Clipmarks | wjbuntz's clips

Bird dog steps on gun, kills hunter

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:54:19 GMT

clipped by: wjbuntz

HOUSTON (Reuters) - A Houston-area man was killed in a hunting accident after his dog stepped on a loaded shotgun in the back of a pick-up truck, triggering a blast that pierced the vehicle and the hunter's leg, a local sheriff said.

Perry Price, a 46-year-old math teacher, shot a goose on Saturday then put his gun in the back of the truck where the dog was waiting to retrieve the bird.

"I've been in law enforcement 20 years and this is probably the strangest one I've had," said Chambers County Sheriff Joe LaRive.

Investigators found paw prints and mud from the dog, a chocolate Labrador retriever named Arthur, on the shotgun, LaRive said.

Price was taken to a local hospital, but died from a loss of blood after doctors were unable to revive him.

Tags: hunting accident, dog, loaded shotgun

Men wheel out corpse in bid to cash check

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:52:19 GMT

clipped by: wjbuntz

Clip Source: www.reuters.com

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Two New York men wheeled the corpse of their friend around the sidewalks of midtown Manhattan in an office chair in a failed attempt to cash his $355 Social Security check, police said.

Virgilio Cintron, 66, had died of natural causes when two of his friends, both aged 65, brought him to a check-cashing store in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood Tuesday.

"They were trying to pass him off as still being alive," police spokesman Paul Browne said.

The two suspects left the corpse on the sidewalk while they attempted to cash the check, but the clerk knew Cintron and asked to see him.

The two men promised to bring him right back, but when they went outside to retrieve him a crowd had gathered around the dead man. An on-duty detective who had been eating lunch nearby spotted Cintron and immediately realized he was dead, putting an end to the caper.

Tags: dead man, social security, check cashing, corpse

What are you doing here? - man asks wife at brothel

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:50:20 GMT

clipped by: wjbuntz

Clip Source: www.reuters.com

WARSAW (Reuters) - A Polish man got the shock of his life when he visited a brothel and spotted his wife among the establishment's employees. Polish tabloid Super Express said the woman had been making some extra money on the side while telling her husband she worked at a store in a nearby town.

"I was dumfounded. I thought I was dreaming," the husband told the newspaper Wednesday.

The couple, married for 14 years, are now divorcing, the newspaper reported.

Tags: wife, husband, brothel

Missing molecules key to breast cancer spread

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:10:28 GMT

clipped by: wjbuntz

Clip Source: www.reuters.com

CHICAGO (Reuters) - By restoring tiny bits of genetic material missing from breast tumors in mice, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday they were able to block the cancer's ability to spread.

The finding will help doctors make better treatment decisions and may give rise to a new way of halting the advance of breast cancer, said Dr. Sohail Tavazoie, an oncologist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

"What's most important to us as cancer doctors is the concern that the cancer is going to come back," said Tavazoie, whose study appears in the journal Nature.

Tavazoie said the research will give doctors a better way to determine if a particular breast cancer tumor will spread and also add to the list of possible targets that could be used to make drugs that block genes that make cancers spread.

And down the road, it may lead to new therapies that restore the missing molecules that keep cancer tumors in check.

Tags: breast cancer, research, treatments

Katrina victim sues U.S. for $3 quadrillion

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:07:43 GMT

clipped by: wjbuntz

Clip Source: www.msnbc.msn.com

NEW ORLEANS - Hurricane Katrina's victims have put a price tag on their suffering and it is staggering — including one plaintiff seeking the unlikely sum of $3 quadrillion.

The total number — $3,014,170,389,176,410 — is the dollar figure so far sought from some 489,000 claims filed against the federal government over damage from the failure of levees and flood walls following the Aug. 29, 2005, hurricane.

Of the total number of claims, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said it has received 247 for at least $1 billion apiece, including the one for $3 quadrillion.

Some residents may have grossly exaggerated their claims to send a message to the corps, which has accepted blame for poorly designing the failed levees.

"I understand the anger," Scott said. "I also understand it's a negotiating tactic: Aim high and negotiate down."

Tags: hurricane katrina, new orleans, lawsuit

Birth leave sought for High School girls

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 20:19:55 GMT

clipped by: wjbuntz
clipper's remarks: Yeah right. There should be consequence to a teen pregnancy. While not really encouraging it, it would not discourage teen pregnancy either if a policy like this was established.

Clip Source: www.denverpost.com

Kayla Lewis, a senior at East High School, asked school-board members last month to establish maternity leave for students who are new mothers. ( Cyrus McCrimmon, The Denver Post )

Pregnant students in a Denver high school are asking for at least four weeks of maternity leave so they can heal, bond with their newborns and not be penalized with unexcused absences.

