of alcohol and was uncooperative. Since both Jenkins and Walker are both African American, race is not an issue in this incident.

This video is an abbreviated version of the original, and is embedded from the Associated Press:

Minneapolis police Chief Tim Dolan stated that he was concerned about the officers kicking the suspect. In fact the video, which was taken by police car dashcams, prompted Chief Dolan to ask the FBI to investigate the incident, which is a very unusual request for a Minneapolis police chief.

The second video is a report on the incident by a local reporter. About 54 seconds into the video a small box will appear on the screen highlighting one of the police officers kicking Jenkins:

The Minneapolis police Internal Affairs unit has determined that the police seen in this video did nothing wrong even though kicking a suspect is behavior that is not sanctioned by the police. Internal Affairs determined that the officers' behavior was appropriate for the situation.

Despite the Minneapolis Police Department's determination that the officers did nothing wrong, the Hennepin County Attorney's office decided to dismiss all charges against Jenkins "in the interest of justice" and reinstated Jenkin's drivers license.

Jenkins had been charged with fourth degree assault and refusal to take a breathalyzer test. In Minnesota refusal to take a breathalyzer test results in automatic suspension of your drivers license, which means that any police officer has the power to take away your license merely by saying you refused a breathalyzer test.

This next video is the complete unabridged version of the incident and was distributed by Derryl Jenkin's lawyer Paul Edlund:

Some officers sent each other text messages after the incident, one of which called the incident "a good fight."

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Vanessa Hudgens Talks Bandslam - Video Interview

2009-08-16T20:27:00.001-05:00

Vanessa Hudgens has decided to branch out to an edgier character type in her role as Sa5m (pronounced Sam, the "5" is silent) in the movie Bandslam which has only recently opened in theaters.

Gone is the squeaky clean image she portrayed as Gabriella Montez in the High School Musical trilogy.

As Sa5m, Vanessa plays a moody, loner type, and her character is still stuck in high school. You cannot expect a more mature role for Vanessa because she is only 20-years-old herself, and her fan base are the tweens and teens who supported her so strongly in High School Musical 1,2, and 3.

In Bandslam, Sa5m falls for Will Burton (played by Gaelan Connell), who is a transfer student to Sa5m's high school and is also an outsider like Sa5m.

Sa5m must compete for Will's attention with Charlotte Banks (played by Aly Michalka), who gets Will to manage her rock group for an upcoming battle of the bands contest called Bandslam, naturally.

Vanessa recently gave an interview to Kam Williams, which we have partially included here:

KW: Hi Vanessa, thanks for taking some time out from your hectic schedule to give me an interview.

VH: Of course!

KW: I know you're in the middle of making a public appearance right now, and it sounds like you're being mobbed by fans as we speak. Are you okay?

VH: It's a little crazy, but it's all good.

KW: Great! Well, what interested you in playing Sa5m in Bandslam?

VH: Just the fact that she was different from the character I was stuck playing in High School Musical. Hearing "introverted" and "deadpan" in the same sentence was interesting, and that was what I was looking for.

KW: How was it working with Todd Graff as a director?

VH: He was great. It was nice having him as a director, because he used to be an actor as well. So, he was totally there for the actors which was really nice.

KW: And how did you get along with your co-stars Gaelan (Connell) and Aly (Michalka) and the rest of the cast?

VH: It was a blast! We had so much fun. Aly's an amazing girl. We went shopping, and South by Southwest (Music and Film Festival) was going on in Austin while we were shooting there. So we went to see Willie Nelson, and we saw a bunch of movies with the cast, too. It was just fun, a lot of fun!

KW: I knew that you played piano, but is there any truth to the rumor that you do your own guitar playing in Bandslam?

VH: Yes, I learned how just for this movie.

KW: Are you going to keep playing guitar?

VH: I guess that's kind of a given, but I haven't really picked one up again yet. I should, and wish I had, but I haven't.

KW: I understand you received classical voice training as a child.

VH: Yeah, my professional training was in opera.

KW: You sing, dance, play instruments and act. Which is your favorite?

VH: Umm.... Acting is the one that I've always pursued the most, though I do miss dancing like crazy.

KW: What type of message do you think Bandslam is trying deliver to its audience?

VH: To not be afraid to try new things. I think this movie really breaks it down to show how easy things can be if you really just give it a shot.

KW: How did it feel to be named to People Magazine's 100 Most Beautiful People in the World List two years in a row, last year and again this year?

VH: [Giggles] It's nice... It's flattering... But it's weird in a sense, too. [Laughs] I don't really think about it every day.

KW: You're a beautiful mix of many different ethnicities. Is there any one with which you identify the closest? (Vanessa's father is Irish and Native American, while her mother is Filipino, Japanese and Latina. Thus the jet black hair.)

VH: I was pretty much raised American. Parts of my mom's Filipino culture I love, but I'm pretty much American.

KW: You also made Forbes Magazine's High Earners under 30 List. So you were named both the most beautiful and most successful while still in your teens.

VH: It's bizarre. It's a crazy thought. I think that if I really stopped to think about it too much, it would get a little overwhelming. But honestly, I don't dwell on it, so it never really sinks in. Therefore, I genuinely don't have a reaction to it. I hear about it, but I'm generally too busy going through the motions.

KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?

VH: No, I think I've been asked every single question in the book over these past four years. [Chuckles]

KW: The Tasha Smith question: Are you ever afraid?

VH: Everybody gets afraid.

KW: The Columbus Short question: Are you happy?

VH: I'm extremely happy.

KW: The Teri Emerson question: when was the last time you had a good laugh?

VH: About five minutes ago.

KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?

VH: I'm reading Cannery Row by John Steinbeck.

KW: The music maven Heather Covington question: What music are you listening to nowadays?

VH: The Kings of Leon.

KW: What would you say has been the biggest obstacle you have had to overcome?

VH: There've been plenty of things. I think just being in the business there's so much to overcome. I'm still overcoming things now. For example, getting a different type of role after High School Musical was tough. I've really had to work hard to get the parts that I've gotten so far.

KW: Tell me a little about your two upcoming movies, Beastly and Sucker Punch.

VH: Sucker Punch is a fantasy-action and Beastly is a modern interpretation of Beauty and the Beast. It's a bit edgier. It's about a vain guy who gets turned into a creature by this witch played by Mary-Kate Olsen. He has to find true love, but it's sexy and edgy, and I'm really excited for people to see it because it has a great message.

KW: Speaking of vanity, when you look in the mirror, what do you see?

VH: I see a reflection of myself. [Chuckles]

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?

VH: My favorite dish to cook? Honestly? Whole wheat toast with almond butter and jelly. [Laughs]

KW: The Laz Alonso question: How can your fans help you?

VH: By watching Bandslam on August 14th!

KW: Thanks again Vanessa, and best of luck with Bandslam and all your other projects.

VH: Thank you very much. You take care. Bye-bye.

Sucker Punch is an action movie that is due out in 2011, and Beastly is a teen romance flick scheduled to release in 2010. Beastly is based on The Beauty and the Beast. Guess which part Vanessa plays.

In the following video Vanessa Hudgens discusses her new movie Bandslam on Jimmy Kimmel Live:

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Grim Sleeper Serial Killer Still Baffles LA Police

2009-08-13T16:02:00.005-05:00

The Grim Sleeper, as he is called, has taken 11 lives thus far over a period of more than two decades in the South Central area of Los Angeles. Yet this psychopath is a serial killer who has the LA homicide detectives baffled so far. They have been unable to stop him or discover his identity.

Plus he is also involved in one other case of attempted murder where he shot the victim at point blank range inside his car and then tossed her out of the car to die on the streets of South Central LA.

The victim of that attempted murder was Enietra Margette (not her real name), who did not die on that fateful day 21 years ago and who is the Sleeper's sole surviving victim. Enietra describes the killer as an African American in his early 30's (which would make him in his early 50's now).

On the day she met him on Saturday, November 19, 1988, he looked neat, tidy and kind of geeky. He was a thin preppy type and wore a black polo shirt which was tucked into khaki trousers.

The killer offered her a ride multiple times, but she declined continuously until, finally, she relented.

