Colin Fiedler, dead for 40 minutes after experiencing cardiac arrest last year, serves as living proof that technology can apparently produce amazingly miraculous results. The 39-year-old Australian man appears to have escaped death with the aid of two revolutionary medical devices that brought him back to the land of the living.

When Fiedler suffered a heart attack last June, he asked emergency responders to transport him to The Alfred, an Australian medical facility — a request that ultimately saved his life. The hospital was conducting trial usage of a two-part mechanical resuscitation technique, which became instrumental in Fiedler’s survival.

Considered clinically dead for an astonishing 40 minutes, the 39-year-old is now alive and extremely grateful that he picked The Alfred when given a choice of transport between two hospitals.

“For some reason, I said The Alfred, which is pretty lucky because they are the only one that has it,” Fiedler explained.

The facility reportedly used a mechanical CPR machine in tandem with a portable heart-lung device to successfully bring its patient back from the brink of death.

The CPR machine, known as AutoPulse, is employed to deliver continuous chest compressions. In Fiedler’s case it was combined with the heart-lung apparatus, which serves to maintain blood and oxygen flow to the brain and other vital organs in the body.

The life-saving technique has reportedly undergone exclusive testing at The Alfred, located in Melbourne, during the previous two years.

Technically referred to as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, the system is apparently unique in its ability to reduce the likelihood of permanent damage to the patient’s body while providing physicians valuable time to correctly identify and treat the cause of the cardiac arrest.

Fiedler is one of three such patients to be revived with the technique. Each considered clinically dead for 40 to 60 minutes, all three survived without incurring disability.

According to Professor Stephen Bernard, The Alfred’s senior intensive care physician, the system has provided remarkable and exciting results during its trial period. He reportedly holds high hopes for its eventual expansion into other area facilities.

Meanwhile, Colin Fiedler considers himself an extremely fortunate man to be alive and well after being dead for 40 minutes. His second chance at life is one he is determined not to take for granted. He’s reportedly taking a healthier approach to life and insists that he’s “so grateful, more than I could ever say.”

[Top image via Shutterstock]

Man Dead For 40 Minutes Gets Second Chance At Life is a post from: The Inquisitr

Michael Boggan lost most of his hands when bullies set off a homemade bomb near the 15-year-old autistic boy.

Now Boggan’s mother wants the bullies to face attempted murder charges. The incident happened in Brisbane, Australia on Friday afternoon. Police said Boggan was sitting with a group of friends when someone tossed him the homemade bomb. It exploded in his hands as a two boys ran away.

Rebecca, Michael Boggan’s mother, said the bullies were trying to kill her son when they threw the bomb to him.

“Horrific injuries. His hands are just bones and skin and he just kept saying ‘wake me up, wake me up’,” Boggan told Channel 10.

Three other teenagers were taken to a local hospital with minor injuries after the explosion. Police questioned them but did not press charges against any of them.

The bomb was described as a golf ball packed with chemicals and shrapnel. The bullies claimed it had heroin inside, but it detonated when Michael shook it.

“I’ve only got the pinkie and three fingers. Nothing else,” Michael Boggan told Channel 7. “All I remember is I was shaking it up a little bit and then boom I couldn’t see or hear.”

Reports said the boys had been bullying Michael for some time, but they had once been “on and off friends.” Michael’s mother said her son was only trying to be friendly when they approached him on Friday.

Michael’s stepfather said all the 15-year-old wanted was to fit in.

“He would come home sometimes and he had been in fights with other kids and he’s come home angry … because no one liked him and they just kept treating him like crap,” Michael Clifton told The Courier-Mail.

After having his hands blown off by the bullies’ bomb, Michael Boggan faces a long recovery of reconstructive surgeries. He already endured nine hours of surgery after the initially blast.

Michael Boggan: 15-Year-Old Has Hands Blown Off By Bullies’ Homemade Bomb is a post from: The Inquisitr

Jaden Smith, the 14-year-old son of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, is not seeking emancipation from his superstar parents for his birthday.

It was previously reported that the teenager wanted to live in his own home, away from his parents, when he turns 15 on July 8. According to The Sun, Will Smith said Jaden, as well as 12-year-old daughter Willow, should be able to make their own decisions.

Smith said, “We generally don’t believe in punishment. From the time Jaden was five or six we would sit him down, and all he has to do is be able to explain why what he did was the right thing for his life.”

It’s a philosophy that Smith firmly believes in, as this isn’t the first time he’s mentioned that he and his wife don’t like punishing their children.

