WebProNews

Author: Val Powell

  • Floyd Mayweather’s Attempted Murder And Kidnapping Arrest Is A Fake Report

    News of Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s arrest on May 13 has begun making rounds on the Internet, and it’s all thanks to a satirical news site called Huzlers.com.

    According to a “Breaking News” item posted by Huzlers on May 14, the reigning Pound-for-Pound king in boxing was allegedly charged with attempted murder and kidnapping and was taken away by authorities from his Nevada home. To add hype to the fake news bit, Huzlers used an old photo of Mayweather being arrested in 2012 for domestic battery. The article even referenced the popular celebrity news website TMZ Sports regarding the details of the alleged crimes.

    TMZ Sports released an actual news article about Mayweather Jr.’s alleged involvement in the severe beating and kidnapping of two if his employees because he suspected them of stealing his jewelry. TMZ Sports reported that the two male employees had been working on the construction of Mayweather Jr.’s Las Vegas homes when Mayweather Jr. discovered that some of his jewelry pieces were missing. The two workers told TMZ Sports that someone from Mayweather Jr.’s camp contacted them several weeks ago and gave them instructions to meet the boxing champ at an off-site location.

    Floyd Mayweather Accused Of Murder And Kidnapping

    The two men claimed that Mayweather Jr. and several of his “people” were waiting for them when they arrived at the site. They added that Mayweather Jr.’s posse proceeded to assault them using a variety of weapons, “including clubs”. The beating was so brutal that the two workers suffered broken arms and legs, and had to stay at the hospital for several days.

    Upon closer inspection of the Huzlers article, it is evident that they merely copied the TMZ Sports article. They simply appended it with the fake update about Mayweather Jr.’s “arrest”. At the bottom of the page, a statement can be found that says Huzlers.com combines real and satirical news “to keep its visitors in a state of disbelief”.

    Image via Wikipedia Commons

  • ‘Noah’ Movie: Biblical Film Banned In Several Islamic Countries

    It’s safe to say that the Muslim side of the world is not too keen on seeing the upcoming Hollywood film, “Noah”.

    The biblical epic film, which is directed and co-written by Black Swan director Darren Aronofsky, features New Zealand actor Russell Crowe as the ark-building follower of God. In a statement given by a representative of Paramount Pictures to Reuters, censorship officials from Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates have banned the showing of “Noah” in their local theaters, on religious grounds.

    The film previously sparked a religion-fueled debate among conservative Christians in the United States, which compelled Paramount Pictures to modify its marketing material with a disclaimer that says, “artistic license has been taken” in interpreting the story of Noah.

    Juma Al-Leem, who is the director of media content at the UAE’s National Media Center, informed the Associated Press that the reason behind the prohibition is the fact that Islam disapproves of the depiction of the Prophet Mohammad as well as other holy figures in art and films as it promotes the worship of a person rather than God.

    After watching “Noah”, the censors added that some of the scenes in the film contradict Islamic teachings and that these elements might offend their viewers. Cairo’s Al-Azhar, which is the foremost center of Islamic studies, issued a religious edict called a fatwa against the film’s showing. The edict declared that the film is a “clear violation of Islamic law”.

    The big-budget film, which cost $125 million to make, will premiere on March 28 in American cinemas. Apart from Crowe, “Noah” also features other big Hollywood names such as Sir Anthony Hopkins as Methuselah, Jennifer Connelly as Noah’s wife Naameh, and Emma Watson as Ila.

    Noah is one of 25 prophets that the Qu’ran mentions by name. His Arabic name is Nuh, and is believed by Muslims to have been commanded by God to build an ark after seeing the people in his community refusing to worship God alone. There are subtle differences between the Qu’ranic and biblical versions of Noah’s story, although both accounts mention a massive flood and Noah’s ark saving a pair of each animal species.

    Watch ‘Noah’ Trailer


    Image via YouTube

  • Rachele Cateyes Disappointed By Diet Company’s Use Of Her Bikini Picture

    Rachele Cateyes, a Milwaukee, Oregon blogger, is a self-proclaimed “Fat Babe” who keeps a blog about body acceptance and body positivity. On one of her blog posts, she posted a picture of herself wearing a blue bikini. She was shocked to learn that the said photo was stolen and used by an online diet company in one of their campaigns. The photo was posted as the “before” image in a “before” and “after” picture.

    Cateyes said that she posted the image on her blog to show her readers that anyone can wear a bikini and have a positive self-image. The photo was taken by her husband on one of their trips to the beach.

    The blogger did not know that her picture was stolen until her readers tipped her off.

