Mereja

Author: Sean Patterson

  • Joe Flacco Pledges Not to Use the R-Word

    This year, just before the Super Bowl, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (the self-proclaimed best quarterback in the NFL) stated that holding the Super Bowl in non-domed venues where the weather is cold is “retarded.” He immediately took his words back, calling it “stupid” instead, but the word had been said.

    Flacco issued a public apology on Super Bowl media day, saying it was “a bad choice of words.” This week, the Ravens’ starting quarterback is going even further.

    The Special Olympics of Maryland this weekend held a “Casino Night” to promote the Special Olympics and related organizations. At the event, Flacco and his teammates Gino Gradkowski and Ed Dickson signed a pledge not to use the word retarded. The Facebook post:

    Special Olympics Maryland3 hours ago

    We had a blast on Saturday at Al Packer’s White Marsh Ford Casino Night – games, prizes, and Spread the Word to End the Word pledge signing! Thanks to everyone who made it out, including Baltimore Ravens Joe Flacco, Gino Gradkowski and Ed Dickson.

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    The pledge is part of the “Spread the Word to End the Word” campaign, which seeks raise awareness that the words retard and retarded are seen by many as “dehumanizing and hurtful.” The campaign is a joint effort by the Special Olympics and Best Buddies International.

    (Image courtesy Keith Allison/Wikimedia Commons)

  • Swift’s Disgusted Reaction to Bieber Kiss Caught on Video

    This weekend, Justin Bieber was booed while accepting an award at the Billboard Music Awards. The crowd reaction was enough to startle the 19-year-old, who used his acceptance speech to tell everyone he should be “taken seriously” and that they should not speak of “this other bull.”

    Now another incident caught on video at the Billboard Music Awards is making the rounds on the internet.

    Backstage at the show, Bieber ran into his on-again, off-again girlfriend, Selena Gomez. Their encounter was caught briefly on camera, and Bieber can be seen receiving a peck on the cheek from Gomez. What’s more interesting, however, is that fellow pop star Taylor Swift happened to be walking by the couple at that exact moment. Her look of disgust perfectly encapsulates what the large portion of the crowd who booed Bieber must have been feeling:

    Taylor Swift reacts to Bieber kiss

    Bieber hasn’t officially commented on either of Sunday night’s embarrassments. Instead, the pop star used his 39 million-follower Twitter feed to thank fans and express his love for Jesus:

    (Image courtesy roffleswaffles on Reddit)

  • Ted Nugent’s Brother is For Expanded Background Checks For Guns

    Jeffrey Nugent, the former CEO of cosmetics company Revlon, doesn’t completely agree with his brother when it comes to the gun control debate. That’s normal for plenty of U.S. families, but Jeffrey’s views have made headlines because his brother happens to be Ted Nugent, the famous rock star who is well-known as a staunch conservative and hunting aficionado.

    Jeffrey penned an op-ed for the Washington Post last week, stating that he and his brother are long-time hunters and members of the National Rifle Association (NRA). He also writes that he and his brother own “a large number of guns.” However, he states that the NRA and his brother are wrong on the issue of expanded background checks, saying, “Irresponsible gun owners are bad for everyone.” From Jeffrey’s op-ed:

    And I agree with Ted that our constitutional right to bear arms should not be undermined. I want all those who are qualified to purchase a gun to be able to do so. But — and here is where I part ways with my brother — not everyone is qualified to own a gun, so expanded background checks should be a legislative priority.

    I believe strongly that expanding and improving mandatory background checks will keep a lot of people who aren’t entitled to Second Amendment rights from having easy access to guns. As of today, a convicted felon can find a gun show or a private seller and buy a firearm without a background check. That loophole should be closed. Every gun transaction must include a thorough background check. Why would responsible gun owners want to protect people who threaten not only our safety but our gun rights?

    Ted Nugent has replied to his brother’s essay with his own opinion piece published on Newsmax on Sunday. Ted salutes his brother for standing up for his views, but calls those views “dead wrong.” From Ted’s op-ed:

    Passing expanded background checks would do nothing to curtail or suppress thugs or psychos from accessing weapons and committing mass murder, carjacking, the nightly shootouts in Chicago or a gangsta shooting at the Mother’s Day parade in New Orleans.

    Paroled thugs or bug-eyed psychotics could not care less about any gun laws. The bold and ugly reality is that they will always gain access to a weapon. I believe at his core, my brother knows this.

  • William Fine Dies; Publisher was 86

    William Fine, the publisher of dozens of magazines in the 1960s, has died at the age of 86.

