WebProNews

Author: Val Powell

  • Tom Sizemore Gets High And Makes Racist Remarks [Video]

    A video showing embattled actor Tom Sizemore high on hard drugs and making offensive remarks against Mexican men has emerged.

    Sizemore is a 52-year-old veteran actor who starred in movies like Heat, Black Hawk Down and Saving Private Ryan.

    On Wednesday, a video emerged on YouTube showing Sizemore smoking what appears to be crystal methamphetamine in the bathroom of his LA home. At one point in the homemade video, Sizemore smokes a substance wrapped in foil paper with a glass pipe. According to sources, that substance was heroin.

    The actor has had a long history of using hard drugs, which he says started when he was 15. Sizemore’s  3-year marriage to actress Maeve Quinlan ended in divorce in 1999 because of his drug problems. In 2003, he was also convicted of assault and battery against his girlfriend, Heidi Fleiss, the notorious “Hollywood Madam”. Shortly after, he was sentenced to 7 months in  jail and 4 months in a drug treatment program for failing drug tests while on probation. Sizemore has since had a series of legal and personal problems stemming from his drug addiction.

    In 2010, he appeared on VH1’s Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew and was able to stay clean for awhile. This new video, however, shows a man that has clearly succumbed to his addictions once again.

    Sizemore seems to also have a problem with Mexicans. In the video, he can be heard saying he hates Mexican men because they “stink, they’re are all hairy, brown and smell like ‘f***ing fertilizer.”

    ‘They just f***ing try and tax you and f***ing beat your a* and kill ya,  he continued.

    The source of the video said: “The world should see this video because then maybe Tom will realize he’s killing himself with drugs and clean himself up for good.”

    Video shows Sizemore apparently doing drugs and making racist comments

    http://youtu.be/eFbCR3ilmOk

    http://youtu.be/2LWYjOaV7h4

    Image via YouTube

  • Vince Young: Another Professional Athlete Goes Broke

    It’s always hard to believe that even after earning millions of dollars, some people still find a way to go broke.

    It is startling to hear the large contracts signed by professional athletes, but it is even more shocking to learn that a whopping 78% of NFL players have to deal with serious financial crisis or bankruptcy within the first two years of leaving the game. About 60% of NBA players face the same troubles after 5 years.

    It is easy to blame them for the mess but the causes of the problem are varied. Family pressures, poor money management skills, big egos, thrill seeking, bad financial investments and so on, contribute to the bankruptcy epidemic that plagues pro athletes. We don’t know which of these apply to Vince Young.

    The once promising football star has now reached rock-bottom, a sharp contrast to eight years ago when he was on top of the world. Young has already filed for chapter 11 federal bankruptcy, just 2 years after leaving the NFL despite once signing a contract worth $26 million with the Tennessee Titans.

    Young was the starting quarterback for the Titans between 2006 and 2010. He then joined the Eagles in 2011 after being dumped by the Titans in the 2010 season.

    According to the Houston Chronicle, his attorney Brian Kilmer filed a petition in a Houston bankruptcy court that listed his assets to be worth between $500,001 and $1 million and liabilities between $1,001,000 and $10 million.

    It is alleged that his financial woes began, or was at least made worse, by a $1.8 million loan which he ultimately didn’t need. The loan has now grown to $2.5 million.

    According to a Pro Player Funding (a New York based company that granted the loan) attorney, a judgment against Young in favor of Pro Player Funding was passed by a New York Court.

    Meanwhile, Young has sued his financial adviser and former agent for trying to rip him off. He says they took the money he received from the Pro Player loan for themselves.

    Young is only 30-years-old, he could almost certainly play football for a few more years, so why isn’t he? After all, he could use the money.

    No one seems to have a clear answer for why he’s been ousted from the NFL. Young’s skills with money leave much to be desired but his skills on the gridiron are solid. Vince Young and his family and friends are perplexed as to why he hasn’t been signed. This has lead some to believe that he may have been blacklisted.

    http://youtu.be/AU7gOPQmPY0

    How Athletes Go Broke

    Image via YouTube

  • Lufthansa Heist: 5 Mobsters Arrested For Crime

    Today a man alleged to have been involved in the 1978 Lufthansa heist at John F. Kennedy airport, New York,  is among 5 men taken into custody by the authorities for the crime.

    Federal agents have carried out a series of raids in the NY metro area to apprehend the suspects. A 78-year-old Vincent Asaro of Howard Beach is one of the mobsters facing a series of charges including the infamous JFK airport robbery that happened over 3 decades ago.

    “An FBI operation is ongoing. We will release further details later this morning,” said FBI spokeswoman Kelly Langmesser to ABC News.

    Asaro will be the first suspect to face charges in the Lufthansa heist case. The only other person who has ever been charged is airport worker Louis Werner. Werner was accused of providing critical information to the mobsters in order for them to carry out the crime. Other suspects in the case have died and only a small fraction of the money has been recovered.

