Mumbai Attacks Will Affect Bollywood

Mumbai is not just the financial capital of India, it is also the heart of Bollywood. Bollywood is the world’s largest film industry. Today it is struggling to deal with the 16 coordinated terrorist attacks.

The heart of Bollywood was still on Thursday as many citizens refused to leave the security of their own homes.

The Taj Hotel is India’s answer to Beverly Hills. With flames shooting out of the building the hub of culture is now reeling from what will be once the violence dies down.

Those with Western passports were the targets of young gunmen. Among those reported dead are six foreign nationals.

Brooke Satchwell was on a three week shoot in Mumbai. The Australian television star was staying at the Taj when gunmen attacked. The Hollywood Reporter quotes the actress who maintained contact with her colleagues with her cell phone:

“We felt a little bit like sitting ducks,” Satchwell told radio 3AW of Australia, adding that she and others hid in a hotel toilet stall until they were ushered past dead bodies in the lobby by hotel security and into the street, where chaos reigned.

Almost all of the attacks were well away from the business area that makes up Bollywood movie studios. Still the terror was felt by the industry as areas frequented by those in the business were attacked.

On Thursday movie cinemas were closed. There will be business losses within the film industry not only in India but the West due to the attacks.

“There will be a negative impact at least for this weekend,” said Rajeev Mansand, film critic and entertainment editor at U.S.-Indian joint venture broadcaster CNN IDN.

Producer Rohan Sippy said, “As of today we’re just concerned about the overall security situation,” declining to say if he would postpone his film’s release.

Those Happy Chinese, Oldest Stash Found

The world’s oldest stash of marijuana has been discovered in China. The pot was put inside a tomb in a remote area about 2,700 years ago. Researchers determined that the stash was used for “psychoactive purposes” and not as a fiber for clothing or food.

The researchers found 789 grams of dried cannabis buried with a light-haired, blue-eyed Caucasian man. He is thought to have been a shaman of the Gushi culture.

While the stash had retained it’s colour the aroma has been lost with the passage of time.

The Canadian Press reports:

“To our knowledge, these investigations provide the oldest documentation of cannabis as a pharmacologically active agent,” says the newly published paper, whose lead author was American neurologist Dr. Ethan B. Russo.

Marijuana has been found from ancient Egypt and other sites. The Greek historian Herodotus wrote about it. So far though this recent find is the oldest that has been able to be tested for its properties.

Most of the researchers on the team are based in China. They tried without success to germinate 100 of the seeds found in the cache.

Some may find this even more disappointing as the tests have shown that the cannabis has a very high content of THC.

It is not known how the shaman would have used his stash, there were no pipes or bongs buried with him. It was contained in a leather basket and in a wooden bowl quite possibly for the man to use in his afterlife.

“This materially is unequivocally cannabis, and no material has previously had this degree of analysis possible,” Russo said in an interview from Missoula, Mont.

“It was common practice in burials to provide materials needed for the afterlife. No hemp or seeds were provided for fabric or food. Rather, cannabis as medicine or for visionary purposes was supplied.”

This find helps confirm that marijuana has been used for a very long time. The region of Xinjiang in China is considered to be an original source for many of the cannabis strains found throughout the world.

World’s Oldest Person Died On Wednesday

The world’s oldest person has died at the age of 115. Edna Parker died at her nursing home in Shelbyville, Indiana on Wednesday. She was 115 years, 220 days old according to Robert Young from the Guinness World Records.

Mrs. Parker was a widow in 1939 when her husband Earl died of a heart attack. Until 15 years ago she resided at their farmhouse. She then moved in with her son and finally to the nursing home in Shelbyville.

Mrs. Parker never drank a drop of alcohol or used tobacco yet that isn’t what she wanted to pass on. She wanted it to be known that more education was the key to longevity.

She outlived her children Earl Jr. and Clifford.

The Lakeland Ledger reports:

“We don’t know why she’s lived so long,” Don Parker said before his grandmother’s 115th birthday. “But she’s never been a worrier and she’s always been a thin person, so maybe that has something to do with it.”

Mrs. Parker was a teacher after graduating Franklin College in 1911. In 1913 she married her childhood sweetheart. In her day a teacher retired with marriage. She then became a farmer’s wife often feeding a dozen men who worked on their farm.

It has been noted that the Parker’s owned the first car in their town.

She is survived by five grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren.

The world’s oldest person is now Maria de Jesus of Portugal.

Mumbai Remains Under Siege

Reports are coming in that shots have been heard coming from the headquarters of Chabad Lubavitch. Gunmen seized control of the headquarters of the Mumbai office for the ultra-orthodox Jewish outreach group overnight.

The Israeli consulate had been in contact with the rabbi of that lived within the headquarters but the line was cut mid conversation.

Mumbai is still under siege of the teams of terrorist that have killed at least 101 people since 9:00 p.m. Wednesday evening.

Westerners have been taken hostage by a group that is suspected to be Muslim militants.

The name of the hospital that the gunmen attacked is Cama. It is a women’s and children’s medical center. There was a standoff but it appears to have been resolved.

There are still hostages being held at the Oberoi Hotel. One of the terrorists has been in contact with a television station. CNN reports that he demanded the release of all “mujahedins.” He said, “Only after that will we release the people,” the militant told the TV station, according to the Times of India.”

