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Tag: death

  • Clay Aiken Wins Congressional Primary, Opponent Dead

    Clay Aiken made headlines earlier this year when he announced he would be seeking a congressional seat for North Carolina. Aiken and his opponent were deadlocked until the end, but Aiken squeaked out a win in the primary. Even if he hadn’t though, his opponent wouldn’t have made it.

    KCTV5 News reports that Aiken’s opponent in the primary – Keith Crisco – has died following a fall at his home. The official report states that Crisco was standing near his front door when he tripped on a rug and hit his head on some bricks. There aren’t a lot more details available beyond that, but Crisco’s company – Asheboro Elastics Corp. – has been notified.

    As you can imagine, the news has come to a shock to everybody, including Aiken. Usually, he would be celebrating while preparing for his upcoming battle with Rep. Renee Ellmers for the second district. Instead, his campaign Web site has been replaced with the following message:

    I am stunned and deeply saddened by Keith Crisco’s death. Keith came from humble beginnings. No matter how high he rose – to Harvard, to the White House and to the Governor’s Cabinet – he never forgot where he came from.

    He was a gentleman, a good and honorable man and an extraordinary public servant. I was honored to know him.

    I am suspending all campaign activities as we pray for his family and friends.

    So, what’s next? Crisco initially disputed the results of the election and the State Board of Elections hasn’t said if it will still look over the results. It’s also being said that Crisco was going to concede to Aiken anyway so it’s hard to say what will happen now.

    Until then, Crisco’s family might be pleased to know that an outpouring of support for the late candidate has started to emerge on Twitter:

    Of course, there are some people who think every coincidence is a conspiracy and have taken to Twitter to suggest that Crisco’s death may have been orchestrated:

    And perhaps worst of all, a state representative from North Dakota isn’t above making a distasteful House of Cards reference:

    Image via The News & Observer/YouTube

  • Subway Jared Death Hoax Goes Viral

    Subway Jared Death Hoax Goes Viral

    Jared Fogle, better known as “Subway Jared” or the “Subway Guy”, is the latest victim of a celebrity death hoax.

    On Monday, the news of Fogle’s “death” went viral with thousands of people taking to their social media accounts to pay their respects to the Subway spokesman, using the hashtag #RIPSubwayJared.

    The hoax started on a fake website called Jaredremembered.com. “Jared S. Fogle, best known as the spokesman for the Subway sandwich shop “The Subway Guy” Born December 1st,1977 – Died yesterday at 4/;43pm EST,” the site said. The website also included a fake obituary for Fogle, and listed his cause of death as “unknown.”

    Many fans were unaware that the news of Fogle’s death was a hoax, and were truly devastated. However, there were several people who instantly realized what was going on and found it quite funny that people would make stories like this up.

    When Jared heard the news of his death, he took to Twitter to assure his followers that he was, in fact, alive. “Every few months always odd to hear of my demise..However, I am indeed alive and well..thanks for all the concern. In NYC today,” Fogle tweeted.

    Image via Twitter

  • Richard Petty Makes Long Awaited NASCAR Return

    NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty’s appearance at the Richmond International Speedway in Richmond, Va. marked his first major public outing since his wife Lynda died nearly one month ago.

    Since the heartbreaking loss, Petty has relied on the love and support of his close family to get through this difficult time.

    “Been fortunate all the kids [and grandkids] came home for Easter,” said Petty. “That really made things good.”

    When asked about how he has been doing since losing his wife, Petty said that he was “still surviving”.

    He acknowledged that life after wife Lynda is going to be “different”. He says he’s got to “start all over again.”

    Understandably, Petty needed to take a considerable amount of time away from NASCAR to contemplate his lost love and the new direction his life will take without her.

    Said Petty, “I’m just going to have to live.”

    The NASCAR legend shared that he is ready to get “back in the saddle” and is looking to make a welcome return to the sport.

    Petty’s team was also enthusiastic to see him return.

    “He’s our leader, he’s the face of our race team,” said Richard Petty Motorsports driver Aric Almirola.

    “To have him back and have him back on top of the trailer, back in the garage area is going to be big for me as a driver.”

    Almirola also expects that the return of Petty will be a huge boost to the entire team.

    Petty himself seems to feel that a NASCAR return will serve to be somewhat therapeutic.

    He admits that he has been deeply touched by all the support he has received from the NASCAR community. Fans have been eager to know how Petty has been getting along in recent weeks.

    It’s very likely that the road ahead for the NASCAR legend will be a difficult one. He was married to wife Lynda for over 55 years. She was 72-years-old when she passed away on March 25th.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Kevin Sharp Dies: Country Music Star Was 43

    Country singer Kevin Sharp has died at the age of 43. The singer was best known for his debut album Measure of a Man.

