Stuff from Today's Show

New Jersey Man Buried Alive by Pineapples

2013-05-24T16:53:00Z

Of all the fruits to be buried alive under, pineapples, with their spikey skins and pointy leaves, have got to be the worst (after durian, of course). So it's pretty incredible that a Jersey City warehouse worker who had 1,500 pounds of them fall on him didn't lose consciousness. He wound up in the hospital in stable condition and, probably, a huge thirst for rum.

In U.S., Record-High Say Gay, Lesbian Relations Morally OK

2013-05-24T15:00:00Z

Americans' views toward a number of moral issues have shifted significantly since 2001. Their acceptance of gay and lesbian relations has increased the most, up 19 percentage points in the past 12 years -- to a record high of 59% today. Americans' tolerance toward having a baby outside of marriage is also now much greater, up 15 points since 2001, to the current 60%.

Americans have also become significantly more accepting of sex between an unmarried man and woman, divorce, embryonic stem cell research, polygamy, and cloning humans. The only issue that Americans have become significantly less accepting of over the last 12 years is medical testing on animals.

These data are from Gallup's annual Values and Beliefs survey, most recently conducted May 2-7. Gallup has asked Americans about their views on many of these issues each May since 2001.

Americans' views of the moral acceptability of 10 of the 19 items Gallup asked about have not changed significantly over time, shifting less than five points since they were first measured.

A majority of Americans continue to say seven of the 19 items measured are morally wrong -- married men and women having an affair, cloning humans, polygamy, suicide, pornography, sex between teenagers (measured for the first time this year), and cloning animals. Attitudes toward two items -- doctor-assisted suicide and abortion -- are fairly evenly split, with less than half of Americans seeing each as either morally acceptable or morally unacceptable.

A majority of Americans see all other items included in the list this year as morally acceptable. Birth control tops the list as the most acceptable, seen as such by 91% of Americans, while having an extramarital affair is the least morally acceptable, at 6%.

One of the interesting features of these trend data is Americans' steady and overwhelming disapprobation of married men and women having an affair, with more than nine in 10 continuing to say this is morally unacceptable, within two points of where it was in 2001. Having an affair thus remains at the bottom of the list of morally acceptable behaviors measured, as it was in 2001.

Implications

Americans have generally become more tolerant of a series of moral behaviors over the past 10-12 years. This trend is particularly evident in views of gay and lesbian relations and having a baby outside of wedlock.

Gay and lesbian relations in particular continue to be at the forefront of the news in the U.S. An increasing number of states have legalized same-sex marriage, and the Supreme Court has several pending decisions on same-sex marriage cases. This resulting increase in awareness of and attention being paid to the gay and lesbian community may be affecting Americans' views.

The change in attitudes toward having a baby outside of marriage may be an instance of attitudes following behavior, given recent Census Bureau data showing the increasing prevalence in American society of children born to mothers who are not married.

More broadly, Americans continue to evince a wide divergence of opinions about the moral acceptability of a number of behaviors. Americans are generally accepting of such things as birth control, divorce, embryonic stem cell research, gambling, sex between unmarried men and women, the death penalty, and having a baby outside of marriage. But they still disapprove of married men and women having an affair, cloning humans, polygamy, suicide, pornography, and teenagers having sex.

Survey Methods

Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted May 2-7, 2013, with a random sample of 1,535 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.

For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points.

Interviews are conducted with respondents on landline telephones and cellular phones, with interviews conducted in Spanish for respondents who are primarily Spanish-speaking. Each sample of national adults includes a minimum quota of 50% cellphone respondents and 50% landline respondents, with additional minimum quotas by region. Landline telephone numbers are chosen at random among listed telephone numbers. Cellphone numbers are selected using random digit dial methods. Landline respondents are chosen at random within each household on the basis of which member had the most recent birthday.

Samples are weighted to correct for unequal selection probability, nonresponse, and double coverage of landline and cell users in the two sampling frames. They are also weighted to match the national demographics of gender, age, race, Hispanic ethnicity, education, region, population density, and phone status (cellphone only/landline only/both, cellphone mostly, and having an unlisted landline number). Demographic weighting targets are based on the March 2012 Current Population Survey figures for the aged 18 and older U.S. population. Phone status targets are based on the July-December 2011 National Health Interview Survey. Population density targets are based on the 2010 census. All reported margins of sampling error include the computed design effects for weighting.

In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

Boy Scouts of America votes to end century-old ban on gay scouts

2013-05-24T13:24:00Z

The Boy Scouts of America voted on Thursday to lift a century-old ban on openly gay scouts in a major victory for gay rights activists, but the decision means a sea of change for an organization that depends heavily on faith-based groups.

More than 60 percent of the group's National Council, comprised of some 1,400 delegates, voted in favor of ending the ban, effective January 1, 2014, the group said in a statement. A prohibition onopenly gay adult leaders remains in place.

The decision followed weeks of intense lobbying by gay rights activists and members of conservative organizations, many of them church groups that have traditionally formed the backbone of one of the nation's largest youth organizations.

"I'm a happy camper," said Mike Harrison, 71, a former chairman of California's Orange County Boy Scout Council who voted to end the ban at a meeting of the National Council in Grapevine, Texas.

"The process was a very civil debate... There wasn't any uncivilized behavior. People stated their case, passionately and from many different angles," he said, adding that by Thursday it had become clear that "the younger generation of scouting just don't see it the way the old guard did."

The Boy Scouts' long-standing ban on gay scouts had become a polarizing issue at the center of the debate on gay rights in the United States, where gay soldiers may now serve openly in the military and where gay couples can wed in a number of states.

For months, the Boy Scouts have been caught between two sides in an emotionally charged debate that has seen both supporters and opponents of lifting the ban threaten to withdraw support.

The Boy Scouts has faced heavy pressure on one side from gay rights supporters and some of the major corporate sponsors who provide much of the group's annual funding, and on the other by a variety of major national church groups, who sponsor and support the large majority of troops nationwide.

"I just resigned from my troop," said Chris Collier, 41, a former troop leader in Alabama and Florida who said he would send his Eagle Scout award back to the organization's national office.

"My grandfather earned his eagle award in 1938. I earned mine in 1990. I was hoping my son could earn his when he grew up. I'm sad, but this is their cross to bear. I'm no longer part of the organization. I'll move in a different direction."

John Stemberger, an Orlando lawyer, Eagle Scout, former scoutmaster and founder of an organization that opposes lifting the ban said the decision marked "a sad day for America."

He said he would be never again wear the Boy Scout uniform and would work to create a new scouting organization "based on timeless values."

Thursday's vote came about three months after the organization's leadership delayed a decision on changing its membership policy to research attitudes toward admitting gays.

FAITH-BASED GROUPS

About 70 percent of the group's 100,000 Boy Scout units are chartered by faith-based organizations, according to Boy Scouts membership data. Some 22 percent of the units nationwide are chartered by civic organizations, and 7 percent are chartered by educational groups.

One of the major turning points in the debate came earlier this year when the Mormon church - the largest sponsor of scouting troops nationwide - expressed support for ending the ban. The Mormon church charters nearly 38,000 scout troops representing nearly a quarter million scouts.

The next largest faith-based sponsor is the United Methodist Church, which charters about 11,000 troops representing about 363,000 scouts. They, too, issued a statement supporting an end to the ban. The Catholic church, which sponsors about 8,400 troops, has taken no official position on the controversy.

While national polls show a growing acceptance of gay rights, an online survey of about 200,000 Boy Scouts members, parents and leaders indicated strong support for maintaining the ban, by a margin of almost 2-1.

But the Boy Scouts' top leadership endorsed the change and encouraged delegates to support it.

"Our vision is to serve every kid and give them a place where they grow up and feel protected," BSA President Wayne Perry told a news conference. "Our view is that kids are better off in scouting."

Acknowledging division within the organization's ranks, top Boy Scouts officials said they believed those unhappy with the change would eventually return to the organization.

"We will continue to work through these issues," said Tico Perez, the Boy Scouts' national commissioner. "In time people will decide that the best place for kids is in scouting."

Zach Wahls, an Eagle Scout raised by two lesbians, said the time had come for change.

"There is nothing Scout-like about exclusion of other people, and there is nothing Scout-like about putting your own religious beliefs before someone else's," Wahls, founder of Scouts for Equality, told a news conference on Wednesday.

Gay rights advocates gathered petitions with more than 1.8 million signatures in support of ending the ban while opponents collected about 250,000 signatures urging delegates to vote down the change.

Intel Corp, one of the largest corporate sponsors of the Boy Scouts, said last September it would stop supporting troops that continue to ban gay scouts. Intel donated about $700,000 in 2009, according to the American Independent magazine.

That announcement followed pressure from gay groups that launched a nationwide campaign on Change.org urging Intel to withdraw its support. United Parcel Service Inc, another major sponsor, followed suit in November, as did Merck & Co, according to the gay rights group GLAAD.

Some of the nation's largest gay rights groups cheered the move to end the gay scout ban, and predicted the organization's ban on openly gay adult leaders would soon end as well.

"Today's vote is a significant victory for gay youth across the nation and a clear indication that the Boy Scouts' ban on gay adult leaders will also inevitably end," GLAAD spokesman Rich Ferraro said.

J. Peter Zegarra, California Doctor, Suggested Patient Have Oral Sex With Husband To Treat Gag Reflex

2013-05-23T16:30:00Z

Dr. Deep Throat, I presume?

J. Peter Zegarra, a California doctor, has been publicaly reprimanded by the state's medical board after he told a patient to practice oral sex on her husband. The patient had expressed concerns her gag reflex would interfere with an upper-gastrointestinal endoscopy, according to CBS affiliate KOVR.

The patient, an unidentified woman, complained that the Sacramento-based colo-rectal surgeon told her to practice oral sex on her husband "twice a week" prior to the procedure as a way of allaying the reflex.

According to CBS Sacramento, Zegarra made the suggestion in front of the woman and her husband "several years ago." The station also noted Zegarra had tried twice to expunge the complaint from the public record. Zegarra's name appears on asummary of administrative actions taken by the California board of medicine in 2007.

CBS Sacramento reports that a spokesperson for the state board of medicine called the doctor's suggestion inappropriate, even if it was meant as a joke.

As a matter of perspective, doctors have been caught doing much worse than dispensing questionable advice.

In September 2012, an Illinois doctor faced federal charges after he allegedly traded prescription drugs for sexual favors from 30 different patients. According to ABC affiliate KCRG, Dr. David Gierlus' sexual encounters with patients ranged from "oral sex, both during medical appointments and outside the office in [his] vehicle, to intercourse in the examination room during medical appointments.”

In April 2012, a British general practitioner went before a medical counsel to face allegations from three female patients, who made separate complaints about his conduct between 2003 and 2005. One patient complained that the family doctor had molested her and had sex with her several times on his surgery table during appointments, claiming that it would "help save her marriage."

Although suspensions are common in cases like these, they aren't always permanent. In August 2012, a Lodi, Calif., doctor had his license reinstated by a judge, despite the doctor's admitting to taking mood-altering inhalants and masturbating in his office. Opponents of the decision called it an example of the California medical board's "lax approach to getting rid of doctors who pose a harm to patients."

John Allison Accused Of Rubbing Pepperoni On His Exposed Penis At Grocery Store

2013-05-23T16:21:00Z

A man in upstate New York got a taste of jail after being arrested for allegedly exposing his penis in a grocery store and rubbing it with a stick of pepperoni.

Police arrested John Allison, 41, Wednesday night after a loss prevention officer allegedly noticed the suspect's saucy behavior on security video.

“I watched him go to the back of the store near the beer and the bakery sections. The guy was standing in a corner ... I thought he was going to steal some merchandise. Instead, he undid what I thought might be his belt. I then saw him unzip his pants,” the unidentified store worker said according to the Watertown Daily Times.

Allison then rubbed a packaged stick of pepperoni on his exposed package before putting the now-tainted deli meat back on the store shelf, WWNYTV.com reported.

Allison was charged with public lewdness and fourth-degree criminal mischief since the store was unable to sell the penis-rubbed pepperoni. He was taken to the Lawrence County Jail, but has since been released on a $2,000 bond, according to the International Business Times.

As gross as Allison's alleged acts may sound, he's not the only person who's gotten touchy in public recently.

Jared Weston Walter, 26, was arrested last week for allegedly masturbating and ejaculating on the heads of bus passengers in Portland, Oregon.

Police Found Man Reported Missing By His Wife During Honeymoon With A Prostitute

2013-05-23T16:10:00Z

Mohammed Ahmed, a Lincolnwood, Ill. resident, was arrested for soliciting a prostitute — while on his honeymoon in the Orlando area.

It didn’t take long for police to locate a 21-year-old Chicago-area man reported missing by his newlywed wife while honeymooning in the Orlando area last week — he was already in their custody after he attempted to hire a prostitute who was actually an undercover detective.

Mohammed Ahmed, of the 4400 block of West Estes Avenue in Lincolnwood, Ill., was arrested after he responded to an online ad posted by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and arrived to meet the woman he had attempted to hire, according to police.

When Ahmed did not return to the Omni Orlando Resort at Championsgate, where he’d been honeymooning with wife, she reported him missing — and was subsequently informed that her husband had been arrested and charged with both prostitution and possession of marijuana, according to NBC Miami.

The four-day sting which took place between May 8 and 11 netted a total of 92 arrests including 39 “johns” among them 45-year-old youth minister Samuel Yoon, who was expecting to pay for sex with a 14-year-old and 12 “pimps.”

Senior Prostitution Ring Busted at Nursing Home

2013-05-23T15:59:00Z

Call it Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll Assisted Living: The tale of an alleged senior prostitution ring at a nursing home in Englewood, New Jersey.

A long way from a QVC habit, a 75-year-old man and 66-year-old woman allegedly used crack cocaine and ran a prostitution ring out of their apartments at the low-income Vincente K. Tibbs Senior Citizen Building, NorthJersey.com reports. Currently, residents James Parham and Cheryl Chaney are only facing drug-related charges with sparse details on the undercover sting operation.

With further charges looming and few details on the sting operation, the case might be ripe for an entrapment defense.

What Is Entrapment?

Entrapment is a criminal defense most often claimed in government sting operations that involve drug dealing, bribery, or sex offenses. It occurs when a government agent induces a person to commit a crime that the person otherwise would not have committed.

Chief Arthur O'Keefe of the Englewood police assigned undercover officers to find out which tenants were behind the drug and prostitution reports. If the undercover officersunduly persuaded or encouraged Parham to run the prostitution ring, and he wouldn't have committed the crime otherwise, then that's Nursing-Home-Entrapment Bingo!

However, prosecutors can counter an entrapment defense by showing, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the defendant was predisposed to commit the criminal act before government agents gave him the idea. This is usually proven by showing the defendant's prior criminal conduct similar to the charged crime.

Alleged Confessions

Yet in this case, Chaney had no criminal record, and Parham had a few minor arrests years ago for disorderly conduct and other low-level crimes, according to NorthJersey.com. There's nothing to indicate previous involvement in a prostitution ring. In fact, the nursing home bars anyone with recent drug convictions or a violent criminal history from living in the building.

Fortunately for prosecutors, there's an alleged confession. Parham admitted employing crack-addicted women, as well as a few fellow elderly residents, as sex workers to service his "younger" neighbors in the building, police told NorthJersey.com.

Though there are certain confessions that can't be admitted in court, a voluntary confession is usually enough to fend off an entrapment defense.

Jesse James Loses Finger In Machine Accident, Boasts On Instagram

2013-05-23T13:14:00Z

In what appears to be an egregiously painful accident, Jesse James cut off his pinky finger yesterday (May 21) and later documented it on Instagram with his own hilarious commentary.

In a phone call into TMZ, the 43-year-old former West Coast Choppers CEO said, "I was working in the shop today, and my glove got caught in one of my machines and it just took my finger off."

The reality star wasn't kidding ... the machine he was working on at his motorcycle customizing shop took a pretty clean swipe at his pinky finger, severing it right off. But this didn't seem to bother James much, adding his own commentary on Instagram about his pinky: "Doesn't look like this dude's gonna make it, Nice know'n you little buddy."

He pictured himself back at work just a day later, exclaiming, "My World has No time for Whiners or Crybabies."

Largest Python Ever Caught In Florida Captured By Jason Leon, Miami Man

2013-05-22T16:49:00Z

A Miami man has captured, killed, and reported the largest Burmese python ever caught in Florida, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials.

Jason Leon was driving in a rural section of southwest Miami-Dade on May 11 when he and his passengers spotted a large snake in the road.

Leon pulled over to investigate the reptile, then only sticking out three feet from a bush. As he began to drag the animal out from the foliage, the Burmese python began to wrap itself around Leon's leg.

His friends inside the car then jumped out and used a knife to kill the python, which turned out to be a18-foot, 8-inch female, as later identified by University of Florida experts.

(Story continues after photo.)

FWC officials says that Leon, whom Local 10 identified as living in Hialeah, once owned a Burmese python himself and knew how to handle the 128-pound snake, which is an invasive species credited with hurting the Everglades ecosystem and its native wildlife.

Leon's snake is a whole foot longer than the previous record-holding snake of 17-feet, 7-inches, captured last August in the Everglades.

"The FWC is grateful to him both for safely removing such a large Burmese python and for reporting its capture,” said Kristen Sommers, FWC's Exotic Species Coordination Section Leader.

“This event highlights how the Exotic Species hotline allows the public to help us obtain more information about Burmese pythons, so we can improve management of this invasive species. It also reflects the cooperative efforts of the FWC and its partners to address python sightings by the public.”

National Confectioners Association Study Says Eating Candy Won't Make You Fat: 4 Studies That Contradict Findings

2013-05-22T13:53:00Z

Candy lovers may be excited to hear of a new study that found that eating candy doesn't have negative health risks. For full disclosure, the study was funded by the National Confectioners Association, a trade group that represents the candy, chocolate, and gum industry.

"Limited information is available regarding the impact of candy consumption on health," write the authors of the National Confectioners Association study. "The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between typical frequency of candy consumption and body weight status and select cardiovascular risk factors among adults in the United States."

The National Confectioners Association study found that candy consumption has no association with obesity, increased waist circumference, elevated skinfold thickness, blood pressure, low density lipoprotein (LDL) or high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, or insulin resistance. Additionally, the study found that increased candy consumption was not related to cardiovascular risk factors.

"We did not find an association between frequency of candy intake and BMI or cardiovascular risk factors among adults," shares lead author Mary M. Murphy, MS, RD of Exponent®, Inc., Center for Chemical Regulation & Food Safety, in a statement.

"In contrast to what is often assumed, the present study showed that increased frequency of candy consumption was not associated with obesity or cardiovascular risk factors including blood pressure, lipid profile, and insulin sensitivity," write the authors in their discussion.

That said, the National Confectioners Association study did find a correlation between increased candy consumption and "higher energy intakes and higher energy adjusted intakes of carbohydrates, total sugars and added sugars, total fat, saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids, and lower adjusted intakes of protein and cholesterol."

"There is a place for little pleasures, such as candy, in life. A little treat in moderation can have a positive impact on mood and satisfaction, and as emerging research suggests, minimal impact on diet and health risk," said Laura Shumow, MHS, Director of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, National Confectioners Association, in a statement.

The National Confectioners Association study may seem hard to believe, but a previous candy study mimicks their findings: A 2011 study from the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center found thatpeople who consume candy and chocolates have smaller waists, weigh less and have a lower body mass index (BMI) than their counterparts who do not indulge in candy and chocolates.

That said, the National Confectioners Association study should be taken with a grain of salt, as other studies have found many risks with consuming too much chocolate and candies. Here are four studies that contradict the findings of the National Confectioners Association study:

1. Sugar's role in cavity formation in teeth has been a long accepted fact, but a recent study found that sour candies do just as much damage, if not more, when it comes to your teeth. Sour candies are acidic and as such, they create a greater risk of dental erosion.

2. A 2010 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill study found that snacking (including candy) is a major cause of childhood obesity.

3. A key component of candy is sugar, and new studies suggest that sugar is toxic. Researchers from the University California-Davis have found that excess consumption of high fructose corn syrup increases bad cholesterol, which puts people at risk of heart disease.

4. A recent study from Stanford University has found that obesity isn't responsible for increased rates in diabetes, but instead, sugar is.

Pot Smokers Have Smaller Waists Than Non-Smokers, Study Finds

2013-05-22T13:14:00Z

Hunger is a well-known side effect smoking marijuana, and all those burritos, ice cream, and Bagel Bites have to take a toll on your waistline, right? Well, according to new research published in the The American Journal of Medicine, cannabis enthusiasts may very well be overweight, but weed isn't to blame.

Researchers found that people who regularly smoke marijuana actually have lower levels of fasting insulin and are less likely to be insulin resistant. What's more, the study found that current marijuana smokers are likely to have smaller waist circumferences than non-smokers. All of these are factors in diabetes risk, with pot smoking lowering that risk.

Looking at data from over 4,600 patients—roughly 45 percent of which had never smoked or ingested pot, 43 percent had smoked pot in the past but didn't currently, and 12 percent were regular smokers—the study found that those people who had smoked in the past month had 16 percent lower fasting insulin levels than people who had never smoked pot. They also had lower levels of HOMA-IR (insulin resistance), along with higher levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ("good" cholesterol).

As for the part about smaller waists, this research found similar results to previous research that has found that even though regular marijuana users have, on average, higher levels of caloric intake—yes, if you didn't already know, the stereotype is backed up with research—there is an association with smoking pot and lower body mass index.

The researchers note that all the data on frequency of marijuana use is self-reported, which may mean that people underestimate their use of pot or deny using it at all, but underestimation would tend to skew the results toward a lower association between more pot use and lower fasting insulin levels.

It is possible that the inverse association in fasting insulin levels and insulin resistance seen among current marijuana users could be in part due to changes in usage patterns among those with a diagnosis of diabetes. However, after we excluded those subjects with a diagnosis of diabetes, the associations between marijuana use and insulin levels, HOMA-IR, waist circumference, and HDL-C were similar and remained statistically significant.

In other recent pot-isn't-nearly-as-bad-for-you-as-you-were-told news, The Oncology Report writes that a new survey of pot smokers in the US, Canada, UK, and New Zealand shows that regular marijuana smokers "are no more likely to develop lung cancer than are more likely to develop lung cancer than are people who indulge occasionally."

Furthermore,

In an analysis of marijuana smokers that excluded tobacco smokers, there were no significant differences in any of the comparisons, including habitual versus non-habitual use; number of joints smoked per day; duration of up to 20 years or a duration of more than 20 years.

That said, one of the report's authors, Dr Michael Alberts, reminds us that smoking anything isn't particularly good for the respiratory system. And before you start to argue that smoking weed is a viable diet plan, be forewarned that a combination of a good diet and regular exercise is probably a better idea.

Oklahoma City tornado survivor finds dog alive under rubble of house

2013-05-21T17:09:00Z

The woman was talking to a reporter from CBS affiliate KWTV about her devastation at the loss of her home and her dog, when a member of the film crew spotted the animal crawling out of the ruins of the house in the flattened suburb of Moore.

"Well I thought God just answered one prayer to let me be OK, but he answered both of them, because this was my second prayer," the woman cried as she hugged her pet.

The news is one positive story to come out of an otherwise tragic turn of events, which has seen entire neighbourhoods wiped out by the ferocity of one of the most powerful tornadoes ever recorded in the US.

At least 24 people, including several children, are believed to have died so far and President Barack Obama has declared a major disaster in Oklahoma.

Fecal Contamination Found In 58% Of Public Pool Samples, CDC Finds

2013-05-21T15:12:00Z

There's a lot of grossness going on in public pools.

