A sinkhole in southeast Chicago injured one person and swallowed three cars on Thursday.

The Chicago Police Department said the injured man was attempting to drive his car around the sinkhole when it began to expand. His car toppled into the opening as result.

The driver was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital after suffering minor head injuries. He is currently listed in good condition as of this writing.

The Chicago sinkhole was reportedly caused by a water main break and heavy rain.

Fire department officials stated that crews arrived at the scene after two cars had already fallen into the hole. The third car is said to have been driven into the opening after firefighters began to access the situation.

Chicago Water Department spokesperson Tom LaPorte said he believed the torrential rain may have caused the pipe to burst. The sinkhole spanned the entire width of the road. It consumed part of the grass near the sidewalk in the process.

Authorities explained that the automobiles could be seen sticking out of the sinkhole. One witness who saw the incident take place said she could have very easily ended up inside the opening.

“It could have happened to me,” Ola Oni told USA Today. “I am lucky. I’m happy. In this kind of neighborhood I don’t think this should happen.”

Heavy rain has caused quite a few problems for folks in and around Chicago. Several flights were canceled as a result of the downpour. In addition to expressways, LaPorte said hundreds of basements have been flooded during the storms.

Several news organizations managed to snap shots of the Chicago sinkhole. WGN reporter Nancy Loo shared some of her pictures on Twitter.

Photo: Sinkhole swallows cars in Chicago (via @nancyloo) twitter.com/NBCNews/status…

— NBC News (@NBCNews) April 18, 2013

Pic of the year RT @nancyloo: Pavement and third car just went into #sinkhole. #chicago. twitter.com/NancyLoo/statu…

— WGNMorningNews (@WGNMorningNews) April 18, 2013

What do you think about the sinkhole that opened up in the middle of a Chicago roadway?

Chicago Sinkhole Injures One Person, Swallows Three Cars is a post from: The Inquisitr

Fixed mortgage rates have continued to slide with 30-year fixed rates falling to a 3-month low of 3.61 percent. According to Bankrate the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate has an average of 0.32 discount and origination points.

The average rate for 15-year fixed mortgage rates climbed back to 2.85 percent while jumbo 30-year fixed mortgage rates reached a mid-December low of 3.98 percent.

Jumping to 3.12 percent was 3-year ARM rates while 5-year ARM rates fell to a new low of 2.66 percent.

According to Bankrate the shift in fixed and ARM mortgage rates has been largely due to economic shifts abroad alongside stock market volatility. Mortgage rates have lowered for five consecutive weeks.

Mortgage rates have not climbed above five percent since April 2011. The study found that a $200,000 loan in April 2011 would cost $1,082.22 per month while that same loan today runs just $910.41.

Here are the full survey results from the recent mortgage analysis:

• 30-year fixed: 3.61% — down from 3.64% last week (avg. points: 0.32)
• 15-year fixed: 2.85% — down from 2.89% last week (avg. points: 0.31)
• 5/1 ARM: 2.66% — down from 2.70% last week (avg. points: 0.26)

The survey focused on the top 10 banks in the United States.

While Bankrate places the cost of a 30-year fixed-rate at 3.61 percent, national lender Freddie Mac has posted a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage average of 3.41 percent.

The Los Angeles Times notes that many buyers are choosing to buy discount points on their mortgages. The purchasing of discount points lowered a buyers interest rate and therefore their monthly payments.

Buyers who take advantage of a $200,000 loan at rates today compared to April 2011 can expect an overall 30-year savings amount equal to $63,000.

Are you more likely to take advantage of a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage when it dips below 4 percent?

[Image via ShutterStock]

Mortage Rates Slump To 3-Month Low is a post from: The Inquisitr

Luckily held nowhere near the pepper aisle.

Occupy Protest Today is a post from: The Inquisitr

Whoever knows how much of what a comedian says is true or exaggerated. Russel Brand told Conan O’Brian Tuesday night that Scientology rejected him.

Conan asked the British funny man about working with Tom Cruise in the movie Rock of Ages. Brand joked, “He is a glorious man, and he is very kind and sweet. That’s what you say if you want to continue to work in the film industry.”

Brand is a former sex and drug addict on a spiritual quest, and he seems to be open to any spiritual idea. He practices Transcendental Meditation, yoga and studies the writing of Carl Jung, the student of Sigmund Freud who believed in astrology, spiritualism, telepathy, telekinesis, clairvoyance, and ESP.

