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Monday 30 April 2012

Kathy Bates and Two and A Half Men

Kathy Bates and Two and A Half Men - CBS' Two and a Half Men has found a way to bring Charlie Sheen's character back to the series. Kathy Bates and Two and A Half Men, The network said Monday that Harry's Law star Kathy Bates will guest star in the April 30 episode as the ghost of Sheen's Charlie Harper.
During the episode, Jon Cryer's Alan suffers a minor heart attack, and the ghost of Charlie Harper will play a visit to his hospital bedside.

Sheen's alter ego was famously killed off in the season premiere after the actor was fired from the top-rated series after blasting creator Chuck Lorre.

Ashton Kutcher replaced Sheen, joining the show as billionaire Walden Schmidt. Kutcher's contract expires at the end of the season, and the network in talks about the future of Two and a Half Men, with contractual discussions likely delaying the expected renewal.

The Lorre comedy has grown both in ratings and buzz in the wake of Sheen's departure. Now in its ninth season, Men has lured nearly 14 million viewers and a hugely impressive 4.7 demo rating on Monday nights with Kutcher as the show’s lead.

Kutcher has not yet inked a deal to remain with the series, but he assured PaleyFest attendees this week that he “wants to work with these guys” and was waiting to hear from “the powers that be.”
Source: hollywoodreporter

Ugly Meter App 500,000

Ugly Meter App 500,000 - Ugly Meter app, Ugly Meter App 500,000, A smartphone app that rates how “ugly” a person’s face on a scale from one to 100 has exploded in popularity, raising concerns among anti-cyber bullying activists who worry about the effect this could have on vulnerable teens.


Ugly Meter works by scanning a user’s photo for contours, symmetry and proportions.

 The face gets a rating between one and 100 on the “ugly scale,” along with a corresponding comment that can range from flattering (“You’re so hot you make the sun jealous”) to downright mean (“You’re so ugly, you could make a glass eye cry.”)

 The 99-cent iPhone app has been available since November 2010, but it shot up the app store chart this week after getting a mention on Howard Stern’s radio show. As of Monday morning, it was in second place behind the game Angry Birds and now boasts over five million downloads.

Developer Eugene Overline told the Daily Mail that Ugly Meter has generated more than $500,000 in revenue to date, $80,000 of which came in overnight after Stern’s mention.

While Overline maintains that Ugly Meter is just a game, not intended to be taken seriously, anti-cyber bullying activists warns that the app could encourage teasing and lower a child’s self esteem.

Source: usinform

NYT: Jeffrey Dahmer Bludgeoned To Death In Prison (video)

NYT: Jeffrey Dahmer Bludgeoned To Death In Prison (video) - Jeffrey Dahmer Killer Book, Jeffrey Dahmer, Multiple Killer, Is Bludgeoned to Death in Prison---November 29, 1994, Jeffrey L. Dahmer, whose gruesome exploits of murder, necrophilia and dismemberment shocked the world in 1991, was attacked and killed today in a Wisconsin prison, where he was serving 15 consecutive life terms.

Mr. Dahmer was 34, older than any of his victims, who ranged in age from 14 to 33. He died of massive head injuries, suffered sometime between 7:50 and 8:10 A.M., when he was found in a pool of blood in a toilet area next to the prison’s gym, said Michael Sullivan, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. He was pronounced dead shortly after 9 A.M.

A bloodied broomstick was found nearby, and a fellow inmate who is serving life sentence for murder, Christopher J. Scaver, 25, of Milwaukee, is the prime suspect, the authorities said.

Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer (May 21, 1960 – November 28, 1994) was an American serial killer and sex offender. Dahmer murdered 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991, with the majority of the murders occurring between 1987 and 1991. His murders involved rape, dismemberment, necrophilia and cannibalism. On November 28, 1994, he was beaten to death by an inmate at the Columbia Correctional Institution, where he had been incarcerated.

Dahmer was born in West Allis, Wisconsin, the son of Joyce Annette (née Flint) and Lionel Herbert Dahmer, an analytical chemist. Seven years later, his brother David was born. Joyce Dahmer reportedly had a difficult pregnancy with her elder son. 

When Jeffrey was eight years old, he moved with his family to Bath, Ohio. Dahmer grew increasingly withdrawn and uncommunicative between the ages of 10 and 15, showing little interest in any hobbies or social interactions. 

He biked around his neighborhood looking for dead animals, which he dissected at home (or in the woods near his home). In one instance, he went so far as to put a dog's head on a stake. Dahmer began drinking in his teens and was an alcoholic by the time of his high school graduation.

In 1977, Lionel and Joyce Dahmer divorced. Dahmer attended The Ohio State University, but dropped out after one quarter, having failed to attend most of his classes. He was drunk for the majority of the term. Dahmer's father then forced him to enlist in the Army. Dahmer did well at first, but he was discharged after two years because of his alcoholism. 

When the Army discharged Dahmer in 1981, he was provided with a plane ticket to anywhere in the country. Dahmer later told police he could not go home to face his father, so he headed to Miami Beach, Florida, because he was "tired of the cold". 

He spent most of his time there at a hospital, but was soon kicked out for drinking. After coming home, he continued to drink heavily, and he was arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct later in 1981.

In 1982, Dahmer moved in with his grandmother in West Allis, where he lived for six years. During this time, his behavior grew increasingly strange. His grandmother once found a fully dressed male mannequin in his closet; Dahmer had stolen it from a store. On another occasion, she found a .357 Magnum under his bed. 

Terrible smells came from the basement; Dahmer told his father that he had brought home a dead squirrel and dissolved it with chemicals. He was arrested twice for indecent exposure, in 1982 and 1986; in his second offense, he masturbated in front of two boys.

 
Read more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Dahmer

Obiwan Kenobi Hit and Run Charge

Obiwan Kenobi arrested 
Obiwan Kenobi Hit and Run Charge - obiwan kenobi hit and run charge, Obiwan Kenobi was arrested during the weekend in connection to a hit and run crash that lead to a 4-car pileup in mid-March.
The 37-year-old, who has the same name as the Jedi master from the Star Wars movies, was arrested at his Roseville home on April 21, Roseville police Sgt. Jason Bosworth said. obiwan kenobi hit and run charge, Obi-Wan Kenobi scenes, jennifer briggs change name obi wan kenobi, 111 MPH Booty Call,

The crash happened on March 19 on Fairway Drive, near Rosehall Drive, around 4 p.m. Three cars were stopped in the straight-ahead lane on westbound Fairway Drive, while a fourth car was waiting in the left-turn lane. jennifer briggs change name obi wan kenobi,

According to Bosworth, Kenobi pulled into the left-turn lane, tried to merge into the straight-ahead lane between two cars waiting in the lane, hit the cars he was trying to merge between and then fled the scene. 111 MPH Booty Call,

The hit and run then caused a chain-reaction that caused the other two waiting cars to be hit also.
Bosworth said two people suffered minor injuries.

Kenobi was arrested on suspicion of hit-and-run causing injury and booked into Placer County Jail, Bosworth said. He was later released on bail.