A new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report shows that more than half of public pool samples contain E. Coli bacteria -- a sign of fecal contamination. That's right, poop bacteria.

How exactly does this bacteria get in the pool? Well, one way is exactly how you think it does -- when people have a "fecal incident" in the pool. Another common way is when someone enters the pool without showering first, and the bacteria sheds off the body and into the water.

The report is based on 161 water samples taken from metro-Atlanta public pools last summer. Researchers tested the samples for all sorts of bacteria, including E. coli, which was found in 58 percent of the pool water samples, and P. aeruginosa, which was found in 59 percent of the samples.

"Although this study focused on microbial DNA in filters (not on illnesses), these findings indicate the need for swimmers to help prevent introduction of pathogens(e.g., taking a pre-swim shower and not swimming when ill with diarrhea), aquatics staff to maintain disinfectant level and pH according to public health standards to inactivate pathogens, and state and local environmental health specialists to enforce such standards," the researchers wrote in the report.

Recently, a study from the Water Quality and Health Council found that one in five people say they've relieved themselves in a public pool, Blisstree reported. And seven in 10 people say they don't shower before getting into a public pool.

Florida girl, 18, arrested and expelled after relationship with 15-year-old female classmate

2013-05-21T14:54:00Z

An 18-year-old Florida student’s senior year has become a nightmare — all because she was in a same-sex relationship with a 15-year-old, her family says.

Kaitlyn Hunt was arrested Feb. 16 for having a physical relationship with a younger classmate, who was her girlfriend at the time, mom Kelley Hunt Smith wrote on Facebook.

Under Florida law, Hunt could see up to 15 years in prison and must register as a sex offender. A plea deal, however, remains on the table that would give Hunt two years' house arrest and one year of probation, her family said.

“Does my daughter deserve to lose her life for 15 years, or 3 years, or to have no life, because of one choice she made in high school, absolutely not!!” Hunt Smith wrote Friday, adding, “This is a mother’s nightmare.”

FACEBOOK

Hunt could see up to 15 years in prison and have to register as a sex offender.

The distraught mom and her family has launched an online campaign asking supporters to petition the State Attorney’s office in Indian River County and have them reconsider the charges.

“The (assistant) state attorney, Brian Workman needs to use taxpayers money to prosecute REAL criminals, not a high school student who has never been in trouble a day in her young life, all because she had a mutual consenting relationship with someone who has bigoted parents,” wrote Hunt Smith, who didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment Sunday.

Hunt’s uncle, Andrew Gay, told the Daily News that the girls were in the same social circle at Sebastian River High School and played together on the basketball team.

COURTESY KELLEY HUNT

Kaitlyn Hunt, 18, with mom Kelley Hunt Smith, who is defending her daughter after she was arrested for having a relationship with a 15-year-old female student. The age of consent in Florida is 18.

In September, after Hunt turned 18, she and the other girl, a freshman, began dating and expressed their relationship in “intimate ways,” the family said.

But when the basketball coach found out about their relationship, Hunt was thrown off the team and the other girl’s parents were notified.

The parents then told police, and a phone call was recorded between their daughter and Hunt in which the girls discussed their relationship, Gay said.

The age of consent in Florida is 18.

FACEBOOK

Both Hunt and her girlfriend played on the basketball team. After the coach learned of their relationship, Hunt was thrown off the team and her girlfriend's parents notified. Eventually, Hunt was arrested on two counts of felony lewd and lascivious battery on a child ages 12 to 16.

Hunt was arrested on two counts of felony lewd and lascivious battery on a child ages 12 to 16, jail records show.

Her family was devastated.

“We certainly aren’t saying that all 18-year olds anywhere should be able to date all 15-year olds,” Gay said. “But this is a situation where these two girls were in the same social circle, on the same basketball team. I just don’t think Kaitlyn looked at this girl and thought, 'She’s a certain age, so she’s off limits to me.'”

A Change.org petition wants supporters to as prosecutors to ‘stop the hate’ and rescind felony charges against Kaitlyn Hunt.

Hunt Smith claims the other family was upset because their daughter was in a same-sex relationship and believed that Hunt had somehow “made” their daughter gay.

“Of course I see it 100% different,” Hunt Smith wrote. “I don’t see or label these girls as gay. They are teenagers in high school experimenting with their sexuality, all teens do it in one form or another. ... And even if their daughter is gay, who cares, she is still their daughter.”

Hunt was expelled from the high school and agreed to have no contact with the other girl. She also transferred to an alternative high school.

Although she’ll be allowed to walk with the graduating class at Sebastian River High School, her final year — and future — has been tainted by scandal.

“Should the girls have made better choices, YES. I agree," Hunt Smith said, "but is this criminal, no."

The State Attorney’s Office in Indian River County couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

Regardless of whether the family takes the plea, Gay said, a felony child abuse charge will ruin his niece’s future and her dream of one day becoming a nurse.

“She’s been a great student, so bright and not troubled at all,” Gay said. “She was voted ‘most school spirit.’ What’s happened to her now is ridiculous.”

Ray Manzarek dead at 74; The Doors keyboardist death follows cancer battle

2013-05-21T13:21:00Z

Ray Manzarek, a founding member of the 1960s rock group The Doors whose versatile and often haunting keyboards complemented Jim Morrison's gloomy baritone and helped set the mood for some of rock's most enduring songs, has died. He was 74.

Manzarek died Monday in Rosenheim, Germany, surrounded by his family, said publicist Heidi Robinson-Fitzgerald. She said the musician's manager, Tom Vitorino, confirmed Manzarek died after being stricken with bile duct cancer.

The Doors' original lineup, which also included drummer John Densmore and guitarist Robbie Krieger, was only together for a few years and they only made six studio albums. But the band has retained a large and obsessive following decades after Morrison's 1971 death. The Doors have sold more than 100 million records and songs such as "Light My Fire" and "Riders On the Storm" are still "classic" rock favorites. For Doors admirers, the band symbolized the darker side of the Los Angeles lifestyle, what happened to the city after the sun went down and the Beach Boys fans headed home.

Next to Morrison, Manzarek was the most distinctive-looking band member, his glasses and wavy blond hair making him resemble a young English professor more than a rock star, a contrast to Morrison's Dionysian glamour - his sensuous mouth and long, dark hair. Musically, Manzarek's spidery organ on "Light My Fire" is one of the most instantly recognizable sounds in rock history.

But he seemed up to finding the right touch for a wide range of songs - the sleepy, lounge-style keyboards on "Riders On the Storm"; the liquid strains for "The Crystal Ship"; the barrelhouse romps on "Roadhouse Blues." The Doors always considered themselves "more" than a rock band and Manzarek, Densmore and Krieger often managed a flowing rapport that blended rock, blues and jazz behind Morrison's self-consciously poetic lyrics.

"There was no keyboard player on the planet more appropriate to support Jim Morrison's words," Densmore said in a statement. "Ray, I felt totally in sync with you musically. It was like we were of one mind, holding down the foundation for Robby and Jim to float on top of. I will miss my musical brother."

The Doors were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. Their records have been reissued frequently and the band was the subject of a 1991 Oliver Stone movie, "The Doors," starring Val Kilmer as Morrison and Kyle MacLachlan as Manzarek, who complained that the film stereotyped Morrison as a hopeless drunk and also omitted calmer, more humorous times.

The Doors' fame has hardly faded even though they're one of the few groups not to allow their music to be used for commercials, a source of great tension among surviving members. Manzarek and Krieger reportedly supported licensing the songs, and Densmore has resisted. The group also feuded when Krieger and Manzarek formed a new group, Doors of the 21st Century. Densmore objected, and Krieger and Manzarek performed under various names.

Other Doors albums included "The Soft Parade," ''Waiting for the Sun" and their last record with Morrison, "L.A. Woman."

Manzarek briefly tried to hold the band together on the albums "Other Voices" and "Full Circle," neither of which had critical or commercial success. He played in other bands over the years, working with X and Iggy Pop among others. He also wrote a memoir, "Light My Fire," and a novel, "The Poet In Exile," in which he imagines receiving messages from a Morrison-like artist who had supposedly died.

He produced four albums for X, including another landmark album "Los Angeles," and played off and on with the band for three decades. Doe said Manzarek enjoyed his place in rock 'n' roll history.

"He enjoyed people's company greatly. He was always interested in what had been going on with you and he was an incredible teller of stories, a sort of raconteur of spiritualism and wild moments - 'weird scenes inside the gold mine,'" he said referencing a lyric from "The End."

"Ray loved to talk about and sort of mythologize, but it was all based in truth."

Born and raised in Chicago, Manzarek studied piano as a child and briefly considered a career in basketball. After graduating from DePauw University, he headed west to study film at UCLA. A few months after graduation, he and Morrison met in 1965 on Venice Beach in California. As Manzarek would often recall, Morrison read him some lyrics - Let's swim to the moon/Let's climb through the tide/Penetrate the evening that the/City sleeps to hide" - that became the start of "Moonlight Drive."

"I'd never heard lyrics to a rock song like that before," Manzarek told Billboard in 1967. "We talked a while before we decided to get a group together and make a million dollars."

By 1966, they had been joined by Krieger and Densmore and were a sensation live, especially during the theatrical, Oedipal epic, "The End." They were the house band at the famed Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles before being signed by Elektra Records and releasing a self-titled album in 1967, one of the most talked-about debuts in rock history.

"Well, to me, my God, for anybody who was there it means it was a fantastic time," Manzarek told The Republican in Massachusetts during an interview last year. "We thought we could actually change the world - to make it a more Christian, Islamic, Judaic, Buddhist, Hindu, loving world. We thought we could. The children of the '50s post-war generation were actually in love with life and had opened the doors of perception. And we were in love with being alive and wanted to spread that love around the planet and make peace, love and harmony prevail upon earth, while getting stoned, dancing madly and having as much sex as you could possibly have."

Manzarek is survived by his wife, Dorothy; his son Pablo and two brothers, Rick and James. Funeral arrangements are pending.

DONATE: Red Cross helping tornado victims across the Midwest

2013-05-21T13:10:00Z

Click here: http://www.redcross.org/support/donating-fundraising/donations/text-messaging

Elementary School Girl Threatens Classmates and Claims She is Part of the Illuminati

2013-05-20T16:44:00Z

Whether provoked by TV and music or dealing with a disturbed state of mind, what would cause a 5th grader to grab a pair of scissors and threaten his or her classmates? This is what happened in a combined 5th and 6th grade classroom at John Sloat Elementary School within the Sacramento City Unified School District, where one student told peers that she wanted to sell her soul to the Devil. To make matters worse, students say the girl claimed to be a member of the Illuminati – the secret society that is usually associated with adults.

Making bizarre statements is not the only thing an elementary school student allegedly did this past week – in addition to making odd threats in a classroom and in a bathroom, she also drew symbols related to the Illuminati as well as '666' on the bathroom wall. Sent to the office after making the threats, school officials did not notify parents of the incident until after classes were finished, and this has caused a stir. Some parents claimed to have picked up their children at the end of the day, and they were in tears.

One parent told CBS that the girl said that she had sold her soul to the Devil, and that she had made a list with the names of kids she wished to kill. The parent said that the list contained the name of her son. The grandmother of a 6-year-old girl who had been hiding in a bathroom during the 5th grader's rants says that the girl exclaimed: "I’m the devil and he’s the devil too. We here to kill people."

Students say that the girl went on with her outburst for at least an hour, where the teacher instructed the class to ignore her rant, and dismissed it as an attempt to gain attention. Students recall their classmates crying because they were scared that they would die on that day. Others were disturbed by her claims that she wanted to sell her soul to the Devil.

The girl eventually got violent as witnesses say that she grabbed a pair of scissors, and attacked a student. A 5th grader who was at the scene said that he had seen the girl try to cut herself and draw blood, but then decided to get up and attempt to stab another girl who was one seat away from her. The girl was then taken to the office. The calls to parents went out on Thursday evening, followed by a letter being sent out to parents offering the school official's version of events.

However, the students present during the incident have a different story to tell. The statement released by the school stated that the incident involved no weapon, but a pair of scissors was involved, and the exclusion of this detail has parents upset and shocked with officials for spreading false statements. They are also upset because the girl had not been removed from the classroom sooner. Yet, she remained amongst students and continued to scare her peers.

No one is sure what caused the young girl to display such an outburst, but it is certainly disturbing to know that someone at that age would speak of selling their soul to the Devil, and claiming they belong to the Illuminati.

African country prohibits witches from flying higher than 150 meters

2013-05-20T15:20:00Z

In the country of Swaziland, witches are no longer allowed to fly higher than 150 meters in the air, lest they be subject to arrest and heavy fines.

According to a report by the Civil Aviation Authority, broomsticks are considered similar to heavier-than-air transportation devices, and therefore are subject to this regulation.

“A witch on a broomstick should not fly above the [150-metre] limit,” Civil Aviation Authority marketing and corporate affairs director Sabelo Dlamini said.

The rule also applies to toy helicopters and kites to forbid them from flying too high into the sky.

The people of Swaziland take witches seriously, as many of them believe in witchcraft.

Recently, a private detective was arrested for operating a remote-control helicopter. The detective’s helicopter was equipped with video surveillance technology to gather information in a manner similar to the way drones operate.

The man was ”charged with operating an unregistered aircraft and for failing to appear before his chief to be questioned by traditional authorities about his toy drone, the first of its kind in Swaziland,” AfricanSpotlight.com notes.

This arrest prompted Dlamini to explain in further detail the country’s aviation policies.

“Swazi brooms are short bundles of sticks tied together and do not have handles. Swazi witches are known to use them to fling potions about homesteads — but not for transport,” AfricanSpotlight.com says.

Witches on broomsticks flying below 150 meters remain legal.

John Legend's Fiance Calls Out Teen Mom's Farrah Abraham And Is Accused Of "Slut Shaming;" Plus Farrah's "Home Movie" Bikini For Sale On EBay!

2013-05-20T13:53:00Z

Teen Mom Farrah Abraham has gotten her wish times ten…all the media she could ever hope to have! Farrah Superstar: Backdoor Teen Mom has catapulted her into the tabloid realm for months to come, and something tells me she wouldn't have it any other way.

As much as Farrah claims that her privacy has been violated, I can't help but wonder if she's got the paparazzi on speed dial, and I'm not the only who thinks so. Model Chrissy Teigen, who is engaged to my beloved John Legend, isn't holding her tongue when it comes to the reality star.

Chrissy tweeted, "Farrah Abraham now thinks she is pregnant from her sex tape. In other news you're a whore and everyone hates you. Whoops not other news, sorry."

Of course, the Sports Illustrated model received plenty of backlash from her comments to which she responded, "Wow. Amazed to see the outrage behind calling a staged leaked sex tape chick from Teen Mom exactly what she is. Go on with your bad selves."

After several followers accused Chrissy of "slut shaming," she wrote, "Ok, so what I have learned today is slut shaming is a thing like bullying. Do NOT bully sluts, guys. We have a real problem here. People are really defending backdoor teem mom hardcore [porn] . . . Are we really gonna pretend like this girl just had an accidentally leaked sex tape? Seriously?? What the f–k is wrong with you?"

As you can imagine, it didn't end there, and Chrissy continued to face her Twitter critics, posting, "Does calling this 'slut shaming' make you feel better? Like pulling the bully card? Ladies: you aren't a super feminist for okaying super whores. You don't need to defend EVERYone with a vagina."

Of the Farrah debacle, she continues, "I believe in strong women. F–k, I love women, but a spade is a spade. And we can do better," adding, "We just have two completely different definitions of 'slut shaming. I think of the word 'slut' as being negative, and you do not . . . How is calling out a willing (lied-as-leaked) sex tape participant who hired paps to photo her buying preg tests this AM slut shaming?" Ouch.

If that isn't enough in the world of Farrah, her "iconic" bikini from the cover of her "movie" is available on eBay according to TMZ. Vivid, the porn studio who brought us Farrah's gem of a movie, has placed said bedazzled bikini on the auction block.

Grab your credit cards or paypal accounts, because the bidding starts at $500, and the bathing suit is described as "Straight off Farrah's body and into your hands." Keepin' it classy!

Zephyrhills, Florida Residents Wonder if Powerball Winner Is One of Their Own

2013-05-20T13:05:00Z

Residents of the small town of Zephyrhills, Fla., are buzzing with excitement today that the lucky holder of a Powerball ticket worth $590.5 million could be a neighbor, after the announcement that winner was sold at a grocery store there.

"I think that's awesome. I can't wait to see who it is. I hope it's somebody I know. I think it would be great," resident Martha Bennett said.

The central Florida town, with a population of 13,337, was best known as a skydiving destination before lottery officials revealed today that a Publix supermarket in Zephyrhills had sold the winning ticket for the record Powerball jackpot.

The winning numbers in Saturday's drawing were 10, 13, 14, 22, 52 and a Powerball of 11.

The lucky person or group holding the ticket has not yet come forward, according to lottery officials, however under Florida law, the winner's name, age and hometown will be made public.

Chuck Strutt, executive director of the Multi-State Lottery Association, urged the person holding the ticket to sign it immediately.

"If it were me, I'd put that in an envelope and duct tape it to my chest. I'd be known as the Powerball millionaire with a nasty rash," he said.

While the residents of Zephyrhills wait to find out if the winner is one of their own, whoever is holding the ticket will have a big decision to make after coming forward.

The winner will have to decide whether to take the annuity or a lump sum, which comes out to $370,896,780.54.

Earlier estimates had put the jackpot at $600 million, however the Powerball website reflected at adjusted total of $590.5 million, still the largest jackpot in the game's history.

The previous record for a Powerball jackpot was $587.5 million on Nov. 28, 2012, and was split between two winning tickets.

The odds of winning the top jackpot was 1 in 175.2 million.

While there was only one grand prize winner, 31 tickets matched all five numbers, earning those lucky ticket holders a prize of $1 million each. Two tickets sold in New York and South Carolina were Power Play winners worth $2 million each, according to Powerball officials.

In the one month since California joined the list of 42 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands in playing, Powerball fever has swept across the Golden State and played a part in helping the jackpot swell to a record level, lottery officials said.

The country's most populous state became one of the top ticket sellers, alongside Florida and New York. Lottery officials said total ticket sales had hit $464 million for Saturday's historic drawing.

Virginia Man Wins Lottery for Fourth Time

2013-05-17T15:43:00Z

A Virginia man recently won the lottery. Again.

As in, for the fourth time.

Melvyn Wilson, of Woodbridge, just won $500,000 in the Virginia Lottery's Millionaire Mania scratch-off game. In 2005, he won $1 million in a scratch-off game, and the same year he collected a $500,000 check.

A year earlier he won $25,000. He's now won a total of $2,025,000.

Unsurprisingly, Wilson has earned a nickname for his lottery loot: "Mr. Lucky." But he has a different strategy than other lottery winners. Wilson plays scratch-off games, not the giant-jackpot Mega Millions or Powerball games that are grabbing attention this week.

Asked to explain his luck, Wilson said he is just in the right place at the right time.

And just what IS that place? He said he buys from different locations, but in the latest win Wilson bought the winning ticket at Handy Dandy Market at 13316 Occoquan Road.

Wilson retired from the postal service in 2007, two years after his 2005 wins. When lottery officials asked what he does with the money, he had a suitably winning response:

"I invest in Melvyn," he said.

For those of you with your eye on a bigger prize, the Powerball jackpot was up to an estimated $360 million jackpot as of Wednesday morning. But that number is sure to rise as purchases are made throughout the day. Ticket sales end at 10 p.m. Wednesday, with the drawing at 11 p.m.

The odds of taking home the grand prize are one in 175,223,510, according to the Virginia Lottery.

The Mega Millions jackpot was up to $190 million. That drawing will be held Friday.

Butcher Feeds Marijuana To Pigs To Create True High-Quality Meat

2013-05-17T14:38:00Z

This is what they meant by pot-bellied pig!

We're getting high on the hog of BB Ranch butcher William von Schneidau, who feeds marijuana to his pigs and sells them at Seattle's Pike Place Market. SeattleMet reports that Schneidau adds "weed to the feed" -- yes, the stems, stalks and seeds -- to give his meat a more savory flavor.

The "pot pigs" are partly a celebration of Washington voters passing a pot-legalization initiative late last year, MSN reports. But they're also a real culinary experiment. Schneidau says the pot plants add fiber to the pigs' diets, which makes the meat taste delicious, man.

No, you won't get high from the meat. But the pigs get high from the weed, SeattleMet reports:

Apparently, not all mammals can process THC, but most have cannabinoid receptors. Cannabinoids are the other chemicals in marijuana, often linked to the medicinal properties, which help with pain and discomfort. Pigs have these receptors, and the four that ate this enhanced feed gained more weight and likely felt way more mellow than their non-ganja feeding friends.

If you're disappointed that ganja pigs won't produce ganja bacon, do it the Schneidau way. Halfway through a recent tasting, one of his guests rounded up 75 percent of the room and "got baked."

Virginia Maiden, McDonald's Drive-Thru Worker, Allegedly Catches Katherine York In Stolen Car

2013-05-17T14:05:00Z

Well, it was almost a happy steal.

But hours after Virginia Maiden reported her SUV stolen, she watched it pull up to the Kennewick, Wash., McDonald's drive-thru window she was working.

Maiden called authorities, and the driver, Katherine York, 22, was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle on Tuesday, KEPRTV.com reported. A male passenger was in the car, too, but he was not arrested.

York allegedly took the unlocked 1995 Toyota 4 Runner from Maiden's apartment complex parking lot that morning, according to the Tri-City Herald.

Police also found clothes with security tags still on them in the SUV, Kennewick police told the paper.

KNDO reported that the items were from JC Penny and Sears.

According to Benton County Jail records, York remains in custody with no bail set.

Charles Ramsey Hamburger inspired by Cleveland kidnap hero

2013-05-17T13:22:00Z

Cleveland's lovin’ it.

Charles Ramsey, the Cleveland neighbor who helped rescue three captive women, may find that in the future, more lofty honors and thankful praise will descend upon him.

As of now, though, there's the Charles Ramsey Hamburger.

Never mind the Big Mac or the Whopper; this burger's loaded: an 8-ounce patty slathered with "secret sauce," lettuce, cheddar cheese, bread and butter pickles on a toasted sesame seed bun. A bargain at $12.

Now there’s a sandwich truly worthy of being called a hero. The Ramsey burger is an 8-ounce patty with secret sauce, lettuce, cheddar cheese, bread and butter pickles on a toasted sesame seed bun. It costs $12.

"It's delicious — very good very good," said Melissa Rush of Lakewood.

As for Ramsey's exploits, she said. "Oh, I'm obsessed. I've been following it. I think the guy is great. I'm really proud to know that he's from Cleveland."

The Ramsey Burger flowed from the fertile brain of Chris Hodgson, a pioneer of Cleveland's food truck cuisine and chef at Hodge's Restaurant on Euclid Ave. (Hodgson's mobile eateries were called "Hodge Podge" and "Dim and Dem Sum").

It's no coincidence that Ramsey, 43, works as a dishwasher at the restaurant.

Hodge’s says Charles Ramsey, who helped rescue Michelle Knight, Gina DeJesus and Amanda Berry from captivity, is still employed there. A worker said she wasn’t sure when he’d be back, though.

In a call to the restaurant Thursday, a woman who answered the phone said that Ramsey was still employed there, but wasn't there at that time, "and we don't know when he'll be back."

Ramsey was off from work last Monday, the day that he helped rescue Michelle Knight, Gina DeJesus and Amanda Berry from a neighboring house where police say they were captive for 10 years.

