WebProNews

Author: Val Powell

  • ‘Gospel Of Jesus’ Wife’ Papyrus Not Fake According To Scientists

    ‘Gospel Of Jesus’ Wife’ Papyrus Not Fake According To Scientists

    In 2012, Karen King, historian from the Harvard Divinity School, revealed the discovery of a papyrus fragment, dubbed the “Gospel of Jesus’ Wife,” that suggests that Jesus had a wife. The announcement created an uproar among the Christian community, and academics from the Vatican immediately deemed the document a “clumsy forgery.”

    The badly-aged papyrus contained a message with eight legible ink lines on the front, and six faded lines on the back written in Coptic, an ancient Egyptian Christian language.

    According to a recent paper published in the Harvard Theological Review that was published on Tuesday, the fragment is not fake. Scientists have been studying the papyrus for the last year-and-half to confirm its validity. Now, they are concluding that the fragment possibly dates back to as far as the fourth century.

    In the paper, King said that their new finding does not confirm that Jesus had a wife. “I’m basically hoping that we can move past the issue of forgery to questions about the significance of this fragment for the history of Christianity,” she said.

    King also said that the fragment suggests that women can also be disciples of Jesus. When the fragment was first released, it sparked controversy as there have been years of debates over marriage and sexuality in the religion of Christianity. The Catholic Church also believes Jesus to be celibate, and that is one of the main reasons why priests are not allowed to marry or have sex.

    Studies revealed that the lines from the papyrus fragment forms a conversation between Jesus and his disciples. When the fourth line was deciphered, it said, “Jesus said to them, my wife.” On the fifth line, the message reads, “… she will be able to be my disciple.”

    New Testament professor, Hal Taussig, said that the message on the papyrus fragment is “breathtaking.” He also said that the message supports the idea of Mary Magdalene being one of the prominent leaders in the Jesus movement.

    He also discussed the result of having a non-celibate Jesus, which will be a “huge shift” for the church, but said that it may make married people feel closer to Jesus.

    Reverend James Martin, a Jesuit who released a travelogue about the life of Jesus, also commented on the fragment, saying that there are several pieces of evidence that Jesus was never married. He also said that it if Jesus had a wife, the Gospel writers would have mentioned it somehow.

    Did Jesus Really Have A Wife?

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Lance Armstrong Drops Names Of Persons That Helped Him Dope

    Lance Armstrong Drops Names Of Persons That Helped Him Dope

    Lance Armstrong, the celebrity cyclist, has for the first time, named the people who gave him, and helped him get illegal performance enhancing drugs for all seven of his Tour de France titles.

    In his public statement, he named the US Postal ex-team manager Johan Bruyneel, trainer Pepi Marti, Dr. Michele Ferrari, Dr. Pedro Celaya, and Dr. Luis Garcia del Moral.

    He went on to say that he paid for the substances, but that “other people” contributed financially. According to him, the drugs were delivered by Philippe Mair, mechanic Julien de Vriese, and masseuse Emma O’Reilly.

    The testimony also claimed that Armstrong did not pay anyone to keep his use of drugs a secret. He did, however, give benefits or contributions to people who may have suspected his drug use. The testimony maintained it was not a pay-off.

    He also claimed that he used the blood booster erythropoietin (EPO) as early as 1995. He said that he was in control the entire time, but the administration was sometimes supervised by Dr. Ferrari, Dr. Celaya, or Dr. del Moral.

    The statement comes from a testimony the cyclist made in November last year, when Acceptance Insurance sued him to recover bonuses made from 1999 to 2001 worth $3 million for winning the Tour de France.

    The lawsuit was eventually settled out of court, but the testimony was kept as an exhibit for another lawsuit against Armstrong by former teammate Floyd Landis.

    The US Anti-Doping Agency, or USADA, has called Armstrong’s doping, “sport’s most sophisticated and successful” program.

    In 2013, Armstrong admitted in an interview with Oprah Winfrey that he used performance-enhancing drugs in all seven of his Tour de France victories. However, he did not name the people who supplied them to him.

    Lance Armstrong Confesses On Oprah Show

    Bruyneel, Marti, and Celaya denied the accusation and brought USADA’s case to an arbitration hearing. It was held last December in London. The other people named by Armstrong did not contest.

    According to Bruyneel, USADA’s accusation that he is the mastermind of the doping program is not true, also saying he is not a devil.

    Image via YouTube

  • Nicaragua Earthquake: 6.1-Magnitude Quake Hits Nation

    The streets of Nicaragua were filled with panic-stricken citizens as a 6.1-magnitute earthquake hit the country on Thursday. The earthquake damaged homes and brought the power down in a few areas that were affected.

    The earthquake struck at about 5:27 pm at a depth of six miles based on the US Geological Survey. Witnesses also reported aftershocks that came after the strong quake.

