Snack foods like potato chips — Men, 13%; Women, 13%
Fried foods — Men, 13%; Women, 10%
Alcohol — Men, 8%; Women, 3%
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THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
A former David Letterman show writer is talking about the “hostile work environment” of the show in the latest “Vanity Fair.”
Beyonce and Jay-Z went out to lunch the other day and the bill came to $1200! They left a tip of $500.
Nick Jonas is working on a solo project, but insists the Brother Act is still solid.
Kate Gosselin says with the reality show bubble having burst, she may go back to work as a nurse.
Corey Feldman’s wife, Susannah, has filed for divorce after seven years of marriage citing irreconcilable differences. The couple were married in October, 2002, and have a 5-year-old son.
Andre Aggasi is writing his memoirs and among the things you’ll learn: that during his playing days, he did abuse crystal meth.
Among those on hand for last night’s World Series game in New York: First Lady Michelle Obama.
“Lilith Faire” — the girl power concert series from the 90s — is going to return next year. No performers lined up yet besides organizer Sarah McLachlan.
The D.C. sniper is set to die from lethal injection November 10.
Melissa Joan Hart and snowboarder Louie Vito were booted off “Dancing with the Stars” this week.
“Family Feud” and host John O’Hurley is getting a makeover for the game show’s new season, with a faster-paced opening, a new look and new prizes. In the new, fast-paced bull’s-eye round that opens the show, contestants have a chance to bank up to $30,000 before the main round of play begins.
Lisa Kudrow will join the cast of Courteney Cox’s new TV series “Cougar Town” for an episode in 2010.
Big winds in California on Tuesday. CBS studios lost power and Craig Ferguson had to finish taping his late night show by flashlight.
Microsoft was going to be the lone sponsor of a one-hour Family Guy special on November 8, but have changed their mind and pulled out.
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WEIRD NEWS
How Not To Get Employed!
This is just bizarre! In Haverstraw, New York, a man walked into a Taco Bell around 2pm in the afternoon, pointed a gun directly at the cashier, demanded money and then told the cashier to get on the floor. He then walked into the manager’s office at the back of the store and asked for an employment application. The manager said, “No,” and then told the guy to leave. He did — and without taking any money. Police are looking for him. He may have gone south of the border but this guy is a little south of sanity! (Lo Hud)
Would You Help This Man?
It was a strange day at the water treatment plant in the small town of Tonawanda, New York. A man dressed in a cow suit — yes a cow suit– and soaking wet, walked into the plant asking for help saying he had just driven his car into the Niagara river. He claimed his GPS device told him to take a right to get onto the highway but instead he found himself driving right off a boat dock into the water. Police were called and amazingly they found out that alcohol was involved and the guy had a .20 blood alcohol level — over twice the legal limit. So he was arrested on an aggravated DWI charge. Sorry — no information was released regarding what the cow suit was about. (Lockport Union-Sun & Journal)
Really Stupid Criminals!
You know you’re not really cut out for a life of crime when you can’t tell the difference between the real TVs and the cardboard cutouts. A few would-be-robbers in Australia broke the front window of a department store early in the morning after seeing a big-screen plasma inside. Turns out the thieves got punked and soon found out it was just a cardboard display model. They took out their frustration by messing up a bed also in the display window but left empty-handed. Aww man! We got duped! Let’s get ‘em good by messing up this nice bed!!??? (AU Herald Sun)
We Got Pirates On Lake Erie Now?
Hard to believe but it looks like we’ve got pirates right on our own Lake Erie now! The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating a robbery on the famed lake after a boater reported that a man pulled up alongside his boat and robbed him at gunpoint! Officials said the incident happened in the Euclid area about two miles off shore. Oh that’s just Arrrgravating! That’s Arrrwful! I’m Arrrtraged! Arrr! (WEWS News)
Oh Give Me a Break — A Bathroom Break!
There’s a very mean manager at the Albertson’s grocery store in Fairfax, California — a manager that just cost his company $200,000 bucks! After undergoing cancer treatment that left her mouth dry and required her to drink water constantly, a clerk at the store was told to let the managers know when she needed a bathroom break and they would cover for her. The arrangement worked fine for over a year until a new supervisor came on board and refused to let the woman go on a bathroom break. He turned her down not once but three times saying he was too busy. As a result, she urinated while standing at the check stand, then cleaned herself in the bathroom and drove home in tears, contemplating suicide. Emotionally fragile to begin with from her childhood in war-torn El Salvador, her cancer and past experiences as a crime victim, she left her job soon afterward and was committed to a psychiatric hospital for several days. And then she sued Albertsons and won big time being awarded $12,000 for lost wages, $40,000 for medical expenses and $148,000 for emotional distress. Albertson’s actually appealed the verdict if you can believe that but the appellate court turned them down. Now they plan to appeal to the state Supreme Court. Are you kidding me? Come on Albertson’s! Your guy screwed up! Now step up and take your lumps. And fire that jackass! (SF Gate)
New World Record: Most Body Piercings!
The new world record for the most body piercings comes from an unlikely source — Jon Lynch of England who is 78-years-old! The former bank manager claimed a spot in the Guinness World Records Book with his 241 piercings that cover his body, including 150 on his head and neck. In addition to the piercings, Lynch also has tattoos covering most of his body, including a portrait of Marilyn Monroe that takes up most of his torso. Because of his piercings, he stopped flying years ago because his jewelry kept setting off security scanners at airports. After working at Barclays Bank for 30 years, Lynch got his first piercing, an eyebrow ring. He also started his tattooing with an eagle on his right arm. He’ll make his debut in the 2010 edition of the Guinness World Records Book. (AHN News)
Beer Bath: Very Good For You!
Hey beer lovers — now you can bathe in your beverage of choice thanks to a new beer health spa in Starkenberg, Austria. The spa, part of a local brewery, contains seven 13-foot long pools filled with 5,200 gallons of beer in which you bathe or soak in. Bathers can try drinking the bathwater but head barman Markus Amann said, “I’d rather swim than swallow, as we have enough cold beer on tap at the bars next to the pools. The spa’s owners claim bathing in beer is a great health benefit as it opens up the pores, then the yeast penetrates the skin and after 15 minutes your skin feels softer everywhere. Spokesman Dirk Vock said, “These pools really can help some health problems– but if they don’t work for you, you’ll probably have drunk enough not to care about it anymore.” (Ananova)
A Fetish That’s Nothing To Sneeze At!
We’ve heard of some weird fetishes before but this one takes the cake. Police in Commerce, Texas, recently arrested a man and charged him with twice approaching a female clerk at Commerce Hardware, then holding up a piece of paper with powder on it and blowing it into her face. He did this to try and make her sneeze because, according to police chief Kerry Crews, “He becomes aroused by females sneezing.” Chief Crews added, “In my entire career I’ve never heard of anything like this.” Yeah — we’d have to agree with you there chief! (Herald Banner)
A new remote control scheduled to go on sale next year doesn’t have a bank of buttons to push, yet it allows you to control your entire house from the couch potato comfort of your living room sofa. The “uWand,” developed by the Phillips company, works like a “Wii” controller all you have to do is point it and flick your wrist to accomplish an enormous number of tasks. Apart from TV channel surfing and managing the sound, color and contrast on your set, the “uWand” will permit you to integrate your television with your computer to surf the web. Using technology developed by the chip maker Intel, the “uWand” will create icons on your TV screen. Flick one of them and you can turn on the oven in the kitchen. Flick another, and you can turn the air conditioner up or down.
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THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
7 million people around the world watched YouTube on Sunday to catch U2’s concert from the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
Lily Allen says she’s quitting the music business because she has nothing else to write about.
Suzanne Somers says she was misdiagnosed last year when doctor told her she had full body cancer and just days to live.
“Sex and the City” author Candace Bushnell is finished writing “The Carrie Diaries,” a pair of books about 17-year-old Carrie Bradshaw.
Britney’s “The Singles Collection” will hit stores on November 10th.
LaToya Jackson says that all three of Michael Jackson’s kids are in therapy to help them deal with the sudden loss of their father.
The Olsen twins are launching a new line of “affordable fashions” at JC Penney.
Rosie O’Donnell confirms her separation from partner Kelli Carpenter. She admitted to Howard Stern that she and Carpenter were “working through a lot of the stuff that we have.” She added, “We have different styles of living. I’m very messy. She’s very not.”
Bruce Springsteen canceled Monday night’s concert in Kansas City after his cousin and road crew member Lenny Sullivan was found dead in his hotel room. Just 36.
Tickets for the first 20 Garth Brooks shows in Las Vegas beginning December 11th sold out in just five hours.
MSNBC.com reports that a woman known only by her surname of Wang, traveled to Qinghai province of northwest China in September to purchase an 18-month old dog for $582,000!
How bad is the economy in Iceland? Next month, all three of the McDonalds restaurants in the country will close.
Jay-Z and Alicia Keys will sing “Empire State of Mind” live to kick off tonight’s World Series game.
