WebProNews

Author: Val Powell

  • Shia LaBeouf Hides From Spotlight With A Brown Paper Bag

    This past weekend, Shia LaBeouf sported a tuxedo accented with a brown paper bag over his head when he walked the red carpet at the Berlin Film Festival. The actor’s brown paper bag was customized with two holes to see with and bore the words “I AM NOT FAMOUS ANYMORE” written in large, black ink.

    These words seem to be LaBeouf’s only message to the world, as he has been tweeting only this phrase nearly every day since mid-January. Contrary to what his tweets say, the actor has actually been in the spotlight a lot recently, since admitting to plagiarism allegations last December.

    LaBeouf plagiarized the work of author Daniel Clowes but did eventually apologize for not crediting Clowes properly. Clowes’ graphic novel Justin M. Damiano, contained the art  that LaBeouf used as inspiration for his film, “HowardCantour.com”.

    LaBeouf has since tweeted his apology and even had the words “I am sorry Daniel Clowes” sky-written above Los Angeles. He also went on to announce that he was “retiring from all public life” in a tweet published on January 10.

    The 27-year-old actor was in Berlin attending the premiere of his latest film, “Nymphomaniac – Volume 1”, directed by Lars von Trier.

    At the press conference to promote the new film, LaBeouf was asked what it was like to be involved in a movie packed with so many sex scenes. The former lead actor of the ‘Transformers’ movies responded slowly with a quote, pausing to take a drink of water in between, “When seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown in the sea.” He then stood up and briskly walked away from the panel.

    The quote is credited to Eric Cantona, French soccer star, in Cantona’s statement in 1995 when he was convicted of assault.

    Image via YouTube

  • Jenny Jones Prepared For Slopestyle Finals With ‘Downton Abbey’

    Jenny Jones revealed in a press conference after her event, her secret to winning the bronze medal. When asked how she made her preparations for Olympic competition, she answered that she spent the night watching ‘Downton Abbey’. She went on to say, “…No mantras for me.” This was in reference to gold medalist Jamie Anderson’s reply to the same question where she said that she put on some meditation music, did some yoga, and lit incense and candles.

    On Sunday, Jenny Jones became a medalist for Team Great Britain at the Sochi Winter Olympics when she took home the bronze. She also made history by being the first Briton to win an Olympic medal on the snow since the Winter Olympics began ninety years ago. Enni Rukajarvi from Finland and Jamie Anderson representing the United States took home the silver and gold medal in the slopestyle event, respectively.

    Jones, a former chalet maid, is a pioneer among her peers. At 33 years of age, she is six years older than the eldest of her competitors in the finals. Despite her age, she is a seasoned champion in her sport, winning three gold medals in one European and two global X Games. Her experience shone through on Sunday to land her the bronze medal, as many of her younger competitors pushed to perform highly technically tricks but failed to land perfectly. Jones and her coach decided to be more level headed, and gave importance to avoiding technical errors in her run. This move put her in the lead, before Rukajarvi (s) and Anderson (g) went on to claim the top spots in the rankings. When qualification leader Isabel Derungs of Switzerland and the last competitor Anna Gasser representing Austria failed to claim a spot on the podium, Jones’ score of 87.25 was enough to cement her place as Britain’s new “Snow Queen.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Nadya Suleman Charged With Fourth Count Of Welfare Fraud

    “Octomom” Nadya Suleman is back in the headlines today. She’s now facing a new charge of welfare fraud, bringing the total number of charges against her to 4.

    The 38-year-old mother of 14 children, eight of whom are octuplets, has been accused by prosecutors of not declaring money she earned last year as a topless dancer and porn actress.

    The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office is seeking $26, 000 in restitution after filing charges that Suleman received $10, 000 in medical benefits that she did not qualify for. Prosecutors also claim that she received $16, 481 in welfare payments for the first half of 2013 that she would have not received had she disclosed the almost $30, 000 she earned during that period of time.

    Suleman is facing six years and four months prison time if found guilty of two counts of aid by misrepresentation and two counts of perjury by false application for aid.

    However, Deputy District Attorney William Clark believes it’s unlikely that she will serve any jail time.”She’s got 14 children. We’ll try and work out a deal for her,” he told reporters.

    The “Octomom” has been plagued by ongoing financial problems stemming from her struggle to provide for her exceptionally large family. As recently as 2010, she defaulted on payments for a house she bought and it went into foreclosure.

    In 2009, Nadya Denise Doud-Suleman became internationally famous after giving birth to octuplets. Her octuplets are only the second full set of to be born alive in the United States. All 14 of her children were conceived via in vitro fertilization.