A citizen journalist in Mumbai sent DigitalJournal.com some photos that can be seen the slideshow above (beside the headline) or below:

Photo by Vinukumar Ranganathan This photo of a terrorist attack in Mumbai, India was sent to DigitalJournal.com by citizen journalist Vinukumar Ranganathan who was on the streets with his camera as it happened. At least 100 people were killed and hundreds wounded from the attacks. 9 votes Vote it up! var imgid = “44876″; <!– if(imgid) djp.votebtn(‘vtimg’+imgid,{ cls:’voteupgreen’,txt:’Vote it up!’}); //–>

Photo by Vinukumar Ranganathan This photo of a terrorist attack in Mumbai, India was sent to DigitalJournal.com by citizen journalist Vinukumar Ranganathan who was on the streets with his camera as it happened. At least 100 people were killed and hundreds wounded from the attacks. 6 votes Vote it up! var imgid = “44868″; <!– if(imgid) djp.votebtn(‘vtimg’+imgid,{ cls:’voteupgreen’,txt:’Vote it up!’}); //–>

Photo by Vinukumar Ranganathan This photo of a terrorist attack in Mumbai, India was sent to DigitalJournal.com by citizen journalist Vinukumar Ranganathan who was on the streets with his camera as it happened. At least 100 people were killed and hundreds wounded from the attacks. 5 votes Vote it up! Already Voted var imgid = “44862″; <!– if(imgid) djp.votebtn(‘vtimg’+imgid,{ cls:’voteupgreen’,txt:’Vote it up!’}); //–>

Photo by Vinukumar Ranganathan This photo of a terrorist attack in Mumbai, India was sent to DigitalJournal.com by citizen journalist Vinukumar Ranganathan who was on the streets with his camera as it happened. At least 100 people were killed and hundreds wounded from the attacks. 5 votes Vote it up! Already Voted var imgid = “44863″; <!– if(imgid) djp.votebtn(‘vtimg’+imgid,{ cls:’voteupgreen’,txt:’Vote it up!’}); //–>

Photo by Vinukumar Ranganathan

This photo of a terrorist attack in Mumbai, India was sent to DigitalJournal.com by citizen journalist Vinukumar Ranganathan who was on the streets with his camera as it happened. At least 100 people were killed and hundreds wounded from the attacks.

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World Condemns Terrorist Attack In Mumbai As Death Toll Climbs

10 sites in Mumbai were taken over by brazen terrorists. A women’s and children’s hospital was one of the targets. Also targeted were American and British tourists. The radical group, Deccan Mujahideen has claimed responsibility.

As world leaders condemn the terrorist action in India more reports of causalities are coming in. The terrorists stormed high profile hotels, hospitals and a crowded train station in a coordinated effect to kill as many as they could.

The death toll is at 87 and climbing. More than 185 people have been wounded. Nine of the attackers are among the dead.

It is now being reported that the group arrived via boats. There is no confirmed number as to how many gunmen were involved. The attacks started between 9:00 and 9:15 p.m.

The Chief Minister has been quoted as saying that around 200 National Security Guard commandos have left Delhi to flush out these men.

Top police officials are among the dead as well as 11 policemen. Mumbai Police’s “encounter specialist” Vijay Salaskar was one of those shot in a gun battle.

The 105-year-old Hotel Taj was most heavily damaged in the evening strike. At least six explosions were set off in the 5-star hotel. Many Western personalities have spent time at luxurious inn including Elvis, Mick Jagger, Bill Clinton and Prince Philip.

Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon is quoted by Canada News Yahoo as saying:

“Canada strongly condemns the savage terrorist attacks in Mumbai, which have left hundreds of innocent civilians injured or killed,” he said in a statement. “These cowardly attacks are truly appalling.”

“Canada and India share a commitment to freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Among our mutual priorities is close cooperation to promote international security and to fight terrorism.”

“Canada stands firmly united with the government of India in condemning these despicable acts of violence.”

President Bush has condemned the terrorists that committed these vile attacks.The Associated Press reports:

“The United States condemns this terrorist attack and we will continue to stand with the people of India in this time of tragedy,” White House press secretary Dana Perino said. “President Bush offers his condolences to the Indian people and the families of the innocent civilians killed and injured in the attacks.”

Recently elected Obama’s spokesman also made comments about the vicious attack:

In Chicago, President-elect Barack Obama’s national security spokeswoman, Brooke Anderson, said Obama “strongly condemns today’s terrorist attacks in Mumbai, and his thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and the people of India. These coordinated attacks on innocent civilians demonstrate the grave and urgent threat of terrorism.”

“The United States must continue to strengthen our partnerships with India and nations around the world to root out and destroy terrorist networks,” Anderson added.

The Muslim Council of Britain joined other world leaders in condemning this action. As the IHT reports:

“The brutal murder of Indians and foreign nationals is unacceptable, there is no excuse for such acts, whatever the cause may be,” the group said in a statement. Its Secretary-General, Muhammad Abdul Bari, said he extended his condolences to the bereaved.

“Many Britons have deep links with the city of Mumbai and India and I join them in this hour of sadness and anxiety.”

Britain’s Foreign Office is advising all Britons to remain indoors if they are currently in India. At this time there are no confirmed British causalities.

The Deccan Mujahideen are a largely unknown group hailing from an area of India. Breaking down their group’s name the Deccan stands for the area in India they are from and the Mujahideen is a plural form of a Muslim who acts in a jihad.

An email sent to the authorities in India shows the nature of this group. CTV reports:

“If this is the degree your arrogance has reached, and if you think that by these stunts you can scare us, then let the Indian Mujahideen warn all the people of Mumbai that whatever deadly attacks Mumbaikars will face in future, their responsibility would lie with the Mumbai ATS and their guardians,” the email reads. “You are already on our hit list and this time very, very seriously.”

Mumbai is the most prosperous city in India and also the most western appearing one. Because of this it is often the scene of terrorism acts, although nothing in its past could compare to today’s actions.

Targeting areas that are known for Western visitors is a common thread among terrorists. They want to attack in the most visible areas and spread fear. Using intelligence and organization with these attacks they are achieving their goal.

Americans concerned for family members in Mumbai have a call center number: 1-888-407-4747.

Former First Lady Barbara Bush In Hospital

Former First Lady Barbara Bush was taken to hospital after complaining of a ‘little bit of pain.’ The 83-year-old went to Methodist Hospital in Houston as a precaution.

Former President George Bush, father of President George W. Bush was with his wife. Mrs. Bush has been having stomach pains for several days. She has Graves’ Disease which was diagnosed while her husband was the President.

The Associated Press reports:

Current first lady Laura Bush, Barbara Bush’s daughter-in-law, said Wednesday: “She’s doing great. George and I talked to both President Bush and Barbara Bush last night while they were in the hospital and they were both doing very well then.”

All of the testing has had negative results. Bush is expected to be released from hospital on Wednesday.