The good luck continues for the Los Angeles Clippers. Now their #1 draft pick, Blake Griffin, has a busted knee cap.
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WEIRD NEWS
Sorry But You Can’t Take Paychecks From Places You Don’t Work For!
Not quite sure how he thought he’d get away with this one but 35-year-old Anthony Armatys has pleaded guilty to banking more than $470,000 in paychecks from a New Jersey company he never worked for. Apparently Armatys accepted a job with the New Jersey based telecommunications company Avaya Inc. in September 2002. He then changed his mind and did not take the job. But the company’s computer system never removed his name from the payroll and continued to deposit paychecks in his bank account until February 2007, when Avaya auditors finally discovered the mistake. Prosecutors are recommending a six-year prison term and full restitution of the money. myway.com)
How Not To Get Leniency!
Here’s a sure fire way to make sure the judge in your robbery trial never will never consider giving you a lighter sentence. Convict Weusi McGowan apparently managed to sneak a bag of his own feces into a San Diego courtroom during his home-invasion robbery trial. He smeared it on his lawyer and threw it at jurors. McGowan, who attorneys say suffers from mental illness, had asked for a mistrial because he believed jurors had seen him in restraints when he entered the courtroom. Several days after his request was denied, McGowan pulled out a bag of excrement he had hidden in his clothing, rubbed it on his lawyer and tossed it at the jury, hitting one juror’s computer case. The judge poo-pooed any thought of leniency and gave him 31 years in prison. (The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Even Robbers Hate Crazy People!
In Athens, Georgia, the victim of a would-be-robber scarred off the crook by acting like a dog! The woman got on the floor and began scratching at the door and acting like a large dog when the suspicious man tried turning the woman’s door knob. This was apparently a little more than he wanted to deal with so he ran from the porch. Police searched the neighborhood but had no luck finding the guy. (Athens Banner-Herald)
About Time I Got My Ring Back!
In Akron, Ohio, 75-year-old Joe Lepera finally got his high school ring back 57 years after he gave it to his high school sweetheart. He had dated Sharon Coddington Gainer for two years, but they broke up after he joined the Air Force following his 1952 graduation from Akron Central High School. Well Sharon recently passed away and after seeing the obit in the newspaper, Joe went to the wake to pay his last respects. While there he was then tapped on the shoulder by Bill Gainer, the man who eventually married his old flame. Gainer handed over the class ring that his wife had kept all this time. She apparently had given her husband instructions to return the ring if Joe visited the funeral home. Hmmm. Wonder how that makes you feel? That all these years your wife has been secretly pining away for another guy and even thinking about him right before she dies? (Akron Beacon Journal)
What Are the Odds of This?
In Australia, defying what has to be incredible odds, Michelle Thiele caused a fatal car crash when she failed to look to her left while entering a busy intersection. Her mistake caused the death of 69-year-old car driver John Mitchell who slammed into her car. What makes it so incredible is that she did the exact same thing, at the exact same intersection, and caused the death of another man exactly seven years ago! The first time she killed 51-year-old motorcyclist Graham Bryant. Thiele was fined $426 for failing to give way after the initial fatal accident. After the second collision, she was found guilty of driving without due care and sentenced to eight months in jail, suspended after a one-month non-parole period. She also has to forfeit her driver’s license for 18 months. (News AU)
A Real Horror Show!
In Baltimore they call it “The House of Screams!” It’s your average run-of-the-mill haunted house operating for Halloween but it became a true house of horror when police officer Eric Michael Janik went through. 32-year-old Michael Brian Morrison was just doing the same thing he does every night — dressing up as “Leatherface”– the Texas Chainsaw Massacre villain, and jumping out at visitors waiving his chainsaw — that has had the actual chain removed to keep it safe. But when he jumped out at Officer Janik — Janik, who was off duty at the time — pulled out his service revolver and pointed it at Morrison’s chest! Morrison said, “I’ve never had anything like this happen to me!” So Officer Janik found himself under arrest and could lose his job. As for Mr. Morrison, he said that the haunted house opens again this Wednesday and that he’ll be back in his familiar role but added, “I’ll probably be a bit more leery.” (Baltimore Sun)
One Way To Prevent Getting Arrested!
In Tulsa, Oklahoma, convicted sex offender Johnnie Joe Hobbs managed to avoid getting arrested by SETTING HIMSELF ON FIRE when deputies came to serve a warrant at his home!! After finding the house empty, officers peered into a cargo van that sat in the cluttered yard. Hobbs, who was in the van, reached out and slammed the door shut. He then doused the van with gasoline and ignited it. Did a good job too– medics pronounced him dead at the scene. The deputies had intended to serve three protective orders on Hobbs, and parole officers were sent to revoke his suspended sentence. He had been convicted of showing obscene material to a child, lewd molestation and making lewd proposals to a child. But he won’t be doing any of that any longer. (Tulsa World)
If you want to impress the neighborhood kids on Halloween, you had better take a look at this list from Bon Appetit, which has ranked the top 10 best and worst Halloween candies of all time.
The top 10 best Halloween candies of all time are:
Hershey’s Krackel
Reese’s Peanut Butter Pumpkin
Take 5
Pop Rocks
Anything sour or hot
Blue Razz Blow Pop
Whoppers
Snickers
Candy Corn
Anything full-size
The top 10 worst Halloween candies of all time are:
Candy Corn
Circus Peanuts
Raisins
Smarties
Necco Wafers
Werther’s Original
Plain Hershey’s
Dum Dum Pops
Milk Duds
Tootsie Rolls
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THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Andrew Lloyd Webber has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Brad Pitt was involved in a motorcycle accident, but not seriously hurt.
Pamela Anderson is joining a campaign to Save the Seals. She joins celebrities such Sarah McLachlan, Kelly Osborne, Jennie Garth and Jorja Foxas wearing white t-shirts with a drawing of a baby seal.
Annie Leibovitz has taken the first official presidential family photo of the Obamas.
Rihanna has agreed to perform on the Royal Caribbean Cruise ship, “Oasis of the Seas” — the world’s largest cruise ship– on November 19th.
Bruce Springsteen canceled a performance in Kansas City after his cousin and road crew member died. The death of 36-year-old Lenny Sullivan is being investigated by police, but said it was not suspicious.
Donald Trump walked his daughter Ivanka down the aisle over the weekend, as she married Jared Kushner, publisher of the New York Observer. Regis was there to sing a song at the reception.
At a charity auction last week, a trip to South Africa to watch a soccer game and meet Nelson Mandela was only getting a $37,000 bid. At that point, Charlize Theron offered to throw in a kiss to whoever was the highest bidder. The final bid: $140,000. And to comply, Charlize gave the top bidder — a woman — a 20-second kiss, right on the lips!
Christie’s auction house will offer up a portrait of Michael Jackson by Andy Warhol in New York on Nov. 10. This image shows a Michael Jackson portrait painted by Andy Warhol in 1984.
“Crash” director Paul Haggis is leaving the Church of Scientology, in part because of what he alleged was the organization’s stance against gay marriage.
Criminal charges were dismissed last week against Kanye West and his road manager stemming from their scuffle with two photographers at Los Angeles International airport last year.
One fan has become a little weird and so Justin Timberlake has had to get a restraining order against her.
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WEIRD NEWS
Win Over Chicks With Magic Tricks!
Hey guys — having trouble with the ladies these days? Then get yourself on the first plane to Singapore and sign up for Derick Ho’s Secret Skills Magic School. The 27-year-old magician opened up the school just three months ago and conducts a course called the Art of Seduction Magic. He claims the tricks he teaches can help men woo women and that the course has been a hit with the guys. You’ll pay $150 for a two-hour session, in which you’ll be taught 10 tricks. There’s one trick that is supposed to enable you to hug your dream girl and another that would ensure she gives you a call. Of course a lot of it’s in the presentation. Ho says the tricks have to be done with flair, and the words used should give the woman the impression that the guy is mysterious and attractive. But it does seem to be working. On recent graduate, 17-year-old Ruban Lakshmanan, said his new-found tricks helped boost his confidence when he approached girls and that by using the tricks, he managed to get the phone numbers of two young ladies while waiting at a train station. (The Electric Paper)
Handcuffed and Pantsless
I remember what my father always said: “Running down the freeway pantsless and in handcuffs is no way to go through life my boy.” Apparently not everyone got the same sage advice. In Wisconsin, a man, who was shackled and being taken to the hospital by a police officer, managed to escape by ditching his shackled pants and fleeing the scene. While driving to the hospital, the officer pulled over to the side of the freeway and the suspect got out of the car. A struggle ensued between the officer and the guy before the prisoner ran across the freeway and fled the scene sans pants. He was found a few hours later — because he wasn’t all that hard to spot– and finally made it to the hospital. By the way — it’s cold in Wisconsin this time of year and the idiot had to be treated for frostbite injuries. (WCCO News)
Who Would Poison Harvard?
