WebProNews

Author: Lacy Langley

  • 7 Dead Babies Found In Garage, Mom Arrested

    7 dead babies were discovered in the garage of a home in Pleasant Grove, Utah and the woman believed to have given birth to them was arrested Sunday and charged with 7 counts of murder.

    Megan Huntsman, 39, who lived in the house until 3 years ago, had the babies during a ten year span from 1996-2006.

    When she moved out, she left her 3 older daughters living in the house, according to Fox News. None of them knew of her current whereabouts.

    Their father and Huntsman’s estranged husband, spoke to neighbor Aaron Hawker on Saturday and told him he was going to clean out the garage.

    “Two hours later, suddenly we had all these policemen here,” Aaron Hawker said.

    His wife, Kathy, said, “It makes us so sad, we want to cry. We enjoyed having them as a neighbor. This has just blown us away.”

    Capt. Michael Roberts said that the husband contacted police about a dead infant he found in the garage. When police arrived, they found six others all in separate cardboard boxes. The grisly discovery has shaken even the most veteran of police officers on the force.

    Roberts said the case has been “emotionally draining” to all of the officers involved. “My personal reaction? Just shocked. Couldn’t believe it. The other officers felt the same.” the 19-year police veteran said of the grisly discovery. The neighbors were no less surprised.

    “What’s shocking is the three older ones living there and not noticing that their mother was pregnant.” said Fred Newman, who is also a relative of the estranged husband.

    His wife Vicki said, “It’s shocking and kind of morbid and strange.” as she looked across the street at the garage from her front lawn.

    Capt. Roberts didn’t release any info about a motive or what Megan Huntsman said after they took her into custody, but did say that her estranged husband is not a person of interest.

    DNA tests will be done on the babies to determine whether or not the estranged couple are indeed the parents of all 7 babies. When asked how her husband didn’t ever know of her pregnancies if he lived in the house, Roberts replied, “That’s the million-dollar question. Amazing.”

    Image Via YouTube

  • Jewish Center Shooting Suspect: Hate Crime Or Random

    A shooting at a Jewish Community Center and retirement community in Overland Park, Kansas claimed the lives of 3 people Sunday. A 14-year-old Eagle Scout and his beloved grandfather were shot in the parking lot of the Jewish Community Center, and a woman was shot in at the Village Shalom retirement community.

    Police say that the shooter fired at 2 other people, but missed, according to ABC.

    Police now have a suspect. Fraiser Glenn Cross Jr., of Aurora, Mo. was arrested soon after the shootings in a nearby elementary school parking lot.

    “We have no indication that he knew the victims,” Overland Park Police Chief John Douglass said. “We’re investigating it as a hate crime, we’re investigating it as a criminal act, we haven’t ruled out anything,” Overland Park Police Chief John Douglass said.

    As far as weapons go, he said, “There was a shotgun that was involved. We are exploring the possibility that a handgun was involved in the shooting at the two persons that he missed, and we are looking at the possibility of an assault rifle.”

    In a heart-wrenching family statement about the 14-year-old victim, Reat Griffin Underwood, it was made known that he was a freshman at Blue Valley High School, where he participated in debate and theatre. He was described as having “a beautiful voice. Reat had a passion for life, and touched so many people in his young age.” As an Eagle Scout he “loved spending time camping and hunting with his Grandfather, Father, and brother.”

    Reat’s grandfather, Dr. William Lewis Corporon, practiced family medicine in Marlow and Duncan, Okla., from 1976 through 2003. He then moved with his wife to the Kansas City area to be closer to their grandchildren.

    The Jewish Community Center, which was getting ready to present To Kill A Mockingbird at the time of the shooting, issued a statement that read, “Our hearts go out to the families who have suffered loss on this tragic day.” in part. It continued, “Our heartfelt gratitude as well to all those in Kansas City and around the world who have expressed sympathy, concern and support.”

    Could this possibly be a hate crime or simply a coincidence in its location?

    Image Via YouTube

  • Jerry Lewis Makes Attempt To Clarify Comments

    Jerry Lewis had some serious backpedaling to do after his comments a few years ago, and in his attempt, did graciously tip his hat to classic comediennes Carol Burnett and Lucille Ball, according to AP.

    The offensive comment that he made went something like he thought women were funny, but not when crude. I could agree, but some who are offensive on a regular basis might find that…offensive.