His vehicle of choice that fateful day was an orange Ford Pinto with a white racing stripe on its hood. To Margette “it looked like a Hot Wheels car,” but the interior impressed her.

The car's standard gear shift knob had been replaced with a marble ball the size of a ping-pong ball. The car's interior was white with a white diamond-patterned upholstery.

Enietra and the killer exchanged banter for a while, then he suddenly pulled a pistol from a compartment in the Pinto and shot her in the chest while they were driving.

A surprised Margette remembers being totally baffled about what had just occurred. Why did he shoot her, she thought, and who would take care of her kids if she died?

The following podcast is a 911 call perhaps made by someone who witnessed the killer dump the body of the fourth victim:

Read the transcript of the 911 call.

Blood began trickling down her face onto her blouse, which quickly became soaked with blood. Enietra fell unconscious but was awakened by a flash bulb. The killer had taken her photo and had raped her.

She begged him to take her to a hospital, but he refused because he said he did not want to get caught. They sped through the night with her in the passenger seat beside him, bleeding.

Finally the killer pulled the car over to the side of the road, and there he beat her repeatedly over and over with his gun. After that he pushed her out of the car onto the street and into the darkness of the night to die.

But Enietra refused to die. Somehow she managed to walk several blocks to a friends house leaving a circuitous trail of blood in the street and on parked cars along the way.

When she finally arrived at her friend, Lynda Lewis', house, Lynda wasn't home. Instead Lynda and her husband had gone ahead to a party that Enietra had also planned to attend. Enietra collapsed on the front porch.

Lewis and her husband returned home about 1 AM, finding Enietra lying on their porch, nearly incoherent.

Once in the hospital, doctors were unsure if she would survive the night. Somehow she did survive, and Enietra began the long, hard journey back to a normal life fighting through physical therapy sessions and the like.

Enietra is the only known survivor of an attack by the Grim Sleeper. But at least 11 other victims were not as fortunate as she. The Sleeper's tally of victims thus far is 11-1, or at least that is the running total of the victims that we know of.

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Henry Gates 911 Call

2009-08-02T08:36:00.000-05:00

Professor Henry Lewis Gates Jr's 911 call has been released by the Cambridge, MA, police. Lucia Whalen called 911 when she suspected that Gates was breaking into a house.

The following is her 911 call to police reporting the incident:

Obviously, Ms Whalen only made a reference to the perp's race when she was asked to do so by the 911 operator, which puts to rest any insinuations that the 911 call was racially motivated.

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Professor Gate's Neighbor Sides with Police

2009-07-26T14:00:00.001-05:00

Henry Louis Gates Jr., the Harvard professor who has cried racism over his arrest at the hands of Sergeant Jim Crowley of the Cambridge, MA, police, has been milking the incident for all of the publicity he can get from it including publicly calling President Obama his "friend." The detail that bugs me more than anything else about this fiasco is that so far, everyone at the scene of the incident, other than Gates, supports the police officer's version of what occurred.

All of the police involved, Sergeant Crowley, Officer Figueroa, Crowley's backup officers Ivey and Graham, and the officer from Harvard University police all support Crowley's version of the incident. Plus they agree that Crowley acted properly in arresting Professor Gates.

Of course people naturally assume that the police will stick together on this issue, so most folks are not lending much credence to the fact that the police all support Crowley.

The woman who called the police in the first place, Lucia Whalen, who is African American, has refused to talk to the media; however, she obviously thought Gates was a criminal breaking into a house or she would not have made the 911 call in the first place. I would say that puts her more on the side of the police than anything else.

We now have another neighbor who witnessed the incident and who also sides with the police. In this short interview from ABC news the neighbor tells the reporter that Professor Gates was "belligerent" when he talked to Sergeant Crowley.

In addition to all of this, Professor Gates and Sergeant Crowley have both agreed to sit down together with President Obama over a beer to discuss the incident. According to the White House this meeting should happen soon.

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Sarah Palin Announces New Twitter Site, Less PC Tweets

2009-07-18T01:33:00.009-05:00

Sarah Palin announced on her State of Alaska Twitter site on late Thursday that she intends to continue to update her fans on a new personal Twitter site that will be launched on July 26th. Plus she promises that her tweets (comments) will be less politically correct.

The natural question one wants to ask is why would she continue to update her fans if she is through with public life? Someone who intends to run for President in 2012, on the other hand, would certainly want to keep her fans informed by continuing to tweet them updates of her activities.

The exact message the governor tweeted was, "I'll stay in touch w/whomever wants via personal twtr site;launch July 26;in meantime it's pleasure to update interested folks on State biz!"

Governor Palin sent her tweet to her fans about 10:30 PM PDT Thursday night.

Palin also said in another tweet at around the same time, "elected is replaceable;Ak WILL progress! + side benefit=10 dys til less politically correct twitters fly frm my fingertps outside State site."

That tweet indicates that she may be more frank when leveling her opinions and comments in the future.

Stay tuned to see what Sarah does next.

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Live Video of Indonesia Hotel Bomb Blast

Live Video of Indonesia Hotel Bomb Blast

2009-07-17T14:58:00.001-05:00

Security cameras captured a bomb blast as it occurred at one of two American hotels in Jarkarta, Indonesia. Eight people were killed and over 50 were wounded, including eight Americans.

The blasts occurred at the high-rise J.W. Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels, located side-by-side in an upscale business district in Jakarta.

Police claim that the bombers posed as guests in the American hotels and set off a pair of blasts Friday after evading hotel security. They apparently smuggled explosives into the Marriott and assembled the bombs in a room on the 18th floor, where an undetonated device was found after the explosions.

The bomber stayed at the hotels for two days, and both blasts were set off in the hotel dining rooms.

"They had been using the room as their command post since July 15, and today they were supposed to check out," police chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri said.

Security Minister Widodo Adi Sucipto told reporters the explosions happened at 7:45 a.m. and 7:47 a.m. (0045 and 0047 GMT, 8:45 p.m. and 8:47 p.m. EDT) and that "high explosives were used."

Members of the Indonesia-based Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist group are suspected being involved in the bombing.

More information can be found at FoxNews.com, and more photos are at FoxNews.com/photos.

The following is an embedded video supplied by Fox News of a bomb blast as it occurred in Jakarta, Indonesia:

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Citations:

1) "Bombers Posing as Guests Assembled Explosives in Jakarta Hotel Room." FoxNews.com. 17 Jul 2009, 17:35 UTC. 17 Jul 2009 http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,533566,00.html

2) "Hotel Horror." Video. FoxNews.com. 17 Jul 2009, 17:35 UTC. 17 Jul 2009 http://www.foxnews.com/video2/video08.html?maven_referralObject=6994439&maven_referralPlaylistId=&sRevUrl=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,533566,00.html

3) "Jakarta Luxury Hotel Blast." Photos. FoxNews.com. 17 Jul 2009, 17:35 UTC. 17 Jul 2009 http://www.foxnews.com/photoessay/0,4644,7663,00.html#6_0

Tony Romo Dumps a Hot Jessica Simpson - Is He Crazy?

2009-07-13T17:02:00.008-05:00

Eonline is reporting that the highly publicized relationship between Dallas Cowboy quarterback Tony Romo and Hollywood heartthrob Jessica Simpson is now caput.

Jessica's 29th birthday was last Friday, July 10th, and Tony, ever the romantic, dumped poor Jess on Thursday, which was only one day before a Barbie Bash birthday party Jess had planned.

On Saturday night at 8:54 PM, Jess tweeted from the web, meaning she was probably home alone, that "barbie party didn't happen, but i turned 29 and feel like i am on top of the world yelling I LOVE GETTING OLDER." The poor girl was clearly hurting because no loves getting older.

Tony, on the other hand, was spotted hanging poolside with pals at the Roosevelt Hotel on Saturday.

Eonline also reported one of Jessica's friends saying, "She was surprised. She wouldn't have planned a party if she knew this was coming. They're both going their separate ways."

Sunday Jessica sounded a bit better when she tweeted, "everyone needs to know that hope floats...grab the strings and pull it back to you." Atta girl, Jessica. A gorgeous girl like you won't be alone for long.