    Cateyes sent a message on the company’s Facebook page and stated that they were using her picture without permission, and that she would like to have it taken down. She received a response, but it was not something that she expected. The response said, “We have no control over it. You need to contact the people who specifically put this on his website.”

    According to Brian Westbrook, a technology expert, it is illegal to download photos from the Internet without the owner’s permission and use it to make profit.

    Cateyes said that the use of her picture goes against everything she believes in. The use of her picture is like telling the public that her body is bad and it is something that girls do not want to look like.

    Followers of Cateyes’ blog are now helping her spread the word about her stolen picture. They have also emailed the company requesting to remove Cateyes’ picture. Their efforts seem to have paid off, as the image no longer links directly to the official website of the diet company.

    How To Be A Fat Bitch eCourse #1

    Image via Rachel Cateyes, Twitter

  • Renee Zellweger’s Appearance Turns Heads On Red Carpet

    After being away from the public eye since November, Renee Zellweger was seen again on Wednesday night as she attended a charity event presented by The Painted Turtle and the UCSF Medical Center. The event, A Starry Evening of Music, Comedy & Surprises, was conducted at the Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco. It was held to support The Painted Turtle camp for children with chronic medical conditions. Aside from Zellweger, celebrities Amber Riley, Josh Groban, Annette Bening, and Kathy Griffin also attended the event.

    Zellweger stepped out wearing a sleek black dress, just a touch of make-up, and had her hair piled up in a messy bun. Entertainment news outfits commented that the 44-year-old actress, who is best known for her role as Bridget Jones, looked radiant and that her skin glowed. Others, however, wondered what Zellweger had done to her face. It appeared that she had some cosmetic work done, widening her eyes and making her lips look softer.

    The Oscar winner has previously been criticized for cosmetically enhancing her appearance. In 2013, she got a lot of attention because of her face. People speculated she had been using too much Botox. The actress has not said anything about her new look, but photographs of her during Monday’s event show a noticeable difference from those taken of her during last year’s Oscars.

    The last public appearance of the actress was last November when she attended the screening of Long Shot: The Kevin Laue Story in Burbank. Zellweger’s last movie was 2010’s My Own Love Song. The actress kept herself busy last year as the executive producer of the Cinnamon Girl drama series.

    In addition to her support for The Painted Turtle, Zellweger was also involved in an HIV prevention campaign in 2005, working with Switzerland’s federal health department. In 2011, she became one of the patrons of The GREAT Initiative, a foundation focusing on gender equality. That same year, she collaborated with Tommy Hilfiger to design a bag to help raise awareness and money for the Breast Health Institute.

    Image via Twitter

  • Kilah Davenport: Child Abuse Victim Dies At Age 4

    “We know she’s dancing in heaven. She’s not in pain anymore,” said her grandmother Leslie Davenport.

    The four-year-old girl, who was severely beaten by her stepfather in May 2012, finally stopped breathing on Thursday. Kilah was at home with her mother, who tried to revive her with CPR before rushing Kilah to Northeast Medical Center. Doctors pronounced her dead on arrival.

    Kilah was three years old when her stepfather Joshua Houser allegedly picked her up and slammed her head against the wall of their North Carolina home in a fit of rage. The assault caused Kilah to sustain severe and permanent brain damage, which required part of her skull to be removed due to the extreme swelling on her brain. The young girl also suffered a broken clavicle and multiple bruising in various parts of her body. Houser continues to deny the allegations, claiming that he would never hurt his stepdaughter.

    Kilah’s family arranged a brief press conference on Thursday to address the young girl’s death. They were joined by North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, who said that he wept when he found out about Kilah’s passing. Jeff Gerber, who is the founder of the Kilah Davenport and Justice For All Coalition encouraged Kilah’s family to campaign for stronger child abuse laws in 2012. Kilah’s story pushed the passing of a North Carolina law that increases sentencing punishments for five child-abuse related offenses. Congress is currently pressuring other states to follow suit.

    Last month, Houser was convicted of the felony child abuse inflicting serious bodily harm, and was sentenced to a mere 92 to 123 months in prison. If the crime had been committed after the new law was enacted, Houser would have gotten a minimum of 25 years in prison.

    Kilah appeared in court with her mother Kirbi Davenport during the last two days of the trial. She rested quietly by her mother’s side and occasionally made low moans. With Kilah’s death, Houser could face additional charges, although Union District Attorney Trey Robinson has yet to comment on the possibility.

    Image via YouTube

  • MTA Transit Employees Have Their Personal Info Exposed In Data Breach

    Around 15,000 current and former workers of the New York City Transit Authority have their Social Security number and other personal data exposed after the information was found on a CD, which was still inside a refurbished CD-ROM drive. The Associated Press further reported that the information was discovered when the buyer of the reworked CD drive saw the disc, checked its contents, and recognized some of the names on the list.