Nothing funny about this one. Someone is poisoning the coffee at Harvard University! Harvard’s Medical School is locking down its New Research Building, installing new surveillance cameras and imposing tighter security after six researchers in the pathology department drank poisoned coffee. The victims are a group of scientists and students and all drank from the same single-serve coffee machine in their lab. Seconds later all six reported symptoms like dizziness and low blood pressure. One victim’s ears were ringing and another passed out. All six were taken to a hospital where they were treated and released. While the victims have been asked not to discuss the incident, one did admit that the group did not feel the poisoning was accidental. Police are investigating. (Boston Herald)
Comic Book University!
Our Japanese friends in Tokyo are creating a comic book geek’s dream come true. Tentatively named the Tokyo International Manga Library, and with plans to open in early 2015, they’ll stock the library with two million comic books, animation drawings, video games and other cartoon industry artifacts. Located on the campus of the private Meiji University, the library will be accessible to researchers and the public. Manga is the Japanese word for comics and print cartoons. Susumi Shibao, a library official at the university, said, “Manga has been taken lightly in the past and there has been no solid archive for serious study. We want to help academic studies on manga as part of Japanese culture.” (Sky News)
Obsessed With Mad Max!
Adrian Bennett of Yorkshire, England just loves Mad Max. So much so that he has moved his wife and two teenage sons to Australia and dumped his life savings into his dream of opening a Mad Max museum in the town where Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior was filmed. That would be Silverton in the Australian outback. Adrian’s love affair with the trilogy of films starring Mel Gibson began when a friend persuaded him to go along to a Mad Max double feature 28 years ago. Adrian says, “From the opening credits of the first film to the closing credits of Mad Max 2, my jaw was on the floor and I was just blown away by what I’d seen.” So far he’s purchased an old Ford Falcon from a collector in Texas, shipped it to England, and turned it into a replica of the Interceptor car driven by Mel Gibson’s character. After vacationing in Australia, he decided to give up his regular job and move there permanently. His wife Linda said, “It’s gone from a hobby, to an obsession, to here.” Adrian already has several other replica vehicles including a buggy covered in kangaroo skin, plus tons of Mad Max memorabilia. There’s even a dog called Dog, just like Mel Gibson’s canine sidekick in the movie, and together they cruise the outback roads in the Interceptor, attracting the attention of tourists. The museum is slated to open next year and Adrian is convinced there is enough interest to make it a viable business venture. (Ananova)
Now You Can Go As Balloon Boy For Halloween!
Just in time for this weekend, the Canadian company Plantranco Microflight is manufacturing and distributing a “Balloon Boy” costume and they say sales are through the roof! The costume kit sells for $19.99 and is available online. Bud Kays, Plantraco’s managing director, said that coming up with the spoofy costume idea wasn’t much of a stretch. The firm redesigned an existing remote-controlled balloon to look more like the one the now infamous Falcon Heene never took flight in. The company’s website boasts: “Unlike the Fake Hoax one you saw on CNN, this one is a Real Halloween Costume, and we are shipping them out as fast as we can by FedEx to meet your Halloween Party and Trick or Treating needs!” You can check it out at www.microflight.com (AHN News)
Welcome To the World Cup — But First Let’s Slaughter a Cow!
This ought to cause some problems. South African traditional leaders plan to perform ritual animal slaughters to bless stadiums for the 2010 World Cup tournament ahead next June! Zolani Mkiva, chairman of the Makhonya Royal Trust, the group responsible for coordinating cultural activities, said the tournament, the first to be held in Africa, needed to be blessed in true “African style.” So they’ll be slaughtering a cow and Zoliani says it’s to “celebrate this great achievement and call on our ancestors to bless, to grace, to ensure that all goes well.” Of course before they get the blessings of their ancestors they first have to get the blessings of the chief executive and chairman of the World Cup Local Organizing Committee who have so far not responded. (AHN News)
Cheating Husbands Should Be Whipped!
If you’re planning to move the family to Brunei anytime soon, hope you don’t plan on cheating on your wife. In a recent poll done in the oil-rich state, 76% of the citizens want husbands who cheat on their wives to be whipped! Only 55% of the participants said unfaithful wives should receive the same punishment. An unnamed social worker said, “The result of the survey is an indication of the pent-up feelings that women harbor against irresponsible men.” Brunei, located on Borneo Island, has a population of almost 400,000 of which 66% are Muslim. (AHN News)
The worst lovers live in Germany. That’s the word from a survey conducted by OnePoll.com, which asked 15,000 women from 20 countries to rate the men from those 20 nations on their ability in bed. German men were designated the world’s worst lovers because they are too smelly. Yes, German men narrowly beat Englishmen for this title no one wants. The English are considered lazy lovers, who let the women do all the work. Coming in third are Swedish men, who were branded too quick to finish. Meanwhile, the men of Spain, Brazil and Italy were lauded as the world’s best lovers.
The world’s worst lovers ranked:
Germany: Too smelly
England: Too lazy
Sweden : Too quick
Holland: Too dominating
America: Too rough
Greece: Too lovey-dovey
Wales: Too selfish
Scotland: Too loud
Turkey: Too sweaty
Russia: Too hairy
The world’s best lovers ranked:
Spain
Brazil
Italy
France
Ireland
South Africa
Australia
New Zealand
Denmark
Canada
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THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Snoop Dogg says he’s a huge fan of “True Blood” and would love to be a guest star.
“Desperate Housewives” co-star Eva Longoria and husband Tony Parker are starring in a sexy London Fog ad campaign for the holiday season, and Eva appears to be naked under those carefully draped London Fog coats.
ESPN baseball analyst Steve Phillips is taking some time off to sort things out after it was revealed he was having an affair with a production assistant. He had a wife and four kids. “Had” is correct, as she has filed for divorce.
Paul McCartney has announced a quick 7-stop European tour which will start soon and end right before Christmas.
First Lady Michelle Obama showed off her considerable hula hoop skills on October 20 during a “healthy kids fair” she hosted on the South Lawn of the White House. She managed to get in 142 swivels before her hula hoop fell to the ground.
Madonna likes the new Fox show “Glee” so much, she’s given producers the keys to her musical closet. The result: an all-Madonna song episode in the works.
Joel Madden and Nicole Richie say those reports about them getting married are not true.
Rap star Lil Wayne is bracing for a year behind bars after pleading guilty Thursday in a two-year-old gun case.
Apparently Rosie O’Donnell and her long-time partner are said to be heading for a split.
The breakup rumors continue about Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel, but the two were spotted out at a movie in Vancouver this past week.
Amy Winehouse’s dad says that the singer and her new boobs are doing great. Thanks, dad.
Using the sun’s rays, the torch for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games has been successfully lit by an actress in Greece dressed up as pagan priestess.
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WEIRD NEWS
Balloon Boy: The Video Game!
While the real Balloon Boy is at home and well, in the virtual world, he’s still flying high. A new video game, available online at BalloonBoyGame.com, features a cartoon likeness of the real Balloon Boy, Falcon Henne, who battles helicopters, UFOs, documentary movie maker Michael Moore and actual falcons. Jude Gomila is one of the game’s creators and said it took him and his friends about six hours to produce. They launched it on Twitter but the game is now distributed by Heyzap, an online gaming startup that gained notoriety a few months back when it released Swinefighter, where players kill pigs with a giant needle. In a nod to the fruitless search for Balloon Boy, a banner across the game’s homepage reads “How Many Dollars of Tax Payer Money Can You Waste?” (AHN News)
All I Want For Christmas Is My Hand Sanitizer!
Hand sanitizer shipments to the U.S. are up! Way, way up. Shipments in the third quarter of 2009 have more than doubled indicating that the personal hygiene product will be a hot item during the holidays! Overseas supplier Panjiva’s CEO Josh Green said, “If the September decline in global trade is any indication, U.S. companies aren’t expecting many items to fly off store shelves this holiday season. However, it certainly seems that U.S. companies are betting that Swine Flu will turn hand sanitizer into a holiday hit.” Hand sanitizer as a stocking stuffer? Could be a big hit! (AHN News)
World’s Most Unfortunate Name?
In Portsmouth, New Hampshire, there lives a young man whose life isn’t easy — because of his name. It wasn’t always this way. He was born back in 1989 and had eight peaceful years of being a schoolboy with what was at the time, a fairly ordinary name. But when he turned nine, things changed because that’s when a book came out that happened to have his same name — a book called “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.” Harry Potter of New Hampshire now says introducing himself is akin to being in a minefield. He had to show his girlfriend his passport so she would believe him when they first met and he says, “After 12 years of it I couldn’t count the amount of times I’ve heard “You’re a wizard Harry”. He now works for the bank Lloyds TSB and says, “I’m the only person in the building who doesn’t have to use my full name when I’m talking on the phone.” Indeed it seems life was easier back in the early 90s when people simply thought he had been named after Prince Harry. (Daily Mail)
Pray Your Kids Don’t Go To College Here!
