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Tag: YouTube

  • Massive Crater Discovered in Siberia

    A huge crater has mysteriously formed in a region of Siberia commonly known as the “end of the world.”

    After a video of the 260-foot-wide crater surfaced online, Russian scientists mobilized, and were set to appear in the area today to attempt to assess its origins.

    So far, a government spokesperson in the Yamal peninsula has commented that the crater is not the result of a meteor strike, as no meteor large enough to have caused such a crater would have gone unnoticed by the oil workers or indigenous Nenets reindeer herders who inhabit the peninsula. Researchers have likewise assured conspiracy theorists that the hole is not a landing site of an alien spacecraft, or a result of weapons testing.

    One geologic theory is that warming temperatures caused permafrost to melt and release natural gas, akin to a cork shooting out of a bottle of champagne. The crater is situated roughly 20 miles from Russia’s Bovanenkovo gas field, so the theory is plausible.

    Here is a clip of the mystery hole:

    Some have called the clip of the crater, which was discovered by Mi-8 transport helicopter pilots, a hoax.

    Another possibility surrounds mounds that regularly form beneath the tundra during the summer, as the pressure of meltwater from the thaw builds up beneath the surface. When the internal pressure becomes too great, the mounds can explode with such a force to where earth and debris are ejected a considerable distance.

    A pingo, also called a hydrolaccolith, is a mound of earth-covered ice found in the Arctic and subarctic that can reach up to 230 feet in height and up to 2,000 feet in diameter.

    Scientists will know more after arriving at the Siberian site.

    Image via Youtube

  • Charlie Sheen Wasted at Taco Bell Drive-Thru

    While sitting in his car awaiting his “fourth meal”, Taco Bell customer Jayden Blair had a chance encounter with a riotously besotted Charlie Sheen, who a emerged from behind some bushes, after Blair yells “she’s a big fan” and points to his passenger.

    Sheen introduced himself as Charlie in a gravelly voice, and exclaimed, “Sorry I’m so fucking hammered.” With his eyes barely open, an affable Sheen says it’s “awesome” to meet the two.

    When Blair goes in for a fist bump, Sheen recoils a bit, and asks, “You guys want to fight?” Apparently joking, Sheen goes in for the fist bump. The actor proceeds to show off a couple of tattoos, one of which appears to be Charlie Brown. The other one is a Cincinnati Reds logo.

    Here is the video clip:

    Sheen says “Go Reds!,” and then explains to Blair that his driver’s name is Gary. Gary tells Sheen it’s time to roll, and Sheen tells Gary, “No, we’re fine, we’re fine.”

    Sheen, just as famous for his impaired antics as he is for being an actor, producer and winner, then took off with his fourth meal, leaving Blair with a story to tell, and a Youtube clip that is going viral.

    Sheen, born Carlos Irwin Estevez, has amassed a fortune of roughly $125 million, and was once the highest paid actor in television during his stint on Two and Half Men. After having a much-publicized meltdown, the tiger blood enthusiast was fired from the show by Warner Bros. and CBS in March, 2011, and was replaced by Ashton Kutcher.

    Sheen now stars on the FX comedy series Anger Management, and has been keeping his ideals he’d described during his My Violent Torpedo of Truth/Defeat is Not An Option spoken word tour he’d embarked upon after being let go by CBS to himself.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Marvel Introduces New Female Thor

    Marvel Introduces New Female Thor

    It was announced today on The View by Whoopi Goldberg that Marvel Comics that the traditional male Thor character will be replaced by a new female Thor.

    According to Marvel’s Asgardian canon, the male Thor commits some sort of misdeed which renders him unworthy of wielding his enchanted hammer Mjolnir, and the lady Thor takes his place. Little is known so far about the origins of the female Thor, but it’s been revealed that the original God of Thunder had once saved her.

    Goldberg remarked, “It’s a huge day in the Marvel Universe. Thor, the God of Thunder, he messed up, and he’s no longer worthy to hold that damn hammer of his. For the first time in history, that hammer is being held by a woman. That’s right. Thor is a woman!”

    Avengers director Joss Whedon chimes in on Twitter:

    It’s not clear why Whedon posted a picture of Katee Sackhoff, who would make an excellent lady Thor; perhaps it’s some sort of casting hint.

    Thor: God of Thunder series by writer Jason Aaron commented, “This is not She-Thor. This is not Lady Thor. This is not Thorita. This is THOR. This is the THOR of the Marvel Universe. But it’s unlike any Thor we’ve ever seen before.” Aaron will stay on as a writer of the new iteration of the Thor saga, and will be joined by Russell Dauterman, who will be handling the artwork.

