WebProNews

Author: Val Powell

  • Bindi Irwin: Major Backlash On Partnership With SeaWorld

    Bindi Irwin, the daughter of ‘crocodile hunter’ Steve Irwin, became the subject of criticism and controversy when she announced her partnership with SeaWorld.

    The teen appeared on Good Morning America with her brother Robert and mother Terri. She shared her excitement in following her father’s footsteps by empowering kids through SeaWorld’s project Generation Nature. “I’m thrilled to be partnered up with SeaWorld… and just encouraging kids to change the world,” she added.

    Bindi’s announcement

    http://youtu.be/pNKL5GURuao

    SeaWorld has come under heavy scrutiny ever since the documentary Blackfish was released last year. The award-winning film showed the poor conditions that the killer whales in SeaWorld’s theme parks are subjected to.  After the release of the documentary, protests ensued and many musical acts, such as Willie Nelson, Trisha Yearwood, and Barenaked Ladies cancelled their performances in SeaWorld’s theme parks, most recently in SeaWorld Orlando’s concert series in February.

    Documentary: ‘Blackfish’

    http://youtu.be/8OEjYquyjcg

    The 15-year-old seemed to be ignorant of SeaWorld’s negative image as she went on to promote the company’s site.

    The announcement immediately triggered a barrage of violent reactions and angry tweets from animal rights groups and concerned individuals. In Pat Fitzgerald’s Twitter post mentioning Bindi, he asked her if she had watched Blackfish, adding, “Please do not bring shame to your fathers name by colluding with #SeaWorld.”

    Another tweet, this time from user Amanda Holliday, posed the question “How much do you think #SeaWorld had to pay Bindi Irwin to fix their image?”

    Animal rights organization PETA, or the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, also had something to say, stating that the Irwins had been exploiting animals for years, so they were not surprised that the Bindi agreed to become SeaWorld’s endorser.

    The statement noted that making Bindi the SeaWorld cover girl will never cover up the fact that animals are suffering in the theme parks’ tanks. “SeaWorld is no place for anyone who truly cares about animals,” PETA said in their statement, commenting that Bindi’s appearances on television are just the company’s desperate attempts to make money.

    Image via Twitter

  • Miley Cyrus And Katy Perry Tangle On Twitter Over Kiss

    Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus have been poking fun at each other on Twitter. It all started when Katy guested on Australia’s morning program, Sunrise, where the interview led to the discussion on her recent kiss with Miley in one of her shows. The Roar singer was in Australia to promote her upcoming Prism tour.

    The singer said that she attended one of Miley’s shows and saw a kiss cam. She wanted to give Miley a girly and friendly kiss. However, Miley moved her head and went deeper into the kiss and Katy pulled away. She ended the statement by saying “God knows where that tongue has been.” Katy also said that Miley’s tongue was infamous.

    A couple of days after Katy’s interview, Miley tweeted screenshots of the interview with the caption “Girl if ur worried abt where tongues have been good thing ur ex boo is ur EX BOO cause we ALL know where THAT (tongue) been.”

    Miley may be referring to John Mayer, who has dated a string of personalities including Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Simpson, Heidi Klum, and Taylor Swift. She may also have been referring to Russell Brand, Katy’s ex-husband, who has confessed to being a sex addict.

    Fans of the two singers were not sure if Katy and Miley were having a real girl fight about what Katy has said on her interview, or if they were just joking around.

    A few days later, Miley has posted an illustration of the kiss tagging Katy on twitter. “”Dontchyouuuu act like you didn’t lurvvvvv it @katyperry,” Katy then tweeted back saying “Oooo gurrrl I’m gonna give you the BIGGEST spanking when I see you in the UK bb!”

    Apparently, the two were just having fun with each other on Twitter and still remain good friends despite the things that were said.

    Image via YouTube

  • Is Singer Brandon Howard Michael Jackson’s Son?

    Brandon Howard is the son of Miki Howard and, some say, Michael Jackson. Miki was a musical artist managed by Michael’s father Joe Jackson in the 80s. Brandon is now 31. He is also said to be the “kid” referenced in Michael’s 1982 hit “Billie Jean.”

    A DNA test was done to examine the genetic relationship. The organizers of the test allegedly obtained Michael Jackson’s DNA from an orthodontic device of his that had been purchased at an auction. The results show that there is a 99.9 percent chance of a positive parental match.

    The match was announced at a press conference in Beverly Hills by Alki David, digital entrepreneur and heir to the Coca-Cola Hellenic shipping company. Dental surgeon Joseph Goodman revealed the results of the DNA test. He was the one who extracted a sample of the King of Pop’s DNA from the dental device he purchased at the auction.