“It changes consciousness, it’s really good if you’ve had addiction issues,” Brand said when interviewed by The Guardian. “It’s highly psychological, and very beautiful, and overwhelming, and real, and trippy.”

He told Conan he was interested in Scientology, but Tom Cruise suggested he read the Bible instead.

“Every so often I’d say things like, oh Tom, sometimes I’m a bit lost in life, to see if he would try and get me in and he’d go, oh yeah, I dunno, read the bible,” Brand said.

When that didn’t work he got more specific. “Oh Tom, I wish I had a way of thinking more positively about the future,” he said. “That man had no interest in getting me into Scientology at all!”

Conan asked Brand if he was hurt Tom Cruise wouldn’t recruit him for Scientology. Brand said, “If there’s a cult that don’t want me, I want to know why!”

Watch the video and judge for yourself. Was Russell Brand really interested in Scientology, or did Tom Cruise just know enough about him not to take his interest seriously?

Scientology Rejects Comedian Russell Brand is a post from: The Inquisitr

According to Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal, the Cleveland Cavaliers have fired head coach Byron Scott just one day after the end of the NBA regular season. Scott’s Cavaliers lost 16 of their last 18 games and finished in last place in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference.

The 52-year-old spent three seasons as the Cavaliers’ head coach and finished with a .278 winning percentage. Scott sports a 64-166 record while he led the Cavaliers and has the worst winning percentage of any coach in franchise history that spent at least one full season as head coach.

Before taking over in Cleveland, Scott spent 3 1/2 seasons with the New Jersey Nets, now the Brooklyn Nets, before being fired and went on to coach the New Orleans Hornets for five years. Scott was fired nine games into the 2009-10 season after the Hornets started off 3-6.

His best finish in Cleveland came during last year’s lockout-shortened season with a 21-45 record. Scott’s best wasn’t even close to good as the Cavaliers fell nearly 15 games short of a playoff spot.

His coaching career fell apart after reaching back-to-back NBA finals with the Nets in the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons. The Nets lost in both finals and Scott was given the boot during the following season. After he failed to make it out of the conference semifinals with the Hornets, Cavaliers’ owner Dan Gilbert gave him another shot at improving a young team.

Scott took the reigns in Cleveland with one simple goal in mind; help the team improve moving forward. The Cavaliers failed to progress at a decent pace though they had no expectations of making the playoffs during Scott’s tenure.

With the talent already set in Kyrie Irving, owner Dan Gilbert has made the decision to let go of Byron Scott in hopes of bringing new life to his reeling club.

It’s tough to put the blame completely on Scott as he took the job in 2010 with LeBron James still on the roster. A few days after Scott signed, James decided to move on to South Beach and joined Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat.

The Cavaliers instantly went from an NBA championship competitor to a rebuilding team with no playoff hopes. Scott was given the job of finding a new foundation to start from and it never panned out.

Is Byron Scott’s career as a head coach finished or will he get another chance to hold the clipboard in the NBA?

[Image via Erik Drost]

Byron Scott Fired After Rough Finish With Cavaliers is a post from: The Inquisitr

A Texas middle school substitute teacher was caught on video throwing a basketball at a student’s head. The incident reportedly occurred during a dodgeball game during gym class. Bill Garvin had allegedly been hit in the head himself by “soft dodgeballs” thrown by students. He has served as a substitute teacher at the Bridgeport Middle School in the past.

An iPad video was taken of the Texas teacher throwing a dodgeball at the student. One student reportedly fell onto the gym floor laughing after allegedly throwing a ball at the teacher. Bill Garvin then allegedly threw a dodgeball straight down to the floor at the student.

The video taken at the Bridgeport Middle School also shows seventh graders continuing to throw dodgeballs at the substitute teacher after their classmate was hit with a ball. The teacher can be heard saying something like, “You want to be down there crying like he is?” The utterance appears to be referencing the boy on the gym floor.

The eighth-grade student who used his school-issued iPad video to record the scene said, “It started out with kids going crazy. At first it was kind of funny.”

The Texas middle school student went on to tell the Wise County Messenger that the substitute teacher appeared to get mad after getting hit with a ball. The young man also maintained that Garvin threw a ball at a student’s head.

