Mereja

Author: Sean Patterson

  • Biggie Smalls Ghost to Appear on Animated TV Series

    It’s been 16 years since Notorious B.I.G., born as Christopher Wallace, was gunned down in L.A., but it now appears that his spirit will live on. In cartoon form, at least.

    A company called Ossian Media this week announced a new animated series starring Nororious B.I.G.’s children, C.J. and T’yanna. The cartoon will be named House of Wallace, and will follow C.J. and T’yanna as they attempt to keep their father’s studio from being turned over to some bland music conglomerate. The ghost of their father will be a major character in the series, guiding them with advice.

    “It’s been 16 years since our Dad was murdered and we miss him dearly,” said T’yanna and C.J. Wallace in a statement released this week. “It is such an honor for us to be able to carry on his legacy, not only through his music but also by channeling him through our own creativity. This project, House Of Wallace, is a great opportunity for us to bridge the gap between our parents who loved his music and the kids and young adults our ages, that were not around to really appreciate it,”

    C.J. and T’yanna will be voicing their own characters, and the statement also promises that “a bevy of musical artists” will appear as guests on the show. The show will also feature “advertising integration,” meaning that Ossian brand partners could be incorporated “directly into the narrative.”

  • ‘Killer Dolphins’ Escape From Ukrainian Handlers

    The Russian International New Agency (RIA Novosti) is reporting that three “killer” dolphins have escaped from their Ukranian handlers. The mammals were engaged in training exercises when they took off for open water.

    The publication quoted a former Soviet naval anti-sabotage officer as saying the dolphins probably took in search of mates. The officer stated that it isn’t uncommon for the dolphins to take off during mating season, but that they come back to their handlers “in a week or so.”

    The Ukrainian dolphins were being trained to attack (enemy) swimmers and to detect mines. In a statement that invokes the likes of Austin Powers villain Dr. Evil, an unnamed source told RIA Novosti that the dolphins were being trained to use “special knives” and “pistols fixed to their heads. Obviously, that throws the entire report into doubt, but if true it could mean some of the ocean’s smartest animals could soon have the firepower to defend their territory.

    The U.S. and Soviet navies began training dolphins in the 60s and 70s. When the U.S.S.R. fell, the dolphin training program was transferred to the Ukrainian Navy, which continued training the mammals for civilian purposes, but restarted military training for the animals in 2012.

  • Judge Judy Sued For Buying Dishes

    Judge Judy may be known for her stern demeanor when deciding court cases, but now America’s most famous judge might find herself on the other side of the bench.

    TMZ is reporting that Judge Judy has been sued by a woman named Patric Jones over, of all things, dishes. Jones alleges that her ex-husband, Randy Douthit, a producer on Judge Judy’s TV program, sold the couple’s expensive China to Judge Judy during the divorce process.

    Jones estimated that the fine china is work over $500,000, but alleges that Douthit sold the dishes to Judge Judy for a tenth of that price. She alleges that the sale was a revenge plot against her by the judge and Douthit. The lawsuit is asking for the dishes or Jones’ full estimated price for the dishes. Punitive damages have also been tacked on.

    The video below shows a short interview with Jones’ lawyer, who was accosted by a TMZ cameraman:

  • ‘Cannibal Cop’ Convicted of Kidnapping Conspiracy

    Back in October 2012, the NYPD made headlines as a New York police officer was arrested for allegedly plotting to kill and eat dozens of women. Gilberto Valle III was caught by his colleagues having online conversations about his fantasies, which involved cannibalism.

    This week, Valle was convicted on one count of kidnapping. The New York Times is reporting that a jury found Valle’s detailed plans to kidnap women proof enough of his intentions.

    The case has shined a llght on some of the internet’s more deviant niches. In addition, it has raised questions about the line between online fantasy and reality, especially in regards to people with positions of authority in society.