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Human Life at its Earliest Level - Photos

2009-07-12T13:36:00.005-05:00

This remarkable photography is the work of photographer Michael Clancy who admitted that taking these photos changed his life.

The photos were taken during in utero surgery to correct a problem brought on by spina bifida. The fetus was named Samuel and was 21 weeks along at the time of surgery.

According to Clancy, "Samuel thrusts his tiny hand out of the surgical opening of his mother's uterus. As the doctor lifts his hand, Samuel reacts to the touch and squeezes the doctor's finger. As if testing for strength, the doctor shakes the tiny fist. Samuel held firm."

The following is a slide show of the surgery photos:

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Michael Jackson Remembrance in Magical Photo-Video Collage

2009-07-08T19:49:00.003-05:00

Michael Jackson received a magical star studded sendoff at the Staples Center on Tuesday, so we are providing you with an enchanting photo and video collage of the event. Click on any photo to see it enlarged. The gold colored remembrance program features photos of Michael throughout his 50 years, plus quotes and letters from his family members and close friends.

The five Jackson brothers served as pallbearers and carried the golden, rose-laden casket into the Staples Center in Los Angeles for the public memorial.

Left: The male members of the Jackson family wear single studded gloves to show homage to Michael's famous fashion statement. Right: Jermaine Jackson, Michael's older brother tearfully sings Michael's favorite song, "Smile," which was written by Charlie Chaplin.

Left: Brooke Shields, actress who once dated Michael offers a choked up eulogy, saying when they were together, to them, they were like kids. Right: John Mayer plays his guitar on a virtually instrumental version of "Human Nature."

Left: Queen Latifah, singer and actress, reads a piece written by Maya Angelou especially for the remembrance. Right: Oscar winning actress and singer Jenifer Hudson sings Michael's hit "Will You Be There" from the Free Willy soundtrack. Below is Jennifer Hudson singing "Will You Be There."

Left: Khloe, Kim, Kourtney and Kris Kardashian were at the Staples Center to honor Michael. Right: Stevie Wonder first shares his memories of Michael before giving a memorable performance of his own.

Left: Kobe Bryant & Magic Johnson, current and former LA Lakers respectively, honor Michael. Johnson also shared a memory of being invited over to Michael's home for dinner, only to end up sharing a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken with the king of Pop. Right: Mariah Carey & Trey Lorenz, performed the first song of the event, a duet of "I'll Be There."

Left: R&B star Usher gets choked up as he sings "Gone Too Soon" to the late entertainer, while touching Michael's casket. Right: Usher enters Staples Center to find his seat. The video below is Usher singing "Gone Too Soon."

Left: Janet Jackson takes her seat in the Staples Center. Right: With her aunt, Janet Jackson, and brothers Prince Michael and Blanket by her side, Paris Jackson's farewell to her father is the biggest tearjerker of the already emotional event. The video below is Paris' goodbye.

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DUI Mug Shot - Joyce DeWitt - Three's Company

2009-07-07T03:15:00.007-05:00

60-year-old Joyce DeWitt, a former star of the sitcom Three's Company was arrested on the fourth of July on suspicion of driving under the influence. DeWitt played Janet Wood, one of three main characters on the TV show that ran on ABC from 1977-1984. Her co-stars were John Ritter and Suzanne Somers.

Her mug shot was released by authorities after DeWitt was stopped by El Segundo police after they allegedly witnessed her drive near a park and past a barricade intended to keep out traffic. Police administered a field sobriety test on the actress after having observed signs of alcohol intoxication.

ETonline is reporting that her bail was set at $5,000 while the Associated Press reports she was released on her own recognizance.

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Michael Jackson 911 Call and Transcript
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Michael Jackson 911 Call and Transcript

2009-06-30T18:41:00.009-05:00

The 911 call to request paramedics to help Michael Jackson was placed at 12:21 PM, Thursday, June 25, 2009. But the call was delayed 30 minutes after Michael's doctor discovered him unconscious. See Michael Jackson 911 Call Delayed 30 Minutes.

Michael's security guard Tippy called 911 on behalf of Jackson.

The following is a transcript of the 911 call:

911 Operator: Fire and paramedics 33. What is the address of the emergency?

Caller: Yes sir, I need to…I, uh, I need an ambulance as soon as possible, sir.

911 Operator: OK, sir. What is your address?

Caller: It's 100 North Carolwood Drive, Los Angeles, California, 90077.

911 Operator: You said Carolwood?

Caller: Carolwood Drive, yes.

911 Operator: OK, sir. What’s the phone number you're calling from?

Caller: (deleted)

911 Operator: And what’s involved in exactly what happened?

Caller: Uh, sir, I have a…We have a…a gentleman here that needs help and he's not breathing yet…He's not breathing and we need him…we're trying to pump him…but he's not…he's not…

911 Operator: Okay, okay, how old is he?

Caller: He's 50 years old, sir.

911 Operator: 50? OK, he’s not conscious. He's not breathing?

Caller: Yes, He’s not breathing, sir.

911 Operator: Okay, and he’s not conscious either? He’s not…

Caller: No, he's not conscious sir.

911 Operator: Okay…Alright. Do you have him…is he on the floor? Where's he at right now?

Caller: He's on the bed sir. He's on the bed.

911 Operator: Okay, let's get him on the floor.

Caller: Okay.

911 Operator: Okay? let’s get him down to the floor. I’m going to help you with CPR right now, Okay?

Caller: We need him to get…

911 Operator: We're already on the way. We’re on the way. I'm going to as much as I can to help you over the phone. We're already on our way. Did anybody see him?

Caller: Yes, we have a personal doctor here with him, sir.

911 Operator: Oh, you have a doctor there?

Caller: Yes, but he's not responding to anything. To no…no…He's not responding to CPR or anything, sir.

911 Operator: Oh, OK, well, we're on our way there. If your guy is doing CPR and you're instructed by a doctor, he's a higher authority than me. And he's there on scene. Um, did anybody witness what happened?

Caller: Uh, no, just the doctor, sir. The doctor’s been the only one here.

911 Operator: OK, so did the doctor see what happened?

Caller: Uh, um, doctor, did you see what happened, sir?

(Voice spoken in the background sounds like the doctor responding “Just tell them to come,” but is technically unintelligible.)

Caller: Sir, uh, um, if you can please, uh, um…

911 Operator: We're on our way. We're on our way. I'm just passing these questions on to my paramedics while they're on the way there, sir.

Caller: Thank you sir. He's pumping…he’s pumping the chest but he's not responding to anything, sir. Please.

911 Operator: OK, OK. We're on our way. We're less than a mile away and we'll be there shortly.

Caller: Thank you, sir. Thank you.

911 Operator: Okay, sir. Call the fire (unintelligible) if you need any help.

Caller: Yes, sir.

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Citations:
1) "Transcript of 911 call in Michael Jackson death" Associated Press. 27 Jun 2009. 30 Jun 2009. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iLgucqhAxofFiNud8ibgAC8lyXQgD992K1L80

2) "Michael Jackson death was 'foul play' claims father Joe" Daily Mail Online. 28 Jun 2009. 30 Jun 2009. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1196158/Michael-Jackson-death-foul-play-claims-father-Joe.html

Michael Jackson 911 Call Delayed 30 Minutes

2009-06-30T15:40:00.013-05:00

TMZ.com is reporting that Michael Jackson's personal physician, Dr Conrad Murray, delayed calling 911 for 30 minutes after finding Michael unconscious on the day he died.

Dr Murray's lawyer, Edward Chernoff, is the reported source for TMZ's report. Chernoff explained that Dr Murray did not make the call immediately because he did not know the address of the home Michael was renting.

The home where Michael was living is in Beverly Hills very near to Sunset Boulevard, which is one of the most famous streets in the US.

According to Chernoff, Dr Murray eventually recruited someone else in the home to call 911.

In addition, when Dr Murray preformed CPR on Michael, he did so on the bed, which is not the correct procedure. CPR should be performed on the floor, a hard surface, so that the chest compressions have greater effect.

Dr Murray has claimed that Michael's bed was firm enough to perform CPR on.