    The buyer, who happens to be employed by a New York City Transit vendor, immediately notified her employer about the incident. The MTA’s chief information officer Sidney Gellineau wrote a letter that said the vendor turned in the CD to the lawyer of the New York City Transit Authority without making a copy or engaging in any “misuse of the data”.

    Gellineau’s letter, which was sent on March 6, was addressed to the individuals affected by the security breach. He assured them that the MTA has commenced the investigation in order to get to the bottom of the situation.

    The contents of the disc included complete names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and even earnings of approximately 15,000 active, former, retired, and deceased NYC Transit workers. The affected employees hold a variety of positions within the company, ranging from executives, supervisors, and salaried workers. No hourly paid employees were found on the list.

    In the MTA’s letter, Gellineau declared that their policy prohibits the placement of unencrypted personal data on a CD by an employee. He added that their company is “not aware of any other such violation of the policy”. According to the Associated Press, a complaint has been filed with the NYPD, although the police department has yet to comment on the issue.

    News of personal data theft committed by hackers have been a hot security topic lately, but experts claim that it is not unusual for personal information to be exposed by accident. In order to prevent these accidental breaches, some companies place restrictions on their workers’ computers that make them unable to copy files and take them outside the workplace.

    NYC Subway

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Vybz Kartel: Jamaican Dancehall Artist Found Guilty In The Murder Of Clive “Lizard” Williams

    Vybz Kartel, born Adidja Azim Palmer, was convicted of murder in the Caribbean Supreme Court. 10 of the 11-person jury found the Jamaican dancehall artist guilty, along with three others – Andre St. John, Kahira Jones, and Shawn Campbell. Shane Williams, another associate, was the only one found not guilty.

    Although Vybz Kartel has been spending the last three years of his life in jail, his songs continue to be played and he is still considered a hero by many young Jamaicans. He is known for his innovative lyrics that often have a violent nature. He has also co-written a book while in prison entitled The Voice Of The Jamaican Ghetto: Incarcerated but not Silenced. The book was released in 2012.

    Outside the streets of the Supreme Court, Jamaican police in full riot gear stood by while throngs of Vybz Kartel’s supporters waited for the verdict. They were ready for any outburst or disruption that may occur. The artist’s fans have already broke through barricades just before the jury session started and some 200 people were shouting “Free Kartel!”

    Vybz Kartel supporters gathered in front of the courthouse before verdict was read

    The trial went on for 65 days, which is the longest hearing that Jamaica’s court system has ever had.

    According to prosecutors, Clive “Lizard” Williams was murdered in August 2011 in Vybz Kartel’s home. Williams was said to be beaten to death over missing guns that belonged to Vybz Kartel. The victim’s body has never turned up. During the trial, police also testified that they were able to recover a text message from the artist’s mobile phone that said that Williams’ body has been chopped up so fine that it will never be found.

    Hip hop artist Busta Rhymes of Jamaican heritage was outside the courthouse to give Kartel support

    Another twist to the high-profile case was the arrest of a male juror who was said to have attempted to bribe the jury supervisor to sway the panel into freeing Vybz Kartel.

    This is not the first time Vybz Kartel got in trouble with the law. The artist, together with two others, allegedly killed businessman Barrington “Bossy” Burton in 2011. However, Vybz Kartel was found not guilty due to the lack of evidence from the prosecutors.

    Vybz Kartel’s lawyer speaks about Kartel’s acquittal in the Barrington “Bossy” Burton murder trial

    Vybz Kartel’s sentencing is slated for March 27. His lead attorneys are planning to appeal the verdict, as they say that there is a lack of hard evidence that links Vybz Kartel and his associates to Williams’ murder. They also say that the case against the artist is a conspiracy by the police in order to frame him.

    Vybz Kartel feat. Spice : ‘Romping Shop’ — Big Tune!

    Image via YouTube

  • Serene Superyacht Docks in Manhattan

    Serene, one of the largest superyachts in the world, has found safe harbor in Manhattan. The vessel is owned by Yuri Scheffler, the man behind vodka brand Stolichnaya. The yacht’s presence in the United States is speculated to be connected to the current unrest in Ukraine and Russia over the latter’s annexation of Crimea, and that the Russian oligarch may have decided to go to safer waters.

    The truth is that the vodka magnate is in New York on business. Scheffler’s company SPI Group was started in Russia, but is now based in Luxembourg. Scheffler himself hasn’t been to the motherland in 12 years and is now a British citizen. He has also been battling the Russian government for years.