    He tried to clarify by saying, “Seeing a woman project the kind of aggression that you have to project as a comic just rubs me wrong. And they’re funny — I mean you got some very, very funny people that do beautiful work,”

    Then got a little confusing as he added, ” — but I have a problem with the lady up there that’s going to give birth to a child — which is a miracle,” Lewis said.

    So, you can be crude, unless you’re pregnant. I’m not sure what he’s trying to say, however, in his praise of Burnett and Ball, he did have some beautiful words. He said of Carol Burnett, “…when you have women like Carol Burnett, that’s the greatest female entrepreneur of comedy. I just saw Carol at the Smith Center at home in Vegas, and I was stunned by how brilliant she is and how brilliantly she brings the audience right up to her.”

    Of Lucille Ball, he said she “went to the lowest level of the barrel, and she was brilliant because of it.”

    His lovely remarks were made after a ceremony to put his hand and foot prints outside Hollywood’s Chinese Theater, after which he was to attend a 50th anniversary screening of The Nutty Professor as part of the TCM Classic Film Festival. He was accompanied by his only daughter, Danielle Sara Lewis. She is the youngest of his 7 children.

    “This is an incredible time for me,” he said. “I have never, ever had an experience like this and had my daughter present. And this is the first time I’ve ever asked her to join me.”

    That crazy Jerry Lewis.

    Image Via YouTube

  • Snowy Owls Coming South For Food, Say Experts

    Some people as far south as Tenessee might be surprised to see an unusual bird in their backyards this spring. Great Snowy Owls have been spotted this year in some very extraordinary places, thanks to what experts are saying is a perfectly normal occurrence in nature, according to CBS.

    There has been an especially wild influx of the beautiful creatures in New Jersey. They have been attracting large crowds to the Edwin B. Forsythe Wildlife Refuge in Galloway Township just outside Atlantic City.

    “It’s certainly a special big year for snowy owls,” Donald Freiday with the US Fish and Wildlife Service said of the phenomena. “We think that the reason there are so many snowy owls in New Jersey… is because they had a really good year this year up in the Arctic where they breed. And when that happens, they produce lots of offspring. There’s competition for food among them and they come south as a result.”

    Amateur birdwatchers, lovers of nature, and simply curious spectators have had a great time waiting with cameras and binoculars for a peek at the Snowy Owls.

    “It’s actually pretty special to have snow owls in New Jersey,” Freiday said late last year, when the owls first started showing up. “We normally in a given winter will have between none and three. This year, the whole state there are as many as 30.”

    According to National Geographic, the Snowy Owl has a definite preference for lemming. In fact, it states that an adult “may eat more than 1,600 lemmings a year, or three to five every day. The birds supplement their diet with rabbits, rodents, birds, and fish.”

    The competition for food is really the driving force for the unusual migration, he said. “It’s certainly a special big year for snowy owls,” Freiday said. “We think that the reason there are so many snowy owls in New Jersey… is because they had a really good year this year up in the Arctic where they breed. And when that happens, they produce lots of offspring. There’s competition for food among them and they come south as a result.”

    If you live up north, keep your eyes peeled and your binoculars handy. You just might get a peek at one of these majestic creatures in your own backyard!

    Image Via YouTube

  • Affluenza Teen: Parents Get Discount On Treatment

    The Affluenza teen case out of Fort Worth, TX has taken another controversial, some might say face-palm-worthy, turn.

    According to AP, the teen’s wealthy parents, with the help of lawyers Reagan Wynn and Lance Evan, successfully argued that the teen’s reckless behavior was due to “Affluenza”. Now it is reported that they only have to pay a fraction of their son Ethan’s court-ordered treatment.

    The argument was that Ethan Couch’s parents had given him such a decadent, coddled lifestyle that he wasn’t responsible for driving drunk and high on Valium the day he plowed into and killed four people and injured several others as they helped a stranded motorist on the side of the road.

    As infuriating as the argument was, as well as the subsequent win of the case and light punishment, this new development takes the cake.

    The parents, who were too rich to raise a kid who is responsible for his actions, will be only be charged $1,170 a month for his treatment at the North Texas State Hospital in Vernon. That would only pay for about two days. Who pays for the rest? You and me.

    Debbie Spoonts, who is Tarrant County Juvenile Services’ placement supervisor, said the facility decided what Fred and Tonya Couch would pay based on a sliding scale. I would like to see that scale.