    According to the Director of the Disaster Prevention Agency, Guillermo Gonzalez, at least 23 people were injured in the town of Nagarote, due to the falling walls, beams, and ceilings. Over 100 houses were said to have been damaged. Of those who were injured, three are said to be in critical condition. Nagarote was said to be the town that was hit the hardest, according to official reports.

    Enrique Beteta, a health official, has released a statement regarding three of the injuries, which he called non-life threatening. One person had a trauma to his leg, and another injured his ankle. The third report was of a 16-year-old boy who sustained injuries to his back after a wall fell on him.

    In the capital city of Nicaragua, Managua, there were no major damages. Nicaraguan spokeswoman, Rosario Murillo, said in a radio interview that “there are no injuries, no loss of life so far, nor even any significant material losses.” She also added that the government is still responding to reports of damaged homes. Guillermo said that the earthquake did, however, cause landslides that blocked two of the highways located at the south of the capital.

    Citizens from different parts of Nicaragua called in to Radio Ya, a popular radio station, to report the earthquake, and loss of potable water and electricity in their area. Authorities also announced the suspension of classes in the cities of Managua and Leon.

    Image via Google Maps

  • National Siblings Day: Celebrating Brotherly And Sisterly Love

    The relationship between siblings is critically important and emotionally powerful not only in childhood, but also over the course of a person’s lifetime. Having a brother or sister allows a person to learn and develop social skills, specifically in managing conflict and negotiating with other people. Sibling relationships are most likely to be the longest relationships that most people will experience in their whole lives.

    April 10, 2014 marked a special holiday – National Siblings Day – which celebrates the unique relationship between brothers and sisters. Even though it is not federally acknowledged like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, the relationships people have with their siblings are equally important as the ones they have with their parents.

    This new holiday is the idea of Claudia Evart, who is also the founder and director of Siblings Day. A freelance paralegal from New York City, Evart lost two of her siblings early in life, on separate accidents. It was then that she realized the significance of commemorating both our living and dead siblings. April 10 is a date close to Evart’s heart as it is also the birthday of her departed sister, Lisette.

    In 2008, President George W. Bush signed a message that officially recognizes April 10 as National Siblings Day. President Bill Clinton signed the same presidential message in 2000.

    Childhood cancer foundation Alex’s Lemonade Stand is set to announce the acquisition of another non-profit childhood cancer foundation Supersibs!, which has given support to siblings of cancer-afflicted children since 2002.

    Alexandra “Alex” Scott put up a lemonade stand to search for possible cures for children with cancer. Alex has three brothers, who have also struggled to deal with their sister’s ordeal with cancer. Alex’s story is a testament to the impact of having a cancer-stricken sibling in one’s life. Both Alex’s Lemonade Stand and Supersibs! have both done an excellent job of ensuring the security and sense of empowerment among siblings affected by childhood cancer.

    Alex’s Lemonade Stand

    Supersibs!

    Image via YouTube

  • Nevada Cattle Rancher Gets Support From Politicians; Feds Seize His Cattle

    A “range war” between the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and a rancher has reached fever pitch as the BLM surrounded Cliven Bundy’s Clark County ranch with four-wheel drive cars, armed officers, and helicopters.

    The war is over 600,000 acres of land near the border of Utah called Gold Butte, controlled by the BLM and used as a habitat for the protected desert tortoise. Ranchers who allow their cattle to graze there have to pay fees, which Bundy stopped paying since 1993.

    According to Bundy, he has rights to the land since his Mormon ancestors have worked there since the 1880’s. He further stated that there is no federal authority on the land, which belongs to Nevada.

    Just last week, the BLM also seized grazing cattle “in violation of a law” meant to protect the tortoise. Kirsten Cannon, spokeswoman for the BLM said that it was a last resort, blaming Bundy for forcing a range war.

    Bundy’s son, Ammon Bundy, claims that BLM’s actions have resulted in the death of many of their cattle.

    Christie Vanover, spokeswoman for the National Park Service, said that they have to account for citizens’ safety in the face of threats that could harm them.

    Cannon also stated that Bundy has been trespassing for more than 20 years, and that he owes $1.1 million to the federal government for grazing fees. Local authorities also arrested Bundy’s son Dave last Sunday. According to Dave’s aunt, her nephew was arrested for simply taking pictures of what the government officials were doing. He was released the next day.

    Bundy has help from two top leaders. Both Sen. Dean Heller and Gov. Brian Sandoval have come to his rescue, saying that the BLM’s actions were heavy-handed. According to Heller, the BLM is handling the situation poorly.

    Sandoval agreed, saying that there exists an atmosphere of intimidation and that they should change their approach.