Source: news10

NYT: Jeffrey Dahmer Bludgeoned to Death in Prison

NYT: Jeffrey Dahmer Bludgeoned to Death in Prison - November 29, 1994, Jeffrey L. Dahmer, Jeffrey Dahmer killer book, whose gruesome exploits of murder, necrophilia and dismemberment shocked the world in 1991, was attacked and killed today in a Wisconsin prison, where he was serving 15 consecutive life terms.


Mr. Dahmer was 34, older than any of his victims, who ranged in age from 14 to 33. He died of massive head injuries, suffered sometime between 7:50 and 8:10 A.M., when he was found in a pool of blood in a toilet area next to the prison’s gym, said Michael Sullivan, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. He was pronounced dead shortly after 9 A.M. Jeffrey Dahmer bio, Christopher Scarver bio, Jeffrey Dahmer killer book,

A bloodied broomstick was found nearby, and a fellow inmate who is serving life sentence for murder, Christopher J. Scaver, 25, of Milwaukee, is the prime suspect, the authorities said.

E. Michael McCann, the Milwaukee County District Attorney, who sent Mr. Dahmer to prison in 1992, said, “This is the last sad chapter in a very sad life.” NYT: Jeffrey Dahmer Bludgeoned to Death in Prison,


Obiwan Kenobi Arrested

Obiwan Kenobi arrested 
Obiwan Kenobi arrested - obiwan kenobi hit and run charge, Obiwan Kenobi was arrested during the weekend in connection to a hit and run crash that lead to a 4-car pileup in mid-March.


The 37-year-old, who has the same name as the Jedi master from the Star Wars movies, was arrested at his Roseville home on April 21, Roseville police Sgt. Jason Bosworth said. obiwan kenobi hit and run charge, Obi-Wan Kenobi scenes, jennifer briggs change name obi wan kenobi, 111 MPH Booty Call,

The crash happened on March 19 on Fairway Drive, near Rosehall Drive, around 4 p.m. Three cars were stopped in the straight-ahead lane on westbound Fairway Drive, while a fourth car was waiting in the left-turn lane. jennifer briggs change name obi wan kenobi,

According to Bosworth, Kenobi pulled into the left-turn lane, tried to merge into the straight-ahead lane between two cars waiting in the lane, hit the cars he was trying to merge between and then fled the scene. 111 MPH Booty Call,

The hit and run then caused a chain-reaction that caused the other two waiting cars to be hit also.
Bosworth said two people suffered minor injuries.

Kenobi was arrested on suspicion of hit-and-run causing injury and booked into Placer County Jail, Bosworth said. He was later released on bail.


Source: news10

Clark American Bandstand Desegregated



Clark American Bandstand Desegregated - Died April 18 (b. 1929)
Clark American Bandstand Desegregated - Dick Clark (see photos) was an iconic TV and radio host. His “American Bandstand” brought rock ‘n’ roll to the masses and normalized desegregation. clark american bandstand legitimizing rock and roll, clark american bandstand desegregated, clark heart attack surgery, clark new year’s rockin’ eve 1972,

Ball-Snatching Couple Wants Apology

Ball-Snatching Couple Wants Apology - Texas Couple Finds Foul Ball-Snatching Wants Apology, NSW family warns KFC not to appeal compo,  The engaged couple that has been vilified for snatching away a baseball that was intended for a toddler at Wednesday’s Rangers-Yankees game say they have been treated unfairly. And they want an apology from the Yankees broadcaster whose comments helped make the video of the episode go viral.
“My fiance Shannon and I were honestly unaware of the situation of the little boy sitting next to us last night since we were so caught up in the excited and moment of being at our first Ranger‘s baseball game together,” Sean Leonard wrote in a statement posted by WFAA.

The child eventually was given another ball, but that didn’t stem the wave of online criticisms that came after Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay said on air, “Oh, my God, they can’t give it to the kid?”

Leonard was at the game with his fiance, Shannon Moore, whom he will wed on Saturday.

“It’s very hurtful, especially when you know you wouldn’t intentionally hurt somebody or hurt their feelings,” Moore said. “Especially when it’s a little-bitty toddler.”

As for Kay, Leonard said, “He took an event and sensationalized it, threw it out there, never checked or validated the facts.”

As for the toddlers parents, they said that after the hoopla had died down (and the couple had posed & preened with the baseball in front of the little tike for a decent chunk of time) Leonard & Moore offered the ball to the boy but they declined, choosing to use the moment as a teachable moment for their three year old.

To the parents I say kudos, take a bad situation and make the best of it, possibly teaching the little guy something in the process.

To the engaged couple who suffer from head-up-ass-syndrome (HUAS)…don’t make me laugh.

An apology?

For what?


For correctly pointing out the way you intercepted a ball that was tossed in the toddlers direction?

For correctly pointing out how completely oblivious to the toddlers tears you were as you preened & posed with the thing right in front of him, only adding to his emotional duress?

For failing to applaud you after it took you way too long to realize what was going on around you and to offer to do the “right thing”?

I have little doubt that the only reason you ever removed your heads from your collective asses was after one or more of your friends called/texted you to let you know what Grade A douchebags you looked like.

For me, nothing changed with any of the news I read today.

The issue wasn’t that they merely took the ball in the first place, it was as much about how clue-free & self-absorbed they were in the process.

A pair of people, so self-centered they couldn’t even realize something they had done launched a three year old into tears were very correctly identified as people of questionable character.

The fact that the toddlers parents tried to make the best of a bad situation does nothing to change my opinion of the couple & what transpired.

The vast majority of us, in that same situation would have a. noticed what transpired and b. handed the ball over to the child and enjoyed what would have been a wonderful reaction..a big, broad smile on the kid’s face, no doubt.

We can forgive a 3 year old for being self-centered, because at that age they all are.

We can’t look past a pair of supposed adults who couldn’t be bothered to hand over a cheesy souvenir in order to put a smile on a toddlers face.

I adore how some idiots replying to both my piece and others that have written about the matter seem to think the three year old was a brat who deserved to cry, as if somehow it’d “toughen him up” or teach him a life lesson ignore the most obvious thing.

Queen Elizabeth Lamprey

Queen Elizabeth Lamprey - A lot of people would like to eat like a queen, but probably not if the dish was lamprey pie.but that treat made from eel-like fish is being prepared by the British city of Gloucester in honor of Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee in June, Queen Elizabeth II bio, Queen Elizabeth Cutty Sark, the 60th anniversary of the queen's ascent to the throne, according to Associated Press.