    According to Sharp’s official website the singer died on Saturday April 19 at 10 pm PST. Sharp died from complications related to stomach surgeries and digestive issues he had dealt with in the past. The singer had survived a rare form of bone cancer during his teen years.

    Sharp’s death is being mourned via social media, with even a few country music stars commenting on his passing and wishing his family well:

    A memorial service commemorating Sharp’s life is being planned and details will be made available through his website. The service will take place in Nashville, Tennessee.

    Sharp’s family is requesting that any donations made in the singer’s memory be given to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. According to Sharp’s autobiography Tragedy’s Gift: Sharp was introduced to music producer David Foster through the Make-A-Wish Foundation during his teen years. Foster eventually become a key figure in the rise of Sharp’s music career and Sharp went on to become a spokesperson for the Make-A-Wish Foundation

    In 1997 Sharp’s country cover of R&B classic “Nobody Knows” became a hit, landing at the number one spot on Billboard’s country music charts. Other singles from Sharp’s Measure of a Man became country music hits in 1997, including “If You Love Somebody, and “She’s Sure Taking it Well.”

    Following his breakthrough album Sharp continued to tour and perform music throughout the U.S. He also toured the country as a motivational speaker.

    Image via KevinSharp.com

  • Mount Everest: Climate Change Making It More Deadly?

    “In 1989 when I first climbed Everest there was a lot of snow and ice, but now most of it has just become bare rock.”

    Nepali climber Apa Sherpa had been quoted by Discovery News about his experiences with perhaps the most formidable mountain on Earth.

    It seems much has changed since Sherpa first tackled Mount Everest.

    “Climbing is becoming more difficult,” noted Sherpha. He said that a snowier mountain allows one to wear crampons, important traction-devices, more safely.

    “It’s very dangerous and very slippery to walk on bare rock with crampons.”

    The mountain’s increasingly bare rocks also raise the risk of climbers being struck and killed by falling rocks.

    One hundred years ago, no one would have ever expected a lack of snow to be an issue with Everest.

    Some fear that global warming is the leading factor in the loss of snow from the mountain tops.

    The lack of snow creates a host of problems that many experts fear may make the mountain even more unsafe for anyone trying to climb it.

    Not only that, but the warming temperatures could be blamed for dangerous avalanches similar to what recently killed over a dozen people.

    Researchers find that warmer weather can coincide with an increase in avalanches. If the snow on Everest is melting due to global warming, it could mean that the rising temperatures will make avalanches on the mountain more likely.

    It has already been determined that the glaciers surrounding Mount Everest have shrunk by an alarming 13 percent within the past 50 years.

    As scientists continue to monitor the changing situation with the famous mountain, persons desperate to put their name into the history books will continue to their attempts to reach Everest’s elusive summit.

    The threat of global warming means nothing to people who feel that possible death comes with the territory of trying to conquer Mount Everest.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • 7 Babies Found Dead in Utah Home

    7 Babies Found Dead in Utah Home

    In one of the most gruesome stories in recent memory, Utah police have recently discovered the bodies of seven dead infants in a Pleasant Grove, Utah home. One suspect has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of murder.

    According to the Pleasant Grove Police Department, the incident began on April 12 when Pleasant Grove police officers responded to reports of one dead infant at the home. Officers who visited the residence did find one dead infant, enough to secure a search warrant for the property.

    Upon a full search of the home, police discovered six more dead infants. According to police, each of the bodies was packed into a separate cardboard boxes and stored within the house’s garage.

    Following an investigation into the incident, police now believe that each of the infants belonged to one woman. Over a 10-year period the woman is believed to have given birth to the babies and subsequently killed them.

    Post by Pleasant Grove Police Department.

    According to a Salt Lake Tribune report, 39-year-old Megan Huntsman has been arrested and jailed on six counts of murder.

    The report named Huntsman’s ex-husband as the person who called police with a tip about the house and the dead infant. The man was reportedly cleaning out the garage on Saturday when he discovered the dead infant. Though the ex-husband is believed to be the father of the infants, Police are not charging him with a crime at this time.

    Neighbors interviewed by the Tribune described Huntsman as a good neighbor. They also reported that the woman was never clearly pregnant, though she had gained and lost weight over the years.

    Image via Pleasant Grove Police Department

  • Day Care Center Crash In Florida Kills 1, Injures 14

    A Florida day care center was the site of a car accident on Wednesday.