They may be a student’s dream but they’re a parent’s bank account’s nightmare. They are the most expensive colleges in the United States and we’ve got the newly revised list for the 2009-2010 school year. Topping the list for the second year in a row is Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York which will set you back $54,410 a year for tuition. NYU comes in second place at barely under $52,000 a year followed by George Washington University at $51,730 a year. Most of the colleges in the ranking of expensive colleges are private liberal arts schools located in the Northeast. But it is important to note that just because these schools have high tuition, doesn’t mean you will actually be paying that amount. Many of these colleges provide excellent financial aid packages and many offer scholarships that often cover most of the financial burden of attending. Rounding out the top ten are Bates College, Skidmore College, John Hopkins University, Georgetown, Connecticut College, Harvey Mudd College and Vassar. (Campus Grotto)
Sorry Criminals — No More Big Screen For You!
We applaud Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota who has not only ordered the removal of two dozen 50-inch flat-screen TVs from a Moose Lake sex offender treatment program, but also criticized what he called the bonehead decision to buy them in the first place. Pawlenty said, “We don’t micromanage our agencies at the level of every little item that they purchase or use, but in this case we are going to micromanage it. I think it was a boneheaded decision.” The Minnesota Sex Offender Program at Moose Lake is one of two state facilities that house civilly committed sex offenders who are deemed such a danger that they are held beyond their normal prison sentences. There are 365 sex offenders currently at Moose Lake. The state Department of Human Services bought 25 50-inch plasma screen TVs for the facility’s common areas. Pawlenty said those will be sold and the department should buy “smaller, simpler, fewer and cheaper ones” if sex offenders need TVs. (Pioneer Press)
More Why We Need Healthcare Reform!
Still don’t think we need healthcare reform in this country? Consider this. The National Women’s Law Center found that the laws of eight states permit insurance companies to deny health coverage to a battered spouse. Why? Well because they deem being a battered spouse as a “pre-existing condition,” since most batterers tend to be recidivists. What the hell?(Kaiser Health News)
Just Honoring Golfers
57-year-old Douglas Jones has been cited by federal park rangers for having, over the course of a year, littering Joshua Tree National Park in California. Apparently during that time span he pelted the park with more than 3,000 golf balls that he tossed from his car. Mr. Jones’ explanation to police was that he believed by doing so he was honoring deceased golfers. (Los Angeles Times)
Why It’s Important to Move Out of Mom’s House!
In Gloucester, Massachusetts, 46-year-old Nancy Fulford was arrested and accused of taking her 23-year-old son along with her on trips to buy and sell heroin! She pleaded not guilty. Her son, Timothy Fulford, was charged with knowing where heroin was kept. Police found 10 individually packaged bags of the drug in Nancy’s bedroom. (Gloucester Daily Times)
Cell phones can be as addictive as smoking or gambling, with one in six people hooked on them, according to a new study. Here are more facts from the survey:
13% grew irritable if their phone was taken away.
14% lied about how much they used them.
7% would rather lose a job than give up using their mobile phone.
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THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Kate Gosselin will spend an hour answering viewers questions Monday before TLC pulls the plug on “Jon and Kate Plus 8.”
Meanwhile, Jon Gosselin is asking for $10,000-$12,000 for appearances.
20-year-old Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe is estimated to be worth more than $100 million and just bought a $5.65 million, five-bedroom house in New York City.
Rihanna is exposing her fans to more than her music with her new single, “Russian Roulette.” The singer is featured nearly topless on artwork for the song, covered only by what looks to be barbed wire.
Former President Bush will be part of a motivational speakers gathering in San Antonio on December 2nd that will also feature Gen. Colin Powell, NFL Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw, Dr. Robert Schuller and Tony Parker.
This Sunday’s U2 concert at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena will be streamed live on YouTube for free.
Joseph Wiseman has died at age 91. The actor is best known for playing “Dr. No” in the very first James Bond movie.
Those following “The Real Housewives of New York City” will be interested to know that Bethany Frankel is pregnant.
A flu bug is making the rounds of the Dancing with the Stars contestants.
The show “Wife Swap” have announced that they will NOT be rerunning the episode that featured the Balloon Boy family.
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WEIRD NEWS
Before I Rob You, Let’s Bow Our Heads in Prayer
A very strange robbery went down in Indianapolis. A 23-year-old man entered an Advance America check cashing business and pulled a gun on the clerk. The clerk began crying and talking about God. At that point the gunman told her how he had a 2-year-old child to support and asked for prayers about overcoming his hardships. So the clerk and the gunmen then spent nearly ten minutes on their knees praying together. After their Amens, the guy got up and finished the robbery by stealing the clerk’s cell phone and $20 from the store cash register. The whole thing was caught on video tape as was the guy’s face. Police are looking for the religious robber. myway.com)
Are You Ready For Some Football?
In Clinton Township, Michigan, a 44-year-old man became enraged after a football was accidentally tossed into his yard by a group of kids. So the guy picked up the football and refused to return it until a 28-year-old parent came over and asked for the ball. That’s when the guy went crazy, attacked the parent and bit him on the lip — a bite that nearly went all the way through his mouth! Police arrested the loony tune and charged him with assault with intent to maim– a 10-year felony. The victim was taken to a hospital for treatment of deep lacerations on the upper and lower lips. (The Macomb Daily)
Definitely Down To Eight Lives
A New York cat is definitely down to eight lives after riding two miles through the Big Apple while stuck in the engine compartment of an SUV! Wilfred Rodriguez heard rattling while he was driving in the Bronx bit ignored it. It wasn’t until after he parked that he noticed a bushy tail and a paw sticking out of the SUV’s front end. His initial reaction: “Oh my God! I killed a cat.” He was relieved when the paw moved. Rescue workers freed the grease-covered kitty by removing the SUV’s battery and other vehicle parts. Fortunately the cat’s going to be okay. (Daily News)
I’ll Show You! I’ll Put Up a Sign!
Amy Ortner lives in Berlin Heights, Ohio, and she’s none too pleased with her son’s middle school football program. She says her boy, Keegan, got a raw deal after he trained with the team for weeks and paid $70 for a physical and cleats. It was only then she was told the student handbook said his grades weren’t good enough to play. So she’s sharing her feelings with the neighborhood and the city on a large marquee-style sign in her yard. The bright yellow sign has letters six inches tall and the message: “Berlin football - Shame shame - We don’t play those kind of games!” The school has refused to pay back the $70 but a school board member and a local business owner have offered her the money if she’ll take the sign down. But she turned down the offer saying the men are more interested in appearances than in justice for her son. (Sandusky Register)
Losing Elections Means Losing Testosterone!
Thanks to a new study by researchers at Duke University and the University of Michigan, we have learned that young men who voted for Republican John McCain or Libertarian candidate Robert Barr in the 2008 presidential election suffered an immediate drop in testosterone when the election results were announced! In contrast, men who voted for President Barack Obama, had stable testosterone levels immediately after the outcome. Female study participants showed no significant change in their testosterone levels before and after the returns came in. Duke neuroscientist Kevin LaBar said, “This is a pretty powerful result. Voters are physiologically affected by having their candidate win or lose an election.” In a post-election questionnaire, the McCain and Barr backers were feeling significantly more unhappy, submissive, unpleasant and controlled than the Obama voters. The findings mirror what other studies have found in men who participate directly in an interpersonal contest — the winner gets a boost of testosterone, while the loser’s testosterone drops. (Duke University)
A Bad Situation Gets More Complicated
Remember the story of the Chattanooga police officer who shoved a 71-year-old Wal-Mart greeter last Christmas Eve? The officer, Kenneth Freeman, was initially suspended without pay for 28 days following the incident but was then terminated by Chief of Police Freeman Cooper in August after several charges of insubordination as well as drinking while armed and other policy infractions. Well now he’s suing the department and has filed a discrimination complaint saying he was treated unfairly because he is African-American. He also says that the department used the local media to generate negative publicity against him and that in fact, the Wal-Mart greeter racially profiled him and assaulted him from behind as he was leaving the store. This all came about after he appealed his termination to the City Council who, after several hours of testimony including new allegations that he threatened to kill a female friend after she said she intended to inform his wife of their adulterous relationship, unanimously upheld his termination. (The Chattanooga Pulse)
Now You Can’t Be Naked Even In Your Own House!