    Bundy claims that the situation is bigger than his cattle, and that this is an issue of freedom, liberty and constitutional rights.

    He further said that he’s willing to pay grazing fees, as long as it is to Clark County, not the BLM.

    Image via YouTube

  • Omagh Bombing: Seamus Daly Found Responsible For 1998 Attack

    Irish Republican Army veteran, Seamus Daly, was arrested on Monday in the town of Newry. The 43-year-old is now facing a total of 33 charges, including the 29 murders that happened in the car bomb attack in Omagh in 1998.

    The Omagh Bombing is considered the worst terrorist crime in Northern Ireland. As a result of the attack, 29 people died and some 220 others were injured. Among those who were killed were children, women, and even an 8-month pregnant woman who was expecting twins.

    Daly was also charged with the attempted bombing of Lisburn a few month before the bombing in Omagh. Experts were able to diffuse that bomb.

    The police have always had their eye on Daly as a main suspect for the bombing. However, no one was ever prosecuted for the bombing over the past 16 years. An electrician was charged with the creation of the bomb, but forensic evidence was flawed and some of the testimonies by police officers were found to be misleading. There was an initial conviction for another man that supplied the phones to the bombers, but that fell through as well, since it was found that police had rewritten interrogation notes.

    Daly has always denied having something to do with the Omagh Bombing, but he was ruled responsible in a landmark civil lawsuit that was brought forward by relatives of the victims. For that, the court ruled that Daly and three other men should pay over £1.5 million (about $2.5 million) for damages.

    Daly also served three years in prison starting in 2004 after pleading guilty to a charge of IRA membership. The Real IRA (Irish Republican Army) is an organization founded in 1997 that aims to unite Ireland.

    Daly’s arraignment is scheduled to take place on Friday in a court west of Belfast.

    Who Bombed Omagh?

    Image via YouTube

  • Kirstie Alley Clears ‘Circus Fat’ Comment

    Kirstie Alley Clears ‘Circus Fat’ Comment

    Kirstie Alley cleared the issue about what she said in her Jenny Craig advertisement that was released on Monday. In the ad, the 63-year-old actress said, “I’m not circus fat, I just wanna lose 20 pounds.”

    The term “circus fat” angered many and they turned to Twitter for their harsh comments against the actress saying that what she said was offensive and demeaning.

    Alley was forced to explain what she meant during an interview for Today with Matt Lauer. She said that she did not mean to be offensive. In another explanation on “Diets in Review,” Alley said, “That’s how I see me,” referring to herself and not overweight people in general.

    Alley defends her “circus fat” comment

    The actress is known to poke fun at her own weight. She has been very open to the public with her journey to weight loss, too. Recently, Alley said that she wants to lose 30 pounds.

    This is not the first time Alley will be working with Jenny Craig, the nutrition and weight loss company. In 2004, Alley was able to lose a total of 75 pounds that can be attributed to the company’s healthy pre-packaged meals. This is the second time Alley has endorsed the company, since she resigned as Jenny Craig’s spokeswoman in 2007.

    In her interview with Lauer, she said that she has regained some of the pounds that she lost due to holiday eating and “man troubles.” The public has seen her weight go up and down through the years, but Alley claims that she has lost 100 pounds since leaving Jenny Craig in 2007. The additional weight loss is said to be because of a weight loss program she co-developed called “Organic Liaison.”

    Alley will now be sticking to Jenny Craig meals and taking supplements from her own line to help shed her 30-pound weight loss goal.

    Here’s the ad. Was it offensive?

    Image via YouTube

  • 101-Year-Old Message In A Bottle Finally Delivered

    In 1913, 20-year-old Richard Platz scribbled a short note on a postcard, placed it inside a beer bottle, secured it with a cork, and tossed it out to the Baltic Sea. Little did Platz know that his message would be found a hundred years later.

    The bottle was found in March by German fisherman Konrad Fischer, in a location not far from where Platz threw the bottle. When Fischer found the bottle, he almost threw it back to the sea, but noticed that the bottle had a note inside. The note asked whoever found the bottle to send it back to an address in Berlin, but a portion of the writing was illegible.

    Platz’s message is now known as the oldest message in a bottle, with the message dated May 17, 1913. Currently, the record holder is a message from a bottle from 1914 that was found in 2012. The Guinness World Records has not yet commented on Platz’s bottle.

    Based on the address scribbled on the postcard, researchers were able to identify Platz as the author of the note. There were able to track down his granddaughter, Angela Erdmann, 62.

    Erdmann never knew his grandfather, as he died in 1946 at the age of 54. She did all she could to learn more about Platz through scrapbooks kept by the family.

    Last week, Erdmann visited the museum where the message in a bottle is being kept. She was able to hold the bottle in her hands. “That was a pretty moving moment. Tears rolled down my cheeks,” she said.