    The original man-Thor will not be written out of the Marvel universe, but will be carrying his magical battle ax called Jarnbjorn, which he wielded during his younger days.

    Image via Youtube

  • Iron Age Coins Unearthed in Britain

    Iron Age Coins Unearthed in Britain

    Over two dozen of rare Roman and Iron Age coins were discovered inside of a cave in Dovedale, Derbyshire, United Kingdom.

    Four of the coins were initially discovered by a random cave dweller in the Peak district, which lead to a full-scale excavation by archaeologists. In what has been described as an extremely rare occurrence, 26 coins from two civilizations, which experts believe haven’t been touched for roughly 2,000 years, were unearthed in all.

    The gold and silver coins, the first of their kind to be found in a cave, are said to have belonged to the Corieltauvi tribe, a group that lived in Britain before the Roman conquest. The coins were dug up in Reynard’s Kitchen Cave, which is located outside the Corieltauvi’s usual boundaries.

    Rachel Hall of the National Trust commented, “It might be that we have a member of the tribe living beyond the boundary that is more usually associated with the territory.” Hall added, “it’s just so special and they’re incredibly beautiful. I think it’s the most exciting site I’ve ever worked on in my life so far.”

    The find included 20 Iron Age coins, three Roman coins and three coins from much later eras, according to a report complied by Ian Leins, curator of Iron Age and Roman coins at the British Museum. As the coins predated the Roman conquest of the region, archaeologists aren’t exactly sure how they were used, but interestingly, it is highly unlikely that they were utilized as a form of currency. It is believed that the coins were presented as gifts, used to store wealth or offered as sacrifices.

    The 26 coins are worth roughly $3,400, and officially qualify as “treasure” under the United Kingdom’s 1996 Treasure Act, which means they need to be reported to authorities. The coins will be put on display later this year at the Buxton Museum in Derbyshire.

    Image via Youtube

  • Rapper Explains Why He Severed His Penis

    Rapper Explains Why He Severed His Penis

    Back in April, a Wu-Tang Clan-affiliated rapper named Christ Bearer, a.k.a Andre Johnson, severed his penis and jumped off a second story balcony in North Hollywood while high on PCP. Now Johnson has explained his motivation behind his self-mutilation, and revealed that he was in control of his actions at the time of the incident.

    “Yes, I was using drugs that night, but I was in complete control,” Johnson told E! “I cut it off because that was the root of all my problems. My solution to the problem was the realization that sex is for mortals, and I am a god. Those kinds of activities got me into trouble, and I came here to be a god.”

    Christ Bearer is a member of the rap outfit Northstar, and claims he’s been silent on the matter of his penis so far because “People perceived me as crazy, so I never wanted to speak wholeheartedly on the matter.” Interestingly, Johnson told TMZ on video early in July that his penis was reattached and works, and that he wants to appear in a porno.

    Johnson went on to reveal to E! that doctors were unable to reattach anything. Scientifically, there is a 50% chance that Johnson has a penis.

    Here is Christ Bearer’s video for The God:

    Johnson said he was grateful to still be alive when he awoke in a hospital bed, and began visiting with a psychologist after being discharged. Johnson claims that he’s been deemed mentally okay, and commented, “I didn’t want to kill myself. That was just my response to the demons. They were doing their best to get to me, but being alive solidified my thoughts. … I’m alive, penis or no penis.”

    Phencyclidine, or PCP, is a diassociative drug with effects that include severe changes in body image, loss of ego boundaries, paranoia, depersonalization, hallucinations, euphoria, suicidal impulses and aggressive behavior.

    Image via Youtube

  • Alix Tichelman Had a Long History of Drug Abuse

    Alix Tichelman Had a Long History of Drug Abuse

    A former housemate of Alix Catherine Tichelman, who police say injected a fatal dose of heroin to a Google executive who repeatedly paid her for sex, had a drug habit that had likely progressed into full-scale dependence.

    Google executive Forrest Hayes was found dead on his yacht in Santa Cruz, California last November, and authorities initially concluded that it was due to his overdosing on heroin. Seven months later, police have uncovered new video evidence taken from Hayes’ yacht, “The Escape,” which reveals he may have been murdered by Tichelman.

    Mariya Armario, Tichelman’s former housemate in San Francisco, said she saw a pattern of drug abuse begin to advance years ago. “She clearly was likely way gone in her addiction,” Armario said.