If you can't get to Cleveland for the burger, Hodge's will mail you a "Cleveland Hero-Charles Ramsey" T-shirt for $20, and the restaurant says it will donate all profits to the families of the kidnapping victims. There's also a Charles Ramsey tattoo and an action figure that talks for $39.95.

Somewhat coincidentally, McDonald's indicated in a tweet that it would reach out to embrace Ramsey and possibly use him as a marketing tool after he told reporters in Cleveland that he was eating a McDonald’s meal when he heard the screams of the victims and called 911.

Nevada Teacher Arrested For 'Kissing And Spooning' Relationship With 15-Year-Old Student

2013-05-16T16:07:00Z

Amanda Brennan teaches English at Foothills High School in Henderson, NV.

[She] told police that she knew it was wrong to carry on a relationship with a teenager, but she loved the boy and did it anyway, according to an arrest report.

The educator was arrested last Friday on two counts of luring a child and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor…

He told authorities that he and Brennan loved each other and had kissed twice, although they’d only cuddled in the back of her car on the night he went out without his parents’ permission.

Officials also found 1,000 text messages between the boy and Brennan’s number during a nine-day period before her arrest.

Ga. High School Teens Suspended for Getting Pierced in Girl's Locker Room

2013-05-16T14:23:00Z

Four teenage girls at an Atlanta high school were suspended after they snuck away to the gym locker room to endure amateur tongue, navel, and lip piercings during school hours.

Reon Grinage, 14, told ABC Atlanta affiliate WSB-TV that a friend of hers came to Cross Keys High School with a piercing kit she ordered off the Internet.

One day after gym class, the two teenagers, as well as two other girls, waited in the locker room. But instead of changing from their gym clothes to their school clothes to go to lunch, the four hung back to get pierced.

"She was like, 'Do you want to do it?' I was like, 'Sure.' And she had the whole kit and everything," Grinage told WSB-TV.

Grinage got a stud through her tongue, as well as her belly button. The friend with the piercing kit charged each of the girls $5 per piercing, WSB-TV reported."She used the same needle on that one girl that she did on the other girl," Grinage said.

One of the teens even suffered a lip infection following the unsafe piercing practices, Grinage said.

Once one of the girls' mothers found out about the "piercing party," she alerted school administrators. The girls were suspended for 10 days, WSB-TV reported.

Grinage's aunt, Lena Harrison, told WSB-TV that she was surprised none of her niece's teachers noticed her piercing.

"She saw four other teachers after this. Not one of them said, 'Is something going on with you that you can't talk?' Harrison told WSB-TV. "How did nobody hear girls in the bathroom getting pierced? Because I know it was quite an adventure."

School officials told WSB-TV that the locker room was unsupervised at the time of the piercing incident, and their policy for such supervision was under review.

According to the Cross Keys High School website, the school has a dress code, under which students are expected to "observe high standards of neatness and cleanliness."

"A student's appearance can positively or negatively impact the climate of a school," the dress code states.

While the school's code does not address piercings, it does say "male and female students may wear conservative jewelry in a reasonable amount."

Hipster Glasses Banned At Brooklyn School

2013-05-16T13:06:00Z

These are so not OK.

Looking like a nerd has gotten too cool, so an Orthodox Jewish school in Brooklyn has gone and banned your Tina Fey glasses.

According to the New York Post, Borough Park’s Bobover Yeshiva B’Nei Zion recently wrote to parents and asked them to only buy their students simple frameless or wire-frame glasses, because thick-framed glasses of any variety are no longer allowed, whether they’re being worn by hipsters or nerds or just fourth graders.

“What we have to commit ourselves to is we have to stand on top of this and not tolerate the new modernism,” said the school, which has students from grades 4 through 12.

Apparently the students had taken to wearing glasses with relatively thick frames, some of them colorful. And while the school says keeping track of what type of glasses are becoming cool at any given moment is nearly impossible, it’s figured out enough to crack down on “immodest” thick frames, which the school says “give the child a very coarse look.”

“It doesn’t matter what age — a student cannot come to yeshiva with these glasses,” the school said. Parents were told to consider the cost of buying new glasses to replace the now-banned frames as an educational expense.

“Style is not a sin, but the culture is to stay away from new things and to keep them the way they were,” said Nafle Frank, a student at the school who said he didn’t have a problem with the nerd-frame ban.

Eyeglass shops in the area say they’ve been seeing tons of exchanges since the missive went out. One said it had exchanged 30 pairs of glasses in two weeks, and another said school officials actually dropped by to inspect the glasses it was carrying and declare which ones were acceptable and which ones were not.

“They basically said these are the Hasidic ones — and those are not,” a shop employee said.

The school-accepted ones now live in their own private little display case, far away from the immodest nerd glasses.

Woman Fakes Son's 'Cancer,' Scams Donations From Friends And Family

2013-05-15T16:00:00Z

A woman is facing charges after police say she defrauded friends and family by pretending that her son has cancer.

Susan Stillwaggon of Pennsauken collected hundreds of dollars from friends and family who believed that her son had developed life-threatening cancer. The 35-year-old was ultimately caught in her lie when police received tips and questioned her about her son’s health.

She admitted to police a six-month plot to collect donations from her friends and family. When she was caught, she had already raised $1,000 in the hoax.

According to authorities, she even convinced her son that he had cancer. However, her husband was apparently unaware of it.

The big question is, as always: Why?

The answer was unclear to authorities and family, but Stillwaggon is currently being treated at a local hospital for unknown reasons. Her mother was interviewed by Fox 29, and admitted that she had no idea what was going on, but hinted that she might know why.

“What I will tell you is my daughter had a form of a breakdown,” Stillwaggon’s mother said. “She is in a psychiatric unit, being taken care of. That’s all I have to say.”

She also said that the cancer hoax “totally blew us away.”

Stillwaggon is facing the following charges: Theft by deception, forgery and child endangerment.

This is hardly the first case in which an individual sought to manipulate the charity and goodwill of others. In April of last year, a Phoenix woman was sentenced to a year of jail and three years probation after confessing to friends and family that she had cancer and organizing fundraisers to help her meet her medical costs.

She raised over $8,000, but didn’t have cancer. Instead, she used the money to pay for breast implants.

Florida man dials 911 demanding 'Kool-Aid, burgers and weed'

2013-05-15T15:56:00Z

Police in St. Petersburg, Florida arrested arrested a man for making nuisance 911 calls on Sunday. According to the Associated Press, 34-year-old Jarvis Sutton dialed 911 about 80 times on Sunday.

A St. Petersburg Police spokesperson told the AP that Sutton wanted “Kool-Aid, burgers and weed to be delivered to him.”

Police dispatched a vehicle to Sutton’s address and took him into custody. Police say that Sutton chewed the foam around the bars of the squad car’s protective caging.

As of Wednesday morning, Sutton was still incarcerated at the Pinellas County Jail.

Reginald Cruz Allegedly Told Boy Scout Lies In Foot Fetish Scheme

2013-05-15T15:54:00Z

A man from Polk County, Fla., allegedly told women he was a Boy Scout trying to earn a community service badge so they would let him massage, kiss, and sometimes suck on their toes.

Reginald Cruz, 23, was arrested on Wednesday after allegedly asking a 10-year-old girl if he could touch her feet, apparently for sexual gratification, The Tampa Tribune reported. The child's mother called authorities after she ran inside.

Authorities charged Cruz with lewd conduct on a minor, obtaining property by fraud and battery.

The 23-year-old told authorities that he's been approaching women since he was 6-years-old, according to a Polk County Sheriff Office news release. Cops said his victims were usually dark-skinned and have ranged from 10 to 32 years old.

Detectives said Cruz has changed his background story as he's aged. Most recently, he allegedly claimed to be a medical student conducting an experiment, according to WFLA.

Authorities believe Cruz has victimized more than 100 females, including children.

'I force-feed myself 5,000 calories a day through a funnel': Meet the 23-year-old desperate to reach 30st - so that men with a fat fetish will PAY to watch her eat

2013-05-15T14:56:00Z

Lots of young women are thinking about gym visits or diets right now to prepare their bikini bodies for the summer months ahead.

But one 23-year-old is doing the complete opposite and force feeding herself - often through a funnel - in a bid to become as fat as possible.

Tammy Jung was once a healthy eight-stone teenager who wore skinny jeans, loved playing volleyball and going out with friends.

But in a bizarre reversal of a crash diet, Tammy has decided that she wants to put on a lot of weight as quickly as possible, and spends her days indoors eating buckets of fried chicken, boxes of doughnuts and whole blocks of cheese.

Scroll down for video

Before and after: Tammy, from Los Angeles, California, used to be a slim pretty teenager but bizarrely made the decision to go on a reverse crash diet, trying to gain weight as quickly as possible, for the sake of online fame

She even allows boyfriend Johan Ubermen, 28, to pour ice cream milkshakes down her throat in an attempt to ingest 5,000 calories a day.

Tammy's frightening diet has seen her weight soar by over 3st every six months, and she now weighs over 16st - just over halfway to her goal weight.

The once svelte young woman is piling on the pounds to earn money as a Big Beautiful Woman on internet websites and hopes to one day top 30st.

Tammy, who already has fat-loving male fans from around the world, has been warned she is putting her health at risk and shortening her life.

SUPER SIZE Tammy force feeds to reach her 30st goal

Big decision: Tammy made the decision to go on a reverse crash diet, trying to gain weight as quickly as possible, for the sake of online fame

But the determined young 'gainer' celebrates every pound she adds and insists she doesn't care about damaging her body.

She said: 'I've never been happier than I am working to put on weight - nothing will stop me achieving my dream.

'I know it's controversial but it's no one else's business - eating makes me happy.

'I'm making lots of money doing what I love - and I want to make even more.

'As far as I'm concerned there is no such thing as too big.'

Slimmer days: As a teenager, Tammy played volley ball and soccer and weighed a healthy eight stone, but felt insecure despite her healthy frame

Aided by her 'feeder' boyfriend Johan, Tammy's daily diet includes up to 30 doughnuts as well as stacks of pancakes and waffles.

The couple can spend up to £70 a day on takeaways and junk food to fuel Tammy's mammoth appetite.

Tammy said: 'I start the day with a huge breakfast of waffles, cream cheese, bacon and sausage then head to McDonalds for a few burgers in the afternoon.

'I can snack on cheese all day, a couple of blocks is no problem, then for dinner I'll either eat pizzas or make Mexican food.

'At the end of the day I make a weight gain shake from heavy whipped cream and a whole tub of ice cream, which Yohan feeds me through a funnel.

'The funnel forces me to drink the shake even when I'm full after a day of eating.'

As a teenager, Tammy played volley ball and football and weighed a healthy eight stone, but felt insecure despite her healthy frame.

Large appetite: Aided by her feeder boyfriend Johan, Tammy eats up to 30 doughnuts a day and stacks of pancakes and waffles

Bigger is better: With a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 45, 5ft 2" Tammy is almost twice the average for a woman her size

Encouragement: She is being encouraged to gain weight by her feeder boyfriend Johan Ubermen, 28, who helps her by buying £70 of junk food per day and making thick ice-cream milkshakes which he feeds to her

Short life span: Tammy doesn't care that she is putting her life at risk

She said: 'I used to be self-conscious about my appearance. I always thought I was fat and had low self esteem.

'After I gave up sports, I began putting on weight. At first I was in denial. But one day I looked in the mirror and realised I was fat - and I felt great about it.

'My body looks so sexy and I feel more womanly the heavier I get.'

With a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 45, 5ft 2" Tammy is almost twice the average for a woman her size.

Tammy even films herself eating on camera for her army of online fans.

Binge eater: She starts the day with a huge breakfast of waffles, cream cheese, bacon and sausage then heads to McDonalds for a few burgers in the afternoon

Funnel fed: Tammy weighs 16.5 stone but scoffs up to 5,000 calories each day by feasting on fried chicken, dozens of doughnuts and blocks of cheese through a funnel

She said: 'I get a lot of requests to eat and weigh myself on camera. Some guys even send me scripts so I know what to say.

'I can make up to £1,000 a month if I work at it, and I'm hoping to earn more the bigger I get.'

Johan, her boyfriend of eight months, doesn't worry about the attention from other men.

He said: 'I noticed early on that she really likes to eat and was eating more than me when we went for dinner - I was impressed.

'I would love her no matter what she looked like.'

Incredibly, Tammy's family have no idea what she does for a living - or that her weight gain is deliberate.

She said: 'My family have noticed that I am putting on weight but they still don't know I'm doing it on purpose.

'They probably wouldn't agree with it but I'm making a living and supporting myself.'

Dr Claude Matar, of the Pasadena Weight Loss Center, said: 'It's very straightforward, she is causing her life to be shorter. She is taking the risk of dying early.'

Just the way he likes her: 'My body looks so sexy and I feel more womanly the heavier I get' said Tammy, and her boyfriend doesn't mind that she gets attention from other men

TAMMY'S DAILY DIET

Breakfast of waffles, cream cheese, bacon and sausage followed by McDonalds for a few burgers in the afternoon

Snacks on cheese all day

For dinner it's pizzas or Mexican food

At the end of the day she makes a weight gain shake from heavy whipped cream and a whole tub of ice cream

Put more insects on your table: UN pushes edible ones as good for nutrition, environment

2013-05-15T13:22:00Z

The U.N. has new weapons to fight hunger, boost nutrition and reduce pollution, and they might be crawling or flying near you right now: edible insects.

The Food and Agriculture Organization on Monday hailed the likes of grasshoppers, ants and other members of the insect world as an underutilized food for people, livestock and pets.

A 200-page report, released at a news conference at the U.N. agency's Rome headquarters, says 2 billion people worldwide already supplement their diets with insects, which are high in protein and minerals, and have environmental benefits.

Insects are "extremely efficient" in converting feed into edible meat, the agency said. On average, they can convert 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of feed into 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of insect mass. In comparison, cattle require 8 kilograms (17.6 pounds) of feed to produce a kilo of meat.

Most insects are likely to produce fewer environmentally harmful greenhouse gases, and also feed on human and food waste, compost and animal slurry, with the products being used for agricultural feed, the agency said.

Currently, most edible insects are gathered in forests and what insect farming does take place is often family-run and serves niche markets. But the U.N. says mechanization can ratchet up insect farming production. The fish bait industry, for example, has long farmed insects.

Insect farming is "one of the many ways to address food and feed security," the food agency said.

"Insects are everywhere and they reproduce quickly," the agency said, adding they leave a "low environmental footprint." They provide high-quality protein and nutrients when compared with meat and fish and are "particularly important as a food supplement for undernourished children," it said.

Insects can also be rich in copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, selenium and zinc, and are a source of fiber.

The agency noted that its Edible Insect Program is also examining the potential of arachnids, such as spiders and scorpions, although they are not strictly speaking insects.

University biologists have analyzed the nutritional value of edible insects, and some of them, such as certain beetles, ants, crickets and grasshoppers, come close to lean red meat or broiled fish in terms of protein per gram (ounce).

But are they tasty?

The report noted that some caterpillars in southern Africa and weaver ant eggs in Southeast Asia are considered delicacies and command high prices.

And some people who might not entertain the thought of consuming insects might already be eating them. Many insects are ingested inadvertently.

Deputies: Man caught masturbating near girls at school bus stop

2013-05-14T16:22:00Z

A Fort Myers man who was masturbating in front of three young girls was chased down and held by one of their fathers until deputies arrive to arrest him, Lee County Sheriff's Office reports show.

Luis Fernando Rolon, 30, of the 100 block of Zenith Circle, Fort Myers, was arrested Tuesday by Lee deputies and is facing charges of lewd lascivious behavior in the presence of individuals less than 16 years of age.

According to Lee County Sheriff's Office reports, one of the victims accompanied her daughter to the school bus stop Aug. 17 when she observed a man standing in some bushes directly across the street from them, masturbating while he stared at her.

The woman says his attention eventually was drawn to three young girls, all sisters, who were also at the bus stop. She yelled for the girls to come to her, and when they reached her, one of them said, " Did you see what that man was doing?"

The mother then watched as the man walked off, according to reports.

The following day, out of concern for her children, the mother of the three young girls decided to accompany them to the bus stop, deputies said. While leaving their home, two of the sisters pointed to a man they saw walking in front of the house, and yelled, "That's him!" The woman went inside, called 911, and woke her husband, who chased down Rolon and held him down until deputies arrived, reports show.

The location of the bus stop was not released.

US man mistakes brain leak for runny nose for 18 months

2013-05-14T14:40:00Z

A man from Arizona, who visited the doctor for running nose was shocked to learn that it was his brain that was leaking.

Joe Nagy put up with liquid leaking from his nose for around 18 months before he started seeking a doctor for help.

Doctors in Phoenix, found that the membrane surrounding Nagy’s brain had a hole in it and his “snot” was actually brain fluid that was leaking out, the Mirror reported.

Nagy said that it first started when he sat up in bed one morning and a clear liquid dribbled out of his nose like tears out of eyes.

Within months the leaking became constant but the final straw was when he was unable to reach his tissues in time as he picked up blueprints for his beloved model airplanes.

Neurosurgeon Peter Nakaji, who performed the surgery, said that the leaking is one of the more common conditions to be missed for a long time, as so many people suffer from running nose.

He said that they fixed the leak in Nagy’s brain with a needle and glue before the body took over to properly heal the hole.

Duke University hikes student fees to pay for sex-change surgeries

2013-05-14T13:56:00Z

Duke University is hiking student fees in order to cover the cost of sex-change surgery in its insurance plan.

“The addition of sexual reassignment surgery with a $50,000 cap makes Duke’s student health care plan one of the most, if not the most, transgender-inclusive plans in the country,” said Sunny Frothingham, the outreach chair for Blue Devils United, said in the Duke Chronicle.

The fee increase on students amounts to 0.3 percent, Campus Reform reported.

The announcement follows a March resolution passed by the student government that advocated for Duke to pay for sex-change operations.

Duke, located in North Carolina, now joins 37 colleges around the nation that cover sex-change surgeries, Campus Reform reported.

Angelina Jolie's Preventative Double Mastectomy: Stars Show Support

2013-05-14T13:23:00Z

Angelina Jolie made the brave and bold decision to get a preventative double mastectomy earlier this year, the Oscar-winning actress revealed in a New York Times article published Monday, May 13. The 37-year-old mother of six explained that genetic tests showed she carries the BRCA1 gene, which increases her risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.

The Maleficent actress had her first surgery in February and completed her final follow-up procedure on Apr. 27. She chronicled her experience in an op-ed piece called "My Medical Choice."

PHOTOS: How Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie built a life together

"I started with the breasts, as my risk of breast cancer is higher than my risk of ovarian cancer, and the surgery is more complex," Jolie explained. "My chances of developing breast cancer have dropped from 87 percent to under 5 percent. I can tell my children that they don't need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer."

VIDEO: How Angelina Jolie avoided leading a "shallow" life

The engaged In the Land of Blood and Honey director added, "I am fortunate to have a partner, Brad Pitt, who is so loving and supportive. So to anyone who has a wife or girlfriend going through this, know that you are a very important part of the transition. Brad was at the Pink Lotus Breast Center, where I was treated, for every minute of the surgeries. We managed to find moments to laugh together. We knew this was the right thing to do for our family and that it would bring us closer. And it has."

Shortly after the article was published, dozens of celebrities offered messages of support via Twitter. Sheryl Crow and Giuliana Rancic -- both of whom are breast cancer survivors -- were among the first to thank the Tomb Raider star for sharing her story with the world.

"I commend Angelina Jolie for her courage and thoughtfulness in sharing her story today regarding her mastectomy. So brave!" tweeted Crow, who has been cancer-free since 2006. "Ladies, please check out Angelina Jolie's story today, especially if you have breast cancer in your family history."

PHOTOS: Angelina Jolie's word travels

Rancic, who underwent a double mastectomy in December 2011, tweeted, "Angelina Jolie reveals double mastectomy. Proud of her for using her incredible platform to educate women."

The Hunger Games' Elizabeth Banks also commended the Salt star, writing, "Much respect & for sharing in classy way: Angelina Jolie on why she had a double mastectomy & how it can save lives." Kristen Bell, meanwhile, tweeted a link to the article and added, "An admirable op ed by Angelina Jolie."

Other celebrities who voiced their support for the star included Mindy Kaling, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Nia Vardalos, Marlee Matlin, Amanda de Cadenet and David Krumholtz.

Study: Carry a guitar to get more phone numbers

2013-05-13T16:15:00Z

Researchers at the University of South Brittany in New Zealand have found that carrying a guitar can increase a man's chance of getting a woman's phone number by nearly a third.

One News reports that behavioral sciences Professor Nicolas Gueguen hired a 20-year-old actor to approach 300 women who appeared to be aged 18 to 22 in a shopping center.

For the first 100 women he held a sports bag, for the next 100 women he held a guitar case and to approach the final 100 women he carried nothing.

The sports bag was the least favorite among the women, with only 9 percent giving the actor their numbers. When he carried nothing, the actor got phone numbers from 14 percent of the women.

The guitar case, at a 31 percent success rate, was the runaway favorite of the New Zealand shoppers.

Barbara Walters Announces 2014 Retirement

2013-05-13T15:10:00Z

The legendary newscaster will leave TV journalism next summer

For decades, Barbara Walters has inspired millions with her groundbreaking interviews — but after 37 years with ABC News, the newscaster is announcing on “The View” Monday that next summer, she will retire from TV journalism. Until then, she will continue to anchor and report for ABC News, appear on “The View,” and anchor specials throughout the year including a “20 Years of 10 Most Fascinating People” special in December, an Oscars special, and a May career retrospective.

Walters will remain Executive Producer of “The View,” the show she created in 1997.

“I am very happy with my decision and look forward to a wonderful and special year ahead both on ‘The View’ and with ABC News,” she said. “I created ‘The View’ and am delighted it will last beyond my leaving it.”

Walters began her career in 1961 at NBC’s “Today Show,” where she eventually became a co-host.

“No one was more surprised than I,” she says of her on-air career. “I wasn’t beautiful, like many of the women on the program before me, [and] I had trouble pronouncing my r’s. I still do!”

ABC/Donna Svennevik

Still, in 1976, Walters found a new home at ABC “Evening News,” where she became the first female anchor on an evening news program. Three years later, she became a co-host of “20/20.”

At ABC, her interviews were wide-ranging and her access to public figures, unparalleled; Walters crossed the Bay of Pigs with Fidel Castro, conducted the first joint interview with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israel’s Prime Minister Menachem Begin. She also developed a reputation for asking tough questions. In one instance, “I asked Vladimir Putin if he ever ordered anyone to be killed,” she recalls. “For the record, he said no.”

But there were lighter interviews too. Walters hosts a “Most Fascinating People” special in December, which has afforded her the opportunity to chat with stars from Angelina Jolie to Tom Cruise. She has also interviewed every U.S. president and first lady from the Nixons to the current administration. But perhaps one of her favorite contribution to the network has been “The View.”

“There’s only one Barbara Walters,” says ABC News President Ben Sherwood. “And we look forward to making her final year on television as remarkable, path-breaking and news-making as Barbara herself. Barbara will always have a home at ABC News and we look forward to a year befitting her brilliant career, filled with exclusive interviews, great adventures and indelible memories.”

Meanwhile, Walters, who has one daughter, Jacqueline, is looking forward to taking a break — and seeing what the next generation of journalists has to offer.

“I do not want to appear on another program or climb another mountain,” she says. “I want instead to sit on a sunny field and admire the very gifted women — and OK, some men too — who will be taking my place.”