    Scheffler has publicly expressed his discord with the Russian government, which had tried to seize his company and its assets. When he refused to give up the company in 2003, Scheffler was issued a warrant for his arrest. This goes to show that Scheffler certainly is no Putin crony.

    In an email, Scheffler wrote that if Russia were a democratic country with a proper legal system, things would be different. However, given the circumstances in Russia where “there is only one law, and it’s called ‘Putin’,” he can only feel sorry for the Crimean people. “This is terrible when a country captures a neighbor’s territory.”

    Serene was built by Italian shipyard Fincantieri Yachts and was designed by Espen Oeino. It was delivered to Scheffler in August 2011. The massive vessel measures 439.3 feet in length and has five levels. Onboard amenities include several pools and Jacuzzis, a playroom for children, an indoor climbing wall, and an underwater viewing room. There are cabins for 52 crew and 24 guests, and two helicopter landing platforms. It was designed and built according to the regulations of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, giving the yacht an edge in terms of overall safety.

    So big you can land a helicopter on it

    Serene Yacht In All Its Glory


    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Pope Francis Celebrates One Year At The Vatican

    On March 13, 2013, Buenos Aires archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio became the 266th Pope. The announcement of a new Pope came at nighttime, as white smoke poured from the chimney and caused the crowd to cheer while waiting to see who has been chosen. The chimney had yielded black smoke two times before they had made a decision.

    Benedict XVI, Pope Francis’ predecessor, has just resigned a month before the new Pope took the seat. His cause of resignation was his declining mental and physical health.

    A New Pope Emerges

    During Pope Francis’ first appearance as the Pope, he asked the people to pray for him. The Pope also repeated the request on his very first tweet dated March 17, 2013, which read, “Dear friends, I thank you from my heart and I ask you to continue to pray for me. Pope Francis.”

    On the anniversary of his first year at the Vatican, the Pope again tweeted “Please pray for me.”

    Pope Francis has been making headlines because of his merciful and less judgmental approach. According to Father Joel Camaya, a priest from the Philippines, the people can expect the Catholic Church to be revitalized, as “he would continue to make it closer to those in the peripheries. It is an echo of the action of the other Francis, the man of Assisi, rebuilding the church of Jesus.”

    Pope Francis has shied away from the Vatican rules during the first year of his papacy. He does not use the papal limo and instead travels in a Ford Focus, and he does not reside in the papal apartments and lives in the Vatican hotel. He is also known to make phone calls to people who write to him.

    The Vatican marked the Pope’s first year by releasing an e-book that consists of quotations from the pope’s first year in office.

    Pope Francis: Rare Footage


    Image via YouTube

  • Ryan Braun To Endorse 3N2 Softball Cleats

    Ryan Braun To Endorse 3N2 Softball Cleats

    Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers’ right fielder, has just signed an endorsement deal with 3N2, a manufacturer of baseball cleats. This is the first endorsement the player has agreed to, following his 65-game suspension for violating the anti-drug agreement of the MLB (Major League Baseball).

    Braun’s endorsement deal with Nike was cut short on August 2, due to the drug allegations. Marty Graham, president of 3N2, said that they would pay Braun a fraction of the cost that he got from Nike. The cleat-company had contacted the player’s representatives in hopes of striking a deal with Braun. They then sent a pair of cleats to Braun, and sources say that he has been using them while training throughout the spring season.

    Braun’s drug allegations did not seem to stop the 3N2 from getting him to endorse their products. Graham said that the company believes in Braun and that the country is about second chances.

    Reports from SportsOneSource indicate that 3N2 is just getting 0.2% market share in the $220 million baseball cleat market. It is behind leaders in the industry including Mizuno, Armour, Adidas, New Balance, and Nike. However, Graham said that since they are a smaller business, their progress is not well tracked and that their market share is closer to 2%.

    Braun is reported to have lost a whopping $3.3 million in salary because of his suspension. He was also dropped as an endorser for Milwaukee restaurants, AirTran Airways, and Kwik Trip. Graham said that if the player performs the way they think he would, his negative past will soon be forgotten. As of December, Braun’s appeal on consumers is likened to Dennis Rodman’s or Donald Trump’s.

    Aside from the 3N2 deal, Braun is also reported to be paid to wear the Natural II, a new batting glove from Franklin Sports.

    Ryan Braun Lied About Doping

    Image via YouTube

  • Jasmine Joseph: Body Of Missing Student Found Dead In Her Car

    Jasmine Joseph, the 22-year-old college student from Long Island who has been missing since February, was found dead in her car. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death but since there is no evidence of foul play, her death is currently being ruled as a suicide.

    Police confirmed the identity of the missing student, whose body was found in her Nissan Altima on Tuesday. The car was parked in a lot in Syosset less than half a mile from home. The parking lot had previously been searched by the police but the car was not reported to be present then.