    According to a New York Times report, Fine died in Beverly Hills, California on Friday, May 17. He is reported to have succumbed to multiple atrophy syndrome.

    During the 1960s Fine published magazines for the Hearst Corporation. His magazines included Harper’s Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, and Town & Country. After leaving Hearst, Fine became the president of New York department store Bonwit Teller.

    Fine is, perhaps, most well-known for influencing drug law in the U.S. According to the Times, New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller once sent Fine to Japan to discover why the country had such low drug addiction rates. Fine’s report focused on the harsh sentences drug dealers in Japan were given. Rockefeller soon signed into law harsh mandatory minimum prison sentences for drug possession, increasing prison populations and influencing drug laws for decades to come.

  • Obama Approval Rating Still Solid, Despite Critics

    Last week was, perhaps, the toughest week the Obama administration has yet faced. While congressional Republicans were still trying to turn the Benghaz attacks into a full-fledged scandal, two clearly real scandals have appeared seemingly out of nowhere in the past two weeks. One involves the IRS targeting the large influx of tax-exempt Tea Party-related groups for extra scrutiny. The other scandal involves the U.S. Justice Department seizure of Associated Press journalists’ telephone records in secret subpoenas.

    It seems, however, that none of the negative press has affected President Obama’s approval ratings. According to a CNN/ORC poll released this weekend, the President still enjoys a 53% approval rating.

    This is despite the fact that those polled knew about the recent scandals and even considered them important. 71% of those polled considered the IRS’s actions unacceptable, while 52% thought the Justice Department’s phone record seizures were unacceptable. Over 60% of these same respondents believe that President Obama’s statements about the IRS scandal have been at least mostly true.

    Presidential spokespersons have been aggressively combating efforts to link Obama directly to the IRS scandal. White House adviser Dan Pfeiffer this Sunday hit the talk show circuit, stating that the President did not know of the policy before it hit the media.

    The President himself did not address the topics this weekend. Instead, the President used his weekly address to speak about building up the middle class in the U.S.:

  • Dwight Howard Report: Interested in the Rockets, Mavs

    Dwight Howard is scheduled to become a free agent this summer, and the Lakers are hoping to lock the NBA star down to a long-term contract. However, it seems that other teams may have an interest in the 27-year-old center.

    A CBS Sports report this weekend stated that Howard is “far” from re-signing with the Lakers. The report also sparked rumors that Howard is intrigued by the possibility of signing with the Houston Rockets.

    Citing unnamed “multiple people briefed on internal conversations surrounding Howard’s free-agent decision,” the report points out that Houston’s line-up could easily be adjusted to make room for Howard. The sources also stated that Howard could be very interested in the Dallas Mavericks. In addition to that, an unnamed “person briefed on [Howard’s] plans” also told CBS that Howard will be taking “a hard look” at several different teams.

    Despite Howard’s apparent interest in Texas, the Lakers still do have the advantage over other teams when bidding for the star. As CBS points out, the Lakers will be able to offer Howard a five-year deal with a 7.5% annual salary increase, which exceeds the 4.5% annual salary increase other teams will be offering.

  • Powerball Jackpot Winning Ticket is Out There, Somewhere

    As the Powerball Jackpot hit nearly $600 million this weekend, a jackpot winner has finally been found. An unidentified winner from Florida matched numbers in Saturday’s draw.

    According to the Florida Lottery, a jackpot-winning Powerball ticket was sold in Publix grocery store in Zephyrhills, Florida, a city Northeast of Tampa. The ticket was a “Quick Pick” and is worth $590.5 million. The ticket matched all five winning numbers (10, 13, 14, 22, 52) and the “Powerball,” which was 11.

    “This is Florida’s sixth Powerball jackpot winner, adding to our record of the most Powerball winners of any state since the game was introduced in Florida in January 2009,” said Cynthia O’Connell, Florida Lottery Secretary. “It is also a big win for public education. This series of POWERBALL jackpot rollovers generated more than $40 million for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund.”

    The winner, who has not yet come forward, will now have 180 days from Saturday to claim the prize money. To claim the prize money as a lump sum, the winner must file a claim within 60 days.

  • Justin Bieber Booed at Billboard Awards Show

    Justin Bieber has been getting some bad press for the past few months, starting with his “diva-like behavior” while touring in London. Now, it appears that the music world may have begun to turn on him as well.

    This weekend at the Billboard Music Awards, Bieber was awarded the first ever Milestone Award. The award, which was sponsored by car manufacturer Chevrolet, was meant to go to an artist who had demonstrated “musical ingenuity and innovation” over the past year. Bieber was nominated for the award along with Taylor Swift and Bruno Mars.