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1) "30 Minute Delay in Calling 911 for Jackson" TMZ. 29 Jun 2009. 30 Jun 2009. http://www.tmz.com/2009/06/29/jacksons-doc-didnt-call-911-for-30-minutes/

Parents Keep Child's Gender Secret

2009-06-28T19:16:00.007-05:00

A Swedish couple are making headlines in their native Sweden for the simple reason that they refuse to divulge the gender of their two-year-old child, even to the child. Since they also will not divulge the child’s name for obvious reasons, we will refer to the toddler as Pat.

This sounds like classic shades of Pat on Saturday Night Live (SNL). Pat was a twenty something on the show who also appeared to be genderless, and everyone’s frequent attempts to guess his/her gender was the premise of countless jokes. The question is will the real life Pat suffer through similar situations in the real world?

Pat’s parents, who are both 24, decided at birth not to tell anyone but those who have changed Pat’s diapers what Pat’s gender is. If anyone asks, they reply that they do not disclose that information. Now that could certainly lead to some interesting conversations, and one would think that more than one person may feel a bit insulted when confronted with such a generic response.

The Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet interviewed Pat’s parents in March, and they stated then that their decision was rooted in the feminist philosophy that gender is a social construction.

“We want (Pat) to grow up more freely and avoid being forced into a specific gender mold from the outset,” said Pat’s mother. “It's cruel to bring a child into the world with a blue or pink stamp on their forehead.”

They also said as long as they are able to keep Pat’s gender a secret, he or she will be able to avoid preconceived notions of how a male of female should be treated.

If Pat’s mom and pop think being labeled as male or female is cruel to a child, just wait until Pat’s playmates weigh in on the issue when they realize that Pat appears to be neither girl nor boy. Does anyone else remember how cruel children can be? Pat may be on the receiving end of some very cruel remarks because of the parents’ insistence on this gender neutral stance.

As far as clothes, Pat wears both dresses and pants and has frequent changes of hairstyle, but Pat is the one who decides what to wear each day. Won’t that alone confuse the child, especially if Pat is a boy and being taught that it is okay for boys to wear dresses and skirts?

Said Pat’s mom, "I believe that the self-confidence and personality that Pat has shaped will remain for a lifetime." But who says that will be a good thing if the child is confused about gender?

Susan Pinker, a psychologist and newspaper columnist from Toronto, Canada, who wrote the The Sexual Paradox, which is a book focusing on sex differences in the workplace, remarked about this Swedish social experiment, “Ignoring children's natures simply doesn’t work.”

“Child-rearing should not be about providing an opportunity to prove an ideological point, but about responding to each child’s needs as an individual,” said Pinker.

“It’s unlikely that they’ll be able to keep this a secret for long. Children are curious about their own identity, and are likely to gravitate towards others of the same sex during free play time in early childhood,” Pinker said.

According to Pinker males and females differ in many ways from birth. And even if the parents keep the child’s gender a secret, hormones developed in the second trimester of pregnancy already alter the way the child will feel and behave.

And said Pinker, male children relate aggressive stories 87 per cent of the time, but female children do so only 17 per cent of the time. But to be fair to the parents here, one would have to assume that those children know whether they are male or female. Pat does not know.

But isn’t the important question with this issue, does one really want to experiment on one’s own children with something as important as gender identity?

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"Swedish parents keep 2-year-old's gender secret." The Local, Sweden's News in English. 23 Jun 2009. 28 Jun 2009. http://www.thelocal.se/20232/20090623/

Wheelchair Bound and Mugged by Teens

2009-05-31T20:13:00.007-05:00

Two teens in the Miami, Florida, area take turns mugging and beating Celedono Carrera, 66, who is wheelchair bound and helpless. The police released this video, which is from a surveillance camera nearby, in hopes that someone would know the two teens involved.

Sure enough, the video led police to two young Miami teens who fit the description, and they were arrested. Miami police charged Royce Simmons, 17, and Xavier Hyland, 13, with strong arm robbery and battery on an elderly person.

The two muggers took Carrera's wallet and necklace. Fortunately, Carrera suffered only minor injuries during the incident.

It takes all kinds of folks to make the world, but these two deserve a special place near the Devil's right hand when their time on Earth is done.

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Police Officer Deliberately Pushes Woman Down Stairs - Video

2009-05-25T18:52:00.008-05:00

Caught on Video: An Orlando, Florida, police officer allegedly appears to deliberately push a woman down a flight of stairs, after which he then files a criminal complaint of battery against her.

Officer Fernando Trinidad said in his police report regarding the incident which occurred at the now defunct Club Paris in April of 2007 that 27-year-old Jessica Asprilla twice spat in his face, pulled away from his grasp and then lost her balance and fell. The video clearly proves that is not how the incident went down.

Trinidad had charged Asprilla with battery, but Orlando police dismissed that charge after the video of the incident surfaced.

Asprilla, who is suing and reportedly wants Officer Trinidad fired, said "This officer wanted everyone to exit the club, and I told him I'm going down the stairs, and I'm leaving, and before I knew it, he pushed me, and I was on the ground."

"He never grabbed me. I never turned around and stood and faced him aggressively, and I did not spit in his face," Asprilla said. "Then he says I lost my balance and fell, that's exactly what's in the affidavit."

The nightclub's surveillance video showed Asprilla falling six steps and injuring her ankle. When Trinidad and another police officer reached the bottom of the stairs, neither officer checked to see if Asprilla was OK. Instead Asprilla said the officers walked right past her.

"I'm very, very, very lucky that there was a video to prove my innocence," Asprilla said.

The Internal Affairs Department of the Orlando Police investigated the incident, and the department took away eight hours of officer Trinidad's vacation time, claiming his actions are unbecoming of an officer.

Asprilla is not satisfied with that, however. "I don't think he should be on the force," Asprilla said.

Asprilla is also suing for medical bills and damage to her reputation and career as a social worker.

Orlando police Chief Val Demings said that Trinidad could now face criminal charges for his role in the incident.

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Phil Spector Mug Shot

2009-04-14T13:17:00.007-05:00

Music producer Phil Spector was convicted of second degree murder on Monday, April 13th. Spector shot actress Lana Clarkson to death in his home in February, 2003.

The Los Angeles sheriff's department provided the media with their mug shot of the 69-year-old Spector, and believe it or not the mug shot is pretty much just as scary as Spector himself.

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Donte Stallworth Out on Bail After Manslaughter Charge - Video

2009-04-02T21:58:00.006-05:00

NFL Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte' Stallworth was released on $200,000 bail today after surrendering in Miami-Dade circuit court subsequent to being charged with manslaughter drunken driving on Wednesday.

Stallworth struck and killed Mario Reyes, a pedestrian, on March 14 around 7:00 AM. while driving to the beach. According to the police Stallworth was alone at the wheel of his black 2005 Bentley GT when he struck Reyes, who was a 59-year-old construction crane operator on his way home from work.

Police also stated that Stallworth allegedly had been drinking at a Miami Beach nightclub prior to the early morning accident and provided police with a blood sample that later registered a blood alcohol level of .126, which is considerably above Florida's legal limit of 0.080.

The first video is an Associated Press report of Stallworth's surrender today:

Stallworth is not allowed to drive or drink alcohol while on bail and also must submit to random alcohol and drug tests conducted by the NFL substance abuse program.

He also needs to obtain permission for any travel that is not between Miami and Cleveland, plus he is subject to a curfew from midnight until 6:00 AM.

Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Dennis Murphy set an arraignment date of April 23 at which Stallworth is expected to enter a plea of not guilty.

The second video is a Miami Herald account from the accident scene on March 14th and shows Stallworth submitting to DUI testing and also shows paramedics working on Reyes after the accident. WARNING! Video is graphic.

Stallworth faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. Christopher Lyons, Donte' Stallworth's attorney, said he would "vigorously" defend Stallworth against the charges. "We want to stress there are no winners here," said Lyons. "It was a tragic accident."

Michael Vick Selling his Georgia Home
Super Model Giselle Bundchen - Where Are Your Clothes?

Warrant Issued for Lindsay Lohan's Arrest

2009-03-14T22:39:00.010-05:00

Lindsay Lohan, the 22-year-old movie actor in films like Freaky Friday (2003) and Mean Girls (2004), had a warrant for her arrest issued on Friday.