    Joseph was last seen on the 24th of February leaving her home. She informed family members that she was going to attend a class at the Old Westbury campus of the New York Institute of Technology where she was taking up nursing. When her mother called in the afternoon, she said she was in the campus library. She never came home and calls to her phone went straight to voicemail. Her parents then decided to go to the campus to look for her, fearing that she may have been kidnapped. They saw no signs of her or her car.

    This prompted her family to contact the police. During the investigation, they found out that the last time Jasmine went to class was May last year.

    Joseph’s parents were shocked to learn of this, because their credit card was charged for the Fall 2013 semester. Her mother Lovely Joseph said that she was a straight-A student, but when the Fall semester came and they asked to see her report card, Jasmine said that the computer had technical problems. Mrs. Joseph also noticed her daughter wasn’t bringing textbooks home, to which Jasmine replied that she was doing her reading online.

    According to her family, Joseph was obedient and didn’t have a boyfriend. They didn’t even have strict rules that may have been difficult for her.

    After she disappeared, her family set up a page on Facebook to help with the search effort. Joseph’s parents also offered a $5,000 reward for her return.

    Image via YouTube

  • Kevin Trudeau: Prosecutors Want Him To Serve At Least 10 Years In Jail

    Kevin Trudeau, a fraud and infomercial host, was convicted of lying in infomercials about subjects tackled in his book regarding food and calorie restrictions. Trudeau has been in jail since November 12 of last year.

    The Federal Trade Commission has asked the infomercial king to pay a fine of $37 million in June 2010, but he has not paid a dime to date. Reports also say that Trudeau has been living an extravagant lifestyle, spending thousands of dollars on draperies, gym memberships, the salon, and first class airfare a few weeks after he was asked to pay the fine. He has also spent six figures on a new Bentley.

    Trudeau ordered back to jail after living lavish lifestyle

    District Judge Ronald Guzman is slated to impose a sentence, and prosecutors urge him to view a television interview in which Trudeau has admitted to living lavishly and outwardly saying that he is avoiding paying the $37 million fine.

    Trudeau’s book entitled The Weight Loss Cure ‘They’ Don’t Want You to Know About, has reportedly sold 850,000 copies that amount to around $49 million. A percentage of those who bought the book returned them and got a partial refund. The prosecutors accuse Trudeau of preying upon the insecure, the sick, and the poor who want to be wealthy. They also said that Trudeau “exploits consumers’ insecurities and weaknesses, promising them an easy fix for whatever hurts or embarrasses them.”

    According to prosecutors, Trudeau’s charges should amount to a maximum of 25 years in prison based on the guidelines on federal sentencing. They are asking the judge to impose at least a 10-year sentence for Trudeau. The defense, on the other hand, says that the portrayal of Trudeau as a huckster has gone too far and that he should only get a sentence of less than two years in jail. They also said that Trudeau has already paid a price, as he is never going to be able to revive his career as a salesman.

    Sentencing for Trudeau will be held on March 17.

    Kevin Trudeau pitches ‘The Weight Loss Cure’

    Image via YouTube

  • ‘Jeopardy!’ Champ Unseated After 11-Game Winning Streak

    After 11 straight wins that earned him $297,200, ‘Jeopardy!’ champ Arthur Chu finally bowed out of the game. He has become possibly the game show’s most controversial contestant for his playing strategy, in which he jumped around the board instead of going through the categories straight down.

    He ended his last game on Wednesday in third place with zero dollars, after betting all of that night’s $7,600 winnings on a question he failed to answer correctly. The Final Jeopardy question asked contestants to identify the last male monarch who had not been Prince of Wales. The answer was George VI, and only Diana Peloquin of Ann Arbor, Michigan got it right. She took the Jeopardy throne from Chu and went home with $15,700.

    Jeopardy Champ Arthur Chu’s Final Hurrah

    Chu’s renegade playing style both angered and awed the long-running game show’s fans, with some calling him a villain and others, a hero. Traditionalists commented he was unsportsmanlike, while others became inspired. During Wednesday’s game, Peloquin also used unconventional strategies to build up her lead, seemingly giving Chu a dose of his own medicine.

    Chu explains that the strategy is rooted in game theory, and was not actually revolutionary in terms of the game show. Chuck Forrest, who was a ‘Jeopardy!’ contestant in 1985, did the same thing, and became known for it so much that the game plan was labeled “Forrest Bounce.” Chu said that by being unpredictable, opponents are put off-balance, allowing for an initial advantage. The strategy increases a contestant’s chance of winning, and Chu said he saw no reason not to apply it.