    When Bieber took the stage to accept the award, the crowd reaction was mixed, with a large contingent of boos that could easily be heard. The pop singer seemed to react to the jeers, rambling on in his acceptance speech about how he should “be taken seriously.”

    “And basically, from my heart I really just want to say it should really be about the music,” said Bieber. “It should be about the craft, the craft that I’m making. This is not a gimmick, I’m not – this is not a gimmick. I’m an artist and I should be taken seriously and this, all this other bull should not be spoken of.”

  • 2 FBI Agents Killed in Training Exercise

    The FBI this week revealed that two special agents died during a training exercise on Friday, May 17.

    Special Agent Christopher Lorek, 41, and Special Agent Stephen Shaw, 40, died while training off the coast of Virginia Beach, Virginia. The two were part of the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team, an elite group within the bureau’s Critical Incident Response Group, which is based out of the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. The cause of the deaths has not been released, and the FBI has stated that the incident is under review.

    “We mourn the loss of two brave and courageous men,” said Robert Mueller, FBI director. “Like all who serve on the Hostage Rescue Team, they accept the highest risk each and every day, when training and on operational missions, to keep our nation safe. Our hearts are with their wives, children, and other loved ones who feel their loss most deeply. And they will always be part of the FBI Family.”

    Lorek was a 17-year veteran of the FBI, having joined in 1996. Shaw had joined the FBI in 2005.

    The FBI describes the Hostage Rescue Team as a national counterterrorist unit. The group responds to “extraordinary” hostage crises and other law enforcement situations within the U.S.

  • Beyoncé Pregnant? Sources Say “Yes”

    In an unexpected end to a week of speculation and rumor, E! News claims to have confirmed that pop star Beyoncé Knowles is, in fact, pregnant. The site cites unnamed “multiple sources” in its confirmation of the celebrity pregnancy.

    If true, the child would be the second for Beyoncé and her husband, rap producer Jay-Z. The couple already have one daughter, named Blue Ivy. Before their daughter was born, Beyoncé also suffered a miscarriage, about which she wrote a sad song.

    As rumors of the pregnancy heated up early this week, an unnamed source denied the claims, stating that it wouldn’t make sense for Beyoncé at this time. The singer is currently on the European half of her world tour, titled “The Mrs. Carter Show.” The show continues in North America throughout June and July.

    On Tuesday Beyoncé cancelled a scheduled show in Antwerp, Belgium. At the time, reports held that the show was cancelled due to Beyoncé’s “dehydration and exhaustion.” The cancellation further fueled rumors that the singer might be pregnant and possibly experiencing morning sickness.

    Beyoncé has since issued an apology for the missed concert:

    Beyoncé2 days ago

    To my dearest fans in Antwerp… http://www.beyonce.com/news/ill-see-you-soon

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  • Navy Seal Dies, Seven Injured at Fort Knox

    A Navy SEAL was killed and seven other soldiers have been injured in a training accident that occurred this week in Fort Knox, Kentucky.

    According to a Louisville Courier-Journal report, 23-year-old Navy SEAL Jonathan Kaloust died Wednesday after his Humvee flipped during training exercises. Seven other soldiers who were injured in the incident have been treated for minor injuries and released.

    Kaloust was assigned to the Navy SEAL team in Forty Story, Virginia. According to the Courier-Journal, Kaloust was from Massapequa, New York and attended State University of New York Binghamton University before joining the Navy in 2011.

    This is not the first military training death to happen in 2013. Earlier this year, two Navy divers accidentally drowned during training exercises in a test pond at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.

    Though Fort Knox is most well-known as the location of the U.S. Treasury’s Gold Bullion Depository, the U.S. Army Human Resources Command, the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Infantry Division, and the 3rd Recruiting Brigade of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command are all located at the facility, in addition to several other divisions.

  • Former Argentine Dictator Jorge Rafael Videla Dead at Age 87

    Jorge Rafael Videla, the former dictator of Argentina, has died at the age of 87.

    According to an Associated Press report, Videla died in the Marcos Paz prison in Argintina. He was found dead in his prison bed early Friday morning, and the cause of death has been reported to be natural causes.

    Videla was sentenced to life in prison in 1985 for his part in the human rights violations perpetrated by his government. Videla led a military coup in 1976, shortly after the death of Argentine leader Juan Perón. He established a military government that killed thousands of Argentinians during the so-called ‘Dirty War,’ a civil war between the government and guerrilla left-wing groups in the country. The government is remembered for not only killing Marxist fighters, but also ‘disappearing’ thousands of students, left-wing political activists, and other dissidents.