“The way that we deal with our kids is, they are responsible for their lives. Our concept is, as young as possible, give them as much control over their lives as possible and the concept of punishment, our experience has been — it has a little too much of a negative quality,” Smith told Metro last month. ”So when they do things — and you know, Jaden, he’s done things — you can do anything you want as long as you can explain to me why that was the right thing to do for your life.”

However, letting Jaden move out on his own apparently doesn’t fall into that category, at least not for the time being. He is still a minor and will remain under his parents’ guardianship for now, but in three years, he’ll be able to legally move out on his own. In the meantime, he’ll be co-starring with his father in the upcoming sci-fi film After Earth.

What do you think of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s “no punishment” philosophy, and letting their kids do whatever they want?

[Photo credit: Jaguar PS / Shutterstock.com]

Jaden Smith Not Seeking Emancipation From Parents is a post from: The Inquisitr

Burger King just got its own McRib.

The restaurant chain unveiled its BK Rib Sandwich today and many have dubbed it a McDonald’s McRib buster. The sandwich features boneless ribs a tangy sauce and a sweet bun. It will make its national debut on May 21.

The McRib has gathered a cult following over the years largely because the sandwich is only available at certain times of the year. Burger King will be using a similar strategy with its own ribless sandwich. The BK Rib Sandwich will go on May 21 and will only be available until the end of summer.

Scott Hume, editor of BurgerBusiness.com, said: “That McDonald’s has been bringing back McRib for 32 years tells you it’s popular and important.”

Burger King will also be releasing a Memphis pulled pork sandwich and a Carolina BBQ sandwich next week. Sweet potato fries and a BBQ chicken salad will also be available this summer at BK.

Eric Hirschhorn, vice president of global innovation, said: “Our guests have grown to look for a variety of options … It’s not just about beef anymore, but other proteins like chicken and turkey and pork.”

Do you think the BK Rib Sandwich is a McRib buster? McDonald’s spokesman Danya Proud said today that she was confident that McDonald’s customers would continue to eat McRib sandwiches. Proud didn’t say when the sandwich would be back at McDonald’s but did say that it “will be returning.”

According to Burger Business, this is the first time that one of McDonald’s competitors has added a ribless BBQ sandwich to its menu.

Are you excited for the BK Rib Sandwich? If you live in Chicago, San Francisco or Los Angeles you’ll be able to use BK’s new delivery service to get your hands on the McRib buster.

Burger King Unveils McRib Buster is a post from: The Inquisitr

A Danity Kane reunion is in the works, and apparently Diddy isn’t invited.

The girl group created by Sean “Diddy” Combs is preparing to get back together for a brand new album. Danity Kane also intends to do some touring once the new collection of tunes is available to the masses.

Sources recently told the folks at TMZ that Shannon Bex, Aundrea Fimbres, Aubrey O’Day, and Dawn Richard are coming back for the record and the tour. However, it would appear that everything is going down without the assistance of Diddy.

Original member D. Woods might be absent from the upcoming Danity Kane reunion. According to The Huffington Post, the singer has been extremely busy cultivating her solo career. Judging from the comments she made following the group’s break-up, Woods may not be so willing to return.

“It came to an end when it needed to. There was a lot of outstanding issues and obviously that was the only way it could be resolved,” she explained in 2009. “But if your services are not being appreciated you gotta take it elsewhere.”

The creation of Danity Kane was chronicled in the MTV series Making the Band. With Diddy as their mentor, the girls worked hard to bring their respective talents together. The group hung around for several years before deciding to call it quits. During that time, they released the singles “Show Stopper” and “Damaged.”

Despite the “outstanding issues” mentioned by Woods, the group managed to sell quite a few copies of their albums. Both Danity Kane and Welcome to the Dollhouse were certified platinum.

The girls are reportedly moving forward without Diddy since the group felt he was taking more than his fair share of the money. Combs and his representatives have yet to respond to these reports.

What do you think about the Danity Kane reunion? Do you think the group will make it without Diddy’s help?

[Image via s_bukley / Shutterstock.com]

Danity Kane Reunion Happening Without Diddy is a post from: The Inquisitr

A new study shows children as young as six are watching online porn. Another disturbing takeaway from the report? Children are also flirting online at the age of eight.

The study was published by Bitdefender, the creator of some of the internet’s best antivirus software. The company correlated their results of an online survey of parents, along with data compiled from its parental control services.