    The alleged test documents were shown to some of the press conference’s attendees, but did not identify the laboratory that performed the analysis. The paperwork also did not contain the names of the test subjects. David said this was because DNA tests are usually done anonymously and other information was excluded for security purposes. “I’m sure that there will be doubters…but it is what it is,” David stated. Michael Jackson’s estate lawyer Howard Weitzman was skeptical. He said, “It sounds like a fraud,” and that they had never heard of Howard. “He’s never made any claims with the estate,” he said, adding that any deadline for claiming to be an offspring of Michael Jackson has long since passed.

    Howard confirmed in a Facebook post that he gave the organizers a sample of his DNA for the test. Corey Feldman, a former child actor and close friend of Howard, said that his friend agreed to give a sample for his own peace of mind. “His intention was to keep it for himself,” added Feldman. Feldman believes Howard is Michael Jackson’s son.

    In a Facebook video, Howard said he had nothing to do with the press conference and he had never proclaimed himself to be the King of Pop’s son. “I’m definitely not suing the estate,” he said, reasoning that he has been well taken care of, and that he has no need for others’ money because he makes his own.

    Brandon Howard’s music video

    Image via YouTube

  • Legoland Closes After Threats To Muslim Family Day

    Legoland Closes After Threats To Muslim Family Day

    The Legoland park in Windsor, England shut its doors to visitors after receiving threats from far-right extremists.

    The park was scheduled to host a private event for the MRDF last weekend (Muslim Research and Development Foundation), and they have sold about 4,000 tickets for the event. When the information became public, threats started flooding the park’s Facebook page, voicemails, and email accounts. Legoland was forced to pull down their Facebook page, as there were plenty of abusive posts.

    The park decided to close the 150-acre park and the 150-room hotel for the weekend as a safety measure. In a public statement, the park said their apologies and offered a full refund for families who were affected by the incident. Some people have also received £10 vouchers.

    Families who were scheduled to visit the park were extremely disappointed about the cancellation. Legoland says that they understand the disappointment, but the safety of the visitors and employees must always come first. According to the MRDF, the event that they were supposed to hold in the park was open to all faiths, and the threats that came flooding on Facebook were an obvious attack on Muslims and Islamic people residing in the UK.

    The Thames Valley Police said that they are still investigating the connection of the threats with the event that was supposedly going to take place in the park. There are no further comments, as the investigation is ongoing.

    Last November, the Muslim group also held an event at Legoland’s sister park, the Chessington World of Adventures. The event pushed through without complains and threats, so the company is wondering what made it different this time around.

    The park’s cancellation last Sunday was the first time it happened since Legoland opened in 1996. It will reopen for the season on March 14.

    Take a tour of Legoland Windsor

    Image via YouTube

  • Rio Garbage Strike Poses Problems After Annual Carnival Celebration

    The yearly Carnival celebrations ended on Wednesday, but for the residents of Rio de Janeiro, the traces of the revelry remain—literally. The trash collectors are on strike and it has been five days since anyone saw an emptied bin. Neighborhoods are beginning to smell, and heaps of refuse line the streets.

    The local authorities are having a hard time explaining why they had not been able to clean up. Vinicus Roriz, president of the municipal trash company in Rio, said that they are working to normalize operations, and that negotiations with the strikers are ongoing. The strikers are demanding higher wages.

    The result is chaotic. Piles of paper, metal, plastic, and other party refuse line major roads, and even popular tourist spots such as the beaches in Ipanema and Copacabana are strewn with litter. Stuffed trash bins are becoming a common sight from the city to the suburbs.

    On a lighter note, it is true that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. In the case of Rio’s garbage strike, trash pickers are having a grand time sorting through the piles for glitzy booty. Many of the revelers’ costumes and props are discarded after the Carnival, and these are the treasures that trash pickers look for. Headgear, costly fabrics, feathers, and other flashy objects are collected, made into new costumes, and re-sold.

    Elaine da Silva Moraes, a trash picker, remarks that the Carnival participants are crazy to throw money away. She and her children collect discarded items and repurpose them into costumes that they sell to small samba schools and to individuals looking for party wear.

    The strike, which coincided with the Carnival, poses a big problem: if it continues, or if matters are not resolved, Brazil would have a dilemma in three months’ time, when Rio and other cities host the World Cup. Over 600,000 soccer fans from around the world are expected to come, in addition to the millions of people who will also be watching in different locations such as homes, bars, and restaurants in the country.

    Watch scenes from Rio Carnival 2014

    http://youtu.be/t9nmegE8Rec

    Image via YouTube

  • Rapper Lil’ Boosie Released From Prison

    Torrance Hatch, more commonly known as Lil Boosie, was released from Louisiana State Penitentiary on Wednesday night. A press conference is scheduled on March 10.