Florida Teacher Facing Child Abuse Charges After Child Punched

A 8-year-old student from Fort Lauderdale, Florida is recovering after his teacher allegedly punched him in the eye. The child has a bruised eye after being hit with a loosely closed fist.

Art teacher David. A Grant, 36, allegedly punched the youngster at Sunland Elementary School on November 5. The details about why the assault took place are not clear.

Grant turned himself in after being contacted by detectives. He has been charged with child abuse. Effects to reach Grant by the Lakeland Ledger went unanswered Tuesday.

He is being held without bail at Broward County jail.

Grant worked at Sunland Park and Thurgood Marshall elementary schools before the incident. Within days of the alleged punching he was reassigned to work away from students.

If Grant is convicted of the crime he could lose his teaching certificate.

Program Your Tivo From Your Cellphone

Going out to dinner is no longer an excuse to miss your favorite movies. With the holiday season approaching TiVo has launched their TiVo Mobile program to ensure everyone can watch TV anytime, as long as they have a cell phone with a mobile browser.

On Tuesday TiVo Mobile launched. Teaming with the mobile application development agency, Mobui, the company is giving it’s users more for their buck. What’s more non-subscribers will be able to use the program.

Any phone that has a mobile browser will now be able to use the service for free. Mobile phones include the iPhone and G1. The program opens up television viewing for millions of cell phone owners.

The new mobile site is m.tivo.com. TiVo is already known for its easy to use interface and the mobile service will be no different. New users will be able to easily understand the program and able to view their shows quickly.

Jim Denney, vice president of product marketing at TiVo Inc., said, “TiVo started out making television a more convenient, personal experience, and this is the next step to give television lovers total control over their media. Whether you are standing in line at the bank or talking about a new show with friends at dinner, you can now find and record shows whenever, wherever, a perfect tool for everyone,” in a Mobui press release.

The program includes YouTube videos as well as Amazon Video on Demand and Jaman. Viewers can add their shows to Apple iPod, Sony PSP and other portable players.

The beta version launched on Tuesday and will soon be available for wide scale viewing within weeks.

President George Bush Pardons 14

It’s that time again, when the outgoing Prez decides to let some of their buddies get away with misdeeds that the rest of us would be sitting in a cell for years for. The President can give pardons away whenever they feel like it .

George Bush is getting ready to head back down to his Texan ranch come January 20th but he has a bit of housecleaning to do before hand. Right now 16 individuals are glad they are in his cleaning up jobs.

Now mind you Bush doesn’t just give clemency to anyone. He’s actually rather stingy when it comes to turning the other cheek compared to Clinton or Reagan. During his eight years as Commander of the United States he’s only granted 171 pardons and eight commutations.

The lucky winners are:

Leslie Owen Collier, killer of three bald eagles by improper use of pesticide in hamburger meat. Collier had aimed to off some coyotes but instead ended up killing three of the national birds.

Milton Kirk Cordes who conspired to violate the Lacey Act.

Richard Michael Culpepper who lied to the federal government.

Brenda Jean Dolenz-Helmer concealed information that dealt with her doctor father accused of medical insurance fraud.

Andrew Foster Harley a drug dude at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was convicted of using and distributing pot and coke at the school.

Obie Gene Helton who defrauded his way into food stamps.

Carey C. Hice, Sr. who evaded income tax.

Geneva Yvonne Hogg who embezzled money from a bank.

William Hoyle McCright, Jr. who frauded a bank.

Paul Julian McCurdy who was convicted of misapplication of bank funds.

Robert Earl Mohon Jr. who planned on distributing reefer.

Ronald Alan Mohrhoff a narc felony who used the telephone unlawfully.

Daniel Figh Pue III who didn’t have the proper permit to treat, store and dispose of hazardous waste.

Orion Lynn Vick who aided and abetted the theft of government property.

John Edward Forte and James Russell Harris, both busted for coke had their sentences commuted.

When the Prez gives out a pardon it is absolute and will not be overruled according to the Constitution.

There are still quite a few who are hoping that Bush will give them a break before he leaves office. They have less than two months but who knows, Bush may just let a bunch of baddies have a ‘get out of trouble’ card ready for Christmas gifts this year.

MC Breed Dead At 37

Eric Breed, better known as MC Breed grew up on Flint, Michigan’s mean streets. On Saturday the 37-year-old rapper died at a friend’s home in Ypsilanti.

“I’m from F-l-i-n-t’n. A city where pity runs low. If you ever shoot through my city, now you know. Cause we are strictly business and we also got our pride, and if you don’t like it, I suggest you break wide.”-
lyrics from Ain’t No Future in Yo Frontin’

From 1991 to 2004 he released 13 albums. His best received song was the 1991 “Ain’t No Future in Yo Frontin.’”

Breed suffered from kidney failure but that has not been listed as a cause of his death. Foul play is not suspected. A toxicology report is pending.

The Associated Press reports:

“More than just an artist, we mourn the loss of a beloved father, son, brother and friend,” his family said in a statement. “We are thankful and blessed to have been in his presence and want him to be remembered for his creative, caring, talented and hardworking spirit.”

Breed leaves behind three daughters, two sons, his parents, two brothers and a sister. Funeral arrangements are being arranged in Flint.

Obama to Decide on Washington Church

In January, Barack Obama will have a new home and a new church. Obama has to be careful that his search for a house of worship will not offend anyone.

Because religion and politics do not blend well any choice he makes will be under the media microscope.

If the church is one that has a political leaning or leans towards one race the media will be on the attack.

Each new President has to make a choice for their Washington church.

Obama’s church in Chicago is with the Church of Christ. That sect is mostly white mainline Protestants. In Washington there are several churches of that denomination some of which have mostly black congregations.

ABC News reports:

“Ironically, Wright belonged to the United Church of Christ, a middle-of-the-road white denomination,” said activist and preacher the Rev. Al Sharpton. “The Wright situation must be something on his mind when looking for a church, but I don’t know what his thinking is.

“The truth is, it’s a new age in America and in America’s churches,” Sharpton added. “What were once white churches are now mixed. And what were once black churches are now mixed.”