Bridgeport Middle School Principal Travis Whisenant asked Bill Garvin to leave the campus after watching the video. Parents of students attending the gym class were reportedly notified. The mother of the student hit with a dodgeball was upset that a substitute who was supposed to be a “person you can trust” threw a ball at her son.

What do you think about Texas dodgeball incident?

[Image Via: Shutterstock.com]

Teacher Caught Throwing Dodgeball At Student [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Meet the iPrison. This gives a whole new meaning to jailbreaking your Apple iPhone.

iPrison: Because Two-Year Cellular Contracts Sometimes Feel Like Prison is a post from: The Inquisitr

Rules are rules, but sometimes you just want a freaking cheeseburger.

I Think I Have Been To This Diner is a post from: The Inquisitr

Boston radio stations are planning to share a moment of silence Monday to honor the victims of the Boston Marathon explosions and the heroes that responded to the crisis.

The Associated Press reports that stations owned CBS Radio, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, Entercom and Greater Media will participate in the tribute.

Gordon Smith, president of the National Association of Broadcasters, said the radio stations served as first informers after the blast and want to salute the first responders and others who helped during the crisis.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who were impacted by the horrific act that took place in Boston,” Smith said. “This moment of silence will serve as a time of reflection, honoring those lost and injured in this tragic event, and recognizing the countless acts of heroism and kindness that we saw on Monday and which continue today. As first informers in times of crisis, broadcasters want to take this opportunity to salute the first responders and the many unsung heroes who do so much during emergency situations.”

Today President Barack Obama visited Boston for the first time since the bombing. Three people died in the attack. Over 170 others were injured.

“For millions of us, what happened in Boston Monday is personal,” President Barack Obama said at an interfaith service held at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston. The service was dedicated to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing.

The president offered condolences and prayers as he met with survivors, victims’ families, and first responders. First lady Michelle Obama was also present at what has become too familiar of an event for the president.

President Obama had to make similar trips to Newtown, Connecticut; Aurora, Colorado; and Tucson, Arizona following the mass shootings in those cities. A shooting in Fort Hood, Texas left 13 servicemembers dead barely a year after Obama was elected president, the worst shooting to ever take place on a military base.

The Boston radio moment of silence is planned for 2:50 pm, exactly one week from when the two bombs exploded near the Boston Marathon finish line.

Boston Radio Moment Of Silence Planned For Monday is a post from: The Inquisitr

If you thought Justin Bieber as a harmless, floppy haired cartoon could lead to drama, according to the Daily Star, the pop idol is even more of a threat in the flesh.

Apparently, the 19-year-old’s stage crotch grabbing and general shirtlessness is the reason his former May 6 concert in Muscat, Oman was canceled.

Oman concert organizers Alive Entertainment announced yesterday that fans in Oman would be either refunded for their tickets or could exchange them for a newly added Dubai show on May 5. Bieber will also perform there on May 4.

Notably, Alive’s statement said the extra Dubai show was due to “overwhelming regional demand,” but gave no reason for the Oman cancellation.

Now, it’s alleged that the concert wasn’t in fact pulled by Bieber’s team but by the promoters, after the heartthrob was denounced by Muslim leaders as “too sexy” and a threat to the “moral health” of Muslim women.

Reportedly, an anti-Bieber campaign mounted on websites, blogs and forums. In addition, Hi FM radio station, who were sponsoring the now canceled show, received bomb threats and other disturbing warnings, the Daily Star reports.

And it’s all because of abs, James Dean hair and Bieber’s penchant for homaging Michael Jackson’s signature crotch grab.

A source told the Star: “Many people here were horrified by what they had heard about Bieber. People didn’t want him coming to Oman.”

Reportedly, the insider mentioned the pop prince’s aversion to wearing upper body garments, adding:

“He was called a reprobate and words were used like debauchery and haraam, which in Islam means a sinful act that displeases God.”

“In Islamic countries you can’t run around with your shirt off.”

“Bieber’s management didn’t scrap the concert, the promoters did, even though they had ploughed nearly ($2.29 million) £1 million into it.”

So that’s the alleged story.

Bieber’s drama-filled but entertaining Believe tour will shortly rock Norwegian daughters tonight at the last show there, before moving on to Denmark.

Question: “Too sexy,” is that an actual crime in Oman?