The Bucharest-based antivirus firm looked at what sites parents choose to block, as well as what sites children access regularly. The results showed that almost a quarter of kids in the study had at least one social network account by the age of 12. Seventeen percent had social media accounts by the age of 10.

Bitdefender’s study shows that children will lie about their age when they create a social network profile. On Facebook, they must be at least 13 to sign up. The company’s Chief Security Strategist Catalin Cosoi, stated:

“Kids nowadays are acting like young adults online — just give them an internet-connected device and they will find a way to things parents would like to ban forever.”

Those things include watching porn online, even for children as young as six. Cosoi added:

“Knowing that online dangers go beyond pornography, to hacking and suicide websites may help parents protect their kids’ life on- and offline.”

Along with online porn, the study showed that the age of kids accessing instant messaging and computer games is decreasing. About 3.45 percent of kids chaffing with friends on instant messenger are five. Also, two percent of computer game addicts are also five-year-olds.

The company also found that teenagers leave instant messaging for younger kids. Meanwhile, teens prefer to access “hate” websites, which allow children to share what they hate, as well as use inappropriate language. More than 17 percent of children who read or post hateful messages online ate 14-year-olds. They are followed by 15-year-olds at 16.52 percent, then kids aged 16 at 12.05 percent.

Do you allow your children to access the internet unsupervised? What parental blocks do you place on the computers they use?

[Image via ShutterStock]

Six-Year-Olds Now Watching Online Porn [Study] is a post from: The Inquisitr

The BlackBerry Messenger application (BBM) is making its way from BlackBerry devices to both the Google Android and iOS platforms this summer.

The announcement reveals that iOS and Android users will be able to download and use the app for free.

The application will first debut with only core BBM functionality, which will then extend to other aspects of the BlackBerry system later in the year.

Among the apps features are BBM chats, multi-person chats, voice note sharing, and BlackBerry Groups with message and file sharing between up to 30 members.

According to BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins, ”we’ll bring voice, screen share, and of course, channels later on.”

Heins says the launch date for BlackBerry Messenger is “subject to approval by Google Play and the Apple App Store.”

BBM is compatible with iOS 6 and devices running Android 4.0 and later.

The BlackBerry Messenger platform has been an integral part of the company’s platform for years and opening it up for use outside of BlackBerry devices might signal the company’s rumored move towards software only development. According to Andrew Bocking, executive vice president of  software product management and ecosystem at BlackBerry:

“For BlackBerry, messaging and collaboration are inseparable from the mobile experience, and the time is definitely right for BBM to become a multi-platform mobile service.”

More than 60 million monthly active users currently take advantage of the BlackBerry Messenger service, and more than 51 million of those users engage with BBM for an average of 90 minutes per day. With more than 10 billion messages sent each day with BBM, now seems like the perfect time to massively expand the BlackBerry Messenger apps reach.

With many companies now providing “bring your own device” support, the move to allow cross-device BBM use could help some business users stick with their familiar BlackBerry-based smartphones and maybe even try out BB10.

Will you be downloading BlackBerry Messenger when it arrives for iOS or Google Android?

BlackBerry Messenger Coming This Summer To iOS, Android Platforms is a post from: The Inquisitr

Carrie Underwood isn’t quite ready for kids yet.

The singer, who has been married to her husband Mike Fisher for three years, recently told Marie Claire that she didn’t think she was mature enough for kids.

Underwood, 30, said: “I don’t feel old enough to have kids. I know I am mature. But being responsible for another human?”

Underwood said that she isn’t a very “mushy” person and doesn’t know how loving she would be raising a family. The singer says that she’s now a sociopath or anything but admits that she has a hard time forming relationships.

Underwood said: “I’m not a mushy person at all. We were never a huggy family. Or a ‘let’s talk it out’ family. Technically I have siblings but they are quite a bit older than me – I was the accident – so I have the only-child syndrome going on … I’m a little more selfish, a little more independent, a little closed. I do wish I were softer. I wish I were able to form relationships better. But hey, I mean…I’m not a sociopath.”

Do you think Underwood is being a little hard on herself? Do you think she’d be a good mother?

Underwood has no plans for kids in the immediate future but that could change sometime. For now, she’s still trying to deal with being in public eye.

Underwood said: “At the beginning of my career, I used to have panic attacks. People were touching me, screaming – it made me really nervous. In public, I just get nervous … It’s a physical reaction, feeling like the walls are closing in. The fans are great. It’s not their fault. I don’t ever want to come across as ungrateful. But on my end, it is hard for me to process. Because I am still just me.”

