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San Francisco Body Found Is That Of Missing 22-Year-Old Brazilian Man

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San Francisco body found is that of Brazilian missing man

The body of a missing Brazilian man has been found at San Francisco’s McCovey Cove, authorities say.

San Francisco police says the body that washed ashore at McCovey Cove last month is that of a Brazilian man who had gone missing in October, after leaving a terrifying last message for his family.

One night in October, 22-year-old Paolo Netto called his sister in Brazil asking her to call the police because he was being followed while walking in San Francisco’s Mission District.

Netto was not heard from since that day, but San Francisco police did not find him, however, they do believe he was robbed at some point since someone was discovered using his debit card later on.

San Francisco Police Department Officer Albie Esparza says the case is not yet classified as a murder investigation.

“The medical examiner has to determine whether or not they believe that there was foul play. If they do find the cause of death to be suspicious or foul in nature, then it will change our investigation into a homicide investigation.”

Netto, who had recently moved from Brazil to Los Angeles, came to San Francisco to look at Art Schools and on the night of October 28 called his family from the 500 block of Shotwell Street, according to phone records.

His body was found on November 9 and according to police it was badly discomposed, which made it very difficult to identify.

According to the San Francisco Medical Examiner the body seen floating in McCovey Cove, adjacent to AT&T Park, the home of the San Francisco Giants, was that of Netto.

His sister, Ana Rodrigues, told NBC Bay Area in November that her brother had called her just before he disappeared.

“He was saying, ‘Ana call the police I’m in trouble, people are following me,’” she said at the time. Police then traced those phone calls to the 500 block of Shotwell Street in the the San Francisco Mission District.

“Obviously, he was terrified,” Rodrigues added.

Esparza is urging anyone who may have seen Netto walking around on the night in question to call San Francisco police. Authorities are seeking at least one person of interest.

San Francisco missing man and person of interest poster

[Image courtesy of NBC Bay Area]

San Francisco Body Found Is That Of Missing 22-Year-Old Brazilian Man is a post from: The Inquisitr News


NatWest Cyber Attack Causes Alarm For Customers And Insurance Industry

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cyber warfare

NatWest was hit by a cyber attack that left customers unable to garner access to their online bank accounts. The United Kingdom bank was reportedly the target of a distributed denial of servie (DOS) attack, according to the Mirror. A statement released by the bank maintains that the cyber warfare posed “no risk” to its customers.

The cyber attack began with a multitude of deliberate internet traffic that prompted the online service offered by NatWest to fail. A spokesman for the financial institution noted in a release to both customers and the media that some appropriate action has been taken to restore activity to the affected websites.

Cyber warfare is one of the top five concerns for the insurance industry, according to a new Towers Watson survey. Insurance executives from around the globe reportedly consider cyber attacks among the most extreme risks which could rattle the world to its core.

The insurance industry is also significantly concerned about a global pandemic and natural disasters, the Towers Watson review revealed. Most of the man-made and natural disasters insurers worry about, are the same topics on the minds of the more than three million preppers in the United States.

Cyber warfare was ranked above an economic collapse or banking crisis in the insurance industry survey. A global pandemic was the top worry for the industry. According to the results, the “extreme risk” most on the minds of the industry involved a worldwide pandemic that would spread a fatal disease around the world and significantly impact crops, people, and animals. A growing number of folks consider bee colony collapse disorder and the shrinking honeybee population a major concern that would also impact people, plants, and animals, but that specific worry did not make the insurance industry list. Honeybees pollinate approximately 75 percent of our food supply – if the bees die off, the human race will follow within just a few short and very hungry years.

Towers Watson Senior Risk Consultant Stephen Lowe had this to say about the potentially deadly risks causing unease around the globe:

“Much as we would have expected pandemics and natural catastrophes to figure prominently in insurers’ extreme risk thinking, the high rankings of concerns such as cyber-warfare and a major data compromise in the cloud [user-submitted idea] illustrate how the industry is keeping up to date with risk assessment. The kinds of risks that could wipe out an insurance business do inevitably evolve over time, so we were very encouraged to see this degree of engagement for a broad sample of the industry.”

Those polled noted a “confluence” of massive earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and floods as insurance industry nightmares. The list very closely resembles the events noted during the introduction segment of a Doomsday Preppers episode. A food, water, or energy crisis was the number three concern by industry executives. The Tower Watson agency stated that such a disaster would affect the mortality and morbidity rates and at the same time generate “investment winners and losers.” The negative economic impact of any of the SHTF scenarios listed on the survey should not be discounted. Any one of the emergency scenarios would surely cause the economy to whirl into a tailspin. The insurance survey also stated that a “sovereign default” would potentially initiate a regional insurance crisis due to the “forced disposals” from banking groups.

Cyber warfare in spot number four involved a scenario which included either sabotage or espionage on a massive scale that spurred severe damage to the medical, defense, and financial systems or infrastructure. Although not specifically noted, a downed power grid would most definitely fall within this category. A cyber attack on the power grid would halt the food supply, leave millions of Americans in the darkness and extremely vulnerable. As previously reported by Off The Grid News, An attack on the power grid would effectively crush the economy and the loss of life due to a lack of medical services and civil unrest would be monumental. The recent GridX II nationwide power grid drill revealed exactly what many preppers already knew – the overly taxed, antiquated, and fragile power grid would fail if a direct solar flare, EMP attack, or cyber warfare attack occurred. Former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said that a cyber attack on the power grid was a matter of “if” not “when.”

[Image Via: Shutterstock.com]

NatWest Cyber Attack Causes Alarm For Customers And Insurance Industry is a post from: The Inquisitr News

Python: Bali Security Guard Strangled To Death

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python bali

A security guard was strangled to death by a python snake on Friday. The incident took place in the popular holiday resort of Bali. It was reported by a hotel worker that the python disappeared into nearby bushes following the fatal attack.

The strangling took place in the early hours of the morning on Friday at a time when visibility was low.The python was simply not seen slithering across the road towards the security guard.