    Evans, the attorney for Tonya and Fred Couch, said that after hearing the news of the slashed treatment bill for their son, the family “respects the decision of the facility and of the court, and will honor the payment system that the court has put in place.”

    Several of the families of the victims have sued the Couchs and won settlements, but there is one parent who isn’t taking a settlement. Kevin McConnell, who had a child that was injured in the wreck, says he wants a trial not money.

    Image via YouTube

  • Van Houten Sextuplets: What Will Happen Now?

    The Van Houten Sextuplets are fatherless since their dad, Ben Van Houten, suffered a massive heart attack Wednesday night after setting up a trampoline in their yard. He was only 39 years old. He had the ten-year-old sextuplets, Michigan’s only surviving set, and another 7-year-old daughter.

    The family resides in the Holland area of Western Michigan. The family made national news when wife Amy gave birth to the sextuplets over three days in a hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This is a shocking trauma for the family obviously, but there was family history that probably had Ben a little worried. His own father died at the age of 40, also from heart problems, according to the AP.

    His father-in-law spoke very highly of Ben as a loving husband and father to his seven kids. “Just to know Ben for even one day would be a blessing,” he said. He also added, “He was always spending time with the kids.”

    The family was beloved by the community and that love showed as the couple began bringing home their new sextuplets in 2004. A local grocery store donated $1000 in gift cards as well as cases of diapers, baby food and baby care items. Ben is quoted as saying, “I can’t believe my kids are going to eat this much stuff.”

    The community continued to support the new family as fellow church members worked shifts around the clock to help care for the babies in the couples’ modest 1300 sqft. home, according to MLive.com. The town even came together later and, with donated materials and volunteer labor, built the family a new 4 bedroom home big enough to house them all.

    Now, it is certain that the community will come to the family’s aid again as they begin to deal with the tragedy of a life cut short and seven children that must grow up without their father.

    Image via YouTube

  • Tom Brokaw Grants Rare Interview To Letterman

    Tom Brokaw gave a rare interview to David Letterman on Thursday’s show. The very private TV icon spoke about his health issues with Letterman and talked about how his treatments are going.

    “I’m very pleased with the progress, and that’s about as far as I want to go. There are a lot of other people out there … going through what I’m going through, and they don’t have the advantages I do. I’m so conscious of that every day, because it involves the whole family and it’s tricky and it becomes a big strain.

    “In our case, we’ve got the resources and access, and so I am much more aware of what other families are going through, and I think we all have to be, as a matter of fact,” he said.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldCvcDJL3sc

    Brokaw handed over his show, Nightly News, to Brian Williams in 2004. However, he has not stopped working. Far from it, in fact. He held a special correspondent post for NBC. He also played a major role in the coverage of the 2008 elections and the McCain/Obama battle.

    More recently, Brokaw did a fascinating 2-hour special on the assassination of JFK on the 50th anniversary of the tragedy back in November, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

    Letterman asked about his continuing to work, despite his illness and ongoing treatment. He replied, “Well, that’s been therapy for me,” he explained. “I’m writing, I’ve been working, I’ve been on this broadcast, I’ve done things at NBC, and I want to have my other life.”

    After this rare interview, will Brokaw be any more open about what’s going on with him? Probably not.

    He told Letterman, “As you know, I was keeping it as private as I possibly could, which I intend to continue doing.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Squirrel Causes $300K Damage To New Community Center

    Squirrel Causes $300K Damage To New Community Center

    A squirrel caused $300k in damages to the new McMillen Community Center facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana. On April 1st, the squirrel found its way into the newly renovated Center’s electrical system, frying the three new HVAC systems, some parts of the boiler system, as well as the squirrel.

    Fortunately, Parks Director Al Moll said that the massive damage will be covered by insurance, however, they will have to come up with the $50,000 deductible. Ouch.

    The new Center was set to open June 1st and another Parks employee, Steve McDaniel, said that the HVAC people were scrambling to get the systems up in time. Hopefully they can make it in time, as the opening of the new facility is looked forward to by those looking for a great way to beat the summer heat that is expected.

    The large new McMillen Community Center was formerly known as the McMillen Ice Arena. The arena closed in 2009, and after $4.5 million dollars in renovations, will be reborn as a huge space housing many multipurpose spaces for fun stuff. For example, there will be spaces with turf for indoor soccer or football. There will also be basketball courts and and an indoor track.

    There will also be spaces for private events where alcohol will be permitted, but only with private events. There must be a bartender and hired security.

