Monday, July 27, 2009

Denny's restaurants sued over salt in meals

As reported on July 23rd, 2009 by Jerry Hirsch on the latimes.com
Doctors recommend against eating more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day. Order Denny’s double cheeseburger and you’ll consume 3,880 milligrams of sodium in one sitting, almost double the daily suggested allowance of salt.
Denny’s meals “are dangerously high in sodium,” according to lawsuit filed today by a New Jersey man with the support of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a nonprofit group active in nutrition and food-safety issues.
The New Jersey Superior Court lawsuit alleges that Denny’s heavy use of salt puts “the restaurant chain’s customers at greater risk of high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.” The lawsuit asks the court to order Denny’s to list the sodium content of its food on the menu and warn about the hazards of consuming salt in high doses.
The lawsuit was filed in Middlesex County on behalf of Nick DeBenedetto, a 48-year-old resident of Tinton Falls, N.J., who said he takes medicine to control his blood pressure. DeBenedetto is seeking class action status for the suit.
DeBenedetto said he “was astonished” to learn of the sodium content of Denny’s food. “I never would have selected those items had I known.”

Editor Rozek’s Notes:…Ok…so let me get this straight…DeBenedetto wouldn’t have ordered a double cheeseburger if he had known how much salt it contained because he is taking medicine to control his blood pressure? Um…how many years has he been eating at Denny’s? Isn’t their slogan something like, “Denny’s! Clogging the nation’s arteries with plaque and beef, one person without any sense of health consciousness at a time??” This shouldn’t be a lawsuit. When your blood pressure soars and your heart starts to explode from your chest, you think, “hmm…what could I do differently?…Oh…I know! I should stop eating at Denny’s!” I think the president should weigh in on this too. I am certain that he would use his teleprompter to make a big announcement saying, “The American people who eat at Denny’s are acting stupidly!”…and then he can invite them all over to his house for a beer and a cigarette to explain that that’s not what he meant… “err…no, it’s what I meant, just not what I should have said…um…what I meant to say was that you’re all idiots…wait…no…Crap!…why do I keep getting myself in trouble like this? I couldn’t just have kept my opinion to myself? Here! Just have a hamburger out on the white house lawn.” ...By the time his 4 years is up, the white house lawn is going to be a public park for people he’s apologizing to!

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Man Catches Fire After Being Tasered

As reported on July 21, 2009 on aol.com By KRISTEN GELINEAU, AP

SYDNEY (July 21) -- A man whose relatives say had been sniffing gasoline burst into flames after a police officer Tasered him as he ran at officials carrying a container of fuel, police said Tuesday.
The man, identified by his family as 36-year-old Ronald Mitchell, was in critical condition at a Perth hospital in Western Australia state following Monday's incident in Warburton, an Aboriginal community 950 miles (1,540 kilometers) northeast of Perth.
Western Australia police said they were responding to a complaint at a house when Mitchell ran outside carrying a cigarette lighter and a large plastic bottle containing what they believe was fuel. When he refused to stop running toward them, one officer Tasered him, police said in a statement.
The man was immediately engulfed in flames. The officer threw him to the ground and smothered the blaze with his hands, the statement said. Mitchell was charged with assault to prevent arrest and possession of a sniffing substance.

An 18-year-old woman threw rocks at the officer as he tried to help, and he was later treated for a cut on his head and burns to his hands, police said.
The officer who Tasered Mitchell was not suspended, Clifford said.


Editor Rozek’s Notes
: This really says it all. We need to be careful about what we eat and smell. Who knows when a policeman is going to walk up and taser us? How can you ever be sure it’s not the day that it will happen? For instance, if I was tasered at this very minute, I might burst into a giant pan of lasagna. It’s just dangerous. I have to wonder if he didn’t know that it was flammable judging from the fact that he was carrying a lighter too?? I always read the warning labels. I took the tag off of my mattress just the other day and put it on my refrigerator to remind me that I shouldn’t have removed it “under penalty of law.”…um…oops…sorry! I’m just saying that no where on a lighter does it say, “Caution! If carrying with previously sniffed gasoline and then tasered, contents may cause individual to burst into flames.” That’s how they getcha!

Friday, July 24, 2009

Mischa Placed Under Psychiatric Hold

As reported on July 17, 2009 on popeater.com

On Wednesday, Mischa Barton was transferred to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and allegedly placed under an involuntary psychiatric hold after she was removed from her home by police, Access Hollywood reports. This same code was used to hold Britney Spears twice in Los Angeles in January 2008.
Barton was "removed from her home" by police after having a "freak out," a LAPD spokesperson told Us Weekly. Officer April Harding said she and fellow officers responded to "a medical issue" after Barton called them herself.

Barton will skip the New York City premiere of her movie 'Homecoming' on Thursday night, a rep for the actress confirmed. Producer Austin Stark tells PEOPLE, "I wish her all the best. First and foremost, we want her to get healthy again. It's obvious we'd like her to support the movie and be here, but we hope she gets better."
Stark adds, "When she was on-set, she acted like a professional. I honestly had no complaints. She struck me as a nice young girl, she never said anything mean to anyone, and she wasn't late on-set or anything like that." In 2008, the 'O.C.' actress checked into rehab after she was charged with DUI and marijuana possession. She was sentenced to 36 months probation, told to attend alcohol education classes and pay a fine.
A friend of the actress told PEOPLE, "She has been dealing with a lot of personal issues. I don't know if she really ever gave up some of the bad habits that had gotten out of control a couple years back."


Editor Rozek’s Notes: That’s strange! Actresses never have “freak-outs!” It was nice that she “acted like a professional, nice young girl who never said anything mean to anyone!” She must be a great person! I’m sure this is all a big misunderstanding. That DUI and marijuana possession charge…and rehab…were all a set up. I mean…she “wasn’t late on-set or anything!” Everyone knows that women who have “freak-outs” are always late everywhere!

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Man Wrongly Jailed Over Child Support

As reported on July 16, 2009 on aol.com AP

ADEL, Ga. (July 16) -- A Georgia man spent more than a year behind bars for failing to pay child support for a child that wasn't his, but he was released after DNA tests showed he wasn't the father.
Frank Hatley, 50, had been jailed since June 2008 for not making payments, but two separate DNA tests in the last nine years showed he was not the father of the boy, who is now 21.
"State child support officials have shown extraordinarily poor judgment in Mr. Hatley's case," Geraghty said.
Hatley had a relationship with Essie Lee Morrison, who had a baby in 1987 and told Hatley the child was his, according to court records. The couple never married and split up shortly afterward.
In 1989, Morrison applied for public assistance through the state Department of Human Resources. Hatley agreed to reimburse the state because he believed the boy was his.
Documents show Hatley paid at least $9,500.
But in 2000, DNA samples showed the two were not related, according to court records. A test earlier this month confirmed that.


Editor Rozek’s Notes: That’s sort of a catch-22! If I worked for social services, I would want to award custody to the man who actually attempted to be a father to the child instead of the woman who couldn’t figure out who the father actually was! I think that she should have to repay him all of the money he paid for the child over the years. What was the judge thinking the first time when he read the DNA tests that showed this man wasn’t the father to begin with? Possibly Sonia Sotomayor could help that judge now by instituting her “block, block, no trade-backs” reasoning (that's consistently "traded back" by higher courts!)! Hopefully the judge has a background of having a dead-beat dad to fall back on! We can only dream!

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Man Arrested in Wife's High-Seas Death

As reported on July 17th, 2009 By Gillina Flaccus,AP on aol.com

SAN DIEGO (July 16) - A Los Angeles man was arrested Thursday for allegedly murdering his wife three days into a five-day cruise to Mexico, turning the luxury oceanliner into a crime scene as it sailed through the waters of the Pacific Ocean.
Robert McGill was taken into custody from the Carnival Elation cruise ship more than six hours after it returned to San Diego on Thursday. He will be charged with the murder of his wife, Shirley, who was found dead in the couple's cabin on Tuesday evening, said Keith Slotter, special agent in charge of the FBI's San Diego bureau.

Slotter said a passenger contacted ship's security Tuesday and expressed concern that Shirley McGill might be dead. Crew members went to the cabin and found her body, but Robert McGill was not in the room. Slotter wouldn't say why the passenger who notified security was concerned, but said several hours may have passed before the body's discovery. Both the suspect and victim were in their mid-50s, Slotter said.
The ship is the length of more than two football fields and carries more than 2,000 passengers and 900 crew members, according to Carnival's Web site. With 14 decks, passengers can spend their days at numerous restaurants, bars, clubs, a spa, a casino, a mini-golf course and three pools. The ship left Saturday, stopping in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Editor Rozek’s Notes
: These 14 deck cruise ships with “numerous restaurants, bars, clubs, mini-golf courses and three pools” could leave anyone feeling a little bit cooped up! I’m sure this is going to be a justifiable homicide. Here was this poor, unassuming man on a cruise with his wife as she started worrying about her hair and her mascara or what she was going to wear to the massive buffet that evening and he just snapped. These cruises are death traps! It does seem like it could’ve been planned a little more carefully though. With the entire ocean at his disposal, don’t you think he could’ve found a better place to hide the body than in his own room? Note to self: if I ever get married, don’t go on cruise with husband! It’s just asking for trouble!

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

US Skier Injured in Escalator Fall

As reported on July 16, 2009 on aol.com

PARK CITY, Utah (July 16) - U.S. alpine skier Cody Marshall has a head injury after falling between 20 to 30 feet from an escalator.

U.S. Ski Team spokesman Tom Kelly says the 26-year-old Marshall was out with teammates when he fell off the escalator rail about 12 a.m. Thursday in a mini-mall in downtown Park City, Utah. He was taken by ambulance to University Hospital in Salt Lake City, where he was listed in critical condition Thursday afternoon.
Marshall, from Pittsfield, Vt., finished third in the slalom at the U.S. Alpine Championships this spring. His sister, Chelsea, is also a member of the U.S. alpine team and older brother, Jesse, is a former member.

Editor Rozek’s Notes
: I can see how this could happen. Haven’t you ever been on an escalator and thought “whoooaaa! This thing is really dangerous!” This guy wasn’t used to doing dangerous, dare-devil stunts like riding an escalator. Those moving walkways in airports scare me a little too. They should have warnings on them! I feel a lawsuit coming on!

Monday, July 20, 2009

'Harry Potter' Star Could Face 14 Years for Growing Marijuana Farm

As reported on July 9, 2009 on foxnews.com

“Harry Potter” star Jamie Waylett has been charged with growing ten cannabis plants.
The 19-year-old actor will have to appear in court later this month for the charges stemming from an April arrest.
Waylett, who plays Potter bully Vincent Crabbe, was busted when cops pulled over his vehicle in London and allegedly found eight bags of marijuana. He was taken to a nearby police station before a team of officers raided his mother’s home in Camden, the Daily Telegraph reports. A Metropolitan police spokeswoman said the actor would appear in court late this month and “is charged with producing a Class B drug, nearly ten plants of cannabis.”
The plants – valued at more than $3,000 – were allegedly found among DJ equipment and a Playstation, the Telegraph said.
Waylett may face up to 14 years for cannabis production, while the maximum charge for cannabis possession is five years.