    Videla ceded leadership in 1981, shortly before the military government fell. At his trial in the 80s, Videla was found guilty of charges that included murder, kidnapping, and torture. Videla served five years in prison before being pardonded by Argentine President Carlos Menem in 1990. He returned to prison in 1998 on charges of kidnapping children, though he served under house arrest due to his age. His presidential pardon was thrown out in 2007, and he returned to prison after another trial.

  • George Michael Injured Slightly in Car Crash

    Singer George Michael was involved in a car crash on Thursday, May 16.

    A statement posted to the singer‘s website and Facebook page states that Michael was a passenger in a vehicle that was part of a “traffic accident.” The statement also reveals that “no third party was involved,” implying that the crash did not involve another vehicle. Michael was injured only slightly, with “superficial cuts and bruises” for which he is being treated. The statement, in full:

    George Michael16 minutes ago

    George Michael was a passenger in a vehicle involved in a traffic accident yesterday evening, no third party was involved. He is being treated for superficial cuts and bruises but is fine. We have no further comment at this time. http://bit.ly/111VhuuPowered by socialditto  802 likes ·  351 comments

    No other details of the crash have been officially released by Michael’s publicist, but a Sky News report states that the accident took place in Northwest London. The report also revealed that another man involved in the crash was taken to a London trauma center for head injuries.

    Michael became famous in the 80s as half of the group Wham! He later embarked on a successful solo career and is now one of the best-selling pop singers in the world.

  • Chaz Bono: 65 lbs. Lost, “Feeling Really Good”

    Last month, Chaz Bono revealed that he had lost 60 pounds in about five months. The weight loss was due, Bono said, to the help of a doctor and a change in eating habits. The former Dancing With The Stars contestant stated that diets don’t work for him, so he completely changed the foods he eats.

    Now, one month later, Bono is down 65 pounds. According to an interview published in People magazine, Bono stated that he is “feeling really good” and really likes what he sees in the mirror, though he still misses some foods he can no longer eat. The 48-year old LGBT activist also said that he would like another chance to be on Dancing With The Stars, as he feels he would fare better in the competition with the weight off.

    Bono also revealed that his health has improved as a result of the weight loss. He told People that he feels better in general when performing physical tasks and exercising. His blood pressure and cholesterol are now at normal levels, and his confidence is high.

  • Michelle Bachman Tries Out Google Glass

    Now that Google’s latest experiment has caught the eye of congress and privacy advocates, many Google Glass fans are wary that the devices may be over-regulated before they even appear on the market. The congressional privacy caucus even sent an open letter to Google CEO Larry Page this week, asking for clarification and details on Google’s Glass privacy policies.

    While many member of congress will no doubt judge Glass by the provocative headlines it is producing, at least one congresswoman is checking out the technology for herself. U.S. Representative Michelle Bachmann was spotted in the halls of congress this week trying out Google Glass. Though Bachmann is not a member of the congressional privacy caucus, her position in the Tea Party movement could influence conservative Americans’ opinions of the new technology. A photo of the congresswoman wearing the device was tweeted on Wednesday by NBC News Capitol Hill reporter Luke Russert:

    Of course, Bachmann’s conservative and religious stances in congress have often made her a laughing stock in social media, and this occasion is no different. Replies to Russert’s picture include some funny and some mean tweets:

  • Arias Jury in Tears During Sentencing Testimony

    After being delayed due to a bomb scare, the sentencing phase of Jodi Arias’ trial has begun.

    Arias was found guilty last week for the brutal murder of her former boyfriend, Travis Alexander. Alexander’s body was found in a bathtub at his home with a slit throat, nearly 30 stab wounds, and a bullet wound to the head. Now, the jury in Arias’ trial will decide whether she will receive the death penalty for her crime.

    According to an Associated Press report, the testimony at today’s hearing has been very emotional. Alexander’s family members told jurors the various ways in which the murder affected their lives, including health problems and nightmares. Some members of the jury were reportedly brought to tears by the family’s testimony.

    The sentencing will continue on Monday, with witnesses formerly close to Arias expected to provide testimony. The jury will decide, based on Arias’ crime, her past, and their own feelings about the case, whether Arias is to die or spend the rest of her life in prison. The prosecution is reportedly arguing that the nature of her crime makes the death penalty the appropriate sentence, while Arias’ defense is arguing that she does not deserve to die. Arias stated in an interview shortly after her guilty verdict that she would rather die than serve a life sentence.