Hopefully politics will not be the guiding edge when it comes time to narrow down the family’s church choice. Religion is a private matter. The wrong church for a family can cause disunity.

It may take some time. The Clintons took until March to set upon their choice, Foundry United Methodist Church. The pastor had no warning when the First Family trekked on foot through a record snowfall to worship within the church. The pastor that served the church during that time, Phil Wogaman recalls Clinton’s first service.

“We didn’t have any advance warning that the Clintons would be attending that morning,” Wogaman said. “The Sunday they arrived, it was bitter cold and Washington was walloped by a record snowfall. There were just a handful of people there, and in walked the Clintons. They had walked a mile from the White House in the snow. They looked a little bedraggled, but settled right in. The press and the Secret Service comprised half the congregation that day.”

Boston Rocked by Explosions in Theater District

An electrical malfunction caused a number of manhole explosions in Boston’s Theater District early Monday morning. The entire district is without power.

Power has been knocked out for traffic lights forcing the closure of several area roads. There have been no reports of injuries.

Firefighters and electrical crews are on the scene. The Boston Fire Department has confirmed that four manholes exploded in total.

Traffic will be delayed in the theater district all the way to Berkeley Street. Public transit at the Arlington and Copley station is without power and closed.

D’Zhana Simmons Can Tell Her Friends She Really Once Was Heartless

D’Zhana Simmons walked out of hospital Wednesday with a beating heart. That’s not unusual but what for more than 100 days the fourteen-year-old lived without a heart.

Simmons had been at Holtz Children’s Hospital since July. During that time the young teen underwent two heart transplants and lived because of an artificial heart pump beat in her chest.

In July D’Zhana arrived from Clinton, South Carolina to the Miami children’s hospital to have a heart transplant. She and her family had learned this past spring that she had an enlarged heart that was too weak to pump the blood throughout her body.

Two days after she had the heart transplant doctors found it was not working properly and had to remove it fearing it could rupture.

The doctors then did something extrodiary; they replaced the heart with a pair of artificial pumping devices to give the girl a chance to grow up hoping a second heart would come in time.

Artifical hearts have been approved for adults but not children. The reason is that children rarely have life-threatening heart conditions and companies don’t invest as much technology in research as they do adults. Most often a child in D’Zhana’s case is left to die. Because of the courage of this young girl and her team of doctors it may give other young heart patients an option to help them survive.

For four months the teen struggled to survive long enough for another heart to become available. She dealt with kidney and liver failure and gastrointestinal bleeding plus breathing problems. She was confined to her bed most of the time. To take a short walk in the hospital’s hallways required four people to help steer the machine that push blood though her body.

On October 29 D’Zhana was strong enough to go through a second heart transplant. For the rest of her life she will take medicine to fight organ rejection and there is a strong chance by the age of 30 she will need another heart. In the meantime though the teen will be able to go to school, the prom, college and have the life of a normal teenage girl.

As the Associated Press reports:

“I truly believe it’s a miracle,” said her mother, Twolla Anderson.

California Man Kills Estranged Wife At New Jersey Church

A New Jersey church was the scene of domestic violence as an estranged husband shot and killed his wife. The man traveled from California to kill his wife. She had fled their home hoping to free herself from a marriage of abuse.

The man also wounded two other people before fleeing.

The police are now looking for Joseph M. Pallipurath, 27, of Sacramento, California.

Members at St. Thomas Syrian Orthodox Knanaya Church in Clifton, New Jersey were attending the service when Pallipurath entered the building. He shot his wife and two others in the vestibule.

Reshma James, 24, had fled her abusive marriage in California for the New Jersey town. She had already filed a restraining order against Pallipurath.

Sunday Pallipurath shot all three victims in the head. A 47-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man are now fighting for their life at St. Joseph’s Medical in Paterson. The shooting took place as about 200 other church members were in the sanctuary. The church is mostly comprised of first-generation Indian immigrants and their children.

Space Station Works To Convert Sweat and Urine Into Yummy Drinking Water

The International Space Station spent Sunday working on a piece of equipment that converts sweat and urine into drinkable water. Once that is up and functioning the crew can grow to six members.

The urine processor will only run for two hours before shutting down. The centrifuge was remounted on the $154 million water recycling system by commander Michael Fincke and astronaut Donald Pettit. The pair have been working on the project for the past three days. Once the system is running samples will be sent to a lab on Earth to see if it’s doing the job right.

The new system was sent to the space lab by the space shuttle Endeavor last week. It has to be working correctly before next year when more astronauts will be living on the space station.

At this time three crew members are able to live on the station at a time. Next year the crew will double in size.

The mission may not be able to be finished by the time Endeavor undocks on Thanksgiving Day.

The seven other crew members that make up the Endeavor team were given part of Sunday off of work. For seven hours astronauts Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper and Stephen Bowen were outside of the space station cleaning and lubing a jammed joint. The joint allows the solar wings of the space station to follow the direction of the sun to generate power. They didn’t finish all of their tasks because Stefanyshyn-Piper lost a $100,000 tool kit during an earlier space walk.

“We really appreciate how hard you’re all working,” Mission Control radioed for them to come inside. “I know it’s painful to call it quits like that, but we think it’s the right thing to do.”

Daisuke Enomoto Denied Space Travel, His $20 Million Ticket Not Refundable

Daisuke Enomoto wanted to be a space cadet. So much so that he spent $21 million to make his dreams come true. Now he wants a refund from the Virginia company that took his money. They are saying sorry no refund for you.

Space Adventures out of Virginia is being sued by Enomoto after they refused to return the Japanese man’s money.

The firm was brokering deals with the Russian space agency and making a nice tidy profit. Over a dozen space tourists have handed over $20 million or more to travel in orbit.

Enomoto, who had planned on dressing up as his favorite cartoon character in orbit, has chronic kidney-stones. That condition disqualifies him from taking a space trip with the company. The money he gave the company is non-refundable.

Enomoto says that Space Adventures is just using kidney stones as an excuse not to allow him to fly out his dreams. He also claims that the company has demanded more money in the past and was not happy when he said no.

Enomoto was planning on being the first space tourist to do a spacewalk dressed as anime character Char Aznable. In 2006 he spent eight months training at the Star City facility neatr Moscow for the flight.