    More than $5 million in cash and $1 million worth of jewelry was stolen during the robbery that took place on Dec. 11, 1978. This is equivalent to about $20 million today. At the time, it was the biggest heist ever pulled off in the United States. Despite long investigations, nothing came of it, though in 1990 Hollywood released “Goodfellas”, a movie that made the heist even more famous.

    Federal prosecutors indicted the five men with a number of crimes including murder, robbery, exhortation, bookmaking and arson. The four other suspects apprehended are Jack Bonventre, Jerome Asaro, John “Bazoo” Ragano and Thomas “Tommy D” Di Fiore. The men are all believed to belong to the Bonanno crime family.

    The men will be arraigned in U.S district court in Brooklyn on Thursday.

    According to Langmesser, Vincent Asaro was arrested following an investigation conducted last summer at the home of another mobster called James “Jimmy the Gent” Burke. Some time ago human remains were found at Burke’s home and were identified as those of Paul Katz. Katz was allegedly murdered in 1969 by Vincent Asaro and his accomplice Jerome Asaro because they believed he was a police informant.

    Further details of the arrests are still developing.

    http://youtu.be/yt-GyX8-4Qg

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Arnold Schwarzenegger Plays Prankster At Gold’s Gym

    What would you do if Arnold Schwarzenegger was watching you workout at the gym? If he was wearing a disguise would you recognize him?

    Schwarzenegger tried to pull a prank on members of Gold’s gym in Venice, California, by putting on a black mustache, a fake black ponytail and a baseball cap to give instructions to unsuspecting members as they exercised.

    Disguised as “Howard Kleiner”, he asks one woman on the treadmill, “Hi, how’s it going? How many miles you running?” The woman then stops, looks at him and says, “Oh my God. Hi.” Let’s face it, it’s hard for Schwarzenegger to fool us — his accent is a dead giveaway.

    Schwarzenegger then realizes how difficult it is to disguise himself as Howard when one guy laughs and says, “Come on, Arnold.”

    However, not everyone seems to recognize the superstar, as one woman looks at him and says, “You look so familiar to me!” and he replies, “Maybe you’ve seen me on a FBI Most Wanted list.”

    Schwarzenegger’s prank at the gym was meant to promote and raise funds for After-School All-Stars, a program that provides homework help, free mentorship, tutoring, and fun activities to students who come from low-income families, nationwide.  The stunt was recorded on  video and debuted on Tuesday.

    Donors who contribute at least $10 to the program through omaze.com are entered for a chance to win a trip to Los Angeles for two, where they will get to ride shot-gun with Schwarzenegger in his personal Sherman tank.

    To sweeten the deal, the winners will also smoke cigars on the tank and “crush things together” and Schwarzenegger has offered to match the equivalent of the amount donated.

    Schwarzenegger has been a longtime advocate after-school programs. In 1992 he founded the After-School All-Stars program and serves as the honorary Chair of the Board to date.

    http://youtu.be/5_Rg7BN9kFU

    Image via YouTube

  • Rob Ford Curses In Drunken Jamaican Jibber Jabber

    He’s done it again! Just when we thought Toronto Mayor Rob Ford  was done with drinking, there’s a new video showing the mayor in another one of his drunken stupors. In the video, the intoxicated mayor is heard using words that are offensive or profane — in Jamaican patois.

    Although the video is generally incoherent and some of his words sound like gibberish, Jamaican words such as “bumbaclot” and “rassclot” are heard and experts are weighing in on their context.

    Jamaican speaking Canadians familiar with Jamaican dialect say the words are extremely profane when used in the right context. According to the experts, the words are offensive in most situations in Jamaica and in general is viewed as low-class.

    It is difficult to pin down specific words in the video, which was made in a northwest Toronto restaurant Monday night. Bob Arthurs, a retired teacher, says the words are common slang words in Jamaica just like the F-word. “If you met someone on the street you didn’t know and you said, “you’re a bumbaclot, that could be a very trying situation for you,” said Arthurs.

    Another Jamaican-Canadian, York University professor, Clive Forrester said the words are simply curse words, “not suitable for use in polite company or in the presence of children, and performers have been fined in the past for using the words on stage,” Forrester noted.

    Ford did admit that he had been drinking, breaking vows he made weeks ago that he had given up drinking. The controversy stricken mayor contradicted his “most loyal brother” Councillor Doug Ford. The Councillor claimed that the video was an old one which was probably taken before the mayor declared that he would stop drinking — the video was taken less than a week ago.

    Many of Ford’s colleagues were not fooled by his assertion that he would quit drinking. The city’s only black councilor, Michael Thompson, said many of his fellow councilors did not believe the mayor had changed for good.

    “I think we all had sort of concluded it was only a matter of time,” Thompson said.