The guard was working his shift at the prestigious Bali Hyatt hotel, which is closed for refurbishment until 2015. The python was reported by eye witnesses to be around 15 feet long.

Ambar Arianto Mulyo, 59, the python’s victim, had initially offered to catch the snake which had been spotted a few times previously in the area of the hotel. He succeeded in securing the python’s head and tail and lifted it onto his shoulders.

Unfortunately, the snake was able to wrap itself around Mulyo’s neck and body, strangling him to death. Mulyo was not alone as there were a number of onlookers looking on in horror but not knowing what to do.

The onlookers called the police, but when they arrived on the scene it was too late to save the man. The police carried out a full search of the surrounding area but were unable to find the python.

An eyewitness to the incident said: “It happened so fast. We were sad because we could not do anything to help him.” The local police chief warned tourists to be vigilant as the killer python was still on the loose.

As of this report the python is still at large, and could pose a threat to people in the area. They have been asked to remain vigilant as more searches for the snake.are carried out in this part of Bali.

Python: Bali Security Guard Strangled To Death is a post from: The Inquisitr News

Gun Control: Graves Act Mandates BB Gun Registration

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BB gun control

BB gun control laws in New Jersey could make the classic childhood took a thing of the past. The popular youth guns may be gathering dust on store shelves in the Garden State due the enactment of the Graves Act. The law requires BB guns to be registered and subject to the exact same laws as deadly firearms used for hunting and self-defense purposes.

Parents may no longer be uttering, “You could shout your eye out, kid” when issuing safety warnings after a longed for BB gun is unwrapped on Christmas morning. The New Jersey BB gun control law could make possession of such a prized possession a felony. The holiday classic, A Christmas Story made Daisy’s Red Ryder BB gun a favorite gift for both boys and girls for decades.

New Jersey attorney William Proetta had this to say to Fox News when asked about the latest gun control law to hit the books:

“In all honesty, kids who are charged are looking at mandatory jail time. The only defense is to request a waiver but if that’s not granted, young kids can get a felony charge and their lives are basically over.”

Violation of the Graves Act will place offenders behind bars for a minimum three years and carries a steep fine. According to attorney Poetta, the New Jersey County in which the crime occurred will play a significant role in the fate of the toy gun owner. A judge can reportedly opt to issue a Graves Act waver or downgrade the charge – but the court officials are not bound to do so.

Although several other states have enacted BB gun laws, the New Jersey legislation appears to have enacted the most stringent guidelines and requirements to date. In Virginia, BB guns are still considered toys unless they are used in the commission of a crime. The same piece of New Jersey gun control legislation also outlawed the filing off of serial numbers on guns, sawed-off shotguns, and the use of any type of firearm during a crime.

Daisy spokesman Joe Murfin had this to say about New Jersey’s Graves Act:

“In our opinion and the federal government’s, our products are not firearms as there is no combustion in the chamber. While we disagree, we respect a state’s law for whatever reason they may have one.”

A New York man was also recently arrested for a BB gun incident in Queens Park. The man was arrested after he allegedly fired a “lifelike weapon” and then turning the gun over to his toddler son. His wife feels they are the “victims of other parent’s overreaction” toy guns.

Jack Pawlowski was taken away from his family in handcuffs while his astonished wife and three children watched. During an interview with local CBS 2, Pawlowski stated they he went to Ditmars Park with two of his children and the toy gun around noon. The dad also noted that some of the New York parents feared that the BB guns were real at first glance.

Some gun control advocates may suggest that Second Amendment supporters are exaggerating the severity of the law and how it will be applied, but a precedent has already been set. In October a New Jersey man was arrested for shooting an airsoft gun at a toy duck being used for target practice – in his own back yard. Idyriss Thomas wound up in handcuffs after a neighbor called 911 to report spotting a man with a gun in Glassboro.

The 22-year-old’s family posted the necessary $2,500 bail for the unlawful discharge of a weapon violation. “I didn’t realize what I had in my hand would cause the events that happened today. I had the airsoft gun in my hand, playing with it, taking shots at a rubber ducky, not harming anybody,” Thomas told Philadelphia WPVI reporter.

A mom at the park during the BB gun incident told the media she does not tend to take things “lying down” and confronted Pawlowski, telling his to take his kids and his toy gun and leave the public area. She also stated that he was “brandishing a firearm” and even though the so-called weapon was merely a toy, the woman still deemed the activity unacceptable.

City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. stated that the arrest serves an educational purpose, to remind everyone that running around with a realistic looking gun is illegal and will get you sent straight to jail.

How do you feel about the Graves Act and BB gun control laws now on the books?

[Image Via: Shutterstock.com]

Gun Control: Graves Act Mandates BB Gun Registration is a post from: The Inquisitr News

Gisele Bundchen Makes Surpise Visit To Teen Makeup Blogger With Bone Cancer

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Gisele Bundchen Makes Surpise Visit To Teen Makeup Blogger With Bone Cancer

Gisele Bundchen gave a late Christmas present to a 15-year-old girl battling bone cancer — a personal makeup tutorial.

Karina Xavier is a teen fashion blogger who posts style tips and tutorials on her website ChicByKarina.com. Karina has said she wants to become a professional makeup artists one day, and on December 26 she got a visit from fellow Brazilian Gisele Bundchen to get some help with that goal.

Karina later shared a Facebook picture of the surprise visit from the supermodel, writing about how much it meant to her:

“From the moment you surprised me, until the moment you left, I was so shocked for you being here with me! Thank you so much for taking time off of your day to come visit me and spend some time with me! Also thank you for your kind words and your very meaningful gifts! You are a great person and you will continue inspiring me I love you @giseleofficial And to my followers: Stay tuned for something special on my blog!!! I’m so happy!!!!!!”

Karina even got a chance to do Gisele’s makeup, bragging about it to friends on Facebook.

The surprise visit went much better than Gisele’s last social media post about makeup. Earlier this month she posted a picture on Instagram showing herself breastfeeding while getting her makeup done for a photo shoot.