Until Enomoto refused to pay more his kidney stone condition didn’t seem to be a problem. He was replaced by Anousheh Ansari on the flight.

Teen Attacked At Calgary High School Because He Is A Red-Head

A teenager in Calgary was beaten for the colour of his hair. The Grade 10 red head at St. Francis High School is recovering with bruises to his upper body.

The incident took place Thursday after gym class when thirteen other students singled out the teen for the colour of his hair.

CBC Canada reports:

The fact of the matter is from a policing perspective, it is a hate crime, and this individual was targeted because of the fact they have red hair,” said police spokesman Kevin Brookwell.

The crime is being linked to a Facebook group known as Kick a Ginger Day. The group urged its members to kick a person with red hair on November 20. Calling redheads ginger kids is linked to an episode from the television show South Park.

One grade 12 student at the school, Ken Logel, admitted that he had been kicking some of his fellow students with red hair and that that had been a running joke at the school during the day. Logel’s friend Simon Burke continued about the incident where the victim was surrounded by a gang of kids:

“Some kids took it too far in the locker room yesterday and ended up really hurting one of the kids at our school. It’s really hard to hear about it and I’m pretty disappointed in the kids that did it.

“Mostly, kids at the school are pretty good people and don’t really expect people to be hurting other ones just for having red hair. It’s just pretty ridiculous.”

Schools in several provinces sent warnings to students and parents about the prank. One Vancouver Island middle school had to send 20 students home after they kicked red-haired students.

Pixels For Pistols Program In Toronto A Hit

Trying to combat recent gun violence Toronto police are offering people a chance to shoot each other with digital cameras instead of guns.

Toronto residents can hand over their guns until Monday, December 1 to receive a camera from the police.

The Star reports:

“We got an overwhelming response,” Det. Sgt. Chris Boddy said yesterday. “People turned in a lot more guns than we expected. We continue to receive calls and as the time goes on, more and more people are aware of this program.”

The program began on October 22 and appears to be very popular. So far more than 1,000 guns and 20,000 rounds of ammo are off the street. After tests confirm that the handed over weapons have not been used in a crime they will be destroyed.

If you are interested in trading your pistol for some pixels contact the Toronto police department at 416-808-2222 any day of the week between 7 am and 7 pm.

Ali Ashtari Hung In Iran For Spying

Ali Ashtari was hanged by the Iranian government after being convicted of spying for Israel. The Israeli is the first known conviction for espionage linked to Israel in almost ten years.

It has been confirmed that the electronics saleman was found guilty and hung by Iranian officals. Those officials said that the 45-year-old passed on sensitive information on military, defense and research centers where he had worked. That information included data on Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization.

According to the Associated Press:

“We had specific intentions with announcing the execution of Ashtari … we want to show that new intelligence battles with enemy’s intelligence services have begun and that intelligence battles have become more serious,” IRNA quoted the head of the Intelligence Ministry’s Counterespionage Department as saying.

Ashtari was arrested three years ago. He was accused of working with Mossad, the foreign intelligence service in Israel. Israel has denied that the man was part of their program.

In a televised broadcast Saturday it appeared that Ashtari was confessing to the charges laid out according to Al Jazeera-English.

He said: “I made a mistake, I was afraid to go to the ministry of intelligence. This fear caused me to choose the wrong ways. I could not choose any correct way, all the roads that I chose were deads ends.

“Please pay attention to my confession and be aware. Don’t play with your lives. See what’s happened to me and learn a lesson. Do not repeat my mistakes.”

Ashtari’s body was handed over to his family on Monday after he was hung and has since been buried. His death sentence was reached in June.

In June an Israeli official said that they had no knowledge of his case.

IRNA has also announced that four ‘terrorists’ with ‘Zionist equipment’ had been arrested in Iran. Those four are being accused of assassination plots. It has not been revealed where they are being detained.

Six Prisoners in Indiana Sneak Some Sex Into Daily Routine

Most inmates have to forego the pleasures of the flesh while serving out their jail terms. That was not the case for six men and women at a Bloomfield, Indiana prison.

The lusty prisoners sneaked out of their cells for some sexy fun at the Greene County Jail on a regular basis to meet up with each other.

Prison officials put an end to their delight this week after discovering the sexy kinks going on under their noses.

By removing the metal ceiling panels from their cells the sixx squeezed into the narrow openings and used passageways in the roof to meet up each other.

The men (44, 38 and 17) and women (27,26 and 21) are believed to have used a shower drain as a homemade screwdriver to remove the panels. They would then wiggle to their funny place after midnight to have sex and drink homemade brew before returning to their cells. Their activities were not once caught on the security cameras.

The September and October party scene though has been ended. The six now will face the judge for charges of felony escape.

Hilter Was A Nut Short

The dirty lyrics of a British song about Adolf Hitler are true, the tyrant only had one testicle.

The lyrics go like this;

“Hitler has only got one ball, the other is in the Albert Hall. His mother, the dirty b****r, cut it off when he was small.’

The truth of the matter though the lost testicle wasn’t from his mother’s hands but from a combat injury.

The Sun reports:

“His abdomen and legs were all in blood. Hitler was injured in the abdomen and lost one testicle. His first question to the doctor was: ‘Will I be able to have children?’.”

War veteran Johan Jambor told his priest about the ghastly injury in the 1960’s and the priest wrote down that dirty little tidbit.

Johan was a medic during World War One when Hitler was wounded during the Battle of the Somme.

A young Hitler was said to have been very noisy and screamed for help. He was dubbed “Screamer” by the other soldiers.

It is alleged that a Soviet autopsy on Hilter backs up the claim that Hitler was one nut short.

Bell Canada Cuts Jobs

Around 250 clerical workers for Bell Canada will be getting a pink slip this holiday season. The employees are located in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Hamilton,according to to a company announcement on Friday.

The company is hoping to relocate some of the employees to other jobs in the company. By February 10 the process of moving employees around and job cuts should be completed.

Bell spokesman Jacques Bouchard denies reports from the Communications, Energy and Paperwork Union of outsourcing. The union says otherwise.