    According to the Florida Highway Patrol a car was sent into the KinderCare DayCare in the Orlando area after being hit by a Dodge Durango. Highway patrol spokeswoman Wanda Diaz said the car broke through the wall and went into the building after jumping a curb.

    The accident caused 14 injuries and one death. The driver of the car was not hurt.

    Eight of the of the people injured, including the child that died were taken to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. A spokeswoman for the hospital did not release the age or gender of the child. One person is still in critical condition, five are in serious condition, and one has since been discharged.

    The other injured parties were taken to other local hospitals. According to the Orange County Fire Rescue, two were treated at the scene.

    Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs took to Twitter to send out thoughts and prayers for those injured in the accident.

    Authorities quickly began to look for the Dodge Durango and its driver, 28-year-old Robert Corchado.

    One person even took to Twitter to help people recognize the type of car authorities were looking for.

    The Durango was found at a house, but Corchado was nowhere to be found. The people living in the house said their friend had dropped off the Durango.

    Officials first believed Corchado was going to get a plane ticket and flee the area, but soon the police found that Corchado had rented a small black or white Mazda SUV from a local Enterprise Rent-A-Car with the Florida license plate CHR Q41.

    If you have any information on Corchado you are urged to call the patrol at 407-737-2300 or 911.

    Image via YouTube.

  • Mickey Rooney, Legendary Actor, Dies At 93

    Mickey Rooney, Legendary Actor, Dies At 93

    Hollywood has lost another legend.

    Actor Mickey Rooney has died at age 93. TMZ has learned his death on Sunday, April 6 was due to natural causes.

    Born Joseph Yule, Jr., Rooney acted in more than 200 films over eight decades. Rooney began performing at 17 months old as part of his parents’ vaudeville routine.

    From 1927 to 1936 Rooney was known for his role as Mickey McGuire in several short films based on a character from the comic strip Toonerville Trolley.

    Rooney legally changed his name from Joseph Yule, Jr. to Mickey McGuire while he was shooting the short films to keep the creators of the comic strip from filing a copyright lawsuit. The name change didn’t work, and Rooney was to refrain from being called Mickey McGuire on- and offscreen. After this, Nellie Yule, Rooney’s mother, advised her son to go by the stage name Mickey Looney, he then slightly altered the last name to Rooney.

    Next came one of Rooney’s most notable roles – Andy Hardy. Rooney first played Hardy in the film A Family Affair. The unexpected success of A Family Affair led to 15 more Andy Hardy films released from 1937 to 1958.

    1937 was also the year Rooney met one of his favorite co-stars – Judy Garland. The pair first worked together in Thoroughbreds Don’t Cry. Garland played Betsy Booth in three of the Andy Hardy films. The two continued to work together in a string of musicals, including Babes in Arms, an Oscar-nominated film.

    Rooney’s leading role in the 1940 film Strike Up the Band made him the first teenager to ever be nominated for an Oscar.

    In 1954 Rooney took a stab at television, starring in 33 episodes of The Mickey Rooney Show as a “bumbling actor” trying to make it in show business. Ten years later Rooney starred in another television show Mickey, which ran for 17 episodes.

    Today’s youth got to know Rooney for his roles in the 2006 Ben Stiller film Night at the Museum and in 2011’s The Muppets starring Amy Adams and Jason Segel.

    At 5’2″ Rooney was quite the ladies man, having been married eight times, his first being to Hollywood beauty Ava Gardner. Throughout his eight marriages Rooney fathered nine children.

    In 2011 Rooney claimed he was afraid his stepson Chris Aber was going to kidnap him if Rooney didn’t sign over his assets. Months later the two reached a settlement and Rooney dropped the restraining order.

    Aber caused more trouble for Rooney when he siphoned money from Rooney’s accounts. Aber was made to pay Rooney $2.8 million last year. Things got worse for Aber after Rooney went in front of Congress to testify about elder abuse. Aber and his wife Christina allegedly deprived Rooney of food, medications, and blocked him from leaving his home.

    Fans took to Twitter to mourn the loss of Rooney.

    Three projects Rooney worked on are set to be released in 2014, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (October 4, 2014), Fragments from Olympus: The Vision of Nikola Tesla (October 31, 2014), and Old Soldiers (no release date set).

    Image via YouTube.

  • Firefighter Funeral: Servicemen Nationwide Pay Respect to Deceased Firemen

    The memorial processions for two fallen firefighters who died in a nine-alarm fire last week brought together firemen, police officers, and other civil servicemen from across the nation.

    The wake for Boston firefighter Michael R. Kennedy, 33, was held Wednesday at the P.E. Murray Funeral Home in West Roxbury.