“What would I do without this beauty squad after the 15 hours flying and only 3 hours of sleep #multitasking#gettingready.”

The picture earned Gisele Bundchen some criticism, especially among those who feel she is a little too fervent in pushing breastfeeding. In 2010 Gisele said there should be a worldwide law requiring moms to breastfeed.

“Some people here think they don’t have to breastfeed, and I think, ‘Are you going to give chemical food to your child, when they are so little?’ There should be a worldwide law, in my opinion, that mothers should breastfeed their babies for six months,” she said.

Gisele Bundchen also posted about her visit with Karina Xavier, calling the girl a “warrior, an inspiration of positivity and courage.”

Gisele Bundchen Makes Surpise Visit To Teen Makeup Blogger With Bone Cancer is a post from: The Inquisitr News

Bride-To-Be Stabs Allegedly Stabs Fiance After Wedding Planning Argument

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bride stabs groom after argument over wedding colors

A bride-to-be took a stab at wedding planning as it were, which sent the groom-to-be to the hospital on Christmas night.

The South Carolina couple got into an argument over the color scheme for their upcoming wedding, according to police. WISTV.com, Channel 10, reported that a Richland County Sheriff’s Department spokesman said that “the man tried to leave the home and that’s when 34-year-old Krysta James stabbed the victim.”

The would-be groom received treatment for a stab wound to the chest. The injury was non-life threatening, fortunately.

The suspect was charged with criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature and was released yesterday on a $10,000 bond.

Although domestic violence is no joke, at least one Internet commenter claimed in an obviously tongue-in-cheek manner that the wedding colors might include prison orange.

TheBlaze offered this analysis of the bride-on-groom stabbing incident: “Flower arrangements. Tuxedo styles. Reception seating. Just a few of the numerous details that mark most impending nuptials. And stereotypically speaking, grooms-to-be typically pay less attention to such matters compared to their fiancees, if at all. But on Christmas Day, one guy apparently busted that stereotype…and paid a price for it.”

Earlier this year in a far more deadly encounter, a Pennsylvania woman who fatally stabbed her husband-to-be just hours before their wedding was convicted of first-degree murder. In this instance, the woman claimed that she was trying to protect her young child from the man who was allegedly drunk.

As The Inquisitr also previously reported, the Collins Online Dictionary added 86 words to its database, one of which is “bridezilla.” That dictionary defines this word as “a woman whose behavior in planning the details of her wedding is regarded as intolerable.”

After this stabbing incident, do you think the couple will eventually put their wedding colors disagreement behind them and exchange vows?

[image credit: Mreasystart]

Bride-To-Be Stabs Allegedly Stabs Fiance After Wedding Planning Argument is a post from: The Inquisitr News

Brain-Dead Girl’s Family Wants Her Moved To Nursing Facility

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brain-dead girl's family wants to move her to nursing facility

The family of a 13-year-old girl who was left brain-dead after a routing tonsillectomy wants her to be moved to a nursing facility, as they fight to keep her alive.

The newest developments in the saga of Jahi McMath, the victim of a tonsil surgery gone terribly wrong, have her family once again engaged in a fight with an Oakland, California hospital, to have her moved before they can pull the plug, in effect ending her life.

The family of the brain-dead girl, says the 13-year-old must have a tracheotomy and a feeding tube implanted prior to being moved to an undisclosed location.

However, officials at the Children’s Hospital Oakland have refused to perform the procedures on the brain-dead girl saying it is not “appropriate medical practice” on the “body of a deceased person.”

For all intents and purposes the hospital considers the girl dead, but her family refuses to pull the plug on the ventilator that is keeping her alive.

After a Judge ordered on Tuesday the hospital can disconnect the brain-dead girl from the ventilator on December 30, the family is moving quickly to have her moved, but they cannot do so without the procedure.

With the deadline looming the family says they will, once again, go to court if needed to have the tracheotomy performed and questions the hospitals reasons for refusing to do so.

“You don’t want her, that’s fine,” the brain-dead girl’s uncle Omari Sealey told reporters on Thursday. “We have a place that does want her, that wants to keep her alive. So help us get her out of your hospital so we can take her somewhere else where someone wants to help us keep her alive.”

According to the local ABC affiliate, the family’s insurance company is willing to cover the expenses related to the brain-dead girl’s care.

Jahi was declared brain-dead, after surgery to remove her tonsils –to help with her sleep apnea– resulted in complications that led to cardiac arrest.

Alameda County Superior Court Judge Evelio Grillo ruled Tuesday that Children’s Hospital Oakland did not have to keep Jahi connected to life support, and that she was brain-dead under accepted medical standards.

“I’m sorry for your loss, and if I could fix it I would, but I can’t,” Grillo said during the hearing.

Grillo made his ruling after an independent neurologist, not affiliated with Children’s Hospital Oakland, found that Jahi showed no signs of brain activity and should be declared brain dead.

The day after the ruling, the brain-dead girl’s family celebrated Christmas in her hospital room and said it was not giving up hope even though the hospital says there is no way to reverse her current condition.

Brain-Dead Girl’s Family Wants Her Moved To Nursing Facility is a post from: The Inquisitr News

Solar Flares: Two Sunspots Facing Earth

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solar storm predictions

Multiple solar flares are facing Earth and “strange objects” are passing near a massive sunspot CME. Sunspot AR1934 and AR 1936 possess beta gamma magnetic fields and possess the power to emit strong solar flares, according to NOAA. The space weather experts put the odds of an X-Class solar flare at one percent and the possibility of an M-Class solar flare at 25 percent.

The United States is not prepared for a massive solar flare, according to statements made by a University of Colorado scientist who specializes in solar storm research. Dr. Daniel Baker and his space weather peers reportedly believe that if a major CME (coronal mass ejection) hits the Earth, “complete mayhem” will occur.

Dr. Daniel Baker is the director of the University of Colorado Laboratory of Atmospheric and Space Physics. The learned scientists also aptly noted in a recent report that policy makers are not paying attention to the problems posed by solar flares and the dire impact a direct hit would have on the power grid. GridX II, a nationwide power grid drill took place on November 13 and 14. The preliminary results from the three-nation electrical system test in North America noted that the grid would not likely survive a direct hit by a solar flare, EMP, or cyber attack, according to Off The Grid News.

The University of Colorado scientists is not alone in his professional critique and predictions regarding solar flares. A Royal Academy of Engineering report authored earlier this year urged officials to create a space weather board to enhance “solar superstorm” planning. The same entity also called for a space weather warning system that would alert the public about potentially dangerous radiation spawned by such events.

An excerpt from the Royal Academy of Engineering report reads:

“These environmental challenges [solar flares] can cause detrimental effects to the electricity grid, satellites, avionics, air passengers, signals from satellite navigation systems, mobile telephones and more. They have consequently been identified as a risk to the world economy and society.”

A National Resource Council report Dr. Baker co-authored in 2008 stated that high-energy particles released by a massive solar flare would possibly disrupt communications, the economy, and transportation. The Colorado scientists also accurately noted that the food supply would become limited rather quickly, along with limited to no access to medications and clean drinking water.

An excerpt from the National Resource Council report reads:

“The adverse effects of extreme space weather on modern technology–power grid outages, high-frequency communication blackouts, spacecraft anomalies–are well known and well documented, and the physical processes underlying space weather are also generally well understood. Less well documented and understood, however, are the potential economic and societal impacts of the disruption of critical technological systems by severe space weather.”

The SHIELD Act was introduced by Representative Trent Franks to help bolster the power grid and prevent a nationwide tragedy spurred by either a man-made or natural disaster that was powerful enough to destroy the electrical system. The legislation has been stalled in Congress for years, prompting Franks to pen a new version of the bi-partisan supported bill to spur increased attention and hopefully movement on the pending bill.

Dr. Baker had this to say about solar flares and the work which needs done to protect the quality and sanctity of life from the devastation which could follow such an occurrence:

“The speed of this event was as fast or faster than anything that has been seen in the modern space age. The event not only had the most powerful CME ever recorded, but it would have triggered one of the strongest geomagnetic storms and the highest density of particle fluctuation ever seen in a typical solar cycle, which lasts roughly 11 year. The Carrington storm and the 2012 event show that extreme space weather events can happen even during a modest solar cycle like the one presently underway. Rather than wait and pick up the pieces, we ought to take lessons from these events to prepare ourselves for inevitable future solar storms.”

Both the scientific and environmental communities appear to agree that the power grid is too weak to withstand a direct impact by a massive solar flare – and too integral to our survival to continue to neglect addressing the issue from the governmental level. The official results from the GridX II power grid drill are still months away.

Solar Flares: Two Sunspots Facing Earth is a post from: The Inquisitr News


Hong Kong Police Arrest Woman Over Counterfeit Cash

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Hong Kong Arrest

Hong Kong police currently have a counterfeit cash problem on their hands.

A 53-year-old woman was recently arrested for allegedly attempting to deposit several fake bills into her account on Monday (December 23). As fears about the counterfeit currency spread, many area business are refusing to accept HK$1,000 banknotes.

Global Post reports that a eagle-eyed bank teller spotted the fake bills when the suspect attempted to deposit HK$300,000 in an unidentified account. It’s currently unknown if the woman was aware she was in possession of several counterfeit banknotes at the time.

Hong Kong police are reportedly asking folks to turn over any suspected counterfeits to the authorities. Even people who unknowingly use the fake cash could face charges of “passing counterfeit notes,” an offense that could land them behind bars for around 14 years. In other words, it’s not worth the risk.

According to the South China Morning Post, retailers are presently turning away any HK$1,000 banknotes out of fear that they could end up with a batch of counterfeit bills. While some shops are avoiding the currency altogether, others won’t accept 2003 notes featuring the names of HSBC and Bank of China.

Despite growing concerns over the counterfeit bills, Hong Kong Monetary Authority management department executive director Howard Lee said there’s no reason for the general public to get too worked up over the problem. However, having bills examined at a local bank probably isn’t a bad idea.

“Some people rushed to banks to change their banknotes, but it was done in an orderly way. Citizens have responded calmly so far,” he explained during a recent press conference.

The recent arrest in Hong Kong took place at Wing Lung Bank branch in North Point. Out of the ten counterfeit bills that were seized, three were Bank of China notes while the other seven were HSBC notes. Inspectors said the fake bills were extremely authentic.

“Police will strengthen the intelligence gathering and cooperation with the law enforcement agencies and relevant stakeholders especially the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the banks to combat the counterfeit currencies in Hong Kong,” officials said in a recent release.

Hong Kong isn’t the only place in China affected by the rash of counterfeit banknotes. In addition to the 22 notes seized in HK, authorities in Macao recovered 28 fake bills. Banks in these territories are currently in the process of removing the 2003 series from circulation.

[Image via Wikimedia Commons]

Hong Kong Police Arrest Woman Over Counterfeit Cash is a post from: The Inquisitr News

Brock Lesnar UFC 168 Rumors Not Denied By Dana White… Again [Video]

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Brock Lesnar UFC 168 Rumors Not Denied By Dana White... Again

Brock Lesnar UFC 168 rumors have Dana White skirting the issue on whether or not they’re true, making some UFC fans hopeful.

As previously reported by The Inquisitr, Brock Lesnar’s WWE return is expected for 2014 but a UFC return seemed in doubt.

Rumors about Lesnar started during a UFC 168 pre-fight interview. There were rumors that White and Lesnar had a secret meeting in Las Vegas to discuss his future UFC careeer, but White’s reaction cast some doubt:

“Really? I don’€™t know. I honestly don’€™t know. Honestly.”

All hope was not lost since some reports claimed Lesnar’s representatives have a history of being secretive. So if there are some negotiations going on White would not have been able to confirm them.

But then the Brock Lesnar UFC 168 rumors were given a shot to the arm with another statement by White:

“I don’t know. If there was something there and I hadn’t announced it, why would I tell you anyway… You don’t worry about what’s going on with Brock, if something happens with Brock, you’ll know about it.”

This statement has been described as being accompanied with a coy grin. To many, Dana White may sound as if he’s harboring a secret. After all, before UFC 146 he sounded very adamant that Brock Lesnar’s UFC career was over:

“He’s done. He called me a couple of days ago. He’s never coming back. His body can’t take it. He said he can wrestle, but he can’t fight. He was contemplating coming back.”

But some reports are saying Lesnar is using these rumors to get a better WWE deal:

“This is just a play for Lesnar to get a good contract from WWE when his deal is up. His last pay-per-view event was SummerSlam, which drew a very disappointing number with him in one of the co-main events (Lesnar vs CM Punk and John Cena vs Daniel Bryan)…. Lesnar is basically a mercenary, a guy with no particular affection for pro wrestling who broke in with a lucrative developmental contract, quit when the schedule became too much of a grind and returned when he could get a favorable deal for working a few matches each year. If he can’t get the deal he wants, he’ll go home and hunt all year. With SummerSlam being such a disappointment business-wise, he needs to play his cards right.”

As for Brock Lesnar, why did he leave the UFC in the first place? After all, Lesnar drew some of the biggest pay-per-view numbers in company history and so they tried to work out a deal at the time. But in 2009 Brock faced the biggest fight in his life with a case of Diverticulitis, a stomach disease. His UFC winning streak started to suffer after the illness and he suffered a flare up that caused him to cancel a match in 2011. After having surgery to remove a foot length of his colon, Lesnar was TKO’d in under three minutes and then promptly announced his retirement. Since then he’s been maintaining a limited schedule with the WWE due to his health.

While Brock Lesnar UFC rumors continue to flow, what we do know is that UFC 168 will feature Chris Weidman vs Anderson Silva 2. Additionally, a Women’s Bantamweight Championship bout features current champion Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate.

Brock Lesnar UFC 168 Rumors Not Denied By Dana White… Again [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr News

Chicago Teenager Decapitates Aunt’s Boyfriend For Being Told To Move Out

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Chicago teenager decapitates aunt's boyfriend

A Chicago teenager decapitated his aunt’s boyfriend after he was told to move out. We all get angry with family at times, but most of us don’t take it that far.

Usually when we reach the age of 18, we can’t wait to move out on our own. Alexis Valdez became angry when he was asked to leave the Northwest Side apartment where his aunt and her boyfriend were living.

Attorney Kingsley Sawyers said that Valdez had moved into the apartment six months ago, and had agreed to go to school, work, and help out with the expenses. Then Valdez eventually stopped working, and as a result, he was asked to leave the apartment. His aunt had left to attend a party on Christmas Eve, and Valdez started drinking. In his intoxicated state, he had allegedly become violently angry.

Silvestri Diaz (or Sylvester Diaz-Hernandez) had come home at some point to go with Valdez to buy more beer. The Chicago teenager allegedly struck him on the head with a hammer, knocking him out and killing him. Then he proceeded to start cutting up the body, severing his ears and nose, pulling out his eyes, and slicing him from his throat to his pelvis. Alexis Valdez had played loud music to conceal his actions, and eventually became exhausted.

Valdez had left the morbid Christmas Eve “present” on his aunt’s bed, but hadn’t left the scene. Her boyfriend’s decapitated head was found after Valdez had called 911 to report a murder. According to Sawyers, Valdez had been asked if he had tried CPR when “the defendant laughed and told the 911 operator that the victim had been decapitated.”

The police arrived and discovered Diaz’s mutilated body, and Valdez covered in blood. At this point, Valdez had admitted to the murder. His attorney stated, “The defendant also admitted that he was angry with his aunt and the victim, and that if his aunt had come home and seen the victim’s body, then he would have killed her as well.”

Authorities did not release any further information, and didn’t specify whether Diaz had been decapitated or killed first.

The Chicago teenager, having had no previous criminal record, was arrested and charged with one count of first-degree murder. He is being held without bond.

Chicago Teenager Decapitates Aunt’s Boyfriend For Being Told To Move Out is a post from: The Inquisitr News

Sea Lion Stench Sparks Animal Rights Debate

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Sea lion stench

An apparently horrific sea lion stench, caused by waste from the sea lions at La Jolla Cove in San Diego, is causing a lot of inconvenience to local residents and businesses.

The stench is reportedly so bad that a number of businesses in the area are suing the city for not acting to find an enduring solution to the problem.

The issue of the sea lion stench raises serious questions about the balance between animal rights and the welfare of humans. The situation is complex as the animals are protected, to a degree, by federal and state laws.

Local residents and merchants say the stench from the sea lions, as well as from birds, is so bad that it is affecting business and poses a health risk.

Many people have had enough of the smell and have decided to take action. Last week the Citizens for Odor Nuisance Abatement (yes – there is such an organization) filed suit in the San Diego Court.

George Hauer, the owner of George’s at the Cove, a restaurant in the area, said that the group was not trying seeking financial recompense from the city:

“We’re not trying to gain anything from this in particular, except for the city’s attention — with backing from the court — to once and for all deal with this issue in a dedicated, thorough and sustained manner.”

On the other side, Alex Roth a spokesman for the Mayor, Todd Gloria, was not prepared to comment specifically on the current sea lion stench issue but said: “We are well aware this is a problem impacting businesses and quality of life in La Jolla. We are actively working toward a solution. No options are off the table.”

It remains to be seen what will come of the lawsuit and what action the city of San Diego will take to curb the issue of the sea lion stench.

Sea Lion Stench Sparks Animal Rights Debate is a post from: The Inquisitr News

Plus Size Barbie Is Overweight, But Should The Obese Image Be Encouraged?

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Plus Size Barbie Is Overweight, But Should The Obese Image Be Encouraged

The plus size Barbie is overweight and triple-chinned. But some people believe the obese Barbie goes too far and shouldn’t be produced by Mattel.

As previously reported by The Inquisitr, a plus size model named Robyn Lawley slammed designer who pressure girls to lose weight and has even opened her own plus size swim suit line.

Any parents who are appalled by the idea should rest easy since Mattel hasn’t even considered making a plus size Barbie. The image of the overweight Barbie was created as part of an illustration contest on Worth1000.com. The Facebook page Plus Size Modeling stirred the controversy by asking people whether they thought it would be a good idea to have a Barbie doll with an expanding waistline. So far over 40,000 people have liked the idea.

Regardless, many people are taking issue with the idea of having an obese Barbie:

“No one is naturally fat for gods sake, that’s sending the message to girls that it’s ok to look like this and be unhealthy. How about we stop obsessing about being overweight and teach our children to eat healthy and get out and play…”

Even people who are obese themselves apparently feel the “double chin isn’t necessary” on the plus size Barbie. Chrystal Bougon, the owner of Curvy Girl Lingerie in San Jose, says, “I’d prefer to see a plus sized Barbie, a curvy girl Barbie doll that doesn’t have a triple chin, but if that’s all we get, I’ll take it.”

If you took the proportions of a not so fat Barbie doll, and applied them to real women, then a real life Barbie would have to be 16 inches while the average American woman is 37.5 inches (even the Human Barbie called Valeria Lukyanova isn’t that thin). So some people say the regular Barbie doll is too make believe and perhaps Mattel should consider doing an “average” Barbie:

“How about we just make average Barbie? Didn’t they come out with a study recently that took the average measurements of a certain age group and show what Barbie would look like with those? Let’s do that.”

Do you think the plus size Barbie is a good or bad idea?

Plus Size Barbie Is Overweight, But Should The Obese Image Be Encouraged? is a post from: The Inquisitr News

Austin Mahone Talks Taylor Swift Food Fights, Justin Bieber Comparisons

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Austin Mahone Justin Bieber

Austin Mahone is living a pretty awesome life right now. Not only does he have a debut album in the works, he also gets into food fights with fellow singer Taylor Swift.

During his chat with the folks at Buzzfeed, Mahone touched on a handful of life-changing subjects. When he wasn’t discussing food fights with Swift and dealing with comparisons to Justin Bieber, he lets everyone know just how embarrassing it was to get his driver’s license.

Regarding that Taylor Swift food fight: Austin Mahone recently toured with the award-winning singer, a job that once involved throwing food in her dressing room. Although the whole thing started out harmless enough, it didn’t take long for things to escalate.

“She’s just a super-fun, nice girl. Behind the stage she’s just super chill and likes to have fun. We had a food fight once. I threw some apples at her. We were tossing food back and forth in her dressing room and then it just turned into a food war,” the singer said.

As for those Justin Bieber comparisons, Mahone doesn’t seem to mind them at all. However, he wants to make sure people understand that he’s not just some Beiber clone trying to ride the guy’s coattails.

“But I want people to let me show them that I’m different. I want them to give me a chance. They’ll be like, ‘Oh, this kid’s 17, he’s got hair, he’s Justin Bieber.’ Like, what?! Just give me a chance, that’s all I ask,” Austin said during the interview.

Although Austin Mahone is a wizard in the studio and on the stage, apparently driving is a little difficult for the guy at the moment. It took the teenager three tries to score his driver’s license, the first of which involved him irritating the instructor with his incessant singing. He also drove in a fire lane, resulting in an immediate failure.

“Now the second time. Okay, I have a Range Rover. And I have the screen thing, so I’m backing up and I didn’t know I was supposed to turn around, because my screen shows me where I’m backing up. So I’m not even looking behind me, and he failed me,” Mahone said.

Austin Mahone is currently putting together his first full-length album. The singer previously stated that he hopes to have the batch of songs ready to roll by some point next year. Unfortunately, there isn’t a release date to report as of this writing.

Austin Mahone Talks Taylor Swift Food Fights, Justin Bieber Comparisons is a post from: The Inquisitr News

Aerosmith Guitarist Joe Perry Defends Phil Robertson of ‘Duck Dynasty’

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Joe Perry defends Phil Robertson

Aerosmith lead guitarist Joe Perry has defended Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson on social media in the context of freedom of speech and religion.

Perry seems to be saying that it is okay to “talk this way,” as it were.

Perry initially solicited his Twitter followers about their views about the Phil Robertson controversy by tweeting “So what do you think about this Duck Dynasty hoopla? More crackin’ down on Freedom of Speech in the US or what?”

In a follow-up tweet, Perry opined that individuals should be free to articulate their religious beliefs including those with which many others disagree.

Perry, who is a hunting enthusiast as is, of course, the Robertson family, is coming out with an autobiography in 2014. As a member of Aerosmith, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Robertson might have avoided to some degree the uproar over his comments in GQ magazine about the gay lifestyle had he had steered clear of mentioning body parts. The published comments about gays got Robertson suspended by A&E for nine days, but the network did an about-face yesterday and reinstated Robertson. Filming of the hit reality show will continue as scheduled.

In commenting on how network executives handled or mishandled the Phil Robertson controversy, the Legal Insurrection website quipped that A&E “ducked up.”

According to the Washington Examiner, the Robertson duck-hunting clan came out on top in this dispute: “The winners: Robertson and his family.They held fast to their values and learned how deep their fan base really is. The family’s admission of regret about his statements to GQ was no surrender, given that his comments were never about hate as opponents had insinuated. The losers: A&E executives, of course, who knew all along that the Robertson family members were conservative Christians, yet did the world’s worst imitation of Claude Rains in Casablanca when gay rights groups complained.

“And while we’re on that subject, the other big loser is GLAAD, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Discrimination, which showed how far it had strayed off the path of encouraging tolerance into the dark woods where conformity is enforced by witch hunts and demands for blood sacrifices. GLAAD’s intolerance sparked what its leaders called the worst backlash they’d ever seen — a backlash that included prominent members of the gay community such as Andrew Sullivan and Camille Paglia. That’s right: Two groups of smug, urban sophisticates got outsmarted by a backwoodsman who shoots ducks for a living.”