    Rob Ford Is Unapologetic About Incident

    http://youtu.be/LWKfrlskXSQ

    Image via YouTube

     

  • Roxana Rodriguez On Being Pregnant: “It’s Not Possible. I’m A Nun.”

    A catholic nun in Italy has given birth to a healthy baby boy whom she named Francesco (Francis), after the new pope. The nun reportedly called for an ambulance on Wednesday morning after experiencing abdominal pains, which she thought were normal stomach pains. Lo and behold, she was actually pregnant, delivering a 9-pound baby.

    Roxana Rodriguez is a native of El Salvador, but belongs to Campomoro convent in Italy. “I did not know I was pregnant. I only felt a stomach pain,” said the 31-year-old Rodriguez.

    While at the hospital in Rieti, she started receiving clothing and donations from other new mothers. Her sister nuns expressed surprise at the news that one of their own was pregnant. Catholic nuns, and indeed priests, take vows of chastity, meaning she’s broken one of the cardinal rules of the convent by becoming pregnant — unless maybe, this was an immaculate as she claims.

    “It’s not possible. I’m a nun,” she told the hospital when asked whether she was aware of the pregnancy. However, the nun has said she plans on keeping her child.

    The local pastor Don Fabrizio Borello said he believed the nun’s assertion that she was unaware of the pregnancy.”I guess she’s telling the truth when she says she arrived at the hospital unaware of the pregnancy.” However, the Bishop of Rieti, Delio Lucarelli has said the nun will have to lead a secular life outside the religious life.

    “It would be preferable that she now lead a secular life with her baby, away from religious institutions,” read a statement from the bishop.

    The mayor of Rieti, Simone Petrangeli, has asked that reporters and the general public respect Rodriguez’s privacy. This news has, no doubt, embarrassed the church which is already embroiled in sex scandals involving priests. So was this an immaculate conception? Who knows?

    Image via YouTube

  • ASU Fraternity Suspended For Racist “Black Party” On MLK Day

    Arizona State University has suspended one of its fraternities following a party that some are calling racist. Somehow, none of the students of the ASU chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon had the good sense to know that hosting their “MLK Black Party” was a seriously bad idea.

    Few would be upset about an event that celebrated civil right leader Martin Luther King Jr. However, the way in which these ASU students chose to celebrate sparked nationwide outrage. On Sunday, students at the frat party dressed up in basketball jerseys and offensive costumes that stereotype African Americans. They also drank from hollowed out watermelons, threw up gang signs and posted Twitter hashtags like “Ihaveadream” and “blackoutformlk.”

    A statement from ASU’s senior vice president for student services, James Rund read:  “We regard the behavior exhibited as completely outrageous, extraordinarily offensive and wholly unacceptable. This kind of behavior is not tolerated by the university, and we intend to take swift and immediate action”

    Local civil rights groups are now demanding that the chapter be expelled, according to a report by ABC. National fraternity organization spokesman, Alex Baker, said the group does not condone such behaviors nor is it an advocate for racism.

    The university noted that the party was held outside campus; hence not condoned by the institution. According to the University’s statement, it is “unfortunate that a few misguided individuals held an offensive party.”

    The fraternity has issued an apology: “We apologize for any offensive actions that a few of our members might have participated in. We can assure all other parties that these actions do not represent Tau Kappa Epsilon and the beliefs of love, charity, and esteem that we have stood by for 115 years.”

    Rev. Jarrett Maupin, a civil rights activist, said the school should take responsibility and expel the students involved. Activists also asked the university to consider offering diversity classes to all students and staff.

    ASU has not yet provided further details about the incident or actions it has taken against the offenders.

    Image via YouTube

  • Arnold Schwarzenegger Surprises In Super Bowl Ad

    The teasers for the upcoming Super Bowl commercials in February have started airing on TV, and one of them features Arnold Schwarzenegger. “The Governator” will appear in a number of ads to promote Bud Light beer.

    Schwarzenegger, who spent most of the 2000’s in office as California Governor, has made ad appearances overseas, but has stayed clear of doing U.S. advertisements. It took a reported $3 million paycheck to convince him to suit up for the ad.

    In the teaser, dubbed ‘The Perfect Beer for Whatever Happens,’ Schwarzenegger surprises us as a wig wearing ping pong player, getting ready to do battle. We can only guess at what the 66-year-old megastar will do when the full ad airs during Super Bowl XLVIII.

    Budweiser is known for delivering some of the most memorable and expensive commercials during the Super Bowl. This year will be no different. A 30-second slot of Super Bowl airtime is priced at $4 million, nearly 50 percent up from 5 years ago. Last year it was $3.8 million. The company’s marketing director, Paul Chibe said the television audience is the largest of the year and “it’s an unprecedented opportunity” that the company wants to take advantage of.

    “We have a game plan in place this year to deliver creative that celebrates Bud Light and Budweiser while reaching loyal beer drinkers and new generations,” Chibe said.