It seems the city has given the pie as a gift to the standing monarch since the Middle Ages -- and offered one to the Queen at her 1952 coronation. This time around they had to resort to drastic measures to get the creepy creatures since lampreys are now an endangered species in the United Kingdom, the British website ThisIsGloucestershire.co.uk reported. Queen Elizabeth lamprey, Queen Elizabeth Cutty Sark,

So the city made an inquiry to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, in Ann Arbor, Mich., in hopes of getting a few donated to the cause. lamprey recipes,

Officials like Commission spokesman Marc Gaden were only too happy to comply since the lampreys are an invasive, barely controlled nuisance in the Great Lakes, known for attaching themselves to the bodies of native fish, such as lake trout, and sucking out their innards, usually killing them. Queen Elizabeth II bio,

"We would prefer to send them truckloads of lamprey," Gaden told the Detroit Free Press.
The Commision has shipped two pounds of slimy but frozen lamprey to Gloucester, but Gaden is going to visit England on vacation and will officially present the fish to the mayor of Gloucester on May 4. Queen Elizabeth Cutty Sark,

After that, the hard work of making the pie will fall to Sarrah Maccey of the Gloucester Folk Museum, who are considering various ancient recipes including one that cooks the creatures in a sauce of wine, vinegar, cinnamon and lamprey blood, before being baked in a tall crust.



Source:  huffingtonpost

Sea Lampreys Queen Elizabeth Pie

Sea Lampreys Queen Elizabeth pie - A lot of people would like to eat like a queen, but probably not if the dish was lamprey pie. But that treat made from eel-like fish is being prepared by the British city of Gloucester in honor of Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee in June, the 60th anniversary of the queen’s ascent to the throne, according to Associated Press.


It seems the city has given the pie as a gift to the standing monarch since the Middle Ages — and offered one to the Queen at her 1952 coronation. This time around they had to resort to drastic measures to get the creepy creatures since lampreys are now an endangered species in the United Kingdom, the British website ThisIsGloucestershire.co.uk reported.


So the city made an inquiry to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, in Ann Arbor, Mich., in hopes of getting a few donated to the cause.

Officials like Commission spokesman Marc Gaden were only too happy to comply since the lampreys are an invasive, barely controlled nuisance in the Great Lakes, known for attaching themselves to the bodies of native fish, such as lake trout, and sucking out their innards, usually killing them.

“We would prefer to send them truckloads of lamprey,” Gaden told the Detroit Free Press.

The Commision has shipped two pounds of slimy but frozen lamprey to Gloucester, but Gaden is going to visit England on vacation and will officially present the fish to the mayor of Gloucester on May 4.

After that, the hard work of making the pie will fall to Sarrah Maccey of the Gloucester Folk Museum, who are considering various ancient recipes including one that cooks the creatures in a sauce of wine, vinegar, cinnamon and lamprey blood, before being baked in a tall crust.


Source: huffingtonpost

Say No to Crack Yes to U.S. Roller Rink


Say No to Crack Yes to U.S. Roller Rink 
Say No to Crack Yes to U.S. Roller Rink – Web commercial going viral tells kids to say ‘no’ to crack, ‘yes’ to US roller skating rink, A commercial going viral on YouTube tells kids to say “no” to crack and “yes” to a Nevada roller rink.



The 90-second spot was developed for Roller Kingdom in Reno by comedy duo Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal. It had nearly 240,000 views on YouTube by midday Friday, four days after it was posted online.

The campy video features a drug dealer offering pills to a boy, a man trying to lure children into a van with candy, and gang members inviting kids to spray paint bridges.

The children tell the bad guys they’d rather be roller skating.

Roller Kingdom owner Brad Armstrong tells KRNV-TV that the duo offered to produce the commercial for free so they could show it on their cable TV show, “Rhett and Link: Commercial Kings.”

Sean Leonard Shannon Moore

Sean Leonard Shannon Moore - The couple slammed by a Yankees announcer for not giving a foul ball to a crying child next to them are seeking an apology from the announcer.A picture snapped by Sean Leonard's brother paints a different picture of the foul ball incident at Wednesday night's Rangers game."If this picture was the only picture that was shown online and on the Internet, people would say, 'Oh, he's got a ball,'" Leonard said. Ball-snatching couple wants apology,


Instead, a viral video from YES Network spread across social media sites, talk radio and news stations drew all of the attention. The video of the incident with commentary by Yankees announcer Michael Kay shows a small child crying after not getting a ball that was thrown into the stands by Ranger Mitch Moreland.
Leonard and his fiancee, Shannon Moore, said the video is only half the story.

"I never saw the little boy crying," said Moore. "I'm looking at him [Sean], he's taking my picture, and it lasted maybe 10 seconds." Ball-snatching couple wants apology,

After watching the video, the couple admitted they looked bad.

"I wasn't even aware that he was crying until we see the video and then it looked bad," Leonard said. "It was horrific-looking."

But Kay's remarks made her and Leonard look even worse, Moore said.

"He just kept fueling it," Moore said. "In this society with social networking, you know, you put one thing out there, and people attack. And they were. They were vicious, and they didn't stop."
Moore said she wants an apology from Kay.

"I'm not asking for anything much, but I think if he has a good heart and he's a faithful person, he would own up and apologize -- because he did start it," she said.

The mother of the 3-year-old boy told NBC 5 on Thursday that she felt bad the Leonard and Moore were drawing fire over the incident.

Crystal Shore said Leonard and Moore were friendly and had even offered the ball to her son toward the end of the game.

"I felt sorry for Cameron and for the other couple because they were made out to be such horrible, cold-hearted people, and I just ... didn't get that impression from them at all. They were sweet. They talked to Cameron a lot," she said.

Leonard even offered the ball to her son, but his parents turned it down, they told "The Today Show" on Friday.

"He's 3, and we're kind of at that stage where he thinks he gets everything and anything," his mother said.
"I never once thought that they should have given him the ball," Crystal Shore said. "We're trying to teach him he doesn't get everything every time."

For now, Leonard and Moore have other things to worry about. The two are busy with preparations for their May 5 nuptials.

What started as a small wedding with family and close friends has turned into a much larger event. The couple's foul ball moment has spread to the United Kingdom, and Leonard and Moore say family members living there have started calling asking about the wedding.

"So, of course, everyone who didn't know we were getting married now knows," Leonard said.
The couple hopes that the events from Wednesday's game can be turned into something positive.

They've considered hosting a fundraising event for Pro Player Foundation, a group that Leonard already works with, that would teach underprivileged kids from across the Metroplex how to be better in life through sports.

"If we have to take that ball and sell it and raise funds for that foundation that can go towards hundreds of needy kids, then absolutely," Leonard said. "Why not?"

In the meantime, the couple is focusing on their wedding.

"The beautiful thing is we have a strong love between us that is going to carry us," Leonard said. "We have a strong faith in God and the truth."



View more videos at: http://nbcdfw.com.
Source:  nbcdfw

Colonial National Historical Park, Jamestown Island

Colonial National Historical Park, Jamestown Island - Colonial National Historical Park is located in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia and is operated by the National Park Service of the United States government. Over 3 million people visit the park each year.
The park includes the Colonial Parkway, a scenic 23-mile (37 km) parkway linking the three points of Virginia’s Historic Triangle: Jamestown and Yorktown and running through the historic district of Colonial Williamsburg. The Colonial Parkway is located in James City County, York County, and the city of Williamsburg.

The park includes the original site of Jamestown known in modern times as Historic Jamestowne. Located in James City County at the southern end of the Colonial Parkway, it encompasses the area of Jamestown Island and is adjacent to the Commonwealth of Virginia’s complementary attraction known as Jamestown Settlement.