    After giving birth, public reaction to her turned negative when it was discovered that she had already had six children, was unemployed and was also receiving public assistance.

    Suleman pleaded not guilty to the initial charges of welfare fraud. She is expected to appear in court on March 11 where she will be arraigned on the amended charges.

     Image via YouTube

  • “Affluenza” Teen Still Gets No Jail Time After Killing 4

    On Wednesday, judge Jean Boyd ordered Ethan Couch to rehab in addition to his 10-year probation sentence. Couch is the 16-year-old Texan who killed four people and injured two with is father’s Ford F-350 pickup truck on June 15. The teenager had been driving drunk after being video taped stealing 2 cases of beer from a nearby Wal-Mart. At the time of the incident, Couch’s blood alcohol level was revealed to be 0.24, three times the legal limit in Texas. Couch also tested positive for valium. Despite this, he received zero jail time.

    As you can image, there has been intense public outrage regarding the outcome of the trial. The public anger intensified when the defense’s expert witness diagnosed Couch as having “affluenza” — a term used to claim that his family’s wealth impaired his ability to take responsibility for his actions.

    On Wednesday, prosecutors asked judge Boyd for 20 years in state custody on charges related to the two injured people. They were unsuccessful.

    Is Ethan Couch receiving special treatment because he comes from a wealth family?

    Fred Couch, Ethan’s father, is a multi millionaire and owner of a very successful metal works company in Fort Worth. His son received what amounts to a slap on the wrist for a crime that many believe would have  sent the “average Joe” to prison.

    Last year, CNN reported that judge Boyd sentenced an African American teenager to 10 years in juvenile detention after punching a man in the face. The blow inadvertently resulted in the man’s death. This is a stark contrast to sentencing Ethan Couch to probation and rehab for killing 4 people and injuring 2.

    Defence attorney Reagan Wynn said the judge did not use “affluenza” to make her decision. “She (Boyd) heard all the evidence and she made what she thought was the appropriate disposition,” he said.

    Eric Boyles lost his wife, Hollie Byles, and daughter, Shelby after both were mowed down by Couch’s truck. He remains convinced that money played a role in the outcome.

    “Had he (Couch) not had money to have the defense there, to also have the experts testify, and also offer to pay for the treatment, I think the results would have been different,”  Boyles said after the trial.

    Here’s happened on the night of the incident.

    Image via YouTube

  • Arthur Chu’s ‘Jeopardy’ Strategy Gets Hate From Show’s Fans

    Arthur Chu has been getting some pushback for his unconventional strategy on the popular TV game show ‘Jeopardy’.

    The 30-year-old ‘Jeopardy’ champ from Broadview Heights, Ohio, uses a game strategy he calls “The Forrest Bounce”, referring to 8os champion Chuck Forrest’s style of play. Chu’s strategy involves ignoring the easy questions and jumping across the board to the questions of higher value in search of the much-desired Daily Doubles.

    Hate it or love it, his strategy has certainly paid off. So far, Chu has walked away with $102,800 and may even add to his winnings when the next show airs on Feb. 24.

    Some ‘Jeopardy’ fans dislike Chu and believe his style of play undermines the integrity of the game. Some especially dislike it when he interrupts Alex Trebek, the shows host, before he can finish reading the clue.  For Daily Double questions Chu doesn’t feel he’s likely to get correct, he simply wagers low and sometimes admits to not knowing the answer even before Trebek can finish the question.

    Chu is not entirely surprised by some of the negative attention he’s received but says he’s not intimidated. “Between $10,000 and getting haters on Twitter, the $10,000 is more important to me,” he said.

    The ‘Jeopardy’ champ says he doesn’t know why contestants are so locked into answering the lower value questions first. According to Chu, he studied hard in the months leading up to the competition and says he simply tries to take maximum advantage of the opportunity he’s given while playing the game.

    Not everyone is annoyed by Chu though. There are some that admired him for not playing the game the way that the show’s producers and the “haters” want him to. The way Chu sees it, he’s not cheating or using unethical tactics. If the show’s producers don’t like his style of play then they should change the rules.

    Dont hate the player, hate the game.

    Image via YouTube

  • Paul Walker Leaves Entire $25 Million Estate To Daughter

    Late actor Paul Walker left behind his entire estate to one sole beneficiary — his daughter. According to court records, his daughter will inherit his $25 million estate.

    About $8 million of the actors wealth is said to come from undetermined personal property, though court filings show the actor’s home is worth about $10 million.

    His appearance in the seventh ‘Fast & Furious’ film will likely add another $8 million to his estate. The film is scheduled for release in April 2015.