    The streets were lined with thousands of first responders to pay respects to Kennedy and his fellow colleague Lt. Edward J. Walsh, Jr., who also died in the fire.

    The funeral for 43-year-old Walsh was held earlier Wednesday in his hometown of Watertown.

    Servicemen as far as Costa Rica came to support the Walsh family.

    During the funeral, family and friends stood up to recall some of their fondest memories of Walsh.

    “He was a born leader who did not regard himself as a hero,” said President Richard Paris of the Boston Firefighters Union.

    “He was destined to do great things and he did,” his sister Kathy Malone shared with the congregation.

    “Let us be inspired by his example,” Mayor Marty Walsh also added.

    The service ended with the ringing of the bell, which is a traditional symbol for the death of a fireman.

    Many of the servicemen who attended Walsh’s funeral procession also made their way to Kennedy’s wake service.

    The wake was scheduled for 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. but started at 4 p.m. due to the large number of people in attendance.

    Kennedy’s funeral will be held 11 a.m. Thursday at the Church of the Holy Name in West Roxbury.

    A report about Kennedy’s wake:

    The pair’s unfortunate death occurred on March 26 when they became trapped in the basement of an old building located in the historic Back Bay neighborhood.

    Kennedy was a former Marine Sergeant who enjoyed motorcycles. Walsh was a married father of three young children.

    The Boston Firefighters Department is accepting donations for both families on their Credit Union website.

    View a previous report about the Back Bay fire:

    Image via YouTube

  • Charles Keating, Jr. Dies At Age 90

    Charles Keating, Jr. Dies At Age 90

    A key figure in the savings and loans scandal of the 1980s has died.

    Charles H. Keating, Jr., died at age 90 on Monday at a hosipital in Phoenix. His death was confirmed by his son-in-law Bradley Boland and a family friend. The cause of death has yet to be released.

    In 1984 Keating’s American Continental Corp., a Phoenix-based home construction company, bought Lincoln Savings & Loan. Within four years Lincoln Savings & Loan went from being worth $1.1 billion to $5.5 billion, but it turns out Keating’s company’s worth rose because investors had been defrauded.

    Customers of Lincoln Savings & Loan had been duped into buying $200 million of unsecured “junk” bonds, which were worthless once the company went bankrupt.

    In 1989 Lincoln Savings & Loan was seized and soon after Keating was convicted by the state and the federal government for defrauding investors. Keating spent only five years in prison after he agreed to a federal plea deal and his convictions were thrown out.

    At the time the debacle was the costliest savings and loan failure, costing taxpayers $2.6 billion.

    The reputations of five senators, dubbed the “Keating Five,” were also sullied by the collapse, including Republican U.S. Senator John McCain. The “Keating Five” were accused of negotiating for Keating to halt the investigation because Keating made large political donations to the senators. At the time Keating explained his donations, “One question, among many raised in recent weeks, had to do with whether my financial support in any way influenced several political figures to take up my cause. I want to say in the most forceful way I can: I certainly hope so.”

    Keating quickly became the face of corporate greed.

    Many on Twitter are making jokes about the financier’s death, while others aren’t exactly saying the nicest things about the late Mr. Keating.

    Image via YouTube.

  • Patrick Dempsey’s Mother Dies After Long Battle With Cancer

    After battling multiple recurrences of ovarian cancer since 1997, Amanda Dempsey, the mother of Grey’s Anatomy actor Patrick Dempsey, has passed away. She died on Monday at the age of 79 surrounded by family.

    Dempsey and his sisters Mary and Alicia were inspired by their mother and founded the The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing in 2008. They partnered with the Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, Maine where their mother had been treated. The Dempsey Center provides “free cancer support, education and integrative medicine services to anyone impacted by cancer, regardless of where treatment is received.”

    At the time of the center’s opening, Dempsey said, “For a family to get a cancer diagnosis is devastating, and all the information out there can be overwhelming. So I talked to my sister about a place where people could go for all this type of information and help. Knowledge is power.”

    Central Maine Healthcare President and CEO Peter Chalke said, “The entire Central Maine Medical family mourns the passing of Amanda Dempsey.” He continued, “Amanda Dempsey was both a great lady and a determined fighter who displayed tremendous courage, class and grace during her long battle with cancer…We will miss Amanda deeply, but we were all blessed by knowing her and being inspired by her life story.”