At the northern end of the Colonial Parkway, in York County at Yorktown, the park operates the Yorktown Battlefield. The Nelson House, which was built around 1724, may have served as Cornwallis’s headquarters during the final battle of the Revolutionary War, and the battlefield was the site of the British defeat. Both the house and the historic siege earthworks were restored in 1976. Nearby, the state-operated Yorktown Victory Center and the Yorktown Riverwalk Landing area are located.

Monika Samaan KFC

Monika Samaan KFC - KFC ordered to pay millions to brain-damaged girl, KFC ordered to pay 8.3 million, Fast food giant KFC is being ordered to pay millions of dollars  to the family of Monika Samaan, a young girl from Australia who suffered salmonella-induced brain damage and spastic quadriplegia after eating tainted food from the restaurant. Attorneys for KFC, meanwhile, say they are disappointed with the ruling and will appealMonika Samaan was seven years old when she suffered salmonella encephalopathy – a brain injury linked to food poisoning that also left her with a blood infection and septic shock – in October 2005.


Several other family members also fell ill and they claimed Samaan’s injuries, which include severe cognitive, NSW family warns KFC not to appeal compo, motor and speech impairment and spastic quadriplegia were caused by a KFC chicken Twister wrap. KFC ordered to pay 8.3 million,

She went into a coma in hospital and was so ill last rites were given. Monika Samaan KFC,

The Supreme Court ruled in the family’s favour, finding that her sickness was caused by “a KFC Twister… consumed predominately by Monika and in lesser quantities by her family.”

Justice Stephen Rothman said the chicken became contaminated “because of the failure of one or more employees of KFC” to follow proper preparation rules, which he described as “negligent”.

“There is some evidence, which I accept, that some employees were unaware of the full consequences of a breakdown in the system that was to be implemented,” Rothman said in his judgment.

“Nevertheless, the conduct of the employee was negligent and KFC, as the employer, is vicariously liable for the negligence.” NSW family warns KFC not to appeal compo,

An internal review of standards at the store in the months before Samaan’s illess assessed them at “breakdown” level, with particular criticism of hygiene and food preparation, Rothman said.

Though compensation will be determined in a separate hearing Rothman described the now wheelchair-bound Samaan’s injuries as being of a type and severity that were “most rare”.

“She is now intellectually disabled, is unable to function independently, she needs total care and she will be unable to live a life filled with normal activities, relationships, milestones and achievements,” he said.

“The plaintiff has been severely disabled at a very young age and as a result of her injuries, it is clear she will never enjoy the normal life that was expected of her prior to this catastrophic event.” KFC said it would appeal the decision. KFC Rotten Chicken Lawsuit,

“We believe the evidence showed KFC did not cause this tragedy and, after reviewing the judgment and seeking further advice from our lawyers, we have decided to appeal Justice Rothman’s decision,” said KFC Australia spokeswoman Sally Glover.

“We feel deeply for Monika and the Samaan family however we also have a responsibility to defend KFC’s reputation as a provider of safe, high quality food.”

Fast-food giant KFC has been ordered to pay $8.3m (£5.1m) to the family of an Australian girl left severely brain damaged after being poisoned by a chicken meal.

Monika Samaan fell ill with salmonella poisoning after eating a “Twister” wrap at a KFC restaurant near Sydney in 2005.

The poisoning left her wheelchair-bound and unable to speak.

KFC said it was “deeply disappointed” by the decision and would appeal.A judge of the Supreme Court of the state of New South Wales awarded the A$8m damages after ruling last week that KFC had breached its duty of care to the girl.

The family’s lawyer, George Vlahakis, said they were relieved by the decision.

“Monika’s severe brain damage and severe disability has already exhausted the very limited resources of the family,” he said.

“Monika is now a big girl and they are finding it increasingly difficult to lift her and to look after her basic needs as well as look after Monika’s younger siblings.

“The compensation ordered is very much needed. KFC have to date been determined that Monika does not receive a cent.”

KFC, which is owned by Yum! Brands, expressed surprise at the judge’s ruling, insisting the evidence did not show it caused Monika’s disability. It has indicated it will appeal.

“We feel deeply for Monika and the Samaan family. However, we also have a responsibility to defend KFC’s reputation as a provider of safe, high-quality food,” a company manager said.

The court was told that Monika was in a coma for six months after she, her parents and brother fell ill with vomiting and diarrhoea after sharing the wrap, the AAP news agency reports. The other family members all recovered.
All the family members ate the wrap and got poisoned, but the youngest girl's condition got the worst. The Australian girl has been left severely brain-damaged and in a wheelchair after getting poisoned by that chicken meal.

The incident took place in 2005, when the then seven-year-old girl named Monika Samaan, her parents and her brother consumed a Twister Wrap meal, which was shared by the entire family. They stopped over at a KFC joint near Sydney and shortly after eating the meal, all of them became sick. They were taken to the hospital and there it was discovered that the entire family had been poisoned with salmonella. The girl's parents and brother recovered, but she did not and was left brain damaged for life.

Kentucky Fried Chicken or KFC is owned by a Kentucky-based brand by the name of Yum!, and their rep said that it was a tragic case but also that the management was "deeply disappointed and surprised by the decision" and would appeal against it. The company denied being responsible for the girl's condition and even challenged her family's claims during a four-week long trial. However, the company lost the case as a New South Wales Supreme Court judge ruled the case in favor of the Samaan family. The judge said that KFC had breached its responsibility of providing care to the girl. The judge said that the company would now have to pay the girl's family $8.3 million in damages as well as court costs.

According to the lawyers of the Samaan family, the girl's illness had exhausted the very limited resources the family had and hence the settlement was truly deserved by the family.

Monika Samaan has remained in coma for six months and in the hospital for a total of seven months.



Apparently, the chicken Twister wrap Monika Samaan ate was infected with salmonella, which caused a blood infection and brain injuries. The infection led to severe cognitive, motor, and speech impairments and the family has had to spend all of their limited resources to care for her as well as their other children.

A judge ruled last week that the fast food chain pay $8 million to the family, who say they all got sick after eating the tainted chicken and are glad the battle is finally over. The courts found KFC liable after determining that one or more employees was negligent in the preparation and handling of raw meat.

Although this incident happened several years ago, the news of the settlement has made its way around the web, and with the recent “mad cow” scare in California, many people are starting to look at their eating habits a little differently. The truth is, we take our chances every time we eat food that someone else has prepared, and it’s a terrifying notion that what you choose for lunch one day could lead to such devastating consequences.


KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN has been ordered by an Australian court to pay €6.5m in compensation to a young girl who suffered severe brain damage from salmonella after eating a chicken meal at the fast food restaurant.

Monika Samaan was seven years old when she fell seriously ill with salmonella poisoning after the meal in October 2005.

The Supreme Court of New South Wales heard that the girl’s parents and brother also fell ill with vomiting and diarrhoea after sharing the KFC chicken ‘Twister’. Samaan’s illness was by far the most severe of the family and she spent six months in a coma, suffering organ system failures and septic shock.