    One of Valle’s lawyers told the Times that Valle was prosecuted for thought crime, saying, “These are thoughts, very ugly thoughts, but we don’t prosecute people for their thoughts.” Valle’s lawyers have vowed to appeal the verdict.

    The prosecution in the case, however, was able to demonstrate that Valle had used his access to police databases and resources as a police officer to track and research the women in his fantasies. Regardless of Valle’s real-life intentions toward the women, his misuse of police resources was a factor in the case, and the Times states that he has also been convicted of illegal access to a law enforcement database.

  • Boy Admits Kutcher Prank, May be Connected to Others

    Back in December 2012, Los Angeles police arrested an unnamed juvenile in connection with prank 911 calls that sent police to the homes of Ashton Kutcher and Justin Bieber. That person was later released by police, who continued to investigate the incidents.

    Today, CBS News is reporting that a 12-year-old boy has admitted to sending police to the home of Ashton Kutcher. Though the boy’s name has not been released, he is now scheduled to be sentenced for his crime.

    The practice of making false 911 calls of bombs or shootings to bring police to celebrity houses has been dubbed “swatting,” since S.W.A.T. teams are sometimes dispatched to the scene. In addition to Kutcher and Bieber, celebrities including Simon Cowell, Miley Cyrus, Tom Cruise, Chris Brown, and the Kardashians have been recent victims of swatting.

    The CBS report states that the same 12-year-old has also been accused of sending police to Justin Bieber’s house and a bank.

  • 6-Month-Old Shot, Dies in Suspected Gang Shooting

    A six-month-old girl who was shot in a Chicago neighborhood on Monday has now died.

    The Chicago Fox station is reporting that Jonylah Watkins was shot five times as her father, Jonathan, changed her diaper in the front seat of a minivan. Jonathan was also shot, but is expected to recover from his wounds. The shooting took place in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood.

    Though the police told Fox that they are investigating multiple possibilities, they also stated that the shooting had “very strong gang overtones. Jonathan Watkins has more than 30 arrests on record.

    “Regardless of who you are or regardless of what your role is as an adult, everybody has a role to play to make sure every child is in a safe city, in a safe neighborhood, and in a safe community on a safe street like other parts of our city,” said Rahm Emanuel, mayor of Chicago.

    Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News

    Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News

  • Wrong Woman Buried in Mortuary Mishap

    The local CBS station in Los Angeles is reporting the bizarre story of a California family that buried the wrong woman after a mortuary mixed up two bodies.

    Though the incident echoes a scene from the movie Death at a Funeral, members of the woman’s family were not laughing at the mix-up.

    The report states that after complaints were raised at a viewing about the identity of the woman in the coffin, mortuary workers told the family of Darlene Davidson that the woman was, in fact, Davidson. They were convincing enough that the woman was buried as scheduled in a dress of Davidson’s. The family was contacted later and told that their mother’s body had not yet been buried.

    A mortuary spokesperson told CBS that the mix-up was a mistake and apologized for the mishap. The Cemetery and Funeral Bureau of the California Department of Consumer Affairs is now investigating the incident.

  • 4.7 California Quake: Aftershocks Continue to Shake SoCal

    For a second day, small aftershocks continue to rumble beneath Southern California.

    The aftershocks are the result of a 4.7 magnitude earthquake that occurred Monday. The Earthquake was centered under Riverside County, but could be felt in both Los Angeles and San Diego. Though the shaking could be felt for miles around, its relatively low intensity caused little damage.

    Today, the Los Angeles Times is reporting that aftershocks from the quake are continuing, with “dozens” recorded by the USGS this morning. This is after over 150 aftershocks were recorded in the immediate aftermath of the quake on Monday. The aftershocks were weak enough that they shouldn’t have even been noticed.

    The most recent large earthquake in Southern California occurred in 2010, when a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Baja California. Though this week’s quake did little damage, the incident stoked the fears of people who live in Southern California, who are well aware that they live in the most earthquake-prone area in the U.S. Many of them took to Twitter to voice their fears using their special brand of detached humor:

  • 13 Hurt in D.C. Shooting; Surveillance Footage Released

    The D.C. Metropolitan Police Department has released footage of a drive-by shooting that occurred in Washington D.C. on Monday, March 11.