Beverly Hills Police Department spokesman Lieutenant Mark Rosen said, "The $50,000 warrant issued by the Beverly Hills Superior Court stems from a May 2007 arrest of Miss Lohan for DUI and hit-and-run. The circumstances leading to the issuance of the warrant by the court are not readily available at this time. It is our hope that Miss Lohan will surrender herself so that this matter will be resolved in a timely manner."

Shawn Chapman Holley, Lindsay's attorney, said the warrant was a "misunderstanding."

"Since her case was resolved, Ms. Lohan has been in compliance with all the terms and conditions of her probation and all orders of the court. The warrant issued on Friday was, in our view, born out of a misunderstanding which I am confident I can clear up next week," said Holley.

"I spoke to her attorney this morning. The attorney believes it was just a miscommunication with the court," said Lieutenant Rosen. "She hopes to resolve it in court this coming week. And I'm sure that if it's not resolved in court that we'll work out something with Ms. Lohan to voluntarily surrender."

In May of 2007 Lohan was arrested for driving under the influence after losing control of her vehicle, which ended up on the curb. Police discovered cocaine in her car and subsequent lab tests confirmed that cocaine was also in her system.

Lindsay spent some time in rehab after that, but was arrested again for drunk driving on July 24, 2007. She pled guilty in August 2007, and was sentenced to one day in jail and placed on probation for three years. The one day in jail made headlines at the time since the "one day" ended up to be a total of only 84 minutes in jail because she was released early due to jail overcrowding.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office has a hearing scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Monday morning, March 16, 2009, at a Beverly Hills courthouse.

Lindsay Lohan Serves Hard Time - 84 Minutes Worth
Lindsay Lohan's Mercedes for Sale on Ebay
Is Lindsay Lohan Broke?

Texas Fireball Video - Is it UFO, Meteor or ?

2009-03-07T16:21:00.000-06:00

It streaked across the Austin, Texas, sky in one remarkable hurry, so much so that authorities initially ruled out a meteor because it was moving too fast. Austin, Texas, camerman Eddie Garcia was lucky enough to have filmed it, and now the government has ruled out space debris re-entering the Earth's atmosphere.

Preston Starr, who is the observatory manager at the University of North Texas, said it probably was a meteor about the size of a pickup truck with the consistency of a chunk of concrete.

Starr said objects that size enter the Earth's atmosphere only about eight or 10 times a year. This one was most likely traveling between 15,000 and 40,000 mph, which is way too fast for any type of space debris, such as debris from the recent collision of an Iridium communications satellite and a Russian military space vehicle.

The Associated Press reported that Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) spokesman Roland Herwig said the fireball was a natural phenomenon and not satellite debris. However, that is the exact opposite from what the FAA had initially claimed.

After the fireball first appeared the FAA had said that it possibly was caused by falling debris from the satellites. It even had posted a warning telling pilots to watch out for satellite debris after the fireball's flight had been publicized.

Starr from the Texas observatory said that the object's trajectory was not a trajectory that satellite debris would have taken. Plus Star said satellite debris would be too small and traveling much too slowly to produce a flare that was so clearly visible during the day.

"It would have looked like a blip, and nobody would be able to notice if it were a daytime entry," Starr said.

However, if you will remember the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster from February 1, 2003, the shuttle disintegrated on re-entry and the attached photo of Columbia debris clearly shows more than a blip. In fact the debris is quite clear, even clearer than the photo or the video of the fireball, and the debris also displays comet like contrails.

Perhaps the government is deliberately disseminating disinformation to mislead the public into thinking that the fireball was something other than what it really was? The question is what is the government hiding? It may be a genuine flying saucer (most unlikely), a secret government satellite that fell out of the sky or a truly Unidentified Flying Object (UFO).

Mr. Garcia may also have been lucky enough to have captured a secret military airplane or weapon that the government wants to keep hush-hush. As is the case with most UFO sightings, we will probably never know.

Watch the fireball streak across the Texas sky:

The second video is the Columbia Space Shuttle flashing across the Texas sky as it disintegrated. In this video the cameraman is following the Shuttle with his camera. If he were not this would also seem to be streaking across the sky at a terrific rate of speed.

Watch the Columbia Shuttle disintegrate:

Gang of Kids Caught Roasting Live Puppies
Father Tosses Daughter off Bridge
Dad Endangers Baby to Film Video

"They Told Me to Kill, to Rape Children" - Video

2009-03-05T17:54:00.004-06:00

While the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, issued a landmark arrest warrant against Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir for ordering war crimes to be committed in Darfur, a CNN reporter, Nic Robertson, interviewed a former Sudanese soldier who was ordered to rape and kill children by his superior officers.

The use of rape as a weapon of war is common in the Darfur area of Sudan and inside the huge displacement camps serving as home to the several million Darfuri refugees, who have been uprooted by the war. In many camps rape victims are giving birth to as many as 20 babies per month--babies who are then subsequently abandoned by their mothers.

The soldier is called Adam, but that is not his real name. Adam was forcibly conscripted into the Sudanese army and trained to kill by shooting targets, after which his officers told him "we will be taken to a patrol and then soon after that we were asked to join other people to go and burn and kill people.”

It was then that he realized that he was being forced into a war against his will and against his own people. He was told that if he resisted his superior officers’ orders, he would be killed. "The order is that the soldiers at the front, and there are some people who are watching you from behind, if you try to escape or do anything you will get shot. The order is that we go to the village, burn it and kill the people," said Adam.

"I had no choice," he said "but I will say that I didn't kill anybody, but the raping of the small children, it was bad." The children, "they cry out," said Adam. "Two persons will capture her while she is crying and another raping her, then they leave her there."

Adam said that the soldiers raped girls as young as 12, and the officers ordered them to so because it will make people flee their villages--make them run away and never come back.

Adam tried to desert the army as soon as possible, but he was caught and subsequently tortured. The soldiers tied him down under a tree, and then the officers would set fire to tires above him. The burning rubber would drip onto his body burning his skin. He showed the scars left on his skin by the burning rubber.

Was he forced to rape children? "Yes I did, they were government orders," replied Adam.

"It didn't feel like raping, I was feeling very bad but as I was ordered, I had to do something. What I did was take off my trousers and lay myself on top of the girl but I didn't feel like raping, so I lay there for about 15 minutes."

"So you didn't actually penetrate the girls?" he was asked. No, he said, "because I had no feeling for it, my penis didn't actually wake up, so there was no actual penetration," Adam answered.

Adam said that he has trouble sleeping at night. But he is not alone. Aid workers in Darfur say that millions of women in Darfur also have trouble sleeping at night. But, more importantly, they also live in constant fear of rape day and night.

The following video is a CNN report about the interview of the soldier:

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Woman Caught Poisoning Baby Food in Supermarket - Video

2009-02-20T23:43:00.005-06:00

50-year-old Shirley Ybarra was allegedly caught on video while injecting poison into jars of baby food and juice containers in a supermarket in the Tamarac, Florida area, which is near Fort Lauderdale.

Broward County Sheriff's detectives said Ybarra was spotted by a shopper allegedly mixing a black liquid that smelled like ammonia into the jars in a Publix Supermarket. The shopper notified store employees who detained Ybarra until authorities arrived and arrested her.

Store video shows Ybarra wearing rubber gloves standing with a shopping cart in the baby food aisle for about 15 minutes while she allegedly mixed her noxious concoctions while other shoppers and employees are walking by. Shoppers complained that Ybarra’s black mixture smelled of an acrid odor

When Publix employees asked Ybarra what she was doing, she replied that she was mixing the baby food for her son. Ybarra’s only son is 21 years old and lives outside the Fort Lauderdale area.

Ybarra had allegedly brought the substance she was mixing into the store inside a body splash container from Victoria’ Secret.

After the store discovered Ybarra’s actions, all of the store’s baby food was removed from the supermarket's shelves, while the tainted jars and bottles were sent to be tested at the Food and Drug Administration. Authorities contacted other stores in the area but now do not believe that Ybarra contaminated any products in any other stores. Authorities also stated that the public is not at risk.