Editor Rozek’s Notes: If only someone would’ve seen this coming! A child star with thrill seeking behavioral tendencies? Weird! Maybe we should go back to paying kids in buttons on a chart according to how many times they make their bed and wash the dishes?…I’m just saying…early success seems to put a kid right in the line of fire- literally! If you are growing weed next to your playstation, you are either too young, or 40 years old and “know this guy who knows this guy who’s gonna help you get signed to a record label”…step away from the chips and go to college people!

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Romo Dumps Simpson on Birthday Eve

As reported on July 13, 2009 on PopEater.com

The Dallas Cowboys quarterback dumped the singer the day before her 29th birthday, "She is heartbroken. She loves Tony. But it's been difficult lately. He's busy with his career and she's getting ready to shoot her show. They decided to part ways," a source says.
Romo and Simpson have been dating since November of 2007 and reportedly split once before because the former 'Newlyweds' star's father was rumored to be meddling in their relationship.

Editor Rozek’s Notes: This is why I don’t let the enquirer know I’m dating someone until we’ve been together for about 3 years. They make it sound like it wasn’t nice to dump her on the day before her birthday. I think it was the nicest thing he could’ve done. This way she was able to have a good time on her special day instead of spending it with someone who she wasn’t getting along with. And on another note: She’s only 29? My gosh! How many times has this girl been married and divorced, girlfriended, dumped…she’s got to be used to it by now! At least now the press isn’t picking on her love for pasta! Nothing like a little breakup distraction to sink her teeth into!

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Swearing Makes Pain More Tolerable

As reported on July 13, 2009 on LiveScience
(July 13) -- That muttered curse word that reflexively comes out when you stub your toe could actually make it easier to bear the throbbing pain, a new study suggests.
Swearing is a common response to pain, but no previous research has connected the uttering of an expletive to the actual physical experience of pain.
"Swearing has been around for centuries and is an almost universal human linguistic phenomenon," said Richard Stephens of Keele University in England and one of the authors of the new study. "It taps into emotional brain centers and appears to arise in the right brain, whereas most language production occurs in the left cerebral hemisphere of the brain."
Stephens and his fellow Keele researchers John Atkins and Andrew Kingston sought to test how swearing would affect an individual's tolerance to pain. Because swearing often has an exaggerating effect that can overstate the severity of pain, the team thought that swearing would lessen a person's tolerance.
As it turned out, the opposite seems to be true.
The researchers enlisted 64 undergraduate volunteers and had them submerge their hand in a tub of ice water for as long as possible while repeating a swear word of their choice. The experiment was then repeated with the volunteer repeating a more common word that they would use to describe a table.
Contrary to what the researcher expected, the volunteers kept their hands submerged longer while repeating the swear word.


Editor Rozek’s Notes: Well let's thank this mother ef’ing scientist! All these years saying “oh pooh!” when I stub my toe because I thought it would be unladylike to scream an obsenity, have been wasted on class and human restraint. Those are our kids today! Always finding new ways to justify what they already do as appropriate instead of wasting time learning decent human behavior! They make mommy so proud! I’m going to do a study on the affects and benefits to the human pschy when a person is able to freely spend the cash taken after robbing a quickmart!

Friday, July 17, 2009

Obama Teleprompter Breaks Mid-Speech

As reported on July 14, 2009 on aol.com AP

WASHINGTON (July 14) -- President Barack Obama had just started a spirited defense of his economic stimulus plan on Monday when one of his teleprompter screens came loose, crashed to the floor and shattered into pieces.
The gadget's fall surprised Obama, who uses a teleprompter during most speeches and even brief remarks. The glass plate displaying his speech hit the floor in the auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, a massive building within the White House compound.

Editor Rozek’s Notes:…Obama is in the middle of a “spirited defense of his economic stimulus plan” as the teleprompter crashes to the floor…he looks at it shattered in pieces and continues: “and this is the absolute dumbest plan I’ve ever had. This socialist nation that I’m working hard to create has completely proven that I’m a complete idiot! Thank you all for coming out…and by the way…we need to remove good health care from people who already have it and level the playing field by providing really bad health coverage for all! On my honor, I will try, in liberty and Justice reverse racist Sotomayor for all…Amen…Power to the people!…under God, indivisible…abortions for everyone! Don’t my wife’s arms look great?"

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Police: Florida Dad Asked Son to Help Dispose of Murdered Prostitute's Body

As reported on July 9, 2009 on foxnews.com AP

ORLANDO, Fla. — A man charged with killing a prostitute in central Florida and then dumping her body asked his fifth-grade son to help dispose the body, police said.
Alan John Jett, 40, is charged with first-degree murder in the June slaying of Lashanda Rae Brand, Orange County sheriff's officials said. Investigators received a tip that Jett's son told a classmate about the slaying.
The boy was interviewed at school late last month, and authorities said he gave up his father. According to the affidavit, the boy said he heard his father and Brand argue about money. He told investigators he later saw Brand's body wrapped in a blanket and tape. The Department of Children and Families placed the boy with a relative.


Editor Rozek’s Notes: …and yet another tale of great parenting! Don’t adults know that a kid will always talk? There is no way that anyone would ever get away with this. And who the heck pays for it with their 5th grader in the next room? Ridiculous! At least send the kid to mommy’s house where he can watch her get thrown around by a random drug dealer who preys on vulnerable divorced women! Let’s get our priorities straight Daddy!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Factory Worker Dies After Falling Into Vat of Chocolate

As reported on July 9, 2009 on foxnews.com

A 22-year-old factory worker died Wednesday after he fell into a vat of boiling chocolate at a manufacturing plant in New Jersey, police said.
The Camden County prosecutor's office identified the victim as Vincent Smith II. He was a temporary worker at the Cocoa Services Inc. plant. Smith had been in the melting pot for about 10 minutes by the time rescue crews arrived, MyFOXPhilly.com reported.
Prosecutor's spokesman Jason Laughlin says a co-worker tried to shut off the machine and two others tried to pull Smith out of the 8-foot-deep vat. He was hit and fatally injured by the agitator that mixes the chocolate. By the time he was pulled out of the tank just after 11 a.m., he was already dead.


Editor Rozek’s Notes: This is tragic…but didn’t I read this in a book called Charlie and the Chocolate factory? Was there a golden ticket in there or something? I’m surprised this doesn’t happen more often. Haven’t you ever been standing over an 8 foot deep vat of chocolate and thought, “hmm…that looks good. I think I’ll jump in.”…it could happen. I’ve been walking through the mall at times and have been overtaken by the smell of the Cinnabon. The next thing I know, my face is pressed up against the glass, peering at its sugary goodness! I feel this one…

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

U.S. Government's Cyberdefense System Doesn't Work

As reported on July 8, 2009 on foxnews.com AP

The flagship system designed to protect the U.S. government's computer networks from cyberspies is being stymied by technical limitations and privacy concerns, according to current and former national-security officials.
The latest complete version of the system, known as Einstein, won't be fully installed for 18 months, according to current and former officials, seven years after it was first rolled out.
This system doesn't protect networks from attack. It only raises the alarm after one has happened.
The total cost of the system, designed to protect all nonmilitary government computers
, is classified, but officials familiar with the program said the price tag was expected to exceed $2 billion.


Editor Rozek’s Notes: The problem is not that it will only tell you after it has happened. The main issue is that some of the best hackers in the world are anti-government. No matter how good our people are, there will always be someone working to be better…and have way more time and their hands to practice…cause they are living on the outskirts of a mountain somewhere with a satellite dish and a computer main-frame made out of coconuts and piano wire….and their twisted brains are very high functioning! I almost have to hand it to them in a Macgyver/Gilligan’s Island professor kind of way…as a matter of fact…I kinda want to date one of them.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Florida Man Wins Lottery Prize for Third Time

As reported on July 7, 2009 on foxnews.com AP

ORLANDO, Fla. — Luck has struck for the third time for a central Florida man.
James Bush of South Daytona is one of three $1 million winners to claim their Firecracker Millionaire Raffle prize so far from the Florida Lottery. He bought the ticket in Port Orange.
But this isn't the first time the 50-year-old has claimed a winning ticket.
On his way to Florida Lottery headquarters, he bought a Billion Dollar Blockbuster scratch-off ticket and won $1,000. And in 2007, he won $500,000 in the Gold Rush scratch-off game.


Editor Rozek’s Notes: This is one lucky guy! I’d like to rub his head and stick him to my ceiling!

Friday, July 10, 2009

More Kids May Have Been Zapped at Florida Prisons

As reported on July 8, 2009 on foxnews.com AP

MIAMI — More than 40 children shocked with stun guns while visiting prisons in April may not have been the first ones zapped, according to a report released Tuesday.
A corrections officer told investigators she saw a similar demonstration at a prison about five years ago.
The report included hundreds of pages of documents gathered during probes ordered after the Department of Corrections learned children ages 5 to 17 had been shocked at three Florida prisons on April 23, "Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day." Three employees were fired and two resigned. More than a dozen others were disciplined.
No children were seriously hurt or taken to hospitals. At one prison, those who had been shocked were told they could be first to get hot dogs and hamburgers for lunch, according to the report. Some asked to be shocked and laughed afterward. Some children were shocked individually while others were part of a circle where children and officers held hands so the shock would be passed around. The department cannot investigate the earlier demonstration mentioned in the report because the officer could not remember exactly when it happened or who was involved.
The report also confirmed what officials had said earlier — that some children's parents were asked for permission but others were not. Department of Corrections Secretary Walter McNeil has said previously that even though some parents had given permission that did not excuse officers.
The documents released Tuesday included a resignation letter from Lt. P.J. Weisner, who was involved in one of the demonstrations. "The exercise that I participated in has been a common practice. At no time did I believe that any of the students were in any risk," wrote Weisner, who had been with the department for 11 years. "It is a shame that since this has become a media event, state employees would attempt to obtain some sort of fame at the detriment of their co-workers."
The Department of Corrections also investigated a demonstration the same day where children were accidentally exposed to the tear gas when the wind shifted, but none required medical care.


Editor Rozek’s Notes: As it turns out, you can’t use stun guns on kids. Parent’s get angry…cause they aren’t allowed to use them themselves without someone calling social services. Maybe they should try different activity at the prison’s “take your kid to work day.”…like maybe a prison brawl…or a food fight at lunchtime…or maybe a small shootout with guards! All in all- a great learning experience for a budding criminal!