She has since suffered severe cognitive and motor impairment, and in unable to function independently.
KFC denied that the Twister had been purchased by the girl’s father at the time he claimed, and denied that such food was unsafe for consumption.

The court ruled last week that KFC had breached its duty of care. Today, the court ordered KFC to pay AUS$8.3 million (€6.5m) in compensation plus costs to the family.

The company is expected to appeal, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

A lawyer for the family said they welcomed the court’s decision and they had exhausted their own very limited resources already in caring for their daughter.


Tiger Shrimp Gulf

Tiger Shrimp Gulf - A big increase in reports of Asian tiger shrimp along the U.S. Southeast coast and in the Gulf of Mexico has federal biologists worried the species is encroaching on native species' territory. Tiger Shrimp Gulf, The shrimp are known to eat their smaller cousins, and sightings of the massive crustaceans have gone up tenfold in the last year, biologists say.


The black-and-white-striped shrimp can grow 13 inches long and weigh a quarter-pound, compared to eight inches and a bit over an ounce for domestic white, brown and pink shrimp. Scientists fear the tigers will bring disease and competition for native shrimp. Both, however, can be eaten by humans. tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon,

‘They’re supposed to be very good,’ Pam Fuller, a biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey told CNN. ‘But they can get very large, sorta like lobsters.’ The last U.S. tiger shrimp farm closed in Florida in 2004, without ever raising a successful crop, according to a USGS fact sheet about the species. Reports of tiger shrimp in U.S. waters rose from a few dozen a year - 21 in 2008, 47 in 2009 and 32 in 2010 - to 331 last year, from North Carolina to Texas. gulf seafood deformities,

'That's a big jump,' Ms Fuller told the Associated Press. And those are just the numbers reported to the government. 'I've had fishermen tell me they have quit bringing them in. 'They are seeing large numbers in their catch - multiples per night,' said Morris, who works at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Centre for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research in Beaufort, North Carolina.

The increase 'is the first indication that we may be undergoing a true invasion of Asian tiger shrimp,' he said. 'Nobody knows what happened to their stock. But they have not been commonly caught in the area where that fish farm was,' she said. She said hundreds were caught along South Carolina, Georgia and Florida after a storm hit a South Carolina shrimp farm in 1988, but none was reported in U.S. waters for the next 18 years.

Six were reported in 2006, and four in 2007. To find out whether last year's increase was a one-time spike or the vanguard of an invasion, the agencies are asking people to keep a wide eye for tiger shrimp, to report where and when they find them, and bring back frozen tiger shrimp to help learn where they're coming from.


Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2135907/Giant-cannibal-shrimp-grow-13-INCHES-long-invade-waters-Gulf-Coast.html

Celebrity Deaths April 2012

 
Celebrity deaths April 2012 – In April we lost many beloved figures, including “America’s Oldest Teenager” and an Australian rock flutist. Click through to read about those who passed away. Celebrity deaths "april 2012", america's oldest teenager, australian flautist ham,



Chris Ethridge
Died April 23 (b. 1947)
Bass guitarist Chris Ethridge was a founder of the legendary Flying Burrito Brothers. He was also in the lesser-known band of Gram Parsons (watch videos), the International Submarine Band. chris ethridge hospital pancreatic cancer, Chris Ethridge Judy Collins Leon Russell Linda Ronstadt Byrds Jackson Browne Willie Nelson,


LeRoy Walker
Died April 23 (b. 1918)
LeRoy Walker was the first African-American president of the U.S. Olympic Committee and the first African-American to coach a U.S. Olympic team. LeRoy T. Walker first african american coach track, leroy walker durham no cause given, leroy walker football small high school benedict small olympic,


Charles Colson
Died April 21 (b. 1931)
Charles Colson was a lawyer for President Richard Nixon and had an interesting nickname. He had a famous rebirth and then a prolific career. colson complications from brain hemorrhage, colson salvation army templeton prize,


Levon Helm
Died April 19 (b. 1940)
Levon Helm was a multi-award-winning folk musician. Before his solo career, he played drums for Bob Dylan and the Band. helm grammy won best traditional folk americana,


Greg Ham
Died April 19 (b. 1953)
Greg Ham was a multi-instrumentalist for one of Australia’s most successful bands, Men at Work. Greg Ham keyboards, vocals, saxophone, harmonica, flute, men at work only Australian simultaneous #1 album #1 single, greg ham found dead home did not appear suspicious under investigation, greg ham taught guitar “music students”,


Dick Clark
Died April 18 (b. 1929)
Dick Clark (see photos) was an iconic TV and radio host. His “American Bandstand” brought rock ‘n’ roll to the masses and normalized desegregation. clark american bandstand legitimizing rock and roll, clark american bandstand desegregated, clark heart attack surgery, clark new year’s rockin’ eve 1972,


Dwayne Schintzius
Died April 15 (b. 1968)
Dwayne Schintzius was a starting player in the NBA who was also known for his role in “Eddie” and his hairstyle. dwayne schintzius 217 games starter, Schintzius leukemia complications, schintzius only player to amass more than 1,000 points, 800 rebounds, 250 assists and 250 blocks,


Émile Bouchard
Died April 14 (b. 1919)
Hockey player Émile Bouchard was one of Canada’s greats. He was on several champion teams and is commemorated by number. bouchard surrounded by family, Bouchard reputation clean player strongest best body-checkers,


Jonathan Frid
Died April 13 (b. 1924)
Actor Jonathan Frid played a famous vampire. He was also a military man and an Ivy Leaguer. frid barnabas collins dark shadows, Frid psychiatrist As the World Turns,


Mark Lenzi
Died April 9 (b. 1968)
Olympic diver Mark Lenzi won a medal in 1992 and another in 1996. He switched from wrestling to diving in high school. lenzi fainting blood pressure medication heart ailment,


Jack Tramiel
Died April 8 (b. 1928)
Computer pioneer Jack Tramiel founded Commodore International and ran the Atari Corporation. Before he began in typewriters, he had a much different job. tramiel 83 heart failure, tramiel “for masses, not the classes”,


Mike Wallace
Died April 7 (b. 1918)
Mike Wallace was a “60 Minutes” correspondent. He was known for his interview style. wallace 60 Minutes 1968 retired 2006 + 38 years as correspondent, wallace peacefully waveny care center surrounded by family., wallace “michigan daily” at University of Michigan


Fang Lizhi
Died April 6 (b. 1936)
Fang Lizhi was an activist and high scholar who inspired distinct liberal movements in China. lizhi pro-democracy student Tiananmen Square protests, lizhi astrophysicist University of Science and Technology of China, lizhi died home tucson, lizhi expelled Communist Party 1987,


Thomas Kinkade
Died April 6 (b. 1958)
The paintings of Thomas Kinkade grace the homes of many Americans. He was disputably the “Painter of Light.” thomas kinkade natural causes autopsy, Kinkade “most controversial artist in the world”


Gil Noble
Died April 5 (b. 1936)
Gil Noble (see photos) was the groundbreaking journalist behind “Like It Is.” He rose from Harlem and utilized the first cellphone. noble harlem jamaican immigrants city college wlib, noble reported hilton cellular phone cooper, gil noble death stroke, noble like it is 43,