Do you agree with Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry that tolerance should be a two-way street?

[image credit: daigooliva]

Aerosmith Guitarist Joe Perry Defends Phil Robertson of ‘Duck Dynasty’ is a post from: The Inquisitr News


Phil Robertson Back On ‘Duck Dynasty,’ Family Says A&E Boycott Got ‘Out Of Hand’

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Phil Robertson Back On 'Duck Dynasty,' Family Says A&E Boycott Got 'Out Of Hand'

With Phil Robertson back on A&E’s Duck Dynasty, the family is saying the A&E boycott got “out of hand.”

As previously reported by The Inquisitr, A&E had Phil Robertson reinstated yesterday under pressure from the A&E petition. As might be expected, GLAAD blasted this decision.

In the long run, A&E’s suspension of the Duck Commander really didn’t make a difference. Even when they were still sticking to their guns, A&E admitted Duck Dynasty Season 5 would still feature Phil and they continued to air episodes. Filming for Duck Dynasty Season 6 wasn’t even scheduled to occur until this spring and Phil was busy spending time with the family and avoiding Barbara Walters.

According to an unnamed source, the Duck Dynasty family felt A&E was trying to manipulate them:

“You have to ask yourself, why this interview happened and why it ever became public. Someone from A&E was there and was aware of the kind of answers Phil was giving. But despite that, they didn’t ever try to stop it or control it. Instead, they let it hit the headlines and then released a statement condemning it. It is our belief that they knew what was going to happen and then used the situation to exercise control over Phil.”

The Duck Dynasty family also released a statement exclusively to Fox News stating how they felt:

“[We're] excited to keep making a quality TV show for our dedicated fans, who have showed us wonderful support. We will continue to represent our faith and values in the most positive way through ‘Duck Dynasty’ and our many projects that we are currently working on. The outpouring of support and prayer has encouraged and emboldened us greatly.”

But a new unnamed source claims Phil Robertson is actually slightly apologetic about the whole affair:

“The family is happy that they can put this behind them. It got a little out of hand. Phil has never been disrespectful to anyone and treats everyone with kindness. He made some comments off the cuff that he shouldn’t have made, and he knows that.”

Still, the family is “happy happy happy” to put the controversy behind them:

“The family knows his heart and knows that he wasn’t trying to be hurtful. They just want to finish celebrating the holidays and are looking forward to getting back to work.”

If anything, A&E had more to lose than Phil’s family, who were self-made millionaires before the reality TV show even began. The ratings for the show also dropped about 71 percent shortly after the A&E boycott started, so if anything the decision to cave in was completely financial and not ideological. The Duck Dynasty net worth is estimated to be around $500 million per year. Around $400 million of that is in products and the A&E boycott was advocating that fans only buy the Duck Commander products, which don’t benefit A&E at all.

Even with Phil Robertson back, do you think the Duck Dynasty family should leave A&E and find a network that fits better with their Christian beliefs?

Phil Robertson Back On ‘Duck Dynasty,’ Family Says A&E Boycott Got ‘Out Of Hand’ is a post from: The Inquisitr News

Jennifer Lawrence Choked By Fog Machine On ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay’ Set

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Jennifer Lawrence Fog Machine

Jennifer Lawrence reportedly had a very uncomfortable encounter with a faulty fog machine while shooting The Hunger Games: Mockingjay.

The American Hustle star is presently shooting the final installment of the series in Atlanta. Unfortunately for Lawrence, one sequence turned dangerous when some of the equipment started to malfunction. Thankfully, the actress emerged from the ordeal in one piece.

According to Indo Asian News Service, Jennifer Lawrence was shooting a scene which finds Katniss Everdeen leading a group of folks to safety through a long tunnel filled with smoke. It was around this point that things went wonky.

The fog machine in question started pumping out copious amounts of smoke, causing the actress and her fellow thespians to begin coughing and gagging. The cloud was reportedly so thick that rescuers could only locate the group by sound.

“Filming came to an abrupt halt when this fog machine broke and began spewing so much dense smoke during a tunnel sequence that Jennifer literally disappeared from sight — and everybody panicked,” an anonymous source explained.

After shutting down the machines and turning on several large fans, Jennifer Lawrence and the other actors were eventually rescued from the smoke-filled tunnel. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured during the fiasco.

“A rescue crew finally found the star and carried her out, hacking and gagging. Jennifer’s one tough gal, but she looked really shook up, and kept complaining she felt very nauseous — like she was suffering from vertigo,” the insider added.

How true are these reports? Considering they seem to have originated with the folks over at The National Inquirer, it’s best to approach this with extreme caution. The publication loves to cook up stories, so there’s always the possibility this thing is a complete fabrication.

One thing is definitely for certain: Jennifer Lawrence still has some work to do on the final installment of The Hunger Games. Director Francis Lawrence previously stated that the cast and crew had several months of shooting left to do on the flick.

“We start shooting again in Atlanta right after Thanksgiving until December 20th, then we break for Christmas and then we shoot for three more months in Atlanta and two months in Europe. We’re mostly shooting in sequence except for a scene here and there,” the filmmaker said during an interview last month.

If Jennifer Lawrence and her co-stars were trapped in a long tunnel full of smoke, then at least they all managed to escape the situation without any serious harm.

Jennifer Lawrence Choked By Fog Machine On ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay’ Set is a post from: The Inquisitr News

Antarctic Ship Rescue: ‘There’s A Lot Of Happy Faces’

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Antarctic ship

A trapped cruise ship off the coast of Antarctica will hopefully be homeward bound after the Chinese ice-breaker “Snow Dragon” was sent to rescue it.

Chris Turney, the expedition leader on board the ship said: “There’s a lot of r lief among the team and a lot of happy faces.”

Unfortunately, the happy faces didn’t last long, as the Snow Dragon came within about seven miles of the cruise ship before its passage was blocked by very thick ice.

According to Alvin Stone, a spokesman for the expedition, the ice was simply too thick for the ship to penetrate. Another rescue vessel from Australia has also been sent to help out.