    As usual, this year’s Super Bowl will have ads featuring a myriad of stars. A-list celebs like Scarlett Johansson will be featured in an ad for SodaStream International Ltd and soccer star David Beckham will appear in an ad for  H&M. Beckham’s ad will even allow viewers to instantly order the underwear he is featured wearing.

    Schwarzenegger is not the only star being featured by Budweiser. The company has confirmed that comedian Reggie Watts, and actor Don Cheadle have also been commissioned for its Super Bowl ad campaign.

    The Super Bowl and its commercials will air on Feb. 2.

    Image via YouTube

  • Richard Sherman Rant: Candid Or Classless?

    Richard Sherman Rant: Candid Or Classless?

    Richard Sherman, who considers himself to be the best cornerback since Deion Sanders, surprised many, including sportscaster Erin Andrews during a post-game interview.

    At a moment when you might think Sherman would be jubilant after sealing his team’s spot in Super Bowl, he appeared to be everything but.

    When Andrews caught up with him after the game, Sherman took the time to unleashed an EPIC rant aimed at 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree.

    “Well, I’m the best corner in the game! When you try me with a sorry receiver like Crabtree, that’s the result you gonna get! Don’t you EVER talk about me,” shouted Sherman.

    When asked by Andrews to clarify who had been talking about him, he candidly said, “Crabtree.”

    “Don’t you open your mouth about the best,” he continued, “or I’ll shut it for you real quick. LOB!”

    Andrews appeared momentarily stunned by Sherman’s outburst, but quickly regained her composure before directing the cameras back to the announcer’s booth.

    In the closing moments of the game between the 49ers and the Seahawks, Sherman deflected a touchdown thrown by 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick intended for wide receiver Michael Crabtree. The pass was then intercepted by Seahawks linebacker Michael Smith. That play ended the game 23-17 and the Seattle Seahawks advanced to the Super Bowl to face the Denver Broncos.

    Normally, when a team makes it into the Super Bowl on a dramatic final play, people talk about the play and the playmaker. Well, there is certainly a lot of talk about Sherman, but maybe for the wrong reasons. Twitter was chirping about Sherman’s rant almost immediately after it aired on TV. Some appreciated Sherman’s honesty and candor. However, there were those who thought Sherman displayed a lack of professionalism and class.

     

    Crabtree, it seem, is one person who was least impressed with Sherman’s remarks.

    So what do you think? Was Sherman just speaking the truth or was his rant classless?

     Here’s Sherman’s Full Rant

    http://youtu.be/ioo1iUdwAlU

    Crabtree Responds

    http://youtu.be/552n28bX5Ek

    Image via YouTube

  • Lolo Jones Makes U.S. Bobsled Team For Sochi

    American track and field star Lolo Jones was selected on Sunday night for the U.S. Olympic bobsled team, officials announced.

    Lolo Jones will join her track and field teammate Lauryn Williams to become the 9th and 10th Americans to compete in both the Summer and Winter Olympics. The two women along with Aja Evans, will make up the brake/push portion of the team. The pilots of the sled will be Jamie Greubel, Elana Meyers and Jazmine Fenlator. The athletes received the news at the team hotel in Igls, Austria.

    The decision was difficult for the U.S. Bobsled officials because the team has a deep and talented pool of athletes from which to choose.  “We knew heading into the season that the Olympic selection was going to be extremely difficult,” said Darrin Steele, U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton CEO. Even brakeman Katie Eberling was left out despite having three bronze medals in four World Cup races. Officials preferred Jones, believing that the two-time World Cup silver medalist would give the team a better chance at winning.

    The U.S. is lucky to have an abundance of talent to choose from, but for those who were not selected, the news will likely be very disappointing.

    “It was hard to hear the announcement and know that girls you’ve been rocking with the entire season, half of staying and half of them are going,” said Aja Evans. Evans is one of the lucky ones who made the team, though  she still couldn’t help feeling disappointed for her teammates that didn’t make the cut.

    Lolo Jones’ selection may trigger some scrutiny considering she is  better known as a track and field athlete than as a bobsledder. Even so, she is steadily gaining more recognition for her achievements on the ice. Jones had a dismal 4th place finish in the women’s 110 meter hurdles at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The same year, however, she went on to medal in her very first  Bobsleigh World Cup and gained instant credibility in the sport.

    Jones later talked Lauryn Williams into the sport. Williams joined, and has not disappointed yet, winning three medals in four World Cup races. Analysts say Williams might be the biggest surprise in the games. Her combination of speed and strength makes her one of the best American push athletes.

    Watch out for Jones and Williams in the Sochi Winter Olympics, starting Friday, Feb. 7.

    Image via YouTube

  • Maria Conchita Alonso Faces Backlash Over Tea Party Ad

    Maria Conchita Alonso Faces Backlash Over Tea Party Ad

    Actress Maria Conchita Alonso is receiving  backlash over her support of  Tea Party Republican Tim Donnelly. Donnelly is a California State Assemblyman known for his vigorous opposition of undocumented immigrants entering the U.S. He is also the founder of the state chapter of the armed vigilante border patrol group known as the Minutemen.