Saudi Woman Convinces Fiancé To Marry Her Two Best Friends As Well

2013-05-13T13:59:00Z

Here’s a twist on polygamy for you. A Saudi woman told her fiancé that she would marry him on the condition that he would also marry her two best friends, who happened to be her coworkers at the school she taught at. At first the man thought it was a joke, but the woman was dead serious and she refused to get hitched unless he agreed to the offer.

“He realized that she was not joking when she insisted on her demand … after mediation efforts by relatives, he agreed to marry the three school teachers,” reported the Saudi Arabic language daily Alyoum in a report from the western town of Taif. After the man wed the three friends, he rented them all their own apartments and the husband takes turns rotating between their places. According to the report, the arrangement has not spoiled their friendship and they still spend a lot of time at each other’s places hanging out and doing housework. No word on when their reality show, “My Three Brides,” is set to air.

It you’re gonna go polygamous, being able to barter your best friends into the deal makes things a lot more appealing. I’m not particularly into the idea of my husband screwing my friends, but I would be down for a whole platonic sister wives situation, meaning I was the only one who was the wife in the biblical sense. If I do ever get married, maybe I’ll demand that my husband marry all The Frisky editors and we can all live in a giant beach hut/blogging compound together. Hmmmm. I’m responding positively to that idea.

Suri Cruise follows in mom's footsteps, set to launch fashion line

2013-05-13T13:40:00Z

Suri Cruise is bringing out her very own fashion line – at just seven years old.

The daughter of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes has just inked a multi-million dollar deal and her label has reportedly been named Suri.

The fashion-conscious schoolgirl, who regularly tops lists of most stylish celebrity child, will launch her first collection for young girls this fall in a New York department store.

If successful, the Suri brand will be rolled out in shops across North America next year.

A source said: “Suri is only seven but she is incredibly interested in clothes."

“She has been through a very difficult year and adapted amazingly to her new life in New York, including the upheaval of starting normal school.

Forget Beatles... now he's all about the grasshoppers! Paul McCartney's stage is invaded by insects during Brazilian show

2013-05-10T16:48:00Z

His band The Beatles are arguably the most famous musical group of all time.

But on Tuesday night, Paul McCartney was more about the grasshoppers as he found his stage invaded by a swarm of the insects during a concert in Goiania, Brazil.

The 70-year-old musician was forced to complete his three-hour performance as clouds of the Esperanca Grilo creatures buzzed around him.

Scroll down for video

The Beatle and the grasshopper! Sir Paul McCartney' stage was invaded by swarms of grasshoppers as he performed in Brazil on Tuesday night

However, animal-lover Macca appeared unfazed by the stage intrusion as he pushed through and delighted the 47,000 crowd with his songs.

Sir Paul even introduced one of the little grasshoppers as Harold during a performance of hit song Hey Jude.

As he sang the track, Sir Paul turned to Harold as he sang the words 'the movement you need is on your shoulder', adding 'it certainly is now'.

VIDEO Stage invasion! See Macca play on through swarm of insects

Forget the Beatles! Paul McCartney's joined the grasshoppers

Meet Harold! Macca even named one of the little creatures and introduced it to the eager crowd

Swarming: Sir Paul was unfazed by the unwanted guests, and completed his three-hour set

Also during the show, Sir Paul was seen inviting a young woman up onto the stage so he could sign the Beatles tattoo she has on her ribcage.

And it appears the fans certainly appreciated Sir Paul pushing through the infestation - holding up banners thanking him for the concert.

Sir Paul had kicked off his Out There! tour in Brazil earlier this week, and will be travelling to countries including Poland, Italy and Austria as well as various venues in America before the tour draws to a close in Seattle on July 19th.

His set lists have included rarely performed songs such as Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite, All Together Now and Eight Days A Week, which he played live only once before the tour began, with The Beatles in 1965.

Making his mark: Macca invited a young woman onto the stage to sign her Beatles tattoo

Excited: Sir Paul kicked off his Out There! tour in Brazil earlier this week

Top 10 Baby Names

2013-05-10T16:06:00Z

Rank	Male name	Female name
1	Jacob	Sophia
2	Mason	Emma
3	Ethan	Isabella
4	Noah	Olivia
5	William	Ava
6	Liam	Emily
7	Jayden	Abigail
8	Michael	Mia
9	Alexander	Madison
10	Aiden	Elizabeth

School Shootings: Masked Men Fire On Unsuspecting Teachers in Oregon School Drill

2013-05-10T14:14:00Z

Halfway, Oregon: a town of under 300 people that came to fame 13 years ago for being the world's first "Internet City," and briefly changed its name to Half.com for $73,000. Just like in many towns across America, people in Halfway are worried about the issue of gun violence in schools. And so, on Friday last week an astonishing drill was conducted at Pine Eagle Charter School in this tiny rural community to test the preparation of Pine Eagle's teachers for active shooter scenarios. With students at home for the day, two masked men with handguns burst into a meeting room full of teachers and started opening fire.

Although the exercise was just a drill, it raises questions about whether active shooter scenarios with unsuspecting staff are good way to prepare people for the real thing or whether they are excessive, unnecessary, and potentially dangerous.

The few seconds it took for people to realise that the bullets were just blanks and the exercise was just a drill left teachers scared and shaken up. Elementary teacher Morgan Gover, 31, said "I'll tell you, the whole situation was horrible. I got a couple in the front and a couple in the back." Of the 15 teachers in the room, Principal Cammie DeCastro says that if the attack had been real, "not many" would have survived.

While staff had received training in active shooter scenarios from the Union County Sheriff's Office, they were not aware that the drill was going to take place (except for the masked men, who were both teachers at the school). According to Principal DeCastro, the point of the drill was to test how people would react to such a scenario so that better emergency plans could be designed. The district's Safety Committee and the School Board will now evaluate the results of the drill and the policies and procedures in place before deciding what to do next.

Despite the drill being criticised by some in Halfway, DeCastro argues that its value lies in giving teachers an idea of how they would respond to the real thing and the chance to analyze their response. "For us not to know how we were going to respond is leaving us open," she said.

Gover and another elementary teacher, Donnie Beck, 54, both agree. According to Beck, the drill made her aware that in the event of a real attack she would not have even recognised the sounds of gunfire and would have "would have blown it off as kids' sounds in the hall." For Beck, the drill reinforced the need to remain calm in an emergency, given that she is in charge of the safety of the young kids in her classroom. For Gover, the drill made her "analyze as a teacher what my role is for these babies" and highlighted the inadequacy of her previous plan for such a situation.

According to DeCastro, possible outcomes of the drill include armed teachers, armed volunteers from the community watching over the school in shifts, as well as better locks and tougher doors. Staff, according to Gover, tend to favor having armed teachers in the building at all times.

The active shooter scenario appears to have had the intended effect in terms of giving teachers a better idea of how they would react. But does this mean they a good idea and should they be used more widely? Or is scaring teachers by having guns fired at them excessive and unnecessary? Would the teachers have reacted differently had kids been present during the drill? What could have gone wrong with the drill? As some of the people responding to the story wondered, what if one of the teachers had had a concealed weapon, had tried to take down one of the attackers, or had a heart attack from the shock?

American Idol Dumping Their Judges?

2013-05-10T13:36:00Z

Randy Jackson confirmed on Thursday that he is leaving American Idol at the end of this season. The announcement comes amid reports that the show's producers are firing all four judges after the show saw ratings drop this season.

Jackson had this to say about leaving the show, "Yo! Yo! Yo! To put all of the speculation to rest, after 12 years of judging on 'American Idol' I have decided it is time to leave after this season."

"I am very proud of how we forever changed television and the music industry. It's been a life changing opportunity but I am looking forward to focusing on my company Dream Merchant 21 and other business ventures."

And it appears that Randy might not be the only judge leaving the show, all four may be on the chopping block. Radio.com reports that a new report indicates that after this season of American Idol viewers can expect a clean slate — the show will reportedly let all four judges go, including Randy Jackson who has been with the show since its launch.

According to The Wrap, the high profile judges that came with sizable salaries, have not given the ratings boost the network was looking for. The network paid big bucks to land Mariah Carey (reportedly $18 million for one season), Nicki Minaj (reportedly $12 million) and Keith Urban (reportedly between $3-5 million), but hasn't seen a big ratings turn around to justify the high price tags. Ratings are down 22% this season and hit their lowest ratings ever the week of April 29, 2013.

Also reportedly getting the boot is longtime show producer Nigel Lythgoe, who helped launch Idol. The reality singing competition has been steadily bested by newcomer The Voice — which is not only beating Idol's ratings but stole the show's nomination for Outstanding Reality Competition at the Emmys.

Woman Eaten By Vultures In France Within 45 Minutes Of Hiking Accident

2013-05-09T16:48:00Z

Woman eaten by vultures: A woman has been eaten by vultures after falling to her death from a cliff in France. The woman, 52, was hiking in the Pyrenees with friends when she fell to her death. She fell for over 1,000 feet from the hiking trail. And in the 45 minutes it took rescue workers to find her, Griffon vultures had consumed her entire body.

Rescue workers were quickly alerted after the fall and combed the area for about 45 minutes to locate her body. By the time they reached it, however, it was too late to even recover the body. MSNreported that all that could be found was the woman's shoes, clothes, and a few bones.

Aggressive Griffon vultures are now increasingly problematic in France. In the past, they fed on livestock carcasses left by French farmers. In modern times, though, health regulations have changed, and it's currently illegal to leave animal carcasses out on the land. Therefore, the scavenging vultures have trouble finding food.

New regulations currently force farmers to burn any animals that die on farms. The authorities think this may contribute to why the 52-year-old woman was eaten by the vultures so quickly.

Major Didier Pericou told reporters that the rescue workers had noticed the vultures, but never considered that the birds would find the woman first. Vultures have now been the alleged source of many attacks that have killed livestock - over 40 farmers have now filed claims for government reimbursement of livestock the vultures have killed. The farmers aren't allowed to kill the bird because vultures are a protected species. But they're causing serious problems for French farmers and residents because their food sources are so depleted.

Some are calling for farmers to be allowed to shoot the aggressive vultures or be able to leave carcasses on their land rather than burning animals that die. This is the first verified report of a human being actually being eaten by vultures.

Rat meat sold as mutton: Crackdown sparks dozens of arrests in China

2013-05-09T16:42:00Z

Chinese police have broken a crime ring that passed off more than $1 million in rat and small-mammal meat as mutton in a food safety crackdown that coincides with a bird flu outbreak and other environmental pressures, authorities said.

Authorities have arrested 904 suspects since the end of January for allegedly selling and producing fake or tainted meat products, the Ministry of Public Security said in a statement posted on its website on Thursday.

Health officials in Taiwan are on guard after one of its citizens contracted the deadly strain of bird flu while on a business trip in China. NBC's Ian Williams reports.

During the crackdown, police discovered one suspect who had used additives to spice up and sell rat, fox and mink meat at markets in Shanghai and Jiangsu province.

Police arrested 63 suspects connected to the crime ring in a case valued at more than 10 million yuan, or $1.6 million, in sales since 2009.

Despite persistent efforts by police, "food safety crimes are still prominent, and new situations are emerging with new characteristics," the ministry's statement said, citing "responsible officials."

Police confiscated more than 22 tons of fake or inferior meat products after breaking up illegal food plants during the nationwide operation, the ministry said.

Food safety and environmental pollution are chronic problems in China, and public anxiety over cases of fake or toxic food often spreads quickly.

More than 1,000 dead ducks have been fished out of a river Sichuan, China. The discovery comes as the country deals with anger over the dumping of over 16,000 pigs elsewhere in China. NBCNews.com's Dara Brown reports.

In April, many consumers lost their appetite for poultry as an outbreak of the H7N9 bird flu virus spread in China. Sales dropped by 80 percent in eastern China, where the virus has been most prevalent, although experts stress that cooked chicken is perfectly safe.

In March, more than 16,000 rotting pigs were found floating in one of Shanghai's main water sources, triggering a public outcry. Overcrowding at pig farms was probably behind the die-off and the pigs' disposal in the Huangpu River.

The public security ministry said police had confiscated more than 15 metric tons of tainted pork in Anhui province, although as much as 60 metric tons had been sold in Anhui and Fujian provinces since mid-2012.

But it was the rodent meat in particular that people couldn't stomach, with Internet users turning to the popular microblogging site Sina Weibo to vent their outrage.

"Rats? How disgusting. Everything we eat is poison," one user wrote.

Ted Bundy, 'Creepy John' referenced in math homework assignment

2013-05-09T14:50:00Z

A homework assignment upsets a mother in Tulsa, Okla. She thinks the topics are not appropriate for teenagers.

When Christina Mattaliano looked over her son's geometry homework last night, she got quite the surprise when she came across two questions on two different hand-written assignments.

"And it references to serial killer Ted Bundy and some guy named Creepy John that watched his neighbors with a telescope," said Mattaliano.

The homework was handed out by a substitute teacher at Nathan Hale High School. The question that references Ted Bundy asks students to determine how far up a tree Bundy's ladder reaches.

The question about a guy named Creepy John wants students to figure out how far Creepy John's apartment is from the neighbors he's spying on.

Reporter: "First thing that popped into your mind?"

"The first thing that popped into my mind was just, it's creepy," said Mattaliano.

Creepy and uncalled for, she says.

"I don't know if he's trying to be humorous. If maybe that's some of his personal interest. He could have basically did the problem without the references," said Mattaliano.

The principal of Nathan Hale confirms a substitute made the assignment. The principal says the substitute wanted to engage students by getting their attention with colorful questions.

Nevertheless, the principal says the substitute will not be back in class and will no longer sub at Nathan Hale. As for Mattaliano, she says her son didn't even know who Ted Bundy was until she told him.

"I mean he's a teenager. He wasn't really too worried about it," said Mattaliano.

She says that's her job as a mother? Looking out for her son.

Jodi Arias says she prefers death penalty

2013-05-09T13:26:00Z

Jodi Arias spent 18 days on the stand sharing intimate, emotional and oftentimes X-rated details of her life before a rapt television and online audience. She had hoped it all might convince a jury that she killed her one-time boyfriend in self-defense.

But the eight men and four women on the panel didn't buy it, convicting Arias of first-degree murder after only about 15 hours of deliberations. Jurors will return to court Thursday to begin the next phase of the trial that could set the stage for Arias receiving a death sentence.

It's a punishment that Arias herself says she wants, telling a TV station minutes after her conviction that she would "prefer to die sooner than later."

"Longevity runs in my family, and I don't want to spend the rest of my natural life in one place," a tearful Arias told Fox affiliate KSAZ. "I believe death is the ultimate freedom and I'd rather have my freedom as soon as I can get it."

The case elevated the unknown waitress and aspiring photographer to a household name, with a real-life story of love, betrayal and murder far more alluring than any made-for-TV movie. The crime itself was enough to grab headlines: Arias, a 32-year-old high school dropout, shot Travis Alexander in the forehead, stabbed him nearly 30 times and slit his throat from ear to ear, leaving the motivational speaker and businessman nearly decapitated.

She claimed he attacked her and she fought for her life. Prosecutors said she killed out of jealous rage after Alexander wanted to end their affair and planned to take a trip to Mexico with another woman.

Arias' four-month trial quickly became a media sensation — ratings gold for cable networks that could broadcast from inside the courtroom and feed an insatiable public appetite for true-crime drama delivered live and up-close. It was, for many, the horrible train wreck they just couldn't turn away from, even though they know they should.

Arias fought back tears as the verdict was announced Wednesday in the hushed, packed courtroom, while Alexander's family members wept and hugged each other. They wore blue ribbons and wristbands with the words "Justice For Travis." The family thanked prosecutor Juan Martinez and a key witness and said it appreciated the outpouring of support from the public.

Outside, a huge crowd that had gathered on the courthouse steps screamed, whistled and cheered the news in a case that has attracted fans from across the country who traveled to Phoenix to be close to the proceedings.

Alexander's friend Chris Hughes said he was happy with the verdict, pointing out a bold proclamation that Arias made in one of her jailhouse interviews that she wouldn't be found guilty.

"She said, 'No jury would convict me. Mark my words.' This jury convicted her," Hughes said. "Luckily we had 12 smart jurors. They nailed it."

When asked about Alexander's family, Arias told the station (http://bit.ly/15qG7aP), "I just hope that now that a verdict has been rendered, that they'll be able to find peace."

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office said no more media interviews with Arias would be granted. She has been placed on suicide watch.

Testimony in Arias' trial began in early January. The trial quickly snowballed into a made-for-the-tabloids drama, garnering daily coverage from cable news networks and spawning a virtual cottage industry for talk shows, legal experts and even Arias, who used her notoriety to sell artwork she made in jail.

The trial now moves into the so-called aggravation phase during which prosecutors will argue the killing was committed in an especially cruel, heinous and depraved manner that should allow jurors to consider the death penalty. Both sides may call witnesses and show evidence. If the panel finds the aggravating factors exist, the trial then moves into the final penalty phase during which jurors will recommend either life in prison or death.

Despite her comments about wanting to die, it's up to the jury to decide whether to recommend death.

Authorities said Alexander fought for his life as Arias attacked him in a blitz, but he soon grew too weak to defend himself.

"Mr. Alexander did not die calmly," Martinez told jurors in opening statements.

Arias said she recalled Alexander attacking her in a fury after a day of sex. She said Alexander came at her "like a linebacker," body-slamming her to the tile floor. She managed to wriggle free and ran into his closet to retrieve a gun he kept on a shelf. She said she fired in self-defense but had no memory of stabbing him.

She acknowledged trying to clean the scene of the killing, dumping the gun in the desert and working on an alibi to avoid suspicion. She said she was too scared and ashamed to tell the truth. However, none of Arias' allegations that Alexander had physically abused her in the months before his death, that he owned a gun and had sexual desires for young boys, were corroborated by witnesses or evidence during the trial. She acknowledged lying repeatedly before and after her arrest but insisted she was telling the truth in court.

Arias spent 18 days on the witness stand describing an abusive childhood, cheating boyfriends, dead-end jobs, a shocking sexual relationship with Alexander, and her contention that he had grown physically violent.

A defense expert later testified that Arias suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and dissociative amnesia, which explained why she couldn't recall much from the day of the killing. Another defense witness concluded that Arias was a battered woman.

Martinez worked feverishly to attack the credibility of the defense experts, accusing them of having sympathy for Arias and offering biased opinions.

Aside from her lies, Arias had another formidable obstacle to overcome.

Her grandparents had reported a .25-caliber handgun stolen from their Northern California home about a week before Alexander's death — the same caliber used to shoot him — but Arias insisted she didn't take it. Authorities believe she brought it with her to kill him. The coincidence of the same caliber gun stolen from the home also being used to shoot Alexander was never resolved.

Meanwhile, the entire case devolved into a circus-like spectacle attracting dozens of enthusiast each day to the courthouse as they lined up for a chance to score just a few open public seats in the gallery. One trial regular sold her spot in line to another person for $200. Both got reprimands from the court, and the money was returned.

Many people also gathered outside after trial for a chance to see Martinez, who had gained celebrity-like status for his firebrand tactics and unapologetically intimidating style of cross-examining defense witnesses.

The case grew into a worldwide sensation as thousands followed the trial via a live, unedited Web feed. Twitter filled with comments as spectators expressed their opinions on everything from Arias' wardrobe to Martinez's angry demeanor. For its fans, the Arias trial became a live daytime soap opera.

'Teen Mom' Farrah Abraham: Fans Are Saying My XXX Is Better Than Kim Kardashian And Paris Hilton's Tapes!

2013-05-08T15:40:00Z

Farrah Abraham is in elite company: the porn producer behind her XXX flick is the same organization that previously releasedKim Kardashian, Paris Hilton and Kendra Wilkinson‘s notorious sex tapes.

But according to the XXX Teen Mom, her fans have already delivered the ultimate review — after just the first day of the tape’s release.

PHOTOS: From Teen Mom To Porn Star: Farrah’s Evolution

“I’ve gotten a lot of compliments from men and women telling me this is the best sex tape they’ve ever seen from a celebrity so I’m humbled,” the 21-year-old mother-of-one told RadarOnline.com exclusively.

On Monday, the MTV star also took to Twitter to reveal that she won’t be watching the 70-minute feature titled Farrah Superstar: Backdoor Teen Mom.

When asked why, the mother of four-year-old Sophia said: “I’ve made my business deal and now they hold the rights and can edit and alter the movie in whatever way they wish. That might make it more pornographic in order to suit their adult entertainment fans. Therefore, I’d rather stick to watching my version because that is what I had control over. I am happy with it as a keepsake.”

As RadarOnline.com previously reported, Farrah pocketed $1.5 million for the sale to Vivid Entertainment and later defended her decision to do it in a video message to fans.

that Francis brought them to his place and a physical altercation ensued. "(He) grabbed one of the women by the throat and hair and slammed her head into the tile floor four times."

Afterward, Francis let the women go with a warning not to call police -- but they didn't listen.

Noted City Attorney Carmen Trutanich, "Whether a celebrity or not, you will be held accountable for your misdeeds. The victims in this case should be commended for their courage in stepping forward and reporting these attacks, and for not being intimidated from seeing this matter through the justice system."

Francis has been in trouble with the law before for allegedly assaulting women, but charges have not stuck. In 2012, a car collision in Beverly Hills turned physical, and Playboy model Jayde Nicole also accused him of assault at a nightclub. And last September, he was ordered to pay another $20 million in damages to Steve Wynn for claiming the casino owner threatened to kill him.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

'Girls Gone Wild's' Joe Francis convicted of assault

2013-05-08T15:34:00Z

The creator of the "Girls Gone Wild" DVD franchise Joe Francis may spend as much as five years in jail after being convicted of assaulting a woman in 2011, according to L.A. Weekly.

The Los Angeles City Attorney's office said on Monday that Francis was convicted of three counts of false imprisonment, one count of "dissuading a witness from reporting" and one count of assault, which caused great bodily injury.

The prosecutors said that the 40-year-old Francis had invited three women into his limo, parked outside the restaurant/bar Supperclub in Hollywood, Calif. two years ago; two of the women said later that they thought they were just being taken to a parked car nearby. But as the City Attorney's spokesman noted in 2011, the limo's driver brandished a sheriff's badge and refused to let them exit the limo.

The City Attorney's office also said that Francis brought them to his place and a physical altercation ensued. "(He) grabbed one of the women by the throat and hair and slammed her head into the tile floor four times."

Afterward, Francis let the women go with a warning not to call police -- but they didn't listen.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

Police acknowledge little focus on finding Michelle Knight, the third missing Cleveland woman

2013-05-08T13:54:00Z

Police continued to say little Tuesday about Michelle Knight, the third woman found in a Cleveland home this week after she disappeared more than 10 years ago.

Knight, 32, walked out of the house Monday on Seymour Avenue along with Gina DeJesus after Amanda Berry broke through a locked door with the assistance of a neighbor, Cleveland police said at a news conference Tuesday. All three women were described as being in "fairly good health."

The disappearances of Berry in 2003 and DeJesus in 2004 generated widespread attention and searches over the past decade, but Knight's case drew little notice. No photos of her have been released.

Deputy Police Chief Ed Tomba acknowledged Tuesday that most of the investigation over the past decade had been "geared toward" Berry and DeJesus. Knight, he said, "was the focus of very few tips."

He and other authorities would say little else about Knight, except that she had been missing since Aug 22, 2002. Even her age is uncertain; it has been reported as anywhere from 30 to 32, although public records indicate that she was born in April 1981, which would have made her 21 when she disappeared — an adult with the right to leave home if she wanted.

Tomba did promise that eventually, Knight's story "is going to come out."