[Image via Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com]

Justin Bieber Oman Gig Cancel, ‘Too Sexy’ Apparently is a post from: The Inquisitr

Tim Tebow was sent to the New York Jets as part of a conspiracy to stunt the career of the run-option quarterback, an NFL quarterback coach said.

Steve Clarkson, a private coach who has worked with a number of quarterbacks, said in a conference call with reporters that the Denver Broncos shipped Tebow to the Jets knowing he would fail in New York.

“I think he was purposefully sent to New York. From the standpoint: you send him to a situation where you have instability with your coach — you don’t know if he’s coming or going,” Clarkson said. “You have a fragile-minded Mark Sanchez at quarterback. You stick Tim Tebow in there and you kill two birds with one stone.”

Clarkson thinks Denver made the Tim Tebow trade as a way of handcuffing the Jets.

“So if you’re Denver, you’ve got to be thinking, ‘We send him to New York, we basically kill an opponent and, at the same time, Tim Tebow doesn’t come back to bite us in the proverbial butt, if you will, because he’s not going to make it out of there,’ ” Clarkson added.

Clarkson’s sentiments may be misplaced, at least according to other accounts of the Tim Tebow trade. The Broncos reportedly received interest from both the Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars, but gave the final call to the quarterback himself. Tebow opted against going back to his hometown because he thought he would have a better chance to start in New York.

That never happened. The Jets struggled to find ways to use Tebow this year, and ended up giving him few snaps at quarterback while trying him at other positions like wide receiver and punt protector.

Now the Jets are trying to figure out what to do with Tim Tebow. He’s been rumored to be on the trading block, but the Jets could also cut him outright if he isn’t dealt by draft time.

Tim Tebow Set Up To Fail In New York, Quarterback Coach Says is a post from: The Inquisitr

Forsyth County, GA — An apparently very hungry police detective allegedly wasn’t lovin’ it when customers were taking too long at the McDonald’s drive-thru window.

So he got into a customer’s face.

The detective sergeant allegedly threatened one of the customers ahead of him in line with his service revolver. The detective was reportedly wearing plain clothes with a badge on his belt and driving an unmarked police vehicle at the time.

Video surveillance of the disturbing April 9 confrontation has just been released and is embedded below. “Forsyth County Sheriff’s Major Rick Doyle [said] that the detective became impatient with other men in the line, left his car and pointed his weapon. Doyle said the sergeant confronted the men using expletives. Forsyth County Sheriff’s Duane Piper said Biumi lunged his head, gun and shoulders into a pickup truck to threaten the driver.”

The detective, identified by local media as Scott Biumi of the DeKalb County Police Department, has been charged with aggravated assault in the drive-thru rage incident. The alleged victim, a teenager, described the McDonald’s drive-thu incident as follows: “He grabbed me on my right shoulder and pinned me against my driver’s seat, and the next thing I know, I have a gun in my face. He goes, ‘Do you know who you’re messing with,’ and ‘You shouldn’t be holding up the line’ and all this and that.’ ”

Biumi has a May 23 court date and may also face disciplinary action by DeKalb police for this alleged drive-thru rage.

There is perhaps nothing more frustrating than long waits at the drive-thru or at the bank waiting to conduct a simple transaction with a a teller (on those rare occasions when a personal visit to a bank is necessary), but this gun-toting officer’s alleged food rage unacceptably crosses numerous “lines.” That being said, could the problem in part be with McDonald’s rather than the drive-thru customers? A McDonald’s CEO recently characterized the fast-food restaurant company’s customer service as “broken,” which has resulted in, among other things, long food waits.

Watch the surveillance video of the Georgia police detective allegedly threatening the McDonald’s drive-thru customer by sticking his service weapon into the customer’s face:

[Top image credit: Shutterstock]

Cop Allegedly Brandished Gun At McDonald’s Drive-Thru Slowpokes [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Not all highly-paid CEOs and capitalistic tycoons are the greedy villains some groups politicize them to be. Case in point: Lord Simon Wolfson, the CEO of Next (a UK department store chain) was recently given a $3.6 million bonus, and turned it all over to his employees.

Though some CEOs have donated their bonuses to charity over the years (Whole Foods CEO John Mackey donated his 2009 bonus to the Global Animal Partnership), we can’t really think of another case where a boss has given his bonus to his employees.