    Tichelman, 26, a high-priced call girl, was seen injecting Hayes with heroin in the footage obtained by police, before Hayes fell unconscious after his overdose. Santa Cruz Police Department Deputy Chief Steve Clark revealed that Tichelman did nothing to help Hayes, and commented that she was “so callous that in gathering her things, she was literally stepping over the body and at one point stepped over the body to grab a glass of wine and finish the glass of wine.”

    Hayes, 51, a married father of 5, had met Tichelman on a sugardaddy website called SeekingArrangement. The night of Hayes death was not the first time he and Tichelman had met; the two had an ongoing prostitution arrangement.

    Armario said Tichelman used the internet to find clients, and commented, “She said they would just pick her up on dates and buy her things and give her money. I asked her if she had to sleep with them and she said she never did … but that’s what they all say.”

    The state of California is currently preparing to formally charge Tichelman with manslaughter for Hayes’ death.

    Image via Youtube

  • The Sopranos Intro Gets Amazing Digital Reenactment

    It’s been seven years since The Sopranos abruptly cut to black and left viewers wondering if their cable had gone out or David Chase was playing some kind of cruel joke. Whether or not you’ve come to grips with the series’ conclusion or not, pop culture will always keep finding a way to ensure the landmark HBO mafia series stays in our hearts and minds forever.

    The Sopranos is once again trending on the internet thanks to a very clever video from the YouTube gaming channel 8-Bit Bastard. The video recreates a digitized version of the show’s opening credits. However, instead of seeing Tony Soprano driving through the streets of North Jersey to his huge house on the hill, the opening credit sequence features footage from Grand Theft Auto 5. And while Los Santos is no New Jersey Turnpike, the reenactment is extremely precise.

    “We decided to pay homage to one of the greatest TV shows of all time, The Sopranos. Recreating The Sopranos intro in GTAV was pretty time-consuming, but a lot of fun. It was also our first experience using green screen (you can’t smoke in the car while it’s moving)!”

    Check it out.

    This isn’t the first digitized remake from 8-Bit Bastard. The gaming channel has done several film reenactments using the Grand Theft Auto 5 theme.

    Here’s a look at reenactments for the David Fincher genre bender Fight Club and the legendary crime film The Godfather.

    If you’re waiting to rewatch the entire six seasons of The Sopranos until the series comes out in HD, your wait will be over soon. The show will be released in a collectible Blu-ray boxed set on November 4, 2014 (just in time for the holidays.) Currently, only the first and sixth seasons are available in HD. Amazon Prime also has every episode of the series available for subscribers to stream live.

    Image via The Sopranos, Facebook

  • Bright Eyes Accuser Recants Rape Allegation

    A woman who claimed that Bright Eyes singer Conor Oberst raped her a decade ago when she was a teenager revealed that she fabricated the entire story.

    Joan Faircloth of Durham, North Carolina first posted an essay entitled It Happened to Me: I Dated a Famous Rock Star & All I Got Was Punched in the Face to the women’s lifestyle website XOJane last December. Faircloth wrote that Oberst “took advantage of my teenage crush on him” after she was introduced to him at a concert when she was 16 and he was in his twenties. Faircloth related that “Conor took a lot from me including my virginity, my dignity and self esteem.” Faircloth went on to submit statements saying that Oberst’s attorneys offered her “hush money” to stop writing about the rape.

    Oberst filed a defamation lawsuit against Faircloth in February, asserting that the rape accusation was “republished by countless media outlets around the world, thus further perpetuating the untrue depiction of Oberst as a rapist. … To add insult to injury, certain media outlets published stories in which Faircloth’s defamatory false statements were characterized as true, and in which Oberst’s fans were actually encouraged to stop supporting his musical career.” A judge issued a default judgement in Oberst’s favor in early July. Court records reveal that Faircloth never responded to the lawsuit, which called her a pathological liar, and requested $1 million in damages.

    Faircloth sent a notarized letter to Oberst’s attorney Monday explaining that “the statements I made and repeated online and elsewhere over the past six months accusing Conor Oberst of raping me are 100% false. I made up those lies about him to get attention while I was going through a difficult period in my life and trying to cope with my son’s illness.”

    Faircloth added, “I publicly retract my statements about Conor Oberst, and sincerely apologize to him, his family, and his fans for writing such awful things about him. I realize that my actions were wrong and could undermine the claims of actual sexual assault victims and for that I also apologize. I’m truly sorry for all the pain that I caused.”