Are you a fan of Carrie Underwood?

[Image Via Mat Hayward / Shutterstock.com]

Carrie Underwood: I’m Too Young For Kids is a post from: The Inquisitr

I’m already a fan of Peanuts and Dr. Who but I would totally watch Dr. Who: Peanuts.

Dr. Who Joins The Cast Of ‘Peanuts’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

A CNN anchor’s cancer diagnosis is the second double mastectomy story we’ve heard today, and Zoraida Sambolin came out to say she too planned to undergo the procedure this morning on air.

The CNN anchor’s cancer admission was presented alongside coverage of news that Angelina Jolie had undergone a preventive double mastectomy after learning she had the gene BRAC1. Jolie’s mother, Marcheline Bertrand, died at the age of 56 of ovarian cancer.

Sambolin admitted she’d been diagnosed with breast cancer, and was candid about the emotional processes a woman experiences when contemplating both the specter of breast cancer as well as coping with the loss of both breasts.

Over on Facebook, the CNN anchor’s cancer admission was posted to her fans, and she wrote:

“I struggled for weeks trying to figure out how tell you that I had been diagnosed with breast cancer and was leaving to have surgery then [...] Angelina Jolie shares her story of a double mastectomy and gives me strength and an opening. #bravewoman”

Normally, Sambolin is discussing the events and happenings of the lives of others, but her own personal struggle was on display when she spoke on her native CNN about her cancer diagnosis.

The CNN anchor explained that Jolie’s candid admission inspired her, and said:

“She said I feel empowered, that I’m in a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity. You know, it’s nice to hear somebody else talk about it and have that support of a lot of women around you.”

In deciding to undergo the double mastectomy, Sambolin says, it was her own two children and the thought of risking her life and what they’d go through that moved her to make the hard choice.

The CNN anchor adds:

“At the end of the day, I need to have peace of mind … I need to sleep at night. I have two kids that are my world, like any woman, and it’s what you think about. So I thought for me, this would be the best decision moving forward so I could feel confident that it’s not something that I’m going to have to deal with that much more in the future.”

Of the choice, she says it was straightforward and quick:

“I didn’t mess around. I went when I was supposed to go, and I followed it diligently.”

In the CNN anchor’s cancer segment, Sambolin highlighted the plight of women every day who may find that they — like Jolie — have the BRAC1 gene but are not covered by medical insurance for a preventive double mastectomy.

CNN Anchor Cancer Diagnosis: Zoraida Sambolin Undergoes Double Mastectomy is a post from: The Inquisitr

Vice President Joe Biden wants all violent video games and movies to be taxed.

Every single time violence in real life becomes a major or nationally relevant topic, the US government keeps trying to blame it on violent media. Violent video games usually get most of the blame because no other kind of media gives you the chance to gun down people and humanoids with realistic weapons ranging from high-powered rifles to crowbars.

Unfortunately, they repeatedly do this because they don’t want to tell parents of violent kids to take responsibility for the actions of their offspring. We can legally regulate guns and games, but we can’t do anything about the real life causes of violence in real life.

Vice President Joe Biden held a closed-door gun legislation meeting with religious representatives from around the US, to discuss the issue of violence in real life. He feels that if we put a tax on makers of violent video games such as Call of Duty, as well as violent movies, we can put the money toward helping the victims of real life violence.

In a way, it makes sense.

However, it will raise the price on such games, and newcomers to the gaming development world won’t want to develop much of anything more violent than Mario. It takes recreational indoor activity away from kids with violent tempers, and they are more likely to commit real life violence out of sheer boredom. Taxing violent video games and movies could potentially make the problem worse, but seeing as it’s more money in government pockets, we doubt Vice President Joe Biden would have a problem with that.

There have been victims of violence who have been either flat out denied benefits, or given so much red tape as to make the process of acquiring the funds feel like a waste of time. So who is keeping the government in check as they take money away from developers of violent video games and movies? Or in the words of a popular movie, who watches the watchmen?

Do you think Vice President Joe Biden is on to something by taxing violent video games and movies? Or do you think it will only make the problem worse?

Violent Video Games And Movies: Vice President Joe Biden Wants To Tax Them All is a post from: The Inquisitr

Police are accused of stealing $160,000 from a man at a traffic stop in what critics are calling a case of “policing for  profit.”

The incident happened in December 2011 along Tennessee’s Interstate 40 in Dickson County. Video obtained by NewsChannel 5 Investigates showed an Indian-American businessman pulled over by police.