    The fallout forced Alonso to withdraw from her role in the upcoming Latin version of the ‘Vagina Monologues.’ Despite her absence, the play will continue without her and will be held at the Brava Theater Center in San Francisco.

    The San Francisco arts organization responsible for the play, expressed disappointment over the situation. “We really can’t have her in the show, unfortunately,” said Eliana Lopez, the show’s producer. Apparently, both Alonso and the play’s organizers believe that her participation would prove to be disruptive.

    In 1984, Alonso, an actress of Cuban and Venezuelan descent, became famous when she starred opposite Robin Williams in the movie “Moscow on the Hudson”.  Her numerous Hollywood roles since then have made her an admired figure in the Latin-American community.

    However, Latinos don’t seem to admire her role in Donnelly’s campaign ad which aired last week. Alonso appeared in the ad to support Donnelly’s run for California Governor but her critics believe the ad stereotypes Latinos and have been very vocal in their disapproval of it. In the video, Alonso holds a small Chihuahua she calls “Tequila” and even uses vulgar expressions when translating remarks by Donnelly.

    “Politicians and big government are killing our prosperity, pushing welfare costs through the roof and driving our schools into the ground,” Donnelly states in the ad.

    And Alonso simply translates it as: “We are screwed.”

    Latino Republican group, Café Con Leche released a statement which described the ad as “so bad it’s almost laughable.” The statement said that the campaign ad seems to have been aimed at Hispanic voters, but instead, it insults the intelligence of many of them.

    During an interview with Fox News, Alonso defended her stance saying she agreed with Donnelly’s views. She also took issue with the attacks, which she thinks violates her freedom of expression.

    Image via YouTube

  • Jamaican Bobsled Team Qualifies For Sochi But Lacks Funding

    Good news for Jamaica – its two-man bobsled team has qualified for next month’s Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. The bad news is that the team lacks the funding it needs to participate at the games. Jamaica needs help to raise the $80,000 it will take to cover its travel and equipment costs.

    Jamaican sled driver Winston Watts discussed the dire situation with the Associated Press on Saturday. “Right now we’re at zero,” he said. Watts also said they were doing their best to raise money before the start of the games.

    Jamaica is a tropical country — it doesn’t snow there. Somehow in 1988 the team qualified for the Winter Olympics in Calgary anyway. The team’s Calgary debut did not produce any medals but its amazing feat was an inspiration to many. Disney even made the movie ‘Cool Runnings’ based on their story. Since then the team has continued to fare well in international competition but is often plagued by lack of funding.

    On Sunday, word reached the internet regarding the team’s dilemma. A random fan of the team responded by initiating a fundraising campaign through Crowdtilt.com, an online crowdsource service. By Monday afternoon, donations had already surged passed $30,000. It seems there is hope for the team yet.

    A spokesman of Crowdtilt.com said they were confident the $80,000 target will be met if the campaign continues to go viral .The spokesman also said that for now the money raised will be controlled by Crowdtilt but will be wired directly to the Jamaican Bobsleigh Federation once the goal is met.

    Jamaican Bobsleigh Federation Secretary Chris Stokes admitted he had never heard of Crowdtilt until just recently and at first wasn’t sure if it was a genuine fundraiser. Nonetheless, team Jamaica did go ahead and approve the campaign and shortly after, launched a separate fundraiser of its own via Indiegogo, another online crowdsource platform.

    It’s been 12 years since Jamaica had a sled in the Olympics and they will certainly do everything within their power to be in Russia next month. Let’s hope they make it.

    Jamaica’s Winter Olympics Debut: Calgary 1988

    Cool Runnings

    http://youtu.be/95y3vZNcUbs

    Image via YouTube

  • Elkhart Shooting At Martin’s Supermarket Leaves 3 Dead

    Elkhart police officers fatally shot a man suspected of killing two women at a Martin’s supermarket Wednesday night. The suspect identified as Shawn Walter Bair, age 22, is reported to have used a semi-automatic handgun to shoot 44-year-old Rachelle Godfread and 20-year-old Krystle Dikes at approximately 10 p.m.

    Bair who is from Elkhart, lived nearby and was well known at the store, said Indiana police officer Trent Smith. Before Bair shot the two women, he was seen using his cell phone and walking around the store for about 35 minutes.

    Police arrived shortly after the shooting and confronted the armed suspect, they then opened fire, killing him.

    “It was obvious he was going to the store with a mission. As far as how long he’d been thinking about this, whether a month or a year, we don’t know,” Smith said.

    Bair first opened fire on Dikes and then shot Godfread. He then turned his attention to the store manager, telling him to get down on his knees. When the police arrived, Bair became frenzied and the manager escaped. Police believe that had they not responded quickly, more people may have died.