Claude Miller
Died April 4 (b. 1942)
Claude Miller was a French filmmaker known for daring films. He won the Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize for “La classe de neige.” claude miller death after long illness, claude miller cannes tribute may 27,


Chief Jay Strongbow
Died April 3 (b. 1928)
Wrestler “Chief Jay Strongbow” won championships in the ring and often went on the warpath. Chief Jay Strongbow National Wrestling Alliance several championships, Chief Jay Strongbow “on the warpath”, Chief Jay Strongbow fall hospitalized never recovered, Joe Scarpa nickname Joltin’ Joe,


Jimmy Little
Died April 2 (b. 1937)
Musician Jimmy Little was of unique descent and honored as “an ambassador for indigenous culture.” jimmy little australian aboriginal, jimmy little Order of Australia “ambassador for indigenous”, Jimmy Little died “natural causes” Dubbo, “Jimmy Little Foundation” indigenous kidney,


Leila Denmark
Died April 1 (b. 1898)
Supercentenarian Leila Denmark retired as a pediatrician at a record-breaking age. She was adamant about sugar. +supercenturions + at least 110 years, denmark at her daughter’s home Athens, Denmark 4th-oldest living world,

Sunday 29 April 2012

Elise Testone Cocky Idol Exit (Video)

Elise Testone Cocky Idol Exit (Video) - American Idol Elise Testone Exit Interview (Video)---Ousted "American Idol" singer Elise Testone said on Friday she was proud of her song choices and performances on the show, even though they may not have connected with the voting public.


But bluesy rock singer Testone, the oldest of the contest's Top 10 at 28, said she had hoped to stay on and fight another day.

"I was a little bit surprised because in my heart I didn't feel it was time for me to go.

But it wasn't a total shock because being in the bottom three that many times it was inevitable it would happen sometime. But I guess I just felt like a fighter and that I was going to push through," Testone told reporters the day after her exit.

Testone finished in 6th place in the TV competition after her rendition this week of Queen's "I Want it All" and the Jimi Hendrix number "Bold as Love" - songs that reflected her rocker style - were criticized by the judges.

The songs put the vocal coach from South Carolina in the bottom three yet again.

"I think the majority of voting comes from middle America so if I can't win them over it's not going to happen. I felt if I was honest and sung from my heart and my passion, that was the best I could do," Testone said.

"Those were the best choices for me," she said of her performances this week, "but probably the majority of people at home want to be able to sing along."

Over the last several weeks on the show, a frustrated Testone challenged some of the conflicting comments from the "Idol" judges and the show's record producer mentor Jimmy Iovine.

"I felt like sometimes the criticism didn't line up, or it was discrediting the things I have achieved...so that was hard," she said.

"I am confident in myself, and that's why I did speak up sometimes because I believe in certain things and I don't want to just keep my mouth shut and smile. I never was trying to be rude or argumentative. It was just honesty.

London Olympics Ban And Drug Cheats (Video)

London Olympics Ban And Drug Cheats (Video) - London Olympics Ban And Drug Cheats---London 2012 Olympics: Dwain Chambers and drug cheats ban: The British Olympic Association have lost a court case to keep their lifetime ban for drugs cheats.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will announce on Monday their decision that the BOA’s bylaw does not comply with the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) global code, sources with knowledge of the case have confirmed.

The outcome means sprinter Dwain Chambers and cyclist David Millar will have their lifetime bans lifted to allow their selection for Team GB for the London 2012 Games.

CAS rulings are not always cut and dried in favour of a single party, but it is understood this ruling is unequivocally in favour of WADA.

The BOA’s response will be to accept the defeat, with the first action to formally remove the bylaw at a full board meeting. That will then open the way to allowing UK Athletics to select Chambers in July, and British Cycling to do the same with Millar in June.

The two athletes had been subject to the lifetime rule for after being banned for doping offences eight years ago. Shot-putter Carl Myerscough would also be eligible for selection.

The BOA will now concentrate on their proposals to change WADA’s global code on doping.

They have proposed a minimum four-year ban for a first serious doping offence, including missing one Olympics, with national Olympic committees having the autonomy to have tougher sanctions if they so choose including a lifetime ban.

Any such agreement would not come before the London Games however so would not affect Chambers’ and Millar’s participation.

Kanye Wardrobe Malfunction Kim k

Kanye Wardrobe malfunction kim k - Rapper Kanye West suffered a wardrobe malfunction during a recent date with Kim Kardashian.  Reportedly, the rap star showed off a lot more thigh than intended while heading to a Manhattan restaurant with reality TV star Kim K.


According to dbtechno.com, Kanye and Kim went to dine at the N62 restaurant.  After they left, the two were seen leaving his car to go enter his apartment building.  Kanye's pants fell down to his mid-thigh area revealing a lot of leg.
 
There has yet to be any confirmation that Kanye West and Kim Kardashian are dating.  However, it was also reported that the two were seen holding hands while together in New York.  West also made mention of how he "fell in love with Kim" in one of his new rap songs as well.
 
Kim Kardashian is currently seen on E! reality television shows including "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" and "Kourtney & Kim Take New York."  Roanoke viewers can see these shows on Cox Cable channel 60.  A new season of "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" begins on Sunday, May 20th at 9 p.m. EST.
 
Source: examiner

Elise Testone Cocky Idol Exit

Elise Testone Cocky Idol Exit - American Idol reject, 28-year old Elise Testone, was voted out last Thursday night and Hollie Cavanagh couldn’t’ be happier about it, since it was between the two of them at the bottom.
The previous week, Colton Dixon took a very “cocky” exit and maybe it’s just the vibe back stage, but Elise has now shockingly done the exact same thing as Colton. Elise, a New Jersey native, left Idol with her head held up relatively high, even though she couldn’t crack a smile. elise testone cocky idol exit,

But when Elise got off Idol property, she held nothing back about her Idol experience with the judges, she told OK! that the judges were not helpful one bit, “I’d like to say that they were, but I don’t really feel that way. I am sorry. I feel bad about it.”

Rodney King Anniversary 2012

Rodney King anniversary 2012 - This Sunday marks the 20th anniversary of the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles. Some black community activists see significant progress, but others see a long way to go.
This Sunday marks the 20th anniversary of the riots that began when three white and one Hispanic policemen were acquitted of charges of beating African-American motorist Rodney King. The wall-to-wall coverage in local newspapers, television, and radio (including "Which Way, L.A.?", the PBS radio show born in the wake riots) has asked: Is America’s most multicultural city getting along better?

In a city as diverse as L.A., the opinions are just as diverse, but some black community activists see positive signs. rodney king engaged to juror cynthia kelley, los angeles riots 63 people died,

“Undeniably, we have seen lots of progress on the racial front,” says Earl Ofari Hutchinson, author of nine books on the black experience and head of the Los Angeles Roundtable, which presents weekly, open-mike discussions in inner-city neighborhoods.