The officers found $160,000 the man had on board, and an interdiction officer from the 23rd Judicial District Drug Task Force seized the large sum, claiming it might be drug money.

Though critics are accusing the police of stealing the $160,000, they actually acted within the law. Police agencies have the authority to seize large sums of money on suspicious that it is drug money. Critics say police target out-of-state drivers who often are minorities, and have taken the money with little to no evidence that it is drug-related.

It can take a long time for the driver to get the money back, which comes after a costly court process.

In the Tennessee case, the officer brought the $160,000 to the federal government, tying it up for even longer.

After money is seized, federal agencies have 90 days to file a forfeiture action. The property owner then has 30 days to file a claim, but the U.S. Attorney’s Office can delay the process another 90 days to file a formal lawsuit. The delays only continue from there.
In the case of the Indian-American businessman, he didn’t get his $160,000 back until the next year.

“It does show that the government did not have a very strong case,” said Darpana Sheth, an attorney with the conservative-leaning Institute for Justice.

But for others with smaller sums, the lengthy court process is often too much. Police seize $5,000 or $10,000, and it would end up costing the person more on attorneys and court fees to get it back, critics claim.

The  person also must prove that the money is legitimate and not connected to drugs, which critics say violates the idea of “innocent until proven guilty.”

Some agencies have won victories for individuals after police seized money from them. In 2009, the Southern Poverty Law Center has won the return of almost $20,000 to a Latino migrant farm worker who had money seized despite the fact there were no charges brought against him.

The man who had $160,000 seized by police finally gave in, offering them $5,000 to return his money. He got only $155,000 back.

Police Accused Of Stealing $160,000 From Man At Traffic Stop is a post from: The Inquisitr

Mariah Carey is reportedly planning her first world concert tour since 2004.

The American Idol judge recently released a new song, “#Beautiful,” as the lead single from her upcoming 13th studio album, which is expected to hit shelves this summer. The song, which features fellow R&B singer Miguel, has hit number one in 25 countries, and has made the top five in 45.

According to Billboard, ”#Beautiful” is currently at No. 22 on the Mainstream Top 40 and Rhythmic charts, No. 23 on Adult Contemporary, No. 29 on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop, and No. 35 on Adult Top 40. The single marks Carey’s 30th Mainstream Top 40 entry, tying Britney Spears for the second-most appearances. Rihanna claims the number one spot with 35 entries. However, Carey tops the Bajan “Diamonds” singer on the Rhythmic charts, with 37 to Ms. Fenty’s 35.

“Due to the smash success of ‘#Beautiful,’ fans are clamoring as Mariah makes plans for a world tour,” a source told Us magazine.

Carey’s 2004 Charmbracelet World Tour: An Intimate Evening with Mariah Carey took the singer to over 20 countries, playing to small and large crowds (Manila held the most attendees with 30,000 concertgoers). The tour was Carey’s most extensive to date, spanning eight months and 69 shows. The tour was launched in response to the moderate sales of Charmbracelet, as well as the poor reception of Carey’s 2003 semi-autobiographical film Glitter.

Carey’s 2010 Angels Advocate tour took the 43-year-old to Brazil, Singapore, and Egypt, as well as the US and Canada. The tour received general positive reviews. The associated album, Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 in 2009, but was the lowest-selling album of Carey’s career with only 2 million copies sold worldwide. Her best-selling album was 1993′s Music Box, which sold over 30 million copies worldwide.

The announcement comes about a week after a report that Carey and her fellow judges on American Idol were all getting booted at the end of this season. Randy Jackson, the only remaining original judge, announced his departure last Thursday, but there is no word yet on whether Carey, Nicki Minaj, or Keith Urban will be returning.

Would you go see Mariah Carey in concert?

[Photo credit: s_bukley / Shutterstock.com]

Mariah Carey Planning World Concert Tour [Report] is a post from: The Inquisitr

A student suspended for tweeting negative comments about his school’s sports teams has been suspended for the rest of the year, according to a Tuesday report from The Wichita Eagle.

Senior class president Wesley Teague, a Heights High School athlete himself, sent out a tweet during the school day that read, “‘HeightsU’ is equivalent to WSU’s football team,” referring to the Wichita State University program that went belly-up at the end of the 1986 season.

The news site reported that Teague’s tweet caused a firestorm of negativity among underclassmen, who frequently use the #HeightsU hashtag when referring to their school.