    Wow, every town should have something like this! Time will tell if the Center will be able to open on time, but if it can, the kids of Fort Wayne are sure to have a great summer.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Stiletto-heel Killing: Attack Not Self-Defense

    Stiletto-heel killer Ana Trujillo was convicted Tuesday of murdering her boyfriend, University of Houston professor Stefan Andersson. Her attorney insisted that she was trying to defend herself after the couple got into a drunken altercation after a night on the town.

    The proof they offered was testimony from a nurse that examined Trujillo 2 days after her arrest. She stated that she witnessed bruises on Trujillo’s legs, buttocks and chest at Harris County Jail during her examination.

    However prosecuters said that the injuries were from two weeks prior, when Trujillo had a violent fight with an ex-boyfriend, according to Fox News. She has a history of violence, which was on display earlier in the trial, including testimony from a lover that she saw occasionally while she was dating Andersson.

    James Wells testified that Trujillo once approached him sweetly, as if to kiss him, then bit him hard on the scalp. He continued, “Then she gave me a crazy look and kind of laughed and said, ‘Ho, ho, ho, you’re a dead man.’”

    The night of the murder, the couple’s taxi driver also said that Trujillo was acting crazy and yelling, according to KHOU-TV Houston.

    Prosecutor John Jordan disputed the self-defense play during final arguments. “This is not self-defense. This is a vicious murder,” he said. Trujillo reportedly knocked Andersson to the ground, sat on his chest, and struck him in the face and head with her shoe until he was dead. And now the prosecution has been proven correct.

    The jury took only two hours to come to a decision. The whole time Trujillo’s attorney, Jack Carroll, remained confident. “They didn’t ask any questions, they all seemed like they were in a good mood,” he said. “I thought it was in the bag. I was wrong.”

    Jurors began deliberation on Wednesday in the sentencing phase of the trial. Trujillo is facing a possible life sentence for murder, although her attorney stated that he intends to ask for 2 years.

    Image via YouTube

  • Franklin Regional High School Stabbing Suspect ID’d

    The Franklin Regional High School stabbing that happened at the beginning of the school day on Wednesday now has a suspect. It was a 16-year-old boy who seemed all-in-all a “normal kid” to his classmates. His name has yet to be released and his motives were unclear, according to ABC.

    There were 20 people injured this morning and no fatalities were reported, said Westmoreland County emergency management spokesman Dan Stevens.

    However, the injuries ranged from cuts and bruises to pretty serious, one of which was a school security guard who was stabbed in the stomach.

    “We were ready to handle what came in the door,” Dr. Mark Rubino, chief medical officer at Forbes Hospital said, adding that at one point there were 20 surgeons in the emergency room. 3 of the 8 victims his team treated had severe injuries.

    Rubino said the injuries ranged from “relatively superficial wounds” to “severe injuries to abdominal injuries.” Interestingly, he noted that almost all of the stab wounds appeared to follow a pattern.

    They were also almost all sliced across their lower abdomens. Whether or not there is any significance in the pattern is not yet known. The attack lasted from 7:13am and was over by 7:45am, according to AFP.

    There have been many heroic stories that have come from this fiasco, one of which is about a student who saw what was going on and pulled the fire alarm to try to evacuate the building. Alyssa Finch, fellow student, said he did it “because he knew what was happening … and he wanted the people to get out.”

    The school’s principal and another staff member overpowered the attacker, saving who knows how many other students from harm. Neither were injured. As time goes on, hopefully we’ll find out more about the motives behind this shocking attack and some more acts of selfless heroism.

    Image via YouTube

  • Stiletto-Heel Killing: Woman Convicted Of Murder

    The Stiletto-heel killing case in Texas has ended in conviction. Anna Trujillo, 45, claimed she was acting in self-defense when she bludgeoned her boyfriend, Stefan Andersson, to death with her shoe after a drunken fight.

    However, as Andersson, 56, was stabbed in the face and head over two dozen times, the jury thought otherwise. The altercation happened after a night out and a lot of drinking, according to Reuters.

    Trujillo seems to have a history of unprovoked violence that did not help her case. The jury heard testimony from James Wells who was Trujillo’s occasional lover during the time she was also seeing Andersson.

    He said that she once approached him puckered up as if she was going to kiss him, then lashed out and bit him on the scalp. “Then she gave me a crazy look and kind of laughed and said, ‘Ho, ho, ho, you’re a dead man,’” he said.