    According to police, the shooting took place in the 1200 block of North Capitol Street at around 2:10 am. A surveillance camera was able to capture the event, which may have involved two different cars. The footage was released so that the public might be able to help identify the “vehicles of interest.” The D.C. police are offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the shooting.

    The footage shows two very dark-colored cars drive by a large group of people outside of a D.C. apartment building. As the gunshots begin, people can be seen running in different directions and falling as they are shot. Though initial reports stated that one of the vehicles may have been a BMW, police have stated that neither of the cars in the video appear to be a BMW.

    The Associated Press is reporting that 13 people were injured in the attack, with one of them critically wounded. None of the victims are expected to die, and the police are currently interviewing witnesses to determine a possible motive for the shooting.

    (Image via Washington Metropolitan Police Department Facebook page)

  • Chipper Jones Yankees Rumors Shot Down

    Earlier this week, the New York Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman stated that Larry “Chipper” Jones would be “perfect” for the Yankees. Now, Chipper Jones himself has shot the rumors down, much to the delight of Atlanta Braves fans.

    The rumors fueled rampant speculation that the Yankees, who are plagued with injuries, could be getting desperate, and are looking for just about anyone to fill their roster.

    Jones is more than just anyone, however. During his 19-year MLB career with the Atlanta Braves, Jones earned eight National League All-Star awards and was the National League’s 1999 MVP. He ended his career in 2012 with a .303 batting average and 468 home runs. The third baseman

    As much as the Yankees might want him (and as much as they may be willing to pay him), it seems that Jones is happy with retirement. The baseball star took to Twitter to dispel the rumors that he could soon be seen wearing pinstripes:

    Later on, Jones even joked about how the rumors had raised his Twitter follower count:

    (Image via Djh57/Wikimedia Commons)

  • Paris Jackson: NFL “Offers” Her a Cheerleading Job

    Last week, Paris Jackson, the daughter of pop icon Michael Jackson, was spotted on the cheerleading squad for her L.A. school, The Buckley School. She showed off her short-cropped hair while cheering for her school’s basketball team.

    Now, TMZ is reporting that Paris might have a shot at becoming an NFL cheerleader. The publication spoke to Barbara Zaun, director of cheerleading for the Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders. Zaun was effusive with her praise for Jackson and even suggested that she try out for the Eagles cheerleading squad. From the TMZ report:

    “We thought that she had a lot of poise, confidence, and enthusiasm in her cheer performance,” Zaun says … adding, “Paris has that ‘wow factor’ that makes a great cheerleader.”

    Zaun also told TMZ, “We hope that she will try out for the team and be an Eagles cheerleader.”

    Jackson will have to wait until she is 18 to try out for the Eagles, and even then it isn’t clear from the leaked video that she has the skills to be an NFL cheerleader. Still, no NFL team would pass up the publicity of having Michael Jackson’s daughter on their cheerleading squad, so this “offer” is probably at least half-serious.

  • Willy Switkes Dies; Character Actor Was 83

    Willy Switkes, a character actor who had minor roles on-screen in the 80s, has died at the age of 83.

    According to an Associated Press report, Switkes died of colon cancer on March 7, 2013 at a hospice in Rockville, Maryland.

    Switkes most memorable roles, according to the report, are his unidentified characters in movies such as Tootsie and Taxi Driver. He has two IMDB credits for acting, one for his role as “Man at Cab” in Tootsie, and one for playing the “Mint Buyer” in Playing For Keeps. The AP states that he also had uncredited roles in The French Connection and Woody Allen’s Bananas.

    In addition to his film work, the AP states Switkes had a stage career that included roles in Broadway productions such as The Cherry Orchard and A Thousand Clowns. During a 1960 tour of Once Upon a Mattress he was also reportedly the understudy to Buster Keaton.