    Oberst’s fans took to Twitter:

    Oberst, 34, has yet to respond to the revelation.

    The singer-songwriter, who Rolling Stone describes as “a pain-strumming poet of emo,” formed Bright Eyes in 1995 in Omaha, Nebraska. The band first achieved wide success in 2002 upon the release of the album Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground.

    Here Oberst channels the dream journal of a sullen, yet verbose high school sophomore on “A Perfect Sonnet,” from the 1999 album Every Day And Every Night:

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Scarlett Johansson Answering Questions About ‘Lucy’

    Actress Scarlett Johansson will be answering questions about her new film Lucy via Twitter, according to Entertainment Weekly. Twitter users can tweet with #askLUCY and @EW today to send questions to Johansson herself, and EW will be sharing answers on Thursday.

    Lucy is a sci-fi action film directed, written, edited and produced by French director Luc Besson, and hits theaters on July 25. The plot revolves around a world controlled by criminal organizations, and Johansson plays the title character Lucy, who is forced into being a drug mule by a mob based in Taipei, Taiwan. A surgically implanted packet of drugs breaks open and leaks into her body, which causes a reaction that allows her to access more than the mythically standard 10% of her brain.

    Lucy then evolves into a superhuman, to where she can absorb vast amounts of information instantly and wield telekinetic powers. The film also stars Morgan Freeman.

    Here is a new clip from the film, in which Johansson’s character speeds through Paris:

    Another clip showing Lucy making an escape is also online:

    Here Lucy has an encounter with the Taiwanese mob:

    The 10% brain myth is a popular urban legend perpetuated by a misunderstanding of archaic brain research. Modern imaging has revealed that all areas of the brain are “firing,” though the exact functions of some regions are still misunderstood.

    In 2013 Johansson also appeared in director Jonathan Glazer’s excellent sci-fi thriller Under the Skin, playing a confused alien disguised as a woman, who seduces men in order to harvest their flesh, which is a delicacy on its home world.

    Here is the trailer:

    Johansson, who recently revealed that she was “tired of being sexy,” is expecting her first child with fiance Romain Dauriac, the owner of an independent advertising agency. The couple presently lives in the Rive Gauche district of Paris.

    Image via Youtube

  • David Bowie Classics to be Covered at MCA

    David Bowie Classics to be Covered at MCA

    The Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago has been chosen as the U.S. venue for the David Bowie is… exhibit, which opened to great fanfare London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. The MCA exhibit is set to begin in September, and will run through January, 2015.

    David Bowie is… exhibits over 300 pieces, including costumes, handwritten lyrics, album artwork, set designs and rare performance media taken from Bowie’s almost 50 years as an entertainer. The exhibit is touted as the first-ever wide examination of Bowie’s broad influence on contemporary art, fashion, design, theater and contemporary culture. David Bowie is… also surveys the Thin White Duke’s creative process, as well as his collaborations with musicians, photographers and filmmakers.

    In tandem with the exhibit, Chicago artists will cover select classic David Bowie albums and songs for a series called Bowie Changes.

    On November 15th, Chicagoan glam rocker Bobby Conn will cover Bowie’s 1976 album Station to Station in a live set at the MCA. Station to Station is widely regarded as one of Bowie’s finest works, and was the vehicle for his last great character, The Thin White Duke.

    Here’s a live clip of “Station to Station”:

    On November 21, musicians are performing classic Bowie love songs, and on November 22, windy city sonic experimentalists Disappears will cover Bowie’s 1977 Classic Low. Also regarded as one of Bowie’s most influential albums, Low was the first of the “Berlin Trilogy”, a series of collaborations with famed record producer Brian Eno.

    Bowie’s “Warszawa” from Low:

    Bowie released his first album in ten years in 2013, entitled The Next Day, to favorable reviews.

    David Bowie, “The Stars (Are Out Tonight)” from The Next Day:

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • World Cup Streaker Was a Big YouTube Star

    World Cup Streaker Was a Big YouTube Star

    Did you watch the World Cup final on Sunday afternoon? Do you remember when the cameras cut to an extended (and actually rather beautiful) shot of Rio’s Christ the Redeemer statue framing a gorgeous sunset?