    Walker died in November at the age of 40, alongside his friend and racing partner Roger Rodas. Police statement said the two men had been speeding when their Porsche crashed and burst into flames in Santa Clarita, California.

    Walker’s will was prepared shortly after the release of the first ‘Fast and Furious’ film back in 2001. Records show that the will was filed on Jan. 28 and appoints his father Paul Walker III as executor of his estate. Cheryl Ann Walker, the actor’s mother, will serve as guardian to his 15-year-old daughter, Meadow.

    Meadow was raised by her mother Rebecca Soteros in Hawaii. She was, however, living with her father in California at the time of his death.

    Like many fathers, Walker loved his daughter and would often brag about the closeness of their relationship.

    In an interview with US Weekly, Walker said,  “I’m glad I had her at 25, because at 40 and 15, we’re matching up sweet. It’s just working.”

    He left nothing in his will for his 23-year-old long time girlfriend, Jasmine Pilchard-Gosnell, a woman he had supposedly been dating since she was 16. His entire estate goes to Meadow.

    In a Facebook post Meadow Walker called her father “My REAL life hero!” 

    “When I was little he taught me to walk, taught me to smile and taught me to never give up,” Meadow wrote. “I loved him even before I knew what love was.”

    Image via YouTube

  • Disney Layoffs: Hundreds Expected To Be Axed

    Disney Interactive, the video game and digital media subsidiary of The Walt Disney Co., will soon layoff “several hundred” of its employees from a total staff of about 3000, according to the Wall Street Journal. The cuts are expected to be announced by Wednesday.

    The subsidiary has been underperforming for several years now and has reportedly lost over 200 million a year between 2008 and 2012. In the most recent fiscal year, Disney Interactive posted earnings of 1.1 billion but lost $87 million in overall operating costs, making it the only segment of the Disney conglomerate to lose money. However, last quarter revenue reports show that the subsidiary made a profit, earning $396 million while only spending $16 million in operating costs. This is just the second time in five years that Disney Interactive managed to make a quarterly profit.

    The company is clearly trying to turn the corner. Late last year Disney launched the video game, Disney Infinity, which includes plastic toys that can be mounted on an electronic base to change the virtual action — so far, it’s a hit. Despite this, in November, Disney axed the division’s co-president John Pleasants leaving Jimmy Pitaro as its sole president. He’s now left with the task of restructuring the division.

    According to sources the majority of the layoffs will come from Playdom, a division that manages Disney’s social media and produces games. Disney bought Playdom in 2010 for $563 million, but has struggled to turn it into a successful game franchise during that time.

    The expected layoffs from Playdom come after a slew of other recent layoffs. In January 2013, the company shut down its Austin, Texas based developer Junction Point Studio, laying off about 50 workers. In 2011, Disney got rid of some 200 employees after it shut down Propaganda Games, the studio for the “Tron: Evolution” video game franchise.

    Images via Twitter

  • Sandra Fluke Wants Henry Waxman’s Seat

    First off, who is Sandra Fluke? Fluke is a 33-year-old American attorney at law and women’s rights activist. The Pennsylvania native first caught the public’s eye when Republican congressmen blocked her from testifying to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee back in February of 2012. Fluke was attempting to explain to the committee the importance of requiring insurance plans to cover birth control under the Affordable Care Act. She only got the chance to speak to the House Democrats.

    In her testimony, Fluke talked about her experience at Georgetown Law School, where the Catholic university refused to pay for birth control as part of the student health plan.

    She said the lack of access to contraception caused both her and other female students to suffer “financial, emotional and medical burdens”.

    Some people became aware of Sandra Fluke when Conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh called her a “slut” on his show while speculating on her sex life. Limbaugh later apologized.

    Sandra Fluke is now jumping into the California Democratic race for Rep. Henry Waxman’s soon-to-be vacated Congressional seat.

    On Jan. 30, the 74-year-old Waxman announced that he would not seek reelection after serving in the House of Representatives since 1975. His districts encompass Beverly Hills and West Hollywood.

    Other contenders for Waxman’s seat include Wendy Greuel (D), who ran for Los Angeles mayor, and state Sen. Ted Lieu (D).The list of candidates seeking to replace Waxman is very long, even spiritual guru and best-selling author Marianne Williamson is running.

    Though Fluke has yet to officially announced her candidacy, she did file for the state party’s endorsement, which means she is officially in the race.

    On Sunday afternoon, the state party will begin its endorsement process which will wrap up at the state party convention next month.

    http://youtu.be/rHADDMRKfM0

    Image via YouTube

  • Super Bowl Bet Costs Furniture Store $7 Million

    A few weeks ago, Houston furniture store owner Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale lost $685,000 in a promotion that gave 100 of his customers free furniture for correctly guessing that the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks would square off in this year’s Super Bowl.