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Is McDonald's New Angus Burger a Big Value?

As reported on July 6, 2009 by Tom Barlow on walletpop.com

McDonald's has launched a new line of Angus steak sandwiches which it hopes will strike the American public as a real value. This begs the question, what is value? And how well does McDonald's hit its mark?Luckily, I live in an area where the Angus Burger has been test marketed, so I've had a chance to try them a few times. Here's the deal: McDonald's Angus Burger: 590 calories; beef patty, bun, American cheese, tomato, mayo dressing, red onions, pickles, lettuce, mustard. $3.99 in my area. For me, it comes down to flavor. The price difference is not great. The Angus Burger, in my opinion, has a real steak flavor, a pleasant consistency that is less mealy than a burger but not full of chunks of gristle. I order mine naked, bun only, and the flavor is well worth the money.For me, value is on the tongue of the beholder. In my opinion, McDonald's new sandwich gives me a lot for my money.


Editor Rozek’s Notes: For God’s sake people! Put the burger down and step away from the beef! Do people really still eat fast food? Do you really want to be one of those people on the tv news stories that are being followed around by cameras pointed at your ketchup stained, t-shirted, rounded bellies with only your head cropped out under the caption “Are Americans Getting Fat?” Enough! I’ll actually stand in front of McDonalds and pay everyone $4 not to walk in and go pick up some lettuce at the grocery store instead!

Monday, July 6, 2009

Courtney Love Blames Malnourishment on Financial Stress

As reported on July 6, 2009 on aol.com

Courtney Love isn't saying she's anorexic, but she concedes she's looking "painfully thin" lately. "I know I've got too skinny," the Hole frontwoman told the Daily Mirror. "I know I need to sort it out." Love, who looked downright voluptuous a few years ago, says her doctor diagnosed her with malnutrition two weeks ago. "He gave me a massive shot of vitamins and told me to start eating," said the 44-year-old rocker, who reportedly weighs just 84 pounds and is five feet, 10 inches tall.Of course, the recent financial trauma of being sued by American Express over unpaid credit coupled with her 2008 claims that identity thieves looted $72 million from the estate of her late husband, Kurt Cobain, might sabotage anyone's appetite. "I need to start working out again," Courtney told the paper. "It's the stress -- you have no idea what is has been like these last few months. I need to get to the bottom of this fraud, I need answers."


Editor Rozek’s Notes: Now there’s a great doctor: “start eating.” Problem solved! Forget the drug addiction, the eating disorder and the dysfunctional attention seeking behavior! Just start eating. The question I have is “how the heck does that happen?” If I was down $72 million, I would be lying in bed eating and watching Law and Order 24/7. You almost have to admire her sticktoitiveness! I also have to wonder if she should “start working out” just yet? At 84 pounds and no food, I have to worry that a treadmill would kill her in under 15 minutes. Wait…or was that what she meant? I never know with these stars. She is likely worth much more dead than alive!

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Two Anti-smoking drugs to carry mental-health warnings

As reported on July 1, 2009, by Saundra Young on cnn.com

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Two popular anti-smoking drugs will now carry warnings about the risk of severe mental health problems, the Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday.
The FDA said Chantix and Zyban will carry the warnings to alert consumers to the risks of depression and suicidal thoughts when using the drugs.
The drugs also have been reported to cause changes in behavior, hostility and agitation in users, whether users had a history of psychiatric illness or not. In many cases, side effects started shortly after use began and ended when the medication was stopped. The FDA does not know what is causing the changes and said people taking these products should be monitored by their doctor.
"The risk of serious adverse events while taking these products must be weighed against the significant health benefits of quitting smoking," said Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. The FDA says that since Chantix was approved in 2006, the agency has had reports of 98 suicides and 188 attempted suicides. Zyban has had reports of 14 suicides and 17 attempts.
Zyban contains the same active ingredient as the antidepressant Wellbutrin and already carried a box warning about the increased risk of suicidal thinking and behavior.


Editor Rozek’s Notes: I have to say that I would never smoke so I suppose that this isn’t really a problem for me. In order to understand this article completely, I had to relate it to a topic that I do know something about- cheese! I simply rewrote the article for myself and replaced the word cigarette or smoking with mozzarella. OH MY GOSH! I totally get it now. You take a drug and then-like magic… you don’t have to eat cheese anymore…I mean smoke anymore? That’s a miracle!...wait…you feel like you want to kill yourself if you take the drug? Oh… Well…but what about those hottie little jeans?...I mean…well...what about my lungs COPD?...I’ll do it!

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Sotomayor says women's club doesn't discriminate

As reported on June 29, 2009 by Bill Mears on CNN.com

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- An all-women's club that counts Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor among its members does not "discriminate on the basis of sex," she told senators.
The New York federal appeals judge has provided thousands of pages of material to the committee, but some Republican senators asked for more information, including her participation in the Belizean Grove.
The New York-based professional women's organization describes itself as helping "women pursue more significant dreams, ambitions, purposes, transcendence and spiritual fulfillment."
"The Belizean Grove is a constellation of influential women who are key decision makers in the profit, nonprofit and social sectors; who build long term mutually beneficial relationships in order to both take charge of their own destinies and help others to do the same," a statement on its Web site said. Sotomayor told senators her group is not purposely exclusive.
"To the best of my knowledge, a man has never asked to be considered for membership. It is also my understanding that all interested individuals are duly considered by the membership committee," she wrote to the Senate Judiciary Committee. She added that men participate in the group's activities, including trips, hosting events and talks. Sotomayor said that in her opinion, her membership did not violate the Code of Judicial Conduct, which says judges should not join organizations that discriminate based on sex, religion, race or nationality.


Editor Rozek’s Note: Ok…we may have gone a little too far on this one…even for my taste. I worry that we may be grasping at straws a little here. My mother has a woman’s group that gets together to sew and eat dessert each week. Does that mean that she wouldn’t be able to be a Supreme Court Justice? I’m not sure that she realized that. She was just talking about going to law school the other day. Darn! The strange thing is that I don’t think that there’s a man on the planet that would want to sit there and sew with them…It seems like we’ve taken political correctness and anti-discrimination to new heights! I mean…we’ve finally overturned her dyslexic fire fighter case…maybe we could call it even now and get back to breeding our children into that new, more dyslexic, colorless, genderless generation we’ve all been dreaming of! Ah! AMERICA! The land of the “free to be anything you want to be as long as it is what someone else wants you to be!”

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Madoff sentenced to 150 years

As reported on June 29th, 2009 by Aaron Smith, CNNMoney.com

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- A federal judge sentenced Bernard Madoff, the convicted mastermind of the largest and most sweeping Ponzi scheme ever, to the maximum sentence of 150 years in federal court Monday. Shortly before receiving his sentence, Madoff offered an apology, which he delivered facing Judge Chin.
"I live in a tormented state for all the pain and suffering I created," he said. "I left a legacy of shame. It is something I will live with for the rest of my life." Madoff said he was not asking for forgiveness and not offering any excuses for his behavior. "How can you excuse betraying thousands of investors?" he asked. "How can you excuse deceiving hundreds of employees? How can you excuse lying to and deceiving your wife who still stands by you?" Madoff then said, "I apologize to my victims. I will turn and face you." Addressing the victims in the courtroom directly, he offered, "I am sorry. I know it will not help you."
Lawyer Ira Lee Sorkin, who represents Madoff, asked for a 12-year sentence. In a letter to the judge, Sorkin explained that his 71-year-old client "has an approximate life expectancy of 13 years" and isn't likely to outlive the requested sentence by more than a year.


Editor Rozek’s Notes: Well…12 years,…150 years…potato/ pototo! It seems that many people are a little angry with him. I’m not sure why no one seemed to fall for this sociopath’s apology? He felt bad…I mean…really bad!…that his wife was going to have to return her fur…and that he got caught. His lawyer figured out his exact life expectancy in order to request one year free before he died? That’s so nice! The judge must’ve been working with a different team of doctors. Apparently he is expected to live until age 222…that way he’ll get that extra free year that he wanted so badly to go bungee jumping…and to go to Disneyland!

Monday, June 29, 2009

Cops Find 100 Pounds of Pot in Casket

As reported on June 26, 2009 on aol.com AP
DALLAS (June 26) -- A casket minus a cadaver yielded nearly 100 pounds of marijuana after a traffic stop in Dallas. William Dale Crock of Cave City, Ark., was in jail Friday on a marijuana possession charge, plus traffic and seat belt violations.
Dallas police say Crock was arrested Wednesday when bundles of marijuana were discovered under the casket's cover and pillow.
Sr. Cpl. Kevin Janse said the van turned up during surveillance on a suspected drug house. Police stopped the van in Mesquite after noticing Crock not wearing a seat belt. Officers also said he allegedly ran a red light and made an improper lane change.
A drug-sniffing dog alerted officers to the casket in the van.


Editor Rozek’s Notes: Note to self: Wear seat belt when carrying casket full of drugs!

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Mammals Evolve Faster in the Tropics

As reported on June 26, 2009 on aol.com AP

(June 25) - Mammals living in the tropics are experiencing genetic mutations more quickly and therefore are evolving faster than those in cooler environments, according to a New Zealand study.
The study, conducted by researchers at the Auckland University of Technology, counters a longstanding assumption that climate does not impact the genetic mutations of warm-blooded animals, the Australian Associated Press reported.
"The results show that species occupying warmer climates have almost 50 percent more DNA evolution relative to those in cooler climates," biologist Len Gillman told the news service. "These results come from pairs of species generally living in close proximity to each other so we would expect the effect to be far more pronounced over continental and global scales."
Prior studies have shown that plants and certain marine life evolve faster in warmer climates. But the New Zealand study is first evidence of microevolution in mammals, the BBC News reported. Microevolution occurs when a population changes genetically over time in a way that is advantageous for the animal, such as developing a resistance to disease or pesticides. The gene is then passed down to future generations.
"The result was unexpected," Gillman told the BBC of the study, which looked at 260 mammal species.



Editor Rozek’s Notes: So this is why David Lee Roth always wished they all could be California girls? I always suspected some sort of genetic mutation. They don’t make sport’s bras powerful enough for some of those girls! Must be the heat!

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Phil Spector Is Behind Bars, Wants His iPod

As reported on June 25, 2009 on spinner.com

Legendary producer and convicted murderer Phil Spector may be taking the Martha Stewart approach to jail-time. At least, in a way. Spector, age 69, has just begun to serve his 19 years to life sentence and, according to the Associated Press, he'd like to serve it with certain luxuries: specifically, the ability to listen to music, check email and watch his favorite shows.