    The message in a bottle, which will be 101 years in May, will be displayed at the International Maritime Museum until the first of May. It will then be further examined by experts who will try to decrypt the rest of the message.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Naya Rivera Of ‘Glee’ Calls Off Engagement To Rapper Big Sean

    Another potential Hollywood wedding is not going to happen. Hot young couple Naya Rivera and Big Sean ended their six-month engagement, according to an official statement given by the rapper’s representative to several online entertainment publications.

    Interestingly, it was Big Sean who supposedly called off the engagement to the sexy Glee actress. There have been recent rumors that the 26-year-old rapper from Detroit cheated on Rivera, although Big Sean’s rep maintains that the rumors are not true and are unrelated to the couple’s sudden split.

    Prior to the breakup, reports of Big Sean’s infidelity surfaced in Star magazine, alleging that it was Rivera who called off their engagement. However, someone close to the couple confirmed to Us Weekly that it was actually Big Sean who broke it off. Insiders also told TMZ that Rivera had grown too “controlling” of Big Sean, and was jealous of the women he met and worked with while on tour.

    Rivera attended the Marie Claire Fresh Faces event in Los Angeles on Tuesday night, when she was spotted by E! News not wearing her engagement ring. Just last Friday, though, Rivera tweeted her gratitude to Cosmopolitan for featuring her and Big Sean on the magazine’s list of the Cutest Engaged Celebrity Couples. Early this year, she declared in an interview with Cosmo for Latinas that Big Sean was “going to be an amazing husband” and will make “a great father someday”.

    The breakup may have turned nasty as Rivera took to Twitter to accuse her former fiancé of stealing an expensive Rolex watch from her. However, some sources have informed TMZ that the watch actually belonged to Big Sean and simply let Rivera wear it – but not keep it.

    Naya Marie Rivera and Sean Michael Leonard “Big Sean” Anderson first met on Twitter. Rivera followed Big Sean first, and they got engaged just six months after they publicly came out as a couple at the premiere of the biographical sports film, 42.

    Image via YouTube

  • Constitution Tattoo Flub Gets Response From Julia Louis-Dreyfus

    The new Rolling Stone issue featuring a naked Julia Louis-Dreyfus has people buzzing – for the wrong reasons. While Louis-Dreyfus looks stunning on the cover, but people are paying more attention to the US constitution tattooed on her back. Below the constitution is the signature of Founding Father John Hancock – who never signed the constitution.

    In fact, it was the Declaration of Independence that the Second Continental Congress president signed.

    The misplaced attribution was noticed right away. John Hancock’s autograph is so famous that his name has become synonymous with the term ‘signature.’ Netizens turned to social media to question the obvious blunder.

    One user commented that John Hancock did not sign the constitution. Another asked how Rolling Stone could miss something this important.

    The National Constitution Center, located in Philadelphia, also commented on the cover flub, by tweeting a picture of the cover next to other Founding Fathers Benjamin Franklin and George Washington. A text said “Thanks for the shoutout,” before noting that Hancock is not included.

    According to a representative of the magazine, it was not a mistake, but was done only because the Declaration of Independence couldn’t fit in the image. Publicity director of Wenner Media, Melissa Bruno, said that the Declaration of Independence is on the other side, but the signatures couldn’t all fit. Louis-Dreyfus also responded on Twitter to criticism, saying it was another Mike f***-up, referring to the character Mike McLintock, the director of communications for the HBO comedy series Veep. She also called him a “dummy,” with the hashtag Veep and crackexcuse.

     

    The TV star’s cover focuses on her career as “The First Lady of Comedy.” After her successful role as Elaine Benes in Seinfeld, she is back as Selina Meyer, vice president of the United States in Veep. The series has been met with critical acclaim and won a number of awards.

    The Rolling Stone issue will hit newsstands on April 11.

    Image via YouTube

  • Body Of Missing Michigan Doctor Found In Indiana Lake

    On Sunday, authorities pulled out a body from Lake Charles that was later positively identified as Teleka Patrick.

    Patrick, 30, who was last seen in in Kalamazoo, Michigan, had been reported missing since December. She failed to show up at work on December 6 and her abandoned Lexus was found in a ditch the night before. Police, together with search dogs, were dispatched at the location of her vehicle, but they found no traces of Patrick.

    It was a fisherman who discovered the body of the medical resident on Sunday. He called the authorities and reported to have seen something suspicious in the lake. According to autopsy reports from the coroner’s office, there was no evidence of body trauma and the autopsy results are consistent with drowning. However, investigation is still ongoing.

    Reports from authorities said that Patrick was behaving strangely just before her disappearance. Ismael Calderon, Patrick’s ex-husband, also had worries about his ex-wife’s mental health.