    That was just two weeks before the murder of the Andersson, who was a professor at the University of Houston Center for Nuclear Receptor and Cell Signaling, specializing in women’s reproductive health.

    It took the jury less than 2 hours to return the verdict on Tuesday in the high-profile case. Trujillo’s expression didn’t change as the verdict was read on Tuesday, but she was said to be shaking a little and taking deep breaths. She had been out on bail, but was taken into custody after the verdict was returned.

    Trujillo was overhead speaking in Spanish with some friends, telling them, “I loved him and he was crazy.”, according to AP.

    The case enters the sentencing phase on Wednesday. Trujillo faces up to life in prison for the conviction. Jack Carroll, Trujillo’s attorney, said he was obviously disappointed with the verdict. He said Trujillo was “taking it a little hard but she’s pretty tough.”

    “I’m hoping that they will be merciful in the punishment,” Carroll said. He then said that he will ask the judge for a sentence of 2 years.

    Image Via YouTube

  • Jeffrey Dahmer’s Childhood Home Marketable, Creepy

    Jeffrey Dahmer’s childhood home is on the market if you’re interested in living where something horrific happened and if you’re not too shaken by horror house movies. For example, if the idea of living in the Amityville house sounds cozy, this could be your dream house.

    No thanks.

    Actually the unfortunate realtor of the home says it’s really quite nice. He says about half of those who call are not at all interested in the house’s past and tells interested buyers that “this house never killed anyone.”

    In fact the house is quite charming with its 1950s style and nice wooded lot. It is on the market for a surprising $295,000 and is in a highly-sought wealthy neighborhood just outside of Akron, Ohio, according to AP.

    Yeah, ok. But…

    Jeffrey Dahmer, rapist, murderer, and renowned cannibal, committed his first horrible act of murder there at the age of 18 in 1978. He brought home a hitchhiker, which he then killed and buried in the backyard. He went on to commit 16 more murders (and rape, dismemberment, and subsequent eating) of men and boys until he was captured in 1991, and killed in prison by another inmate in 1994.

    These facts, however, don’t seem to bother the current owner who is obviously unshakable. He said, “If you can get past that little problem, you’ll have a wonderful place to live.” He added, “The fact that it was Jeffrey Dahmer’s house was not an attraction. I am not a ghoul. I am not interested in the supernatural.”

    There is another downside to owning this house. Those that haunt the outside in the form of ghost hunters, spectators, and even Japanese film crews. Even if you don’t believe in the supernatural, that could be enough to drive off even the most unflappable of buyers. Good luck selling that place.

    Image Via YouTube

  • Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 Signals Confirmed

    Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 Signals Confirmed

    Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 has still not been recovered, but on Monday there is new evidence that the signals heard over the past few days have indeed been coming from the airplane’s black box.

    This new confirmation of the origin of the signals gives hope that perhaps the plane and its black box could be recovered. The problem lies in finding it before the black box’s battery runs out, which it’s supposed to do at 30 days after an accident. We are there.

    Retired Air Chief Marshall Angus Houston, who is coordinating search efforts out of Perth, Australia, said the sounds were heard at a depth of 4,500 meters (about 14,764 feet), according to CNN.

    Houston told the press that he is more optimistic about finding the plane after these latest developments, but cautioned them to take the information and treat it cautiously. However, he added, “I would like us to find some wreckage.”

    As new physical evidence is sought, new information about the plane’s flight path presents a new mystery. Apparently, after study of the planes new supposed flight path, experts say that the plane was deliberately flown in a pattern that would keep it off of radars.

    As to the “why?” of the situation, that remains to be seen, but CNN law enforcement analyst Tom Fuentes cautions against assuming anything.

    “I think the plane’s being intentionally flown there, but I think it’s still a mystery as to why. … I think they would probably guess they’re not avoiding anybody’s radar, because there’s a lot of radar in the area,” he said. “I think they’re avoiding getting shot down or colliding with another airplane.”

    However, CNN aviation analyst Miles O’Brien indicated that some things could be assumed about the perpetrators, if that’s what they are.

    “This particular route that is laid out happens to coincide with some of these named intersections,” he said. “So what it shows is an experienced pilot somewhere in the mix on this.”

    The batteries on the black box signal could wear out in days, if not hours, so here’s hoping for a quick location and closure for the families with members who were aboard the ill-fated flight.