“We must stop the bleeding now, Bell Canada will not revamp its image and
customer service by throwing our members out on the street. Instead, Bell
should invest in the employees of its call centers to, among other things,
reduce the waiting time for customers over the phone. Bell needs a competent
workforce to achieve it this can be done by maintaining our members in their
Canadian jobs.” had said Barb Dolan, CEP Ontario Region Administrative
Vice-President.

The union is understandably upset at the cuts. They say that employees have “already made significant concessions to allow the company to compete more efficiently.”

Focus on the Family Is Giving Out Pink Slips

Focus on the Family is being hit by the economy. The Christian based nonprofit group is having to cut 202 jobs. It’s the largest cut in the 32-year history of the Colorado Springs operation.

The announcement was made on Monday that Focus was going to reduce its 1,150 workforce to 950. Twenty percent of the cuts are in the management department.

The layoffs come just after Focus said that they would be outsourcing 46 jobs from its distribution department. Focus laid off 30 workers last September.

The organization has also cut its budget from $160 million to $138 million for the fiscal year 2009.

Because the organization depends on donations it expects problems will get worse before it gets better.

The groups’ online magazines will remain intact surviving the cuts.

The Gazette reports:

“It’s a sign of the times,” Colorado Springs Economic Development Corp. president Mike Kazmierski concluded. “In the case of Focus, we believe it’s part of the economy, and as the economy recovers we expect a lot of those jobs to come back.”

Deer Hunter Accidently Kills Toddler Sitting in Grandparents’ Home

A toddler is dead from a bullet intended for a deer. Edward Taibi of New York allegedly shot 16-month-old Charly Skala in the torso.

Taibi was hunting Sunday afternoon in Swan Lake, New York. He had permission to be hunting from a neighbour on the property. He was within 500 feet of an occupied residence. That is within the law.

The bullet, intended for a deer, went into the side of little Charly’s grandparents home. The toddler was airlifted to hospital but died when doctors could not repair the damage.

Taibi has been charged with second-degree manslaughter. He is fully cooperating in the investigation as he grieves for the little girl’s death.

Taibi has a 17-year-old daughter and lost one of his own children two years ago to cancer.

Tougher Laws For Young Drivers In Ontario Could Be Just Around The Corner

Young drivers in Ontario will be looking at tougher rules soon. One of those rules involves getting caught for speeding — it will soon be one strike and you’re back to riding public transit.

New drivers under the age of 21 will soon be seeing a zero tolerance for drinking and driving. Any alcohol in the system means losing their driver’s license. That is if lawmakers pass new legislation on the docket tomorrow.

The new rules were brought in by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Tim Mulcahy. Mulcahy paid the ultimate price when his son Tyler Mulcahy crashed his car into the Joseph River. Tyler and three other young friends perished as a result of the drunk driving accident.

Introduced in 1994 Ontario has a graduated licensing system that takes young drivers two years to complete. After the full license has been issued young drivers have the same demerit point system as all other drivers.

Since his son’s death Mulcahy has lobbied tirelessly for tougher rules when it comes to young drivers.

The Star reports that his campaign has been heard by the government in the form of Ontario’s premier McGuinty.

“Mr. McGuinty called me this morning and told me that both laws are being introduced into the legislature on Tuesday,” Mulcahy wrote last week.

“I could not believe my ears and wept with Mr. McGuinty on the phone. If these bills are passed, Ontario will be the safest jurisdiction for young drivers in the world.”

Study Shows Not All Diagnosed Asthmatics Have The Condition

Adult onset asthma rates are climbing in Canada but it may be a false number. A study of about 500 adults who were told they had asthma revealed that they in fact did not have the disease.

It appears that a one time visit to the doctors for a cough or wheeze is getting an instant asthma diagnosis. With that diagnosis comes a slew of medicines that may not be needed.

There are medical tests to properly diagnosis asthma, most notably the spirometry. Instead of ordering the tests though doctors are prescribing asthma medicines.

The spirometer measures the patients lung volume and airway flow. Those with true asthma is often narrowed with inflammation.

The study of 496 subjects showed that 150 who had been diagnosed with asthma were not in reality asthmatic after review of the spirometer results. When Dr. Shawn Aaron and his team took those patients off of their medicines and reassessed them they were also found clear of the lung ailment.

On average those who were found not to be asthmatic had been on ‘puffers’ for 15 years.

The Canadian Press reports:

“This is a serious issue because asthma medications are expensive and they can have side-effects,” Aaron said. “Also, an inappropriate diagnosis of asthma may obscure the true cause of a patient’s symptoms.”

It is estimated that 3 million Canadians have asthma, 12 percent of them children. Each year about 20 children and 500 adults die from asthma in Canada. That number is on par with the rest of the world. worldwide asthma has been on the rise for the last 20 years.

“They’re saying things near and dear to my heart and near and dear to the hearts of all practising lung doctors,” Chapman, director of the Asthma Airway Centre at University Health Network, said of the study authors.

“We’re endlessly frustrated that doctors think that they can manage lung disease without measuring lung function.”

The study shows that doctors need to be using more testing to diagnose the disorder. With the proper tests medicine can be prescribed when needed.

If your doctor does not refer you to a lung function laboratory prior to his final assessment perhaps it is time to find one that will.

Vigilant Shield 09 Is Ongoing This Week

The United States is in the middle of a massive joint exercise being conducted by NorthCom and NORAD. The ‘Homeland Defense” exercise begins on November 12 and will end on November 18.

The exercise will be testing “synchronized response of federal, state, local and international partners in preparation for homeland defense, homeland security, and civil support missions in the United States and abroad”.

NorthCom is short for the Pentagon’s Northern Command that was created in October 2002 by President George W. Bush.

The exercise this week is going under the codename “Vigilant Shield ’09.” It is using scenarios that will test maritime, aerospace, ballistic missile defense, cyber, consequence management, strategic communications and counter terrorism domains according the a press release from the government.

Another aspect of the exercise is “Global Lighting 09.” That code name is a plan in which nuclear weapons are to be used in a surprise attack.

Not just NorthCom and NORAD are being used during the exercise, “Canada Command DETERMINED DRAGON” and the California National guard are also involved as is California’s “Golden Guardian.”