    The schedule for the Baton Rouge rapper’s release was slated for May, but Lil Boose was able to complete his self-help program on Wednesday afternoon, which earned him credits that made him eligible to be released earlier than expected. Not even the rapper knew that he was going to be released from prison that night.

    Lil Boosie, 31, was serving his 8-year sentence on drug charges. He was imprisoned when he pleaded guilty to his third offense of marijuana possession and for smuggling contraband into the Louisiana State Penitentiary and the Dixon Correctional Institute. He also faced a first-degree murder charge for killing Terry Boyd, but was acquitted.

    Shortly after arriving in prison, the rapper was quick to violate rules but eventually came around and started joining rehabilitation programs to better himself. Sources say that he would have gotten out even earlier if he hadn’t violated rules during his stay.

    In the state penitentiary, Lil Boosie was able to complete a religion-based program, a substance abuse program, and was able to get his GED certificate on March 9, 2013. Upon acquiring his certificate, the rapper said that he wished his grandmother were there to witness his achievement.

    After being released from prison, a van took Hatch to the West Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office where family and friends greeted him and took him home to New Orleans. He must also report to a parole officer on Thursday, as he is freed on the condition of supervised parole, which is said to last until 2018. His parole restrictions are not publicly known yet but will be clear once he has had a meeting with his parole officer.

    There are no other pending charges against Hatch, but he is scheduled to appear in court on March 14 in front of Judge Richard Moore.

    Lil’ Boosie’s Last Days Before Prison (Explicit Language)

    Image via YouTube

  • Missing Student Nurse: Murder Charge Filed In Case

    Zachary Rye Adams, a suspect in the case of missing Tennessee nursing student Holly Lynn Bobo, was charged with murder and aggravated kidnapping. He is currently held without bond and is scheduled to be brought before the court on March 11 in Tennessee’s Decatur County.

    A week before the announcement was made on Wednesday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations searched Adams’ property in Holladay, which was located around 15 miles north of where Bobo was last seen.

    Authorities believe that Adams was behind the disappearance of Bobo, who was last seen by her brother in April 2011. She was twenty years old and living with her family three hours outside of Nashville. Her older brother Clint in his witness statement said that he saw a man in hunting camouflage holding his sister by the arm and leading her into a wooded area near their home. He thought the man was her boyfriend, so he wasn’t alarmed.

    The District Attorney General, Hansel McCadams stated that they believe they can prove Bobo was taken by force without consent, but did not give details regarding the evidence against Adams. They added that they also believe that she had been killed in perpetration of her kidnapping, leading them to file a case against the suspect. The 29-year-old Adams is charged with especially aggravated kidnapping and first-degree felony murder. If found guilty, Adams could face the death penalty.

    Authorities kept mum about whether Bobo’s remains had been found, but did not rule out the possibility of making another arrest. Tennessee Bureau of Investigations spokeswoman Illana Tate stated that the investigation is “still very active and ongoing.”

    Holly Bobo attended the University of Tennessee at Martin and was taking up nursing. She had already begun her clinical training at local hospitals, and was known to be a natural at taking care of patients. She was preparing to go to her classes on the morning of Wednesday, April 13, 2011 when she disappeared.

    Image via YouTube

  • ‘Transformers: Age of Extinction’; Seriously Epic Trailer

    The action-packed trailer for Michael Bay’s Transformers: Age of Extinction has debuted with an explosion.

    The fourth Transformers movie stars Mark Wahlberg playing the character of Cade Yeagar, a mechanic who is struggling to make ends meet. He then stumbles upon a Transformer and finds government agents after him demanding to know the whereabouts of the Autobots’ leader, Optimus Prime.

    When ET visited the set of the movie while they were filming, Wahlberg didn’t reveal much about the movie, but his character tinkers with something and everything gets a little crazy. Now that the trailer has been released, it is evident that Wahlberg was referring to tinkering with Optimus Prime.

    Behind the scenes in Detroit

    http://youtu.be/oA-ZMSloImg

    In 2012, Bay mentioned in an interview with Hero Complex that the fourth Transformers film will be the last for him and that the plan is to leave it in the “best hands possible.”

    The trailer features Dinobots, and according to reports, there are also two new Autobots that will be making their debut appearance in the fourth installment. The two remain to be unnamed, but sources say that one is a 1,200-horsepower blue and black Bugatti Grand Sport Vitesse and the other is a green C7 Corvette Stingray. Hound, a jeep in the Transformers animated series, will also be making an appearance in the film as a camouflaged tactical vehicle.