    Well, during those few seconds, you were missing out on a streaker who had painted “Natural Born Prankster” on his chest and ran out onto the pitch, attempting to plant a big ol’ kiss on German defender Benedikt Howedes. Networks shy away from broadcasting streakers, as most feel that showing the act somehow glorifies it. The streaker was less than successful and was easily tackled by security within a few seconds of making his run. You may not have seen it live, but thankfully we have LeBron James to thank for capturing an Instagram video of it:

    As it turns out, our streaker is kind of internet famous. It’s actually Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, a YouTube prankster who has amassed nearly 6.5 million followers on his channel VitalyzdTV.

    It looks like this was planned for quite some time.

    We even got a jail selfie.

    Maybe that’s all Messi needed – a kiss for good luck.

    Image via Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, Twitter

  • Sierra LaMar DNA Evidence Found on Rope

    Sierra LaMar DNA Evidence Found on Rope

    Over two years after Morgan Hill, California teenager Sierra LaMar disappeared, grand jury transcripts have been released detailing evidence against murder suspect Antolin Garcia-Torres.

    The court in Santa Clara County forwarded a 1,900 page document to the San Jose Mercury News on Friday, which revealed that Garcia-Torres left behind a substantial amount of evidence regarding 15-year-old LaMar’s vanishing, and that the suspect mentioned details surrounding the disappearance to investigators before being asked. LaMar’s body has yet to be recovered.

    Legal expert Steve Clark commented, “They (authorities) believe she was tied up, bound, dragged, placed in the trunk. This was not an innocent encounter.” Clark added, “The fact that Sierra Lamar’s hair was found on a rope inside of Garcia-Torres’ trunk, there is no innocent explanation for that.”

    The transcript also revealed that Garcia-Torres’ DNA was found on LaMar’s pants, and that dirt was found on LaMar’s clothing, indicating that the teen may have been dragged.

    The grand jury had written that Garcia-Torres tried to explain the evidence, “But he volunteered that information before anyone ever brought up [the topic of] sperm to him, or before anyone said that that was found,” Clark commented. “That’s very damaging, why he would try to immediately initiate that kind of a conversation. [It’s] very peculiar, and I think it will prove to be very damaging.”

    Garcia-Torres has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and murder charges, and the prosecution might have a hard time pushing for the death penalty without a body. “Is it going to be a death case? Hard to say without a body but the DA did show us a lot of their cards,” Clark remarked.

    The Mercury News sued the court for the release of the transcripts, despite opposition from Garcia-Torres’ attorneys, who believed the extra media attention would diminish chances of a fair trial.

    David J. Butler, editor and senior vice president for news at the Bay Area News Group, commented, “It’s vital for the public to understand what occurred during the secret grand jury proceeding, particularly since the prosecution is seeking the death penalty in this case.”

    Image via Youtube

  • Stacy Lewis Defends Women’s British Open

    Stacy Lewis Defends Women’s British Open

    Stacy Lewis, the 29-year-old Texan who reclaimed her rank as number one in the Women’s World Golf Rankings in June, defends the Women’s British Open at Royal Birkdale this week.

    Commenting on a field that had been dominated by South Koreans over the past few years, and on a friendly rivalry with Michelle Wie, Lewis said, “You look at the first half of this year and see how many Americans have won and there’s definitely been a switch.”

    Lewis added, “I think from the Solheim Cup [defeat] we have all been motivated and we’re finally answering the question ‘where are the Americans?’ It’s great to see and I think it’s a great thing for the LPGA Tour.”

    Wie agreed, saying, “We got our butts kicked at the Solheim but now we have some great momentum.” Wie beat Lewis at the Women’s U.S. Open by two shots last month. Lewis later revealed that Wie is “kind of a klutz,” adding that “a lot of people don’t understand what a dork she is. She’s awkward, and that’s part of her charm.”

    Despite her loss at the Women’s Open, Lewis was able to retain her world no. 1 ranking after her win at the LPGA NW Arkansas Championship. Lewis commented, “Coming off of last week where I was so close and to come here and to win, it’s really nice to just have that going into the British (Open) in two weeks. I don’t know what it is about these final rounds, I love getting in the heat of the battle the last day and making some birdies.”

    Here are some LPGA NW Arkansas Championship highlights:

    Commenting on Royal Birkdale, Lewis explained, “It is strange defending on a completely different course. Out here you can’t just rip it with the driver. You can get away with a lot more at St. Andrews.” Wie on the other hand is returning to the venue of her first British Open. She finished third at Birkdale as a 15-year-old in 2005.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Mel Gibson Empathizes with Shia LaBeouf

    Just after accepting a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2014 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic, actor Mel Gibson shared his thoughts on the recent bizarre behavior of former Transformers actor Shia Labeouf, saying that his “heart goes out to [him].”