    Image Via YouTube

  • Garth Brooks Not So Welcome In Dublin

    Garth Brooks Not So Welcome In Dublin

    Garth Brooks has done pretty well to sell out his comeback tour after being out of the game for ten years. However, not everyone on the planet is as thrilled as they could be.

    Some folks in Dublin, Ireland who live near Croke Park, a venue that has sold out five straight performances of Brooks’ in July, are among those who would rather him stay away. Do they hate country music? No. They hate the traffic.

    According to Fox News, residents are at odds with the fact that Brooks’ five-night run exceeds previous agreements the neighborhood association has that limit the number of shows that can be held at the park. These agreements kept the chaos down and allowed the nearby community to go about its business somewhat undisturbed.

    “The issues run . . . parking and congestion, anti-social behavior — we’ve been unable to move in and out of our homes without harassment,” says Patrick Gates of the Croke Park Residents Alliance. “Litter, noise pollution — they’re all the issues that we have, and we thought we had an agreement with Croke Park. They’ve failed and they’ve breached every agreement that they’ve had with us.”

    That’s not good. Now residents of the area are picketing and protesting outside of the venue to try to show that they will not be trod on. However, there is another school of thought on the issue. Some people think that the large, multinational crowds that are eager to catch a show from the country legend at Croke Park will benefit the community to the tune of several million.

    Brooks himself is thrilled to be coming back to Croke Park.

    “Before we go back on tour in the fall of 2014, I want to challenge myself, the band and crew,” he explains. “In ’97, we were lucky enough to play Croke Park, the stadium was under construction. 130,000-plus of some of the greatest fans in the world. I was quoted then as saying, ‘When this stadium is finished, I would love to come back and try to fill it again…this time to the brink’ — and we’re back to do just that.”

    What do you think? Do you think moving into a neighborhood near a major entertainment venue is just asking for it? Like moving into a fancy house on a golf course and being mad about balls in your yard, for example? Or do these residents have a right to force entertainers to limit the number of shows they do to keep crowds down?

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Star Wars: Episode VII Cast, Names Still Not Known

    Star Wars: Episode VII has been cast and filming has begun says Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn. Fans everywhere are anticipating its release so they can either love it or hate it, but the film itself has had its share of ups and downs just getting started.

    The screenplay, co-written by genius J.J. Abrams, has had some bumps in the road to completion and perfection. “It’s all about the screenplay,” Horn said. “It has to be screenplay, screenplay, screenplay.”

    When Horn was asked by The Hollywood Reporter‘s Steve Galloway if the screenplay was now where it needed to be, he said, “It actually is now.”

    Whew! On with the show.

    As far as the anticipated casting goes, Horn said, “We have a lot of them [in place],” about the main actors, whose names have yet to be revealed. “We’re just not completely done yet.”

    Speculation surrounding the casting has run rampant since Disney’s announcement of the acquiring of the incredibly famous franchise, including rumors that J.J. Abrams has insisted on using unknowns. However, nothing has been announced or even announced when it will be announced.

    Also in the interview, curiously Horn revealed that the U.S. has WAY more theaters than the rest of the world. Does that mean we have more time on our hands than the rest of the world? Not surprising, but good for us! China holds the spot at #2, and growth there is fast.

    “China is now the No. 2 market after the United States. But just to give you some perspective, there’s 44,000 screens in the U.S. and Canada; in the U.K. there’s 4,000, Italy 4,000, Spain 4,000, France 4,800, Mexico 5,000. China has 18,000 now [for] 1.3 billion people — 18,000 screens. We have one-quarter as many people and 44,000 screens. And they’re building 10 screens a day in China. It is a major new growth market.”

    There are a lot of screens to show Star Wars: Episode VII on when it comes out, which is scheduled as of now for December 2015.

    Image Via YouTube

  • Missing Jet: Third “Ping” Brings New Hope?

    The missing jet, Malaysian Flight MH370, could possibly be closer to being found after a third “ping” was detected on Sunday that could possibly be signals from the plane’s black box, according to AP.

    The first of these pings was heard on Friday, then another on Saturday. All three have been heard in a small precinct in a very large (88,000 square mile) search area.

    The second was heard only about 1.5 miles from the first and heard for about 90 seconds. There were also sightings of white debris floating in the ocean in that same area.

    When the first ping, and even the second, were heard, enthusiasm was cautiously curbed. The pings did have the correct frequency to be a black box signal, which was created to stand out from all ocean marine life, but optimism has been discouraged.