    Investigators also mentioned Marvin Sapp, a pastor and Grammy-nominated gospel singer who got a personal protection order against Patrick last year. Sapp said that Patrick visited his home, contacted his children, and even claimed to be his wife.

    Gospel singer Marvin Sapp got a personal protection order against Patrick last year

    Patrick also had a few YouTube videos wherein she is shown singing love songs to the camera. In one video, Patrick says, “Hi, baby. I am just coming to you to say ‘hi’ and tell you about my day.” According to Patrick’s mother, she was not aware of any relationship her daughter might have had before her disappearance.

    With the discovery of Patrick’s body, some questions have been answered, but more remain unclear. The question that everybody is asking is whom Patrick was talking to when she made the YouTube videos. Investigators are looking into the possibility that the person may know what happened to Patrick.

    Patrick’s family released a statement saying, “As we mourn Teleka, we must also honor her; honor the life she led, honor her kind spirit and honor her devotion to God and others.”

    Image via YouTube

  • VEISHA Celebration Canceled After Riot

    VEISHEA, Iowa State University’s annual week-long celebration, was canceled after riots ensued.

    VEISHEA, which stands from Veterinary Medicine, Engineering, Industrial Science, Home Economics, and Agriculture, has been a tradition for the university since 1922. The festival features parades, exhibits, demonstrations, fundraisers, and lectures from distinguished guests.

    This year’s celebration was cut short when a riot started, leaving a student injured by a falling light pole and another with a black eye.

    The university’s President, Steven Leath, officially announced the suspension of the remainder of the festival on Wednesday.

    The decision was made, as riots got out of hand, leaving upturned cars, street signs knocked down, and poles destroyed. “We cannot have any more property destroyed or incidents of this nature,” Leath said. He is disappointed that the celebration had to stop, but had to do it for the safety and welfare of the students.

    This is not the first time trouble brewed during VEISHEA. There were also riots in previous years and in 1997, a man was stabbed and killed in a fraternity house. Taking previous celebrations into consideration, Leath, together with the rest of the administration, will be re-evaluating VEISHEA’s future.

    In previous riots, the trouble can be blamed on the people from out of town who visited Ames to take part in the festivities. However, this time is different. “It’s never us. Well, this time it was us,” Leath said in a press conference.

    The student who was injured remains in the ICU in Des Moines hospital. Doctors and family members are keeping a close watch, hoping that he recovers soon.

    Authorities have already made two arrests, and are still continuing their investigation. According to Leath, students that are found to have been involved in the riot may face criminal charges, as well as expulsion from the university.

    The decision regarding future VEISHEA celebrations will be made within the next month.

    Image via YouTube

  • Tom Cotton: Ethics Complaint Against Arkansas Rep. Dismissed

    The Office of Congressional Ethics or OCE unanimously rejected an ethics complaint filed on October 2013 by the Arkansas Democratic Party against Arkansas Congressman and aspiring GOP Senator Tom Cotton. The complaint alleged that Cotton violated House rules by soliciting funds while at the U.S. Capitol.

    Democrats claimed that Cotton committed the violation when he conducted a radio interview with right-wing talk show host Hugh Hewitt and made an appeal to listeners for campaign support through his Senate campaign website. However, Cotton maintained that he was outside the premises of the U.S. House of Representatives during the interview.

    The OCE voted 6-0 to dismiss the complaint after the body investigated the formal charge, declaring that “there is not substantial reason” to conclude that Rep. Cotton was indeed inside the U.S. Capitol building when he asked listeners for campaign contributions.

    According to a letter subsequently issued by the OCE, the committee “considers this matter closed” as a result of its examination and review, which is also “consistent with the recommendation in the committee’s referral”.

    Cotton’s Senate campaign released copies of the complaint dismissal on Wednesday, April 9th. However, Cotton’s troubles are far from over as another complaint has surfaced regarding the disclosure of the identities of his consulting service clients. The complaint, which was filed by Arkansas Chief Justice Jack Holt – a Democrat – questioned the freshman lawmaker’s work for business consultancy firm McKinsey & Company, Inc. Cotton allegedly did not identify any of the clients for whom he provided professional services “in excess of $5,000”, which Holt deems worthy of a formal investigation by the Office of Congressional Ethics.

    Democratic Party of Arkansas lawyer Benton Smith stated that the complaint is an urgent matter of transparency and public accountability because Cotton’s constituents deserve to know whether their Rep. Cotton considers himself “above the law”. Smith added that Cotton is required to provide a full accounting of his clients from the time he worked as a Washington consultant in order for the people of Arkansas to have the information they deserve to know when they vote in November.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Corvette Sinkhole: Museum Finally Recovers All Eight Cars

    The last of eight Corvettes that fell into a museum sinkhole has finally been recovered.