That tweet and a few in which Teague responded to criticism, were enough to get him ousted through the end of the year.

Teague will also not be allowed to give a speech at the senior breakfast and convocation ceremony on Friday. He will be allowed to participate in the school’s commencement ceremony on Sunday, however.

Kirsten Teague, mother to the student suspended for tweeting, plans to appeal the suspension, but with less than a week to go, she’s running out of time. “I think it’s a bit overreacting. … I don’t really think there’s anything wrong with what Wesley did,” she said.

School officials disagree. According to a letter sent home from assistant principal Monique Arndt, “Wesley posted some very inappropriate tweets about the Heights athletic teams, aggressively disrespecting many athletes. … After reading the tweets and taking statements from other students it was found that Wesley acted to incite the majority of our Heights athletes.”

Susan Arensman, Wichita schools spokeswoman, issued an email pointing out “negative reaction from many students, including threats of fights in the school.”

“It caused a major disruption to the school day. Other students were also suspended,” Arensman said, though she was unaware of how many other students were suspended. She was also unaware of the length of those suspensions.

Here’s the offending tweet. Supporters have launched #TeamWesley and #FreeWesley hashtags as a response to the school’s action.

“Heights U” is equivalent to WSU’s football team

— Wesley Teague ✊ (@Rolltide_Teague) May 2, 2013

(You can follow the rest of the drama on Teague’s personal Twitter page.)

If you think this student suspended for tweeting is bad, then you’ll probably also be shocked to learn about two other questionable suspensions this year.

In January, a fifth grader was suspended for bringing a paper gun to school and in February some California students received suspensions for chanting “U.S.A., U.S.A.!” at a local basketball game.

What do you think about Heights High School’s decision on the student suspended for tweeting — good call or complete overreaction?

[Image via ShutterStock]

Student Suspended For Tweeting That School’s Sports Teams Weren’t Very Good is a post from: The Inquisitr

A concealed gun in a purse at a St. Petersburg, Florida Starbucks went off Sunday afternoon when 51-year-old customer Pamela Beck dropped it, shooting her 38-year-old friend Amie Peterson. Ouch. I’m pretty sure Peterson said she wanted a double shot of espresso, not a .25 caliber handgun bullet in the left leg.

The concealed handgun must have been a lady’s model. According to a report in Monday’s Tampa Bay Times, Peterson didn’t even know that she’d been shot until she saw the blood.  She was treated and released, and her injury was reportedly not very serious.

However, the handgun-totin’ Pamela Beck didn’t have a concealed weapons permit. Maybe it was just another night in Florida, but the officers didn’t haul Beck off to the hoosegow, although it’s possible that Pinellas County prosecutors could file charges later.

But our fearless Starbucks shooter had an acceptable excuse.  You see,  Pamela Beck is quite the shopper. She was really loaded down with bags, and she only dropped her purse by accident when she was trying to pay for their coffee, and anyway she didn’t know the loaded weapon was in her purse to begin with.

A local news station WTSP report described the weapon as a “0.25 caliber semi-automatic” which sounds sorta scary and sorta not. Her father gave it to her for whatever reason dads give daughters guns, and she put it in a spare purse.

Then one fine day she was swapping purses, and she chose that one and she forgot the loaded handgun was in there and…well…you know the rest.

The police probably thought it was easier to let her go than to let her keep talking.

I don’t know why I’m laughing. Don’t even pretend that it never happened to you.

Well, maybe not with a loaded handgun. And maybe not at a Starbucks. But do you really know what you’ve forgotten in every purse you’ve got stashed around the house?

Sheesh. I’ve got about 50 handbags. I better excuse myself to check ‘em all now.

I don’t want to end up in the news as the next loaded gun in purse Starbucks shooter.

[Starbucks coffee mug photo by Rudolf Schuba via Flickr and Fotopedia]

Gun In Purse Starbucks Shooting Has Us Saying, ‘I Just Wanted A Shot Of Espresso’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

Imagine being able to bypass all Disney lines instead of waiting the hours for popular attractions — apparently you can, but you have to hire “handicapped” people to “guide” you, says a new report suggesting the practice is rife among Manhattan moms in the “one percent.”

The wealthy Manhattan moms’ Disney scam was revealed by a social anthropologist, Dr. Wednesday Martin, who claims the practice of hiring disabled people to enable Disney line jumping is not only well-known in certain upper-crust New York City circles but engaged in without any shame for the deplorable actions.