The request is unusual in Colorado's public schools, where districts tend to deal with pregnant students or new moms with specialized programs or individualized education plans.

Denver Public Schools has no districtwide policy, leaving it up to schools to work out plans for students to continue their education.

Two counselors from East High School approached the school board last month, saying the policy at their school is unfair and inconsiderate because it forces new moms to return to school the day after being discharged from the hospital or face being charged with unexcused absences.

Tags: teens, pregnancy, high school, maternity leave

Poulsbo cop accused of abusing authority to meet women

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 22:36:21 GMT

clipped by: wjbuntz
clipper's remarks: Beats a phone book!

Clip Source: www.king5.com

POULSBO, Wash – A Poulsbo Police detective is out of a job following a lengthy investigation into his alleged misuse of his police authority, including efforts to meet women.

The detective resigned after an internal affairs investigation cited several specific instances of abuse.

KING 5 received the 61 page report after filing a public disclosure request into the activities of the detective.

The internal affairs investigation, which was launched in September, was conducted by the Bremerton Police Department. It determined the Poulsbo detective used his access to private police databases to gather information on people for his own personal gain.

Among the findings, the detective:

-- Abused law enforcement authority.

-- Violated harassment policies.

-- Made untruthful statements about his behavior.

The report concludes "his actions nearly meet the elements of the crime of stalking."

The report also attacks the credibility of the detective and his statements about past cases and incidents.

Tags: police, abuse, stalking, police database, harassment

Woman waits in California hospital for a bed to open up here

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 22:28:06 GMT

clipped by: wjbuntz
clipper's remarks: Those of you that are anxious for government run health care be careful for what you wish for.

My wife works for the VA hospital. She states that it is very different than the private sector. There are a LOT more managers but not as much goes toward care. In a very good local hospital, they are trying to go to all Registered Nurses. At the VA hospital, they have one Registered Nurse per shift. (I assume that this means for this wing or area of care. I don't mean to imply that this is true for the entire hospital.)

Yet, they do have a guy that walks around in a suit and tie that is in charge of cleaning. (Something you would never see at private hospital.)

I don't know what the answer is but does one really think the government can do better?

Clip Source: www.news1130.com

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - A Surrey woman's holiday in California has turned into a healthcare nightmare. The 68-year old needed emergency surgery after her appendix burst, but now she can't come home due to a lack of hospital beds.

Arlene Meeks has been in a California hospital since December 17th. Her family has been trying to get her transferred back to the Lower Mainland for 2 weeks now but they haven't had any luck.

Stephen Harris with the South Fraser Health Region says the issue is a shortage of ventilated intensive care unit beds, which are highly specialized. He says over the holidays, it's not surprising to see those beds filled up.

NDP Health Critic Adrian Dix says the issue is one that's continued to plague the Lower Mainland and he's blaming Liberal government cuts to acute care beds. "The number of acute care beds in British Columbia was reduced by 1,300 in the first mandate of the government, and some of the new facilities being opened won't be adding to that number."

Tags: california, canada, hospital, health care, government

Favorite Time-Wasters of 2007

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 19:06:51 GMT

clipped by: wjbuntz
clipper's remarks: There is just WAY to much to clip. I recommend going to this article. There are some REALLY good time-wasters here.

Yet, don't blame me...

Clip Source: www.pcworld.com

Ring in the New Year with loads of artistic videos, addictive games, and DIY projects--like how to avoid alien abductions.

Steve Bass

If you're working anywhere near as hard as I am today, [Note from editor: Oh, like you ever work hard?] then you'll have plenty of time to sit back and enjoy these time wasters--favorites from 2007, plus a few brand-new goodies.

Tags: time-wasters, steve bass, pc world

Recording industry says ripping CDs to computer is illegal

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 18:24:18 GMT

clipped by: wjbuntz
clipper's remarks: Just playing a CD will be illegal next.

Clip Source: www.tgdaily.com

Washington (DC) - The Recording Industry Association of America has filed a landmark federal lawsuit in Arizona, claiming that it is illegal for users to make copies of CD tracks to their computer for personal use.

The RIAA is going after Jeffrey Howell of Scottsdale, AZ. The group alleges that Howell shared 54 music files over the peer-to-peer network Kazaa. This kind of complaint has become commonplace for the RIAA, but they added something different to this lawsuit.

Ira Schwartz, an Arizona-based lawyer for the trade group, says Howell is also guilty of making "unauthorized copies" of CD tracks by ripping them to his computer, even though he may never have shared them with anyone else.

The organization's website makes this clearer by noting, "If you make unauthorized copies of copyrighted music recordings ... you could be held legally liable for thousands of dollars in damages."

Tags: cd, illegal, lawsuit, riaa

Oil Futures Rise to $100 a Barrel

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 18:06:48 GMT

clipped by: wjbuntz
clipper's remarks: Wow!