    Bair’s motive for the shooting has not been established but the authorities are interviewing witnesses and studying surveillance videos.

    “We have not determined a motive,” Sgt. Smith said.

    However, there are claims that Bair may have had a past relationship with the 20-year-old victim, who at one time visited Bair’s home.

    Gov. Mike Pence released a statement Thursday, where he commended the police for their good work and bravery and sent condolences to the families of the victims.

    And the store posted a statement on its Facebook page, saying

    “Thank you to our community for your thoughts and prayers tonight. We will comment further when we can do so responsibly and appropriately.”

    Image via Youtube

  • Trappist Beer Is Now Brewed In America

    Trappist Beer Is Now Brewed In America

    Beer connoisseurs worldwide agree that Trappist beer is among the finest in the world. Trappist beer is brewed by Catholic Cistercian monks also known as Trappists, hence the beer’s name. One may not immediately equate monks with beer brewing, but as it turns out, brewing beer is a big deal among Trappist monks. They even have an International Trappist Association that recognizes authentic Trappist beer.

    Eight monasteries, six in Belgium, one in Austria and another in Holland have been making the beer for many years. Starting Jan. 16, they were joined by 63 brothers of  St. Joseph’s Abbey in Boston who are the first Trappist beer brewers outside Europe.  The monks of Spencer, Massachusetts (located an hour west of Boston) had been relying on revenue earned from jams and jellies to support themselves. Now, they have decided to follow the lead of their European brothers by brewing and selling beer.

    The Mass. Trappists beer’s story started 5 years ago when St. Joseph’s sent representatives to Belgium to gather information to learn how they could also make the beer. At first, there was skepticism because no American monks had made Trappist beer before and the European monks had reservations that their American counterpart might “go too big too fast” and compromise the quality and brand of the beer.

    Many members of St. Joseph’s Abbey needed convincing too, as beer brewing is a very costly business venture with a lot of risk involved. However, they moved forward with their plans. With the recommendations of the Belgian monks,  St. Joseph’s built a state-of-the-art brewery and hired a skilled brewing engineer with a bank loan.

    The European monks also helped their American brothers develop a good recipe for the beer. After 20 tests, the Massachusetts monks finally settled on the recipe for Spencer Trappist Ale.

    The newly brewed beer was taken to Belgium by St. Joseph’s Father Isaac Keeley, the brewery director, where it received applause and approval from the Belgian brothers.

    “They approved it unanimously,” he said, “and after the vote there was applause.”

    For now the beer is only distributed in Massachusetts but plans are underway to expand the market nationally and internationally in the future.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Harry Connick Jr. Cradles ‘American Idol’ Contestant

    ‘American Idol’ is, by all indications, trying to change its narrative this year. It (the year) might well be different, funnier, kinder, and more entertaining if Harry Connick Jr. gets his way at the judges table.

    ‘Idol’ viewership and rating plummeted last year and this may have prompted the changes witnessed in this year’s 13th season that kicked off on Wednesday night.

    Harry Connick Jr. was the new judge, bringing his charm and honest critiques to the panel. He seemed to take the fact that many of the contestants hardly knew him in stride. “Can you Google him right now?” someone asked, and another one called him “Tony Connick”

    When asked about what he did last night, he told judge Keith Urban that he went to the bar to drink “because nobody knew who I was.”

    But one fan, MunFarid Zaidi, recognized him and even told him that he reads his Wikipedia page every day before going to bed. The guy got out of his seat and picked up the 19-year-old Zaidi and cradled him.

    http://youtu.be/5azsTW4oxcE

    Connick was open about his approach and assessments of the auditions, “I don’t know what kind of judge I’m going to be other than to say I have to be honest.” He acknowledges that sending someone out of the room crying is one of the most terrible feelings, but he would do that if it is the right thing to say.

    It remains to be seen whether this year will be an improvement, but why not? The judges don’t seem to hate each other, Randy Jackson is out of the picture, tickets are smaller, and now we have Harry Connick who has raised the stakes on his Première.

    “American Idol’” continues next Wednesday and Thursday and viewers can catch the show on Fox at 8 p.m.

    Image via Youtube

  • Trace Adkins Being Treated For Alcohol Abuse

    They say “once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic.”  After 10 years of sobriety, country music hitmaker Trace Adkins has checked himself into a rehabilitation center after falling off the wagon. His spokesman made the announcement on Thursday.

    The 52-year-old country singer was headlining a seven-day “Country Cruising” concert event aboard a Norwegian Cruise Line. The concert features 25 top country artists for 100 performances and is taking place aboard the ship’s main theater as it tours the Caribbean.

    The ship left the Port of Miami on Sunday and is scheduled to make stops in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, Cozumel, Mexico, and Grand Cayman.

    Well, Adkins seemed to have had a few too many and reportedly got into a brawl on the cruise ship. It is unclear how the brawl got started but he ended up duking it out with a Trace Adkins impersonator aboard the ship. Adkins’ spokesman says he has since exited the cruise.