Ybarra had been on probation for a stabbing in 2006. She was initially hospitalized for a mental evaluation and subsequently arrested for poisoning and for probation violation. She is currently being held in a South Florida jail.

Initial reports said that Ybarra did not place any of the contaminated products back on the store shelves, but ABC News has reported that she allegedly had done so

The following video is an ABC News report of the incident:

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Gang of Children Caught Roasting Live Puppies Over Bonfire - Video

2009-02-05T01:43:00.007-06:00

A gang of children from age 10 to early teens were caught slowly roasting two live young puppies over an open bonfire along a canal bank near Manchester, England. The two adorable puppies were clearly shocked and had huddled together for each other's protection.

They were yelping loudly in both panic and distress while their fur began to burn, and the pair was desperately struggling to escape from their tormentors.

Fortunately for the young pups 32-year-old Melanie Johnson was walking nearby and heard the commotion. When she came upon the scene the woman ordered the gang to release the puppies immediately, which they did.

Said Johnson, "I just could not believe the cruelty being shown by these kids. If I hadn't turned up, I think they would have burned the dogs alive."

"I was ripping mad and still am to think that anyone, least of all children, could do this."

Johnson first took the puppies home, wrapped them in a towel and then brought them to an animal shelter to be examined by a veterinarian. Surprisingly, the cross-bred puppies were found to be in relatively good condition considering their plight.

Jean Spencer, the shelter manager, said, "the puppies are only seven weeks old and still smelled of smoke from the bonfire when they arrived."

"The fur on one of them was singed and the other has a small hernia. Fortunately, they are going to be fine."

"To think that children could be so cruel is really disgusting," she added. "The puppies are absolutely gorgeous. Everyone here has fallen in love with them."

The male puppy was named Guy, while his sister was named Cinders, apt names for a duo who were rescued from certain death just in the nick of time.

The police have not arrested any suspects at present.

The following video is an account of the poor puppies' misadventure presented by the Manchester Evening News:

Note: Because the nature of this story is so provocative, we sourced the story from several newspapers, including The Advertiser and the Mail Online to insure its accuracy.

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First Photo of Darcey Freeman - 4-year-old Tossed from Australia Bridge

2009-02-04T22:23:00.005-06:00

This is the first photo released of Darcey Iris Freeman, the four-year-old girl that Arthur Freeman, her father, allegedly tossed from the West Gate Bridge in Melbourne, Australia last week.

The family stated that Darcey was a beautiful, carefree, spirited youngster who "loved to sing and dance." Young Darcey was murdered on what was supposed to be her first day of school, and her father had promised her to get her there on time. For whatever reason, he did not keep his promise.

Tim Barnes, one of Darcey's uncles, told of Darcey's strong will and determination and spoke of the "extreme sense of loss and emptiness" which has gripped all who knew her, including family, friends and many well wishers around the world.

"She knew her own mind and was prepared to always stand up for what she believed in. One memory that stands out in my mind was her choice of clothes," he reportedly told the Melbourne Herald Sun.

"She would wear what she wanted to wear, end of story - even if it meant wearing pink Wellington boots to tennis."

Joe Barnes, another of Darcey's uncles, said, "She's given us a lot of fun. She was into everything. She will never be forgotten. She had an effect on everybody."

Both uncles said that the emotional outpouring from people from around the world in the wake of the death has been overwhelming. Both of the Barnes uncles said they hoped the death of Darcy would remind all parents everywhere that their children are precious and irreplaceable.

Darcey's maternal relatives have traveled from Western Australia to Victoria to be with Darcey's mother and to help with funeral arrangements.

Arthur Freeman, the father, has not spoken to anyone. He is detained at the Melbourne Assessment Prison's acute psychiatric ward, where doctors said he is suicidal and they are keeping a 24-hour watch on his prison cell.

See original story and video: Australian Father Drops Daughter Off Bridge - Video

Australian Father Drops Daughter Off Bridge - Video

2009-01-31T14:26:00.009-06:00

A Melbourne, Australia, father was arrested and charged with murder after allegedly dropping his four year old daughter off of Melbourne's 190-foot high West Gate Bridge during the morning rush hour. 36-year-old Arthur Phillip Freeman allegedly threw his four-year-old daughter off the bridge in front of the girl's two young brothers, ages 6 and 8, and dozens of motorists.

Witnesses said Freeman allegedly stopped his car suddenly just after 9 AM and, with his daughter Darcey Iris in his arms, walked to the side of the bridge. There he allegedly dropped his young daughter over the side of the bridge into the waters of the Yarra River, 190 feet below.

Freeman then reportedly got back into the large white family Land Cruiser, and simply drove away. Shocked drivers who witnessed the alleged murder immediately called emergency hotlines. Police stated the entire incident occurred in merely seconds.

Young Darcey initially survived her fall, and she was pulled from the water by police within 10 minutes. Paramedics spent the next 50 minutes resuscitating her on the banks of the Yarra River.

Then Darcey, in a critical condition, was lifted by helicopter to the nearby Royal Children’s Hospital where she was treated for four hours. However, a Royal Children's Hospital spokeswoman said the young girl soon died at 1.35pm on Thursday, January 29th.

Regarding the bridge incident, Victoria homicide squad Detective Inspector Steve Clark said, "It all happened fairly quickly…no one had the opportunity to intervene".

"He's got straight out of the car and taken the young girl and walked to the edge of the bridge, so that would have happened in a matter of seconds.”

"Fortunately, the water police were here within 10 minutes so she was given medical attention fairly quickly.”

"It's a dreadful set of circumstances and, often you think you've seen it all and you haven't."

Freeman and his wife had been in the middle of a custody battle. He was spotted, accompanied by his two sons, Benjamin, 7, and Jack, 23 months (ages of Freeman‘s children have varied in different reports), outside the Commonwealth Law Courts across town in central Melbourne only an hour after the bridge incident.

He was reportedly in a “visibly distressed” state and was then arrested by police. A member of the court's staff said the man was crying and looked like "he'd had enough".

The first video is a report of the incident by "The Australian" Newspaper:

Fox news reported that the security staff at the courts building said Freeman “was shaking like a leaf, and staring with wild eyes” when they initially spotted him and alerted police. Police took him into custody peacefully, but said they were initially unaware he was involved in the bridge incident.

One witness reported that Freeman approached court security guards and ask them "Can you take my kids for me?" while he was led away by police

The next video is an Associated Press report of the murder:

Another witness saw four police officers, two of them holding evidence bags, lead the handcuffed Freeman to a waiting Police van.

The man, whom she described as balding, was "shaking violently".

“He was pretty down and he had the two other children with him and he tried to enter the court. He couldn't talk to anyone, he wouldn't talk to anyone, he was just a mess,'' said another eye witness Vince Mascia.

One of the witnesses said the man was shaking uncontrollably and looked like he was "about to have a nervous breakdown".

The third video is a report by the Telegraph in Great Britain:

About half-an-hour later, a couple at the courthouse saw the arrival of a woman they believed to be the mother of the two boys, who subsequently took them away.

Freeman was charged with murder and set to appear before a criminal court. He was deemed "suicidal" by court psychiatrists and the court remanded him into custody.

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New Details and Videos on Hudson River Plane Crash - Video

2009-01-21T14:03:00.000-06:00

NBC News is reporting new details and new films that have emerged about the US Airways Airbus that crash landed in the Hudson River in New York on Thursday. The video shows the plane's landing from another vantage point plus it reveals the conversation that took place between the pilot and La Guardia Airport's air traffic controller.

Ted Kennedy Suffers Seizure after Inauguration - Video

2009-01-21T00:02:00.007-06:00

Senator Edward Kennedy collapsed during a Washington, DC, luncheon following the inauguration of the Presidency of Barack Obama and suffered a seizure and convulsions during the incident.

Kennedy, the senior senator from Massachusetts, who has been battling a malignant brain tumor since last May, was removed from the Capitol on a stretcher and rushed to Washington Medical Center.

Spokesman Edward Aulisi of the Hospital said "Senator Edward Kennedy experienced a seizure today while attending a luncheon for President Barack Obama in the US Capitol."