    In February, a sinkhole formed under the National Corvette Museum, swallowing eight classic Corvettes, including a 1962 black Corvette, 1984 PPG pace car, 1992, white Corvette, 1993 ruby red Corvette, 1993 ZR1 Spyder, 2001 Mallet Hammer Z06, 2009 white Corvette, and a 2009 ZR1 also known as the “Blue Devil.”

    The sinkhole was about 30 feet deep and 40 feet wide.

    Workers have been hard at work in retrieving the classic cars, but they are also extra careful in doing so to prevent adding further damage to the classic Corvettes. The first to be recovered from the sinkhole was the “Blue Devil,” which came out pretty much intact.

    The last to be recovered was the 2001 Mallet Hammer Z06 that was said to look like a piece of tin foil, according to Kevin Helmintoller, the man who donated the car to the museum. Helmintoller, and his wife, donated the Mallet Hammer just a few months before the museum collapsed. “I expected bad, but it’s 100 times worse,” he told the museum authorities.

    The Mallet Hammer was found upside down at the bottom of the sinkhole. According to CEO of Scott, Murphy and Daniel Construction, Mike Murphy, the last car to be recovered looked the worst among the eight cars. “It took a lot of punishment from a lot of big rocks,” he said.

    After the sinkhole incident, executives from General Motors decided that they will restore all the eight classic Corvettes. However, there may not be enough pieces left of the Mallet Hammer for it to be restored properly.

    The museum’s Executive director, Wendell Strode, said that he will be having a meeting with the construction team, specialists, engineers, and the big players to talk about rebuilding the museum.

    All eight cars that were swallowed by the sinkhole will be on display at the museum until August before being shipped to Michigan for repairs.

    Cars rescued from the sinkhole

    Image via Corvette Museum, Twitter

  • California Sen. Leland Yee Pleads ‘Not Guilty’ To Corruption And Gun Trafficking Charges

    The disgraced California State Senator for District 8 appeared briefly in a San Francisco federal court on Tuesday to plead “not guilty” to federal firearm trafficking and political corruption allegations charged against him.

    The 65-year-old democrat was flanked by a few of his so-called criminal conspirators, which includes Yee’s former political consultant and alleged hit man Keith Jackson, and San Francisco Chinatown street gang member Raymond “Shrimp Boy” Chow. Jackson also pleaded “not guilty”, while Chow did not enter a plea.

    Chow’s attorney Tony Serra called the federal authorities “agent provocateurs” and claimed that the government fabricated his client’s crime and used entrapment to implicate Chow. A convicted felon, Chow is accused of participating in a money laundering scheme in which he bribed Yee with $6,800 in exchange for a Senate proclamation acknowledging Chow’s alleged illegal enterprise.

    According to prosecutors in Yee’s case, the veteran lawmaker brokered a $2 million firearms deal with the Islamic extremist group Moro Islamic Liberation Front or MILF, which is based in the southern region of the Philippines. These weapons were intended to be re-sold to an undercover FBI agent posing as an arms buyer.

    Yee, who is known to support gun control and finance reform in Sacramento, is accused of accepting bribes from various donors to push their agendas in the Senate and other government agencies. As a result, Yee was suspended by his Senate colleagues along with two other Democrats who have also broken the law in recent months.

    Since his arrest on March 26th, Yee has been released on a bond worth $500,000.

    Yee’s indictment was sparked by the FBI’s long-time investigation of the Chinatown social club Chee Kung Tong, which federal agents claim is a hub of illegal activity. As the alleged leader of this social club, Chow is facing charges of several felonies including money laundering, murder-for-hire, drug dealing, and gun running among others.

    Chow is set to enter his plea on April 15th, while Yee is due to return to court on Friday.

    Leland Yee Charged With Firearms Trafficking

    Image via YouTube

  • Tightrope Walking Daredevil Crosses River Seine

    There are several ways to cross Paris’ famous River Seine, and using a tightrope is just one of them. That’s just what this French acrobat did.

    Denis Josselin, a tightrope walker, has successfully crossed the River Seine in Paris last Sunday. Crowds gathered to see the amazing feat. Others were anxious, and some were just plain excited about the rare event that was about to take place.

    Josselin started dabbling in tightrope back in 1988. Prior to that, he was already trained in other activities, such as circus arts, dance, and mime – a true seasoned performer.

    This is not the first time Josselin attempted to cross the River Seine. He also crossed the river a decade ago.

    For his second successful attempt, Josselin was able to cross the river in just 30 minutes. He crossed a rope that was suspended between Quai de la Rapée and Quai d’Austerlitz. The cable he crossed was 150 meters long, and was hanging 25 meters above the water, which is quite a long way down.