Neither can Lord Wolfson’s Next, which released a statement:

“It’s the first time that any chief executive has ever done anything like this,” a spokesman said. “All our staff of 19,400 will share in it as a cash bonus. It works out to about 1 percent of their basic salary.”

Thus far, the reaction from Next employees has been positive. Though $3.6 million might not split into a hug boost among 20,000 employees, it seems as though most of them appreciate the gesture, if not the few extra bucks in their pockets.

“We’ve gotten Tweets from staff,” the spokesman told ABC News.

Wolfson announced his intentions in an email to Next employees. In the email, he described his decision as  ”a gesture of thanks and appreciation…for the hard work and commitment you have given to Next over the past three years and through some very tough times.”

He added, “I remain very grateful for the way in which everyone has helped to navigate our business through this recession.”

Public reaction to Wolfson’s generosity has been positive, as well. Commentators have begun to wonder whether there will be public pressure on other CEOs to do the same.

Unions representing Next workers have reportedly been silent on the issue. At least one U.S.-based union wasn’t exactly charmed by the gesture, either. Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), said:

“Working people do not want charity. They need guaranteed wages and benefits–the kind that come with a union contract. They shouldn’t be forced to hope that their employer will have a momentary impulse–a munificent impulse–to share his massive wealth.

“We don’t need the head of Macy’s to turn over his bonus to his employees. We want him to recognize that his employees need to be treated with dignity,” Applebaum concluded.

What do you think? Do you applaud Lord Wolfson’s gesture, or do you think it’s merely showmanship with little actual impact?

Next CEO Turns $3.6 Million Bonus Into Greatest Morale Boost Ever is a post from: The Inquisitr

A ship on fire in Antarctica resulted in a scramble to rescue the 97 fishermen aboard the Chinese Kai Xin, a report from China’s state-run Xinhua media source said today. A nearby Norwegian factory trawler Juvel picked up the workers on the disabled ship.

The Juvel was working less than 35 miles from the Chilé research station Bernardo O’Higgins near the northern tip of Antarctica and was available to act quickly.

At the moment, despite the fire on the ship and the Antarctic location, the Kai Xin wasn’t in danger of sinking.

Chilé officials said that they currently had good weather and that they planned a fly-over to keep an eye on the abandoned vessel. If necessary, Chilé’s navy could send a tugboat to tow the boat in order to keep it from striking the ecologically fragile Antarctic coast.

China has another ship, the Skyfrost, that is underway to pick up the rescued fishermen.

At the moment, people are understandably jolted by any news of a fire at sea, where the risk of being stranded is very real. In February, the world looked on in horror after a fire in the Caribbean left the Carnival Triumph cruise ship stranded for five days without sufficient power, water, or sewer services.

Being stranded in Antarctica is particularly dangerous, because people who get hypothermia from being immersed in the cold water could potentially die in minutes.

In 2007, the Chilean navy participated in a well-publicized rescue of the MV Explorer cruise ship, which struck an iceberg in Antarctica and then slowly sank. Despite the icy waters and the destruction of the ship, no lives were lost.

On the high seas, regardless of nationality, people come together to rescue lives at risk from a ship on fire in Antarctica’s dangerous waters.

[Antarctica photo by Vincent van Zeijst via Wikipedia Commons]

Ship On Fire In Antarctica, 97 Workers Rescued is a post from: The Inquisitr

Was Nicki Minaj’s American Idol outfit a little too hot for TV? The singer was criticized on Twitter last night for wearing a tight red dress that highlighted her cleavage.

American Idol is considered a family show on Fox and many people thought that Minaj’s outfit was a little inappropriate.

One user wrote: “Nicki Minaj needs to reevaluate her outfit of choice tonight. Someone’s about to get flashed. Yikes.”

Another added: “Nicki Minaj, your outfit is disgusting.”

Of course, the producers on American Idol didn’t bring Nicki Minaj on the show to just sit there and be a polite and perfect judge. They brought her on the show because she brings a steady stream of controversy (and conversation) to American Idol.

In addition to wearing the skin tight outfit last night, Minaj also managed to sling a few insults at her rival Mariah Carey. After a brief argument, Minaj told Carey to “simmer down” and then added, “sir.”

Minaj and Carey have been feuding since they started taping this season of American Idol. Things nearly came to blows during one incident but it looks like it has calmed down a little bit on set. Minaj and Carey are apparently content with just undermining each other and tossing in an occasional insult here and there.