This vessel, the Aurora Australis, from the Australian Antarctic Division, should have more luck in rescuing the stranded ship due to the fact it has a higher ice-breaking rating.

Lisa Martin, a spokeswoman for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, said the Aurora Australis is due to arrive to assist with the Antarctic ship rescue on Sunday.

Alvin Stone said: “I think we’re probably looking at another 24 hours of twiddling our fingers and waiting for something to happen.”

The cruise ship is stranded about 1,500 miles south of Hobart, and became trapped in the ice on Christmas Eve, following a severe blizzard.

On Christmas day, Turney sent a Tweet informing people of the situation: “We’re in the ice like the explorers of old! All are well and spirits are high. Happy Christmas.”

Fortunately, the Antarctic ship is not considered to be in danger of sinking and there are more than enough supplies for the people on board.

The passengers include 74 scientists, a number of tourists, and the crew; it departed from New Zealand on November 28. Turney added: “The blizzard we had yesterday was quite extraordinary — it’s not nice when you can feel the ship shaking,” he said.

Antarctic Ship Rescue: ‘There’s A Lot Of Happy Faces’ is a post from: The Inquisitr News

‘Fresh Prince’ Producer Jeffrey Ian Pollack Found Dead

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Fresh Prince producer Jeffrey Ian Pollack found dead while jogging

Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air producer Jeffrey Ian Pollack has been found dead at the age of 54, police says.

According to authorities, the body of the 54-year-old producer of 1990s films such as Booty Call and Above The Rim was discovered on Monday.

A spokesperson for the Hermosa Beach Police Department said a woman called in to inform authorities she had seen a man down on one of the city’s walking paths on December 23.

Police responding to the scene found the Fresh Prince producer on the ground by the side of the walking/running path near a tree, according to CNN.

Reports indicate that Pollack was an avid runner and was found wearing jogging clothing and a music player, but authorities do not suspect foul play in the case, however a cause of death has yet to be determined.

Additionally to being a producer for Fresh Prince, Pollack was a business partner of Benny Medina –the inspiration for the successful series.

According to The Hollywood Reporter the pair formed a celebrity management company called Handprint Entertainment, whose clients included such high profile names as Tyra Banks, Mariah Carey, and Jennifer Lopez. The company ended in 2008.

Medina said in a statement to Deadline:

“It is with a heavy heart that I must bid farewell to my dear friend, Jeff Pollack.”

“Jeff was a talented writer, director, producer and entrepreneur (…) but he would say his greatest accomplishment was his two children, Lael and Logan, to whom he was an amazing and devoted father.”

“He was my partner, but first and foremost, a great and loyal friend whom I loved dearly.”

“Gone too soon, I will miss him.”

Fresh Prince starred Will Smith in the title character and was originally aired on NBC between 1990 and 1996.

A huge success, which still runs on syndication, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is the story of Will, who lives in Philadelphia and after getting in some trouble with kids on the block, is sent to live with his wealthy relatives, uncle Phil and aunt Viv, who is his mother’s sister.

There he gets into all kinds of trouble as he tries to fit into this different world and gets to know the rest of the family, which includes geeky Carlton, posh Hillary, and Ashley Banks, along with the cheeky butler Geoffrey.

The Fresh Prince producer is survived by two children — daughter Lael Pollack, 19, and son Logan Pollack, 13 — from his marriage to ex-wife Solange White.

Some of Pollack’s most recent work included executive consultant on The Tyra Banks Show and production consultant on Monster with Charlize Theron, for which she won an Academy Award for her role as a serial killer.

But he was best known for his role in producing Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, one of the most successful sitcoms in American television history.

‘Fresh Prince’ Producer Jeffrey Ian Pollack Found Dead is a post from: The Inquisitr News

Naya Rivera Receives Plenty Of Bling For Christmas [Photo]

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Naya Rivera Big Sean Diamond Necklace

Naya Rivera received a pretty expensive present from her husband-to-be this Christmas.

The Glee star took to Instagram to show off her new diamond necklace shortly after receiving the gift. If you can’t help but gawk at the things famous people get for Christmas, then direct your attention to the image embedded below.

Not only did Naya Rivera show off the necklace she received from fiance Big Sean, she also gave her fans and followers a good look at her massive engagement ring. One things for certain: The actress currently isn’t hurting in the jewelry department.

“Merry Christmas,” she wrote on Instagram. She credited both the gift and the photo to Big Sean.

Us Weekly reports that Rivera and Big Sean announced their engagement six months after revealing their romance to the world. Weeks later, the Glee alum and co-star Kevin McHale went wedding dress shopping at Monique Lhuillier in Beverly Hills.

To celebrate their first Christmas together, Naya Rivera and Big Sean released a Christmas card to their friends, family, and fans. Although both look stunning in the pic, it’s Rivera’s dress and her very long legs that steal the show. Curious parties can investigate the card in question below.

So when is the happy couple planning to tie the marital knot? Although Big Sean recently revealed that the pair had already set a wedding date, they aren’t quite ready to share this information with the rest of the planet at the moment. You’ll have to wait patiently for the details to leak online.

Big Sean told Wendy Williams back in September that the couple originally started chatting back and forth on Twitter. According to him, Naya Rivera caught a glimpse of the guy in GQ magazine and decided to follow him on the micro-blogging site.

“It started from there. It took awhile. We went out to eat. We hung out a lot. Things kept going, and I was like, when somebody takes away stress instead of adding it, and somebody’s cool, you gotta take advantage of that,” Big Sean explained.

Rivera previously told People magazine that she and Big Sean are both spending a fair amount of time preparing for their big day together. According to Naya, her famous fiance is pretty involved with all the preparations.

“We definitely bounce things off of each other. We’re always on the same page about everything, which is probably why we’re getting married,” she explained.

What do you think about the gift Naya Rivera received from Big Sean for Christmas?

Naya Rivera Receives Plenty Of Bling For Christmas [Photo] is a post from: The Inquisitr News

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