    “Trace has entered a treatment facility after a setback in his battle with alcoholism,” his spokesman told CNN in a statement.

    On his Twitter he wrote: “Up here in my suite, overlooking the pools. Behave yourselves.”

    The country celebrity has reportedly been battling alcoholism for about 20 years and received inpatient treatment as far back a 2001. He has been very candid about his past struggles with the disease and how it has affected his life and those around him.

    In a 2011 interview, he was quoted saying “If you’ve ever been through one of those things, it’s the most humiliating experience you’ll ever have. To hear people you respect and love sit there and tell you the kind of pain you’ve been causing them…and yeah, I’m an alcoholic.”

    For now it seem the multi-platinum selling country star is getting the help he needs and will hopefully be back to work soon.

    Image via YouTube

  • Yale Frat Death: University Sued By Victim’s Family

    A total of 86 current and former members of a fraternity at Yale University are being sued. The lawsuit is over a fatal tailgating crash that happened during the 2011 Harvard-Yale football game in New Haven, CT, that led to a woman’s death.

    Tragically, 30-year-old Nancy Barry lost her life when she was hit by a U-Haul truck that was being driven by Yale fraternity member, Brendan Ross. The truck, which was filed with beer kegs, was being driven to the Sigma Phi Epsilon tailgating event. Apparently, Ross somehow lost control of the vehicle, fatally striking Barry and injuring two other women. Criminal charges were brought against Brendan Ross but were later dropped after he entered into a probation program.

    A lawsuits was then filed against Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity by the families of Barry and one of the injured persons, Sarah Short, who is also a Yale student. Those lawsuits are still pending.

    The complainants’ attorneys said they filed new lawsuits on Dec. 30, against each of the 86 frat members, regardless of whether or not they were at the event. They decided to sue individual frat members because defense documents indicate that the national chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon cannot be held responsible. Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity says it did not  sanction the tailgating event and its insurance company doesn’t cover individuals who are not members of the fraternity.

    The fact that Yale chapter is a voluntary association and is not organized or incorporated in any legal way is what prompted the lawsuits against the individual members, said Paul Edwards, Barry’s lawyer.

    However, Edward’s still holds the belief that the fateful event was sponsored by the fraternity.

    Edwards said his clients had to file individual lawsuits because of the defense’s “bogus” stance. “It’s our claim that what happened at Yale two years ago was very clearly, definitively and obviously a Sigma Phi Epsilon-sponsored fraternity event,” Edwards said.

    The defense lawyer, Jeremy Platek was not available to comment on the matter.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Butterfinger Cups Has Racy New Teaser Ad

    In a bid to outdo the market leader, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Nestle is hoping to take advantage of the hype that comes with Super Bowl to launch its new Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cups with a teaser ad.

    The ad…of the ad (teaser ad) is about Peanut Butter and his wife Chocolate going to Edible Couples Counseling to try to find ways to spice up their marriage. Suggestive pictures of bananas and cherries hang on the wall — the whole thing is spiked with sexual innuendo. The teaser ad features humorous couples like Raisin and Oatmeal, Fish and Chip and Peanut Butter and Chocolate with 1970’s elevator music playing in the background.

    In the ad, Peanut Butter seems visibly uncomfortable,  “What are we doing here?” he says but Chocolate is busy reading an issue of “Exotic Snacking.” It gets funny when Crackers and Cheese emerge from the therapy room holding what appears to be a giant sausage.

    This will be Nestlé’s first Super Bowl ad. The Super Bowl attracts more than 100 million viewers each year and this year’s event will air on Feb. 2 on Fox. The Super Bowl had long been a popular launch pad for new products because many people watch it and it’s live.

    It used to be that advertisers could keep their Super Bowl ads secret until the day of the Super Bowl. Now things have changed, and in the recent years many advertisers release ad teasers way ahead of their Super Bowl ad, in order to make them stand out. Viewers can expect to view the same characters and same couples therapy theme in the actual game but they should expect to view a longer ad.

    Jeremy Vandervoet, brand manager of Butterfinger, said they were using Super Bowl to open up new awareness for Butterfinger Cups. “You need to open up as much awareness (for a new product) and what better way to do that than with a Super Bowl ad,” he said.

    Image via YouTube

  • Mae Young: Pro Wrestling Great Dies At 90

    Mae Young: Pro Wrestling Great Dies At 90

    Johnnie Mae Young, a World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Hall of Famer, died on Tuesday at the age of 90.

    WWE released the following statement Tuesday:

    “WWE is greatly saddened by the news that WWE Hall of Famer Mae Young, beloved member of the WWE family and oldest living squared circle personality, has passed at the age of 90.

    Young, also known as “The Great Mae Young” was born on March 12, 1923, in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. She was raised by her single mother Lily Mae Young and was the youngest of eight children.