Spector is being held in a single cell in a "sensitive-needs facility" area of his new home, the State Prison at Corcoran, Calif. As a medium-security inmate at California's largest prison, he is allowed to ask for certain creature comforts and, at the top of his list, are an iPod, a television and a computer. Prison officials have indicated that those wishes will likely be granted.

Editor Rozek’s Notes: That’s really nice of them. Come to think of it…if he has an ipod, a computer and a television, then he will officially have my life! Wait a minute…does he have to pay a mortgage…and for other people’s health insurance too? No?...oh…wait, who’s the criminal? I’m so confused!

Friday, June 26, 2009

Redlands teen arrested three times in a day, escapes custody

As reported on 6/23/09 By Stacia Glenn on thedailybulletin.com

Police said a 16-year-old Redlands boy was arrested three times in a day, ending his minor crime spree by running from the police station in handcuffs and leading officers on a brief chase. His brief escape highlights a problem police have struggled with since September: there is no safe place to detain prisoners in the city. Officers encountered him about noon Saturday after he was reported vandalizing property in the 800 block of Colton Avenue. After finding him nearby, police were detaining him in a field while waiting for a witness to arrive. When the boy tried to run and struggled with officers, they tased him, said Redlands spokesman Carl Baker. After the teen was arrested, he was cited and released to his father.


A little more than two hours later, CVS employees reported that two boys on bicycles had stolen alcohol from the Orange Street store and were seen riding toward Smiley Park. Police located and arrested the same boy and 21-year-old Evean Hodge. They then brought them to the police annex on Cajon Street, where two other prisoners were handcuffed to chairs in the lobby while waiting to be taken to the county jail. The boy's dad had already arrived.

It was then that the teen decided to make his escape. "The teen bolted out the front door with handcuffs on, down the steps and our officers were after him in a foot pursuit," Baker said.
One of the officers injured his knee and elbow on the steps as he ran after the boy, who was eventually captured west of the Redlands Bowl. Because he has heart issues, the boy was taken to Loma Linda University Medical Center and then booked into juvenile hall after receiving a clean bill of health.


"We dont have a physical building you would expect for a Police Department. We don't have a secure place to keep people," he said. "We're locking people up in the lobby of the old city hall until we can transport them."

The department's holding cell went out of commission in September after the police station on Brookside Avenue shut down due to safety concerns.

Editor Rozek’s Notes: I’m wondering what safety concerns there were in the out of commission holding cell? Was it really more dangerous than running down a flight of steps handcuffed to a chair? I’ve seen the “slips, trips and falls” video that is put out so people are warned of safety hazards in the workplace but don’t remember anything in there about being handcuffed in a field. I’m also concerned that the father of this 16 year old boy may not have been watching him closely enough after the police released him to him the first time. Was he actually at CVS picking up alcohol for his father? I do think it is very nice that the police took him to the hospital to check his health. Are they sure it was his heart and not some sort of synapse issue in his brain?…I’m just saying…I can’t imagine not learning my lesson the first time I had to run away from the police! This is the same kind of kid who would run with scissors! That’s crazy man!

Thursday, June 25, 2009

SC Gov. Mark Sanford says he's had an affair

As reported on June 24, 2009 by Jim Davenport on Yahoo.com

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford says he's been having an affair with a woman from Argentina and will resign as head of the Republican Governors' Association.
The married father of four emotionally apologized to his wife, staff and others at a news conference after returning Wednesday from a trip to Argentina that followed a days long absence. His staff had said the Republican was hiking on the Appalachian Trail.

Sanford says he met the woman about eight years ago and it became romantic about a year ago. He says his wife and family have known about it for the past five months. Sanford says, "I've let down a lot of people."

Editor Rozek’s Note: uh…do you think? You let down a lot of people? If I had a dollar for every politician who was “hiking on the Appalachian trail”, I’d be a millionaire. That trail must be packed! People! This isn’t just a politician thing ya know? Why do we keep asking these guys to resign? Is it because we’re upset that they did something unethical or wrong?...or is it because we’re embarrassed that the people running our country can’t do it without getting caught? Mrs. Sanford says to her kids, “Okay kids! Let's go to the park. Daddy is showing you how to treat women in the future by enforcing the fact that he can’t respect Mommy and their commitment to their family!” …This is why I’m building an ark!...the Appalachian trail?...you couldn’t even come up with the one about having a “dental conference” like everyone else?

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Woman illegally downloads 24 songs, fined to tune of $1.9 million

As reported by Elianne Friend on June 19, 2009 – CNN.com
(CNN) -- A federal jury Thursday found a 32-year-old Minnesota woman guilty of illegally downloading music from the Internet and fined her $80,000 each -- a total of $1.9 million -- for 24 songs. Jammie Thomas-Rasset's case was the first such copyright infringement case to go to trial in the United States, her attorney said. Attorney Joe Sibley said that his client was shocked at fine, noting that the price tag on the songs she downloaded was 99 cents.
Thomas-Rasset downloaded work by artists such as No Doubt, Linkin Park, Gloria Estefan and Sheryl Crow. This was the second trial for Thomas-Rasset. The judge ordered a retrial in 2007 after there was an error in the wording of jury instructions. Thomas-Rasset is married with four children and works for an Indian tribe in Minnesota.

Editor Rozek’s Notes: I’d pay $80,000 a song for some of my favorites. I’m not sure Gloria Estefan has any I’d put that price tag on though…well…wait…that’s not true! I think that “Conga” was well worth it…but “come on! shake your body baby do the conga! I know I can’t control myself any longa!” You can get hours of enjoyment from that. I wonder what the error in the jury instructions that would end up needing a retrial was? “Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury. It is now my duty to instruct you on the law that applies to this case. It is your duty to determine the effect and value of the evidence and to decide all questions of fact. Please remember that every one of you have downloaded a song or two or have listened to music illegally online and danced in front of the mirror in your bedroom.”

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Ensign helped mistress’ husband get 2 jobs

As reported on June 19, 2009 on MSNBC – AP

Questions raised over aid to ex-employees who could hurt Senator's career
LAS VEGAS - Sen. John Ensign helped his mistress's husband get two jobs during the time the rising Republican senator acknowledges carrying on an extramarital affair, an Ensign spokesman said Thursday.
Ensign admitted having a nine-month affair with Doug Hampton's wife, Cindy, who also worked for the senator. Ensign's office has said that both Cindy and Doug Hampton left their jobs in May 2008, and the affair ended in August 2008.

Editor Rozek’s Notes: Strange! I’ve never heard of a politician having an affair before. I’m shocked! Remember what they say: “Keep your friends close. Keep your enemies closer!” …wait…is that what they say or is it “Get your mistress’ husband a job so you won’t have to pay for the hotel room.” …hmm…can’t remember ??

Monday, June 22, 2009

Tracks lead deputies to stolen motorcycles

As reported on 6/18/09 By Stacia Glenn on the dailybulletin.com

Sheriff's deputies today said they followed the tracks of two stolen motorcycles to the Victorville home of a parolee suspected of stealing them.
The victims came home about 9 a.m. and found two of their motorcycles and other miscellaneous items had been stolen from their house in the 11500 block of Highway 395. Deputies followed motorcycle tracks to Justin Epley's house on Goss Street and performed a parole search of his property. They found one motorcycle in a shed and the other hidden in a ravine near Epley's house, officials said.

Editor Rozek’s Notes: Darn! Didn’t figure on the tracks! I even put away the bag of chips so I wouldn’t leave any crumbs! Note to self: Next time - carry the motorcycles…or at the very least drive them around a few blocks and out of town and then back instead of going directly home. Live and learn! Now at least I have time in prison to revise my plan to leave my driver’s license with the teller at the bank when I rob it wearing my life-sized rubber mask of myself!

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Billy Joel, wife separating

As reported on June 17, 2009 on CNN.com

(CNN) -- Billy Joel and his wife, Katie Lee Joel, are separating.
"After nearly five years of marriage, Billy Joel and Katie Lee Joel have decided to separate," a joint statement on behalf of the pair said. "This decision is a result of much thoughtful consideration. Billy and Katie remain caring friends with admiration and respect for each other."
Billy Joel, 60, and Katie Lee Joel, 27, were married in 2004. The marriage was the third for Billy Joel. His marriage to Elizabeth Weber ended in divorce in 1982 after nine years. He married his second wife, model Christie Brinkley, in 1985; they divorced in 1994.

Editor Rozek’s Notes: If only someone would’ve seen this coming! He should’ve seen a ‘Storm front comin’. Anyone with basic math skills knows that 60 doesn’t go into 27 – ever! For all those guys having their mid-life crisis’…all I can say is “Pre-nup, pre-nup, pre-nup!”

Saturday, June 20, 2009

72-Year-Old Woman Tasered During Traffic Stop

as reported on June 4, 2009

After an elderly woman was tasered during a traffic stop violation, thelocal police are insisting that the measure was the right one, My FoxAustin reports. According to the arresting officer, 72-year-old Kathryn Winkfein was doing 60 MPH in a 35 MPH construction zone, a point that the woman does admit to. However, the rest of the claims she disputes, as the arrest affidavit goes on to say that she left her car, became belligerent, screamed profanities, and attacked the officer, at which point the unnamed policeman tasered her and took her to jail. “I wasn’t argumentative, I was not combative. This is a lie. All of this is a lie, pulled away from him I did not,” she was quoted as telling the My Fox reporter.

Editor Rozek’s Notes: Can he do that?…of course…she probably had it coming! "All of this is a lie, ‘What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason, how infinite in faculties, in form and moving how express and admirable, in action how like an angel, in apprehension how like a god! The beauty of the world, the paragon of animals—and yet,to me...’, I wonder, ‘why is this stinkin’ jerk of an officer picking on me?’…she said as she spit her gum out on him…

Friday, June 19, 2009

Peta wishes that Obama hadn't swatted that fly!

As reported on June 18,2009 on foxnews- AP

WASHINGTON — The group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wants the flyswatter in chief to try taking a more humane attitude the next time he's bedeviled by a fly in the White House.
PETA is sending President Barack Obama a Katcha Bug Humane Bug Catcher, a device that allows users to trap a house fly and then release it outside.
"We support compassion even for the most curious, smallest and least sympathetic animals," PETA spokesman Bruce Friedrich said Wednesday. "We believe that people, where they can be compassionate, should be, for all animals."
"Get out of here," the president told the pesky insect. When it didn't, he waited for the fly to settle, put his hand up and then smacked it dead.
"Now, where were we?" Obama asked Harwood. Then he added: "That was pretty impressive, wasn't it? I got the sucker."
Friedrich said that PETA was pleased with Obama's voting record in the Senate on behalf of animal rights and noted that he has been outspoken against animal abuses.
Still, "swatting a fly on TV indicates he's not perfect," Friedrich said, "and we're happy to say that we wish he hadn't."