  • Longest Female Legs Help Woman Coach Basketball

    The woman with the world’s longest pair of female legs lives in Virginia and now coaches a girl’s high school basketball team.

    According to the Guinness Book of Worlds, Russian-born Svetlana Pankratova has the longest female legs in the world, measuring 51.9 inches long. Now, Pankratova has landed a job perfectly suited to her genetics.

    According to a report in the Falls Church News-Press, Pankratova, who lives in Northern Virginia, is now the coach for the George Mason High School girls basketball team in Falls Church, Virginia.

    Pankratova has basketball experience herself. She recounted to the News-Press that she was a swimmer when she was younger, but was recruited into basketball by coaches who saw her legs. After high school, she was recruited by Virginia Commonwealth University, where she holds record for most blocked shots in a single season.

    Pankratova’s record-setting legs were verified as the world’s longest in 2008, and she was featured for the first time in the Guinness Book of World Record’s 2009 edition. The video below shows a stop on her 2009 media tour to promote the book, where she appeared with the world’s shortest man at the time, He Pingping.

  • Ellen Degeneres Show Renewed by NBC

    NBC and Warner Bros. today announced that The Ellen DeGeneres Show has been renewed through the 2016-2017 season.

    According to Warner Bros., the daytime talk show, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, tied Dr. Phil for the highest-rated syndicated talk show among women ages 25 to 54 during the 2012-2013 season. The show airs on NBC-owned stations and a variety of TV stations across the U.S.

    “Ellen is quite simply the best,” said Ken Werner, president of NBC Owned Television Stations. “Day in and day out she and her team produce a unique and compelling hour of entertainment which is appointment television for legions of women. We are absolutely thrilled that NBC, Ellen, Warner Bros. and all of our station partners will be continuing our successful relationship for years to come.”

    The Ellen Degeneres Show began airing in the fall of 2003. During that time the show has garnered 38 Daytime Emmy Awards and DeGeneres herself has won 13 People’s Choice Awards.

    “Ellen is having its best season ever during the tenth anniversary of the show,” said Hilary Estey McLoughlin, president of Telepictures Productions, which produces syndicated television for Warner Bros. “It is a testament to Ellen’s brilliance as a talent and our extraordinary production team. We are so proud of the show and grateful for all the support and partnership of NBC and all of our stations. We look forward to collaborating with them to build Ellen to even greater success in the years ahead.”

  • Ex-NBA Player Banned After Choking Incident

    Renaldo Balkman, a former player for the NBA‘s New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets, has been banned from the Philippine Basketball Association following an on-court incident.

    According to a Reuters report, Balkman placed his hands around his teammate Arwind Santos’ neck as Santos tried to restrain Balkman’s anger over a disputed call.

    In addition to the lifetime ban, the report states that Balkman was fined the equivalent of $6,100 over the choking.

    As seen in the video of the incident below, Balkman also shoved teammates and coaches during his outburst:

    Balkman and Santos were both playing for the Petron Blaze Boosters against the Alaska Aces. The Aces went on to win the game, 83 to 73.

    Balkman has apologized for his actions via his Twitter account. He apologized specifically to Santos and said that he respects the Philippine Basketball Association’s decision:

  • Sarah Silverman, Michael Cera Launch a New YouTube Channel

    At the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas this weekend, Sarah Silverman, Michael Cera, and a host of other comedians officially launched a new YouTube channel named “Jash.” The channel will feature comedy videos.

    In addition to Silverman and Cera, comedians Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim of Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job! fame will be contributing to Jash’s programming. Comedian/musician Reggie Watts is also part of the Jash creative team.

    Though Google has fronted the money for Jash, the comedians were quick to point out that they have been given complete creative control over the channel’s content.

    So far the Jash YouTube channel only has one video (seen below), which introduces all of the content creators behind Jash. Each of the Jash participants also has their own YouTube channel with introductory videos. The next Jash channel video is scheduled to appear on April 8.