Neighborhoods that were previously primarily black have been infused with Hispanics, and formerly primarily white communities have been infused with Asians and blacks, he says. “The Balkanization that was entrenched here has broken down quite a bit with many kinds of people mixing more than ever,” Mr. Hutchinson adds.

Perhaps the biggest improvement is in Korean-Black relations, say activists, neighborhood leaders, and politicians. Ten thousand Korean businesses were among the $1 billion in damage, as many disgruntled blacks admittedly took the opportunity to express their wrath at Koreans who set up liquor stores in their neighborhoods while living elsewhere, kept their signs in Korean, and allegedly treated black customers rudely.

“I think we understand each other’s cultures much better now, and that has matured,” says black activist Najee Ali, who spent several days lighting fires in Korean businesses, went to prison, found religion, and has since publically apologized to Koreans.

Through meetings and workshops, Mr. Ali says Korean merchants “bent over backwards to make sure they understood blacks, and we in turn realized their intention was not really to disrespect us, but rather that they didn’t understand us.”

Others see less progress.

Hwashik Bong, a sports writer for the Los Angeles’s Korea Daily, says the younger Korean generation in L.A., which has grown up since the riots, has no interest in learning about event, and the older generation is focused on political developments in Korea, with the ascension of Kim Jong-un to power in the North.

“I would give Korean’s a C-plus, just a bit better than average, in the better relations department,” says Mr. Bong. “They haven’t changed that much. They are still thick and xenophobic and have short memories. They still are busy making money in black neighborhoods with very little thought of giving back to the neighborhoods. They like going back where they live.”

Latino activists say the riots aided in broadening the racial conversation in Los Angeles.

“The civil disturbance of 20 years ago shook Los Angeles to the core,” says Jorge-Mario Cabrera, spokesman for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA). “Whereas before the riots, race dialogue focused on blacks and whites, after 1992, the discourse became multicultural and immigrants had to be recognized. This does not mean Los Angeles became more tolerant, but it became aware that this giant urban center deserved more attention because of its symbolism and economic power.”

“Immigrants have become part of the landscape, the discourse, and the everyday reality of all Angelenos. As one group rises, however, even if minimally, we must keep a careful eye on what happens to other ethnic minorities living amongst us,” says Cabrera. “There is still a long way to go before we reach a de-Balkanized Los Angeles.”

source: csmonitor

Saudi Boy Shoots Dad Playstation

Saudi Boy Shoots Dad Playstation - An angry four-year-old Saudi boy shot and killed his father for refusing to buy him a PlayStation, Do violent video games actually make children violent?, Saudi media reported on Monday.


The Asharq daily, citing police in the southern Jizan area, said the child, aged four years and seven months, grabbed his father's pistol and shot him in the head. Saudi boy shoots dad playstation,

According to the newspaper, the child had asked his father to buy him a PlayStation and the shooting took place after the man returned home without the desired object. british teachers blame video games for violence,

As he was undressing, the man put the weapon down, which the child then grabbed and fired at him from close range. video game Anders Breivik,

Source: yahoo

Do Violent Video Games Actually Make Children Violent?

Do violent video games actually make children violent? - About 90 percent of U.S. kids ages 8 to 16 play video games, and they spend about 13 hours a week doing so (more if you’re a boy). Now a new study suggests virtual violence in these games may make kids more aggressive in real life.

Kids in both the U.S. and Japan who reported playing lots of violent video games had more aggressive behavior months later than their peers who did not, according to the study, which appears in the November issue of the journal Pediatrics.

The researchers specifically tried to get to the root of the chicken-or-egg problem — do children become more aggressive after playing video games or are aggressive kids more attracted to violent videos?

It’s a murky — and controversial — issue. Many studies have linked violence in TV shows and video games to violent behavior. But when states have tried to keep under-18 kids from playing games rated “M” for mature, the proposed restrictions have often been challenged successfully in court.

In the new study, Dr. Craig A. Anderson, Ph.D., of Iowa State University in Ames, and his colleagues looked at how children and teen’s video game habits at one time point related to their behavior three to six months later.

The study included three groups of kids: 181 Japanese students ages 12 to 15; 1,050 Japanese students aged 13 to 18; and 364 U.S. kids ages 9 to 12.

The U.S. children listed their three favorite games and how often they played them. In the younger Japanese group, the researchers looked at how often the children played five different violent video game genres (fighting action, shooting, adventure, among others); in the older group they gauged the violence in the kids’ favorite game genres and the time they spent playing them each week.

Japanese children rated their own behavior in terms of physical aggression, such as hitting, kicking or getting into fights with other kids; the U.S. children rated themselves too, but the researchers took into account reports from their peers and teachers as well.

In every group, children who were exposed to more video game violence did become more aggressive over time than their peers who had less exposure. This was true even after the researchers took into account how aggressive the children were at the beginning of the study — a strong predictor of future bad behavior.

The findings are “pretty good evidence” that violent video games do indeed cause aggressive behavior, says Dr. L. Rowell Huesmann, director of the Research Center for Group Dynamics at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research in Ann Arbor.

There are two ways violent media can spur people to violent actions, said Huesmann, who has been studying violence in media and behavior for more than 30 years. Read about the celebrity-mom slugfest over vaccines

First is imitation; children who watch violence in the media can internalize the message that the world is a hostile place, he explains, and that acting aggressively is an OK way to deal with it.

Also, he says, kids can become desensitized to violence. “When you’re exposed to violence day in and day out, it loses its emotional impact on you,” Huesmann said. “Once you’re emotionally numb to violence, it’s much easier to engage in violence.” Read how children may not outgrow bipolar disorder

But Dr. Cheryl K. Olson, co-director of the Center for Mental Health and the Media at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, isn’t convinced.

“It’s not the violence per se that’s the problem, it’s the context and goals of the violence,” said Olson, citing past research on TV violence and behavior.

There are definitely games kids shouldn’t be playing, she said, for example those where hunting down and killing people is the goal. But she argues that the label “violent video games” is too vague. Researchers need to do a better job at defining what is considered a violent video game and what constitutes aggressive behavior, she added.

“I think there may well be problems with some kinds of violent games for some kinds of kids,” Olson said. “We may find things we should be worried about, but right now we don’t know enough.”

Further, she adds, playing games rated “M” for mature has become “normative behavior” for adolescents, especially boys. “It’s just a routine part of what they do,” she says. Read why food allergies in children are on the rise

Her advice to parents? Move the computer and gaming stuff out of kids’ rooms and into public spaces in the home, like the living room, so they can keep an eye on what their child is up to.

Dr. David Walsh, president of the National Institute on Media and the Family, a Minneapolis-based non-profit, argues that the pervasiveness of violence in media has led to a “culture of disrespect” in which children get the message that it’s acceptable to treat one another rudely and even aggressively.

“It doesn’t necessarily mean that because a kid plays a violent video game they’re immediately going to go out and beat somebody up,” Walsh says. “The real impact is in shaping norms, shaping attitude. As those gradually shift, the differences start to show up in behavior.”