Clip Source: biz.yahoo.com

NEW YORK (AP) -- Oil prices soared to $100 a barrel Wednesday for the first time ever, reaching that milestone amid an unshakeable view that global demand for oil and petroleum products will continue to outstrip supplies.

Light, sweet crude for January delivery rose $4.02 to $100 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, according to Brenda Guzman, a Nymex spokeswoman, before slipping back to $99.48.

Crude prices, which have flirted with $100 for months, have risen in recent days on supply concerns exacerbated by Turkish attacks on Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq and falling domestic inventories. However, post-holiday trading volumes were about 50 percent of normal Wednesday, meaning the price move was likely exaggerated by speculative buying.

Moreover, many of the concerns about supply disruptions have yet to materialize, but that hasn't stopped buyers from driving prices higher.

Tags: oil, futures, price

Family Of 6 Arrested Over Droopy Jeans

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 18:00:21 GMT

clipped by: wjbuntz
clipper's remarks: This is not worth commenting on other than really Stupid!

Clip Source: www.local6.com

WELLINGTON, Fla. -- Five family members, who got involved in the arrest process of a relative because of his droopy jeans, spent New Year's Eve behind bars, according to police.

Deputies said Florida State University student Franz Leger was banned from a mall last summer for wearing saggy jeans. But when Leger returned Monday, police arrested him for trespassing.

When the student's family heard what was happening, Leger's father, mother, sister and two cousins got involved. All were handcuffed and taken to jail.

Police said they did everything by the book, but the Leger family claims they were treated unfairly.

They said they plan to meet with a lawyer.

In the meantime, the entire family faces charges of trespassing, dissorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Tags: jeans, droopy, arrest, family, pants

EMI faces restricted budgets and job cuts

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 03:51:52 GMT

clipped by: wjbuntz

Clip Source: www.ft.com

EMI’s new private equity owners are enforcing tight restrictions on new artist signings and marketing budgets in an attempt to impose stricter discipline in the traditionally profligate music industry.

The moves are likely to be followed by job losses among the UK music group’s 5,500-strong workforce later in 2008.

People who have been briefed on Terra Firma’s plans expect the axe to fall more heavily on the overlapping marketing and administrative bureaucracies of individual labels than on creative “A&R” talent scouts.

The cost clampdown is essential for Terra Firma to meet the ambitious targets it set when it completed its takeover of EMI in August for £4bn ($7.9bn) including debt.

The new approach could trigger further unrest among artists and their managers in the new year, when the private equity group led by Guy Hands is due to announce details of his plan for the struggling music company to staff.

Tags: artists, music, music label, budgets, job cuts

Bloomberg closer to running for president

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 03:45:19 GMT

clipped by: wjbuntz

Clip Source: www.msnbc.msn.com

Buoyed by the still unsettled field, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg is growing increasingly enchanted with the idea of launching an independent presidential bid, and his aides are aggressively laying the groundwork for him to run.

On Sunday, the mayor will join Democratic and Republican elder statesmen at the University of Oklahoma in what the conveners are billing as an effort to pressure the major party candidates to renounce partisan gridlock.

Former Senator David L. Boren of Oklahoma, who organized the session with former Senator Sam Nunn, a Democrat of Georgia, suggested in an interview that if the prospective major party nominees failed within two months to formally embrace bipartisanship and address the fundamental challenges facing the nation, “I would be among those who would urge Mr. Bloomberg to very seriously consider running for president as an independent.”

A final decision by Mr. Bloomberg about whether to run is unlikely before February.

Tags: bloomberg, presidential candidate, independent

Lifesaving Program BANNED by the Feds!

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 03:16:48 GMT

clipped by: wjbuntz
clipper's remarks: I urge you to read the entire article. There is a lot I could not clip.

Clip Source: blogs.zdnet.com

Pardon me while I bang my head on my desk
Less than 3 weeks ago I wrote about a simple storage device that saved 1500+ lives and over $175,000,000 in just a couple of hundred hospitals out of 3700 nationwide.

Now the Feds have ordered the program halted. Read on to learn what you can do to help.

The technology: printed paper checklists of the proper steps for common intensive care unit (ICU) procedures like inserting catheters. Nationwide some 4% of ICU catheters get infected resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and billions in added expenses for heroic care efforts. The checklists reduced infection rates to 0%.

Bureaucracy inaction
In a mind-numbing display of bureaucratic reasoning, Kristina C. Borror, Ph.D., Director, Division of Compliance Oversight in the Office for Human Research Protections of the Department of Health & Human Services, ordered the life-saving practices halted.

Tags: lifesaving, john hopkins, research, checklists, infection rates, feds