    After his winning streak ended, Chu tweeted his thanks to his fans and announced that he would be doing an ‘Ask me Anything’ session on Reddit on Thursday. In an interview, Chu said he hopes his media exposure earns him greater opportunities as a voiceover artist.

    Chu has the third-biggest cash winnings in the game show’s history, after Eddie Thomas who won five consecutive times in 1999, and all-time champ Ken Jennings who reigned for 74 times straight in 2004.

    Arthur Chu Rocks Out On YouTube After Winning Nearly $300k

    Image via YouTube

  • Lionel Messi Kicks Barcelona Into Quarter-Finals

    Lionel Messi’s left foot scored the goal that placed Barcelona into the quarterfinals when the team won against Manchester City in the Champions League.

    Barcelona has been in a slump lately, and Messi’s winning kick has broken the spell. The kick came when there was just about 20 minutes left on the clock. The ball dropped near Messi and he swiftly lifted the ball into the net and propelled his team to the quarter-finals.

    Messi has been doing well, scoring in all the games in this season’s Champions League – a total of eight goals in five matches. He also holds the title for the player with most goals in the Champion League with a total of 67. Some players, coaches, and commentators regard Messi as the greatest footballer of all time.

    Team Barcelona’s bus arrived at the venue at 7:10 p.m. Messi was the last to get off the bus together with Cesc Fábregas who has been Messi’s teammate since they were 13 years old. According to Angel Cappa, the Argentinian coach, Messi sometimes looks like he has lost his passion for the game. When the teams shook hands before the game, Messi appeared poker-faced while munching on food.

    Statistics also show that Messi’s rate of goals has declined throughout the last four seasons. Overall, his play today is only a third of his play in 2011 to 2012, which was his most active season.

    Vincent Kompany of Manchester City said that Barcelona’s recent decline should not be the focus, as “The beast might wake.” Indeed, the beast in Messi has awakened, as people in the stadium noticed his intensity and aggressiveness just a few minutes into the game.

    With Messi scoring a goal, Barcelona has risen out of their slump and moves on to their next match.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Fran Tarkenton: Manziel Has Franchise Qualities, But Has Questionable Character

    Former NFL quarterback Fran Tarkenton sees himself in Johnny Manziel, and has no doubt that the former Texas A&M quarterback can make plays in the league. Whether Manziel has the qualities to become a leader is a different story.

    Manziel is being considered as one of the NFL’s top three quarterback prospects, together with Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater and Central Florida’s Blake Bortles.

    Some say that Manziel’s small frame isn’t ideal for the big league, but Tarkenton, himself slightly smaller than other players during his heyday, thinks size isn’t a problem, as long as one knows how to play the game. And being a prime quarterback is something Manziel can definitely do.

    Tarkenton considers Manziel to be a quarterback savant, but he knows that on-field talent is not enough, especially now that the NFL clubs are evaluating probable new players. “You look at your great players, they have to be leaders in the clubhouse and off the field,” Tarkenton said. They don’t necessarily need to be pious churchgoers, but “They have to have character.”

    Manziel stands to be a high-reward, but also a high-risk draft pick because of his questionable character. Last summer, he had to prematurely leave the Manning Passing Academy because he overslept, making him miss a morning meeting. Manziel has also been known to have a bad-boy image, if the “exploits” he posted on social media were any indication.

    Tarkenton commented that he would have to spend more time with the young player so that he could understand him better. He had already seen what Manziel can do on the field, but character is another matter. Manziel’s off-field behavior could be a problem, Tarkenton said, if Manziel would be drafted in the league. “There’s never been a great quarterback I know of who was a rodent,” Tarkenton added.

    During his prime, Tarkenton played 18 seasons, leading the Minnesota Vikings to three appearances at the Super Bowl. When he retired, he owned every major quarterback record.

    Johnny Manziel’s Character May Be Questionable But His Game Isn’t!

    Image via YouTube

  • Quadruple Homicide: Kyle Trevor Flack Is Accused Of Murder In Ottawa, Kansas

    Franklin County Judge of Ottawa, Kansas, Thomas Sachse, has ordered Kyle Trevor Flack to stand trial for the murder of an 18-month-old girl and three adults.

    On May 2012, Flack, 28, was charged with attempted rape, weapons violation, first-degree murder, and capital murder. The bodies of three adults, Kaylie Bailey, Steven White, and Andrew Stout, were found at Stout’s farm in Ottawa, which is located around 50 miles from Kansas City. A few days after, the body of Bailey’s little girl, Lana Leigh Bailey, was found in Osage County. The body was wrapped in a blanket and placed in a suitcase that was left by a creek.