    Also apparent in the trailer is the upgrade of Optimus Prime’s body from a Peterbilt Model-379 in the last Transformers film, to a custom-built Western Star truck. Another upgrade is Bumblebee, which was changed from a Chevy Camaro to a vintage 1967 Camaro SS that was modified.

    Transformers: Age of Extinction also stars Nicola Peltz, Kelsey Grammer, Li Bingbing, Stanley Tucci, Sophia Myles, TJ Miller, and Jack Reynor. The film hits theaters on June 27.

    ‘Transformers: Age of Extinction’. Watch Full Trailer

    http://youtu.be/aGiVaaTaTF8

    Image via YouTube

  • Marion Barry: Former D.C. Mayor Released From Hospital

    Marion Barry, the former mayor of the District of Columbia and councilman since 2005, has been released from a physical rehabilitation facility where he spent 16 days regaining his mobility and receiving treatment for blood and urinary tract infections resulting from diabetes. The councilman has had two other hospitalizations this year; his most recent stay was in the Medstar National Rehabilitation Network.

    He was released on Wednesday, a day before his 78th birthday. Before he was discharged, he jokingly said to reporters, “I’m the most popular elected official in the city.” He was certainly in good spirits, and he said that he is determined to serve out the remainder of his term as councilman, which expires in 2016.

    He stated that his health condition was not as severe as some had made it out to be. However, he will be putting his health “at the top of the agenda,” and taking more time to care for himself.

    Barry admits he had been preoccupied with taking care of everyone else and helping others that he had neglected to look after his own health. He represents Ward 8 on the D.C. Council, and is now on his third consecutive term. The area has been known to be the city’s most impoverished.

    The former mayor is gearing himself up for weeks of physical therapy, but he is up to the challenge. He also mentioned that he had managed to climb a flight of stairs successfully, and that he is a fighter. “I guess God gave me a certain amount of courage,” he said.

    In 2009, Barry was hospitalized for kidney failure and he underwent an organ transplant. Aside from having diabetes, he is a prostate cancer survivor. He is a controversial figure, being known for his alcohol addiction and drug abuse, among other scandals. He had also been arrested in 1990 for cocaine use during his third term as mayor, and was sentenced to six months in prison.

    Marion Barry Has Nine Lives

    Image via YouTube

  • Pope Francis Hints Catholic Church Could Support Same-Sex Civil Unions

    In an interview published on the Italian newspaper, Corriere della Serra, Pope Francis affirmed the Catholic Church’s position against same-sex marriage, but hinted that it may support same-sex civil unions.

    In the interview, Pope Francis said that matrimony is between a man and a woman, but same-sex civil unions are a way to guarantee health care and property rights. The pope also said that a variety of cases must be looked at and that the Catholic Church could tolerate some unions. The pope’s statement leaves doors open for the possibility of the church supporting gay unions.

    Pope Francis was one of the bishops that supported same-sex civil unions back when he was still the Archbishop of Buenos Aires. He also made headlines when he stated in July that he is not the kind to judge gay priests.

    In an interview with CNN in 2013, Argentinian LGBT leader and activist Marcelo Marquez said that he received a call from the pope – then Archbishop for Buenos Aires – during the 2010 debate on same-sex marriage. Marquez said that the then-Cardinal told him in the phone call that he is in favor of civil unions for homosexuals and supports gay rights, but he believes that Argentina is not yet ready to have a law on gay marriage.

    According to Rev. Thomas Roxia of the Vatican press office, people should not read into what the pope has said in the interview, as he only responded to the interviewer’s questions. Pope Francis also addressed different issues on the interview including sexual abuse, the role of women, and contraception.

    The pope was also able to talk about some myths surrounding him, saying that he still calls people who write to him, but denied the rumors that he goes out in the middle of the night to feed the hungry and homeless.

    March 13th marks Pope Francis’ first year in office.

    Pope Francis Supported Gay Rights As Cardinal?

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • HIV Cure For Babies: Success Number Two Raises Optimism

    Doctors at an AIDS conference in Boston revealed on Wednesday that a female baby that was born with the AIDS virus may have possibly been cured after getting treated soon after birth. The baby, born in Los Angeles, California last year, was given treatment four hours after she was born, soon after viral DNA and RNA were found in her blood and spinal fluid. Hers was the second case in which doctors found success after conducting aggressive and immediate postnatal treatment.

    The first case was announced a month earlier. A baby who was born in Mississippi three and a half years ago received treatment just 30 hours after birth. The mother did not receive prenatal care and she was unaware that she was infected with the virus, with doctors only discovering it during labor. This means that she also did not take any drugs to lower her virus levels and protect her unborn child from being infected. It is possible for HIV to be transferred during pregnancy, labor, and birth.