Police didn't look widely for Knight after they and social workers concluded that she ran off on her own because she was angry she had lost custody of her son, Deborah Knight, her grandmother, told the Plain Dealer of Cleveland on Monday.

Knight's mother, Barbara Knight, told the newspaper that Michelle vanished shortly after she was scheduled for a court appearance in the custody case.

Barbara Knight said she never bought the story that her daughter had run away and tirelessly kept searching for years. Even now, she told the newspaper, all she knows is coming from news reports, and she has doubts that the woman found Monday really is her daughter.

Full coverage of the Cleveland kidnappings

"I'm praying that if it is her, she will come back with me, so I can help her recover from what she has been through," Barbara Knight said. "So much has happened in these 10 years. She has a younger sister she still has not met."

Judy Martin, founder of the Cleveland advocacy group Survivors/ Victims of Tragedy, told NBC News that Knight simply "slipped through the cracks."

"If it hadn't been for the families in these two cases, nothing would have been done," said Martin, who was active in the campaign to find DeJesus.

Barbara Knight described a decade-long period of frustration with Cleveland police, with whom she filed a missing persons report and a photo years ago, only to see the information left out of news reports while the disappearances of Berry and DeJesus were widely covered.

Barbara Knight said Michelle was the victim of an assault at school when she was 17. She said her daughter reported the incident to police but didn't think she was taken seriously. Soon after, Michelle got pregnant and dropped out of school, her mother said.

Barbara Knight said she believed she saw her daughter once a few years ago at a Cleveland shopping center, being pulled by the arm by an older man. She told the Plain Dealer that she yelled Michelle's name, but the woman didn't respond.

"I really miss her," she told the newspaper. "She was my daughter, but she was also my friend. She tried to make the best of her life and wanted to finish school. She never got the chance to go back."

Tiger Woods gets tipsy, embarrasses galpal Lindsey Vonn at Met Gala

2013-05-08T13:10:00Z

Tiger Woods still knows how to party.

Or not.

On his first big public date with Lindsey Vonn at Monday's big Met Gala in New York City, Woods seemingly got falling-down loaded.

No, really. He fell down.

According to Us Weekly, after walking the red carpet amid a sea of celebrities for the annual Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the couple went to the star-studded after party at the Boom Boom Room, held at the top of the Standard Hotel.

The blond skier reportedly steered Woods through a crowd that included Leonardo DiCaprio, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Chris Brown, Solange Knowles and Kate Upton, among others.

"Tiger looked uncomfortable," an onlooker said. At their table they chatted, drank, held hands and kissed for much the night. At one point, Woods got up to dance awkwardly, according to US Weekly, bopping from side to side and grabbing Vonn's rear end affectionately.

Then the fun started.

Around 2 a.m., a seemingly tipsy Woods fell while walking up a small flight of stairs. He reportedly didn't move until Vonn, clenching her teeth and looking embarrassed, helped him up and guided him -- swaying -- to the exit.

"Lindsey and I have been friends for some time, but over the last few months we have become very close and are now dating," Woods wrote when he and Vonn announced their relationship on Facebook in March.

Elderly couple blasts Iron Maiden in neighbor revenge

2013-05-07T15:54:00Z

An elderly couple have been charged with harassment for playing Iron Maiden songs at top volume toward their neighbors' home, Swedish police said.

The couple was taking revenge on their new neighbors in the Stockholm area, who they said were too loud, Aftonbladet Daily reported Sunday.

The 71-year-old woman, whose name was not reported, said the new neighbors were so loud, she had to take sleeping pills in order to sleep.

"We wanted to give a taste of their own medicine," her 81-year-old husband said.

The couple set up a music system on their balcony facing their neighbor's home, police said.

The elderly couple allegedly played the music until as late as 4 a.m. throughout the winter, The Local.se reported.

"The harassment has just carried on, I am completely broken down. How can I keep living here," the neighbors told police.

Fungi found in Capri Sun drinks generally not harmful

2013-05-07T15:05:00Z

Five types of fungus have been identified in the popular kids’ juice drink Capri Sun, researchers say.

The study was spurred by reports of consumers finding mold — mats of fungus consisting of millions of cells — in the drink.

While the findings have an “ick” factor, the fungi probably aren’t harmful to most people, said study researcher Kathleen Dannelly, associate professor microbiology at Indiana State University. Fungi are all around us — in the soil, air, and even on our skin and inside our digestive tract — but they are generally kept in check by our immune systems.

“Probably, those of us with healthy immune systems, we could even eat that, and that wouldn’t be a problem,” Dannelly said, referring to the fungal mats in Capri Sun.

However, for people with compromised immune systems, such as those with AIDS, leukemia or cystic fibrosis, fungus exposure may be a health concern, Dannelly said.

For instance, the fungus Aspergillus is found in air, and most people breathe it in without problems. But for those with compromised immune systems, the fungus can cause lung and other infections.

Kraft, which manufactures Capri Sun, acknowledges that mold can grow in the drink, but says such reports are not common.

“Since there are no preservatives in our drinks, mold can grow, especially in a leaking pouch,” Kraft says on its Capri Sun frequently asked questions website.

During the manufacturing process, the drinks are heated to temperatures that exceed those used for pasteurization. But punctures in the products’ package — even microscopic ones — can allow air inside the package, and mold to grow, Kraft says. Fungi need oxygen to grow, Dannelly said.

Capri Sun packages have a shelf life of about a year. The company urges consumers to discard leaking or damaged packages.

In the new study, the researchers filtered Capri Sun through filter paper, and then checked whether any microorganisms were left behind on the paper. The juice contained just a few fungal cells, which grew in laboratory dishes.

Dannelly said if this experiment was done on any juice after it was opened and left in the refrigerator, she would expect both fungus and bacteria to grow.

In a second experiment, the researchers, including Leah Horn, an undergraduate biology major, punctured Capri Sun packages with a sterile needle to mimic damage to the product. When left in a sterile environment for three weeks, fungal mats grew in the juice.

A problem with Capri Sun is that the packages are not see-through, so unlike mold on bread or cheese, consumers can’t tell when Capri Sun goes bad.

Kraft said it tried creating clear packages for Capri Sun, but stopped making the packages after it created manufacturing problems.

The company said it will not add preservatives to the product because their customers don’t want this. Preservatives give food a longer shelf life, but some, such as the preservative nitrite, have been linked to an increased risk of certain cancers.

Dannelly said there are some natural preservatives, such as citric acid, which are not harmful and could be added to the product (although it would make the product more acidic).

“If you’re going to have a package you can’t see through, I think you need to do something,” Dannelly said.

The study has not yet been published in a peer reviewed journal, but the researchers plan to submit the work for publication.

TV show renewals and cancellations spring of 2013

2013-05-07T14:43:00Z

Each spring we anxiously await the news from the TV networks to see if our favorite shows will live for another season or are being chopped. Listed below are the renewals and cancellations that have been announced so far. We will be updating these lists as more information is released.

ABC Unofficial TV Renewals 2013/2014

Castle
The Bachelor
The Bachelorette
The Middle
Once Upon a Time
Modern Family
Grey’s Anatomy
Dancing with the Stars
Revenge
Scandal
Shark Tank

View slideshow: TV Show Renewals and Cancellations CBS, ABC, NBC, CW, FOX

ABC Official TV Cancellations 2013/2014

666 Park Avenue
Last Resort
Private Practice
Zero Hour

CBS Official TV Renewals 2013/2014

2 Broke Girls
The Amazing Race
Big Bang Theory
Blue Bloods
Criminal Minds
CSI
Elementary
The Good Wife
Hawaii Five-0
How I Met Your Mother
The Mentalist
Mike & Molly
NCIS
NCIS: Los Angeles
Person of Interest
Survivor
Undercover Boss

Made In Jersey
Partners

The only show NBC has official renewed so far is "The Voice" through season 5.

NBC Probably Renewed TV Shows 2013/2014

Parenthood
Revolution
Grimm
Go On
Parks and Recreation
Chicago Fire
Celebrity Apprentice
The Biggest Loser
Betty White’s Off Their Rockers

NBC Cancelled TV Shows 2013/2014

Animal Practice
Do No Harm
The Office, series finale to air May 16, 2013.

CW Renewed TV Shows 2013/2014

Supernatural
The Vampire Diaries
Arrow

CW Cancelled TV Shows 2013/2014

Gossip Girl
90210 - series finale airs May 13, 2013.
Emily Owens, M.D.

FOX Renewed TV Shows 2013/2014

New Girl
The Mindy Project
American Dad
Bob’s Burgers
Bones
Family Guy
The Following
Glee – Renewed through Season 6
Raising Hope
The Simpsons
The X Factor

FOX Cancelled TV Shows 2013/2014

Ben & Kate
The Mob Doctor
Fringe

3 Missing Ohio Women Found Alive

2013-05-07T13:04:00Z

The three women who disappeared a decade ago in Cleveland and were found alive are out of the hospital.

Metro Health Medical Center says all three were released Tuesday morning.

A frantic 911 call led police to a house near downtown Cleveland, where the three women were found Monday.

Police Chief Michael McGrath says Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight were tied up at the house and held there since they were in their teens or early 20s.

Three brothers were arrested. Authorities released no names and gave no information about them or what charges they might face.

Officials have scheduled a news conference for Tuesday morning.

'Earth-Like' Planets Discovered By NASA's Kepler Telescope Could Host Liquid Water, Agency Says

2013-05-06T16:04:00Z

NASA's Kepler space telescope has discovered three exoplanets that may be capable of supporting life, and one of them is perhaps the most Earth-like alien world spotted to date, scientists announced (April 18).

That most intriguing one is called Kepler-62f, a rocky world just 1.4 times bigger than Earth that circles a star smaller and dimmer than the sun. Kepler-62f's newfound neighbor, Kepler-62e, is just 1.6 times larger than Earth, making the pair among the smallest exoplanets yet found in their star's habitable zone — the just-right range of distances where liquid water can exist on a world's surface.

Kepler-62e and f, which are part of a newly discovered five-planet system, "look very good as possibilities for looking for life," said Kepler science principal investigator Bill Borucki, of NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif. [9 Exoplanets That Could Host Alien Life]

This diagram compares the planets of the inner solar system to Kepler-62, a newfound five-planet system with two potentially habitable worlds. Kepler-62 lies about 1,200 light-years from Earth, in the constellation Lyra.

The third potentially habitable planet, called Kepler-69c, is 1.7 times bigger than Earth and orbits a star similar to our own. It's the smallest world ever found in the habitable zone of a sunlike star, researchers said, and represents a big step toward discovering the first-ever "alien Earth."

"We're moving very rapidly toward finding an Earth analogue around a star like the sun," Borucki told SPACE.com.

Researchers announced these newfound planets — all three of which are "super-Earths," or worlds slightly larger than our own — today at a NASA news conference. The Kepler-62 discovery paper, led by Borucki, was also published today in the journal Science.

The three potentially habitable worlds are part of a larger haul. All told, the scientists rolled out seven new exoplanets today — five in the Kepler-62 system and two in Kepler-69.

Alien water worlds?

The five newfound planets in the Kepler-62 system, which is located about 1,200 light-years away in the constellation Lyra, range from 0.54 to 1.95 times the size of Earth. Only Kepler-62e and f are potentially habitable; the other three zip around the star at close range, making them too hot to support life as we know it, researchers said.

Kepler-62e and f take 122 and 267 days, respectively, to complete one orbit around their star, which is just 20 percent as bright as the sun. While nobody knows what the two exoplanets look like, a separate modeling study suggests they're both probably water worlds covered by endless, uninterrupted global oceans. [Two Habitable Alien Water Worlds? (Video)]

The artist's concept depicts Kepler-69c, a planet 1.7 times the size of Earth that orbits in the habitable zone of a star like our sun, located about 2,700 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus.

"There may be life there, but could it be technology-based like ours? Life on these worlds would be under water with no easy access to metals, to electricity, or fire for metallurgy," lead author Lisa Kaltenegger, of the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy and the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, said in a statement.

"Nonetheless, these worlds will still be beautiful blue planets circling an orange star — and maybe life’s inventiveness to get to a technology stage will surprise us," she added.

Not surprisingly, Kepler-62e should be warmer than its more distantly orbiting neighbor. In fact, Kepler-62f may require a greenhouse effect to keep its ocean from freezing over, researchers said.

“Kepler-62e probably has a very cloudy sky and is warm and humid all the way to the polar regions," co-author Dimitar Sasselov of Harvard said in a statement. "Kepler-62f would be cooler, but still potentially life-friendly."

The new modeling study has been accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal.

Searching for Earth's twin

The $600 million Kepler observatory launched in March 2009 to hunt for Earth-size exoplanets in the habitable zone of their parent stars. Kepler finds alien worlds by detecting the tiny brightness dips caused when they transit, or cross the face of, their stars from the instrument's perspective.

Kepler has used this technique to great effect, spotting more than 2,700 potential planets since its March 2009 launch. While just 120 or so of these candidates have been confirmed to date, mission scientists estimate that more than 90 percent will end up being the real deal.

While Kepler has yet to discover a true Earth twin, it's getting closer and closer, Borucki said, pointing to the confirmation of Kepler-69c as an example. (That planet lies 2,700 light-years away, in the constellation Cygnus. Kepler-69c's neighbor Kepler-69b, which is about twice the size of Earth and too hot to host life, was also announced today.)

"I think we're making excellent progress in that direction," Borucki said. "We have a number of candidates that look good."

Such steady progress makes sense, since Kepler will of course spot more transits the longer it looks. The telescope needs to observe three transits to flag a planet candidate, so detecting a potentially habitable world in a relatively distant orbit can take several years.

Kepler cannot search for signs of life on worlds like Kepler-62e, Kepler-62f and Kepler-69c, but the telescope is paving the way for future missions that should do just that, Borucki said.

"This is one of the early steps, but there's no mistake — we are on our way to explore the galaxy, to learn about life in the galaxy," he said.

Researchers: Jamestown settlers resorted to cannibalism

2013-05-06T15:05:00Z

The winter of 1609 to 1610 was treacherous for early American settlers. Some 240 of the 300 colonists at Jamestown, in Virginia, died during this period, called the "Starving Time," when they were under siege and had no way to get food.

Desperate times led to desperate measures. New evidence suggests that includes eating the flesh of fellow colonists who had already died.

Archaeologists revealed Wednesday their analysis of 17th century skeletal remains suggesting that settlers practiced cannibalism to survive.

Researchers unearthed an incomplete human skull and tibia (shin bone) in 2012 that contain several features suggesting that this particular person had been cannibalized. The remains come from a 14-year-old girl of English origin, whom historians are calling "Jane."Photos: Cannibalism evidence

There are about half a dozen accounts that mention cannibalistic behaviors at that time, although the record is limited, said Douglas Owsley, division head of physical anthropology at the Smithsonian National Museum of National History.

The newly analyzed remains support these accounts, providing the first forensic evidence of cannibalism in the American colonies.

What we know from the bones

Jane's remains were found in a 17th-century trash deposit at the former site of James Fort. William Kelso, chief archaeologist at the Jamestown Rediscovery Project said at a briefing Wednesday that the fort was built in 1607, but has been washed away. Kelso and colleagues began digging in 1994 and have been excavating the site on Jamestown Island ever since.

Owsley and colleagues can tell quite a bit about what happened to Jane when at least one starving settler in the fort apparently tried to feed off of her.
If it's any consolation, it appears that she was already dead at the time.

Researchers say it looks like someone had tried, but failed to open the skull with four shallow chops to the forehead.

The back of the skull contains markings that could have been made by a small hatchet or cleaver striking it. The cranium cracked open from the last hit. Forensic experts say it appears the person striking the skull was right-handed.

The skull's mandible contains cuts all over it and inside, which experts say reflect an attempt to take tissue off of the face and throat with a tool such as a knife. The cheek area reflects a "sawing action" of a tool going back and forth, Owsley said. There are also sharp passages of a knife.

At some point in the process, the head was removed, Owsley said.

The damage done to these remains indicates that whoever inflicted it was not a skilled butcher, he said.

"Instead, what we see is hesitancy, trial, tentativeness and an absolute total lack of experience."

The shin bone that archaeologists recovered also appeared to have been chopped, but in a way that more resembles classic butchering techniques, Owsley said.

"The person doing this was clearly interested in, based on what would have been accepted cuisine in the 17th century, in cheek meat, muscles of the face -- that area -- and tongue, and also in terms of 17th century traditional cuts, would also include the brain," he said.

It is possible that more than one person was involved in this, given the disparity in butchering practices seen in the head compared to the shin bone.

What we know about the colonists

In the summer of 1609, the settlers experienced two significant setbacks, said James Horn, vice president of research and historical interpretation at Colonial Williamsburg.

The first was that a large fleet bringing supplies and settlers to Virginia was scattered. It had been carrying 500 settlers from Plymouth along with provisions.

"The fleet represented a new beginning for Jamestown, which had struggled over the previous two years," Horn said.

A hurricane scattered the ships a week before they were supposed to arrive. The flagship with the leaders of this pack ended up in Bermuda. Shakespeare's play "The Tempest" takes its inspiration from this event.

Six ships reached Jamestown in August 1609, with spoiled or depleted food, and many settlers in poor health. "On one of those ships was Jane," Horn said.

At the same time, the relationship between the Jamestown colonists and the native Powhatan Indians had broken down. The existing settlers were already experiencing disease and a shortage of food, and the demands they made on the Powhatans strained their relations.

That was the environment into which 300 additional settlers arrived at the James Fort.

One of the leaders of the group, Captain John Smith -- the same one who was famously friends with Pocahontas -- returned to England in October 1609 because he was injured, Owsley said, leaving a leadership vacuum.

In the fall, the Powhatans waged war against these colonists, and launched a siege against the fort.

With no way to get food from the outside, the colonists resorted to eating horses, dogs, cats, rats, mice and snakes, Horn said, according to the accounts of George Percy, who was the president of Jamestown during this time. There are even accounts of people eating their shoes and any other leather that could be found. Anyone who left to try to scrounge for roots in the woods was killed by the Powhatans.

Percy wrote, according to the Smithsonian, "thatt notheinge was Spared to mainteyne Lyfe and to doe those things which seame incredible, as to digge upp deade corpes outt of graves and to eate them. And some have Licked upp the Bloode which hathe fallen from their weake fellowes." In other words, cannibalism.

It's not clear how many deceased colonists were cannibalized. Only 60 of 300 of the original colonists survived, described as "looking like skeletons," Horn said.

In May of 1610, the settlers finally arrived who had been shipwrecked in Bermuda, effectively saving the colony. Lord Delaware brought even more colonists and enough provisions to last a year.

There are still more pits at the fort to be excavated, and only 10% of Jane's body has been recovered, Owsley said.

"I think there's going to be other examples," Owsley said. "Whether that will be found -- with archeology you never know what's going to be under the next shovel."

A special exhibition will begin at the Smithsonian about Jamestown and Jane's story on Friday.

300 Gallons Of Urine Found In Man's Connecticut House

2013-05-06T14:19:00Z

If pee stories are your persuasion, urine luck!

Authorities in Newtown, Conn. said they found a home filled with as many as 300 one-gallon jugs of urine on Friday, according to the Danbury News Times.

The state's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection stumbled upon the discovery after local health officials asked the agency to investigate.

DEEP condemned the house and the owner could face charges, though that's unlikely, according to WTNH.

Dennis Schain of DEEP, said he was confident the urine belonged to the owner, whose name has not been released.

"From our conversation, it seemed that he was responsible for putting the containers there," Schain said. "It's most unusual. Our crews have been out over the years, and they are having a hard time recalling something like this."

Guyism suspects the worst motivations for the man's penchant for pee storage:

Hoarding gallons upon gallons in your house for an unknown cause seems like a fairly supervillainous thing to do. Maybe not a good supervillain, but a supervillain all the same.

Mama June and Sugar Bear Exchange Vows

2013-05-06T13:13:00Z

They had vows, a cake, a camouflage gown and all their family and friends present, butHere Comes Honey Boo Boo stars Mama June (June Shannon, 33) and Sugar Bear, 41, won't say whether they've actually gotten married – or just recommitted to each other.

On Sunday, friends and family, including Honey Boo Boo (Alana Thompson, 7) and big sisters Pumpkin, Chickadee and Chubbs, joined the duo in their Georgia backyard for a ceremony to celebrate their love, followed by a rowdy family barbecue on what happens to be Cinco de Mayo.

"The day was very special mostly because my girls were able to take part in it," says June. "I felt like it was important for them to see this moment and celebrate my love for Sugar Bear."

The fun-loving family, whose series returns to TLC July 17, didn't go over the top with the celebration.

Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson

"My sister baked the cake, and we spent most of the money on barbecue," says June. "We stayed true to our roots and made the focus on the family and my commitment to Sugar Bear. You can definitely plan an event on a budget!"

And whether or not they're actually married, June says she's found the secret to keeping her relationship strong.

"Never settle for a man who doesn't treat you right," she says. "If a guy doesn't love everything about you, move on! There are plenty of other fish in the sea."

"I give this advice to my daughters," she adds, "because I always want them to be themselves and surround themselves with people who love them for them."

Metal community mourns Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman, 49, who died three years after contracting flesh-eating disease from spider bite

2013-05-03T15:51:00Z

American thrash metal guitarist Jeff Hanneman, a member of the seminal heavy metal band Slayer, has died aged 49 from liver failure in Southern California.

Hanneman, who wrote songs “Raining Blood” and “Angel of Death”, had spent most of 2011 battling a flesh-eating disease contracted after he was bitten by a spider.

His death yesterday morning was confirmed in a statement on the band’s Facebook page: “Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11am this morning near his Southern California home.”

“Hanneman was in an area hospital when he suffered liver failure.”

Click here or on "View Images" for Jeff Hanneman a life in pictures

He is survived by his wife Kathy, his sister Kathy and his brothers Michael and Larry.

Hanneman founded Slayer with fellow guitarist Kerry King in the early 1980s. The group was among the “big four” thrash metal groups of the era alongside Megadeth, Metallica and Anthrax.

Hanneman’s life changed considerably after he was bitten by a spider three years ago. An open letter published on the band’s website in 2011 described the devastating physical impact the bite had on him.

It said: “As you know, Jeff was bitten by a spider more than a year ago, but what you may not have known was that for a couple of days after he went to the ER, things were touch-and-go. There was talk that he might have to have his arm amputated, and we didn't know if he was going to pull through at all.”

“He was in a medically-induced coma for a few days and had several operations to remove the dead and dying tissue from his arm. So, understand, he was in really, really bad shape. It's been about a year since he got out of the hospital, and since then, he had to learn to walk again, he's had several painful skin grafts, he's been in rehab doing exercises to regain the strength in his arm; but best of all, he's been playing guitar.”

Hanneman had since been making progress with physiotherapy and had been writing songs with Slayer in anticipation of recording a new album this year.

Since news of his death broke the internet and social networking sites have been awash with tributes to Hanneman, especially from big names within the metal community.

Dave Ellefson of Megadeth said: “My condolences to Slayer and the Jeff Hanneman family today.”

A statement from Metallica simply read: "R.I.P Jeff Hanneman".

Guns N’Roses guitarist Slash tweeted: "Tragic and shocking news about Jeff Hanneman. He is going to missed by so many. What a sad day for Metal. RIP man".

Black Stone Cherry's official Twitter page said: “RIP Jeff Hanneman of Slayer, we lost a good one.”

Hammerfall paid tribute to him, saying: "How tragic, Jeff Hanneman has passed away! Slayer, believe it or not, has been quite instrumental in shaping the HF attitude, and we will miss him and his musical contributions to the world dearly. R.I.P., Jeff!"