Editor Rozek’s Notes: The other day a friend of mine said “Kassandra, You have too much time on your hands.” He said that because I am publishing 2 books, maintain 3 blogs, teach fulltime, sing on the weekends, go to the gym everyday and to church on sundays. Um…I actually think that the time that I do have is filled quite nicely. Too much time on my hands would be caring whether or not the President killed a fly on national TV. “[It] indicates he’s not perfect?” Isn’t that the first productive thing he’s done since he took office? How about the $12 a week stimulus package? That was definitely perfect! McDonalds happy meals for everyone! …Come on people! I could see if a small puppy landed on his hand and he smacked it dead. Of course if that happened while I was trying to speak on national TV, the puppy would’ve had it comin’. These poor PETA people likely just lost all of their funding and lowered their cause to below the UWBWS (Under water basket weaving society). Good! We’ll use the money for health care for everyone! (wink wink) Now I actually have less time on my hands because I had to read this article! That’s how they getcha!

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Man jailed over shooting sparked by hot sauce

As reported on June 12, 2009 on msnbc.com AP
Deadly attack with assault rifle occurred after bottle was thrown at car

KANSAS CITY, Missouri - A man has been sentenced to 33 years in prison for killing a man during a melee that erupted when someone threw a bottle of hot sauce. Prosecutors claim he fired more than 20 rounds from an assault rifle into a car in October 2005, killing 22-year-old Gary Scott and wounding three others.
Prosecutors said the victim had thrown a bottle of hot sauce at a woman's car, angering Williams. They had requested a life sentence.


Editor Rozek’s Notes: 20 rounds of hot sauce? What the…? Oh…oops…sorry…the hot sauce was thrown before the assault rifle was fired. I was going to say…who the heck has that much hot sauce on hand? Usually one jar lasts a good long time. Though I do have to say that I would be a little annoyed if someone threw hot sauce at my car. I would most likely say “HEY!…” But then I would likely just drive away. This guy may need some anger management classes.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Miami Beach Man Ordered To Get Rid Of Mr. Clucky

As reported on June 7, 2009 on CBS4

Mr. Clucky, a white rooster who enjoys rides his owner Mark Buckley'sbike, is popular on South Beach for tourists looking for a fun photo.Last year, Mr. Clucky was given the honor of being the Grand Marshall in Coconut Grove's annual King Mango Strut. But now Buckley has been cited by the city's code enforcement division for keeping a farm animal. Seems his neighbors aren't too fond of Mr. Clucky's 6 a.m. crowing. On May 27th, Buckley was slapped with a $50 fine and ordered to get rid of the rooster. If he refuses he could receive even more citations and fines; city officials say most likely he won't be arrested.

Editor Rozek’s Notes: As far as farm animals in a house or in a babyseat on a bicycle…Come on! I like cheese… but you don’t see me putting a big block of cheese on my bicycle and taking it for a ride. People need to stop crowing about their likes and dislikes a little better!…May I suggest possibly keeping your cock in a cage so the rest of us don’t have to see or hear from it?

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

The Power of Negative Thinking

As reported on Oprah.com on June 10th, 2009 by Tim Jarvis

Cheer up. Be happy. Find the silver lining. Smile. If you didn't know any better, you might say we're a country that preaches optimism. But some 30 to 35 percent of Americans employ a calculated form of negative thinking—called defensive pessimism—that can lead to very positive results, according to Julie K. Norem, PhD, a professor of psychology at Wellesley College.


We're not talking about a general disposition to see the glass half-empty: "Defensive pessimism is a strategy used in specific situations to manage anxiety, fear, and worry," says Norem, who has conducted seminal research on the subject. "Defensive pessimists," she says, "prepare for a situation by setting low expectations for themselves, then follow up with a very detailed assessment of everything that may go wrong." Once they've imagined the full range of bad outcomes, they start figuring out how they'll handle them, and that gives them a sense of control. "What's intriguing about defensive pessimists, is that they tend to be very successful people, and so their low opinion of the outcome isn't realistic; they use it to motivate themselves to perform better." For example, an executive is getting ready to pitch a project, and she thinks beforehand, "The client is going to be really difficult; he's not going to like my proposal. I have to make sure I explain things very clearly." "She uses defensive pessimism as a tool to work through all the possibilities so she's prepared for everything, even failure, And if she does fail, she's ready for it, so it's not so catastrophic."

Editor Rozek’s Notes: Oh geez…now what? Oprah has got to get a handle on her opinions! It seems that these reports are fluctuating as much as her weight! Believe me- I hear that! But wasn’t last week’s article about “The Secret” and how like attracts like? You’ve got to believe to receive? If you expect your client to be difficult, I guarantee that they will be! I expect that no one is going to comment on here with blatant attacks at me about my “Oprah’s weight” comment!…Come on…it was a joke!

Monday, June 15, 2009

Chief: Suspect didn't ask how wife, boys died

As reported by Philip Rosenbaum and Debony Miller on June 9, 2009 on CNN

WATERLOO, Illinois (CNN) -- A southwestern Illinois man accused of strangling his wife and two young sons did not ask how his family was killed or see their bodies after he learned of the deaths, a police official said at a preliminary hearing Wednesday. Christopher Coleman, 32, is charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Garett, 11, Gavin, 9, and his wife, Sheri Coleman, 31. The victims were strangled in their beds last month. A pathologist will testify during the trial that the time of deaths May 5 was between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m., hours before Coleman said he drove to a gym, said Chief Joe Edwards of the Columbia Police Department.

Coleman, a security supervisor, was arrested May 19. The chief also said that a handwriting expert has concluded that the profanity-laced messages scrawled in red spray paint throughout the house match Coleman's handwriting. Spray-painted messages were also found on Gavin's bed sheets, he said. Threatening letters left in the family's mailbox and an e-mail allegedly sent to Coleman before the killings were traced back to the suspect's laptop, he said. The letters had no envelopes and no postage, according to Edwards. Testifying at a hearing at the Monroe County Courthouse, the chief said that a police chaplain noticed an abrasion on Coleman's right arm as he was escorted to an ambulance after the bodies were discovered. The suspect was having an affair with a friend of his wife who lives in Florida, according to prosecutors. Computer forensics found videos, photos and messages between the two, Edwards said. Coleman pleaded not guilty to all charges. The next court date is set for August 26.


Editor Rozek’s Note: This was clearly not a well thought-out plan. Doesn’t this guy watch CSI? I mean…it’s on nearly every single hour. I think it may actually have it’s own channel. Um…Note to Self: find giant magnet to at least erase contents of hard drive. Come on! That’s the trouble with criminals these days – they just haven’t spent enough time on their education. A 5th grader would’ve known that he needed to drive to the next town to get a postmark on his letters! I’m unimpressed. The trouble with this one is that any good lawyer could get him off purely on the fact that it clearly wasn’t premeditated…all that well!

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Obama taps major donors for ambassadorships

As reported on June 12, 2009 on msnbc.com AP

Prominent fundraisers get nominations for posts in Switzerland, Belgium
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has tapped four big Democratic Party donors for plum ambassadorships in Europe and Latin America while naming six career diplomats to posts in Africa, the Mideast and the Pacific.


Washington lawyer Howard Gutman, who raised more than $500,000 for Obama's campaign and personally contributed the maximum $4,600 to it, was nominated to be the next U.S. envoy to Belgium, the White House said in a statement Thursday.

Editor Rozek’s Note: This seems a little inappropriate for an American president. I’ve heard guys talking about “tapping that” in night clubs all the time but I wouldn’t have thought that Barack Obama would be so open about doing it with diplomats. Not right! I guess this explains how he got the gay vote so effectively though.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Elder Bush jumps at chance to don parachute

As reported on June 12, 2009 on msnbc.com AP

Ex-president plans to celebrate 85th birthday by leaping out of plane
KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine - Former President George H.W. Bush is poised to celebrate his 85th birthday by making a parachute jump in Maine, but the weather could dampen his plans.
Bush is scheduled to make a tandem jump Friday with a member of the Army's Golden Knights parachute team near his summer home in Kennebunkport. However, Friday's forecast shows a likelihood of rain in the area.


He made his first jump as a Navy pilot when his plane was shot down over the Pacific during World War II. He also made jumps to mark his 75th and 80th birthdays and on two other occasions.

Editor Rozek’s Notes: Can’t they just get a stripper to jump out of a cake like every other American president has on his 85th birthday? This ‘throwing yourself from a plane’ thing does not seem safe to me! I wonder when the other two jumping occasions were? I wonder if one was after an in air meeting with Sadaam Hussein after he said "Iraq must withdraw from Kuwait completely, immediately, and without condition….” Sadaam replied “You’re not the boss of me!”…George tried to reason with him and then decided to jump from the plane instead.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Man Pleads Not Guilty to Threatening Sotomayor's Life

As reported on June 8, 2009 on foxnews.com AP
John Zaubler called 911 from his West 72nd Street apartment last Saturday to say he was going to blow up the Supreme Court nominee.

NEW YORK -- A Manhattan man has pleaded not guilty to charges that he threatened to kill U.S. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor to keep his girlfriend out of prison. A criminal complaint says John Zaubler called 911 from his West 72nd Street apartment last Saturday and said he was going to kill Sotomayor by "blowing her up." The 48-year-old defendant pleaded not guilty on Friday to making a terroristic threat at his Manhattan Criminal Court arraignment by videoconference from Bellevue Hospital's prison ward.
Judge James Gibbons ordered a psychiatric examination for Zaubler. The judge ordered him held without bail and scheduled a hearing for July 6.

Editor Rozek’s Notes: I am not guilty. That 911 recording is completely inaccurate. What I said was “I’m going to show her up!" I had heard that there was going to be a courtroom taco making contest and since she has claimed that her roots have given her the ability to do better than a white man, I wanted to show her up in the contest. I don’t know why I’m in this psychiatric facility. I thought she identified with the underpriviledged and misunderstood?

Thursday, June 11, 2009

There's a right way to return a purchase to Wal-Mart

As reported on walletpop.com on Jun 5th 2009 by Gary E. Sattler

There are right ways and wrong ways to do everything. On Thursday, June 4, 2009, 41-year-old Phillip R. Wright gave us a prime example of how not to act when attempting to return an item to a Wal-Mart store.According to a story released by Tampa Bay Online, Mr. Wright exercised a poor lack of emotional control when he was not allowed to return some items to his local Wal-Mart store. Apparently, the chagrined customer proceeded to set three racks of clothing ablaze and then left the store.