Did you watch American Idol last night? What did you think of Nicki Minaj’s outfit.

Nicki Minaj ‘Idol’ Outfit Too Hot For TV? Singer Slammed For Showing Cleavage On Fox Show is a post from: The Inquisitr

Sexual Predators in Florida are being identified with large yard signs. Eighteen signs have been placed by the Bradford County Sheriff’s Department, in an attempt to protect children from danger.

Sheriff Gordon Smith says that Florida law allows him to identify sexual predators at his discretion. He has decided that the large red signs, placed in the yards of eighteen men, will promote safety in his county.

As reported by Action News Jax, the sheriff expects that the signs will deter children from the yards and homes of the convicted offenders. He notes that there are numerous sexual predators in Bradford County, and he received several calls from concerned parents.

Captain Brad Smith, Chief of Operations, discussed the program in an interview with Vice.com. Smith points out that Florida statute tasks law enforcement with identifying sex offenders, and making those names available to the public.

Smith explains that Florida distinguishes between sex offenders and sexual predators. Sex offenders have been convicted of a sexual crime, but predators are repeat offenders, or those who have abused children.

The Bradford County Sheriff’s Department has only identified sexual predators, with the large yard signs. The eighteen men with signs in their yards have all been convicted of one first-degree or several second-degree felony sex crimes.

Smith states that he does not expect that residents will harass the men with signs in their yard. He further contends that the sheriff’s department will protect the men from anyone attempting to harm them or their property.

When asked if the sheriff’s department was in danger of a lawsuit, Smith again refers to Florida law. The law specifically states that law enforcement officials must notify the public of the presence of sexual predators “in a manner that is deemed appropriate by the sheriff or the chief of police.”

As long as the law remains as it is, sexual predators in Bradford County, Florida, will be identified by large yard signs.

[Images via Facebook]

Sexual Predators In Florida Identified With Large Yard Signs is a post from: The Inquisitr

The 1985 John Hughes comedy Weird Science is getting a remake.

Joel Silver, who worked on the original with Hughes, will be producing the film. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World co-writer Michael Bacall will write the script.

The original Weird Science starred Anthony Michael Hall and Ilan Mitchell-Smith as Gary Wallace and Wyatt Donnelly, two high school nerds who attempt to create the perfect woman on their home computer. The two hack into a government mainframe for more storage capacity, and then add a Barbie doll using wires and electrodes. When they hit “enter,” a lightning bolt strikes the house and, when the smoke clears, a beautiful woman named Lisa (Kelly LeBrock) comes out of Wyatt’s bathroom. The boys are shocked to find out, however, that Lisa is way more than a sex object.

Bill Paxton starred as Chet Donnelly, Wyatt’s older brother, and Robert Downey Jr. starred as Ian, one of the bullies who constantly harasses Wyatt and Gary.

While Weird Science received mixed reviews from critics when it came out, John Hughes fans are sure to be wary of a remake. However, the new version will be an edgy, R-rated comedy — the original was PG-13 — more in line with The Hangover or 21 Jump Street, which was written by Bacall.

John Hughes, who directed the original Weird Science and several “Brat Pack” films — helping to launch the careers of Hall, Paxton, Molly Ringwald, Michael Keaton, and a host of other actors — died of a heart attack in 2009. He was 59 years old. His films were typically set in the suburbs of Chicago and contained a strong emphasis on pop songs. His characters also frequently broke the fourth wall, a device that was heavily employed by Matthew Broderick in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

The 82nd Academy Awards included a tribute to Hughes’ body of work, and several actors from his films gathered on stage to commemorate the man and his contributions to the film industry.

Do you think Weird Science should get a remake?

‘Weird Science’ Gets A Remake, Joel Silver To Produce is a post from: The Inquisitr

An effort to arm the teachers with guns in Florida schools is being debated on the Florida House floor.

As previously reported by The Inquisitr, Israel has been protecting its students with armed volunteers since the 1970s. While there are marked difference in the situation between Israel and the United States, various states and local governments have been considering laws to arm the teachers in protection of the students.

Texas already arms its teachers with concealed carry permits for guns as a solution to preventing school shootings like in Newtown, Connecticut. Lawmakers in a growing number of states — including Oklahoma, Missouri, Minnesota, South Dakota and Oregon — have said they will consider laws allowing teachers and school administrators to carry firearms at school. Even Texas governor Rick Perry gave approval to the arm the teachers idea.