April 2012 Memorable Quotes

April 2012 Memorable Quotes - Memorable April quotes april 2012 celebrity quotes, From a controversial baseball manager to a gargantuan business deal to a shooting that brought American race relations to the forefront, it's been an interesting month. See the quotes that made headlines in April. facebook buys instagram,



Ann Romney 

"The dog loved it. He would see that crate and, you know, he would, like, go crazy because he was going with us on vacation. It was to me a kinder thing to bring him along than to leave him in the kennel for two weeks." Republican candidate Mitt Romney's wife defended their choice to make the family dog ride in an unusual place during family trips. mitt romney family dog top of car, hilary rosen ann romney, ann romney multiple sclerosis,

Secret Service prostitution scandal 

"We let the boss down. Nobody's talking about what went on in Colombia other than this incident. So to that extent we let him down." secret service prostitution, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey spoke about the sex scandal rocking the elite agents assigned to protect the president. colombian escort speaks out, president's colombia trip will boost us trade,

Norway massacre 

"I have carried out the most spectacular and sophisticated attack on Europe since World War II." Anders Behring Breivik admitting to killing 77 people in last year's bombing and shooting attacks while on trial in Oslo, Norway. norway youth camp victims, Anders Behring Breivik,

Trayvon Martin case

"We simply wanted an arrest. We wanted nothing more, nothing less. We just wanted an arrest, and we got it." george zimmerman second-degree murder, The late teen's mother expressed her thoughts on the arrest of George Zimmerman, who was charged with murder in the shooting of her son. george zimmerman second-degree murder, wyclef tribute to trayvon, hoodie march for trayvon, george zimmerman trayvon martin case,

North Korean missiles 

"North Korea is only further isolating itself by engaging in provocative acts and is wasting its money on weapons and propaganda displays while the North Korean people go hungry." white house criticizes north korea missile launch, north korea failed missile launch april, White House press secretary Jay Carney criticized the rogue state after reports of a failed missile launch surfaced. What was the country's explanation? North Korea satellite launch to honor Kim Il Sung,

Rick Santorum 

"We made a decision over the weekend that while this presidential race for us is over for me and we will suspend our campaign effective today, we are not done fighting." The Republican candidate dropped out of the presidential race just days after his 3-year-old daughter (see a photo) was hospitalized. republican presidential race, presidential race 2012 polls,

Bobby Petrino 

"My concern was to protect my family and a previous inappropriate relationship from becoming public. In hindsight, I showed a serious mistake in judgment when I chose not to be more specific about those details." bobby petrino fired, The University of Arkansas football coach lost his job after he admitted lying about a motorcycle accident to cover up his relationship with a recently hired staff member. bobby petrino motorcycle accident, jessica dorrell $20,000,

Ozzie Guillen 

"I love Fidel Castro. I respect Fidel Castro, sox manager guillen suspended for tweets, A lot of people have wanted to kill Fidel Castro for the last 60 years, but that motherf****r is still here." The Miami Marlins manager was suspended after his controversial remarks angered Miami's Cuban population. ozzie guillen suspended for five games, ozzie guillen + cubans, sox manager guillen suspended for tweets,

Facebook buys Instagram 

"Millions of people around the world love the Instagram app and the brand associated with it, and our goal is to help spread this app and brand to even more people." Facebook buys Instagram, facebook buys instagram for $1 billion, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that his company had paid big bucks popular photo-sharing app. facebook buys instagram for $1 billionm,

Titanic 100th anniversary 

"You are in the middle of nowhere. And then you look down over the side of the ship and you realize that every man and every woman who didn't make it into a lifeboat had to make that decision, of when to jump or stay on the ship as the lights went out." titanic memorial cruise, rms titanic, Titanic Memorial Cruise passenger Jane Allen spoke about the sinking of the Titanic on April 14, 1912. How many people died? more than 1,500 killed on Titanic, james cameron titanic anniversary special,

Man dies in swan attack 

"Maybe he didn't fight back enough when the swan attacked him. anthony hensley killed, Maybe he didn't want to hurt the animal. I can't understand how this was possible." George Koutsogiannis sun times interview, An Illinois man spoke about the death of his son-in-law, a caretaker who drowned after being attacked by the swans he was checking on. Anthony Hensley killed,

Connecticut repeals death penalty 

"When I sign this bill, Connecticut will join 16 other states and almost every other industrialized nation in moving toward what I believe is better public policy." connecticut repeal death penalty, Gov. Dannel Malloy praised his state's legislature for taking capital punishment off the books in Connecticut. states without death penalty, death penalty opponents,

Jenna Talackova 

"I am a woman. I was devastated, and I felt that excluding me for the reason that they gave was unjust. I have never asked for any special consideration. I only wanted to compete." transgender definition, donald trump + jenna talackova, The transgender pageant queen defended her right to participate in the Miss Canada competition. donald trump + jenna talackova,

Neil Heywood 

"It was all very odd. There were a lot of questions, and a lot of tears. We'd all been to plenty of funerals, and none of us had ever been through anything quite like it." Neil Heywood murder, neil heywood funeral, A funeral-goer at Heywood's London services discussed the mystery surrounding the British businessman's death in China. neil heywood death,

Mayor Cory Booker 

"It is a very, very scary thing. And I'd like to say that I, at that point I was feeling so courageous, but honestly, it was terrifying, and to look back, you can see nothing but flames. Look in front of you, see nothing but blackness." mayor cory booker, The popular New Jersey mayor denied being a hero after saving a neighbor from a house fire. cory booker saves woman, cory booker president, cory booker shovels snow,

Amelia Earhart 

"Admittedly, it's a needle in a haystack, but with the technology we have employed and the brains we have involved, if we don't find it, no one will." amelia earhart search, Researcher Jon Thompson discussed the search to finally discover the aviator's crash site on the 75th anniversary of her disappearance. amelia earhart 75th anniversary, navigator fred noonan, hillary clinton amelia earhart, 1937 Nikumaroro landing gear photo,

Tulsa shootings 

"I always got along with everybody. It didn't matter what color you (were)." Jake England tulsa, Accused hate-crime perpetrator Jake England denied being a racist despite posting a derogatory Facebook message before shootings that left three black Tulsa residents dead. Jake England tulsa facebook post, tulsa shooting victims, tulsa shootings,

Supreme Court debates health care law 

"What is left? If the government can do this, what else can it not do?" affordable care act supreme court, affordable care act mandate, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia speculated on the impact of the mandatory portion of the Affordable Care Act. affordable care act, affordable care act supreme court, affordable care act supreme court transcript,

New tornado warnings 

"Complete destruction of entire neighborhoods is likely. Mass devastation is highly likely, making the area unrecognizable to survivors." nws issues new tornado warnings, National Weather Service, The National Weather Service credited its new, attention-grabbing warnings with saving lives during a recent Midwest tornado outbreak. tornado warnings unsurvivable + catastrophic, midwest tornadoes april 2012, tornado safety tips,

Ted Nugent 

"If Barack Obama becomes the president in November again, I will either be dead or in jail by this time next year." ted nugent secret service, The "Cat Scratch Fever" rocker caught the attention of the Secret Service when he made the controversial remarks at a National Rifle Association convention. fort knox cancels nugent concert, ted nugent spirit of the wild,