    Several witnesses testified and described how the bodies of the victims looked when they were found. Testimony showed that all of the four victims died from gunshot wounds to the upper body, face, and the head. The medical examiner also said that the little girl might have suffered the most out of the four, as her death did not come instantly.

    The defense, however, says that the tests are inconclusive as the firearms expert and the medical examiner cannot determine what type of shotgun the bullets came from.

    At the preliminary hearing, the judge stated that there was enough evidence to try Flack on weapons and murder charges. Flack cannot legally carry a firearm, as he was convicted in 2005 for second-degree murder and was paroled in 2009. The initial charge of rape was later changed to attempted rape, as the judge says that the DNA evidence is not enough to support the claim.

    Flack’s arraignment is slated for April 22. The chief of the Kansas Death Penalty Defense Unit, Ron Evans, represents him.

    A week after the arraignment, prosecutors must decide if they are going to seek death penalty, as it has been 49 years since the last execution in Kansas.

    Image via KCTV News

  • Michael Milken And Sumner Redstone To Donate $80 Million To George Washington University

    George Washington University will be receiving an $80 million donation from philanthropists Michael Milken of the Milken Institute, and Sumner Redstone of CBS Corporation and Viacom. The amount is the largest the university has ever received.

    Half of the $80 million, which is from Milken Institute, will be given in a span of five years in order to provide support for the school of public health. A sum of $30 million from Redstone will be covering the costs for establishing a center for wellness and prevention. The other $10 million from the Milken Family Foundation will be given throughout this year and next year to support the university’s public health dean.

    Business tycoons Milken, 67, and Redstone, 90, have been friends for 30 years. According to Redstone, “We’ve been friends, not just business friends.” Both have built their own businesses and both are billionaires. Another experience that these men share is that they were both diagnosed with prostate cancer.

    The two acknowledge changes in their diet and exercise as the reason why they are still alive. Milken said that they are focused on providing people in lower socioeconomic groups a lifestyle that will give them a better quality of life.This is the reason why they donated the $80 million to GWU.

    The university is keen on targeting different conditions, such as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. These chronic conditions are said to be responsible for over 75% of health care costs each year in the United States.

    Milken and Redstone’s monetary contribution is said to be unique as the majority of the donations the university receives geared towards cure and treatment. This time, however, the donation will be towards changing behavior.

    Lynn Goldman, a pediatrician and epidemiologist from GWU, said that the philanthropists’ contributions to the university will be an enormous boost for the institution.

    Michael Milken talks about prostate cancer research

    For more info on  GW’s Public Health Program,  click here

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  • Tomnod Website Set Up To Involve Public In The Search For Malaysia Airlines Flight 370

    A website, Tomnod.com, has been set up to enable the public to help in solving the mysterious disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370. The plane and its passengers—239 in all—vanished from radar as it headed to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur on March 8th.

    Tomnod, a Mongolian word that translates to “Big Eye,” is owned by Colorado-based satellite company Digital Globe. The company trained five satellites on the region of the Gulf of Thailand, the plane’s last known location. The satellites transmit data and photos of the area on the Tomnod website. It is hoped that through millions of crowdsourcing volunteers acting as a large virtual search party, signs of the missing plane will be found.

    The online response was so immense that the site required emergency maintenance. Before the site went down, there had already been six million map views, with half a million users signing up. The crash of the website is a good sign, the company said, because it means that many people are interested in helping out. The uploaded images have been getting a lot of tags, and the company said that they will be uploading more images, including those taken by satellites above the Strait of Malacca.

    Users can log on to Tomnod.com to view and examine the high-definition images taken by the satellites from 400 miles above the gulf. If there’s anything suspicious, users can publicly geotag the object or area. A computer algorithm will then determine the areas that are tagged more than others, and the information will be studied by in-house experts to check for any leads generated from the consensus tagging.

    Digital Globe has done a similar crowdsourcing project the previous year in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines in November. The campaign enabled volunteers to tag over 60,000 objects of interest based on the satellite photos and the information was given to emergency responders.

    Satellite footage of Philippines before and after Typhoon 

    Shay Har-Noy Talks About Tomnod

    Image via YouTube

  • Great White Shark Tracked For The First Time Crossing The Atlantic Ocean

    A mature female great white shark nicknamed Lydia was tagged off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida in March of last year. Since then, the researchers have been keeping a close eye on her. This weekend, almost a year later, researchers saw that she was on her way across the Atlantic Ocean. It was a milestone, since there had been no records documenting such a feat by a great white. Lydia’s current position is east of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, and she seems to be headed towards the coast of the Cornwall peninsula in the U.K.