    Apparently, Mattress Mack is a gambling man. The store owner upped the ante and bet $7 million that the Broncos would be victorious in the big game.

    In the two weeks leading up to the game, McIngvale said he would issue a full refund to customers who spent more than $6000 at his Gallery Furniture store 5pm Sunday.

    Well, the Broncos lost. Now, all eyes were on McIngvale to see whether or not he would deliver on his promise. Shortly after the Seahawks victory, the store owner used the company’s website and the large screen electronic billboard just outside the store to announce that “Customers Win $7,000,000.”

    “The accountant is pulling his hair out this morning, but the customers are happy and that’s what’s most important,” said McIngvale to ABC News.

    McInvale also said that Gallery Furniture plans to throw a celebratory party on Feb. 17 for over 1000 lucky customers.

    The store owner believes his promotion will increase awareness of his business and translate in more customer loyalty and greater profits in the long run. According to experts, the furniture in McIngvale’s store likely cost him less than half the retail value and helps him get rid of overhead.

    Given the overwhelming media attention to his promotion, and the new customers it has generated, what seems at first like a bone head bet may very well be a savvy business strategy.

    McIngvale doesn’t seem to be too concerned either. In fact, he seemed visibly elated at his $7 million loss. “It worked for making the customer say ‘This guy does what he says he’s going to do,’” said McIngvale.

    Image via Youtube

  • ‘Seinfeld’ Reunion Feels Like The Show Never Ended

    Ok, so it wasn’t exactly a Super Bowl ad — at least not in the typical sense. What was declared by comedian Jerry Seinfeld as a “big, huge, gigantic project” that he and co-writer Larry David put together, was in fact, a promo for his Crackle.com web series  “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.”

    The 2-minute promo that aired during the Super Bowl was a snippet of a ‘Seinfeld’ webisode featuring  Seinfeld playing the TV version of himself, Jason Alexander as the neurotic George Costanza and Wayne Knight as Newman the postal worker. Though the show has been off the air for 16 years, the guys seamlessly stepped back into their much loved characters.

    The promo features Jerry and George taking a short car ride over to their favorite New York meeting place, Tom’s restaurant. As usual, it’s not long before the two end up having a heated conversation. Jerry admits to George that he was disappointed about not being at the Wasserstein’s Super Bowl party. Apparently, the previous year George “over-cheered” at the party and also failed to use good bathroom etiquette after relieving himself in the Wasserstein’s master bathroom. Toward the end of the clip, George gives Jerry his blessing and tells him to go watch the second half of the Super Bowl without him. Just before Jerry could even get out of his seat, Newman (Jerry’s archrival) enters the scene. Ahh…feels like the show never ended.

    In the days leading up to the Super Bowl, Seinfeld was asked in a radio interview whether or not his Super Bowl short film was ‘Seinfeld’ reunion or a promo for his web series. Seinfeld said,  “It’s not. But “It’s not-not” either of those things.  In retrospect, that now seems like a reasonable answer from a comedian trying to be evasive.

     Seinfeld said in a statement, “Fox approached Larry and me about doing some kind of ‘Seinfeld’ reunion for the halftime broadcast because of the New York connection. So we thought throwing Jerry, George and Newman into a Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee was a fun way to do it.” 

    So far the mini reunion is a hit — the fans love it.  See the full 6-minute webisode on Crackle.com.

    Image via Youtube

  • Coca Cola’s ‘America The Beautiful’ Ad Causes Controversy

    This year Coca Cola ditched its lovable polar bears, opting instead for  for a more arousing Super Bowl commercial.

    Coca Cola chose to go with an ad that they had to have known would spark controversy — but some call that good marketing. After all, the Super Bowl came and went and we’re still talking about the commercial.

    The commercial in question is dubbed “It’s Beautiful”. The ad features a selection of people representing several ethnicities and singing the patriotic song “America the Beautiful” in eight different languages some of which were English, Hindi, Arabic and Tagalog.

    The commercial even show two men rollerskating with their daughter. According to GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), this was the first Super Bowl ad to feature a gay family.

    The ad seemingly attempted to show America as an inclusive and culturally diverse country but many people were not thrilled.

    The main point of contention with the ad, especially among Conservatives,  is that “America the Beautiful” was not sung entirely in English. The view of many is that America is a country routed in its own culture and traditions, part of that culture is the use of English. However, it should be noted that America does not have an official language.

    “If we cannot be proud enough as a country to sing ‘America the Beautiful’ in English in a commercial during the Super Bowl, by a company as American as they come — doggone we are on the road to perdition,” said Allen West, former GOP Rep.