    Dempsey Center Executive Director Wendy Tardif said, “Amanda’s passing has only made us more resolute in our mission, and we will continue to expand and grow our services and share her legacy with the world. The Dempsey Center’s Healing Garden will be named in Amanda’s Honor, and though physically she is no longer with us, we know she will continue to be a source of quiet strength and unwavering perseverance at the Dempsey Center and Dempsey Challenge. Our hearts are heavy, but they are also full as we realize the thousands of lives Amanda touched.”

    Amanda Dempsey led the survivor walk during the Dempsey Challenge weekend for the last five years with her children and grandchildren. The Challenge has raised over $5 million to date to support the Dempsey Center.

    Fans of the actor took to Twitter to send their condolences to the Dempsey.

    One person on Twitter thinks some media outlets have their news topics in the wrong order.

    Amanda Dempsey is survived by her husband Howard Lowell and three children, Patrick, Alicia, and Mary.

    Image via Patrick Dempsey, Twitter.

  • ‘Pawn Stars’ Chumlee Not Dead, Despite Rumors

    In further proof that internet websites will do absolutely anything to increase page-views, the recently spread rumor that Pawn Stars character “Chumlee” is dead has been proven to be a hoax.

    Yesterday, the site eBuzzd ran an article entitled, ” ‘Pawn Stars’ Funnyman Chumlee Dies of Apparent Heart Attack,” in which the site stated that sources revealed Chumlee, real name Austin Russell, had died of a devastating heart attack caused by his rapid weight loss of 75 pounds over one year.

    The site went as far as to quote an “actual” physician about the effects rapid weight-loss could have on the body. Unfortunately for the website’s credibility, the physician correctly stated that “From what I know, Mr. Russell lost 75 pounds in about a year’s time. This can be a healthy and safe amount of weight to lose in a year but it all depends on the method and lifestyle in which the weight was shed.”

    If that wasn’t going far enough with the hoax, eBuzzd also quoted the reaction from a “family friend”: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our friend Chumlee. This is all so sudden and shocking. He was truly one of the sweetest men I knew. He will be missed.”

    In order to debunk the false rumors of his death, Chumlee took to Twitter to ensure all of his friends that he is still alive and well:

    And if this message was too cryptic, boss Rick Harrison added more credibility to the fact that Chumlee is most certainly not dead:

    Apparently, reporting news of this sort is nothing new to eBuzzd. The little-known website has run other false stories this year including the reported death of Betty White, Tom Cruise quitting Scientology, and Justin Bieber being involved in a serious car accident.

    This is also not the first time Chumlee has been reported as dead. Last year, The Internet Chronicle ran a story which reported that Chumlee had died of a marijuana overdose, a story which Snopes quickly identified as false.

    Image via Twitter

  • Autumn Radtke, CEO Of First Meta Virtual Currency Exchange, Found Dead

    Autumn Radtke, CEO Of First Meta Virtual Currency Exchange, Found Dead

    Autumn Radtke, the 28-year-old CEO of virtual currency exchange First Meta, has died. According to multiple reports, suicide is suspected, but not confirmed.

    The Daily Mail cites “police sources” as saying they have “strongly suspected” suicide, and reports that she was discovered in her Singapore apartment on February 28th. Officials are reportedly awaiting toxicology test results to determine the cause of death.

    A message on the First Meta Exchange site says, “The First Meta team is shocked and saddened by the tragic loss of our friend and CEO Autumn Radtke. Our deepest condolences go out to her family, friends and loved ones. Autumn was an inspiration to all of us and she will be sorely missed.”

    Some of the stories about Radtke are playing up the Bitcoin angle, with at least one calling her “Bitcoin CEO,” but according to a post from September (via Business Insider) about the currencies First Meta Exchange supports, it only supports selling Bitcoin, while offering much greater support (like buying, depositing and withdrawals) of a number of other currencies, including Linden dollars.

    Here’s a 2012 presentation Radtke gave on the “past and the future” of virtual currency trading:

    Image via YouTube

  • I-25 Accident Leads To Hundred Car Pileup

    1-25 Northbound was re-opened late Saturday afternoon after a major car pile-up had closed down the road between University Boulevard and Broadway in Denver, Colo. earlier in the day.

    According to Denver law enforcement officials the closure was caused by two separate car accidents on the same stretch of road.

    As more information was gathered as to the seriousness of the situation, the number of vehicles thought to be involved in both accidents increased throughout the day.

    At first Denver police estimated that there may have been as many as thirty cars involved in both accidents combined. Before the day was over, that number would more than triple.

    By about 4:20 pm EST, police had determined that there were 104 cars involved in both accidents.

    The Denver Post is reporting that the pileups resulted in injuries to thirty people, including children. The only confirmed fatality resulting from the accidents was a woman whose identity is currently being withheld.