The Recording Academy described Hanneman as "true trailblazer". A statement from president Neil Portnow called him "an intense and powerful guitarist and a force to be reckoned with on stage", adding: "The music industry has lost a true trailblazer, and our deepest sympathies go out to his family, his bandmates and fans around the world who mourn his untimely passing."

Papa Roach also paid tribute: “We’re saddened by the death of Slayer guitarist, Jeff Hanneman. Our prayers and best wishes to Slayer and Jeff’s family.”

Hatebreed said: “We are extremely saddened by the news of Jeff Hanneman’s passing. Our deepest condolences to his family, friends, fans and the entire Slayer camp and their road crew. We would not be the band we are today without him and Slayer. Rest in peace, Jeff!”

Slayer have a large number of upcoming tour dates including playing several festivals in Europe in June and August and a South American tour in September.

REESE WITHERSPOON ARREST DASH CAM VIDEO Crazier Than You Thought!

2013-05-03T13:55:00Z

Reese Witherspoon wasn't kidding when she told GMA she was "saying all kinds of crazy things" ... and TMZ has obtained the entire, unbelievably entertaining dash cam video.

The footage, obtained from law enforcement sources, shows the officer arresting Reese's husband Jim Toth for DUI in the early morning hours of April 19.

Reese -- who since admitted she was hammered at the time -- decided to butt in during the arrest ... and the officer obviously wasn't having it and cartoonishly enforced the law with a vengeance.

In fact, the cop warned Reese several times to sit down and be quiet so he could focus on Jim -- Witherspoon didn't exactly comply.

Instead, Reese got in the officer's face ... and annoyed him to the point that he arrested her for disorderly conduct. Here are some of Reese's finest quotes during the incident:

Reese: "Do you know my name sir?"
Officer: "Don't need to know."
Reese "You don't NEED to know my name?"
Officer: "Not quite yet."
Reese: "YOU'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT WHO I AM!"

Reese: "I have done nothing against the law."
Officer: "Yes you did, you didn't obey my orders."
Reese: "I HAVE TO OBEY YOUR ORDERS??"

Reese: "I'm now being arrested and handcuffed??"

Reese: "I'm an American citizen ... I'm allowed to stand on American ground."

Reese: "You better not arrest me."

Reese: "I'm being anti-American?"
Officer: "Yes, please sit down."
Reese: "Wow!"

Reese: "You're harassing me as an American citizen"

And the best line -- "I'm obstructing your justice?"

After Reese's tirade, Jim actually told the cop, "I'm sorry, I had nothing to do with that!"

During the arrest, Reese also told the cop she was pregnant and needed to pee. She later confessed on "GMA" that she panicked and said "crazy things" because her husband was being arrested.

Funny moment during the bust ... the officer instructs Toth to blow hard during a breathalyzer test -- coaching him along the way, "Blow! blow! blow! blow! blow! blow! blow!"

But Toth blew TOO HARD ... and the cop had to do the whole thing all over again.

We broke the story ... Reese pled no contest to Physical Obstruction of Another and Jim pled guilty to DUI.

Formerly obese dachshund Obie gets surgery to remove excess skin

2013-05-03T13:25:00Z

Obie, a dachshund who made headlines after he reached 77 pounds, has recently underwent reconstructive surgery after his 40-pound weight loss.

Pet weight loss contest: Before and after

Veterinarians at Oregon Expert Vets in Tualatin, Oreg. removed 2.5 pounds of loose skin from the formerly obese dog. He weighed 37 pounds and 4 ounces at the time of his surgery on Tuesday, according to his official Facebook page, Biggest Loser Doxie Edition.

"I don't know that this surgery has ever been performed on a dog before after a significant weight loss but it will be similar to doing a mass removal procedure," owner Nora Vanatta wrote.

Doctors show off Obie's excess skin. The dog lost 44 pounds.

He now weighs about 35 pounds and Vanatta wants him to lose about 5 more, the Associated Press reported.

Yesterday, Vanatta wrote that Obie was doing very well post-procedure, and was able to sleep. He was able to eat breakfast and use the bathroom, and is at home recovering. Obie isn't up to regular walks and play yet, but he is expected to be at his usual energy levels soon.

Ideally, Vanatta said that Obie should weigh between 28 to 30 pounds so he has a little longer to go on his weight loss journey.

Beard Study Shows Heavy Stubble Makes Men Especially Attractive To Women

2013-05-02T15:54:00Z

Talk about cutting-edge science. A new study conducted by researchers in Australia shows that women prefer men with heavy stubble over clean-shaven guys and guys sporting light stubble or full beards.

And what sort of men's facial hair do straight guys think is preferable among their peers? In the study, published in the May issue of the journal Evolution & Human Behavior, full beards and heavy stubble edged out light stubble and the clean-shaven look.

For their research, University of New South Wales professors Barnaby J. Dixson and Rob C. Brooks presented photos of 10 smiling men to 177 heterosexual men and 351 women, according to MedicalXpress. Each man in the photos was shown in four ways -- clean-shaven, with five days of beard growth (light stubble), 10 days of growth (heavy stubble), and with a full beard.

The researchers then asked the women and men to rate the men in the photos according to their attractiveness, finding heavy stubble to be the clear winner among women.

What explains the hankering for heavy stubble?

"Our findings confirm that beardedness affects judgments of male socio-sexual attributes and suggest that an intermediate level of beardedness is most attractive while full-bearded men may be perceived as better fathers who could protect and invest in offspring," the researchers concluded in the abstract of their study.

Dixson and Brooks hypothesize that facial hair makes men seem more mature and masculine but also more dominant and aggressive, the website of the Australia edition of Men's Health reported. "Men, judging other men, might be sensitive to the overall level of masculine threat and aggression signaled through full beards," the researchers wrote, according to the website. "Women, by contrast, may balance...a competitive masculine partner against the costs of mating with a too-masculine partner."

As to why light stubble loses out to heavy stubble, the researchers believe that there's "a threshold of density and distribution may be necessary for beards to function as an attractive signal," Science magazine reported. In other words, it's just too patchy.

Male Teachers Get Longer Sentences For Sexually Abusing Students Than Female Teachers

2013-05-02T14:11:00Z

A Star-Ledger investigation has found that male teachers receive harsher punishments than female teachers when they are convicted of crimes involving sexual relationships with students. Experts credit the disparity to societal perceptions that young girls must be protected and are much more vulnerable than their underage male counterparts.

The sample, which followed cases in New Jersey, found that 54 percent of male defendants went to prison, while only 44 percent of women did time after they were found to have conducted inappropriate sexual activities. The longest jail term for a male teacher was 10 years, compared with 7 for a female. Interestingly, that 7 year sentence was the result of a female coach having relations with a female player.

"There’s a general societal disposition that does continue to treat women as the gentler sex, so typically the threshold for sending women to prison is higher," Martin Horn, director of the New York State Sentencing Commission and a professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, told the Star-Ledger.

Cases that highlight the disparity in sentencing include a Bergen County female teacher who was only sentenced to one year probation for a relationship with a 14-year-old boy, while a male teacher received a nine-year sentence after a relationship with a 16-year-old girl.

Prosecutors noted that each case has its own particular corroborating evidence and circumstances that influence plea deals, or, in the case of a trial, verdicts and sentences.

Martha Stewart's Match.com Dating Profile Revealed!

2013-05-02T13:37:00Z

Martha Stewart's Match.com profile.

Go ahead, leave Martha Stewart a "wink" on Match.com! As recently teased on TODAY, the once-divorced homemaking mogul, 71, is looking for love -- and has dipped her famous toes in the online dating pool, with her recently created Match.com profile now revealed.

Wearing an unbuttoned white shirt, Stewart -- whose screen name is "thegoodlonglife" -- gives a serene, close-mouthed smile for her profile shot. Looking for men aged 55-70 in the NYC area, the doyenne gets the obvious out in the open first. "You may recognize me from my pictures. Yes, it's really me," she writes.

Plugging her new book, Living the Good Long Life, the author and TV star explains of her leap into online dating: "I was reminded how central good relationships are to happiness and longevity. Also, I’ve always been a big believer that technology, if used well, can enhance one’s life. So here I am, looking to enhance my dating life."

(The multimillionaire divorced Andrew Stewart, father to her daughter Alexis, now 47, back in 1987 after 26 years together. Her ex boyfriends include actor Sir Anthony Hopkins and computer exec Charles Simonyl.)

Calling herself "Curious about everything. Love learning. An adventurous spirit," Stewart muses, "I'm told that I'm a specific person, and that the efficiency of online dating might be a good way for me to find that needle in the haystack." While she says she loves "to be surprised," the entrepreneur describes her ideal man:

"Someone who's intelligent, established, and curious; and who relishes adventure and new experiences as much as I do. Someone who can teach me new things. A lover of animals, grandchildren, and the outdoors. Young at heart."

Recently telling Matt Lauer she still hasn't "found the next Mr. Right," Stewart said she initially "started to laugh" while signing up for Match.com. "It was, like, impossible."

Chris Kelly of 1990s rap duo Kris Kross dies

2013-05-02T13:23:00Z

Chris Kelly, half of the 1990s kid rap duo behind one of the decade's most memorable songs, "Jump," has died at anAtlanta hospital of an apparent drug overdose, authorities said. He was 34.

Kelly, known as "Mac Daddy," and Chris Smith, known as "Daddy Mac," made up the rap group Kris Kross, who were known for wearing their clothes backwards as they rhymed.

"It appears it may have been a possible drug overdose," said Cpl.Kay Lester, a spokeswoman for the Fulton County police. Lester said that was based on statements received at the scene as well as evidence turned up at Kelly's home in south Atlanta.

According to Lester, police were called to Kelly's home at around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. He was then transported to the south campus of the Atlanta Medical Center.

Investigator Betty Honey of the Fulton County Medical Examiner's office said Kelly was pronounced dead at the hospital at around 5 p.m. Wednesday.

No official cause of death has been determined, pending an autopsy.

Kris Kross was introduced to the music world in 1992 by music producer and rapper Jermaine Dupriafter he discovered the pair at Greenbriar Mall in southwest Atlanta.

"To the world Chris was Mac Daddy but to me, he was a son I never had..." Dupri said in a statement Thursday.

"When I think about it, I spent more time with Chris and Chris than damn near anybody in my whole life, so you can imagine how bad this hurts," Dupri added. "I will always love you Chris, and I will never let the world forget you, may God bless your soul."

The duo wore their clothes backwards as a gimmick, but they won over fans with their raps.

Their first, and by far most successful song, was "Jump." The hit, off their multiplatinum 1992 debut album "Totally Krossed Out," featured the two trading verses and rapping the refrain, the song's title. The duo had surprising maturity in their rap delivery, though the song was written by Dupri. It would become a No. 1 smash in the United States and globally, and one of the most popular of that year.

Their success led to instant fame: They toured with Michael Jackson, appeared on TV shows, and even had their own video game.

The group was never able to match the tremendous success of their first song, though they had other hits like "Warm It Up," and "Tonite's tha Night."

In 2009, after photos surfaced that showed him with bald spots on his head, there were rumors that he had cancer. But in an interview posted on YouTube by Straight from the A TV, he said he suffered from alopecia, a condition in which people lose their hair.

"My health is good, I just got alopecia, I don't have cancer, not other sort of diseases," he said.

Earlier this year, the group performed together to celebrate the anniversary of Durpri's label, So So Def.

Farrah Abraham Brings Dad, Daughter Sophia, 3, to Sex Tape Negotiation

2013-05-01T17:43:00Z

Farrah Abraham brought her 3-year-old daughter Sophia (pictured above) and her dad, Michael, to a meeting with porn company honcho Steve Hirsch to discuss her sex tape.Credit: PacificCoastNews.com

Maybe she couldn't get a babysitter? As Us Weekly reported earlier, Teen Mom's Farrah Abraham is currently considering offers from porn companies that want to buy her sex tape with adult film star James Deen. So on Sunday, April 21, she sat down with Steve Hirsch, founder of porn studio Vivid Entertainment. But she didn't take the meeting alone; also along for the ride were her dad, Michael, and her 3-year-old daughter, Sophia.

TMZ caught the Teen Mom star and her family as they were leaving Vivid's headquarters in L.A. Asked whether he was part of the negotiation process, dad Michael replied that he was just there to "support" his daughter. "She's just trying to figure out what's going on," he said.

"My dad's just very supportive," Abraham, 22, piped in. "And like any business person, I need to handle this situation the best way for my future...My dad's just here helping me out, and I wanted to bring Soph out here as well. I'm just getting a couple different offers for two other companies, and I think it's just smart that I'm hearing what each company has to say and really hearing out everything so I can process it."

"I've only gotten great feedback from the other companies that they were personally impressed," she added. "In terms of every field of work that I've worked in, I'm always wanting to hear good feedback, whether it's shows or it's my book or other things. And I've only gotten great feedback about this. And that's why maybe I'm looking into the option of releasing it. If I heard otherwise, I wouldn't even be releasing it."

Abraham first confirmed the existence of said tape two weeks ago, after Deen talked about it to TMZ. He characterized the shoot as a professionally shot porno rather than a casual "sex tape" -- but his costar in the XXX-rated flick disagreed.

"After seeing James speaking about my personal video as a porn and not even contacting me before running his mouth, I have to say I am very disappointed," Abraham told Us Weekly on Wednesday, April 10. "I personally will never have anything to do with James. I'm a great woman, mother, and entrepreneur. As for the company who has a copy of my personal video, my lawyer is taking care of that matter."

Indeed, Abraham's attorneys sent a cease and desist letter to Hirsch just a few days later. But in the new issue of Us Weekly, a Deen source says that the single mother planned to leak the tape all along. "It was a complete setup," the insider tells Us. "Farrah lied."

In any case, Abraham now hopes to use the tape to her advantage. "I will not be settling for anything less then a couple million," she told Us, adding that the video's value to her was more than just financial. "I wanted my own personal video made and photos taken for myself. When I am older I will have my best year to look back on. I'm happy to see my 21st year be done."

FDA: Morning-after pill to move over the counter

2013-05-01T15:58:00Z

The government is moving the morning-after pill over the counter but only those 15 and older can buy it — an attempt to find middle ground just days before a court-imposed deadline to lift all age restrictions on the emergency contraceptive.

Today, Plan B One-Step is sold behind pharmacy counters, and buyers must prove they're 17 or older to buy it without a prescription. Tuesday's decision by the Food and Drug Administration lowers the age limit and will allow the pill to sit on drugstore shelves next to spermicides or other women's health products and condoms — but anyone who wants to buy it must prove their age at the cash register.

Some contraceptive advocates called the move promising.

"This decision is a step in the right direction for increased access to a product that is a safe and effective method of preventing unintended pregnancies," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. "It's also a decision that moves us closer to these critical availability decisions being based on science, not politics."

But earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Edward Korman of New York blasted the Obama administration for imposing the age-17 limit, saying it had let election-year politics trump science and was making it hard for women of any age to obtain the emergency contraception in time. He ordered an end to the age restrictions by Monday.

The women's group that sued over the age limits said Tuesday's action is not enough, and it will continue the court fight.

Lowering the age limit "may reduce delays for some young women but it does nothing to address the significant barriers that far too many women of all ages will still find if they arrive at the drugstore without identification," said Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights.

The FDA said the Plan B One-Step will be packaged with a product code that prompts the cashier to verify a customer's age. Anyone who can't provide such proof as a driver's license, birth certificate or passport wouldn't be allowed to complete the purchase.

"These are daunting and sometimes insurmountable hoops women are forced to jump through in time-sensitive circumstances, and we will continue our battle in court to remove these arbitrary restrictions on emergency contraception for all women," Northup said.

Half the nation's pregnancies every year are unintended, and doctors' groups say more access to morning-after pills could cut those numbers. The pills contain higher doses of regular contraceptives, and if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, can cut the chances of pregnancy by up to 89 percent.

The FDA had been poised to lift all age limits and let Plan B sell over-the-counter in late 2011, when Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, in an unprecedented move, overruled her own scientists. Sebelius said some girls as young as 11 are physically capable of bearing children, but shouldn't be able to buy the pregnancy-preventing pill on their own.

President Barack Obama supported Sebelius' move and a spokesman said earlier this month that the president's position hadn't changed.

The FDA said Tuesday's decision was independent of the court case. Instead, after the Obama administration's 2011 action, Plan B maker Teva Women's Health had filed a new application with the age-15 compromise.

Swedish High School Debuts Gender Neutral Locker Room

2013-05-01T14:53:00Z

Students at a Swedish high school have requested and received a gender neutral changing room as part of the school’s locker room for any student that wants to use it. Soedra Latins upper secondary school already has male and female locker rooms, but students proposed last year that they have an additional space for studentsnot defined by gender. Trans folks (and gay folks) all around the world are discriminated against by people who assume they use opposite-gender bathrooms just to leer; it’s particularly hard on trans kids who are, in many cases, already susceptible to bullying. A gender neutral space gives those bigots no excuse. This Stockholm suburb is the same place that discourages preschoolers from calling each other “him”/”her”/”boy”/”girl” and instead identify each other as “friends.” Between your progressive ideas about gender and your IKEA meatballs, you’re not doing anything to make me not love you, Sweden.

Boston Red Sox invite Jason Collins to throw out first pitch

2013-05-01T13:11:00Z

Jason Collins may have spent just 32 games of his 14-year NBA career in a Boston uniform, but the city is stepping up to support the former Celtics center who made a historic announcement Monday.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Collins revealed that he is gay, thus becoming the first active male athlete in a major American sport to come out of the closet.

Collins has been receiving an overwhelming amount of support from the athletic community, including this tweet from the Boston Red Sox:

We salute you, @jasoncollins34 for your courage and leadership. Any time you want to throw out a first pitch at Fenway Park, let us know.

— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) April 29, 2013

Collins signed with the Celtics as a free agent last summer and averaged 10.3 minutes, 1.2 points and 1.6 rebounds a game before being traded to the Washington Wizards with Leandro Barbosa forJordan Crawford in February.

So while he may not yet know where — or if — he will be playing basketball again, Collins knows he's welcome on the mound at Fenway if he chooses to take the Red Sox up on their offer.

Where do cheaters take their dates? Morton's Steakhouse named top dining destination for adulterers

2013-04-30T15:53:00Z

Adulterers looking for a discreet location to cheat on their partner have named Morton’s the Steakhouse as their restaurant of choice.

A survey by dating website for married people AshleyMadison.com has shown that the Chicago based steakhouse is a favourite for cheaters as they are dimly lit and often found in business districts close to hotels.

The website asked 42,890 of their members who stayed in major American cities to choose their top 10 venues.

Favourite: Morton's the Steakhouse topped the list as the adulterer's choice of restaurant

Classic: members of infidelity website Ashley Madison prefer dimly lit steakhouses that are at least 20 miles from their home

The Huffington Post reported that members chose chain restaurants such as Red Lobster and the Cheesecake Factory.

But the members noted that it had to be located at least 20 miles from their homes.

Ashley Madison founder and CEO Noel Biderman said: ‘Chain restaurants are larger and less conspicuous.

Risky: STOCK IMAGE Ashley Madison asked 42,890 of their members to find out the top 10 restaurants

ADULTERER'S TOP TEN VENUES

10. Fleming's

9. Red Lobster

8. Outback Steakhouse

7. Chili’s

6. Del Fuisco’s

5. Cheesecake Factory

4. P.F Chang's

3. Houston’s

2. Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse

1. Morton’s the Steakhouse

'Steak houses are always a popular affair destination since they’re not only dimly lit but also commonly found in business districts, close to hotels where these type of dates typically end.’

Morton’s the Steakhouse was founded in 1978 by Hard Rock Café co-founder, Arnold Morton and businessman Klaus Fritsch.

They now have locations in United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai and Singapore.

Ashley Madison is the world’s leading dating service for married people with more than 18,715,000 anonymous members.

Joseph L. Robertson's Marijuana Will Be Returned By Cops Who Seized It, Judge Orders

2013-04-30T15:21:00Z

Police in Tacoma could soon be in real trouble over pot.

The department could be found in contempt if they continue to refuse to return a small amount of marijuana seized from a man after a traffic stop. Municipal Court Judge Jack Emery repeated an order to police Thursday to return the drug to Joseph L. Robertson within seven days or they could be found in contempt.

"Appeal or comply," Emery told assistant city attorney John Walker. "Or next week, show up, and I would advise you to bring counsel."

The judge first ordered police to return the drug on Feb. 28, but they have refused, The News Tribune reported Friday (http://bit.ly/10hwiD9).

It was seized in May of last year when an officer pulled over the Tacoma man for speeding. He was cited for driving without a license and misdemeanor marijuana possession. Prosecutors dismissed the drug charge in December, after state voters decided to legalize small amounts of the drug.

Robertson then asked for his pot back, and provided proof of medical marijuana authorization. The city refused, which led to Emery's Feb. 28 order. If the matter is not settled by the May 2 hearing, it could go to higher courts.

The pot is now in the possession of the Pierce County sheriff's department, which operates the property room for seized evidence. Deputies won't give it to Robertson.

"It's Tacoma's case," said sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer. "If they want it, they can come and get it."

Although the judge said he thinks "there's contemptuous behavior here," Emery added that the case was "a quagmire," due to the conflicting provisions of state and federal law.

Naked UF Student Asks Cops to Cut His Penis Off (Oh, He Was on LSD)

2013-04-30T14:54:00Z

During a confrontation with police, 19-year-old University of Florida student Michael Silecchia begged the officers not to cut his penis off. Then he seemingly had an abrupt change of mind and started asking police to in fact go ahead and cut his manhood off.

We should probably mention that he was stark naked at the time and tripping on LSD.

According to The Florida Independent Alligator, Gainesville Police were called in the early hours of Saturday morning to a student apartment complex near campus. Silecchia was disturbing his neighbors by running through the halls.

When officers arrive the student decided to strip naked and also informed police that he was both "God" and "straight."

He then asked police not to cut his penis off, before asking them to do so. When you're already tripping your balls off, that sort of logic kind of makes sense.

Police tried to subdue Silecchia but he turned and struck a female officer in the head.

Eventually the student was Tasered six times, hand-cuffed, and taken to a university hospital. At the hospital he also allegedly spit in an employees face. After a three-day stay, he was booked into jail on charges of battery on an officer and resisting arrest.

Jason Collins announces that he is gay, altering the landscape of sports

2013-04-30T13:10:00Z

Jason Collins is a free agent. He’s a skilled center that can provide stout defense off of the bench, and he’s a veteran presence. He’s also just become the first openly gay athlete in professional North American team sports.

Throughout his 12-year NBA career, the journeyman center has been known for leaving an indelible imprint on every game he plays without putting up major numbers. He’d defend the league’s best big men expertly, changing the course of both regular season and major playoff games with his work on that end, while barely adding points or rebounds to the box score. If you weren’t watching, you wouldn’t know he was there; much less what sort of impact he made.

Now, after a game-changing interview with Sports Illustrated, Jason Collins has made a sports-altering impact. The free agent center, who played with both Boston and Washington in 2012-13, has announced he is gay. And the calmness and confidence in his revelation befits a man who was always just fine with playing a style of game that left him unnoticed by all but those who were paying close attention.

From Collins’ column in SI:

No one wants to live in fear. I've always been scared of saying the wrong thing. I don't sleep well. I never have. But each time I tell another person, I feel stronger and sleep a little more soundly. It takes an enormous amount of energy to guard such a big secret. I've endured years of misery and gone to enormous lengths to live a lie. I was certain that my world would fall apart if anyone knew. And yet when I acknowledged my sexuality I felt whole for the first time. I still had the same sense of humor, I still had the same mannerisms and my friends still had my back.