    Josselin did not fail to amuse those who came to watch him. At one point, he even entertained the audience by walking a few meters in a blindfold.

    “Ever since I started walking on the cables I have stopped dreaming of flying. I am flying,” he said in an interview after his death-defying stunt.

    Josselin is the last tightrope walker to have authorization to cross the River Seine. That was back in 2004. Since then, he is the only person to tightrope over the river again. This year, the daredevil says that he is enjoying these rare occasions as much as possible.

    Josselin is far from done with these acts. He said that he is planning to cross a tightrope that is suspended over 70 meters high. He has several ongoing projects, but said that he won’t disclose the details as of yet. “I won’t tell you more now.”

    Tightrope Between Two Hot Air Balloons


    Image via YouTube

  • Heartbleed Bug Gives Hackers Access To User Data And Passwords

    A major online bug called CVE-2014-0160, more popularly known as “Heartbleed”, allows hackers to retrieve data from online services and websites. The bug was recently found by Neel Mehta of Google’s security team with a team of engineers from security company Codenomicon.

    To those who know how to work around it, Heartbleed can reveal the contents of a server’s memory—and this is where the most sensitive data is stored. This makes private data such as passwords and credit card numbers available to third parties. Hackers can also gain access to a server’s digital keys, and then use it to decrypt information and communications from the past, and potentially the future.

    Particularly prone to the bug are online services that use OpenSSL, which secures sites that use HTTPS encryption to keep data protected.

    The good news is that the bug has affected only certain versions of OpenSSL so far—versions 1.0.1 and 1.0.2 beta—and fixes for these have already been issued. The bad news is that the bug was only recently discovered while the vulnerable OpenSSL versions have been in use for two years. There is no way to tell which kinds of data hackers have already collected and used through Heartbleed.

    Social and blogging service Tumblr has released a note advising its users to change all their passwords immediately. Software developers and online security companies are looking into the extent of the bug, with some reporting that through Heartbleed they were able to access hundreds of Yahoo usernames and passwords.

    Yahoo and several other affected sites have issued statements letting users know that they have updated their codes and have taken care of the situation. It is predicted that many websites will take a while to protect themselves from possible Heartbleed breaches as this will entail rewriting codes and revoking security certificates.

    Heartbleed Bug Explained

    Image via YouTube

  • Santa Monica High School Student Who Fought With Teacher Pleads Not Guilty

    Blair Moore, a student of Santa Monica High school who was arrested after fighting with his science teacher on Friday last week, appeared in court for multiple misdemeanor charges on Tuesday. He pleaded not guilty.

    The charges include two counts of threatening a school official, one count possessing marijuana on school grounds, one count of possession of a weapon (a box cutter) on campus, and one count of using violence against a school employee “in retaliation for an act performed in the course of his or her duties.”

    According to Sgt. Jay Moroso of the Santa Monica Police Department, Moore was released “on his own recognizance” with an order not to strike, harass, assault, or threaten the victims named in the case. The 18-year-old student will go back to court on April 22 for his pre-trial hearing.

    A cellphone video recorded by one of the students shows Mark Black, a teacher, wrestling with Moore. Black grabbed Moore by the thigh before crashing into the classroom desks and pinning Moore to the floor. Some witnesses say the fight began when Black tried to confiscate something that was related to drugs from Moore.

    This was confirmed by Oscar de la Torre, a member of the district school board, who said that the incident arose from a conflict over drugs. Parents and students made similar statements in television news interviews and letters to school officials.

    Kylan Townsend, one of the students, said that Black wasn’t trying to hurt Moore: “He just wanted him to stop and he was trying to be a teacher and help.”

    After the incident, Supt. Sandra Lyon of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District released a statement, calling Black’s use of physical restraint “unacceptable.” Lyon placed Black on paid leave and pledged support to Moore’s family.

    However, Lyon’s statement angered parents. They defended Black and his efforts for intervening. A Facebook page supporting Black was put up, and there is also a petition on Change.org calling for his reinstatement.

    A Santa Monica High School graduate named Daniel Jacobs became upset about the initial statement given by Lyon that he made his own petition asking for Lyon to apologize. He said that when he watched the cellphone video, he saw Black as someone who was trying to neutralize a threat. Jacobs is one of Black’s former students, and he always makes it a point to visit his old teacher. He says of Black, “I’ve never met a more kindhearted man in my life.”

    Here’s the whole story (according to reports)

    Images via Facebook (1), (2)

  • Peter Mayhew Returning For ‘Star Wars: Episode 7’ To Reprise Chewbacca Role

    After a decade of waiting, Star Wars fans all over the world will be able to enjoy their favorite sci-fi film franchise. According to Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan F. Horn, Star Wars: Episode VII has already begun production and that majority of the cast members was set. The trio of new lead actors has yet to be revealed, although the original cast members – Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, and Mark Hamill – are said to be playing important roles in the movie. The most exciting news, however, is Peter Mayhew’s reprisal of his role as the massive Wookiee warrior Chewbacca.