It now appears you can’t walk around naked — even in your own home! In Springfield, Virginia, 29-year-old Eric Williamson walked down to his kitchen at 5:30am to make himself a cup of coffee. He was naked at the time and it seems an unidentified woman who was walking with a seven-year-old boy at the time saw him through a window. So she called police to complain. Williamson told reporters, “Yes, I wasn’t wearing any clothes but I was alone, in my own home and just got out of bed. It was dark and I had no idea anyone was outside looking in at me.” But the police actually arrested him and he now faces up to a year in jail and a $2,000 fine, if convicted. He plans to fight the charge and says he may sue the local police. (Ananova)
Why We Need Healthcare Reform
Still don’t think we need any kind of healthcare reform in this country? Check out Rosalinda Miran-Ramirez’s story. Blue Shield California twice refused to pay her $2,700 emergency room claims because they came to the conclusion that it was not a “reasonable” decision for her to go to the Emergency Room the morning that she awoke to a shirt saturated with blood from what turned out to be a breast tumor. It was only after negative publicity from a KPIX-TV news reporter last month that Blue Shield finally agreed to pay the claim. (KPIX-TV News)
Sleeping apart from your spouse can improve your marriage and health. Experts say that couples who have separate beds or better still, separate rooms, could be making their relationship stronger. Not only will they avoid nighttime squabbles over blanket hogging, but they also tend to get a better night’s rest, say British researchers. Poor sleep is also bad for your physical well being, increasing the risk of stroke and heart disease. (Globe)
Next time your guy buys something whether it’s a new pair of jeans or an HD TV pay attention to the way he shops. If he continues to search for other options even after finding the perfect one, he’s what’s called a maximizer. If, however, he shops till he finds something good enough and then buys it, he’s a “satisfier.” Which do you want your guy to be? Research is beginning to show that maximizers experience less passion, intimacy, and commitment in relationships and that they’re less interested in marriage. (Cosmopolitan)
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THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Vic Mizzy, the songwriter who composed the themes for the 1960s sit-coms “The Addams Family” and “Green Acres,” has died. He was 93.
Natalie Coughlin is out of “Dancing with the Stars.” The Olympic swimmer and her professional partner, Alec Mazo, were eliminated Tuesday.
Mischa Barton says she’s “done with TV” and wants more serious roles.
Get this. The Weather Channel plans to show movies for the first time in its 27-year history. “The Perfect Storm” will air on October 30, the 18th anniversary of the actual storm.
LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian are starting to be seen out together as a couple… while LeAnn’s ex has adopted a new look by shaving his head (”pulled a Britney” as one report said).
Emily Blunt is lugging around one huge diamond engagement ring, compliments of John Krasinski of “The Office.”
Sarah Palin is going to sit down with Oprah Winfrey on November 16. The interview will be Palin’s first about her new book, “Going Rogue: An American Life,” and the first time Palin and Winfrey will meet.
Guess I didn’t know that Diane Keaton has an 8-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter. She’s 63, by the way…
“Big Brother” season 9 winner Adam Jasinski told a federal agent that he used his $500,000 prize to buy thousands of oxycodone pills and resell them. He was arrested in Boston.
Elisabeth Hasselback returned to “The View” this week with a story about her latest baby. She had sent out a picture of the baby to her husband’s family because he had this cute smile… not noticing that one of her nipples was also in the picture! Of course, noticed this after she sent it out.
Speaking of… K2 Productions, which directs the Miss California USA pageant, has asked former Miss California Carrie Prejean to pay back the $5,200 it gave her for breast-augmentation surgery.
Taylor Swift and Taylor Guitars are teaming up for the Taylor Swift Baby Taylor Guitar, available, absolutely, in time for Christmas.
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WEIRD NEWS
Phone a Friend?
In Lafayette, New York, 34-year-old George Reddick had been stopped by state troopers for speeding, driving while intoxicated and misdemeanor criminal possession of cocaine. After being arrested and posting bail, he was given the option to phone a friend to come pick him up. Too bad he called his 22-year-old girlfriend, Stacy Kolinski. Oh she showed up alright, but unfortunately she was also drunk — with a blood alcohol level of .20 — over twice the legal limit! So she was also arrested for DUI. We’re not sure how the couple eventually got home. myway.com)
One Hell of a Test Drive!
What started as a routine test drive ended up being a marathon trip across the country with a kidnapped car salesman. The 32-year-old suspect went to a Honda dealership in Massachusetts and he and the salesman went on a test drive. But the guy refused to turn back around and the salesman was trapped in the car until he finally escaped when the driver slowed down at a tollbooth near the Massachusetts state line. Police finally caught up with the driver over 1,000 miles away in Wisconsin! He was arrested and charged with speeding, reckless driving kidnapping and operating a motor vehicle without owner consent. Kind of brings new meaning to the phrase: What will it take to put you in this new car today? (The Janesville Gazette)
Swimming With Dolphins — Not Always So Fun!
Tragedy struck the Marlborough Sounds of New Zealand when an American tourist died while swimming with dolphins on a Dolphin Watch EcoTours trip with her husband and mother-in-law. The 22-year-old woman was found face down in the water after jumping in the Tory Channel with a group of swimmers. Attempts to revive the woman by emergency crews were unsuccessful. Police and Maritime New Zealand are investigating. We’re sure it wasn’t on porpoise! (NZ Herald)
Pretty Good Aim!
In San Antonio, police are looking for the man who threw a rock at a 54-year-old Italian marble statue outside the San Fernando Cathedral and decapitated the statue! Witnesses said they heard a man shouting obscenities outside the cathedral as people were going in for morning Mass. He reportedly became agitated as he ran through the courtyard and passed a statue of St. Anthony of Padua. As he was running, he stopped for a moment and threw the rock at the statue, right at the head, and the head came off! Miraculously, the head remained intact and is now being kept inside the cathedral until the 15-foot statue can be repaired. Why do I keep thinking about Odd Job from the classic James Bond flick “Goldfinger?” (San Antonio Express)
Throw Another Bunny On the Fire!
The people of Stockholm, Sweden have a strange way of keeping warm in the winter. The city shoots thousands of wild rabbits each year and sends their bodies to be burned as heating fuel, a practice which has enraged animal rights groups. City official Mats Freij said Stockholm killed 6,000 wild rabbits last year and has culled 3,000 so far this year, but blamed the idea to use the cadavers as fuel on a subcontractor. However he did say, “One should put this in the perspective that we humans are actually cremated ourselves and that generates a completely different reaction.” Animal Rights Sweden spokeswoman Lise-Lott Alsenius questioned whether the practice was humane or ethical and suggested neutering the male rabbits as an alternative method of holding down the population. (Reuters)
PC Mother Goose?
Are we so PC now that Humpty Dumpty can’t even have a great fall? The BBC has been criticized after rewriting the classic nursery rhyme to have a happy ending. The last line, “All the king’s horses and all the king’s men, couldn’t put Humpty together again,” was changed for a kids show to say, “All the kings horses and all the kings men made Humpty Dumpty happy again!” Tom Harris watched the show, called “Something Special,” with his sons aged three and five and said, “For goodness sake. Kids should be exposed to real life a bit, not cosseted away. We need to stop this moronic activity. Let them see colorful and violent cartoons, and let them be children.” Apparently in the show Little Miss Muffet was also revised to where she made friends with the spider rather than running away. But a BBC spokeswoman said, “The small change to Humpty Dumpty was for no other reason than being creative and entertaining.” There was an old woman who lived in a shoe who had so many children she didn’t know what to do. So she visited Planned Parenthood and got a bunch of free condoms! Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jill dialed 911 on her cell phone and Jack was airlifted to the nearest hospital. He’s now in stable condition and doctors say he will be fine. This is fun! (Ananova)
New Rule: You Can’t Steal Beer on the Plane!
An Air Canada flight was diverted for the ridiculous reason that a passenger stole beer from the beverage trolley. The flight from Vancouver to Fort McMurray, Alberta, made an emergency landing in Kelowna, British Columbia, where police arrested the 23-year-old thief. Air Canada spokeswoman Debra Williams said, “We have a zero tolerance policy as it concerns unruly passengers.” Police said the passenger had stolen beer from a beverage trolley and then tried to flush the empty cans down the aircraft’s toilet to dispose of the evidence. He now faces charges of causing a disturbance on an aircraft. (Ananova)
If you want to keep a secret don’t tell a woman. That’s the consensus of a new study that shows most females can only keep a confidence for about 47 hours. A typical woman hears three juicy bits of gossip a week and tells all to at least one other person. Forty percent of the 3,000 women in the study also say that spilling a friend’s secret to someone who doesn’t know them is OK. “We were really eager to find out how many secrets people are told,” explains Michael Cox of the company Wines of Chile. “What we didn’t bank on was how quickly these are passed on by those we confide in.”
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THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
A researcher claims he helped the dad of the “Balloon Boy” plan out the hoax so that the couple would have a better chance of landing on a reality TV show.
Kristen Bell says she had a great time punching Meg Ryan for a scene in their new movie, “Serious Moonlight.”
Stephanie Pratt from “The Hills” is this week’s celebrity DUI award winner.
Real Housewives of New York City’s Bethenny Frankel is officially engaged and off the singles market.
For hand-washing to be effective in preventing cold and the flu, you need to do it more than 10 times a day, according to a new study by Dr. Tom Jefferson of the Cochrane Acute Respiratory Infections Group in Rome, Italy.
The cast of “Celebrity Apprentice 3″ has leaked out and it includes: Sharon Osbourne, Bret Michaels, singer Cyndi Lauper, former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, baseball’s Darryl Strawberry, actress/author Holly Robinson Peete, Sinbad, comic/writer Carol Leifer, wrestlers Bill Goldberg and Maria Kanellis, Australian celebrity chef Curtis Stone and Olympic gold-medal swimmer Summer Sanders.