    “This is an important and encouraging lead, but one which I urge you to treat carefully,” stated “retired Australian Air Chief Marshall Angus Houston, who is coordinating the search from Perth, Australia.

    “We have an acoustic event. The job now is to determine the significance of that event. It does not confirm or deny the presence of the aircraft locator on the bottom of the ocean,” Houston said. He was referring to all three transmissions.

    “We are dealing with very deep water, we are dealing with an environment where sometimes you can get false indications. There are lots of noises in the ocean, and sometimes the acoustic equipment can rebound, echo if you like.”

    However, this new signal brings hope to many in the frantic search for the black box as the batteries only last for about a month.

    “We are hopeful but by no means certain,” Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said of the detection of the signals. He added, “This is the most difficult search in human history. We need to be very careful about coming to hard and fast conclusions too soon.”

    Image Via YouTube

  • Goonies Sequel: Bad Idea Or New Generation Hit?

    A Goonies sequel is in the works, according to director Richard Donner of Superman fame. He told TMZ photographers, while casually signing autographs, that he is making a Goonies sequel and hopes the entire cast will return.

    If this thing happens, it will be a rare coming together of the cast, who have all moved on in different directions since wrapping up the classic in 1985. Only Corey Feldman and Sean Astin have worked together since, doing the voices of two turtles on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Nickelodeon series.

    In an interview for that series, they were asked about a Goonies sequel (we’ve all thought about it after all, haven’t we?) to which the stars had seemingly opposing answers.

    Sean Astin was certain on the subject, saying, “It will happen. I’m 1000 percent certain there will be a sequel. I will bet my children on it.”

    Corey Feldman, however, was not so enthusiastically committed. “Oh my God,” he said. “I am betting no child on this matter.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyEc1gIHZzE

    The sequel does have it’s downsides. For instance, is it wise to bring back into the fold such firecrackers as Josh Brolin (who played older brother Brandon (Brand) in the movie)? And what sort of weird plot would there be? The entire cast reprising their roles in a mundane older life where some sort of nostalgic adventure ensues or will they simply make charming cameos as a younger generation takes a crack at recreating the Goonie magic?

    Good luck with that. To me, The Goonies is a magical cult classic that shouldn’t be touched. However, perhaps in the right hands, a sequel could bring the unforgettable underdog characters and swashbuckling adventure to a whole new generation.

    Although, I think this generation could appreciate the original just as it is.

    Image Via Wikimedia Commons

  • Missing Jet: Ping May Not Be From Plane’s Black Box

    The missing jet mystery continues as a Chinese vessel’s black box detector deployed by the vessel Haixun 01 picked up a “ping” signal on Saturday in the search for the plane’s black box.

    The signal had a frequency of 37.5kHz per second, which is the same as the plane’s black box would emit, but Australian and Chinese authorities admit that there is no conclusive evidence yet that the signal was indeed from MH370’s box, according to Reuters.

    “The characteristics reported (by the Chinese vessel) are consistent with the aircraft black box.”, said Retired Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, head of the Australian agency that is coordinating the operation.

    “However, there is no confirmation at this stage that the signals and the objects are related to the missing aircraft,” he said. He added that his agency was seeking more information from China.

    The signal was detected at about 25 degrees south latitude and 101 degrees east longitude. However, the search area continues to be a daunting 88,000 square miles and even with dozens of countries sending boats, planes, and jets, it’s a struggle to determine exactly where the plane is located.

    There are two Towed Pinger Locators that are being towed slowly on two ships, one on navy ship HMAS Ocean Shield and one on British hydrographic survey ship HMS Echo, that may be of little use unless the area of the planes location is narrowed down. The speed at which the Towed Pinger Locators have to be pulled and its low range prohibit them from searching large areas quickly.

    “I won’t even call it an area. What we are doing is we are tracking down the best estimate of the course that the aircraft was on,” U.S. Navy Captain Mark Matthews said. “It takes a couple of days on each leg so it’s a slow-going search.”

    Hopefully a stroke of luck will hit soon and they’ll be able to locate the plane’s black boxes before their batteries run out.

    Image Via YouTube

  • Shot Elephant Makes Controversial Return to Circus

    The elephant shot in a drive-by last year in Mississippi returned to the stage with Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey on Thursday, almost exactly a year after the terrifying incident, according to WMC-TV.