  • Soap Actor Dylan Patton Arrested For Cocaine

    It’s no secret that drugs are easy to find in Hollywood, especially for stars. However, those same stars aren’t usually assumed to be selling the drugs themselves.

    This week, soap opera actor Dylan Patton has been arrested for cocaine possession. According to a TMZ report, Patton, who starred on Days of Our Lives in 2009, has been charged with possession of cocaine with intent to sell. The star is reportedly still in jail, with a bail set at $30,000. He faces up to 9 years in prison if convicted.

    TMZ had previously reported that Patton was selling cocaine from his home. The bust was made by an undercover police officer who claims he bought cocaine from Patton. Police then raided Patton’s house on Tuesday.

    Patton is best-known for playing the character Will Horton on Days of Our Lives. Patton played the character for nearly one year, and earned an Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Younger Actor. He left the show in 2010, and the role of Will Horton was recast.

  • Lindsay Lohan: 5 Pounds Gained in Rehab

    Though Lindsay Lohan has had a few difficult years, it now seems that the former child actress is serious about getting her life under control. The star is currently in rehab at the Betty Ford Clinic, getting treatment her various addictions.

    Now, Radar Online is reporting that Lohan has begun eating very well. The publication cited an unnamed “source close to the situation” as saying Lohan has gained five pounds while in rehab. The weight gain evidently came after doctors at the facility banned her from taking Adderall. Lohan has stated in the past that she has “severe” ADD and that her Adderall use is meant to keep it under control.

    Adderall is an amphetamine-based stimulant that is often given to children to control ADD. It is also widely abused for recreational use, or by college students who need help concentrating on their studies.

    Though many Hollywood actresses would freak out over gaining 5 pounds, Lindsay Lohan is arguably one of the stars that could use a bit of meat on her bones. Radar’s source stated that the food at the Betty Ford Clinic is “really, really good,” includes plenty of dessert, and that Lohan has bad eating habits.

  • CDC: Poop Found in a Majority of Public Pools

    The CDC this week revealed that a new study on fecal matter in public pools uncovered a disturbing statistic. Over half of pools tested in the study were found to have E. coli, a marker for fecal contamination.

    The study tested pool filters from public pools, looking for genetic material. It found that 58% of the filters tested positive for a strain of E. coli that is normally found in human intestines and in feces. The CDC stated that the study indicates people are either pooping in pools or failing to clean themselves well before entering pools.

    “Swimming is an excellent way to get the physical activity needed to stay healthy,” said Michele Hlavsa, chief of the Healthy Swimming Program at the CDC. “However, pool users should be aware of how to prevent infections while swimming. Remember, chlorine and other disinfectants don’t kill germs instantly. That’s why it’s important for swimmers to protect themselves by not swallowing the water they swim in and to protect others by keeping feces and germs out of the pool by taking a pre-swim shower and not swimming when ill with diarrhea.”

    The CDC recommends several practices to cut down on pool contamination. Some of the obvious ones include people not swimming if they have diarrhea, showering with soap before swimming, and washing hands after using the restroom or after changing diapers. The agency also recommends taking bathroom breaks every hour, and checking children’s diapers every half-hour. More advanced pool users can check chlorine levels and water PH before swimming. Possibly the best advice the CDC gives, though, is that swimmers should not swallow the water they swim in.

  • Police Shoot Suspect’s Car at Florida Airport

    Jacksonville, Florida authorities this week revealed that police were involved in a shooting in a parking garage at Jacksonville International Airport.

    Jacksonville Police Chief Tom Hackney stated that police were following up on a car theft case from earlier this month. Police were able to follow 20-year-old Rodney Lorenzo Addison (pictured) to a rental car return parking garage at the airport and block his car in. The suspect began ramming police cars without regard for the officers standing in front of them in an attempt to escape, causing one officer to fire at the car.

    Addison was able to drive away, but the car was later found at a nearby apartment complex. An unidentified 17-year-old male who was in the car with Addison was shot in the leg by the officer in the parking garage. He has been treated at a nearby hospital, and is now cooperating with police. Another unidentified male was in the car during the airport confrontation. Addison remains at large, and is currently wanted for a variety of charges, including some related to attempting to run over police officers. Hackney made it clear that police believe Addison to be dangerous, and possibly armed.

    Jacksonville police are currently searching the car the suspect was driving at the time of the incident. Authorities have learned that the car, a white Crown Victoria, was reported stolen on May 9.