    The discovery that great white sharks can make long-distance trips has started to change the way science regards the species. For instance, it could be a factor when looking at the ways to conserve the shark population. According to Bob Hueter of the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, if sharks are to be saved, scientists and advocates must not only protect the animals where they live, but “also work with other countries towards global conservation.”

    Lydia now holds the distinction of traveling the farthest distance of any known great white shark. She has covered around 20,000 miles, including her trips along the East Coast of the United States. In 2004, another female great white was discovered to have swam from South Africa to Western Australia and back. Her journey back and forth across the Indian Ocean was tallied at 12,427 miles.

    Advances in technology have enabled scientists to track large predators such as Lydia. The group that developed the method used to secure and tag her, Ocearch.org, shows a real-time track of the great white on its website. Lydia’s tag, attached to her dorsal fin, is tracked by satellite. When she swims, her dorsal fin rises above the water’s surface, and the tag transmits location data.

    Before Lydia’s tag was developed, scientists made use of archival tags that stored information until these were retrieved. Researchers then downloaded the data to recreate where the shark had been.

    Watch “Lydia”, the great white shark, get ready for the Atlantic Ocean

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Death Row: Louisiana Inmate Glenn Ford Exonerated After 30 Years In Jail

    After three decades of being in prison, Louisiana death row convict Glenn Ford was finally a free man on Tuesday. As he walked out of the Louisiana State Penitentiary, Ford told reporters that he had mixed emotions about his release  but that “it feels good” to be exonerated.

    Ford – who is now 64 years old – was charged in 1983 for the murder of an elderly white man in Shreveport named Isadore Rozeman. Ford did occasional yard work for Rozeman and some witnesses placed him close to the scene of the crime on the day of Rozeman’s murder. Ford immediately headed to the police station when he found out that the police were looking for him, and he cooperated with authorities all throughout the investigation. Ford was 34 years old when an all-white jury convicted him of first-degree murder and sentenced him to the death penalty.

    For years, Ford’s legal team had argued that their client was wrongfully convicted after a trial during which he was represented by “inexperienced counsel” and information was unlawfully suppressed. In 2013, a major development happened in the case when prosecutors disclosed the admission of another man to the murder of Isadore Rozeman. A suspect named Jake Robinson, whom Ford identified from several photographs, was the man who admitted to the informant that he shot and killed Rozeman.

    During the murder investigation, Ford mentioned a man he identified as “O.B.”, who had given him jewelry to pawn. Later on, O.B. (whose real name is Henry Robinson) and his brother Jake were also charged with Rozeman’s murder, although the charges were eventually dismissed. Jake Robinson’s then-girlfriend Marvella Brown implicated Ford in the shooting, but declared that it was all a lie when she testified on trial.

    Louisiana law states that exonerated convicts who served time are entitled to receive monetary compensation amounting to $25,000 per year of wrongful incarceration and an additional $80,000 for “loss of life opportunities”.

    Death Penalty Right Or Wrong?

    Image via YouTube

  • Whitney Houston: Beverly Hills Police Officer Files Lawsuit Over Death Investigation

    Brian Weir, a Beverly Hills police officer, has filed a lawsuit against the city for the way he was treated after reporting misconduct by a fellow officer during the investigation on the death of singer Whitney Houston.

    In 2012, Weir was one of the responders at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, where Houston was found dead in her suite’s bathtub. Weir, then assigned as a SWAT team sergeant, attempted to secure the scene and covered Houston’s body with a sheet to prevent contamination.

    Weir claims that as he was working, Detective Sergeant Terry Nutall of the department’s fraud and forgery unit arrived. Nutall pulled the sheet down to the Houston’s pubic region, coming in close proximity to touching the body and possibly contaminating the scene. Weir also heard Nutall make inappropriate comments such as that the singer “looked attractive for a woman of her age and current state.”

    According to Weir’s lawsuit, he believes that Nutall, who’s now a lieutenant, treated the singer’s body in a way that his fellow officer knew is in violation of the Model Penal Code as well as the department’s own manual. What Nutall did had no legal purpose, and was not done for any legitimate law enforcement or investigative inquiry.

    Weir said in his lawsuit that after he reported the incident, Nutall and his superiors took reprisal action against him. He was removed from the SWAT team, denied promotion to other positions, denied special and overtime pay, and was stripped of supervisory duties. In sum, he was ostracized and harassed by the other officers in the department, including Captain Tony Lee, Lieutenant Lincoln Hoshino, and the Chief of Police David Snowden.

    The situation caused Weir to lose income and make him upset, aggravated, and distressed. As such, he is seeking damages for consequential, incidental, and actual losses. He also wants his position in the SWAT team back, and is also seeking damages for emotional distress, and legal costs and attorney fees.

    Whitney Houston’s Autopsy

    Image via YouTube