The involvement with California appears to be part of a massive earthquake scenario.

AlterNet reports:

“Under the leadership of Governor Schwarzenegger and direction of his Office of Homeland Security, the nation’s largest state sponsored emergency exercise will take place November 13-18,” a press release from the governor’s office states.

“Golden Guardian 2008 tests California’s capability to respond and recover during a major catastrophic earthquake. The Golden Guardian 2008 full-scale exercise scenario focuses on a simulated, catastrophic 7.8 magnitude earthquake along the southern portion of the San Andreas Fault.”

Obama Will Have To Lose The Blackberry

Like many modern men Barack Obama is addicted to his Blackberry. When he takes office he’ll have to cold turkey it, the President isn’t allowed to have one.

On November 5th he got a congratulatory e-mail from a friend on his victory but becoming President of the United States means some sacrifices. One being the Presidential Records Act. All correspondence will be held up for the offical record and public review. That means friendly chats on his Blackberry just won’t fly.

Obama though is hoping to bring the Oval Office into the modern world. One way he wants to do that is by having a laptop at his Oval Office desk. That goal though may not be allowed.

So far Obama has yet to send out a farewell email to friends and family. He may just wait until the bureaucracy heads demand him to turn over his beloved Blackberry.

MSNBC reports:

“His BlackBerry was constantly crackling with e-mails,” said David Axelrod, the campaign’s chief strategist. “People were generous with their advice — much of it conflicting.”[/quote

George Bush waited until 3 days before taking office to terminate his email address sending out a goodby e-mail.

“Since I do not want my private conversations looked at by those out to embarrass, the only course of action is not to correspond in cyberspace,” Mr. Bush wrote from his old address, G94B@aol.com. “This saddens me. I have enjoyed conversing with each of you.”

Who knows maybe Obama will be able to hold on to his choice of technology. The future may just be ready to catch up with the White House.

Malaysian Police Bar Trousers On Girls Saying It May Make For Tomboys

Ladies in pants in Malaysia are a security threat according to the police. The mainly National Fatwa Council has issued a ruling that females wearing trousers in un-Islamic.

The ruling cited that girls in pants risk becoming sexually active “tomboys.”

Reuters reports:

“I’m warning them and will take stern action as it involves national security,” Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan told reporters Thursday, according to the state-run Bernama news agency.

The nation of Malaysia is against both oral and gay sex. The government calls both acts as against the order of nature. Civil law dictates that offenders can receive a jail sentence of up to 20 years for the offense. That ruling is for both genders who also can face the cane and fines for the crime.

The Fatwa Council is also considering outlawing yoga for Muslims.

Lindsay Lohan Attacked By Animal Rights Activists

When Lindsay Lohan arrived at the Parisian club VIP Room Theater Saturday night she was attacked with a flour bomb tossed by animal rights activists. The U.S. actress was wearing a fur stole.

Lohan was going to the club to watch girlfriend Samantha Ronson work. Ronson is a disc jockey.

The owner helped rid Lohan of the flour coating on her blue sequined dress and stole. Ronson went to work after posing on the red carpet with Lohan.

The group PETA is being blamed for the attack. News Blaze reports:

PETA said Lohan’s hair and face were turned white in the incident. The group said the actress was targeted because she has enraged some animal lovers by appearing in at least two different fur coats, despite repeated pleas that she find something else to wear.”

PETA has been known to follow the star because of her wearing fur. She was put on their worst dressed list this year because of wearing animal skins. Digital Spy reports:

“There is nothing remotely ‘fashionable’ about the torture and death of animals killed for fur,” said Robbie LeBlanc, European spokesperson for People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals (PETA).

“Lindsay Lohan might be able to ignore images of bloody animals skinned alive for their pelts, but we hope a dash of flour will help her rise to the occasion and forsake fur once and for all.”

Bill Beck Quits Mayor Post, People To Stupid To Work With

Bill Beck of St. Anthony, Idaho has quit his post as mayor of the town because the people on the city council are too stupid to work with.

The scene took place this past Wednesday when Beck surprised the audience with his resignation. Beck walked into the city council meeting with a personal agenda. He gave his walking papers but not before letting the audience know why. He told the crowd that he was tired of people who were to stupid to understand and then turned to the council letting them know they were put of the stupidity.

Beck then told the crowd that the town was going to hell.

As the audience clapped Beck left the meeting. He has declined further comments on his decision to resign.

Beck and the city council are the subjects of a recall petition.

Bhs Sells Sexy Gifts Next To Children’s Toys

The British retail chain Bhs has a nice offering of edible thongs, nipple tassels and other sex gifts. There may not be a problem with that selection if it was located in any other area in the store besides near the children’s toy spot.

The Bhs stores owned by Sir Philip Green are coming under fire from families that think nipple tassels and doll babies don’t mix.

As the Daily Mail reports:

Mrs Moss, 45, from Ascot, Berkshire, said: ‘Selling this sort of tat normalises crudity. We just don’t need it.

‘I have a teenage daughter and I don’t expect youngsters out shopping with their parents to be confronted with this. It was only a few yards from the children’s department.

The store says it is sorry it’s upset anyone by placing their sex items so close to kiddie toys.

Maybe next time the retail chain will think twice before putting a bell to ring when your partner is ready for sex or a mug shaped like a breast where children can check them out.

Father Joe Ellis in Surrey adds:

‘They can be seen as funny but I find them offensive.

‘They are on shelves right next to the kids’ presents and either of my two children could just pick them up and ask me what they are.

‘I do think it’s wrong, I think they should be moved to a different part of the store.’

Jail Break, Postal Style

A Turkish citizen jailed in western Germany escaped from prison after shipping himself out in a cardboard box. The nation now has a manhunt for the fugitive.

The man was working on stationery with other prisoners that is sent out to shops. When it was time for the local courier to pick up the boxes ready for shipping they had a rather large box that contained the tall broad shouldered man. The prisoner waited until he was off of the prison grounds before cutting a big hole in the tarpaulin of the courier truck and jumping off. After discovering the tarpaulin flapping the driver notified the prison.