[…]

Loyalty to my team is the real reason I didn't come out sooner. When I signed a free-agent contract with Boston last July, I decided to commit myself to the Celtics and not let my personal life become a distraction. When I was traded to the Wizards, the political significance of coming out sunk in. I was ready to open up to the press, but I had to wait until the season was over.

A college classmate tried to persuade me to come out then and there. But I couldn't yet. My one small gesture of solidarity was to wear jersey number 98 with the Celtics and then the Wizards. The number has great significance to the gay community. One of the most notorious antigay hate crimes occurred in 1998. Matthew Shepard, a University of Wyoming student, was kidnapped, tortured and lashed to a prairie fence. He died five days after he was finally found. That same year the Trevor Project was founded. This amazing organization provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention to kids struggling with their sexual identity. Trust me, I know that struggle. I've struggled with some insane logic. When I put on my jersey I was making a statement to myself, my family and my friends.

[…]

I'm glad I'm coming out in 2013 rather than 2003. The climate has shifted; public opinion has shifted. And yet we still have so much farther to go. Everyone is terrified of the unknown, but most of us don't want to return to a time when minorities were openly discriminated against. I'm impressed with the straight pro athletes who have spoken up so far -- Chris Kluwe, Brendon Ayanbadejo. The more people who speak out, the better, gay or straight. It starts with President Obama's mentioning the 1969 Stonewall riots, which launched the gay rights movement, during his second inaugural address. And it extends to the grade-school teacher who encourages her students to accept the things that make us different.

Collins has always been a unique player. He was drafted into this league with a twin brother Jarron, a major rarity, while helping initialize a new era of NBA center -- one that is often asked to treat an opponent like a guard and alter the shot, instead of hoarding blocks and rebounds and other showy stats.

Now, he’s the most unique player in sports. An openly gay and active player working in North American team sports. Collins isn’t the only gay man currently drawing a paycheck from the big four major sports leagues, but as of right now he’s the only active gay player open about his sexuality that could head into next season’s training camp.

Because of Collins’ bravery and influence, it’s very likely that he won’t be the only open player doing as much by the time the 2013-14 NBA training camp starts. Kudos to Jason Collins, a history-changing trail blazer, for that.

'Iron Man 3' rules world, 'Pain & Gain' takes US

2013-04-29T17:03:00Z

"Iron Man 3" was the heavy-lifter at theaters with a colossal overseas debut that overshadowed a gang of mercenary bodybuilders in a sleepy pre-summer weekend at the domestic box office.

The Marvel Studios superhero sequel starring Robert Downey Jr. got a head-start on its domestic launch next Friday with a $195.3 million opening in 42 overseas markets, distributor Disney reported Sunday.

That topped the $185.1 million start for Marvel's "The Avengers," which opened in 39 markets over the same weekend last year a week ahead of its record-breaking domestic debut of $207.4 million.

"You don't know that you could ever repeat the kind of experience we had a year ago, and here the Marvel team brought together another incredible movie," said Dave Hollis, head of distribution for Disney. "We've had this as a pattern for Marvel films to kind of let momentum internationally help signal to the domestic audience that the film is coming, something big is coming."

Director Michael Bay's "Pain & Gain," a true-crime tale of bodybuilders on the make, muscled into first-place domestically with a $20 million debut.

The Paramount release starring Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson and Anthony Mackie knocked off Tom Cruise's sci-fi adventure "Oblivion" after a week in the No. 1 spot. Universal's "Oblivion" slipped to second-place with $17.4 million, raising its domestic total to $64.7 million.

Lionsgate's all-star nuptial comedy "The Big Wedding" tanked at No. 4 with just $7.5 million. The ensemble cast includes Robert De Niro, Diane Keaton, Robin Williams, Susan Sarandon and Katherine Heigl, but the movie was almost universally trashed by critics and held little interest for audiences.

Paramount, which distributed the earlier "Iron Man" movies and still has a financial stake in the comic-book flicks after Disney bought Marvel, had a small-scale success with "Pain & Gain."

A passion project for Bay, who has made Paramount a fortune with his "Transformers" franchise, "Pain & Gain" was shot for a modest $26 million, spare change compared to the director's usual budgets.

The movie has the director taking a breather from his usual sci-fi action spectacles for a story based on a kidnapping-extortion caper carried out by bodybuilders in the 1990s. Yet "Pain & Gain" still has Bay's usual visual flair, and the reviews generally were better than what he's used to.

"With that kind of budget, to open to $20 million the first weekend is a very strong opening," said Don Harris, Paramount's head of distribution. "You see what a director really in his prime, at the top of his game, can do with a small budget, what he can make a movie look like."

"Oblivion" was down a fairly steep 53 percent from the movie's $37.1 million domestic debut the previous weekend.

Overseas, "Oblivion" took in $12.8 million to lift its international haul to $134.1 million and worldwide total to just under $200 million.

Hollywood's domestic downturn continued, with revenues totaling $90 million, off 18.5 percent from the same weekend last year, when "Think Like a Man" led with $17.6 million, according to box-office tracker Hollywood.com.

Receipts have trailed 2012's for most of the year, with 2013 domestic ticket sales running at $2.9 billion, nearly 12 percent behind last year's.

That pattern could continue as Hollywood opens its summer season domestically this coming weekend. Despite a huge haul expected for "Iron Man 3," the film will be competing against that gigantic start over the same weekend last year for "The Avengers," the only movie to open with more than $200 million domestically.

"Iron Man 2" debuted with $128.1 million over the first weekend in May 2010. Hollywood.com analyst Paul Dergarabedian has been pegging the "Iron Man 3" potential at $125 million-plus, though the mammoth international start could fire up domestic prospects even higher.

"This ups the ante in a big way for "Iron Man 3," Dergarabedian said. "It just raises the profile of the film. It raises expectations. But to expect something in the realm of $207.4 million? Well, the fact that we're even talking about it is really amazing."

Said Disney's Hollis: "I wouldn't even want to get ahead of ourselves on something like that. But to say we're encouraged by the results this weekend would be a gross understatement."

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. "Pain & Gain," $20 million.

2. "Oblivion," $17.4 million ($12.8 million international).

3. "42," $10.7 million.

4. "The Big Wedding," $7.5 million.

5. "The Croods," $6.6 million ($13.1 million international).

6. "G.I. Joe: Retaliation," $3.6 million ($10.2 million international).

7. "Scary Movie 5," $3.5 million ($6.7 million international).

8. "Olympus Has Fallen," $2.8 million ($4.2 million international).

9. "The Place Beyond the Pines," $2.7 million ($1.1 million international).

10. "Jurassic Park" in 3-D, $2.3 million ($410,000 international).

___

Estimated weekend ticket sales at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada) for films distributed overseas by Hollywood studios, according to Rentrak:

1. "Iron Man 3," $195.3 million.

2. "The Croods," $13.1 million.

3. "Oblivion," $12.8 million.

4. "G.I. Joe: Retaliation," $10.2 million.

5. "Scary Movie 5," $6.7 million.

6. "Olympus Has Fallen," $4.2 million,

7. "Les Profs," $3.8 million.

8 (tie). "Evil Dead," $1.1 million.

8 (tie). "The Place Beyond the Pines," $1.1 million.

10. "Jurassic Park" in 3-D, $410,000.

Promiscuous women cause earthquakes, Iran cleric says

2013-04-29T15:07:00Z

Women who dress provocatively and tempt people into promiscuity are to blame for earthquakes, a leading Iranian hard-line cleric has apparently said.

The prayer leader, Hojatoleslam Kazim Sadeghi, says women and girls who "don't dress appropriately" spread "promiscuity in society."

"When promiscuity spreads, earthquakes increase," he says in a video posted Monday on YouTube, apparently of him leading Friday prayers in Tehran, Iran, last week.

"There is no way other than taking refuge in religion and adapting ourselves to Islamic behavior," he adds in the video.

The video was posted by YouTube user "electionlies," who appears to be anti-regime. The account features wallpaper of a blindfolded woman apparently weeping blood and the slogan, "The green movement is alive."

Green was the color of anti-regime protesters in last year's demonstrations in several cities across Iran. The protesters were marching against the country's election results, which gave President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a second term in office.

Sadeghi is a senior cleric who was appointed last year by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei as a substitute Friday prayer leader in Tehran, an extremely influential position.

Khamenei himself is Tehran's official Friday prayer leader.

Iran suffers regular earthquakes, including a devastating one that destroyed the ancient city of Bam in 2003, killing tens of thousands.

Sadeghi is not the only religious leader to have linkedearthquakes with human behavior this year.

American televangelist Pat Robertson suggested that January's devastating earthquake in Haiti was because of a pact Haitians made with the devil in order to throw off French rule in the 18th century.

A spokesman for Robertson said he was referring to a widely discussed Haitian legend, but University of Miami researcher Kate Ramsey said the legend was "utterly a fabrication, and it's an extremely offensive one."

McDonald's hamburger looks the same after 14 years

2013-04-29T14:09:00Z

David Whipple, from Utah, had originally planned to keep the burger for two months in order to show friends how its preservatives would maintain its appearance.

But, after accidentally leaving the product in his pocket for two years, Mr Whipple decided to keep the burger for even longer to see how long it could continue looking normal.

"It wasn't on purpose," Mr Whipple told US television show The Doctors.

"I was showing some people how enzymes work and I thought a hamburger would be a good idea. And I used it for a month and then forgot about it.

"It ended up in a paper sack in the original sack with the receipt in my coat tossed in the back of my truck and it sat there for, I don't know, two or three months."

"My wife didn't discover it until at least a year or two after that. And we pulled it out and said 'oh my gosh, I can't believe it looks the same way."

Doctors on the CBS show noted that aside from the pickle disintegrating, the burger showed no signs of mould, fungus or even a strange odour.

Mr Whipple admitted that at one point he had considered selling the burger via online auction site eBay.

But, despite bids reaching close to $2,000 (£1,300), he and his family decided to keep the product for educational use.

He now admits he uses the burger to convince his grandchildren not to eat junk food from restaurants such as McDonalds.

"It's great for the grandkids to see. To see what happens with fast food," he said.

Ashton Kutcher got into fight at music fest

2013-04-29T13:04:00Z

Ashton Kutcher reportedly got into a violent confrontation with a security guard at Stagecoach, a country music festival, in Indio. Eyewitness says that the actor was not aggressive, it was the security personnel who was “out of line”.

Tmz.com reports that eyewitnesses said that Kutcher was in the VIP area near the stage to check out Nick 13 and Dwight Yoakam, when a woman approached him to say, 'Hi' and shake his hand. When Kutcher went to greet the woman, security intervened and shoved the two of them and chaos ensued.

Kutcher and the security guard went at it, each violently shoving the other. The actor's friends had to restrain him.

The guard demanded that Kutcher be ejected, but the celebrity left on his own.

Eyewitnesses said that Kutcher was not the aggressor. They said the security guard was overzealous and out of line.

When contacted Kutcher's representative for comment, so far, no comment.

'Beloved' music teacher busted for child porn also recorded moments he stuck his fingers in students' mouths as he locked them in classroom

2013-04-26T16:41:00Z

A popular music teacher with a 27-year career, is under investigation for keeping child pornography on his computer, some of which includes disturbing pictures of his own students in their classrooms.

Lawrence Joynes, 54, a teacher for 10 years at New Hampshire Estates Elementary School in Montgomery County, Maryland, was arrested in February after police traced emails between him and a suspected child porn producer.

A collection of disturbing photographs, recovered by police show Joynes sticking his finger into the mouths of 'approximately seven' students and putting a peppermint stick into a young girl's mouth.

Bad man: Lawrence Joynes, 57, a music teacher in Maryland, is in jail after police discoevred child pornography on his computer along with inappropriate photographs and videos of his own students

Last June he sent one such video to producer, Gerald Roberts in South Carolina, with an accompanying message that read: 'Try some pics like these.'

Since his arrest, Mr Joynes has also confessed that, having fantasised about one 7-year-old in particular, he gave her a 'horsey' ride on his lap and got a tattoo of her name on his right shoulder.

'When you put it all together it’s extremely disturbing,' Lisa Dever, a Baltimore County prosecutor told the Washington Post. 'He had access to kids. Every year, a new batch of kids.'

Parents and staff are angry with school authorities for not having taken more seriously the various complaints of inappropriate behaviour that were lodged prior to his arrest, based on student testimony.

One child said Joynes had asked to be called 'daddy' and another said Joynes made comments about drug addiction.

Two former teachers at New Hampshire - a pre-kindergarten to second grade school - admitted they had reported him for locking his classroom door when inside with the children.

Mary Silverman said she reported Joynes for this as well as for hugging a young girl between his legs as he sat on a stool.

Ms Silverman's colleague, Ellen Holder, told the principal that a child had told her Joynes had been tickling her in one class.

Though there was nothing 'criminal' about either accusation, parents feel that the complaints should have raised alarm bells.

Too little too late? Parents and teachers at New Hampshire Estates Elementary School, Montgomery County, are upset that student's previous complaints of disturbing behaviour did not sound alarm bells for school authorities

'It's hard to imagine how he remained in place teaching such young children for so long, given the string of complaints,' said Luis Clemens, the parent of a former student

In response, community superintendent for the county, Bronda Mills, assured worried parents and staff that the school system would be reviewing how the case was handled.

At a meeting of 75 parents including principal of the school for the past three years, Marinda Thomas Evans, Ms Mills insisted: 'I assure you that when I have the evidence and the pattern, I move it to the next level.'

Joynes has taught at 11 Montgomery public schools in total, including Eastern Middle, Francis Scott Key Middle and Cannon Road Elementary.

A spokesman for the school system, Dana Tofig, backed up Ms Mills' reaction, explaining that a school investigation would be led after the criminal investigation was complete.

'We have - and will continue - to take swift action if we become aware of inappropriate conduct by a member of our staff,' she said. 'We expect our staff to act in the best interest of students at all times, and the vast majority do.'

Regarding previous complaints against Joynes she added: 'Never have I received information that this teacher was taking inappropriate pictures of children... or anything that would make me believe I needed to report something to the police.'

For now, police are talking to the students and former pupils who were involved in some of Joynes' questionable activities.

Lt. Bob Carter, acting commander of the Family Crimes Division, noted: 'In retrospect, they now realize they'd been put in a horrible position by someone they trusted. This is painful for them.'

Joynes is being held in Baltimore County on $1 million bond

Burrito Bomber Attacks Hunger With Drone-Delivered Mexican Food

2013-04-26T14:21:00Z

Sometimes, drones rain down bullets or missiles from the skies, sometimes they conduct surveillance, sometimes they host computer servers—and sometimes they deliver burritos.

Meet the Burrito Bomber, a fully automated Mexican food delivery system designed by Darwin Aerospace—a research lab run by Yelp engineers—and made to attack hunger from the sky.

The Burrito Bomber is just the latest in Mexican food drone delivery technology; its creators said they got the idea from the Taco Copter, a taco-delivery drone idea that went viral on the Internet earlier this year. Both Darwin Aerospace and the team behind Taco Copter are based in San Francisco.

[PHOTOS: A Quick Guide to Jaw-Dropping Drones]

"We have claims we're the first [food delivery drone] because we never saw anything real from taco copter," says Yoni De Beule, one of Burrito Bomber's creators. "We were talking about the idea and thought it was a waste because they didn't actually build anything."

In a video posted on YouTube, one of Darwin Aerospace's engineers sets a location for the Burrito Bomber to drop its payload and another loads a burrito into a drop canister (with a parachute, of course). Within minutes, the bomber flies to the GPS-set location and drops the burrito, where its happy recipient opens the canister and takes a bite of beef and bean goodness.

The team says they put the whole project together over the course of about two and a half weeks.

"We chose burritos because Mexican food is really popular, and the name Burrito Bomber is excellent," says John Boiles, another engineer. "Plus, burritos are kind of bomb-shaped."

[READ: FAA Releases List of Domestic Drone Operators]

Unfortunately, before the Burrito Bomber can become a commercially-viable product (perhaps for newly liberated stoners in Colorado or Washington?), the FAA will have to set regulations for commercial drones, which it is expected to do sometime in 2015. Until then the unmanned aerial Mexican food delivery wars will remain on hold.

"I met one of the founders of TacoCopter last night—it was a fun conversation, but from what I can tell, they're not seriously pursuing it as a business model," Boiles says.

But what about the commercial viability of the Burrito Bomber?

"It's probably too early to tell," he says. "For now, it's largely to do PR for Yelp. But we build stuff because we love to build stuff."

Ronald Clark, New Zealand Man, Went To Prison For Cartoons Of Elves And Pixies Having Sex

2013-04-25T14:56:00Z

A man in New Zealand spent three months in prison and is facing an additional 10 years of penalties for possessing cartoon drawings of young-looking elves and pixies having sex.

Ronald Clark's drawings were deemed by a court to be "underage," making the pictures child pornography under New Zealand law -- even though they were animated images, not photographs. Clark now faces a decade-long supervision order that would prevent him from going near certain areas where children might be, Clark's lawyer, Roger Bowden, told The Huffington Post.

The law in New Zealand takes a protective stance when it comes to child pornography, saying that any image that "promotes the exploitation of children or young persons for sexual purposes" is illegal -- and punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Clark had been convicted 24 years ago of indecently assaulting a teenage boy, a crime for which he also spent time in jail, Bowden said. He went through intensive rehabilitation after his release and has not re-offended since, Bowden noted.

In the U.S., the Supreme Court ruled in 2002 that an earlier law outlawing non-photographic child pornography was unconstitutional. However, former President George W. Bush signed legislation the following year outlawing sexually offensive computer-generated images, drawings and even sculptures of minors.

Specifically, if a comic book depiction of a minor (or a statue of a cherub in your garden) could be considered sexually offensive by "community standards," and that comic or sculpture has no literary, political, scientific or artistic value, you could get five years in jail for owning it (or 10 years for selling or distributing it).

The law, known as the PROTECT Act of 2003, is more than just theoretical.

"It gets used as a blunt object to force plea deals out of individuals," Charles Brownstein, the executive director of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, told HuffPost.

Take the case of Christopher Handley, for example. Handley, a 39-year-old computer programmer from western Iowa, pleaded guilty in 2009 to mail-ordering Japanese comics that depicted young girls having sex with older men and animals. He was sentenced to six months in jail followed by five years of probation, the Iowa Independent reported. Without a plea deal, Handley could have gone to jail for 15 years and faced six-figure fines.

French bus drivers to go on strike in protest over their new uniform because the trousers are too TIGHT

2013-04-25T14:09:00Z

French bus drivers in Marseille are to strike because their new uniform trousers are too tight.

The 1,600 workers at the RTM public transport company have announced their plans for a 24-hour walkout in June over the quality, colour and fit of the trousers.

The colour of their work shirts has also changed from yellow to lavender, but union leaders are angered by the close-fitting bottoms.

The 1,600 drivers at the state-run RTM in Marseille are to walk out in June over their new uniforms

Bernard Gargiolo, leader of the CGT transport union, said: 'We reject the bottom half of this new uniform, which is the same colour as the Gendarmes [French police] wear.

'The employees don't want to wear a uniform that was chosen unilaterally by the management, without taking into account the views of our clothing committee.'

And one bus driver told the city's La Provence newspaper: 'I won't be wearing them. They make us look like we work for the Speedy! car repair company.

'The shirts are alright, but these trousers are far too tight.'

The new uniform's designer Jonathan Charles defended his creation, adding: 'People are saying they look like clowns. Well, that was already the case with the old outfits.'

France has the most strikes in Europe, though former president Nicolas Sarkozy decreed that public transport workers must give a 48-hour warning before a walkout or face sanctions.

Unions say this is to suppress the strike from gaining momentum among other workers by making them wait to join in, and makes it easier for employers to keep watch over employees.

Between 2005 and 2009, the country lost 132 days per 1,000 workers to strike action.

Around the world, only Canada and South Africa outdo the French in their willingness to walk out.

"Newspaper Reporter" Ranks as Nation's Worst Job, Says CareerCast's 2013 Jobs Rated Report

2013-04-25T13:49:00Z

Newspaper reporter, a job that traditionally has attracted many aspiring writers, been romanticized in movies and helped bring down corrupt presidents, has been named the worst job in the nation, according to the new 2013 CareerCast.com Jobs Rated Report, which has ranked the best and worst U.S. jobs for 25 years.

Ranked at job number 126 when the first Jobs Rated Report was published in 1988, newspaper reporters have fared poorly in the report for years due to the job's high stress and tight deadlines, low pay and requirement to work in all conditions to get the story. Ever-shrinking newsrooms, dwindling budgets and Internet competition have created a very difficult environment, driving the position to dead last on this year's Jobs Rated Report. But journalism is not a dying art, nor is reporting a profession without prospects. Rethinking the industry has made reporters adapt.

"People who love to write can consider working for online publications or transition to advertising or public relations," says Tony Lee, publisher, CareerCast.com. "Many jobs in communications offer better hours, greater stability, a work/life balance and a healthier hiring outlook than being a newspaper reporter."

Technological advancements hurt other professions ranked among the worst jobs of 2013, including meter reader, which is often done digitally and mail carrier.

High pay, low stress, a robust hiring outlook, a healthy work environment and minimal physical exertion combine to make actuary the top job for 2013. Biomedical engineer, software engineer, audiologist and financial planner round out the top five.

"The best jobs offer the ultimate career goal -- personal fulfillment," says Lee. "They also offer a bright outlook and job opportunities for years to come."

Best Jobs in 2013

   1.    Actuary 
   2.    Biomedical Engineer 
   3.    Software Engineer 
   4.    Audiologist 
   5.    Financial Planner 
   6.    Dental Hygienist 
   7.    Occupational Therapist 
   8.    Optometrist 
   9.    Physical Therapist 
   10.   Computer Systems Analyst

Worst Jobs in 2013

200. Newspaper Reporter

199. Lumberjack

198. Enlisted Military Personnel

197. Actor

196. Oil Rig Worker

195. Dairy Farmer

194. Meter Reader

193. Mail Carrier

192. Roofer

191. Flight Attendant

To see the full rankings of all 200 jobs and the report's methodology, go to http://www.careercast.com/jobs-rated/worst-jobs-2013

"Newspaper Reporter" Ranks as Nation's Worst Job, Says CareerCast's 2013 Jobs Rated Report

2013-04-24T16:40:00Z

Technological advancements hurt other professions ranked among the worst jobs of 2013, including meter reader, which is often done digitally and mail carrier.

"The best jobs offer the ultimate career goal -- personal fulfillment," says Lee. "They also offer a bright outlook and job opportunities for years to come."

Best Jobs in 2013

   1.    Actuary 
   2.    Biomedical Engineer 
   3.    Software Engineer 
   4.    Audiologist 
   5.    Financial Planner 
   6.    Dental Hygienist 
   7.    Occupational Therapist 
   8.    Optometrist 
   9.    Physical Therapist 
   10.   Computer Systems Analyst

Worst Jobs in 2013

200. Newspaper Reporter

199. Lumberjack

198. Enlisted Military Personnel

197. Actor

196. Oil Rig Worker

195. Dairy Farmer

194. Meter Reader

193. Mail Carrier

192. Roofer

191. Flight Attendant

To see the full rankings of all 200 jobs and the report's methodology, go to http://www.careercast.com/jobs-rated/worst-jobs-2013

Ben Affleck to live on $1.50 per day to raise global poverty awareness

2013-04-24T16:28:00Z

Actor Ben Affleck will live on a very modest sum for five days as part of poverty awareness campaign.