    Many took to social networks like Twitter to express their dissatisfaction with Coca Cola’s ad.

    As you might expect, there were some in favor of the multilinguistic ad.


    Image via YouTube

  • Nelson Mandela Estate Valued At $4.1 Million So Far

    The late South African president Nelson Mandela has reportedly left behind an estate valued at 46m rand ($4.1 million), according to the executors of his will.

    Mandela died last December at age 95. The civil rights hero left an estate that includes a house in Johannesburg, a modest Eastern Cape home as well as royalties from his book sales, including “Long Walk to Freedom’, his autobiography.

    Executor Justice Dikgang Moseneke, who is also the deputy chief justice of South Africa’s constitutional court, said that the 46m rand is only an estimate of Mandela’s assets for the time being.

    “We are yet to get down to the business of finding the asset, listing them and valuing them and accurately reflecting them. We have a duty to file a provisional inventory.” said Moseneke.

    Nelson Mandela left money in his will to his children, grandchildren, staff, the African National Congress (ANC), and two universities he attended.  Moseneke said the reading of the will so far has been an emotional event for Mandela’s family. The family had been fighting among themselves even before Mandela passed. The executors believe that the three trust Mandela left behind could yield significantly more wealth which could trigger a court battle among family members.

    There is, however, one very noticeable omission — Winnie Mandela was left out. Nelson Mandela’s ex-wife and former comrade in the fight to end apartheid got nothing. Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was the late South African president’s wife for 38 years, the two were divorced 1996. In 1998 Mandela married for a third time to Graça Machel.

    Machel is expected to waive her right by marriage to half the Mandela estate, instead choosing to receive properties, cars, jewelry and other assets in Mozambique. Machel is not only Nelson Mandela’s widow but also the widow of late Mozambican president, Samora Moisés Machel, who died in a 1986 plane crash. If she waives her right, the two children she had with the Mozambique president will receive 3m rand each from Mandela’s estate, while Samora Machel’s six children from a previous marriage will each receive 100,000 rand.

    Now the job of carrying out Mandela’s will is left to three executors: Moseneke, George Bizos, Mandela’s friend of 65 years, and Themba Sangoni, the chief judge in Eastern Cape province.

    Image via YouTube

  • Alessandro Nencini Faces Allegations Of Impropriety In Amanda Knox Trial

    On Monday, the judge who found Amanda Knox and her former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito guilty of murder is facing legal problems of his own. Judge Alessandro Nencini is being investigated for improper comments he allegedly made to the Italian media regarding the defense’s strategy during the trial.

    The defense attorney for Sollecito announced Monday that they will seek disciplinary proceedings against judge Nencini for his alleged impropriety.

    Nencini said that Sollecito’s decision not to testify may have worked against him during the proceeding. “The ability not to be heard in a trial is a right, but it deprives the subject of a voice,” said Nencini.

    The defense lawyers said they are appealing the verdict and the judge’s comments could be included as part of their appeal.

    However, defense lawyer Luca Maori was quick to clarify that their planned action is not a “Vendetta” because they received a different verdict from what they had hoped for.

    Carlo Dalla Vedova, Knox’s defence attorney, described Nencini’s comments as inappropriate but declined to give any comment concerning the action that Italy’s Supreme Court and Judicial Ministry are likely to take against the judge.

    Knox’s defense team is also contemplating appealing the verdict saying Knox feels that this “is a mistake” and she is ready to fight for her innocence.

    Magistrate’s governing body members have said they will request for an inquiry against Nencini because he had violated some of the judicial code of conduct including the secrecy of deliberations and anticipated arguments before reasoning is published. The comments of the judge about the defense trial strategy also implies “partiality”.

    Nencini was the presiding judge on an appeals panel that found Sollecito, 29, and Knox, 26, guilty of the murder of a 21-year-old British student Meredith Kercher. Kercher and Knox were roommates when she was sexually assaulted and murdered in Perugia, Italy, on Nov. 1, 2007.

    Image via YouTube

  • EU Corruption Costs Over €120 Billion A Year

    An official EU report published Monday says corruption affects all member countries of the European Union and costs the bloc at least 120 billion euros ($162 billion) annually. She said the amount lost annually would be enough to fund the Union’s yearly operating budget.

    The report was issued by European Commissioner Cecelia Malmstrom during the first official European Union corruption study. Malmstrom said the estimated loss was due to secret political financing, inflated government contracts, bribes and other corrupt practices.

    “There are no corruption-free zones in Europe,” Malmstrom told a news conference. “We are not doing enough. And this is true for all member states.”

    Although the study does not rank the countries according to the pervasiveness of corruption, Malmstrom said “younger democracies” especially in Eastern Europe face some special challenges.

    According to the report, corruption can be found at both the local and regional levels of government and for some member countries it is especially prevalent in the healthcare and real estate sectors.

    Malmstrom pointed out that many government contracts get inflated. She said government financed goods and services make up about 20% of the EU spending and that up to 25% of the money spent is lost in corruption dealings.

    In one of the surveys, about 4 out of 10 privately owned companies cited corruption as one of the main obstacles to doing business in EU.

    “A huge amount of money is lost here,” Malmstrom said.

    European Commissioner continued to say the taxpayer’s money is not used properly and citizens don’t get a good return for their money. She also said that corruption “erodes democratic legitimacy.”

    The Director of the European Union office of Transparency International Carl Dolan welcomed the reports, saying it came at the right time when voters will be electing a new EU parliament. “What the report shows is that there has been a consistent failure among politicians to regulate their conflicts of interests, particularly in their dealings with business and industry,” Dolan said.

    Image via YouTube

  • Sumatra Volcano Eruption Kills 15

    A sudden eruption of an active volcano in the  Sumatra Islands of Indonesia has so far claimed 15 lives according to official reports. According to Jarkata Post, this is the first time volcanic eruptions of Mount Sinabung had caused fatalities.

    Spirals of volcanic ash spewed violently more than one mile into the sky, with temperatures reaching as much as 700 degrees Fahrenheit. The toxic ash from the volcano has also hindered search and rescue efforts to save more victims.

    Yopie Haryadi, a spokesman for Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue agency, said that among the dead were residents who returned to the scene to check on their homes, a high school teacher, a number of students and a journalist. Officials have now warned that there could be more eruptions and the death toll could rise as some people are ignoring the warning signs and returning to their homes.

    “Sometimes people can come and go to check on their homes. We will try to search again, but we have to wait until the situation is clear, given the hot clouds,” said Mr. Yopie.

    Mount Sinabung  had been dormant for 400 years up until 2010. It has been emitting gas since September of last year. The Jakarta Post reported that about 31 people previously died from illnesses like hypertension and asthma caused by volcanic eruptions in recent years.

    Due to escalating volcanic activity 22,000 people were forced into temporary camps last month. Parlindungan Harahap, a local reporter for Sumut Pos, said that about half those people were allowed to return home on Friday. On Sunday, disaster relief authorities denied the reporter’s claim, saying that they made substantial efforts to keep evacuees away from the area. The newest eruption has now forced people living in 16 villages to vacate their homes. About  30,000 people have been relocated to 42 evacuation centers, according to Indonesian emergency response director, Billy Sumuan.

    The government has given directions and issued the highest level of alert concerning the latest eruptions. For the time being, the local government has warned residents to stay at least 5 kilometers away from the zone around the volcano.

    Image via Youtube

  • Lil’ Za (Justin Bieber’s Pal) Gets Charged With Drug Possession

    Justin Bieber’s pal Lil’ Za was charged on Friday with three felony crimes, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office. The charges come two weeks after Beiber’s Calabasas mansion was raided by police. Police claim they raided the house after receiving a call that Bieber and his friends pelted his neighbor’s home with eggs.

    The 20-year-old Lil’ Za, whose real name is Xavier Smith, was charged with two counts of felony possession of a controlled substance, and vandalism for allegedly breaking a phone at the Sheriff’s jail. Za spent less than a day at the Sheriff’s Station and was released on bail.

    While doing a search at Bieber’s home, police found MDMA, the drug commonly known as Ecstasy. They also found Oxycodone, a prescription painkiller also known as OxyContin. Both drugs were said to belong to Lil Za. According to TMZ, Za could face a maximum jail sentence of nine years in prison if convicted. A court hearing has been scheduled for Feb. 4 in Van Nuys, California.

    Shortly after being released from police custody Lil’ Za took to Twitter to vent his frustration.

    “Honestly, the media is making me someone I’m not,” he wrote. “But only those in my shoes can relate. … These ppl get paid to make you look bad. Some stuff I’ve done has been wrong yes, but look at the position I’m in and the color of my skin. Cocaine? Really? All this time I was home in tx nobody gave a f–k about what Za was doing…soon as he gets to La he’s all over the news.”

    Za’s Twitter account has since been deleted.

    Bieber, however,  was “not connected” to the substance found in his home according to police statements.  His egg throwing incident did cause more than $20,000 worth of damages, which is considered a felony.