"After testing, we believe the incident was brought on by simple fatigue. Senator Kennedy is awake, talking with family and friends, and feeling well."

Senator Kennedy's son Patrick was quoted as saying: "He's awake, he is talking, he is going to be fine."

Our video features a report by CNN on Senator Kennedy's Collapse:

Ted Kennedy's Brain Tumor - Median Survival is 15 Months
Media Maintain Vigil Outside Ted Kennedy's Hospital - Video
Ted Kennedy Remains in Hospital - Stroke Ruled Out - Video

Video Interview with Victoria Lindsay - Gang Beating Victim

2009-01-05T17:15:00.004-06:00

Victoria Lindsay, the Lakeland, Florida, high school student and cheerleader who was allegedly ambushed and gang beaten by her fellow cheerleaders and classmates last March 30th, recently gave her first video interview since the beating.

ABC's Good Morning America interviewed Lindsay at length, and we have embedded the interview for you here. The alleged teen age perpetrators video taped the beating, which lasted for a half hour, so they could post the film on YouTube and MySpace.

Lindsay was allegedly beaten in two sequences by her so-called friends, and the Polk County, Florida, Sheriff's department released the film of the beating in two parts. The first film that was released by the Sheriff actually contains the latter part of the beating but has the highest quality of the two films, which may be why the Sheriff released that film first.

After Lindsay was ambushed, she was beaten until she received a concussion and lost consciousness. That early part of the beating is the second film released by the Sheriff.

News reports after the beating stated that Lindsay had suffered vision and hearing loss; however, she discloses in the interview that the hearing problem has healed, but she still suffers from vision impairment, which may be corrected with glasses.

Lindsay's alleged attackers have been charged with assault and a more serious charge of kidnapping. The trial of her alleged attackers has not yet been held.

Following is the video interview with Victoria Lindsay:

The callous attitude of Lindsay's alleged attackers shocked the world when news of the beating first hit the media. Cara Murphy was initially charged along with the other defendants in the case, but charges against her were later dropped, at which time she sort of apologized in an interview by saying, "I guess I'm sorry for all that happened. I'm glad the charges got dropped though."

Oh yes! That certainly sounds remorseful.

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Victoria Lindsay Teen Gang Beating Victim 2nd Video Released May 2008
Victoria Lindsay 911 Call Video
Victoria Lindsay MySpace Page Update
3 Victoria Lindsay Defendants Get Off Scot Free - Charges Dropped Against Gang Beating Defendants - Video

The following blogger posted a transcript of the second Lindsay film because much of the conversation is garbled and difficult to understand:
Transcript of 2nd Victoria Lindsay Video

Ugly People Making a Comeback - Video

2008-12-30T21:49:00.011-06:00

Where have all of the beautiful people gone? That is what you are going to be asking yourself if the economy gets any worse. It is not because the pretty people are hiding; instead, it is because those beautiful folks are not so pretty any more.

The faltering economy is forcing the masses to indefinitely postpone that plastic surgery they had intended to undergo to make themselves prettier. If you think that cosmetic surgery is just for the rich and famous, you had better think again.

Many of the folks getting tummy tucks and liposuction are the average Joes and Janes right down the street. They used to pay for their rhinoplasties and breast augmentations through mortgage refinancing and home equity loans.

Now that home values are sagging so are backsides and C cups. The mortgage mess and the housing crunch have made it much harder to get cash out of your home, so the less than pretty crowd are being constrained to remain a mite less attractive.

Plastic surgeons are reporting that their business is down 50% since obtaining a home equity loan got so tough.

We have embedded a CNN video that explores how the Credit Crisis has restrained cosmetic surgeries:

But consumer confidence is a factor too. Many of the people who do have the funds for that planned surgery are afraid to spend it because they fear that their job may disappear in a few months.

If Joe and Jane down the street are unsure about future income, they will defer splurging on big ticket elective surgery. They can always try dieting to trim down their waistlines and delay surgical belly enhancement until their finances improve.

And you thought all of those babes on the beach were an example of nature's handiwork.

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Police Close Adam Walsh Case and Name Killer - Video

2008-12-16T21:07:00.011-06:00

The Associated Press is reporting that the Hollywood, Florida, police department announced in a news conference that police have closed the case on Adam Walsh, the son of America's Most Wanted TV show host John Walsh. On July 27, 1981, 6-year-old Adam went missing from a Hollywood mall which is directly across the street from Hollywood police headquarters. It was later determined that the boy had been kidnapped and murdered.

Two weeks later local fishermen came upon his severed head in a canal in Vero Beach, which is 120 miles north of the mall; however, the rest of Adam’s body never was found.

A clearly choked up John Walsh appeared with the police at the news conference, and he appeared to be holding back tears as he asked, "Who could take a 6 year old and murder and decapitate him? Who?"

At the news conference Hollywood police Chief Chadwick Wagner declared that young Walsh’s killer was Ottis Toole, a drifter and serial killer who died in prison on September 15, 1996, while serving five life sentences. Toole had twice confessed to killing young Walsh, but afterward he later recanted his confessions.

In October 1983, Toole claimed that he had abducted Adam from the mall and then drove for about an hour to an isolated dirt road. That is where Toole claimed he decapitated young Walsh.

But he had also claimed responsibility for hundreds of other murders, and the police eventually determined that most of his confessions were fabrications.

Toole's niece told John Walsh that Toole admitted to Adam’s murder while on his prison deathbed, but even a deathbed confession was suspect because of Toole’s previous confessions.

Police investigators removed bloodstained carpet from Toole’s white Cadillac. But DNA testing in the early 1980’s could not determine if the blood belonged to Walsh.

Because of advancements in DNA testing, however, in 1994 a detective tried to order further DNA testing on the bloodstained carpeting, but both the carpeting and the car were then missing.

Police claimed that Toole was always their prime suspect in the Walsh case, and they had conclusively linked Toole to Adam‘s murder. However, the police refused to be more specific about their evidence.

The police stated they had no DNA evidence proving Toole was the killer, but they said that an extensive review of the Walsh case pointed only in the direction of Toole, who is the one that John Walsh, himself, has always suspected too.

"Our agency has devoted an inordinate amount of time seeking leads to other potential perpetrators rather than emphasizing Ottis Toole as our primary suspect," Chief Wagner said. "Ottis Toole has continued to be our only real suspect."

The New York Times reported that Chief Wagner stated that the police conclusion was not the result of any new evidence, but rather the result of an accumulation of circumstantial evidence over the years. “What was there was everything that was in front of our face for years,” said Wagner.

The Video is courtesy of CBS news:

The publicity surrounding the Walsh murder and John Walsh’s subsequent hosting of his TV show America's Most Wanted changed the way America viewed strangers.

Mount Holyoke College sociologist and criminologist Richard Moran told the Associated Press that John Walsh "ended up really producing a generation of cautious and afraid kids who view all adults and strangers as a threat to them and it made parents extremely paranoid about the safety of their children."

John Walsh said at the news conference that although he and his family would never fully get over young Adam’s death, they could finally move on.

But, Walsh added, “it’s not about closure; it’s about justice.”

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Ashley Tisdale Dishes on High School Musical 3 Senior Year - Video

2008-11-24T20:06:00.006-06:00

Ashley Tisdale plays the arrogant, domineering drama queen, Sharpay Evans, in High School Musical 3: Senior Year, which is still drawing the teens and tweens in droves to the movie theaters.

The Disney produced film has so far earned $209.8 million worldwide as of 11/23/2008 as the film continues to captivate its young audiences.

Ashley recently dropped her blonde bombshell look for a more serious brunette style. In this video interview, she chats about working for the Disney Channel and about her friendship with co-stars Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, who portray Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez in the film.

Ashley also dishes about her Hollywood neighbors, the Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus.

Watch the Ashley Tisdale interview now:

High School Musical 3: Senior Year Release Near - Zac, Vanessa, Ashley Pics

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Sarah Palin on Larry King - Video

2008-11-14T06:33:00.004-06:00

Sarah Palin was interviewed on the Larry King Show on Wednesday, 11/12/2008. Larry asked some pointed questions, such as: "Should you have not done the Katie Couric Interview?"