Editor Rozek’s Note
: I can actually see how this could happen. I mean…the people there are friendly enough but you have to be having a pretty bad day to be walking into Wal-Mart to begin with. When I was in college, I worked as a supervisor at a discount retailer. It was definitely not easy. The old saying, “the customer is always right”, seemed to work overtime there. I wonder if he told the girl at the desk that he would burn down the store if she didn’t call a manager? I’m certain that no matter how unreasonable his return request was, a manager would’ve come and overridden any decision that the girl had made. I was actually told to return $400 cash to a girl with a receipt and no merchandise because she said her Doctor told her to throw it away. My manager told her that I was wrong to not give her the money back. Um…huh? Oops…my mistake! I love it when swindlers and cheaters get the last laugh on me!... I actually set the break room on fire that day!...okay…so I just burned a pop-tart in the microwave…but I would’ve done more - if I had any guts at all! AAAHH!

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

'Condom Cards' Given to Youth to Combat Teen Pregnancy

As reported on Saturday, June 06, 2009 in The Sunday Times

Boys as young as 12 are to be issued with condom "credit cards" allowing them to pick up free contraception at football grounds, barber’s shops and scout huts.
Condoms will be distributed at places where boys congregate, to spare them the embarrassment of visiting sexual health clinics or GPs’ surgeries or facing a shop assistant at a pharmacist's counter.
They will be able to collect the condoms by showing a plastic card issued to them after they have attended a safe-sex lesson, according to new government guidance. Boys who take advantage of the scheme will not have to give their names or answer questions about their sex lives. The scheme is intended to cut teenage pregnancies and persuade boys to take greater responsibility for contraception.
Boys who attend additional talks about sexually transmitted diseases will get a stamp on their card, which those running the scheme hope will become a status symbol.
Simon Blake, chief executive of Brook, said the C-card would make condom use “an everyday reality”.
He said the new government guidance would be designed to make boys more confident about using contraception and asking for advice on sex.

Editor Rozek’s Note: “Mommy, will you drive to pick up my condoms? I can’t wait til I’m old enough to get my driver’s license in 4 years!” I can hear the dinner conversation with the family now:
Mother: What did you do today honey?
Boy: I got an std stamp on my C-card!
Mother’s Live-in boyfriend: We are really proud of you.
Boy: I don’t care what you think! You’re not my father!

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Attorney Blames Woman’s Death on Spray Tan

As reported on Wednesday, June 03, 2009 by foxnews MIAMI — A defense attorney has suggested that a spray tan might be to blame for the death of a 33-year-old South Florida woman whose husband is now facing a second-degree murder charge. Prosecutors believe 36-year-old Aventura developer Adam Kaufman strangled his wife, Eleonora Kaufman, in November 2007. But during a bond hearing Tuesday, defense attorney Bill Matthewman floated a different theory. Matthewman said arsenic or some other accidental poison in a spray tan might be to blame for Eleonora Kaufman's death. Matthewman asked Miami-Dade chief medical examiner Dr. Bruce A. Hyma if officials investigated adverse reactions to spray tans. Eleonora Kaufman got a spray tan one day before she died. The hearing is scheduled to continue Wednesday.

Editor Rozek’s Notes: Let me get this straight? A spray tan strangled this guy’s wife? That totally sucks! I can’t imagine having to come home to find the yellow tinted hands of a spray tan wrapped around the neck of a loved one! We should definitely be more careful. The poor attorney got handed this client and thought..."Why do I always get the guilty guys?"

Attorney: Any chance she had recently eaten at Wendys?
Kaufman: Um...no....
Attorney: ...Chewed a piece of orbit gum?
Kaufman: hmm...don't know...I couldn't stand to be near her...I'm not sure...
Attorney: ...Did she get a spray tan?"
Kaufman: Ooh! Yeah!...She got a spray tan.
Attorney: Okay! Then we need to get these yellowish stains off of your hands.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Sexy Cafes: "Starbucks meets Hooters"

as reported on Jun 3rd 2009 by Bruce Watson on walletpop.com

In Southern California's "Little Saigon," Vietnamese coffee shops are busily developing the next generation of caffeine delivery. Part cafe, part Victoria's secret fashion show, they are doing great business, despite the recession. Tina Nguyen, a waitress at one establishment, describes the cafe's motif as "Starbucks meets Hooters."This seems fairly accurate: like Starbucks, the cafes have a narrow menu of coffee, iced tea, and smoothies. The marriage of food and bodacious pulchritude is something of a Hooters specialty. Like the famous chain, the servers at Garden Grove's Vietnamese coffee shops are clothed, albeit scantily. In fact, the parade of fishnets, spandex, bathing suits and sarongs makes Hooters' minishorts and tank top uniform appear comparatively restrained.

Editor Rozek’s Notes: Well! There is really nothing I can think of that would say “I want a cup of coffee”, more than a scantily dressed girl?? I’m assuming that women are not the number one clientele of this coffeeshop! Businessmen, whose wives are busy with the mundane morning rituals of packing the kid’s lunches and making cookies, pack up their laptops, kiss their wives and children goodbye and say they have to get to the office early! The 5am dash to the ATM to cash their 20’s into ones and get to breakfast is causing traffic issues everywhere... I too am thinking of a new business venture. I am opening a new toy store. It’s going to be called “Us R Toys!”

Sunday, June 7, 2009

N.H. Man Arrested for 153rd Time

As published on June 3, 2009 on aol.com AP
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. (June 3) -- A man has been arrested for the 153rd time, this time after he was accused of punching someone in the face over the weekend.
Paul Baldwin, 49, told a judge Monday he plans to plead guilty to the assault, along with trespassing and alcohol charges. He said he's had a long battle with alcohol and was trying to correct the problem during his most recent one-year jail term, which ended last week.
The Foster's Daily Democrat newspaper said Baldwin's record dates to 1984 and includes 152 other arrests, eight trespass orders, 75 citations, four Social Security aliases and 17 name aliases.

Editor Rozek’s Notes: His jail term just ended last week? I don’t think the problem is corrected yet! Did he just walk up to someone and punch him in the face?...or did the guy say something like “nah, nah, nah ,nah ,nah I bet you won’t punch me in the face?” That’s an entirely different story. It’s nice that he is coming to terms with his issues and pleading guilty, but doesn’t our court system have a recidivism punch card for these guys so they can just swipe in and out of jail without a trial? …and how many of the 8 trespass orders were simply because he had to pee?

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Barbie's Malibu Dreamhouse at the Palms Casino Resort!

As Barbie turns 50, her real life dream house is built in Malibu!
The interior decorator said, "Barbie was a dream client because she doesn't exist as a person....She exists as fantasy and is the perfect client because she's always happy and fun and loves everything. I thought to myself, 'How would Barbie live?' What I thought was Barbie would have a house that is glamorous, kittenish, chic, colorful and happy — as well as functional."

Editor Rozek's Note: Well thank God this finally exists! The decorator forgot to say that her mouth is sealed shut with plastic! I'm sure there are lots of guys who would love to live in that house with her. Anyway...I would definitely pay $4000 to spend a night there! I wonder if the ceilings are four and a half feet high and the walls are made of mirrors tipped at an angle? That is well worth the money! I'm going...:) I'm very excited!

Friday, June 5, 2009

Kidnapping suspect hiding in trunk of car taken into custody

As reported by Melissa Pinion-Whitt on 06/04/2009 on The Daily Bulletin
FONTANA - A suspect in a Long Beach kidnapping hid in the trunk of a car Thursday morning and refused to surrender for hours until a SWAT team released tear gas and a police dog.
Fontana police received information about 5:30 a.m. that 38-year-old David Chapple was armed with a gun. A caller told officers that the man's girlfriend was driving him through the Southridge area and he was hiding in the trunk of the Toyota Camry.
"He apparently chooses, as his mode of travel, hiding in the trunk of a car with a gun so he won't be seen by police," said Fontana police Sgt. Jeff Decker.
At 8:10 a.m., officers released tear gas into the vehicle in an attempt to get him to surrender. Rialto police were also sending a robot to the scene to assist Fontana officers. The man finally opened the trunk to let out the gas, but refused to cooperate with officers, Decker said. Officers let loose a police dog to help take the man into custody.


Editor Rozek’s Notes:… This makes perfect sense. Haven’t you ever been carrying a gun and thought, “Hey! I know. I’ll have my girlfriend shut me in the trunk! That way no one will suspect anything.” The only thing is that once you have the swat team pointing guns at your head, I feel that it may be a more rational choice to “cooperate” with the police. Apparently the police were unsuccessful with this but the dog had better luck! Those darn dogs are so smart. Apparently this one helped take the man into custody with it’s dog-eat-dog negotiating tactics. I can hear it now: “rooof rooof, bark” (sir, I don’t think you’re comprehending the gravity of this situation), “ruff, bark, bark, rrrruff” (you see, there are many guns pointed at your face and even the dumbest of dog’s best friends would have to realize that this is the moment you should stand down!)… “bark” (I just peed on that hydrant over there…)

More talking, more problems: 'Cell phone elbow' damages nerves

CNN as reported on June 3, 2009 by Madison Park(CNN) --
If your pinkie and ring fingers tingle or feel numb, you might not want to pick up that cell phone to call the doctor.Orthopedic specialists are reporting cases of "cell phone elbow," in which patients damage an essential nerve in their arm by bending their elbows too tightly for too long. When cell phone users hold the phone to their ears, they stretch a nerve that extends underneath the funny bone and controls the smallest fingers. When talkers chat for a long time in that position, it "chokes the blood supply to the nerves. It makes the nerves short-circuit. The next thing you know, there's tingling in the ring and small finger," said Dr. Peter J. Evans, the director of the Hand and Upper Extremity Center at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio.

Editor Rozek’s Note: If you are talking on the phone so much that you get cell phone elbow, it may be time to consider what you could possibly need to be talking about for that amount of time?? Everyone I know says that they “hate the phone”…and yet, everywhere I go, I almost get driven off the road by someone holding their phone, or get pushed out of an aisle at the grocery store by someone who is having trouble steering their cart while they are balancing a conversation with their shopping list. One day, I even ran into a girl who was going out with my ex, who instantly picked up the phone when she saw me and started pretending to talk to him! I’m not sure what that was about…probably just insecure I guess. Who knows?? People do use their cell phone as a security blanket. Have you ever watched someone sitting in a restaurant all alone talking on the phone or texting the entire time? I view this as one of two things: either the person is a cardiac surgeon, or he/she is having a self-image issue with sitting there alone. I can’t think of anything that is important enough to say before I get somewhere out of the public eye. Why don’t we take a hint from teenagers (who, by the way can’t have a conversation without using only the first letter of each word they mean to say… or even better- keep texting someone else while they are talking to you- That’s my favorite!). They don’t ever “talk” on the phone anymore… but I bet they are going to have a whole knew thumb ailment from texting. It will be called “C.R.A.P" (Communication Rendered Aggravatingly Passé).