    LaBeouf was arrested and charged with two counts of disorderly conduct and one count of criminal trespassing during a Broadway performance of Cabaret in June. The actor was allegedly smacking audience members, and would not stop smoking or spitting. This comes after a rather pedestrian display of “performance art” LaBeaouf had undertaken during a red carpet event at the Berlin Film Festival. The actor arrived wearing a paper bag over his head that read “I Am Not Famous Anymore.”

    Here is poor Shia in his bag:

    Alas, LaBeouf warned us this would happen:

    Commenting on LaBeaouf’s antics of late, Gibson said, “When I see somebody like Shia LaBeouf with the bag on his head and stuff, my heart goes out to the poor guy. I think he’s suffering in some way, or why would he do that? And it’s easy to point the finger at him and say that he’s this, that, or the other, and it’s easy to judge. But I’m sure he’s going through some kind of personal, very painful, cathartic thing that he has to exorcise and get out there. He’ll probably play it out and come back. He’ll be all right.”

    LaBeouf, 28, is a former Disney child star, and got his big break in 2007 in Michael Bay’s Transformers. LaBeouf starred in two sequels, but was replaced by Mark Wahlberg for the fourth installment of the franchise. In 2008, Shia played Henry “Mutt Williams” Jones III in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

    Gibson added, “I actually like the kid. I think he’s good.” The Braveheart director went on to share his views regarding the nature of fame – “You’re a target. And you have to be really adept at tap dancing and dodging the bullets. And sometimes you get hit. Sometimes mortally. It’s pretty bad.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Ex-New Orleans Mayor Gets 10-Year Prison Sentence

    Former New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin received a 10-year prison term Wednesday after being convicted of bribery, money laundering and other corruption back in February.

    Nagin, 58, had served two terms in office, and was mayor of New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. Nagin had accepted roughly $500K from various businesses that wanted to work in the city, and the former mayor also received free vacations and truckloads of granite which he was able to use in his family’s business.

    U.S. District Judge Helen Berrigan handed down the sentence Wednesday morning, and Nagin maintained his innocence of any wrongdoing. Prosecutors were pushing for a longer sentence, more like 20 years, but Berrigan took into account that Nagin made little profit as compared to others in a multi-million dollar scandal. Berrigan commented, “Mr. Nagin claimed a much, much smaller share of the profits in this conspiracy,.”

    Directly before receiving his sentence, Nagin thanked Berrigan for her professionalism, and said, “I trust that God’s going to work all this out.” Nagin is scheduled to report to the federal prison Oakdale, La., some time in September.

    Here Nagin makes his controversial post-Katrina “Chocolate City” remarks in 2006:

    Kanye West got a word in:

    Prosecutors also named Nagin’s two sons as being part of the bribery scandal for accepting the free granite, though they were never charged. Though federal guidelines would suggest the 20-year prison term, Judge Berrigan also took into account character references that portrayed Nagin to be a devoted son, husband and father. Berrigan also noted that Nagin exhibited “a genuine if all too infrequent” desire to help New Orleans residents after Katrina hit.

    Ray Nagin scandal Twitter intrigue:

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Phaedra Parks’ Husband Gets 8 Years in Prison

    Real Housewives of Atlanta star Phaedra Parks’ husband Apollo Nida was handed an eight-year prison sentence by a federal judge for defrauding over 50 people of roughly $2 million over a four-year period.

    Nida, who had spent time behind bars from 2003 to 2009 for auto theft, was initially looking at 30 years, but his cooperation with authorities helped with the reduced sentence.

    Soon after being released in 2009, Nida opened a fake debt collection agency to gain access to databases full of debtors’ personal information. He would then steal identities to locate unclaimed funds, refunds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, stolen U.S. treasury checks and refunds from fraudulent U.S. income tax returns.

    Nida had an accomplice named Gayla St. Julien, who opened UPS mailboxes and bank checking accounts using those fake identities, deposited the checks, then pocketed the money. Nida went on to create a fake car dealership, and took out auto loans for cars that didn’t exist. The Secret Service eventually tracked St. Julien down, and she led them to Nida.

    Fellow Atlantan housewife Kenya Moore took to Twitter to express her opinion on the sentencing:

    Reginald G. Moore, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Atlanta Field Office, commented, “Today’s sentencing exemplifies impartial justice regardless of economic class or perceived celebrity status. Nida’s sentence should be an eye opener for other like-minded criminals who scheme to steal victims’ identities, defraud them and ignore the consequences of their actions.”