    Doctors suspected that the high-risk baby had been infected, and they transferred it to the University of Mississippi Medical Center. The baby was given aggressive antiretroviral treatment because it was too late to use regular prophylaxis. The baby was treated until she was a year and a half old, when the mother started missing appointments.

    The doctors were able to make contact with the child again ten months later. They feared the worst, but they couldn’t find any signs of infection, even though the mother had been unable to give her child medicines for the last five months. Tests using ultra-sensitive arrays on the child’s tissue samples at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center also came out negative for the virus.

    Mississippi Baby Born With HIV Now Cured

    http://youtu.be/RQwJ8cg_7iw

    The report on the first case was received with skepticism, with scientists saying that the Mississippi child may have never been infected in the first place. Now, with the announcement of the second case, the scientific community has renewed hope that an aggressive treatment done right after birth can actually cure babies born with HIV.

    The pediatricians at Miller Children’s Hospital in Long Beach replicated the treatment done on the Mississippi child by giving the LA baby a mix of three antiretroviral drugs, namely 3TC, nevirapine, and AZT. The baby was given higher doses that are typically used for treatment and not previously recommended for administering to newborns. The mother was also given AIDS drugs during labor to prevent viral transmission.

    According to Johns Hopkins virus specialist Dr. Deborah Persaud who has been involved in both cases, the LA baby is still receiving treatment and it would be inaccurate to say that the baby is in remission or has been completely cured. As of the moment, she describes the second baby as “ser-reverted HIV-negative.”

    The encouraging results of both cases raise hope on the further success of early treatment to cure HIV infection in babies.

    The course of action that led to a possible cure

    Image via YouTube

  • Army Sex Case: Lead Prosecutor Wanted Charges Against Brigadier General Jeffrey Sinclair Dropped

    Just less than a month before an Army General’s trial on sexual assault charges begins, Lieutenant Colonel William Helixon told his superior that he thinks the case should not push forward as he believes the accuser lied under oath.

    Helixon, the Army’s former lead prosecutor, was in tears when he said that the accuser lied about critical evidence. He also wanted most of the charges against Brigadier General Jeffrey A. Sinclair to be dropped. Sinclair is facing charges that include using physical force on a female captain to perform oral sex on him. According to Brigadier General Paul Wilson, Helixon was pressured to pursue the case in order to crackdown instances of sexual assault in the military.

    Last year, studies showed that 70 sexual assaults occurred in the military every day

    In January, Helixon was convinced that the accuser lied about evidence collected from her mobile phone.

    According to Wilson, Helixon was in tears and appeared to be distraught when he said that he wanted the charges dropped against Sinclair. He was going through some personal issues and appeared to be illogical. “He was not fit for any kind of duty. I would not have trusted him to drive a car,” said Wilson.

    After almost two years of leading the case, Helixon was pulled out and taken to a military hospital for evaluation of his mental state. A new prosecutor was set in place in time for the trial, which is slated to start this week.

     Brig. Gen. Jeffrey A. Sinclair faces rare court martial

    Sinclair is facing several criminal charges and has pleaded not guilty to eight of them including violating orders, indecent acts, forcible sodomy, and conduct unbecoming an officer. If convicted for these charges, Sinclair could spend the rest of his life inside the walls of a military prison. He also admitted to having a three-year affair while in Afghanistan and Iraq, which is enough to end his time in the Army.

    Image via YouTube

  • Rachel Canning: Judge Rules In Favor Of NJ Parents Sued By 18-Year-Old Daughter

    New Jersey teenager Rachel Canning failed to get the justice system to order her parents to give her financial assistance. The 18-year-old high school honor student previously sued her parents for allegedly “abandoning” her and kicking her out of their Lincoln Park residence. Canning also claimed to have been verbally abused by her parents for not following house rules.

    A dangerous precedent

    On Tuesday, Family Court Judge Peter Bogaard’s ruling stated that Canning’s parents are not required to shoulder their daughter’s high school tuition, a request for a $600 monthly financial support, and her legal fees. Bogaard also delayed a ruling on Rachel’s college tuition lawsuit, remarking that it might be dangerous to set a precedent that makes parents apprehensive about establishing house rules.

    The Canning family was present during the hearing held at a family courthouse in Morristown, New Jersey on Tuesday. Rachel sat with the Inglesinos, her best friend’s family, with whom she has been staying since November. Her best friend’s father John Inglesino, who happens to be a lawyer, is funding Canning’s lawsuit.

    She said, they said

    Rachel’s father Sean Canning insists that they did not kick their daughter out of the house, and that she left on her own volition because of her refusal to follow their house rules. The parents’ lawyer Laurie Rush-Masuret released a statement before the hearing saying that the Cannings have asked their daughter to come home and settle things amongst themselves instead of fighting in court.

    Rush-Masuret also labeled Rachel’s claims as “outrageous” and said that she practically “emancipated herself” from her parents’ guidance and control when she left their home. Since she is 18, Rachel has also effectively released herself from her parents’ support in the process. Even though emancipation does not have a set age in New Jersey, parents can terminate financial support if they are no longer able to make decisions for their child.

    The Cannings are scheduled to meet again in court on Tuesday, April 22.

    Image via YouTube

  • Witness In Pistorius Trial Breaks Down In Tears

    The trial of Paralympics champion Oscar Pistorius resumed on Monday in South Africa.

    On February 13, 2013, the South African runner shot his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, at their home in Pretoria, South Africa. The athlete was charged with murder and taken into custody the following day. He was out on bail by August 22.

    In court, Pistorius pleaded not guilty to intentionally killing Steenkamp. His statement says that he shot his girlfriend thinking that she was an intruder.

    Michelle Burger, a witness in the trial who lived in the same complex as Pistorius, broke down in court as she recalled the screams that she heard on the night of Steenkamp’s death. Burger was traumatized and says that she still hears the shouts while she’s in the shower.

    Burger took the stand on the second day of the trial. She lives 193 yards from the runner’s home and attested that she heard a woman and a man fighting, and a woman screaming through four gunshot sounds. She also said that the scream faded after the final shot.

    Burger’s testimony is reported to go against what Pistorius says. According to him, he fired his gun through the toilet door four times, as he thought someone else was in the home. He believed Steenkamp was in bed when he shot the toilet door. Steenkamp was killed with three bullet wounds.

    According to Barry Roux, chief defense lawyer, the screams that Burger heard were actually that of Pistorius’ who was shouting for help in a high voice after realizing that he had shot his girlfriend. Roux also said that Steenkamp was shot in the head and that she would have immediately fallen and lost all cognitive function, making it impossible for her to scream.

    If convicted for premeditated murder, Pistorius will be facing a minimum of 25 years imprisonment without the possibility of parole. He is also facing charges on illegal possession of ammunition. Since there are no juries in South African trials, Judge Thokozile Masipa will be the one to ultimately decide Pistorius’ fate.

    Reeva’s mother wants to forgive Pistorius

    Image via YouTube

  • L.A. E-Cigarette Ban Approved By City Council

    The L.A. City Council unanimously voted in favor of banning the use of e-cigarettes in zones where smoking tobaccos is prohibited.

    The policy was first discussed by the council last December in order to change the city code to include e-cigarettes in the category of “smoking.” This means that “vaping,” as e-cigarette users call it, will be banned from areas such as public spaces, work environments, and restaurants.

    Councilman Mitch O’Farrell was the one who introduced the ordinance, and he was supported by councilmen Bernard Parks, Paul Koretz, and City Attorney Mike Feuer. O’Farrell had concerns about young people being surrounded by the vapor from e-cigarettes.

    Vapers, of course, were against the policy saying that water vapor is harmless and that those who are trying to quit smoking heavily rely on it to cope with their urges. In the New York Times, Columbia University professors in public health stated that banning e-cigarettes would be counterproductive, as it helps in reducing tobacco-related illnesses and deaths.

    The ban exempts vaping lounges and stores that sell e-cigarettes. Another version of the ordinance that excludes bars and clubs from the ban was defeated with a vote of six against eight.

    According to the L.A. City Clerk’s office, there is a maximum of 41 days before the policy takes effect, if the ordinance is posted on the corkboards in the City Hall. However, if the new ordinance is published in a newspaper, the time before it takes effect will be lessened to 31 days.

    Mayor Eric Garcetti is given 10 days to sign the ordinance, but he is currently in Mexico. Herb Wesson, the council president, has been acting mayor and may immediately sign the new policy. The City Clerk’s office says that the new policy can be in effect as early as the middle of April.

    Are E-Cigarettes Safe?

    Image via YouTube

  • Yosemite Bears Turn Healthy With New Diet

    Bears housed in the Yosemite National Park in California have changed their diet to healthier food. Over the last 15 years, the campground implemented a safety measure that prevented the bears from scavenging food in the wild.

    The park, which is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the U.S., serves as the home for around 400 black bears that are able to roam around. In 1998, the park’s records show the highest interaction between visitors and the bears, as the animals were able to raid the campgrounds in search for food.