    Carol the elephant, who is now 40 years old, was shot by an assailant with a single bullet that entered her right side. Doctors said a few inches in either direction would have ended her life.

    She was shot outside of BancorpSouth Arena in Tupelo in 2013. The case has never been solved, despite the $34,000 reward offered for information leading to the capture of the suspect.

    All that police know is that the suspect may have driven a light-colored SUV, but don’t have much else to go on. Seriously, who shoots an elephant?!

    “It was quite frankly an embarrassing moment for the city, but hopefully those days are behind us.” said Tupelo Mayor Jason Shelton.

    She was given a special cape on Wednesday night for her courage along with a few others who received special gifts. However, despite her heroic return, there are some who believe Carol should be retired.

    In fact almost 17,000 people have signed a petition on Change.org that, in part, states, “… if Ringling Bros circus cares about animals at all, they need to keep Carol off their tours and retire her. There are reports that she’s going to be out for several weeks, but why can’t the circus just let her enjoy life in a more natural way?

    No one can tell me that those circus tricks and shipping elephants cross-country in train cars and trucks to perform under bright lights is what’s best for Carol, can they?”

    Time will tell if Carol will continue with Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey or if she will live out a quiet retirement, free from the cares of working life.

    Image via YouTube

  • Mass Faintings in Cambodia Possibly Food Poisoning

    Mass faintings at two factories in Cambodia are continuing to spur investigations into the possible causes and working conditions of employees. On Thursday alone, 118 people fainted and and many suffered stomach issues at Shen Zhou and Daqian Textile factories, according to Reuters.

    “It was hot and I began to vomit, I had diarrhea and others had the same problems,” said Nguon Sarith, 30. She was one of the many workers who were treated at local medical facilities after Thursday’s mass faintings. She said she didn’t know the cause, but suspected food poisoning.

    In line with that suspicion, investigations have been focused on the canteen of Shen Zhou where food samples have been taken and tested.

    The illnesses are a huge blow to the already flailing textile industry in Cambodia, which has been under intense scrutiny for labor practices, but is also essential to the people of the nation to survive. The industry brings in $5 billion a year in revenue and employs some 600,000 people, many of which are supporting poverty-striken rural families.

    The two factories make sportswear for Puma SE and Adidas and have suffered recent unrest over pay and working conditions, sometimes growing into protests which can be violently suppressed by the government.

    Workers earn about $100 per month and work in conditions where poor ventilation, strong chemicals and use of potent glue for footwear are a constant complaint. In fact, these mass faintings are not a new thing for these factories. In 2011, over 1,000 faintings were reported. Such problems came to light after a factory in Bangladesh collapsed last year, killing 1,100 people.

    On April 17th, unions are planning a week-long strike for higher wages and better working conditions. Hopefully they will be more successful than the strike on January 3rd that ended in violent clashes and the deaths of five workers.

    Image Via YouTube

  • Texas Chupacabra Really a Canine?

    The Texas “Chupacabra”, which is now living with its captors in the small Texas town of Ratcliffe in DeWitt county, is most likely a canine according to Texas Parks and Wildlife biologist Brent Ortego.

    “The animal in the cage, as best I can tell from the view, is some form of small canine.”, he stated, although he wanted to be clear that canine could mean dog, coyote or even fox.

    He added, “It’s [the chupacabra] never been proven to be a unique species. It was always something out there that allegedly would cause harm or threaten to cause harm to people or livestock.”

    He also said the animals ragged, hairless appearance was probably due to a bad case of mange, according to CNN.

    But the folks who found the little guy think otherwise. They are pretty certain they’ve captured a mythical chupacabra baby. Jackie Stock said her husband caught the thing eating corn on their property. “He called me to come and look, and I said, ‘That looks like a baby Chupacabra.”

    The suggestion that it could be a racoon or possum or some other mutated South Texas woodland creature is ludacris to Arlen Parma, the man who caught it. “You know, I hunted raccoons for twenty years with dogs and all that, and I’ve never seen anything that looks like that right there.”

    Arlen Parma says the thing that really seals it for him is its ferocious growl. “A raccoon don’t make that noise, or a possum. What makes that noise? I guess a Chupacabra does, I don’t know.”

    Could the ragged beast caught in South Texas really be a chupacabra? Supposed sightings of the ruthless wandering creature that kills goats and cows vampire-style have been reported for years in South America and the Southern U.S. Could this finally be the proof we need or just another mangy lost dog?

    Image Via YouTube