    After sentencing, Nida commented, “The government did what they had to do,” adding, “I want to apologize to the victims. I want to apologize to my family for letting them down.” Nida remains free on bond, and will likely have to turn himself in to begin his sentence within three to six weeks.

    Here Phaedra explains Apollo’s job:

    Nida explained that his reasoning behind his criminal actions revolved around feeling pressure to make money to keep up with his wife’s high-profile attorney income and “Real Housewives” salary. He added that because of his status as a convicted felon, finding a legitimate job was a challenge.

    Image via Youtube

  • Prostitute Injected Deceased Google Exec with Heroin

    Google executive Forrest Hayes was found dead on his yacht in Santa Cruz, California last November, and authorities initially concluded that it was due to his overdosing on heroin. Seven months later, police have uncovered new video evidence taken from Hayes’ yacht, “The Escape,” which reveals he may have been murdered by a prostitute name Alix Tichelman.

    Hayes, 51, a married father of 5, had met Tichelman on a sugardaddy website called SeekingArrangement. The night of Hayes death was not the first time he and Tichelman had met; the two had an ongoing prostitution arrangement.

    Tichelman, 26, a high-priced call girl, was seen injecting Hayes with heroin in the footage obtained by police, before Hayes fell unconscious after his overdose. Santa Cruz Police Department Deputy Chief Steve Clark revealed that Tichelman did nothing to help Hayes, and commented that she was “so callous that in gathering her things, she was literally stepping over the body and at one point stepped over the body to grab a glass of wine and finish the glass of wine.”

    Tichelman shares some makeup tips on Twitter:

    Authorities said the woman believed to be Tichelman even closed the blinds to the master suite on the 50-foot yacht before leaving. Detectives took fingerprints from the wine glass from the surveillance video, and had an undercover agent set up a rendezvous with Tichelman, enticing her with the promise of $1000 for a date. Tichelman, a heroin addict, showed no emotion as she was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder, destruction of evidence and transporting and providing narcotics.

    Tichelman expresses her feelings about Aiesh Versoza:

    It is unclear if Tichelman has hired an attorney, and police revealed that she remained emotionless during questioning. Her bail has been set at $1.5 million.

    Here is a Vine clip of Tichelman preliminary hearing:

    Hayes’ obituary read, “more than anything else he enjoyed spending time with his family at home and on his boat. His brilliant mind, contagious smile, and warm embrace will be missed and cherished in memories by his friends and family.”

    Image via Twitter

  • Portable Air Conditioners Slightly Better Than Fans

    With summer temperatures rising, one might consider buying a portable air conditioning unit, to avoid the hassle of installing a window unit. Portable floor units are designed to draw in warm air, cool it, then push it outside via a hose that connects to a window.

    Though, Consumer Reports has found that the quite expensive technology is typically no better than a regular fan. Consumer Reports fashioned a room to test the cooling power of various portable floor units. The temperature outside the room was set at 90 degrees with 70 percent humidity. Each air conditioner in the room was set to cool at 75 degrees.

    Brands tested included Honeywell, Haier and Frigidaire. Prices ranged from $250 to more than $500, and an array of thermocouples placed around the room gauged the cooling power of each model.

    Bob Markovich of Consumer Reports commented, “none of these units, not even the biggest ones, could get our test chamber below 80 degrees, even after an hour and 40 minutes. Window air conditioners are much more effective, and they tend to cost less.” The test revealed that all of the units were struggling to keep room temperature at 80 degrees. The most expensive unit, the Honeywell which costs $550, was unable to cool the roughly 225 square foot test chamber. The Honeywell had promised to cool rooms up to 550 square feet.

    Here is a portable air conditioner unit installation video by Haier:

    It’s been theorized that portable air conditioning units don’t work well because negative pressure is created while conditioned air from inside the house is trying to push hot air through the vent leading outside. This actually forces more hot air into the house.

    Consumer Reports went on to test some standard window units, and found that two LG brand air conditioners worked best for large and medium sized rooms, at a price of $350 and $240 respectively. It was found that a $210 GE unit worked best for smaller rooms.

    Image via Youtube

  • Courtney Love Cast in ‘Sons of Anarchy’

    Courtney Love Cast in ‘Sons of Anarchy’

    Actress Courtney Love is set to appear in the 7th and final season of the FX biker gang drama Sons of Anarchy. Love will first appear in the fourth episode as Ms. Harrison, the pre-school teacher of main character Jax’s (Charlie Hunnam) eldest son Abel.