Walt Disney World resorts offer more pedestrian “fast passes” and other power ups for those willing to pay, but the plebe concessions are apparently not enough for high-falutin’ NYC mommies.

Martin was alerted to the practice of hiring handicapped “guides” to skip ahead of everyone else at Disney when researching her book Primates of Park Avenue, and she describes the yucky practice as commonplace, saying:

“Who wants a speed pass when you can use your black-market handicapped guide to circumvent the lines all together?”

The New York Post reported upon the “black-market Disney guides” and said the disabled folk are hired for $130 an hour, or $1,040 for eight hours at Disney.

The paper quotes one one-percent mama as bragging about how a convenient disabled guide enabled her to shove ahead of others waiting during a Disney trip, allegedly boasting:

“My daughter waited one minute to get on ‘It’s a Small World’ — the other kids had to wait 2 1/2 hours … You can’t go to Disney without a tour concierge … This is how the 1 percent does Disney.”

It all sounds a bit Cruella DeVille — and the paper is known for playing fast and loose with facts — but Martin seems to back up the allegations quite readily.

The disabled Disney guides are purportedly provided through a “black market” service cynically called “Dream Tours,” allegedly run by a man named Ryan Clement and girlfriend Jacie Christiano. Neither commented to the post about the claims.

But if you think hiring a disabled person to cut lines at Disney is an attractive plan, not so fast — before Dream Tours will even take your call, you need a referral from the Manhattan mommy cabal to get a “guide,” so no nouveau riche families are able to access the shady service.

Martin says:

“So when you’re doing it, you’re affirming that you are one of the privileged insiders who has and shares this information.”

Do you think hiring a handicapped person to cut lines at Disney is a new low?

Rich Moms Hire Disabled People To Cut Disney Lines is a post from: The Inquisitr

The fourth season of Downton Abbey will premiere in the US early next year.

Although fans of the hit series may have to wait a while before new episodes make their way Stateside, at least they now have a date to mark on their calendars.

PBS has announced that Downton Abbey season four will debut on January 5, 2014. The series will run for eight weeks, culminating in the February 23 finale.

The show’s third go-around proved to be a huge hit for the network; it is now the highest-rated drama in PBS history.

Since a few familiar faces will not be returning for the next season of Downton, producers are introducing some new characters into the storyline. Actors Tom Cullen, Nigel Harman, and Dame Harriet Walter are reportedly joining the cast during the new season.

During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, producer Julian Fellowes briefly touched on where the next season of Downton Abbey would kick off. Although he didn’t give too many details about the plot, he explained that the “spine” of the new season would deal with Mary rebuilding her life.

While you’re waiting for the new season to get here, you can always stock up on a number of Downton Abbey-related products that are slated to hit retail shelves later this year. Included in the tie-ins are furniture, wallpaper, and period-inspired clothing.

“In retail terms, the first series launched the program and the brand, the second year ratified it and the show didn’t even hit its high point in the U.S. until this year when series three ended in the US. It’s very rare for a British drama to have this much retail potential and merchandising value,” explained Carnival Films’ Gareth Neame.

While certain items are already available to fans, others are expected to arrive by the end of 2013.

Are you your excited for the new season of Downton Abbey?

‘Downton Abbey’ Season Four Will Premiere Early Next Year is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Dallas Stars have fired head coach Glen Gulutzan after the team missed the playoffs for a franchise-record fifth consecutive season. The Stars finished at the bottom of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference in 2013 with a 22-22-4 record.

Gulutzan spent two seasons with the Stars after coaching the majority of his career in major junior hockey and in the minor leagues. Last season, he led the Stars to a 42-35-5 record though they fell six points short of a playoff berth.

Glen Gulutzan got the job as the Stars’ head coach after the 2011 season as he led the team’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Texas Stars, to the playoffs in each of his two years as their coach. His success in the minors was capped off by a run to the Calder Cup Finals during the 2010-2011 season in his first year with the Texas Stars.

He came to Dallas in hopes of rebuilding on a franchise that was synonymous with winning when captain Mike Modano led the team to a Stanley Cup victory in 1998-99. Gulutzan’s aspirations never produced on the ice at the top level and the Dallas Stars’ have now fired the coach just weeks after the regular season ended.

Gulutzan’s team was quite competitive in his first year as a coach in the NHL, but any improvements this year didn’t have enough affect on the front office to keep him around any longer.

The Stars finished much worse than they started in 2013 with five straight losses to end the season, which eventually led to Glen Gulutzan’s dismissal. Assistant coach Paul Jerrard was also fired by new general manager Jim Nill, though the team has decided to stick with assistant Curt Fraser and goaltending coach Mike Valley.