    If the video first is anything to go by, the brand of comedy seen on the channel will be a bit bizarre. That shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone who has seen Tim and Eric or The Sarah Silverman Program, though.

  • Visine Poisoning Lands California Man in Jail

    ABC News is reporting that a California man is now in jail after attempting to poison his girlfriend with Visine eye drops. The man allegedly put eye drops into the woman’s drink in order to make her sick.

    According to the report, the 27-year-old man, Shayne Carpenter, was arrested last week on charges of poisoning and domestic violence. Carpenter’s girlfriend reportedly found texts on the man’s phone that referenced the poisoning and called police. The police had Carpenter’s girlfriend speak to him over the phone and were able to obtain an admission from Carpenter.

    Eye drops, such as Visine, and some nasal sprays contain Tetrahydrozoline, which can be poisonous when swallowed. Symptoms of Tetrahydrozoline poisoning can include difficulty breathing, blurred vision, rapid heartbeat, nausea, headaches, and vomiting.

  • Dead Pigs in River Float into Shanghai

    The New York Times is reporting that more than 2,800 dead pigs have been found floating into Shanghai in the Huangpu River, which flows through the city. The incident has raised concerns about contamination of Shanghai tap water.

    The carcasses were evidently coming from somewhere upstream, and Chinese officials are currently trying to identify the source of the pigs. The Times report states that the pigs have already been traced to a province south and upstream of Shanghai.

    Shanghai officials have stated that Shanghai Waterworks has been checking water quality on an hourly basis. After the first of the pigs had been noticed, Shanghai Waterworks stated that the city’s tap water still met its quality standards.

    The report relays that Chinese officials are having samples of the pigs tested to determine their cause of death, which will be known within three days.

    The Chinese State-run Global Times reported today that no viruses transmittable to humans have been found on the carcasses yet. Also, the ear tags found on the pigs were found to be scratched up, presumably by someone who knows it is illegal in China to dump dead pigs in a river. The report states that Shanghai authorities are now pressuring authorities from the southern province of Zhejiang to crack down on farmers who may dump dead pigs into the Huangpu rather than dispose of them properly.

  • Bieber Cancels Concert in Portugal

    This week has been a tough one for fans of live pop music. First, singer Rihanna this weekend cancelled her show in Boston due to laryngitis. Now, it appears that Justin Bieber has cancelled a concert that was scheduled to take place in Portugal tomorrow, March 12.

    CBS News is reporting that Bieber’s second Lisbon, Portugal concert has been cancelled due to “unforeseen circumstances.” Current rumors are pointing to “logistical issues” with unions as the reason fro the concert cancellation. Bieber’s first Lisbon show, scheduled to take place tonight, is still a go and the singer began tweeting about the concert this afternoon:

    There doesn’t appear to be any connection between the cancellation and the odd journey that Bieber endured in London last week. After being spotted walking London streets with his shirt off early last week and having shown shown up late for a concert, the pop star went on a Twitter tirade against “rumors” and “fake stories.” Rumors about the star’s “diva-like” behavior persisted, however, as he collapsed during one of his London shows later in the week. Bieber’s European tour will take him through France, Switzerland, Italy, and Germany in the coming weeks.

  • Rihanna Cancels Concert Due to Laryngitis

    TMZ reported this weekend that pop star Rihanna cancelled her scheduled Sunday night concert in Boston. The singer blamed the cancellation on Laryngitis.

    Live nation stated that the no-show is doctor’s orders for Rihanna, and that the Boston show will now be rescheduled. The singer is still expected to take the stage in Baltimore on Tuesday as scheduled.

    Rihanna used her twitter feed to apologize to her many disappointed fans in Boston. The pop star stated that she was “embarrassed” and “hurt” that she let fans down:

    Rihanna recently revealed that she and the hot-headed Chris Brown are once again an item. Also, a “Rihanna sex tape” link that was going around Facebook last month was revealed to be a malware scam.