    Officials spent approximately five hours cleaning the stretch of road, which was re-opened by 5:00 pm EST on Saturday.

    Denver law enforcement have yet to announce an official cause for either pile-up that occurred on I-25, but witnesses blame the yesterday’s harrowing incidents on speeding.

    Darrell Barber’s Chevy Tahoe was banged up after being hit multiple times by cars skidding by in the accidents. He told the Denver Post, “People were just driving too fast for conditions.”

    Barber said that one truck a few cars ahead of him jack-knifed, resulting in a terrifying domino effect as “brake lights started coming on, and people weren’t stopping”.

    Barber himself was able to come to a stop, which likely saved him from being caught up in the dangerous series of crashes.

    Barber said that he was an experienced firefighter, one who had responded to serious accidents. Even so, the events of the day were something he considered beyond anything he’d previously experienced.

    Image via YouTube

  • Facebook Changes How It Handles Profiles Of Dead Users, Offers ‘Look Back’ Videos For Them

    Facebook announced that it is altering the way it handles profiles of people who die. In the past, it has only let friends of the deceased user view the profile, but now will keep the privacy settings the way the person had them. In other words, if you have everything set to public now, and you die, it will remain public.

    “Over the past several months, we’ve been thinking about and working on better ways for people to remember loved ones,” write Facebook’s Chris Price and Alex DiSclafani. “As we continue to think through each aspect of memorialization, we ask ourselves questions that have no easy answers: How might people feel? Are we honoring the wishes and legacy of the person who passed away? Are we serving people who are grieving the loss of a loved one as best we can?”

    “Based on conversations inspired by these questions, we’ve decided to make an important change to how we preserve legacies on Facebook,” they add. “Up to now, when a person’s account was memorialized, we restricted its visibility to friends-only. This meant that people could no longer see the account or any of its content unless they were Facebook friends with the person who passed away. Starting today, we will maintain the visibility of a person’s content as-is. This will allow people to see memorialized profiles in a manner consistent with the deceased person’s expectations of privacy. We are respecting the choices a person made in life while giving their extended community of family and friends ongoing visibility to the same content they could always see.”

    Remember those “look back” videos Facebook launched for its ten-year anniversary a couple weeks ago? They’re also now offering users a way to see their deceased loves ones’ “look back” videos. This comes after “many” requests to do so. If this is something you’d like to do, there’s a form here.

  • Hot Pockets Recalled For Containing Diseased Animals

    When you’re looking for that “crispy, crunchy, tender, flaky crust”, you know you’ve found it with a quality product like Hot Pockets… or did you?

    If you’ve consumed your weight (and who wouldn’t?) in Hot Pockets’ “Philly Steak and Cheese” and “Croissant Crust Philly Steak and Cheese” then there’s some bad news for you: the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that those particular products contained “diseased and unsound animals.”

    An estimated 238,000 cases of Hot Pockets were recalled by Nestlé in a company press release on Tuesday.

    The products were part of a larger meat recall issued by Rancho Feeding Corp. last week of 8,742,700 pounds of beef product; that’s roughly 6600 large bred cows.

    The tainted meat spread to 1,000 California retailers as well as other companies in Alabama, Florida, Oregon, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Washington.

    Below are the following infectious items:

     Item and pack size Consumer UPC Batch Code Best Before Date
    1. HOT POCKETS Philly Steak and Cheese
      8x9ozUS
    		 43695 07107 8 3021544512
    3029544512
    3197544512
    3240544512    		 MAR ‘14
    MAR ‘14
    SEP ‘14
    OCT ‘14
    1. HOT POCKETS Philly Steak and Cheese
      4x54oz US
    		 43695 07520 5 3022544513
    3191544512
    3224544512
    3254544512
    3268544512    		 MAR ‘14
    SEP ‘14
    OCT ‘14
    NOV ‘14
    NOV ‘14
    1. HOT POCKETS Philly Steak and Cheese 4×22.5ozUS
    		 43695 15990 5 3197544512
    3240544512    		 SEP ‘14
    OCT ‘14
    1. HOT POCKETS CROISSANT CRUST Philly Steak and Cheese 8x9ozUS
    		 43695 05634 1 3211544512
    3248544512
    3283544512    		 SEP ‘14
    NOV ‘14
    DEC ‘14

    Having second thoughts about sinking your teeth in those hot juicy pockets of wonder?

    Unless autopsy reports are still in progress, no illnesses have been reported.

    Just listen to Snoop Dogg and don’t think about it:

    If you still haven’t microwaved your greasy snacks or are feeling the after effects of a USDA Class 1 recall, you can contact Nestle Consumer Services for a refund at 1-800-392-4057(image)1-800-392-4057.