Lil Wayne is going to be a dad again… fourth kid, fourth mom.
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos are going to return to Pine Valley to help “All My Children” celebrate their 40th anniversary. Watch for them to show up in the January 4 and 5 episodes.
David Archuleta’s dad. who was arrested in January for soliciting a massage parlor prostitute in Utah, has filed for divorce from his wife.
The last new episode of “Jon and Kate Plus 8″ will be filmed later this month. By November, the show will be put on hold until the two figure out the divorce thing.
The actor who played Horschack in the old “Welcome Back, Kotter” series is now teaching drama at a charter school in Florida.
A clump of Elvis Presley’s hair sold at an auction for $15,000.
Fox News and the Obama administration are continuing to get in their little swipes at each other.
The safest seat on an airplane is in an aisle seat within five rows of an emergency exit, according to a study from the United Kingdom’s University of Greenwich that examined 105 airline accidents along with firsthand accounts of 2,000 survivors.
Someone broke into Kourtney Kardashian’s home over the weekend and made off with $108,000 in jewelry.
For the record, Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian are going to sign a pre-nupt agreement this week.
Former Genesis drummer Phil Collins, 58, told a German newspaper that since he had surgery in April to repair a dislocated vertebra in his neck, he doesn’t have feeling in his fingers and isn’t able to pick up his sticks.
In Australia, a man was pulled over for using TWO cellphones while driving.
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WEIRD NEWS
Firefighter Suspended For Displaying American Flag?
In Chester, Pennsylvania, firefighter James Krapf has been suspended without pay for — get this — refusing to peel off an American Flag sticker from his locker! Apparently a new department rule mandates that all stickers and statements – union, cartoon and political – be stripped from lockers after several offensive and racist images showed up in the firehouse. But Krapf figured the red, white and blue was still safe and told his chief, “No disrespect chief, but I’m not taking the flag off.” That’s when he found himself suspended from his 11-year job. But Krapf’s not giving up and the firefighters union plans to negotiate with the department on the issue. Krapf says, “It’s the American flag, we should be able to fly it wherever we want and don’t believe it’s offensive to anyone.” (NBC Philadelphia)
Dead Guy Mistaken For Halloween Decoration!
The dead body of 75-year-old Mostafa Mahmoud Zayed was left on a Los Angeles balcony for several days because neighbors thought it was just a Halloween display. Zayed’s body was found slumped over a chair on the balcony of his third-floor apartment with a single gunshot wound to the eye. Neighbors had seen the body nearly a week before but hadn’t called police because they thought the corpse “looked like a Halloween dummy”. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is treating the death as an apparent suicide. What — it didn’t start to stink? Are you kidding me? Does Los Angeles smell so bad now that nobody notices a rotting corpse any longer? (Ananova)
Lip Gloss Protects Against Date Rape
A Lip Gloss that comes with a drink spike detector will soon be available in the U.S. and Australia. The gloss comes with a pink plastic strip which is dipped into a drink to test for date rape drugs GHB and Ketamine. The strips turn blue straight away if the drink is spiked. The product is the brainchild of the British cosmetics company 2LoveMyLips, and has been a hit in Britain since its launch last month. There are also plans to make it available soon in the Middle East. Company owner Tracy Whittaker started the company in response to the rising rate of date rapes in Britain. The drug detector claims to work on some fruit juices, soft drinks, energy drinks, vitamin water, tea and coffee, beer, wine and liquor drinks. Whittaker said, “If a drink tastes funny, or you are suspicious, you dab the ends of the taper into your drink and, if they turn blue, tell your friends immediately and get help from security and the police - it’s that simple.” (AU News)
Tracked His Thieving Butt Down!
In Springfield, Massachusetts, 25-year-old Demot Weaver allegedly robbed a woman as she was pulling money out of her wallet for bus fare at the bus stop. He then got on the bus. So the victim ran to get her boyfriend and the couple followed the bus to a restaurant where Weaver got out, then went inside and started filling out a job application. So they called the police. When Weaver saw his victim watching him, he ran out of the restaurant but was quickly captured by police. He then pleaded guilty to unarmed robbery in Springfield District Court. (The Springfield Republican)
What’s In a Nickname?
A woman in Saudi Arabia is seeking a divorce after discovering her husband’s nickname for her. Seems she was listed as “Guantanamo” in his cell phone contacts list. She found it when he left his cell at home one day and was none too happy about being compared to the U.S. detention center in Cuba. She says she now wants to end their 17-year marriage but said she might settle for “substantial” financial compensation from her husband and stay married to him. Sure honey. I hate you so much I secretly call you Guantanamo — but here’s a big pile of cash to convince you to stay married to me. (Al-Watan)
11 Traffic Violations In 15 Minutes! Impressive!
In Gossau, Switzerland, police say a 47-year-old Italian man really raised the bar on reckless driving during 11 frantic minutes when he managed to rack up 15 traffic violations! The first was speeding past an unmarked police car. He then began driving dangerously close to other cars on the highway, then ignored three police attempts to pull him over. He then ran a stop sign, sped through a construction zone, and racked up eight more violations before finally being stopped. Impressive! (Ananova)
Ought To Be Pretty Easy To Find This Guy
Sioux Falls Police feel like it ought to be pretty easy to find this suspect. They’re searching for a man who attempted to steal a bottle of rum and some soft drinks at Lewis Drug Store. The man was described as being about 20-years-old, over six-feet tall, 300 pounds and wearing a black dress. His escape vehicle was a red four-door Kia. Hey- anybody seen a 6-foot tall, 300-pound guy in a black dress with a red Kia? (The Argus Leader)
Pizza Chef Goes Nuts!
In Boca Raton, Florida, the head chef and manager of the Pizza Time Restaurant, Mark DeCraepeo, just lost it. Completely lost it. It seems one too many orders for the restaurant’s mozzarella caprese salad pushed him over the edge. When waitress Cathy Vultaggio hung yet another ticket for the popular salad on the rack, DeCraepeo allegedly yelled out, “If I get one more ticket for mozzarella caprese, I swear to God I’ll shoot you in the forehead!” DeCraepeo then allegedly slammed a gun inside a holster on the counter top and reportedly said, “Now you see I’m serious. I’ll put a bullet right in your forehead!” The waitress called the police, 51-year-old DeCraepeo was arrested and there were indeed no more mozzarella caprese salads that day. (Sun Sentinel)
According to a recent survey, teachers were the least bored professionals. Eight out of 10 teachers said they found their jobs interesting because no two days were the same.
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“What features do you consider most important in a partner?”
Humor: Men, 42%. Women, 53%.
Good Looks: Men, 43%. Women, 17%.
Honesty: Men, 29%. Women, 39%.
Kindness: Men, 28%. Women, 36%.
Intelligence: Men, 49%, Women, 44%.
Ambition: Men, 4%. Women, 8%.
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THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Ted Turner says he’d like to run CNN again.
“The Hills” star Stephanie Pratt has been arrested on suspicion of drunken driving. 23-year-old Pratt was arrested early Sunday outside a party in Hollywood.
TLC is suing Jon Gosselin for breaching his contract as star of the reality show “Jon and Kate Plus 8.” The lawsuit alleges that Gosselin hasn’t met the obligations of his contract as an exclusive employee, has appeared on other programs for pay and made unauthorized disclosures about the show.
Def Leppard has canceled the final leg of its North American tour — 23 shows in the U.S. and Canada “due to unforeseen personal matters.”
A full grown man in Nepal is claiming to be the world’s smallest man, weighing in at just 10 pounds and 28-inches tall.
The very first winner of “Survivor,” Richard Hatch, got out of prison last Friday after serving his 51-month sentence for not paying taxes on the $1 million he won in the game.
Oh-oh… rumblings about the Jennifer Love Hewitt/Jamie Kennedy thing… the inside track has him going back to his former girlfriend.
The family of TV pitchman Billy Mays released the findings of an independent medical examiner Thursday, who concluded that the informercial star’s cocaine use was not a significant contributing factor in his sudden death.
The memorial service for “60 Minutes” creator Don Hewitt is today in New York City.
Eating just 2.5 ounces of broccoli sprouts or broccoli a day appears to not only reduce the risk of stomach ulcers, but also prevent stomach cancer, according to researchers from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland.
Word is that Apple’s iTablet will be announced in January and released next June. Their version supposedly will be hooked up to the Internet at all times.
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WEIRD NEWS
Oh, Don’t Mind the Bear — He’s Just Here On a Beer Run!
In Hayward, Wisconsin, shoppers at Marketplace Foods got an unexpected surprise when a 125-pound black bear walked into the store and headed straight for the beer cooler! The furry beast calmly climbed up 12 feet onto a shelf in the beer cooler where it sat for about an hour while employees helped evacuate customers and summoned wildlife officials. The good folks from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources tranquilized the animal and took it out of the store. Store workers say the bear seemed content in the cooler and did not consume any alcohol. Okay like we all haven’t crawled into the beer cooler at least once! What? You mean it’s only me? (WEAU-TV News)
Man Almost Drummed Himself To Death!