Thursday, June 4, 2009

US Mistakenly Releases Nuclear Site List

As published By EILEEN SULLIVAN and H. JOSEF HEBERT- AP on June 3, 2009 on aol.com

WASHINGTON (June 3) -- The government accidentally posted on the Internet a list of government and civilian nuclear facilities and their activities in the United States, but a U.S. official said Wednesday the posting included no information that compromised national security.
The 266-page document was published on May 6 as a transmission from President Barack Obama to Congress. …Some of the pages are marked "highly confidential safeguards sensitive."...Included in the report are details on a storage facility for highly enriched uranium at the Y-12 complex at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee and some sites at the Energy Department's Hanford nuclear site in Washington state.
The document includes both government and civilian nuclear facilities, all of which have various levels of security, including details and location of nation's 103 commercial nuclear power reactors, information readily available from various sources.
…There are "zero" national security implications to the publication of this document, said Steven Aftergood, director of the Federation of American Government's Project on Government Secrecy. Aftergood found the document on the GPO Web site and highlighted it in Secrecy News.
"I regret that some people are painting it as a roadmap for terrorists because that's not what it is," Aftergood said.


Editor Rozek’s Notes:...I’m not sure that it was exactly “painted” as a road-map. It was more like a GPS device…that targets uranium…and nuclear power reactors… No biggie. If I worked for the government, and had just accidentally clicked “publish” instead of handing the document to one of my secret service guys with the dark glasses to walk the copy over to congress in person, before I told someone what had happened, I would’ve released about 50 other documents with all different addresses on them. I can hear the president now:

Obama: “Crap! Crap! Crap. Darn computers! I hate these things”…
(he hits the monitor and formulates a plan…)
Obama: “Michelle! Do we have any white-out?”
Michelle: “Yes, it’s under the phone bill and the copy of the Constitution of the United States in the bottom drawer….Why?”
Obama: “No reason honey! I’m gonna be up late!”

If there were many other documents, it would’ve at least slowed down the protestors from getting to these newly published locations. I’m sure anyone who really wanted to hurt us already had the list saved on his IPhone.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Melissa Joan Hart Disses Cancer-Stricken Farrah Fawcett

As reported by the New York Post on Wednesday, June 03, 2009

The former "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" star was overheard off-camera at KTLA in Los Angeles on Friday saying how she'd been hoping last week that cancer- stricken Farrah Fawcett wouldn't die — and thus bump Hart off the cover of People magazine.


Editor Rozek’s Note: Oh my God Melissa! Who said that child actors are self absorbed and dysfunctional? Do you have anything in the world that matters to you more than yourself? It’s cancer! You’re the teenaged witch – She’s an Angel! Who do you think is more important? Geez…I hope there’s no terrorist attack so your big day in the news doesn’t get bumped for something trivial- like... say… something that matters?

Pink Floyd founder wants Israeli wall down

As reported by the AP on June 2, 2009 on msnbc.com
Roger Waters has harsh words for barrier during visit to Palestinian camp

AIDA REFUGEE CAMP, West Bank - The legendary rocker and co-founder of Pink Floyd says he would give a concert in a flash if Israel’s West Bank wall is torn down. Roger Waters made the promise Tuesday during a visit to a Palestinian refugee camp that is hemmed in by the separation barrier’s tall slabs of cement. The 65-year-old co-wrote Pink Floyd’s iconic “The Wall” album and performed music from it in 1990 at the site where the Berlin Wall once stood. Waters says the wall amounts to an oppressive grab of Palestinian land and that he hopes that “this thing, this awful thing, is destroyed soon.”

Editor Rozek’s Notes:…I like Pink Floyd. What an amazing band – probably of all time! The trouble is that I’m not sure that they weren’t completely stoned when they wrote “The Wall.” His efforts in Israel are definitely a nice try and I admire the fact that he cares about world issues…and, come to think of it… I’m also a little amazed that he can still form a sentence at all… but I guess I look at it this way; I’m definitely not Roger Waters but I wrote a song once called “Liar”…well actually it was called “Liar, Stinkin, Ridiculous Puke, I can’t believe you did that, Nobody Likes You Anymore”, but I just called it “Liar” for short. Anyway…you don’t see me going up to Bill Clinton and saying “Hey. I’ll sing you this song if you admit you cheated on Hillary.” … Pretty much cause…well…he wouldn’t care…and the song really wasn’t my best work!...and ...he really wouldn't care...

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Octuplets' mom signs TV show deal

As reported on Mon, June 1, 2009 by Alan Duke on CNN.com

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Nadya Suleman, who gave birth to octuplets in January, will star in a reality television series about her family, a TV executive said.
Eyeworks' British division will produce the show, the Eyeworks executive said. "There is a story to be told" about the family, he said. " Though he said the show has not been named, Suleman has sought to trademark her media nickname -- Octomom -- for a TV show and a line of diapers.
Suleman has six other children. All 14 were conceived through in-vitro fertilization.


Editor Rozek’s Notes: This is the ‘feel-good’ story of the year! I laughed, I cried, I called social services!

Monday, June 1, 2009

Victorville parolee having sex with teen had mother's permission

as reported by Melissa Pinion-Whitt on June 1, 2009 on the dailybulletin.com

A man who was having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl with the permission of the girl's mother was arrested by sheriff's deputies in Victorville on Sunday. Anthony Vaux, 25, a parolee, had been having sex with the girl several times during the past few weeks, San Bernardino County sheriff's officials said. Deputies received an anonymous tip at 6:21 p.m. Sunday that he and the girl were in a Travelodge hotel room in the 12100 block of Mariposa Road. Sheriff's investigators said the girl's mother was aware of the relationship and allowed it to occur. Vaux was booked into jail on suspicion of unlawful sex with a minor and was held without bail. Sheriff's investigators planned to submit a case to prosecutors regarding the actions of the victim's mother.


Editor Rozek’s Note: Remember when we used to get our mother’s permission to go to a friend’s house when we were in high school? I used to have to call when I left one place and then again when I got to the next one. I don’t ever remember calling my mom and saying: “Hi Mom! It’s me. I’m going to leave the bowling alley now and then stop off for a quickie with a my parolee."

I can just hear her mother at dinner with the ladies:

Mother: My daughter has the nicest boyfriend now! He is on parole. It was all a big misunderstanding though. His ridiculous ex girlfriend turned him in for having sex with her. You know how these 11 year old girls get! She was just jealous that he liked my daughter better. I’m so proud of her.

(phone rings…)

Mother: Oh! It's her..."Hello girlfriend!... uh huh…okay…be safe…what room are you guys in?…great…12100. Thanks honey! Enjoy yourself and call me if you need a ride home later!"

Mother: (to ladies again) She is such a good girl! We’re like best friends. I’m sort of known as the cool mom around her school.

He is being booked on "suspicion?" Nice...I suspect that mommy should try not to be so close to her little girl and take her over her knee instead of letting her little girl spend so much time on hers!

Cop says he wants to 'beat' Atlanta mayor with bat, apologizes

As reported on 5/28/09 by Ashley Fantz, CNN

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) --.It probably would have been just another ho-hum city council budget meeting. Except that the leader of Atlanta's police union, and second-highest ranking member of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, said he wanted to beat Atlanta's mayor with a bat.

"I want to beat her [Mayor Shirley Franklin] in the head with a baseball bat sometimes when I think about it," Sgt. Scott Kreher said into a microphone earlier this month in an apparent off-hand remark during a presentation he was giving to the council. Within days, the 17-year department veteran was suspended.

Kreher said the "it" that made him want to club the mayor was that, despite repeated complaints, the police union contends the city is not honoring workers' compensation claims for cops whose careers ended when they were seriously injured on the job.

Franklin, one of the nation's high-profile mayors, told CNN on Tuesday that the officers' complaints are a "separate issue" from Kreher's comments. "Some people think I'll just shake it off," she said of the sergeant's threat. "I can't shake off an officer at City Hall -- not in his shower or in his front yard, but in official capacity -- threatening to hit me in the head with a bat. That is a severe act of violence. When you hit someone with a bat, you intend to kill them."…

A few days after the bat comment, Kreher apologized to Franklin in a letter, which was published on the union Web site. He called his remark "inexcusable," explaining that it sprung from "frustration and anger."


Editor Rozek’s Notes
:…uh…don’t you think we are taking ourselves a little too seriously? Haven’t you ever been walking down the street and thought “Hey! You know what? I’d really like to poke that guy’s eyes out with sticks!”?? What exactly is the problem? He basically said that he is so frustrated that he’d like to “beat her in the head with a baseball bat.”…wait a minute…I guess that didn’t make it sound much better. Perhaps opening with a sentence that started with “I want to beat her” wasn’t going in the right direction…I would’ve eaten a twix and finished the sentence as… “a nice pan of brownies and serve it to her at a luncheon.” He must not have had a candy bar on him. The point is that no matter what he said, he wasn’t actually going to do it. I think that little Ms. Franklin was having a bad day and jumped on it a little too forcefully. What did she say about not being able to shake him off in the shower?” That may be the problem. I don’t know why she would’ve been in his shower to begin with… though a shower certainly seems like an unthreatening place to be if you need to fend someone off…I mean…where would he hide the baseball bat? Shower outfits never have good pockets! Why isn’t a heartfelt apology ever enough? He said he’s sorry…(and then his partner stuffed a candy bar in his mouth as they shuffled the Mayor out of the room…) Shake it off!

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Mom in Abduction Hoax Posts Bail

As reported by the AP on Sunday 5/31/09 on AOL.com

PHILADELPHIA (May 30) - A woman accused of staging an abduction hoax that began near Philadelphia and ended at Florida's Walt Disney World was released on $1 million bail, authorities said Saturday.

Authorities say Sweeten phoned 911 on Tuesday from downtown Philadelphia and told dispatchers that she and her daughter had been carjacked and stuffed in the trunk of a Cadillac near their suburban home, prompting a frantic search that ended 30 hours later at a Disney World hotel. Her daughter, Julia Rakoczy, was reunited with her father, Anthony Rakoczy, in Florida on Thursday. Rakoczy still lives near Sweeten, his ex-wife, and spoke well of her in interviews this week.


Editor Rozek’s Note
: I can totally see how this could happen. Haven’t you ever been driving down the street and thought, “Hey! Ya know what would be fun? I’m gonna call 911!...Yeah!…that’s a great idea.” …

Announcer: “Well Ms. Rakoczy, now that you’ve sent the authorities on a wild-goose chase to look for you and your little girl, what are you going to do next?”

Rakoczy: “I’m going to Disneyworld!”

Now they are saying that apparently she may need some sort of psychiatric help. Oh…I don’t know…Aren’t we being a little rough on her? It was just a little 911 call. She was taking hormone shots for a IVF procedure. That must be the problem. But on that note…How many kids do these people really need?