Ben Affleck is a Hollywood high-roller, but for five days the Oscar-winner has committed to living on a food budget that would be skimpy for a vending machine run.

As part of the "Live Below the Line" poverty awareness campaign, Affleck will feed himself on $1.50 per day for five consecutive days-the U.S. equivalent of living below the extreme poverty line.

"1.4 billion people live on less than $1.50/day. I'm joining Live Below the Line on behalf of Eastern Congo. Will you?" the "Argo" star tweeted on Monday.

After a busy day Garner joined her husband and kids for a family shopping at the Country Mart.

"Live Below the Line" is a program from the Global Poverty Project, a nonprofit that aims to illustrate the real challenges of international hunger.

Other stars that have joined the initiative include singer Josh Groban,"Entourage" star Debi Mazar, and "One Tree Hill" actress Sophia Bush. Hunter Biden, son of Vice President Joe Biden, has also pledged to join the campaign.

The initiative begins April 29 and ends May 3, and includes participants from Australia, the US and the UK.

Man allegedly crawls naked through neighbor's dog door, seeks sex

2013-04-24T14:25:00Z

A Perris man pleaded not guilty to charges of burglary and indecent exposure after he was accused of crawling naked through a neighbor's dog door and demanding sex with the woman who lived there.

The woman told authorities she was getting ready for bed about 9:30 p.m. April 10 when she heard a knock on the bedroom door, the Press-Enterprise reported. The woman said her husband had already left their home, near A Street and Alpine Drive, for work.

The woman opened the bedroom door and found her neighbor, Philip John Garcia, "completely naked," the newspaper reported.

The 41-year-old then said he was there to have sex with her, sheriff's Sgt. Glenn Williams told the paper. The woman yelled at Garcia to leave and called the police.

Garcia left, but deputies looked in a window at his home and saw him laying in his own bed -- still naked, Williams said. The deputies ordered him to put clothes on and come out of the house, and Garcia complied.

Garcia might have been intoxicated at the time of the incident, Williams told the Press-Enterprise.

The deputies found a .22 caliber rifle under Garcia's bed, and he was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, the newspaper said. He pleaded not guilty.

'It's like something from a Hitchcock film': Elderly couple too scared to leave own home after being terrorised by an angry pheasant

2013-04-24T14:16:00Z

Vandalising cars, attacking the elderly and head-butting windows, Phil has become notorious in his home village.

The yob in question? Not a feral teen but a very territorial pheasant.

Residents of Wentnor in Shropshire spoke of their despair yesterday at the bird’s behaviour, with some saying they can’t leave their home for fear of being pecked and chased.

Sally-Ann Hudson, 44 has been protecting her elderly parents from the angry bird for four months

Sally-Ann now keeps a badminton racquet close by when she walks round her garden to fend off the 2ft pheasant

The 2ft tall pheasant, nicknamed Phil, lurks by the home of Sally-Ann Hudson, 44, and her parents Ann, 77, and Ben, 79.

He waits throughout the day and night and swoops when the family dares to emerge.

When they are inside, he head-butts the windows and has even tried to break into the front door.

The attacks have got so bad Miss Hudson is scared of leaving home without gloves and a badminton racquet to fend him off.

Real-life angry bird! Pheasant named Phil terrorises village

Sally-Ann said she has tried to befriend the bird by feeding him crumbs of corn bread but the attacks have continued regardless

She claims to have been stalked for the past four months, with the bird specifically targeting her family.

Experts said this is probably because Phil has become confused, seeing her as a rival male pheasant.

Miss Hudson, a medical secretary, said: ‘Sometimes I go from one room into another, and he will run round the outside of the house following my movements.

'He even tries to get into the house – it’s like something from a Hitchcock film.

Sally-Ann Hudson faces up to her feathery rival with her defence weapon of choice- a badminton racquet

‘Often when we get in the car, he will appear from nowhere and either jump on the car or start pecking it.

'He runs alongside as we drive away, pecking and head-butting the wheels.’

The family has resorted to leaving out food for Phil in the hope he might stop seeing them as enemies.

Tippi Hedren and Rod Taylor in Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds. Hedren was told mechanical birds would be used for the violent attack scenes. Instead, she endured five solid days of being pecked by live gulls, ravens and crows

Ouch: The bird's sharp beak pecks Sally-Ann Hudson

‘A couple of times in the last two weeks I have tried to befriend him, feeding him crumbs of corn bread, which he loves,’ Miss Hudson added. ‘

But he has no gratitude and is always ready to attack. Pheasants are normally just rather dopey birds –but this one is a nutter.’

Paul North, from the World Pheasant Association, said the bird was displaying typical mating season behaviour. ‘He obviously sees her as a rival male,’ he added.

Family fun? Long Island mom accused of taking teens on BB shooting spree

2013-04-23T16:09:00Z

A Long Island woman was arrested after police say she drove around with her 13-year-old son, her 15-year-old daughter and another 15-year-old boy, encouraging them to shoot out car windows with a BB gun that she bought for them.

Some kids just have the coolest moms!

According to CBS New York, Susan Becker, 43, of East Northport, was charged Saturday in connection with over 60 reported incidents of car windows being shot out in Commack, Hauppauge, and Islandia, all in Suffolk County, over the past two weeks.

One woman told WCBS 880 she had not one, but two vehicles damaged.

"I'm actually stunned to hear that a mom drove her children around to do such harm to others," she said.

A man told WCBS one BB shot missed his SUV, and instead broke the window on his garage.

"Crazy mom," he said. "What mom would instruct their children to do that? It's crazy."

Becker was arrested late Friday afternoon, and charged with multiple counts of criminal mischief and endangering the welfare of a child. She was arraigned in Suffolk County First District Court on Saturday, with bail set at $30,000.

Eyeball Shaving: Liu Deyuan Uses Knife To Clean Eyes In China

2013-04-23T14:59:00Z

Maybe the Clear Eyes guy can be this man's pupil.

Liu Deyan, 53, deftly washes his customers' eyes -- with a knife.

For seven years, he's run an eye-cleaning stand in Chengdu, China, according to ShortList.com.

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The process, taking about five minutes, involves pulling the eyelid back, cleansing the eyeball and then shaving and scraping its surface, Chengdu Business Daily reported.

To Americans, the whole ordeal may seem horrifying, but in China, it used to be the norm. Today, though, Deyan is one of the few that still practices the trade.

According to Chengdu Business Daily, doctors warn that eyeball shaving was abandoned because it risks cross-infection.

That would be the least of our worries.

The Heidi and Frank Show on Instagram

2013-04-23T13:59:00Z

http://instagram.com/heidiandfrank

Cub owner says man who took samples was serial sample hogger

2013-04-23T13:51:00Z

A retiree suing over his arrest in a supermarket had been warned before by store managers that he was helping himself to too many free samples, a defendant in the suit says.

Among the things a store manager had scolded Erwin Lingitz about: He had filled produce bags with up to 20 cookies from the "kids' cookie club tray," defendant Supervalu Inc. claims in its answer to the Gem Lake man's federal lawsuit.

Lingitz is suing Supervalu, Ramsey County, its sheriff's office, three deputies and a private security company over an April 2010 incident at a Cub Foods in White Bear Township.

The 68-year-old former laboratory machinist claims he was roughed up and his civil rights were violated by a security guard and then sheriff's deputies after he was confronted and accused of helping himself to too many free samples of lunch meat.

But in an answer to Lingitz's suit, Supervalu attorney Robyn Johnson says the company shouldn't even be a defendant because it doesn't own the supermarket in question.

The supermarket is owned by Kowalski Cos., which runs it "under the Cub Foods name as a franchisee of Supervalu," Johnson wrote in the reply. As such, she said, there's no reason Supervalu should be named as a defendant.

Jeff Swanson, a spokesman for Supervalu, said 67 supermarkets carry the Cub Food name and 44 of them are owned by Supervalu. The remainder, including the store in White Bear Township, are franchise stores.

Lingitz, 68, sued in U.S. District Court last month, claiming that when he went into the Cub supermarket on Meadowlands Drive to pick up a prescription, he stopped at a display offering free samples of lunch meat and helped himself.

He claims Cub employees told him he could take some to his wife, who was waiting in the couple's car.

As he left, a security guard confronted him; Lingitz protested and the fracas escalated. He eventually was arrested and jailed.

After the suit was filed, a spokesman for Supervalu said Lingitz violated "societal norms" by taking more than customers are expected to. In her answer, Johnson inventoried what she claims deputies found in the man's pockets after he was handcuffed.

"Plaintiff had approximately 14-16 packets of soy sauce along with one plastic produce bag containing 0.61 pounds for (sic) summer sausage and another plastic produce bag containing 0.85 pounds of beef stick in his pockets," she wrote. "Near the end of aisle 10 on the day in question, Cub Foods had two un-hosted sample platters, one containing beef stick and one containing summer sausage."

The lawyer wrote that Frank Patterson, a security guard for Twin City Lawmen Inc., which handles security at the store, saw Lingitz "putting items in his pockets," followed him out of the store and asked him to remove the items from his pockets. Lingitz refused.

The store's general manager "repeatedly asked plaintiff just to remove the items from his pockets and plaintiff refused," Johnson wrote.

Robert Gardner, the attorney representing Lingitz, did not immediately return a call for comment.

In her answer, Johnson wrote that store personnel had spoken to Lingitz "at various times," and that Steve Martin, a weekend manager, had seen the man "taking excessive amounts of food from various un-hosted sample platters and from the store's cookie club for kids."

"On these occasions, Mr. Martin observed plaintiff filling plastic produce bags with the samples or with 10-20 cookies from the kids' cookie club tray, which specifically limits the offer to one free cookie per child," Supervalu's response says.

"Mr. Martin told plaintiff that the samples were for everyone, that only one or two should be taken, that plaintiff should not fill bags with samples in the future and that the cookie club was for children only," Johnson wrote.

The company also denied "that store personnel regularly solicited plaintiff to take multiple samples."

In its answer, Ramsey County said Deputy Daniel Eggers used appropriate force when he arrived at the store and took Lingitz into custody.

Eggers was in plain clothes and driving an unmarked squad car, but identified himself to Lingitz as a deputy and showed his badge, Assistant Ramsey County Attorney Robert Roche wrote in the county's answer to the suit.

Roche said that Eggers handcuffed Lingitz's left wrist, but that the man became uncooperative when Eggers went to put the cuffs on the other wrist.

"As a result, plaintiff had a handcuff secured on his left wrist with the other cuff hanging loose and open, presenting a safety threat," Roche wrote. Eggers used "reasonable and lawful force to gain control" over the man, he said.

In an interview at the time he filed the suit, Gardner said the force used against his client was unnecessary because he wasn't engaged in a felony. "The situation, even under a worst-case scenario, didn't rise to the level of a need for this kind of force," the attorney said.

Lingitz claimed in his suit that Eggers and others contrived their stories. He said he feared he was having a heart attack, and he was taken to Regions Hospital for treatment and then booked into the Ramsey County jail.

On April 26, 2010, two days after the incident, Lingitz was charged with disorderly conduct, interfering with the officers and shoplifting.

A judge continued Lingitz's criminal case for dismissal in February 2011. Under terms of the agreement, if he remained law-abiding for a year, the charges would be dismissed. They were dismissed last year.

Donald Jones, New Mexico Man, Accused Of Trading McDonald's For Sex

2013-04-23T13:04:00Z

Maybe she wanted to try the new McWraps?

Donald Jones, 58, is accused of trying to trade McDonald's for sex with a prostitute in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday night, according to KOB.

The woman, who was not arrested, told investigating officers she planned to fornicate with Jones in exchange for a meal from the home of Happy Meals. Jones was not charged with any prostitution-related charges, but was booked on a drug possession charge.

For more information on how cops caught up to Jones, read more at KOB.com.

Grub Street warns that McDonald's menu items might become currency in the near future:

In a vaguely post-apocalyptic world filled with big-box stores and fast-food franchises, where Tide detergent has supplanted cash as a base unit of the drug trade, is it that much of a stretch to think that an increasing number of people are exchanging sex for Fish McBites and Big Macs?

Grub Street might be on to something. In January, police arrested a woman outside a McDonald's in Burbank, Calif. after she allegedly offered sex to a customer in exchange for his chicken McNuggets.

Budweiser Bow Tie Can To Debut On May 6

2013-04-22T16:10:00Z

Why drink beer out of a cylindrical can when you can drink it out of a bow tie-shaped can? That's what Budweiser is positing, at least. On May 6 (though some stores might have it earlier), the beer giant is releasing a new can that looks like this:

"This can is incomparable, like nothing you've ever seen before," said Pat McGauley, vice president of innovation for Anheuser-Busch, in a press release. "The world's most iconic beer brand deserves the world's most unique and innovative can. I think we have it here."

The bow tie can -- which is not replacing the traditional Budweiser can -- has been in development since 2010, though the idea was formed a couple of years prior. The bow tie has been associated with the Budweiser brand since a national advertising campaign in 1956.

It took the company a few years to develop the unique shape, McGauley told The Huffington Post. It is molded at Anheuser-Busch’s metal container facility 90 miles north of New York City.

This three-year undertaking involved some significant changes both at the can-making facilities and on the packaging lines. Creating the can requires a 16-step process: ten steps to form the bottom half, with an additional six to form the top. According to the release, the physical limitations of aluminum required the angles of the bow tie to be very precise.

The bow tie can actually uses twice the amount of aluminum compared to a traditional can and it costs the company more to manufacture. However, there is slightly less beer in each -- 11.3 ounces, compared to the traditional 12 ounces. Each bowtie can holds about 137 calories, which is about 8.5 fewer calories than in a 12-ounce can.

The bow tie will be available in an eight-pack rather than a six-pack. This was a strategic decision to get the new shape noticed on shelves. "We look for innovation within our brands, and we look for renovation within our brands," McGauley explained. The move toward a new shape and new packaging focused on the latter.

The slightly odd shape of the can isn't the only new development on which Budweiser has been working. In 10 states, the company is test-marketing a 25-ounce can, which gives consumers one more ounce of beer than the traditional 24-ounce can. Sales of this can will begin over the summer. While McGauley had no other news to report at this time, he stressed that packaging was an important aspect in Budweiser's ongoing plans to innovate.

More than 10 million cans have already been produced for the spring launch, with another 8 million currently being manufactured this month.

The can will be available May 6 in grocery stores, supermarkets, convenience stores and packaged liquor stores.

Jamie Kennedy's CW show: Oh Sit!

2013-04-22T15:16:00Z

For more information on CW's Oh Sit!, click the following link: http://www.cwtv.com/shows/oh-sit

Reese Witherspoon arrested for disorderly conduct when husband gets DUI

2013-04-22T14:26:00Z

"Do you know my name?"

Those are the words actress Reese Witherspoon wishes she could take back.

Witherspoon said she was "deeply embarrassed" about what she said to police officers during her husband's arrest in Atlanta.

The Oscar-winning actress released a statement late Sunday apologizing for her behavior to police that began when her husband, Hollywood agent Jim Toth, was arrested early Friday for driving under the influence of alcohol.

"I clearly had one drink too many and I am deeply embarrassed about the things I said," Witherspoon said. "It was definitely a scary situation and I was frightened for my husband, but that is no excuse. I was disrespectful to the officer who was just doing his job. I have nothing but respect for the police and I'm very sorry for my behavior."

Her publicist, Meredith O'Sullivan Wasson, offered no other details.

Witherspoon, 37, was arrested on a municipal charge of disorderly conduct early Friday after a state trooper said she wouldn't stay in the car while Toth was given a field sobriety test. She was released from jail after the Friday morning arrest and was in New York on Sunday night for the premiere of her new film, "Mud." She posed for cameras on the red carpet but did not stop to talk to reporters.

The trooper noticed the car driven by her husband wasn't staying in its lane early Friday morning, so he initiated a traffic stop. He reported that Toth had droopy eyelids, watery, bloodshot eyes, and his breath smelled strongly of alcohol.

Toth told the trooper he'd had a drink, which Witherspoon said was consumed at a restaurant two hours before the traffic stop, the trooper writes.

Before the field sobriety test began, Witherspoon got out of the car, was told to get back in and obeyed, the report said. After the "Walk the Line" star got out a second time, the trooper said he warned her that she would be arrested if she left the car again.

As the sobriety test continued, "Mrs. Witherspoon began to hang out the window and say that she did not believe that I was a real police officer. I told Mrs. Witherspoon to sit on her butt and be quiet," Trooper First Class J. Pyland writes.

Toth, 42, was then placed under arrest. He was charged with driving under the influence and failure to maintain the lane.

At that point, the report says, Witherspoon got out and asked the trooper what was going on. After being told to return to the car, she "stated that she was a `US Citizen' and that she was allowed to `stand on American ground,"' the report states.

Indeed.

The trooper then began to arrest Witherspoon. The report says Witherspoon was resistant at first but was calmed down by her husband.

The officer wrote in his report: “Mrs. Witherspoon asked, “Do you know my name?” I answered, “No, I don’t need to know your name.” I then added, “right now.” Mrs. Witherspoon stated, “You’re about to find out who I am.

“Mrs. Witherspoon also stated, ‘You are going to be on national news,"" the officer's report stated. "I advised Mrs. Witherspoon that was fine."

Toth and Witherspoon were then taken to jail.

News of the arrest broke shortly before Witherspoon arrived on the "Mud" red carpet.

"I can't say anything because I don't know," said director Jeff Nichols. "I literally -- the first guy on the press line to say something was the first time I heard about it so I gotta go figure it out."

Matthew McConaughey, who plays the lead role in "Mud" and is represented by Toth, said "I'm not going to comment on that because it's too fresh."

Woman Unknowingly Transports Marijuana Across Border

2013-04-22T13:56:00Z

San Diego narcotics detectives are investigating an incident in which a woman may have unknowingly transported a large quantity of marijuana across the border.

According to investigators, a 33-year-old woman who lives in Mexico and works in downtown San Diego crossed the border in her personal vehicle on Friday at around 3 a.m.

She arrived at work early and was seated inside her car when, at about 4 a.m., two unknown males approached her parked vehicle and began removing items from the undercarriage.

Investigators say the woman startled the men, and they ran to a black sedan nearby and took off.

The woman contacted police officers who discovered six packages had been secured to the undercarriage of the woman’s vehicle with strong magnets.

Inside the packages officers found more around 30 pounds of marijuana (pictured above).

Investigators believe the woman unknowingly transported the drugs across the border. At this point, it is unclear who actually strapped the marijuana to her car.

No arrests have been made, and police say the investigation is ongoing.

Narcotics detectives want to remind drivers to check their vehicle before crossing the border to ensure it’s free of contraband, illegal items or unknown items.

Ohio police chief accidentally eats pot-laced cake

2013-04-22T13:22:00Z

An Ohio police chief says he ate cake left in his kitchen without realizing it was laced with cannabis oil.

Laurelville Chief Mike Berkemeier says he fell ill after eating the cake a couple of weeks ago and couldn't figure out what was wrong. He says he drove a few blocks to the police station, where medics took him for medical testing.

The Logan Daily News reports Berkemeier was hospitalized for more than a day. While there, a phone call with his daughter revealed the cake had been laced with an oil form of the psychoactive chemical component that causes a high from marijuana.

Berkemeier tells WBNS-TV one of his daughter's friends took the cake to his home, about 35 miles southeast of Columbus.

There's no word of criminal charges.

'Sexsomnia' Sleep Disorder Gets Denmark Man Acquitted Of Molestation Charges

2013-04-19T16:18:00Z

COPENHAGEN, Denmark -- A Danish man has been acquitted of molesting two 17-year-old girls after he was found to suffer from a rare sleep disorder known as "sexsomnia."

The Glostrup court said Wednesday that the man fondled the teenagers while sleeping in his suburban Copenhagen apartment after a party in 2011.

The girls awoke and interrupted the man, and later reported him to police.

But the court cleared the 31-year-old of sex crimes charges, saying medical tests show he suffers from "sexsomnia" in which a person engages in sexual activity while asleep.

Michael Laub, a Danish sleep specialist who wasn't involved in the case, said it's a rare but widely recognized sleep disorder.

The defendant said he had no recollection of what happened.

Prosecutor Martin von Buelow said he wouldn't appeal the ruling.

Porn film permits sharply decline in L.A. County

2013-04-19T14:30:00Z

Film permits issued for X-rated films in Los Angeles County have dropped this year to almost zero in the wake of a law requiring condom use during porn shoots.

Only two permits have been issued for pornographic filming so far this year, far off pace for an industry that typically gets about 500 permits annually, said Paul Audley, president of FilmLA, a nonprofit that oversees permitting throughout L.A. County.

"It's a steep drop," Audley said, adding that "both of those applications came in January."

Coupled with an apparent increase in adult films being shot in nearby Ventura County — where one politician says residents have complained about "moans and groans" echoing from film sets — the permitting decrease has been seized on by porn producers who have long claimed condom regulation would cause them to leave, harming the Los Angeles economy.

"We're not surprised by this," said Diane Duke, chief executive of the Free Speech Coalition, a porn industry trade group. "Movie companies are beginning to look for other areas" outside of the San Fernando Valley, the longtime base for most of the industry.

Duke said that Measure B, an ordinance passed by L.A. County voters in November that mandated condom use during film productions, has created hardship for the industry because most consumers want to see scenes without condoms. She added that many porn studios are delaying production as they wait on a lawsuit expected to be heard this year in U.S. District Court that challenges the measure on free speech grounds.

Michael Weinstein, president of the Aids Healthcare Foundation, which like many other public health groups advocated for the condom law, said porn studios in Los Angeles simply need to bend to the will of voters. The industry's prediction of a filming exodus that would create a deep economic hole was "heard by the voters in L.A. County, and 57% voted for Measure B," Weinstein said. "We live in a democracy."

Weinstein added that there was no evidence that the industry has started filming elsewhere, nor was their evidence that nearby states such as Nevada were keen to host X-rated filming.

The industry doesn't appear to be moving to Orange County.

"It's not something that has come up," said Shawn Nelson, who heads the Orange County Board of Supervisors. And it's not "something I care about," he said, explaining that regulating movie-making doesn't square with his limited-government beliefs.

But parts of Ventura County are clearly grappling with a reaction to the law.

Last last month, Camarillo placed a 45-day moratorium on the issuance of new permits for adult films, a move meant to give the city's leadership time to consider adoption of some form of condom regulations. "This happened after we received three phone calls in March inquiring about permits, and one asked if we had a condom ordinance," said Camarillo City Atty. Brian Pierik, who added that the city hasn't had porn filming in the past.

In an unincorporated area of Ventura County not far from Camarillo, residents were recently surprised to find a porn shoot at a hillside home on a normally quiet street.

"It's really disturbing," said Tim Gray, a 56-year-old father of four. "We were eating dinner and we heard these loud sounds outside, like something really bad had happened. I went outside and heard, well, the typical sounds you'd hear in a porn movie. It was echoing all over the neighborhood. Later I asked my daughter if she heard it. She said 'yeah, I was doing my homework and I just turned up the music to drown it out.' "

Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks said that since Measure B passed she has been getting emails and phone calls from constituents upset by an uptick in porn shoots. She said the constituents aren't just hearing "moans and groans" from nearby houses, they're "seeing naked people."

Parks, who represents communities in the southeast corner of Ventura County near Los Angeles, said she was planning to introduce countywide legislation modeled on Measure B.

Meantime, Assemblyman Isadore Hall III (D-Compton) has proposed an Assembly bill similar to Measure B that would cover all of California.

The decline in permits was first reported by the Daily News.