In San Antonio, police are investigating the case of a father who had had it with his son’s drum playing. When the son refused to stop drumming, the 83-year-old father allegedly pulled out a gun and opened fire– grazing his son’s head. The son then ran down the block to call for help. The father was arrested and we assume the son went back to playing Wipeout. myway.com)
World’s Most Convictions?
Not sure if there’s a Guinness World Record Book category for most convictions but if there is, Derek Lindsay from Wareham, Massachusetts, is in the running! Lindsay just pleaded guilty to assault and battery, disorderly conduct and threats to commit a crime adding three more criminal convictions to his amazing total of 72! And all by the age of 36! According to court records, Lindsay’s string of criminal convictions date from 1990. He’s also currently facing assault charges in a separate case stemming from a March fight in a Middleborough tattoo parlor, and drug and weapons charges in another case. Sounds about right. myway.com)
Wackiest Places in America!
Stand proud citizens of Alliance, Nebraska! Your town now can boast having the second wackiest tourist attraction in America. That would be “Carhenge” which uses old cars painted stone gray to replicate the famous rock formations found at Stonehenge. The 2nd Wackiest title comes from the travel advice site, TripAdvisor, as part of a list of the nation’s ten wackiest attractions. The only attraction deemed wackier than Carhenge can be found in San Antonio, Texas and is the toilet seat museum that features more than 800 decorated toilet seat lids but ironically no bathroom. Since we know you’re dying to know: #3 is “Cadillac Ranch” in Amarillo, Texas, featuring ten graffiti-covered Cadillacs sticking out of the ground with their trunks in the air; #4 is the Pez Museum in Burlingame, California; and #5 is Gatorland in Orlando, Florida, home of more than 3,000 alligators that you can feed and enjoy a photo op on a gator’s back! myway.com)
The Tree House of Tree Houses!
It’s not usually news when a guy builds a tree house. Michael J. Chapman’s tree house in Worcester, Massachusetts, is the exception. First of all, Mike has no children which makes it weird right there. Next is the thing is 50-feet high with four levels connected by wooden stairs! It’s built in an old oak tree in his backyard and Mike says, “Because the tree is spectacular, I wanted to make something unique. I’m a person who makes things. Little things, medium things, big things.” Of course his neighbors aren’t too crazy about the very big thing that looks over their yards and invades their privacy. Construction of the tree house has led to the disintegration of one close friendship, a visit by Worcester police and an alleged threat from one neighbor who said he’d burn down the structure if it harmed his property values. Unfortunately tree house lovers, it also prompted the Department of Inspectional Services to pay Mike a visit and order him to take it down. Mike says he’ll follow orders and demolish his architectural masterpiece. First, though, he plans to finish it. (The Telegram)
More Cyclists “Hitting” the Road!
As more cyclists are hitting the road in America, more cyclists are hitting the road. According to a new study, biking injuries are on the rise. There’s a 15% rise in chest injuries, a 300% increase in abdominal injuries and a 33% rise in head injuries. Most of the latter could be avoided if cyclists would just wear a helmet. The study was done by the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Dr. Jeffry Kashuk, professor of surgery at the Rocky Mountain Regional Trauma Center said, “We may be on the cusp of an injury epidemic.” He added, “On a local and national level, people need to be aware of the fact that a push for bike transportation for the sake of health, the environment, and lower transportation costs has real potential to raise medical costs because our infrastructure may not be ready for it.” (USA Today)
Talk About a Pot Head!
Talk about being a pot head! Police in Lebanon, Pennsylvania arrested 29-year-old Cesar Lopez at a convenience store after noticing a bag of marijuana stuck to his forehead! Our friend was spotted walking out of the bathroom and looking nervously at the inside of his baseball cap. When Lopez approached the arresting officer, he looked up, and the officer noticed a small plastic bag stuck to his forehead that appeared to contain marijuana. The officer retrieved the bag from Lopez’s forehead and asked, “Is this what you’re looking for?” Actually a police spokesperson said it is not uncommon for people to store drugs inside the sweatband of baseball caps. (Ananova)
If you’ve ever been bothered by someone else’s loud cell phone conversation, you’re not alone. According to the recent easyMobile.com Modern Mobile Manners survey, people who talk too loudly on their cell phone in public is the most annoying cell phone trait. Here are a few highlights from the survey:
More than half said that talking loudly is more annoying than a ringtone or listening to someone else’s cell phone conversation during dinner.
Three quarters think that people care less about manners since cell phones were invented.
Two thirds ignored calls after seeing their caller ID and 80% of those admitted to lying about it to the caller.
Over 75% regularly answered calls during dinner with friends.
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THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Coke is going to introduce 90-calorie mini cans of their soft drink by next March.
“Jon & Kate Plus 8″ will stop filming new episodes next month, according to the New York Post.
A Ralph Lauren model says she was fired because wasn’t slender enough and didn’t fit into their clothes.
Michael Buble’s new album, “Crazy Love” is at the top of the sales charts.
And you wonder why stars seem so jaded. Leona Lewis was happily signing copies of her new book “Dreams” at a bookstore in London when a man just walked up and punched her in the head.
“So You Think You Can Dance” judge Mary Murphy talks about her 9-year abusive marriage in the latest US magazine.
Katie Lee discusses her divorce from Billy Joel with Rachel Ray on Monday’s show.
Garth Brooks doing a Las Vegas show? That’s the rumor.
Fergie has become a minor owner of the Miami Dolphins.
The next actor to play Jack Ryan in the movies? Chris Pine.
Avril Lavigne has filed for divorce from her husband of three years.
“101 Dalmatians: the musical” begins its 24-city tour next week.
Taylor Swift picked up 6 American Music Award nominations.
October 22 — next week — is when Windows 7 is released.
Times are changing. The U.S. dollar is now within three cents of the U.S. dollar. $1 U.S. is now worth $1.03 Canadian
For what it’s worth, a chemical in red grapes is showing that it lowers the possibility of developing diabetes.
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WEIRD NEWS
Not Ready For Prime Time Crime
As dumb robbers go, here’s one that’s definitely not ready for prime time crime. Police in Little Rock, Arkansas have arrested a 23-year-old man after he dropped his own wallet while trying to rob a man at gunpoint at the victim’s home. The would-be robber apparently got nervous and fled before taking anything, but then later phoned the victim and told him to return the lost wallet to a nearby service station. Of course the victim called police who found the suspect at the service station and arrested him after a brief foot chase. Dude — are you seriously that stupid? I mean really? You couldn’t see how this would end? (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)
Damn Those Liberal Judges and Their Logical Questions!
In San Francisco, U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn Walker has challenged the backers of California’s voter-enacted ban on same-sex marriage by asking them to explain how allowing gay couples to wed threatens conventional unions. The question completely stumped attorney Charles Cooper who represents the group that sponsored Proposition 8. The judge’s question came during a hearing on a lawsuit challenging the measure as discriminatory under the U.S. Constitution. The judge not only refused to throw out the lawsuit but signaled that when the case goes to trial in January, he expects Cooper and his legal team to present evidence showing that male-female marriages would be undermined if same-sex marriages were legal. During the hearing Judge Walker asked, “What is the harm to the procreation purpose you outlined of allowing same-sex couples to get married?” Cooper said, “My answer is, I don’t know. I don’t know.” An estimated 18,000 gay couples wed before the law took effect. In May, the Supreme Court declined to invalidate Proposition 8 but upheld the existing same-sex marriages. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Fast Cars Means More Testosterone!
Well the fast sports car question has finally been answered. New research published in the journal Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes says men actually do get a testosterone rush when driving a fast car. Researchers at Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business in Montreal took 39 willing young men and let them take a cruise in a $150,000 Porsche 911. The same men were then asked to drive a 16-year-old Toyota Camry. After one hour, the men’s saliva was tested for testosterone and they discovered that in the sedan, the men’s hormone levels remained low, but in the sports car, testosterone levels stayed high — regardless of whether they were driving on a busy street where they could be seen by others, or on a solitary country road. Professor Gad Saad, the study’s lead researcher says the study is evidence of “sexual signaling,” similar to animals in the wild, where males try to prove to females they’re the best breeding stock. He added, “It’s literally the peacock’s tail. It’s the human version.” (CBC News)
Sorry Honey, I’ll Take the Croc!