    Since 1999, the park has mandated a policy that provided bear-resistant food lockers at campgrounds to prevent the black bears from consuming human food, such as bread and potato chips.

    Researchers studied bear hair samples from the campgrounds and compared them to the bear bones from museums and determined that the ratio of human food consumed by bears rose significantly after the park started providing food for the bears in 1923 in order to keep them away from the developed areas of the park.

    After providing the bear-resistant food lockers, the number of human food the bears consumed dropped down to 13% – a value that is close to the numbers from 1915 up to 1919.

    Preventing bears from eating human food is beneficial to them, as it prevents them from having rotten teeth, which is mainly caused by the high sugar level that pilfered chow contains. In addition, allowing bears to feed on human food keeps them coming back for more and in turn endangering both bears and humans.

    With the new implementation of keeping human food away from the black bears, rangers at the Yosemite National Park are now only forced to kill about two bears per year as opposed to about seven or eight when the policy was not yet in place.

    Why You Should Not Feed The Bears At Yosemite

    Image via YouTube

  • New Jersey Disapproves Of Dove’s “Armpit Of America” Ad Campaign

    Unilever’s nod to New Jersey backfired as natives and residents of the state expressed their resentment over a prospective billboard ad campaign for the company’s new deodorant product. Dove’s Nutrition Moisture deodorant ad featured an image of a young Caucasian woman with her arm raised and a caption that advised New Jersey residents to be flattered that their hometown is called “The Armpit of America”. The billboard was previewed on Thursday and was scheduled to launch in July.

    According to the New Jersey Journal, dozens of consumers from the Garden State posted disgruntled comments on Dove’s Facebook page, some even promising to boycott the brand. Unilever released an official statement after the weekend saying that it will no longer proceed with the ad campaign.

    Dove’s spokesperson took to their Facebook page to address the consumers’ hostile reactions. The message said that Dove deodorant had no intentions of upsetting the residents of New Jersey, and that they will neither be publishing nor displaying the advertisement.

    In defense of the controversial ad, Unilever senior marketing director for antiperspirants and deodorants Matthew McCarthy told The New York Times that the message intended to mitigate the negative image of armpits. He also apologized on behalf of the company for any offense and misunderstanding caused by the message.

    Ogilvy & Mather, the agency behind Dove’s latest marketing efforts, kicked off the campaign with a TV commercial entitled “An Open Letter to the Armpit”, which was launched in January. Unilever is said to be donating the billboard space to a still-unnamed charity.

    Dove has made headlines over the past few years for its ads that depict unorthodox perceptions of beauty. One such project was called The Dove Campaign for Real Beauty, which was launched in September 2004. Instead of using professional models, it featured images of regular women taken by renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz.

    Here’s a less offensive Dove “Armpit” ad 

    http://youtu.be/MIVt7Zv4gyY

    Image via YouTube

  • Heidi Klum Gets Hot And Heavy With Cougar Magnet Vito Schnabel

    Heidi Klum doesn’t seem to be licking her wounds after her split with Martin Kristen, judging from her recent tryst with rumored boyfriend Vito Schnabel. The 40-year-old German-American supermodel and the 27-year-old art dealer were spotted several times at various Oscar events, the first of which was the Weinstein Co. pre-Oscars party in Beverly Hills. Klum looked fetching in a black floor-length beaded dress that showcased her tanned complexion and toned arms, while Schnabel kept it casual with a long-sleeved shirt and jeans.

    The Project Runway host was said to have exchanged kisses with her much younger boy toy while they were waiting to be admitted to the VIP area of the party along with other friends. Several partygoers who saw the two lovebirds said they were “all over each other” on the dance floor. After having a few glasses of champagne, Klum and Schnabel discreetly tried to leave the party together.

    Klum, who has four children, became officially divorced with former husband Seal in 2012 after seven months of marriage. She dated former bodyguard Martin Kristen a few months after her divorce, but they parted ways – personally and professionally – early this year. Klum was also in a five-year marriage with celebrity hairstylist Ric Pipino from 1997 to 2002.

    Vito Schnabel, who is the son of artist and filmmaker Julian Schnabel, is an art dealer and independent curator based in New York City. He was reported to have hooked up with Klum in early February at the Bootsy Bellows nightclub. Schnabel seems to have a penchant for older beautiful women as he previously dated actress Demi Moore, Liv Tyler, and Australian supermodel Elle Macpherson.

    Klum is an avid user of social networking app Instagram, although she has not posted any photos of her and Schnabel together. The America’s Got Talent judge is due to start shooting again on May 27 in New York.

    Images via YouTube

  • Ohio Student Suspended For Pointing Finger Like A Gun

    Devonshire Alternative Elementary School Principal Patricia Price suspended fifth grader Nathan Entingh. The three-day suspension was for pointing his finger like a gun at another student’s head.