    From an early age Mae Young had an interest in wrestling. Her brothers Fred, Eugene, Lawrence, and Everett taught her how to wrestle and by age 15 she made the boys high school wrestling team in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Young later went on to make her professional wrestling debut in 1939. Since then her contribution to women’s wrestling have made her a true pioneer of the sport. She won many titles throughout the United States and Canada. In 1951 she became the first Florida Women’s Champion of the  National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and by 1968 she was the first United States Women’s Champion. Young was also among one of the first women wrestlers to tour Japan in 1954. Later in her career she wrestled for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and made sporadic appearances as a guest of honor for the WWE.

    At one point in her wrestling career, Young took a break to become a coach, and helped train Lillian Ellison, her longtime friend, famously known as “The Fabulous Moolah”. Moolah later became the first woman to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Young was the third female inductee, and receive the honor in 2008. According to the WWE, Young currently holds the distinction of being the only wrestler, man or woman, to wrestle matches spanning 9 decades.

    Young died at her home in Columbia,  South Carolina, where she had been on hospice care. Vince McMahon, WWE’s CEO & Chairman said “there will never be another Mae Young.

    Since her passing many fans and colleagues have used Twitter to send their condolences.

     

     

     

     

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    Image via YouTube

  • Bowe Bergdahl: New Video Suggests He Is Still Alive

    The U.S. military has obtained a “proof of life video” of an American soldier. The video appears to have been made by those who are holding him captive, officials told CNN Wednesday.

    Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who disappeared in 2009 from his base in Afghanistan, is currently the only member of the U.S. armed forces being held as a Prisoner Of War (POW). The Taliban has offered to release Bergdahl in exchange for five Taliban prisoners currently being held at Guantanamo Bay.  Officials believe he is being held by the Haqqani network in Pakistan.

    Authorities have said the clip show Bergdahl in poor health as a result of five years in captivity. The video is the first “proof of life”  from the soldier after nearly three years and appears to have been taped as recently as December 14, 2013.

    The U.S. military has been making efforts to free the soldier, including negotiation, but have so far been unsuccessful.

    “Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl has been gone far too long, and we continue to call for and work toward his safe and immediate release,” a Pentagon spokesman said.

    The spokesman said the details of the efforts to free Bergdahl cannot be discussed but “there should be no doubt” work is being done on a daily basis to free him and bring him home safely.

    Bergdahl’s parents are keenly following the development and issued a statement imploring his abductors to release him.

    “As we have done so many times over the past 4 and a half years, we request his captors to release him safely so that our only son can be reunited with his mother and father,” read the statement. Last year, the family received a letter from Bergdahl, which proved he was alive.

    Bergdahl is from Wood Valley, Idaho, and was 23 when he was captured. He was captured upon leaving his base after finishing his shift and only carried a compass and water with him.

    Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl Pleads To Return Home

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Daniel Villegas: Out On Bail After 19 Years In Prison

    An El Paso, Texas man who had been convicted of double murder and imprisoned for life was freed Tuesday, 19 years after being sent to prison. Witnesses, supporters and family members all maintain that he was wrongly sent to prison.

    Daniel Villegas, 37, has been serving a life sentence for the 1993 driver-by shooting of Armando Lazo, 17, and Robert Englund, 18, since 1995.  At the time, Villegas was a 16-year-old high school dropout.

    His conviction was mainly based on a confession he made at the time. Villegas later recanted, saying he was coerced to confess. According to Villegas, he was told that if he didn’t confess, he would be raped in prison and get the death penalty. There were several discrepancies in the confession that landed Villegas the life sentence. One discrepancy was when he claimed that he was driving a white car at the time of the shooting but the vehicle involved at the shooting was red. There was also no DNA evidence linking him to the crime.

    Witnesses also refuted the claim that Villegas was the one who committed the double homicide. In 2012, Jesse Hernandez, a witness to the killing, said he believes with all his heart that Villegas is innocent. “I always thought I knew who else might have done it from the beginning. I had never heard of Daniel before,” Hernandez told Fox News

    Villegas was released on a $50,000 bond, about an hour after the hearing ended. El Paso District Judge Sam Medrano made the release ruling at about 10:30 a.m. and Villegas was freed at about 11:30 a.m. he was greeted by a jubilant crowd of friends and family. He later went to St. Pius X Catholic Church to pray and celebrate his release.

    Prosecuting attorneys have a week to decide whether or not to dismiss Villegas’ case. Judge Medrano set a hearing for Jan. 21, if prosecutors remain undecided the case will go back to trial.

    Villegas drew support from hundreds of supporters who strongly believe he is innocent. Some supporters include ‘The Innocence Project,’ an organization by Northwest University Law School that advocates justice for youth who have been wrongfully convicted. According to Proclaim Justice Villegas even got support John Mimbela, an activist from El Paso, who donated over $200,000 to help him win back his freedom.

    Image via NDN video