In Australia, Vicki Lowing’s husband found just how unimportant he was when he gave his wife an ultimatum — either your pet crocodile, or me. 52-year-old Vicki said there was no way she could give up her 5-foot long “Johnnie” which she says is “like a child” to her. She’s helped raise the croc for 13 years, gives it the run of the house and even lets it sleep with her son Andrew in his bed. She adopted the crocodile after it was left on her doorstep in 1996. Her husband Greg said she spent too much time with the pet and asked her to give it up in a bid to save their marriage, but she refused so the couple divorced. Ms. Lowing, a trained nurse, said, “Husbands can look after themselves but my crocodile can’t make his meals.” As her son, Andrew, is only 18 months older than the crocodile, she said the experience was “like having two children to look after”. (Ananova)
Miss Homeless Contest Not Cool With Women’s Rights Groups
A bizarre Miss Homeless contest in Belgium has caused outrage from various women’s rights groups. The contest concluded with a 58-year-old woman winning the first prize of a rent free apartment for a year while the other contestants were turned back onto the streets. Organizer Aline Duportail said the competition was meant to draw attention to the plight of the homeless but woman’s rights activist Jacqueline Aubenas said, “I am outraged. These girls that turned into puppets parodying their own life is absolutely pathetic.” Runner up, 39-year-old Leonie Renier, said she had lost her house and custody of her children because of drug and alcohol abuse. But she was fine with the whole thing and also said, “The contest is not obscene– for a homeless person to want to be beautiful is not obscene. It is the misery of life on the streets that is obscene.” The winner, Therese Van Belle, who was selected for her “fighting spirit and her will to improve her situation” said, “I’m really overcome, I’ve never been lucky in my life. This is the first time I’ve been lucky. I think my life is about to change for the better.” (Ananova)
Hey Guys — Wash Your Hands Already!
A new study that appears in the American Journal of Public Health says while hand washing is the cheapest way to prevent many illnesses, most guys just don’t do it! Ewww! The study also suggests that people are more likely to wash their hands if they are shamed into it. The researchers analyzed the behavior of about 250,000 people and found that only 32% of men washed their hands with soap. Women were far better, with almost 64% using soap when washing their hands. The study noted that a million people die every year from diarrheal disease and respiratory infections that could be prevented just by using soap and water. (AHN News)
Not What the Good Lord Intended
In Stuart, Florida, Pastor Rodney McGill of New Hope Outreach Church had been convicted of grand theft, racketeering and mortgage fraud and was at his sentencing hearing. But right before Circuit Judge Sherwood Bauer sentenced him, McGill, still undaunted, addressed the court room and offered up a prayer for his enemies. As he lifted his eyes to the heavens he said, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, for every witness called against me, I pray cancer in their lives, lupus, brain tumor, pancreatic cancer.” The judge then sentenced him to 20 years. (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
Men’s Health asked “Which food is hardest to resist?”
Sweets like candy or cakes — Men, 23%; Women, 41%
Fast food — Men, 19%; Women, 7%
Dairy foods like ice cream — Men, 13%; Women, 16%
Snack foods like potato chips — Men, 13%; Women, 13%
Fried foods — Men, 13%; Women, 10%
Alcohol — Men, 8%; Women, 3%
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Maria Shriver has been photographed driving while holding a cell phone and talking, violating the rule signed into law by her husband, Governor Schwarzenegger.
Just in time for Christmas, there’s a Michelle Obama doll coming out, for $12.99.
Ultimate Fighting champ Chuck Liddell has been knocked out of “Dancing With the Stars.”
Singer Al Martino, who played the Frank Sinatra-type role of Johnny Fontane in “The Godfather,” has died at age 82.
Jon Gosselin has been ordered by a judge to return $180K out of the $230K he pulled out of a joint bank account.
Jeffrey Tambor and his wife Kasia have welcomed a pair of twin boys into the world.
The November 8th episode of “Family Guy” will be a complete Windows 7 sell-out. No commercials, except for the plugs in the show for Windows 7.
Christie Brinkley’s divorce trial — that started way back in July of last year — has finally come to an end.
Look for Tracy Morgan’s new auto-biography, “I am the new black,” later this month. And in it, he’s not too kind to some former SNL show mates. In particular, he says that Chris Kattan and Cheri Oteri treated him like he was invisible.
Rumor has it that Adam Lambert would replace Kanye West in Lady Gaga’s upcoming concert tour.
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WEIRD NEWS
Hard To Make Good Decisions On Pot
In Brant Township, Michigan, one 54-year-old woman has proven that pot just keeps you from thinking straight. She called police to report that two men had broken into her home and STOLE HER MARIJUANNA PLANTS! So the police went to investigate and arrested the woman on charges of manufacturing and delivering marijuana. Of course she claimed it was all for personal, medical use but somehow couldn’t produce a medical marijuana card. So now she sits in jail while two other yahoos sit around smoking her stash! (The Saginaw News)
Horror at the Horror Show!
21-year-old army specialist and Indiana National Guradsman Jacob Sexton had just returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan and went to see the horror comedy “Zombieland.” He had reportedly argued with theater employees over having to show identification to see the R-rated film. Then, twenty minutes into the show, a friend handed Sexton a 9 mm handgun, at the guardsman’s request, and he then shot himself in the head. Jacob’s father, Jeffry Sexton, said the shooting wasn’t an accident. He said Jacob’s younger brothers, also at the theater, said Jacob told a friend to duck, and when the friend hesitated, Jacob pushed the friend’s head down before firing the gun. The father added, “This all came as a complete surprise to us. He’d been happy since the day he joined. He was planning on re-enlisting.” He later warned that the families of service members returning home from war need to closely watch them for signs of stress. (AHN News)
Maria Shriver — Law Breaker!
Turns out Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has a real law breaker right in his own home — his wife Maria Shriver. The Governor finally caught wind of his wife’s illegal activity — habitually talking on her cell phone while driving! That violates the new law that her hubby supported and signed into law just last year. Maria was photographed twice driving her car while holding her cell phone — most recently last Sunday in Los Angeles. Had she been busted, she would have owed the bankrupt state of California $20 plus fees for the first offense and $50 plus fees for the second. The pictures were forwarded to Schwarzenegger who went on Twitter and dropped the following note to Harvey Levin: “Thanks for bringing her violations to my attention. There’s going to be swift action.” Those Democrats — they never learn– right Arnold? TMZ.com)
How’d He Do It?
In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, police are looking for a man who stole 11 cases of beer from a convenience store. The amazing thing is he did it all in just two trips! The suspect reportedly grabbed six cases of Bud Light and one of Budweiser about 11 p.m., put those in his car, then went back for more. After the second trip he then took off. Kind of makes you wonder who was minding the store. myway.com)
Zero Tolerance Out Of Control Again!
In another case of zero tolerance out of control, little 6-year-old Zachary Christie has been suspended from Downes Elementary School, in Newark, Delaware after bringing his favorite camping cutlery to school. While at lunch, Zach made the enormous mistake of taking out the combination knife, fork and spoon at lunch, in violation of the school policy of not bringing in knives. Believe it or not, the school originally said Zachary should spend 45 days at an alternative school for troublemakers. But after a meeting, the board had a least a partial moment of clarity and instead voted to suspend him for between three and five days. Oh yeah. This makes all kind of sense. (Ananova)
Facebook — My Love, My Undoing!
Maxi Sopo just couldn’t keep himself off Facebook — and it proved to be his undoing as his posts made it easy for police to track him down and arrest him for fraud. Sopo’s messages made it clear he was living the high life in the Mexican resort of Cancun after he allegedly obtained more than $200,000 in credit from banks under false pretenses. In recent Facebook status updates Sopo said he was “loving it”, described himself as “living in paradise” and said he was “just here to have fun”. So the 26-year-old is now in custody in Mexico City awaiting extradition to the U.S. (Ananova)
World’s Shortest Boy Becomes World’s Shortest Man!
For most of us, turning 18 has little more significance than marking the age we can now vote. For Khagendra Thapa Magar, turning 18 meant a lot more than that. It meant he went from being the world’s shortest teenager to the world’s shortest man! Khagendra, who stands just 2-feet 5-inches, says he has two birthday wishes– to be officially recognized by the Guinness World Records Book and to find a wife. He has been enjoying a week of celebrations with friends and family at his rural Nepalese home in the foothills of the Himalayas. There is no official title for the smallest teen, or smallest child, so Guinness told Khagendra he would have to wait for his title until he was old enough. He said, “Being small like me is no fun as a boy, but as a man I will be special.” Although the cause of his size has never been medically confirmed, doctors believe Khagendra is suffering from a malfunctioning pituitary gland. (Ananova)
Streaking Now a Sex Crime!
Might want to think twice about going streaking anytime soon. The once silly fad that even had a 70s hit about it (Ray Stevens — The Streak) may now be considered a sex crime and label you a sex offender. Just ask the 17-year-old boy who streaked at a recent St. Francis High School football game in St. Francis, Minnesota. While a few students have been disciplined for streaking at three Saints football games this season, one of the teenagers could be charged with criminal sexual conduct because he exposed himself to children under the age of 16. Police Chief Jeff Harapat ways it’s no laughing matter and that this isn’t the type of behavior that he and others want to shrug off as “kids will be kids.” School officials received calls from “disgusted parents,” complaining that they brought their child to a “G”-rated event and “Look what it turns into.” And for some on the football team, the streaking has become a sore point. Offensive lineman Nick Mulcare said, “Sometimes the fans are cheering more for the streakers than they are for us. I really don’t like it.” (Game Face Minnesota)
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