    Entingh’s father has said in a statement that the suspension is a childish act from the adults in the school, and that they went overboard with the consequence. He said that his son should be punished or reprimanded about what he did, but the suspension was going a bit too far. Entingh went back to school on Tuesday after his suspension and told his father that he regrets doing the gesture with his hand.

    The 10-year-old boy said that he was not serious when he used his finger like a gun. He also said that a lot of students play around like that at the school. According to school records, the boy had never been in trouble before.

    According to district spokesman Jeff Warner, the principal has been warning the students that playing with pretend guns is strictly prohibited on the school premises. There have been warnings about the issue on three of the newsletters that the students take home to their parents. The principal has also warned the students that there will be consequences for their actions.

    Price was not there to witness the act, and the other student did not see the boy point his hand at him, but reports say that a teacher witnessed the act.

    Schools around the country have been implementing zero-tolerance policies since shootings have been rampant. They are on high alert and are always on the lookout for signs of trouble. Columbus has also prohibited students from firing Nerf guns at school. The same policy was adapted last year in a school in Maryland when a student chewed a Pop-Tart into the shape of a gun.

    Image via YouTube

  • HIV Prevention Shot Shows Promise

    HIV Prevention Shot Shows Promise

    An experimental drug to prevent HIV has been showing a lot of promise, according to researchers. At the AIDS conference on Tuesday, AIDS expert Dr. Robert Grant from the Gladstone Institute said that the drug has been tested on two groups of monkeys and studies show that it has protected them from getting the infection.

    If the drug proves to be safe, it will allow prevention of HIV when injected every three months. This may be a solution to the pills that must be taken daily to lower the risk of getting HIV. One of the available drugs today is Truvada – a pill that is shown to reduce the risk of getting HIV by as much as 90%.

    The new study is done on a long-acting drug that is being tested on macaques that were exposed to the human-monkey version of HIV twice for 11 weeks. Of the dozen monkeys, six were given the experimental drug, while the other six were given dummy shots. The results showed the six monkeys who were given the drug remained protected from the virus, while the other six were infected with HIV.

    In another study, eight monkeys were given the experimental drug four weeks apart, and another eight monkeys were given dummy shots. All the monkeys were then exposed to the virus once a week for the duration of eight weeks. Just like the previous study, monkeys who were given the drug were protected and those who got dummy shots were infected.

    A study was also conducted to see how long a single shot of the experimental drug would last. Results indicated that on average, a shot of the drug protected a dozen monkeys for 10 weeks. The dosage used was paralleled to the dosage that would be given to humans every three months.

    The results of the studies showed real promise and according to infectious disease specialist from the University of California, Dr. Judith Currier, the research will be moving forward into testing the drug on humans.

    More about HIV and Flu vaccines

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  • Pat LaFontaine Leaves Job As President Of Buffalo Sabres Hockey Ops

    The Buffalo Sabres released an official statement on Saturday evening announcing Pat LaFontaine’s resignation from his position as hockey operations president of the Sabres. He is due to go back to being VP of development and community affairs in the National Hockey League.

    LaFontaine’s brief tenure brought about several changes in the Sabres’ lineup including appointing Tim Murray as general manager and Ted Nolan as interim coach. The announcement came out just hours after the Sabres made the trading deadline on Wednesday noon by sending goalie Ryan Miller and forward Steve Ott to the St. Louis Blues for Chris Stewart, William Carrier, and Slovak Olympian Jaroslav Halak.

    In addition to the aforementioned developments, LaFontaine managed to raise the Sabres’ morale by planning the introduction of national and international events to Buffalo prior to his sudden departure. There has been speculation over the real reason behind LaFontaine’s resignation including his intention to re-sign potential free agent Miller despite Murray’s plans of trading him.

    There has also been concern over Nolan’s tenure with the Sabres now that LaFontaine is no longer president of their hockey operations. However, Murray assured Nolan that will continue to serve as head coach of the team. In an interview with Nolan on Sunday, he expressed a bit of dismay due to LaFontaine’s departure, but declared that he was going to put his “personal situation behind right now” in order to focus on coaching the team.

    Sabres forward Drew Stafford became emotional after finding out that Ryan Miller had been traded to St. Louis. The following day, he was met by the announcement of LaFontaine’s resignation. The Buffalo Sabres have not been off to a good start this season, as they are currently in last place in the league. Sabres president Ted Black did not give any more details about LaFontaine’s sudden decision, although he rebuffed speculation that LaFontaine and team owner Terry Pegula had been having disagreements.

    Image via YouTube