“They are both quality coaches and men, but we have decided to go in a different direction with our coaching staff and we wish them well in their next endeavors,” Nill said in a statement about the team’s decision to fire Gulutzan and Gerrard.

Did the Dallas Stars make the right decision by firing Glen Gulutzan and taking the team in a different direction?

Dallas Stars Fire Head Coach Glen Gulutzan After Missing The Playoffs is a post from: The Inquisitr

Philadelphia, PA – Abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell has waived his right to appeal his first-degree murder conviction in exchange for avoiding the death penalty.

Gosnell, who was convicted by a jury yesterday in the death of three babies, reportedly has made a deal with prosecutors in which he will face life imprisonment instead. “Prosecutors agreed to two life sentences without parole, and Gosnell was to be sentenced Wednesday in the death of the third baby, an involuntary manslaughter conviction in the death of a patient and hundreds of lesser counts.”

The doctor was accused of performing illegal, late-term abortions in his inner-city clinic. He ran the Women’s Medical Society in West Philadelphia for decades. But, in February 2010, the FBI raided his clinic looking for evidence of prescription drug dealing. Instead, they found much worse. According to a grand jury report released in 2011, they discovered a filthy “house of horrors.” Along with murder charges, the doctor faced more than 250 counts of abortion-law violations for performing abortions after Pennsylvania’s  24-week cutoff. He also allegedly failed to counsel patients.

The jury heard two months of grisly testimony including accounts from members of Gosnell’s staff. Eight of the staff members have pleaded guilty to several crimes. Prosecutors alleged that none of the staff members were licensed nurses or doctors. Prosecutors alleged that Gosnell delivered at least four babies alive and then killed them by cutting their spines with scissors.

Despite numerous complaints against the Philadelphia abortion doctor, state regulators conducted just five inspections of Kermit Gosnell’s clinic since it opened in 1979. The clinic served mostly low-income women and teens.

Prosecutors had sought the death penalty against the 72-year-old physician given the magnitude of the crimes “But Gosnell’s own advanced age had made it unlikely he would ever be executed before his appeals ran out.”

Do you think life imprisonment is a just sentence for Dr. Kermit Gosnell?

Kermit Gosnell Won’t Appeal, Avoids Death Penalty is a post from: The Inquisitr

Abercrombie & Fitch experienced a PR apocalypse last week when comments CEO Mike Jeffries has made over the years went viral and outraged much of the blogosphere.

Jeffries’ stance on Abercrombie’s merch being only for cool kids and not fat women (the brand does make XXL sizes for men) caused a lot of negative publicity for the struggling brand — as well as a large amount of mockery aimed at the seemingly surgically “enhanced” Jeffries when the controversy blew up.

That was last week, and the Abercrombie & Fitch controversy seems to have abated a little in terms of current outrage — but one Los Angeles filmmaker’s “brand re-adjustment” has it back in the spotlight.

Karber’s Abercrombie & Fitch homeless stunt was in reaction to another bit of the controversy — a repetition of the allegation that the company burns tons of wearable clothing rather than donating it to the needy so that the brand’s “cachet” isn’t diluted.

In Karber’s Abercrombie & Fitch homeless video, the filmmaker engages in a “brand re-adjustment” by obtaining a lot of Abercrombie gear — and distributing it to L.A.’s homeless population.

The clip, tagged FitchTheHomeless, explains how Karber took loads of Abercrombie duds straight to Skid Row, and the filmmaker says:

“Abercrombie & Fitch only wants a certain kind of person to be wearing their clothes … I travelled to a Los Angeles Goodwill, where I scoured the racks for donated Abercrombie & Fitch clothing.”

Yesterday, Karber tweeted to his followers about his FitchTheHomeless stunt, urging others to gather up their Abercrombie things and donate them to homeless shelters:

I was so mad at Abercrombie & Fitch I made this video to change their brand. youtube.com/watch?v=O95DBx…

— Greg Karber (@gregkarber) May 13, 2013

Joking that he had to raid the “douchebag” section of Goodwill for the Abercrombie & Fitch homeless initiative, Karber also said he aimed to make Abercrombie “the No. 1 brand of homeless apparel.”

What do you think of the Abercrombie & Fitch homeless stunt?

FitchTheHomeless: Filmmaker Gives Abercrombie Clothes To Skid Row is a post from: The Inquisitr