    Meanwhile over at Hot Pockets’ Facebook Page, PR is regurgitating responses of possible epidemics of regurgitation:
    (image)

    Images via Hot Pockets’ Facebook Page

  • Missing SIU Student Likely Froze To Death

    The sorrow is almost palpable among those who knew Pravin Varughese. The Southern Illinois University student had not been seen for roughly a week, but it was hoped that he was simply missing and that no harm had come to the 19-year-old student.

    Hundreds joined in the search, covering much of Carbondale, Ill.in an attempt to find him. His family even offered a reward of $15,000 for any tips that would lead to finding Varughese.

    Sadly, Varughese was found dead on Tuesday at around 9:45 am in a wooded area a short distance from the 1400 block of Carbondale’s East Main Street.

    A family member left the following message on the Facebook page that had been created for the missing teen:

    “On behalf of our family, we wanted to thank you all for your kind words, endless support and prayers for Pravin. Authorities have confirmed this morning that they have found his body. We ask that you continue to keep Pravin’s parents and sisters in your prayers as we go through this difficult time and mourn the loss of a beloved son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin & friend.”

    At this time the exact cause of death is unknown. Law enforcement officials believe the most likely cause at present was exposure. The last person to see Varughese alive described him as wearing light clothing and not having a winter jacket, suggesting that he found himself out in the woods overnight and unfortunately succumbed to freezing conditions.

    Law enforcement has said that there were no obvious signs of foul play, but it has been reported that an autopsy and toxicology report has been ordered. It’s expected that the official cause of death will be known by Wednesday.

    Pravin Varughese was last seen alive on February 12th at about 11:00 pm. He had left a party he attended with his cousin. Late in the evening he was alleged to have secured a ride home, however was unable to tell the driver where he lived. An argument started and Varughese supposedly exited the vehicle and was seen wandering towards the woods where he was later found.

    Image via Youtube

  • Philip Seymour Hoffman Reported Dead

    The Wall Street Journal is reporting that actor Philip Seymour Hoffman was found dead in his Manhattan apartment.

    Philip Seymour Hoffman was born in the Rochester, New York in July 23, 1967. He attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. In 1989, he graduated with a B.F.A. degree in Drama.

    His turn as Truman Capote in the 2005 movie, “Capote” earned him many accolades as well as the Academy Award for Best Actor. In actuality, Hoffman was a versatile actor known for his roles in movies such as The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), and Doubt (2008), opposite Meryl Streep. Some may even remember his turn as the slightly loopy and bizarre Dustin Davis in Twister (1996) . He had recently joined the all-star cast of the highly acclaimed “Hunger Games” series, playing the role of the character Plutarch Heavensbee.

    In addition, Hoffman was due to follow up his directorial debut with “Ezekiel Moss“, which was to star Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal. What will become of the project in the wake of Hoffman’s sudden death is unknown at this time.

    The matter is disturbing, because Hoffman, age 46, had been the victim of a recent death hoax. This is when individuals for whatever reason get on social media sites such as Twitter and claim that a celebrity has been killed or suddenly dies. Because of this, many remain skeptical.

    A similar sort of reaction occurred last year when Paul Walker’s sudden death was announced. There are frequent celebrity death hoaxes and sometimes it takes a while for the matter to sink in. Especially when the news is communicated largely via Twitter.

    However, the Wall Street Journal is a respected news source and so it makes the matter seem particularly legitimate.

    Reports are saying that he was just found a short while ago. He was reportedly found with a needle in his arm and heroin nearby. It is at present being treated as an accidental overdose.

    As the word spreads, many are reacting with disbelief, shock, and sadness.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Harley Burial: Man is Buried on Harley Motorcycle

    An 82-year-old man from Ohio had his last wishes granted when he was buried on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle. While it isn’t unheard of for people to be buried with personal objects, not only was Bill Standley buried with his Harley, he was buried sitting on top of it wearing his riding gear.

    According to Dorothy Brown, Standley’s daughter, her dad first mentioned being buried with his Harley about 18 years ago. “He said, ‘What am I supposed to do, I’ve got two sons, only got one bike.’ My sister just off-handedly said, ‘Oh dad just be buried with it,’” said Brown. “I think it was about two weeks after that that it really hit him, what a great idea. And we all just like, ‘Dad!’ And he goes, ‘No that’s how I’m going out!’ We all still thought he was kidding. 18 years later, guess what.”