    This will be the television drama debut for Love, who was nominated for a Golden Globe for her work on 1995’s The People vs. Larry Flynt. The Hole frontwoman’s character takes a special interest in Abel, which will likely cause conflict with Abel’s mother Wendy, played by Drea de Matteo.

    Courtney Love has been in the news of late due to the 20th anniversary of former husband and Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain’s suicide in 1994, as well as for Nirvana’s recent induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Love has been somewhat of a polarizing character for legions of Nirvana fans, with some who believe she may have “Yoko’d” Cobain. A note in which Cobain bashes Love as a charlatan was revealed in April.

    Here is Love’s 2014 single You Know My Name:

    Performance artist Marilyn Manson has also signed on for Sons season 7, and will play a recurring role as a white supremacist. Commenting on his role, Manson said, “‘Sons’ has been such a big part of my life, as well as my father’s. So I was determined to make him proud by being involved in what will probably be remembered as the most amazing piece of television cinema. After all, the very heart of ‘SOA’ is about that relationship. So, now all I need is a motorcycle.”

    In related news, back in March, Love revealed that she had solved the mystery of Malaysian Airlines Flight 370. Using a satellite imagery map called Tomnod, the rocker was able to extrapolate the exact whereabouts of the missing jet, and posted her findings on Facebook:

    “I’m no expert but up close this does look like a plane and an oil slick. Prayers go out to the families #MH370 and its [sic] like a mile away Pulau Perak, where they ‘last’ tracked it 5°39’08.5″N 98°50’38.0″E but what do I know?”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • YouTube Gets a Ton of Classic Concerts

    YouTube Gets a Ton of Classic Concerts

    Live music fans now have a new place to kill 2,000-or-so hours, as YouTube has just been gifted a ton of classic concerts from some of the biggest names in music.

    Music Vault, which calls itself the world’s greatest collection of live music, has just released their entire catalog to their YouTube channel. Music Vault began putting videos up on YouTube about three months ago, but today’s release is truly the mother lode. In all, Music Vault now has some 13,000 videos totaling over 2,000 hours of live music.

    Post by Music Vault.

    “After two years restoring, transferring, mixing and mastering thousands of tapes from our enormous archive, we’re thrilled and extremely proud to share this massive treasure with the YouTube music community,” says Music Vault content editor Bill Antonucci.

    There are clips from live shows, but the best thing about this giant release is all the full concerts now available for free – from Crosby, Stills, & Nash at Winterland in ’73…

    …to Rage Against the Machine at Woodstock ’99…

    …to Deer Tick at the Dance Hall in Kittery, Maine in 2011.

    It looks like they’re still in the process of getting all of these restored concerts uploaded – but there’s already plenty there to keep you occupied and sonically pleased for quite some time.

    Image via Music Vault

  • Angela Merkel Calls U.S. Spying Allegation ‘Serious’

    Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel said in a news conference in Beijing Monday that if allegations that a German man had been working as a double agent for the U.S. are true, “it would be a serious case.”

    According to intelligence sources, a 31-year-old employee of Germany’s BND foreign intelligence agency admitted to slipping classified documents to a U.S. contact. The White House and State Department have yet to comment on the matter, and Merkel stated that “if the allegations are true, it would be for me a clear contradiction as to what I consider to be trusting cooperation between agencies and partners.”

    Alleged information passed includes Germany’s parliamentary committee investigation into data former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden dredged up suggesting that the U.S. National Security Agency initiated a major surveillance in Germany, including tapping Merkel’s phone.

    German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier commented, “We haven’t finished clearing this up yet. But if suspicions are confirmed that American secret services were involved, it will become a political issue and we can’t just get back to business as usual.”

    Merkel was in China to oversee signing of agreements involving Airbus Group NV’s helicopter division selling 100 aircraft to Chinese companies, and warned the Chinese government about the growing threat of cyber attacks and industrial espionage.

    “Germany is against that (industrial espionage) regardless of where it comes from,” Merkel said, adding, “We have a duty as the state to protect our economy. We are for the protection of intellectual property.”

    Some espionage-related humor:

    Meanwhile, Edward Snowden’s lawyer in Germany, Wolfgang Kaleck, said he hoped the latest allegations might eventually help change Germany’s stance on his client, noting that Europe had profited from his information but were not prepared to offer him asylum. Snowden remains stranded in Russia.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons