Mereja

Author: Josh Wolford

  • Singer Sues McDonalds, Claims Vocal Damage from Glass in Chicken Sandwich

    McDonald’s is guilty of a lot of things – maybe under-salting their fries every now and then, exposing children to clowns at an early age, and maybe ruining my diet. But are they guilty of causing a woman to lose her beautiful singing voice?

    That’s just what 52-year-old Brooklyn resident Jacqueline Simpson alleges. She has filed a lawsuit claiming that her voice was ruined after she bit into a penny-sized shard of glass while eating a chicken sandwich. She says that the incident occurred in 2010 in a McDonald’s near the World Trade Center.

    “Now when I sing, I have a hoarse, rattly voice,” Simpson told the NY Post. “I still sing alto, but I can’t sing soprano like I used to.”

    Her case is currently with the Brooklyn Supreme Court.

    “I have to make a lot of calls for work, and I have to tell people that I’m not a man. Before, that never happened.”

    According to the FindLaw blog, food-related injuries are usually treated as a product liability claim. More specifically – strict liability.

    Under the strict liability theory, this is because Mickey D’s a business that sells chicken sandwiches regularly; they should be held responsible if any product (or sandwich) leaving their facilities is defective. A piece of glass — the size of a penny, according to Simpson’s claim — would certainly be construed as defective

    But there are a lot of questions about this lawsuit. Did Simpson swallow the glass? Is that how she claims it affected her singing voice? And the incident reportedly happened nearly three years ago – why wait so long? Is there physical (or medical) evidence?

    McDonald’s and liability lawsuits – they seem to go together like, well, hash browns and a McMuffin.

  • Oklahoma Tornado Captured By Guy Sticking His Hand Out of His Shelter

    There have been a lot of incredible videos to come out of Monday’s massive tornado that hit the Moore, Oklahoma area. This fits the bill, but it comes with a twist.

    This guy filmed the tornado as it passed above his shelter. Crazy, right? I can’t even fault him for his vertical video – I mean, he’s filming a massive tornado. Only in the YouTube age, folks.

    [Charles Gafford via reddit]

  • Bernard Waber Dies: Children’s Author Was 91

    Bernard Waber, beloved children’s author and illustrator, has died at the age of 91 after a long illness.

    Waber is probably best known for his books The House on East 88th Street and Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (including his many subsequent Lyle books).

    Waber describes how he got into drawing in a biographical essay:

    My own early efforts at drawing were mostly confined to the laborious copying of photographs of film stars and other celebrities of the day. I received respectable grades in art classes during my school years, but doubt I thought it seriously indicated a career direction. Perhaps art seemed too frivolous for one raised during the Depression. Besides, I grew up a rather earnest young man and chose instead to major in finance at the University of Pennsylvania. After just one year of schooling, World War II interrupted those rather high-minded plans. Perhaps it was moving about, meeting people of various backgrounds and experience – I don’t recall a precise moment – but somehow during those army days my interest shifted to drawing and painting.

    “Waber’s warmth, energy, artfulness, elegance, and abiding respect for children were epitomized in his books,” said publisher Betsy Groban, SVP of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

    “In one way or another, I seem to find myself thinking of children’s books most of the time. I even enjoy the period when I am between books, for it is then that I am (I hope) susceptible to all manner of adventurous thought,” said Waber.

    [Image via Amazon]

  • This Nutshot Compilation Will Make You Feel Better About Whatever Crap You’re Going Through Today

    You stare at the clock. It hasn’t moved in minutes. You’re starting to get a headache, and you remember that your dog chewed up your favorite pair of shoes last night. It’s only Tuesday and you’re ready for the week to be over.

    I know your day is a bummer. I know you need a beer. But here’s something to make you feel better

    [via AmazingLife247, YouTube]

  • LAPD Officer Arrested, Charged with Molesting Two Young Girls

    A Los Angeles Police Department officer is due in court on Tuesday, where he will face charges of performing lewd acts with minors inside his Castaic home.

    Officer Miguel Schiappapietra, 28, was arrested on Saturday at his home and charged with two counts of lewd acts with a child. He was held on $100,000 bail.

    According to police, Schiappapietra lured two young girls, both under the age of 10, into his home and molested them. The LAPD provided no other details on the actual assaults, or whether there was any prior relationship between Schiappapietra and the girls. Schiappapietra had only been living in the neighborhood for just over a month.

    The LAPD says that he has been placed on paid administrative leave pending both the criminal investigation and an internal investigation. Schiappapietra has been a member of the LAPD for 6 years.

    Stories of child abuse are always hard to stomach, but they’re even more terrible when the alleged perpetrator holds a position of power – especially one whose job is to protect.

    [via LA Times]

  • Zach Sobiech Dies: YouTube Star Succumbs to Cancer

    Zach Sobiech, a Minnesota teen who inspired millions through his battle with a rare bone cancer, has died at the age of 18.

    Sobiech battled the terminal cancer, osteosarcoma, from the age of 14. Last year, a song he penned about his illness called “Clouds” went viral on YouTube,

    “With heavy hearts, we are saddened to share that Zach Sobiech passed away this morning. Zach was at home and at peace with those he loved most. Zach’s life ended just as he lived, embraced by the love of his family, friends, grace and music,” says The Children’s Cancer Research Fund.

    “Cancer may have taken Zach too soon, but he leaves a lasting legacy that most of us will never achieve. His message of love and hope delivered through infectious lyrics and memorable tunes have imprinted on the minds and hearts of millions around the world. Zach became a beacon of light and benevolence in a world that sometimes weighs too heavily. In turn, he received a flood of well-wishes that helped him, and his loved ones, smile through tremendous pain and worry.”

    Zach recorded two albums worth of music, which helped raised money for awareness and research for his rare disease. His fight attracted nationwide attention, including that of many celebrities.

    If you want to donate to Zach’s cause, you can do so here.

  • Ray Manzarek Dies: Doors Keyboardist Was 74

    Sad news for the music community, as influential keyboardist and Doors founding member Ray Manzarek has died due to complications from bile duct cancer. He was 74.

    Manzarek met Jim Morrison while studying film at UCLA, and the rest is history. After liking some early songs that Morrison had written, Manzarek and Morrison met up with drummer John Densmore and guitarist Robby Krieger at a transcendental meditation lecture.

    “I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of my friend and bandmate Ray Manzarek today,” said Doors guitarist Robby Krieger in a statement. “I’m just glad to have been able to have played Doors songs with him for the last decade. Ray was a huge part of my life, and I will always miss him.”

    “There was no keyboard player on the planet more appropriate to support Jim Morrison’s words,” said Densmore. “Ray, I felt totally in sync with you musically. It was like we were of one mind, holding down the foundation for Robby and Jim to float on top of. I will miss my musical brother.”

    Manzarek is being remembered on Twitter, where fans and fellow musicians are sharing their condolences and memories.

    Manzarek had a crucial part in many of The Doors’ greatest hits, but it’s hard to think of him without thinking about his blistering keyboards in the 1967 song “Light my Fire.”

  • Spotify Launches Embeddable Charts for Top Tracks

    In a bid to expand its presence across the web, streaming music service Spotify has just launched Spotify Charts, which allow sites to embed clickable lists of the top tracks across the network.

    The charts, which will update every Monday, feature both the top 50 most-streamed tracks of the week and the top 50 most-shared tracks of the week. They’re called the “Spotify 50″ and the “Social 50,” respectively.

    “What’s so powerful about the streaming charts is they let you hear what people are really listening to, right now, and not just what they’re buying,” says content head Steve Savoca.

    The widget, which is available here at charts.spotify.com, is customizable based on country and can be cycled back to reveal the top 50 tracks for the previous 4 weeks. Last month, Spotify expanded into Mexico and other parts of Asia and Europe, bringing the total countries under the umbrella to 28.

    Here’s what the widget looks like. Notice the new global play counts, which will also appear on the desktop app.

    Non-signed-in users will be able to browse the top tracks, but will have to log-in to their accounts in order to listen. It’s a great new way for Spotify to get more attention, and a cool way for music lovers to see what their country is currently obsessed with. This week in the U.S., it’s Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ “Can’t Hold Us,” Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky,” and Imagine Dragons’ “Radioactive.”

    In March, Spotify announced that they currently have 6 million piad subscribers out of a total 24 million users. Earlier this month, Spotify bought music discovery app Tunigo.

  • Pandora Premieres Offers On-Demand Music Before It’s Released

    As the battle to win the ears of a streaming music-hungry consumer base heats up, Pandora has just launched a new channel that lets you listen to new albums before they’re official released.

    It’s called Pandora Premieres, and the company says it’s a new way to discover music on the site.

    Pandora Premieres lets users stream entire albums from both established and emerging artists for free. You can stream any track at any time, as many times as you like until the album is officially released. Pandora says that they will offer a new selection of upcoming albums each week, and some will come with additional exclusive content such as video interviews.

    “Pandora Premieres is also a new and unique vehicle for artists, both established and emerging, to reach and expand their audience. Seeing the impact of Pandora on the careers of working musicians continues to be one of the most gratifying parts of this experience,” says Pandora’s Tim Westergren.

    The service is kicking off today with John Fogerty’s new album Wrote of Song for Everyone and Laura Marling’s Once I was an Eagle. You can stream these albums, on-demand, for a week.

    It’s unclear at this point what kind of albums Pandora will offer with Premieres. If they end up offering pre-streams of high-profile artists, it could be a great addition to the Pandora service.

    You can check it out here.

  • Elderly Woman Finds Dog in OK Tornado Rubble During Interview with CBS

    The situation is still fluid outside the Oklahoma City area, after a massive tornado ripped through the town of Moore leaving a path of destruction that rivals any storm in recent memory. As of Tuesday morning, reports indicate that dozens of people are dead, including some children. Crews are just beginning the daunting task of searching through the rubble.

    It’s hard to find many uplifting stories in a tragedy like this – at least this early on. Later we’ll hear reports of heroism and self-sacrifice. Today comes this story of a woman and her dog.

    While conducting an interview with CBS, an elderly woman found her lost dog buried under the rubble.

    “I never lost consciousness,” says Barbara Garcia, “and I hollered for my little dog…and he didn’t answer, and he didn’t come. So I know he’s in here somewhere.”

    About a minute later, the reporter notices the dog just a few feet from where they are conducting the interview. Truly incredible.

  • Tumblr Porn Is Here to Stay, Yahoo Won’t Restrict Content

    According to one recent analysis, over 11% of Tumblr’s top 200,000 domains are full of “adult” content. Yes, a big part of Tumblr is the porn – it’s not the biggest part by any means, but it’s significant. And ever since news of the big Yahoo acquisition, Tumblr users have worried that Yahoo may attempt to clean up Tumblr’s image by controlling certain types of content.

    Fear not, Tumblr users. Your porn isn’t going anywhere.

    For the first time since the acquisition announcement, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer has made a clear decree on her company’s role in censoring content – mainly that they have none. During Yahoo’s new Flickr event Monday night in NYC, Mayer was asked directly whether she will restrict content on Tumblr.

    “No, we won’t,” she said. “It’s the nature of user-generated content.”

    She continued on to say that it’s important to have community tool like “NSFW” tags that Tumblr already has in place. There you go, folks, that’s about as definitive as you’re going to get.

    Before those remarks, Mayer had been a little more vague about Tumblr’s porny bits.

    “The width and breadth of content on Tumblr is what’s exciting and has allowed it to reach more users.” she said during a conference call Monday morning. She also said that Yahoo would have to make use of good ad targeting, to assuage any concerns from future advertisers. And there will be more ads inside Tumblr, that’s for sure.

    “We promise not to screw it up. Tumblr is incredibly special and has a great thing going. We will operate Tumblr independently,” said Mayer during her announcement.

  • Flickr Now Offers a Terabyte of Storage, New Photo-Rich Interface

    Just one day after Yahoo announced that former Googler Marissa Mayer would be taking the reigns as the new CEO, the internet rose up with its first request: Please make Flickr awesome again. Ever since Yahoo acquired the photo-sharing service back in 2005, users have dropped off and the quality of the experience has gone down – at least according to the general consensus. The common wisdom is that Yahoo kind of screwed up Flickr, and now they’re looking to rectify that damage.

    At a press event in NYC, just hours after Mayer officially announced the company’s acquisition of Tumblr, Yahoo unveiled a completely revamp Flickr – complete with a fresh UI redesign and a whole hell of a lot of storage.

    The latter is probably the most significant news to come out of the announcement. Starting today, you now have a free terabyte of space. That’s huge. As Yahoo says, “you could take a photo every hour for forty years without filling one.” That’s approximately 873,813 4.0 megapixel photos, 436,906 8mp photos, or 218,453 16mp photos. This upgraded storage also means that you can house longer videos on Flickr – 3 minutes at 1080p per video.

    The interface has received a massive upgrade as well, as Flickr has done away with most of the white space on the site to give users a truly immersive photo experience.

    “We want Flickr to be the most amazing community and place for you to share your photos. So, we’re also revealing a beautiful new design that puts photos at the heart of your Flickr experience, where they should always be. Whether it’s a sweeping landscape or a family portrait, we want every photo to be at its most spectacular,” says Flickr’s Markus Spiering. “Your homepage is now a gateway to everything you care about, and all the photos Flickr has to offer. Our new Activity Feed combines your friends’ recent uploads with activity on your own photos, and all in a beautiful design that lets you share and interact right on the page.”

    The individual photo pages have been improved to highlight the image in high-res, pushing the photo information below the fold.

    There are also some new paid options for the service – for $49.99 a year you can get rid of all the ads on the site, and for $499.99 you can snag 2TB of storage.

    Flickr also unveiled a new Android app, which brings it up to speed with the iOS upgrade the service received a few months ago.

    “The world is going mobile, and in December we took the first big step to send Flickr wherever you go with a new and beloved iPhone app. Our brand new Android app pushes the boundaries on beauty even further. We designed it with your needs in mind: how you interact, how you share, and how you view photos when you’re on the go.”

    The new site is live, as is the new Android app. Check it out.

  • Tumblr Is Full of Porn, Just as We Suspected

    Before Yahoo announced their plans to buy Tumblr for $1.1 billion, some analysts wondered if and to what end the fact that Tumblr is full of porn would affect that decision. Apparently, not too much, as Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer made the thing official this morning. Still, some Tumblr users worry that in an attempt to clean up their new acquisition, Yahoo may go to war on Tumblr’s vibrant adult community.

    But just how much porn is on Tumblr? A lot. We know that. But until now, we’ve never had any real figures. Data from SimilarGroup, obtained by TechCrunch, suggests that more than 11% of Tumblr’s top 200,000 domains are very NSFW.

    The analysis looked at the 200,000 most-popular blogs on Tumblr and found that 22,775 would be considered “adult.” That works out to 11.4%. Yes, Marissa Mayer just bought a network that’s more than 1/10th porn.

    SimilarGroup also looked at traffic to said adult Tumblr blogs and found that they account for 16.6% of Tumblr’s traffic. Not only that, but just over 22% of referral traffic to Tumblr comes from adult websites. 8% of outbound Tumblr referrals lead straight to porn.

    Tumblr has a porn empire. Is that going to be a problem for Yahoo?

    Maybe, but Mayer isn’t suggesting that quite yet.

    “The width and breadth of content on Tumblr is what’s exciting and has allowed it to reach more users,” said Mayer this morning when asked about Tumblr’s “not-brand-safe” content (read: porn).

    In order to deal with it, Mayer said that Yahoo would need to have good targeting for ads. Maybe that will be the strategy going forward – smart ad targeting that will make sure that the porny bits stay away from the non-porny bits. But this study proves that adult content isn’t just a fringe element of Tumblr’s massive blog network – it’s a big part of it.

  • Square Teases Square Cash, Money Transfers via Email

    “Forget the ATM.”

    That’s the brief message that Square is displaying on a new page for Square Cash. It looks like Square is about launch a new money transfer feature.

    “Square Cash is the easiest way to send money to anyone, using just email and your debit card,” says Square on the Square Cash about page. Square explains the simple mechanics for Square Cash as such: all you have do do is send an email with the recipient’s email address, cc [email protected], enter a dollar amount in the subject line, and send away.

    “You’ll get a receipt each time you send money. You have the ability to cancel the payment by clicking a link within the confirmation email you receive. Keep in mind that you can only cancel a payment if it hasn’t yet been redeemed by your recipient,” says Square.

    It’ll cost the sender $0.50 for each payment sent, and it will cost the recipient nothing. Recipients only need to link their debit accounts upon receiving a payment. Funds will be directly deposited within 48 hours.

    Currently, Square Cash is an invitation-only service, but you can’t even sign up yet. It appears that Square is simply picking some early testers.

    “We’re excited to share Square Cash with our friends. We’ll continue to invite others to try it out in the coming weeks,” a Square spokesperson told TechCrunch.

  • Man Taunts Police on Facebook, Says ‘Catch Me If U Can,’ Promptly Arrested

    It takes a special kind of idiot criminal to talk about their crimes on Facebook. We’ve seen plenty of that since the advent and expansion of Facebook. It takes a whole other kind of idiot to taunt police on Facebook when you’re a wanted fugitive. And I’m not sure what it makes you when you taunt police on their actual Facebook page.

    Whatever it is, Sam Greenwood is it.

    According to the Greater Manchester Police Rochdale North, Greenwood is back in custody after posting a taunt on their Facebook page.

    Greenwood was reportedly wanted after he breached the terms of his release from jail. GMP Rochdale North tapped the Facebook community to help in their search, posting a photo and status about Greenwood. A day later, Greenwood posted to the GMP Rochdale’s status.

    “Catch me if u can,” he commented.

    They can, and they did. Within 12 hours, Greenwood was back in jail. Imagine that? Our mastermind couldn’t elude the police. Shocking.

    “Caught you. Do not pass Go, do not collect £200, go straight to jail,” posted GMP Rochdale North after his capture.

    “Unfortunately this man was always going to be a hostage to fortune once he decided to goad us on Facebook. I tried my best to coax him into handing himself in, but he seemed determined to remain at large. Thankfully, we managed to track him down in no time at all and he is now back where he belongs for the time being – behind bars,” said Inspector Umer Khan.

    I’d like to say that this is the only time we’ve seen a criminal taunt police on Facebook – but I can’t. Back in 2011, we told you about a New York man who posted the status “catch me if you can, I’m in Brooklyn.” NYPD found him shortly thereafter, sitting at his computer, with Facebook open in his browser. Idiocy knows no geographical bounds, my friends.

    [GMP Rochdale North via CNET]

  • 168,000+ Angry Tumblr Users Sign Petition to Thwart Yahoo Deal

    This petition has absolutely no chance of changing Marissa Mayer and David Karp’s minds, but it does show that there is a significant chunk of Tumblr users who are less-than-thrilled with the popular blogging platform’s impending move to Yahoo.

    As you’ve probably heard, Yahoo has announced plans to acquire Tumblr for $1.1 billion. And currently, a petition on ipetitions.com to thwart the deal has garnered over 168,000 signatures.

    Of course, there are a multitude of gripes that Tumblr users have with the Yahoo purchase. Maybe they think Yahoo is too uncool, and will ruin the awesome Tumblr experience. Maybe they look at Flickr, and foresee Yahoo running Tumblr into the ground. Maybe they’re worried that Yahoo is going to rid Tumblr of all of its porn in an attempt to make it more family friendly. Maybe they’re pissed about the new ads, which are most definitely on their way to Tumblr.

    Whatever the reason, plenty of Tumblr users are pissed. Just take a look at the posts on Tumblr with a #yahoo tag. Tumblr users are gif-ing their anger.

    “Stop Yahoo! from buying Tumblr!! If this happens, the entire interface will be changed, and millions of users will delete their accounts – me being one of them. Please, please, please sign this to stop this!!” says the petition creator.

    Only time will tell if Yahoo does indeed make Tumblr “better, and faster,” as they say they will. Both Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer and Tumblr CEO David Karp say that Yahoo is going to take a hands-off approach with Tumblr. It’s going to run independently with Karp retained as CEO. Mayer says that Yahoo promises “not to screw it up.”

    And about the porn thing? Mayer’s not coming for it, don’t worry.

    This petiition isn’t the only sign that many Tumblr users are thinking of abandoning ship. WordPress founder Matt Mullenweg reported a spike in Tumblr defections to his blogging service – 72,000 in the short time following the announcement.

  • Smartphone Shipments Will Finally Pass Feature Phones This Year

    2013 will be the year that global smartphone shipments finally top feature phones, according to new figured from NPD.

    According to the research firm, global smartphone shipments will hit 937 million units this year. That will just outpace global feature phone shipments – which will top out at 889 million. Looking forward, NPD says that global smartphone shipments will break 1.4 billion by 2016. That’s an annual growth rate of 26%, starting back in 2011.

    ”The global smartphone market is expected to continue growing rapidly over the next two years,” said Shawn Lee, research director at NPD DisplaySearch. “With larger, higher-resolution displays, faster processors, and higher-capacity cellular systems being built, the smartphone is not only becoming a must-have device, but is satisfying many needs that formerly required other computing and consumer electronics devices.”

    Here are the projections:

    NPD points to emerging markets, like China for instance, for the growth in smartphone shipments. In fact, China accounts for 55% of entry-level smartphone shipments. The whole Asia-Pacific region will account for half of all global smartphone shipments in 2013.

    The availability of cheaper ($200 or less) smartphones, plus the spread of 3G and 4G data has led to this increase in smartphone shipments.

    “To increase revenue share and gain margin in the smartphone market, a variety of new handsets, as well as new products launched by service and content providers, will enter the market,” Lee said. “As smartphone specifications and features become more advanced, and as device replacement rates increase, we can expect further investment in the industry by manufacturers, carriers, and governments.”

    This news leaves Newt Gingrich absolutely perplexed.

  • Russian Dash Cam Catches Insane Car Flip [VIDEO]

    Just when you thought Russian dash cams couldn’t possibly catch anything more insane than we’ve already seen, this clip, dated May 13th, comes along and forces a complete O_O.

    If you want to skip right to it, go to about 30 seconds in. There, you’ll see a car launched at least 20 feet into the air, flip, and land off-camera.

    If you’re looking for a Russian dash cam video that doesn’t scare the crap out you, check out this clip that captures to good in humanity.

    [via reddit]

  • Tumblr Porn Not Likely to Be a Problem for Mayer, Yahoo

    The news the Yahoo is acquiring Tumblr for $1.1 billion has brought along its fair share of grumbling from the Tumblr community. Though Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer promised “not to screw it up,” Tumblr users are worried that Yahoo will march in and paint their beloved blogging platform purple – cleaning it up and making it more “family friendly” in the process.

    If you are unfamiliar with Tumblr, know this: there is a lot of porn on Tumblr – artsy nude content, straight up porn, pretty much all colors of the NSFW rainbow. It makes up a significant part of the Tumblr landscape, and without it, Tumblr wouldn’t really be Tumblr. Some Tumblr users are concerned that Yahoo will waltz in and attempt to change all of that. Before the acquisition went official, some analysts worried that Tumblr’s NSFW underbelly would be an issue for the folks at Yahoo who were considering the deal.

    But it wasn’t. Now that the acquisition is official, it’s looking like Yahoo is committed to keeping Tumblr running as is, and that the porn problem, well, isn’t really a problem. During her conference call to discuss the deal, Mayer had this to say when asked about all of the “not-brand-safe” content out there on Tumblr.

    “The width and breadth of content on Tumblr is what’s exciting and has allowed it to reach more users.”

    And when it comes to possible concerns from advertisers? Well, Mayer noted that Yahoo will just have to have good targeting. Mayer said that Yahoo is going to put more ads inside the Tumblr feed, so we know it’s coming. But Yahoo can pick and choose where they throw those ads, and can steer clear of any content that may concern potential clients.

    “We promise not to screw it up. Tumblr is incredibly special and has a great thing going. We will operate Tumblr independently. David Karp will remain CEO. The product roadmap, their team, their wit and irreverence will all remain the same as will their mission to empower creators to make their best work and get it in front of the audience they deserve. Yahoo! will help Tumblr get even better, faster,” said Mayer in her announcement.

    And in his, Tumblr CEO David Karp said that “before touching on how awesome this is, let me try to allay any concerns: We’re not turning purple. Our headquarters isn’t moving. Our team isn’t changing. Our roadmap isn’t changing. And our mission – to empower creators to make their best work and get it in front of the audience they deserve – certainly isn’t changing.”

    That sounds like Yahoo is going to adopt a fairly hands-off approach to the Tumblr, and that’s good news for Tumblr users. Sure, people lie and things change, but as of right now it appears that Yahoo isn’t that concerned about all of those naughty parts on Tumblr. Carry on.

  • Teens Arrested after Posting Rape Video on Facebook

    Three Chicago-area teens are facing charges of aggravated sexual assault after they allegedly raped a girl and posted the video on Facebook.

    Justin Applewhite, 16, Kenneth Brown, 15, and Scandale Fritz, 16, are named in the attack. According to prosecutors, Fritz lured a 12-year-old girl to his home, took her into the basement, and sexually assaulted her. Reports indicate that he then took Brown and Applewhite to the basement, where they all forced the girl to engage in sex acts.

    According to the Sun-Times, the girl refused for a while, but eventually gave in because she knew the three teens were gang members and feared for her life if she continued to refuse.

    The video allegedly shows the rape, complete with the waving of guns and the flashing of gang signs. One of the assaulters, Fritz, apparently turned the camera around on his own face, giving police a nice big image of who was perpetrating the crime.

    The video eventually wound up on all of the attackers’ Facebook pages.

    All three teens are being held on charges of aggravated criminal assault, and will return to court on June 6th. Sometimes, you just have to sit back and ask “wtf are people thinking?” Sadly, this is not the only serious crime that teens have committed and then posted to Facebook in recent memory. Last year, three teens were charged with first-degree murder after reportedly beating a disabled man to death and then uploading the video to Facebook. Earlier this year, two girls (14, 15) landed in hot water after they posted a video involving their attack on a 13-year-old girl to Facebook.