    Besides the “egging” incident and his friend’s felony charges, Bieber managed to find himself in more hot water. Just last week he was arrested for a DUI in Miami Beach. Bieber was also charged with resisting arrest and driving with an expired license. Then on Wednesday, the Canadian singer was also charged with assaulting a limousine driver in Toronto.

    http://youtu.be/KGdSRbqIsLA

    Image via YouTube

  • ‘Seinfeld’ Reunion: Will They Do A Super Bowl Commercial?

    Fans of the TV show ‘Seinfeld’ could be in for a treat. On Jan. 6, comedian Jerry Seinfeld revealed that he was doing a “big, huge, gigantic” project that he co-wrote with Larry David. About a week later he was spotted at Tom’s Diner in Manhattan with former cast member Jason Alexander. Tom’s Diner was the Seinfeld crew’s meeting place on the show.  So, is this a sign of a reunion?

    (image)

    In a Thursday interview with Boomer & Carton on WFAN radio, Jerry Seinfeld hinted at a reunion of the cast of  ‘Seinfeld’. He said that he and his old crew had gotten together to film a one-off scene of some kind, a short film a bit longer than 60 seconds in duration. Seinfeld also said that the mystery project was scheduled to air “very soon”. In the interview, Seinfeld was asked if the film was a  promotion for Sunday’s game or for his popular web series “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.” The comedian gave a typical “Seinfeld answer” — “It’s not. But “It’s not-not” either of those things, he responded.

    “I gave you more now than I’ve given anyone,” said Seinfeld. “I told you what it isn’t. And then I also told you that it isn’t not that, either.”

    Sounds like a Super Bowl commercial. Could it be?

    On Friday, Seinfeld’s publicist Tom Kearney was also being mysterious about the project. Kearney quickly dismissed the idea that the short film was a commercial but did confirm that the public would know soon.

    This reunion is not the first for the cast since the show ended its run in 1998. Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Michael Richards last appeared together in one episode of Larry David’s ‘Curb your Enthusiasm’ in 2009.

    (image)

    Ok, so we don’t really know what they’re up to but whatever it is will likely be entertaining and funny.

    Yada yada yada, still sounds like a Super Bowl commercial.

    Images via Wikimedia Commons

  • Boston Bombing Suspect Could Face Death Penalty

     U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced on Thursday that the government will seek the death penalty in the case of the United States vs. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. The 20-year-old Tsarnaev is a suspect in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings that killed 3 people and wounded over 260 others. Law enforcement allege Tsarnaev, a Chechnya-born American, planted two pressure cooker bombs near the finish line of the race with his brother.

    Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who is currently being held in federal prison, pleaded not guilty of committing the crimes with his older brother Tamerlan. Tamerlan Tsarnaev was killed in a shootout with police just days after the bombing.

    Liz Noren expressed relief when she heard the U.S. Attorney General’s decision to seek the death penalty. Noren’s two sons, JP and Paul, each lost a leg in the tragic bombing incident. “It’s important to me. I’m trying to make sense of what happened that day,” she said, “My boys went to watch a friend run the marathon, and one came home 46 days later. The other one, 32 days later.” Noren says she plans to sit in on the trial every day once it gets underway. “I just am relieved that it’s going forward in the right direction, one step forward in the recovery process,” she added.

    Zubeidat Tsarnaeva, the mother of  Tsarnaev, is also disheartened by the announcement. “How can I feel about this? I feel nothing,” Zubeidat Tsarnaeva said in Russian. “I can tell you one thing, that I love my son. I will always feel proud of him. And I keep loving him.

    Shortly after the bombing occurred Zubeidat Tsarnaeva was reported to have said that she did not believe her sons were responsible for the bombing and that they were framed by the U.S. government.

    Massachusetts got rid of the the death penalty 30 years ago, but federal law permits the penalty in certain circumstances. Given the serious nature of the crime, the Attorney General’s office decided to move forward with the request.

    Image via YouTube

  • Amanda Knox And Ex Boyfriend Found Guilty Again

    Amanda Knox’s legal troubles have been through a series of unpredictable twist and turns. In 2009, Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito (Knox’s former boyfriend) were convicted of murder. An Italian court found the pair guilty of the 2007 murder of Meredith Kercher, a British student and Knox’s former roommate.

    In a surprising twist of fate, the Italian court changed its mind and acquitted them in 2011 after they had each already served 4 years behind bars. Now, the two have been found guilty yet again…and the saga continues.

    Only one day after receiving news of her reinstated guilty verdict, Knox appeared on ABC’s Good Morning America to vent her feelings.

    “I’m going to fight this to the very end,” Knox said in an interview with ABC’s Robin Roberts. “This really, it hit me like a train. I didn’t expect this to happen. I really expected so much better from the Italian system. They found me innocent before; how could they say beyond a reasonable doubt?” she continued.