    The 69-year-old English actor played Han Solo’s hairy co-pilot in the original Star Wars trilogy, starting with the 1977 film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Rumors of his participation in the new Star Wars film surfaced when he canceled a scheduled appearance at the Comicpalooza convention in Texas “due to filming”.

    Episode VII director J.J. Abrams had been very discreet about the casting details of the film prior to filming, although actress Carrie Fisher had been quoted several times regarding her appearance in the new film.

    Despite several rumors that Mayhew might be replaced with another actor in the Chewbacca role, the 7’3” actor addressed his fans by saying that he intends to reprise his iconic role for Episode VII. Mayhew has gone through double-knee replacement surgery in order to restore his ability to walk, after two years of being in a wheelchair.

    Star Wars: Episode VII is set to hit cinemas on December 18, 2015. A growing list of well-known actors have either auditioned for a role in the film or are heavily rumored to be part of it officially. English actor Benedict Cumberbatch, whom Abrams also directed in Star Trek Into Darkness, is reported to play the role of a Sith Lord in Episode VII, although there have also been rumors of a female Sith being introduced in the film.

    Image via Peter Mayhew, Twitter

  • Volcanic Island Niijima Merges With Neighboring Island

    Volcanic Island Niijima Merges With Neighboring Island

    A volcanic island on the coast of Japan, Niijima Island, has said to have swallowed a part of a neighboring island. NASA has recorded Niijima’s continuous eruptions, and photos from the Operational Lang Imager on Landsat 8 showed a stream of smoke coming from the island, and it has overtaken its neighbor.

    Niijima, Japan’s newest island, is said to now have a size that is eight times bigger than when it first erupted from the waters. It erected from the waters of the Philippine Sea in November 2013.

    The neighboring island, called Nishino Shima or Rosaio Island, is said to have first emerged from the waters some 10,000 years ago. The island’s last recorded major eruption was about 40 years ago.

    Both the Niijima Island and the Nishino Shima Island are part of the Ogasawara Island Chain, which is located around 600 miles to the south of Tokyo. The chain is also a part of the “Ring of Fire” that consists of many volcanoes.

    From the pictures taken, the two islands have somehow merged and red seawater marks the area where they are connected.

    When the new island first emerged in November, Japanese scientists were not quite clear on how long the island would last. This is because in most cases, the small islets that emerge from eruptions are reclaimed by the ocean. In a new observation last month, scientists said that Niijima Island might survive for at least several years, according to its behavior. There is also a big possibility that the island remains permanently.

    Many observers who have seen the images of the merged island suggest that the shape looks just like the cartoon character Snoopy. One Twitter user said, “Exactly as Nostradamus predicted. A new Snoopy-shaped island rises from the sea near Tokyo.”

    Official images of the merged islands have been released by the Japanese Coast Guard.

    Two Islands Merge

    Image via YouTube

  • X-37B Space Plane To Reach 500-Day Milestone In Space

    The US Air Force’s X-37B, an unmanned space plane, will reach a milestone on April 25 by being in space for 500 days.

    The X-37B was launched on December 11, 2012. It launched on OTV-3 in Cape Canaveral, Florida, and has broken its own record of spending 469 days in space.

    However, little is known about the mission of the X-37B. What we know is that it is an unmanned space plane, and that two models exist. It flew its first test mission in 2010. In 2005 and 2006, NASA performed tests with an early variant, called the X-37A.

    Because of its classified mission, no one knows when and where the X-37B will land. Its previous landing was held at California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base, and was only announced after landing.

    The X-37B is also smaller than other space planes, measuring only 8.8 meters in length, with a maximum weight of 4,990 kilograms. The space plane is solar powered.

    The X-37B is the lightest and smallest space plane, and is the second to land on its own, after Russia’s Buran, which performed one mission and after one orbit, landed at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in November, 1988.

    The X-37B is part of a global fascination for a “secret space race” that has overshadowed other space programs from countries around the world. An example is the Corona mission, which was executed from 1959 to 1972, and was declassified 23 years later.

    Experts have suggested that the X-37B is used to test new technologies. Others have speculated that it is used to watch over the Chinese spacecraft Tiangong-1, after news of X-37B’s frequent passes over North Korea and China. However, others have refuted this theory because the X-37B and Tiangong-1 are on different orbits.

    Spectators can view the X-37B tonight, as the space plane is sitting in an orbit of 392 by 296 kilometers. This makes it visible “from latitudes 55 degrees north to south.”

    X-37B Space Plane

    Image via Wikimedia Commons