House Representative Greg Steube said the Florida arm the teachers bill would increase security at elementary schools, which, unlike most middle and high schools in Florida, are not patrolled by police deputies working as school resource officers. The key difference is that the bill would allow principals to choose school teachers to carry concealed weapons on school grounds. Steube argues, “If you’re okay with a school resource officer…then you’re okay with this bill because they have to go through the exact same training.”

Before carrying guns at school, teachers would be required to complete at least 40 hours of training and receive re-certification annually. The cost for this training is about $249, but the bill does not specify who should pay those costs.

Juhan Mixon, executive director of Florida Association of School Administrators, surveyed some of the Florida principals and almost 78 percent of them opposed arming teachers. Wayne Blanton, executive director of Florida School Boards Association, says, “Teachers are role models for our students, and we think it just sends the wrong message as a role model to both students and to the community.”

What do you think about this Florida bill to arm the teachers?

Arm The Teachers Florida Bill Puts Guns In Elementary Schools is a post from: The Inquisitr

Boston race items are already showing up for sale on eBay as some sellers look to cash in on the tragedy and others aim to raise money in support of the victims.

Within hours of the blasts at the Boston Marathon that left three people dead and more than 170 injured, several race items were up for sale on eBay, including medals, jackets, keychains, and other mementos.

Some of the auctions of marathon items were getting pretty pricy. The Boston Globe found on Wednesday that there were five active auctions for 2013 Boston Marathon medals at eBay, ranging between $114 and $300 each. One had already sold for more than $400.

The auctions weren’t going over too well with the company that makes the medals.

“It’s just disgusting,” said Dan Ashworth, the president of the medal-making company. “Everyone was evacuated so the medals were probably just left there for anyone to take.”

It was unclear if greed was the main motivation for the Boston race items up for sale. Several of the listings noted that proceeds were going to relief charities.

Several others have joined in raising money for those affected by the Boston Marathon bombing. Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand auctioned off his personal suite for the team’s first playoff game, with all proceeds going to victims of the blast.

But for all the altruistic sales, there are have been some questionable actions as well. A video from shortly after the blast appeared to show a group of people looting marathon items including jackets, but it isn’t clear if they had permission to take them.

It’s also difficult to determine the scams from normal sales. Time magazine found that one of the Boston race items up for sale is a special bottle opener created by Samuel Adams in honor of the marathon, the type of memento normally seen for sale on the site. After starting at $9.99, bids for the bottle openers quickly jumped to $70.

Boston Race Items Already Up For Sale On eBay is a post from: The Inquisitr

We can sympathize with a guy who confesses a desire to “f–k up a pedophile,” but that’s not the kind of thing you want to brag about online when you’re a juror in a sex offender case.

Kasim Davey was discharged as a juror in a London trial for doing just that.

After being selected to be a juror in a case regarding an alleged sex offender, Davey jumped on Facebook and wrote ”Woooow I wasn’t expecting to be in a jury Deciding a paedophile’s fate, I’ve always wanted to f–k up a paedophile & now I’m within the law!”

Davey was discharged and will be prosecuted himself, because the post puts him in breach of contempt of court laws. He denied posting the message when he was questioned by the judge on his case.

He was a juror in the trial of Adam Kephalas, a convicted child-sex offender who was handed a suspended 12-month prison sentence in January, reports The Guardian.

The attorney general called Davey’s Facebook post ”an act likely to interfere with the due administration of justice.” Translation: You can’t impartially deliver justice as a juror when you’re carrying a personal grudge. Again, it’s an understandable grudge, but it does make the law “thing” kind of murky.

But the big lesson here has more to do with using discretion when you post things online. This contempt case is just the latest in a recent string of such prosecutions which involve jurors and other individuals talking about ongoing criminal trials on social media.

A related curiosity involves jurors researching cases online while they are in progress. The idea is to prevent prejudice on the part of the jury, and laws in the U.K. have been drafted to prosecute those who go hunting for such information.

Be careful what you post online, kids!

[Image via: Pan Xunbin / Shutterstock.com]

Juror Brags ‘Always Wanted To F–k Up A Pedophile’ Online, Is Removed From Case is a post from: The Inquisitr