    Standley was buried with his 1967 Harley in a custom casket on Friday. The Plexiglas casket Standley was buried in was built by his two sons years earlier. According to his sons, their father loved to take guests out to his garage and show off the casket. “If you stopped by his house, he showed you his casket,” Roy Standley said.

    Brown said that Standley wanted all of his family and friends to see him take his last ride, and his kids made sure it happened. “If we had ever asked dad anything in his lifetime, something special, dad would do his best to do it for us. So this is all we could do for him. Some people walk through the pearly gates, some people ride,” said Brown. Check out a picture of Standley’s last ride below.

    Here is a closeup of Standley on his Harley in the casket before his burial:

    (image)

    As strange as the Harley burial might sound, this isn’t the first time someone has made a rather peculiar last request. When country music legend Jimmy Dean died in 2010, he was buried in a grand piano tomb. Even stranger, rapper Tupac Shakur was cremated and members of his rap group Young Outlawz said they smoked his ashes.

    Images via YouTube

  • Harley Burial: Deceased Man Rides Motorcycle As Last Wish

    “He’d done right by us all these years, and at least we could see he goes out the way he wanted to,” Pete Standley said in regards to the funeral of his deceased father, whose body was perfectly placed on top of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle inside a casket.

    Yes, you heard right.

    Billy Standley last request to his family was to bury him with one of the things that kept him young and adventurous over the years: his blue 1967 Electra Glide motorcycle.

    Dressed in a  black leather outfit with a white helmet and clear glasses, the 82-year-old lifeless rider would have been proud to know that he was finally granted what he wanted the most, “to ride off to heaven” in a big see-through box.

    The Ohio-native died from lung cancer and was laid to rest Friday 24 during an outside funeral procession.

    Prior to his death, Standley anticipated the thought of knowing that his family and friends would someday see him fixed on one of his most prized possessions.(image)

    An 18-year-long burial idea, which then manifested into an actual project, set in the garage of his home for five years.

    Standley’s two sons, Pete and Roy, helped build the Plexiglas casket made of wood and steel.

    His family said that he was very proud of his customized casket and used to show it off to visiting guests.

    “He was a quirky man,” daughter Dorothy Brown told Dayton Daily News. “But when it comes to us kids, he loved us, he raised us well and, of course, we wanted to help him.”

    Vernon Funeral Homes Inc. told the newspaper that although this is the company’s first extreme personalization, they were able to accommodate the dimensions of the grave to fit the size of the casket.

    However, this is not the first time the deceased has bid ‘farewell’ in-style, and quite frankly, it appears that personalized funerals are more common than before.

    The corpse of former Puerto Rican Boxer Christopher Rivera Amaro, who was murdered at 23, was standing straight up in a ring during a wake service Friday.

    Maybe TLC’s over-the-top theme show, “Best Funeral Ever,” is to blame for this unusual trend?

    OR…

    Maybe families rather remember the fondest characteristics and moments of their loved ones by exhibiting them as they were alive?

    Here is a list by Urlesque.com detailing some of the most rare funerals and caskets.

    What are your thoughts?

    Images via Youtube

  • Marlboro Man Death Sad Reminder To Quit Smoking

    The image was iconic: A man in a red shirt, cowboy hat, and rugged denim. He represented freedom, toughness, masculinity—and smoking.

    He was the “Marlboro Man”, a sort of mascot for Marlboro cigarettes. Eric Lawson, filled into the role of Marlboro Man when he was featured in ads during the late 1970s.

    Lawson had started smoking when he was 14-years-old, just one among a generation that formed the habit because it was cool, and “grown-up”. Only later did many realize that money was being made off of the formation of a dangerous habit among Americans.

    Lawson would speak out against smoking later in life. At one point he appeared in a parody ad that mocked the manner in which cigarette companies advertise to potential customers.

    Even so, Lawson was unable to stop smoking, only kicking the habit after he was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD.

    Lawson died on January 10th of respiratory failure brought on by the disease.

    It is noted that models and actors that have advertised for cigarettes like Lawson eventually died of cigarette related illnesses.

    These people started off thinking that they wanted to smoke. Before they knew it, they couldn’t stop.

    What can we learn from the tragic losses of the real life faces behind the carefully planned images?

    We know that it’s probably better to never start smoking in the first place. Many life-long smokers start young. If you are a parent, consider a candid conversation with your kids about the side effects of cigarettes. This may be hard if you’re a smoker yourself, but share why you wouldn’t want your children to join you in forming a habit smoking.

    Also, cigarette smoking can be one of the hardest habits to break. Some find it virtually impossible. If you find that you cannot quit on your own, don’t be afraid to contact a support group or enter a rehabilitation center for treatment.

    Image via livenews