Sarah said she felt that the Couric interview did not hurt the Republican campaign.

King asked her if those knocking her from inside the McCain camp hurt her. She responded no, she does not know any individuals from the McCain camp who were knocking her. She said unknown individuals could be just about anyone, so there is no sense in even responding to those criticisms.

King asked did you want to make a concession speech? Sarah responded that she would have loved to do so and that her speech would have been to praise John McCain, American hero.

Sarah said the $150,000 worth of clothes ruckus was ridiculous. She said she did not keep the clothes, and they were returned to the Republican campaign.

Do you pledge to the people that you will serve out your term? asked Larry. She responded that she will do whatever the people of Alaska want her to do. If they want her to call an audible to serve in another capacity, then so be it.

Here are the highlights of the Sarah Palin-Larry King interview (Video may not play correctly in some versions of Firefox--CNN's fault):

Sarah Palin Talks Failed Election, Media and John McCain - Video
Obama Win Triggers Gun Purchases

Sarah Palin Talks Failed Election, Media and John McCain - Video

2008-11-13T00:52:00.001-06:00

Sarah Palin talks to NBC's Matt Lauer in a frank interview about the failed election campaign, the media and John McCain.

Palin discusses the leaks from the McCain staff to the media describing her as a rogue and how difficult she was to work with.

She claims that any such leaks are totally inaccurate and completely fabricated.

She also claims that her Katie Couric interview did not destroy her confidence.

She was annoyed about the question Couric asked about what newspaper she read in Alaska. Palin said she reads the same papers that everyone else in the Lower 48 read.

She skirted around a question asking if she is comfortable with Barack Obama as her commander in chief.

She also skirted around a question asking if she would run for senator from Alaska. Her answer was that she feels that she would best serve the people of Alaska as governor.

When pressed about the senator question, she answered that life is unpredictable, which leaves the door open to run for senator.

Here is video one, in which Sarah Palin discusses the media:

_____________________________

The second video discusses the failed election and John McCain:

Obama Win Triggers Gun Purchases

Monique Coleman Talks High School Musical 3 - Video

2008-11-12T12:06:00.001-06:00

In a TV interview Monique Coleman talks about film making, romance and High School Musical 3: Senior Year. Since HSM3 has not slowed down much at the box office, we thought we should see what one of the films' stars, one who is not interviewed quite as much as Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens are, has to say about the film trilogy.

Monique, who turns 28 years old on November 13th, plays Taylor McKessie in the HSM trilogy. Taylor is the best friend of the brainy Gabriella Montez, who is played by Vanessa Hudgens.

Even though she is 28, Monique can easily pass for a high school senior, which is essential for her role since HSM takes place at East High School.

Monique boasts an extensive singing and dance background so she definitely fits right in with the rest of the HSM cast. Monique also insists that she is not dating Corbin Bleu, like so many of the tabloids claim.

But enough talk, let Monique tell it to you:

Zac Efron Interview
Behind Scenes at High School Musical 3

Pick the HSM star you want to know more about:
Zac Efron
Vanessa Hudgens
Ashley Tisdale
Corbin Bleu

Obama Win Triggers Gun Purchases

2008-11-08T13:07:00.006-06:00

Barack Obama's recent win in the presidential election has precipitated a run on gun purchases according to Reuters News services.

Reuters stated that both Obama and Vice-President Elect Joe Biden are pro gun control, so it seems that Americans are afraid that the gun control rules will tighten up once they are inaugurated.

David Greenberg, who is the owner of the Second Amendment Family Gun Shop, in Bisbee, Arizona, was quoted by Reuters as saying, "the day after the election, I had many more calls than usual from people looking for semi-automatic rifles." In fact, Greenberg said he sold out of AR-15 rifles just recently.

"There seems to be a fear they will be banned, and it's fairly likely," Greenberg added. "Obama and Biden are driven to eliminate firearms from the face of the country."

The National Shooting Sports Foundation, which is a gun trade association that favors the shooting, hunting and firearms industries, has reported that gun sales this year have risen 10 percent.

Spokesman Tony Aeschliman said that the increase had risen most dramatically prior to the election. "Gun owners are afraid of what Obama is going to do as far as guns," said Aeschliman. "He has a clear record of being against us."

Reuters said that Jim Pruett, who owns a gun store in Houston, reported his sales more than tripled to $35,000 on the Saturday prior to the election.

"It's always been the liberal or Democratic agenda to restrict gun ownership," said Pruett.

Gun dealer Steve Sechler from McPherson, Kansas, reported that demand at a recent gun show increased by over 50 percent with buyers stocking up on guns including the Kalashnikov and AR-15 rifles.

"Most of the people there were cussing Obama and saying we need home defense," said Sechler.

The National Rifle Association (NRA), which is the most powerful gun group in the nation, called Obama a "serious threat to Second Amendment liberties" during the election campaign.

The NRA reported Obama endorsed a 500-percent increase in the federal excise tax on firearms and ammunition. However, a check of his record shows that Obama made that comment while he was an Illinois state Senator back in 1999 not during the presidential campaign. Plus Obama has not repeated that endorsement since then.

However, Obama supporters claim that gun owners should not fear gun curbs when Obama takes over on January 20th. Ted Strickland, the Democratic governor of Ohio, spoke at a rally last month claiming he had spoken directly to Obama about citizens' right to bear arms.

"If you are a sportsman, if you are a gun owner, if you are someone that honors and respects the Second Amendment, you have nothing to fear from Barack Obama," Strickland is quoted as saying.

It seems we will have to wait until 2009 to see who is right.

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Incredible Pilot Lands on Only One Wing - Video

2008-11-01T14:06:00.004-05:00

An absolutely incredible piece of piloting is performed by this stunt pilot who amazingly landed his plane unharmed while flying with only a single wing because one wing came off during a stunt. I have never seen any landing like this before. It is remarkable that he landed uninjured.

The pilot was totally calm and cool during the incident. What a pro.

Many of the comments on YouTube insist that the video is a fake; however, unless one had the resources of a Hollywood studio, it appears to be impossible to fake.

There is no sign of cgi being used in the film. The only other way I know of faking it is to photoshop each and every frame which would take forever. It must be real.

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Father Endangers Baby to Film it on Video

2008-10-30T17:59:00.000-05:00

Unbelievable video of man (probably the father) deliberately endangering the life of a nine month old baby for the sake of getting it all on video. Do not watch this if you are squeamish!

The video is hosted on LiveLeak.com and here is the disclaimer presented by LiveLeak:

"Warning: a baby is very fragile and this actually endangers the baby's life. The possibility of multiple injuries to this child sets this aside from simply "playing with your baby". If anyone has any information as to either the origins of this video or the person in it please get in touch with a member of the LiveLeak.com staff."

If you recognize the man in this video, please contact LiveLeak.com or call your local police. This guy has to be stopped before he hurts this child.

How this man can think that he is not harming the child is unbelievable.

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Two Sharks Gang Attack Surfer - Video

2008-10-15T19:28:00.001-05:00

Two Great White Sharks both attack a surfer at the same time almost making it seem like it was a planned gang attack.

Brothers Shannon and Brandon Ainslie often surf at famous Nahoon Reef off the coast of East London, South Africa. Nahoon Reef abuts Nahoon Beach, which is both a surfing and swimming paradise. The beach boasts kilometers of uncrowded and unpolluted sand and sea, and Nahoon Reef produces some remarkable waves, making surfing both exhilarating and somewhat of a challenge. High level surfers naturally flock there.

This one sunny day two great white sharks decided to make a meal of brother Shannon.

Great whites often come to Nahoon Reef to dine on seals and sardines, but these two great whites actually appeared to work together to dine on Shannon, who was surfing in a dark wet suit, which could easily make him look like a seal to the sharks.

The first shark knocked Shannon off of his surfboard and into the air. When he fell back into the surf, the first shark took a bite of his right hand pulling him under the surf toward the bottom of the ocean floor at the same time.

Not to be outdone, the second shark made a move for Shannon's head and shoulders. Watch the video for the thrilling conclusion of this remarkable tale.

What an incredibly lucky man Shannon Ainslie was.

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