Rakoczy: “Come on honey! Let’s go get some pickles and ice cream and then carjack ourselves and go to Disneyworld!”

Julia Rakoczy: “Oh! Yes. Thank you Mommy! You seem sane to me!”

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Father, 29, in child support court says he has 21 kids

As reported on May 22nd, 2009 on VolunteerTv.com

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- On paper, he has 20 possibly 21 children. With a minimum wage job, he can't afford to support them all. What is the state to do? Desmond Hatchett, 29, told WVLT he wasn't out to set a record, though he certainly holds it in Knox County Juvenile Child Support Court. Hatchett's children range in age from newborn 11. There are at least 11 mothers; probably several more. Constitutionally, there is nothing the state can do to limit him from having more. "I had four kids in the same year. Twice." Desmond Hatchett told Volunteer TV. It's due process-- the state is only allowed to take 50% of Hatchett's paycheck. That's 50% split multiple times.
"You look at when they filed, how many children they have-- he has several mothers that he has two children with. And, it's tough". Still, Hatchett says the women knew what they were getting into. They were all aware of his large family. One said, she doesn't like it but she deals with it. "It's about the kids. Not the parents," she said. Hatchett agrees he should do what's best for the kids.
Desmond Hatchett spent part of Friday afternoon jailed while a child support referee decided how to split up the $400 he brought to court. If he doesn't pay what he owes, he will go back to jail because he is on an automatic jail order. The mothers of Hatchett's children are supposed to get anywhere from $25 to $309 a month, but when his paycheck is garnished amongst them all, some women only get a $1.98 a month.


Editor Rozek’s Note: Ah…family! This is truly a beautiful love story! It’s too bad that we can’t get more people into the welfare system! What does this guy look like?…and how does he keep getting these women pregnant?…I mean…I know how I guess- I’ve read books and seen pictures here and there…But what the heck? Where is he meeting all of these women? Is there a nightclub somewhere with a neon sign that says “Stupid Fertile Women Here?” If I ever have a child, remind me to see if one of these mothers will be my child’s nannie! I’d hate for my baby to grow up with any common sense. Then again, if she will work for $1.98 a month, I suppose I could just get a Nannie-cam and an educational DVD. Heck! I’d pay her $2 a month if she would take her for a walk and sing a song other than “Pussy monster.” Don’t get me wrong… that is a beautiful song. I would just rather she learns “Mary had a little lamb” before I have to wash her mouth out with soap when her first word is the “F-word.”

Friday, May 29, 2009

Corn Festival royalty to be crowned

as Published May 27, 2009 10:12 am – in the Muskogee Phoenix Marketplace

Corn Festival royalty to be crownedTwo ladies who will reign over the Fort Gibson Corn Festival will be selected in a pageant at 7 p.m. June 6 in the Fort Gibson High School Auditorium…Miss Fort Gibson and Junior Miss Fort Gibson contestants will be judged in talent, poise and personality, evening wear and an on-stage question.
The will be officially crowned in ceremonies kicking off the town’s Corn Festival on June 26 and 27.
There will be live music and entertainment all day and carnival games, including a dunk tank…Corn cookbooks and fresh sweet corn, along with a number of prepared corn foods also will be available for sale.


Editor Rozek’s Note:… “I’d like to thank all of the people who made it possible for me to have this opportunity to represent all of the “corn-fed” girls in this beautiful town I call ‘home’. This has been a life-long dream of mine and I will forever remember the moment when they shucked the skin over my ears and threw a ball at the dunk tank allowing my freshly done hair to make a splash that shook the jiggers off the crabapples on the tree at Aunt Mildred’s’! I accept this “corn cookbook” and lifetime supply of Charmin, and bid you all a heart-felt “Thank you!” I will take my responsibilities seriously and promise to never pose naked for any road-side farmer’s stand magazine!…um…again….”

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Proud non-reader’ Kanye pens a (short) book

As reported by MSNBC on tuesday, May 26th (Reuters)... (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30949487/)

‘Thank You And You’re Welcome’ is a 52-page collection of rapper’s theories

NEW YORK - Rapper Kanye West does not read books or respect them but nevertheless he has written one that he would like you to buy and read. His book is 52 pages — some blank, others with just a few words — and offers his optimistic philosophy on life. One two-page section reads, “Life is 5% what happens and 95% how you react!” Another page reads “I hate the word hate!” “This is a collection of thoughts and theories,” West, 31, said in an interview about his spiral-bound volume, which was written with J. Sakiya Sandifer. He calls his wisdom “Kanye-isms.”

“Sometimes people write novels and they just be so wordy and so self-absorbed,” West said. “I am not a fan of books. I would never want a book’s autograph.
“I am a proud non-reader of books. I like to get information from doing stuff like actually talking to people and living real life,” he said. West, a college dropout, said being a non-reader was helpful when he wrote his book because it gave him “a childlike purity.”
“My mom taught me to believe in my flyness and conquer my shyness,” he said, defining “flyness” as confidence. “She raised me to be the voice to allow people to think for themselves, to find their own way.”



Editor Rozek’s Notes:… Oh my freakin’ God! This is why I’m building an ark! I like to refer to these undereducated words of wisdom as “idiot-isms.” As a proud non-brusher of teeth, I like to get clean breath by making everyone else’s breath smell worse than mine by feeding them crap-balls!

I don’t believe in books, I get by just on my looks
Some people think I’m fly, but it’s only cause they’re high
The kids look up to me and I’m dumber than a flea
My music has a groove but my bod just gotta move
So someone had to spell the 3 letter words as well
But that’s just who I am I’m leading music down the can!

Writer Kassandra 'West' Rozek

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Hard-luck Montana town pushes to house Gitmo detainees

HARDIN, Montana (CNN) -- The tiny town of Hardin, Montana, is offering an answer to a very thorny question: Where should the nation put terror detainees if the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, is shut down by the end of the year as President Obama has pledged? Hardin, population 3,400, sits in the southeast corner of Montana, in the state's poorest county. Its small downtown is almost deserted at midday. The Dollar Store is going out of business. The Hardin Mini Mall is already shut. The town needs jobs -- and fast. Hardin borrowed $27 million through bonds to build the Two Rivers Regional Correctional Facility in hopes of creating new employment opportunities. The jail was ready for prisoners two years ago, but has yet to house a single prisoner. "It would bring jobs. Believe it or not, it would even bring hope and opportunity," Greg Smith, Hardin's economic development director, told CNN. The state's congressional leaders have lined up against the plan. "Housing potential terrorists in Montana is not good for our state," Max Baucus, the state's senior Democratic senator, wrote to Smith. "These people stop at nothing. Their primary goal in life, and death, is to destroy America."

Manicurist Donovan Lindsay says bringing the detainees to Hardin would bring more law enforcement, and that would make the town safer. She also believes it would generate jobs . "We are the poorest county in the state of Montana and we need all the help we can get," she says. Greg Smith thinks the prison would generate business for gas stations, restaurants, and other local enterprises, giving the entire region an economic boost. And, he says, it would benefit the country.

Editor Rozek’s Note:…So they couldn’t just put up a Walmart like everyone else? Isn’t that the nation’s answer to the struggling economy? They had to build a prison and can’t find anyone to live there? It is getting harder to fill prisons these days. I was going to put up a drug dealer/ice cream stand in my back yard but no one would come to mine either. I think it was something to do with my big sign in front! Whatever! There’s nothing that says “hope and opportunity” like a big jailhouse full of suicide bombers! Of course…they may have something about the fact that it would allow job opportunities to more people- …cause every 2 weeks 100 of them would get blown up and then they can offer the positions to the next 100 in line. In a mere 34 weeks, this whole controversy would be moot. It is truly a great answer that will have people moving to Montana in droves! You see it all the time…The dollar store goes out of business and then “poof! Like a magic Jeannie in a bottle- along comes the incredible opportunity of housing the nation’s terror detainees…2 miles from the one room school house! That’s really nice. I don’t know what Max Baucus’ problem is! What a buzz kill! Blah blah blah…destroy America! Aren’t we being a little dramatic Maxie waxie? I mean…come on. Let’s leave the opinions to the people who really know what they are talking about – the manicurists! At least she sees it the way it really is- an opportunity to make Hardin, Montana a safer town to live in!

Royal chauffeur suspended after alleged palace security breach

LONDON, England (CNN) -- A royal chauffeur was suspended Sunday after he allegedly allowed undercover reporters from a British tabloid to enter Buckingham Palace in exchange for cash. Mazher Mahmood, of the London-based News of the World, claimed he was allowed to enter the London residence of Queen Elizabeth II without security checks after paying a man identified as a Buckingham chauffeur £1,000 ($1,591). Footage of the incident filmed undercover showed the chauffeur giving Mahmood, whose face was blurred, a tour of the royal garage and, at one point, allowing him to sit in one of the vehicles.
Buckingham Palace has experienced a number of high-profile security lapses in the past. In 2003 an investigation was launched after "comedy terrorist" Aaron Barschak gatecrashed Prince William's 21st birthday party at Windsor Castle, PA reported, wearing a dress, beard and sunglasses, Barschak climbed on stage as the prince addressed the crowd, and kissed him on both cheeks. That same year, a journalist with the Daily Mirror newspaper spent two months "working undercover" as a palace footman.

Editor Rozek’s Note:…I think that the palace needs a “Beware of Dog” sign on the front lawn. Here’s how I imagined it happening:

Cross-dressing bearded man: I’m sitting here today at the Queen’s dressing table. We have secretly replaced the Queen's MAC line of compressed foundation with Folgers crystals. Let’s see what happens.

The Queen:
(as she walks out of the bathroom in a towel- she gasps as she sees the man sitting at the dressing table) Schnikies! Alas what are you doing here?

Cross-dressing bearded man: (pause- then pointing to her towel) Oh that’s simply darling love! I love the lace around the edge.

The Queen: (dropping her towel all distracted by the towel flattery) Yes. My great, great Grandmother Victoria made it while she was mourning her first cousin/ husband Albert. It has been passed down as the royal towel since her death in 1901. It is lovely isn’t it?

Cross-dressing bearded man: Yes. Quite... Oops… I think you dropped something. Ooh…wait…Oh! Nope, my bad…It appears that gravity has dropped that. Sorry.

The Queen: (scooping the towel back up to cover her) How did you get in here?

Cross-dressing bearded man: …uh… I didn’t?...I mean…I’m a figment of your imagination?...um…no…OK… You got me! I paid your Chauffeur and he just let me right in.

The Queen: Oh dear! That is quite troublesome! You must hurry along now lad! I need to let someone know to prevent this from happening again. That boy is in trouble. The last chap he allowed in here posed as a palace “footman” and he knew absolutely nothing about shoes!... Out now! Out!