    In the interview Knox also revealed that she sent a letter to the parents of Meredith Kercher, to express her sympathy for the loss of their daughter.

    “They deserve respect and the consolation of some kind of acknowledgement,” she said. “I really wish them the best.”

    The 26-year-old Knox still maintains her innocence and said she will “never go willingly”. She believes the renewed guilty verdict is as a result of “overzealous prosecutor”s and “coercive interrogation”.

    At the moment, Knox resides in Seattle, Washington, and would only have to do jail time if she returns to Italy or if she is extradited to Italy–both scenarios seem unlikely. The U.S., does however, have an extradition agreement with the Italian government so it is still very much possible that she could go back to prison.

    On Friday, police found Raffael Sollecito at a hotel near Italy’s border with Slovenia and Austria, just hours after he and Knox’s guilty verdicts were announced.

    According to Luca Maori, Sollecito’s lawyer, his client was near the Italian border because that’s where his current girlfriend lives. After being apprehended, he voluntarily went with police to the station while his girlfriend drove behind.

    Upon arriving at the Udine police station, police confiscated his passport and stamped his identity papers to show that he cannot leave Italy. As per a Florence appeals court, Knox and Sollecito were sentenced to 28 ½ years and 25 years respectively. Neither have been detained pending a final appeal, which could take up to another year.

    Image via YouTube

  • USA Sochi Uniforms: Made In America

    USA Sochi Uniforms: Made In America

    The uniforms that Team USA will wear during the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games to be held next month in Sochi, Russia, have been unveiled.

    Designed by Ralph Lauren, the new Olympic uniforms are brimful of stars and stripes with lots of red, white and blue.  Take one look at the team’s outfits and there is absolutely no mistaking what country is being represented. As usual, Ralph Lauren managed to give the clothing a classic look that many would identify as pure Americana.

    The new uniforms have also attracted a lot of reaction from the public but not everybody seems to like them.

     

    USA hockey team member Julie Chu was more approving. In her opinion the outfits underline the patriotic spirit of the United States.

    “What I really enjoy when [I] look at it is I can see the patriotic spirit. When everyone’s wearing it together, it makes a bold statement.” Chu said.

    Speaking of patriotism…Ralph Lauren Corp wised up this year by not making the uniforms in China like it did for the ones worn in the Summer Olympics. This year the clothes will have a Made in America label as they have all been produced locally.

    The patchwork cardigan outfits were made with wool from Oregon and spun in North Carolina and Pennsylvania. It was then knitted in California.

    With the American flag at the center of the uniform, it also features conspicuous Olympic rings and big stars. Underneath, you’ll see a cream cotton turtleneck, black leather boots and white athletic pants. The designer also threw in a wool “reindeer hat”. Of course the hat is red, white and blue too, with braided tassels.

    In a statement delivered Thursday, the company said: “A dynamic mix of patriotic references in a classic color palette of red, white and navy defines the Ralph Lauren 2014 Team USA Opening ceremony uniform, which is proudly Made in America.”

    Image via YouTube

  • Thailand Declares State Of Emergency; Opposition Stands Firm

    This week, Thailand declared a state of emergency in Bangkok amid intense political unrest.

    The government has issued a 60-day clampdown which gives them the right to issue curfews, censor the media and use military force against the public if necessary. The Thai government did, however, say that it does not intend to use force against protesters, even though protesters have been disrupting the capital Bangkok for weeks now.

    Demonstrators in Thailand are pushing to overthrow Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. The demonstrations, which started back in November, have left at least nine people dead and over 450 more wounded said Thai authorities.

    Ever since Shinawatra started office she has been viewed as a controversial figure. Her billionaire brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was ran out of the country in 2006 after accusations of corruption. A large percentage of the Thai population view her as a “puppet” who is simply doing the bidding of her brother.

    In an attempt to calm anti-government protesters Prime Minister Shinawatra dissolved the parliament and has agreed to new elections on Feb. 2. Her actions have proven insufficient — protesters are demanding that she leave office and have a “people’s council” oversee a new election.

    On Saturday, Thailand’s main opposition party said it would boycott the February elections, reaffirming the position of the anti government protesters. “The election on Feb. 2 is not the solution for the country,” said  Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, a former prime minister and opposition leader, “It will not lead to reform.” The opposition believes that the election will only result in the “same old power grab” by the ruling party.

    For now, Army commander Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha said they are monitoring the situation to see whether the state of emergency will ease the violence. Those who are opposing the prime minister have refused to negotiate but Prayuth says he is in favor of discussions that will result in peace.

    Image via YouTube