The warden of the Duesseldolf prison, Beate Peters, isn’t surprised that the escape happened, he’s been asking for more security guards for a while now. He believes the fugitive had friends from outside the walls in on his plan.

BBC News reports:

“As soon as the prisoner jumped off the back of the lorry his friends would have picked him up,” she told the BBC.

“We have no idea where the fugitive is hiding. We assume that he is still in the county and is lying low before making his move.”

Brazilian Teen Survives Rabies Infection

A teenager in Brazil has enjoyed a rare recovery from the rabies infection. He is in a very select group of survivors from the virus and the first ever from Brazil.

The fifteen year old was bitten by an infected bat in the state of Pernambuco. After being in the hospital for a month the youth has been declared clear of the virus.

There have only been three known cases where an infected person has survived the virus. There are five other cases where people have survived from suspected rabies infection.

The virus is transmitted from an infected animals. Dogs, cats and bats are often the hosts that carry the virus to humans. The infection travels from the infected animals saliva when they bite, scratch or lick a human. The infection causes inflammation in the brain and is almost always fatal.

Brazil’s health ministry is now investigating why the teen was not given a rabies vaccine as soon as he was bitten. Instead the boy was treated with a combination of antiviral drugs, sedatives and injected anesthetics. The Milwaukee procedure is named after the U.S. city where it was first applied successfully in 2004.

The story of the boy’s survival will be published in an international medical journal by the doctors at the Oswaldo Cruz University Hospital in Recife. It is not known if the teen will suffer permanent motor function problems from the treatment.

Brazil aims to eradicate rabies transmitted to humans from tame animals like cats and dogs by 2010. There is an ongoing vaccination campaign for pets to achieve this goal.

No Sunday Wafer At South Carolina Parish For Obama Supporters

A South Carolina Catholic priest has told his parishioners that if they voted for Obama they can not partake in the communion ritual. Rev. Jay Scott Newman had a letter distributed on Sunday to parishioners at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Greenville.

The letter stated that by voting for Obama they were risking their souls.

The Associated Press reports:

“Our nation has chosen for its chief executive the most radical pro-abortion politician ever to serve in the United States Senate or to run for president,” Newman wrote, referring to Obama by his full name, including his middle name of Hussein.

“Voting for a pro-abortion politician when a plausible pro-life alternative exists constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil, and those Catholics who do so place themselves outside of the full communion of Christ’s Church and under the judgment of divine law. Persons in this condition should not receive Holy Communion until and unless they are reconciled to God in the Sacrament of Penance, lest they eat and drink their own condemnation.”

Many bishops spoke out against Obama during the campaign because of his pro-choice stance. A few churches told their congregations that by voting for Obama they were risking their eternal souls.

The Catholic church has differed on whether or not parishes should refrain from weekly Communion when voters and lawmakers diverge from the church teaching on abortion. Each diocese sets their own policy on the matter.

National exit polls showed that 54 percent of the nation’s Catholics voted for Obama. Obama himself is Protestant. Greenville, South Carolina voted in favor of John McCain with 61 percent of the vote.

“It was not an attempt to make a partisan point,” Newman said in a telephone interview Thursday. “In fact, in this election, for the sake of argument, if the Republican candidate had been pro-abortion, and the Democratic candidate had been pro-life, everything that I wrote would have been exactly the same.”

Few other Catholic bishops are taking Newman’s stance. One group, Catholic Democrats question the extreme nature of the move.

Father Newman is off base,” said Steve Krueger, national director of Catholic Democrats. “He is acting beyond the authority of a parish priest to say what he did. … Unfortunately, he is doing so in a manner that will be of great cost to those parishioners who did vote for Sens. Obama and Biden. There will be a spiritual cost to them for his words.”

Pregnant Man Doing It Again

It seems Thomas Beatie enjoys being a man trapped in a pregnant woman’s body. Beatie is having a second baby due on June 12. His and wife Nancy welcomed their first child on June 29 this year.

34-year-old Beatie had a sex change operation ten years ago, up to a point. He is legally a man but retained his female reproductive organs.

Beatie told Barbara Walters that he is in his first trimester of pregnancy during an interview for the show 20/20. The program will air on November 14. Walters talked about the interview on the daytime chat show, The View, Thursday.

Beatie told Walters that after giving birth to the couple’s daughter in June he decided to not go back on the male hormone testosterone because he wanted one more baby.

Nancy Beatie can not have children because of a prior hysterectomy. The couple choose to have Beatie carry their children after being artificially inseminated using donor sperm and Beatie’s own egg.

The couple and daughter Susan live in Bend, Oregon.

Darwin Potential Award Winner: Man Blows Up Building Accidently After Being Dumped

When a 22-year-old heartbroken man from West Germany got dumped over the phone by his 17-year-old girlfriend he wanted to end his life. He ended up alive but in jail charged with murder, attempted murder and grievous bodily harm.

Some guys don’t use the brains they were given. This German man fits in that group. To end his life he opened the natural gas taps in his apartment. He didn’t ‘know’ that action could spell disaster for others.

His former girlfriend came over to pick up her stuff. Once in the apartment she went to light up a smoke and half of the building went boom.

A 45-year-old neighbour died in the blast. 15 other people were injured and left homeless.

The boyfriend and his ex-girlfriend survived.

Prisoner Released From Montreal Jail Because He’s Too Fat

Michel Lapointe of Montreal has been released from prison. No the drug gang member didn’t finish his five year term. The man was let go because he’s too fat for his cell.

That’s right, too fat for a cell. The 450 pounder could not fit on the chair in the Montreal cell that had been his home so the authorities released him. They had tried though to find him a new home behind bars first. Lapointe, also known as Big Mike, was referred to two other facilities.

Big Mike, 37, was freed late Tuesday. He had been arrested in September 2006. He was sentenced to his five year term in May of this year. He now hopes for a normal life and a proper bed to lay his large frame.

Reuters reports:

A letter from the authorities to Lapointe said: “You have been detained for more than 25 months and your prison conditions are difficult because of your health”.

Michael Jackson Signs Deed To Neverland Ranch To Colony Capital LLC

Michael Jackson has given his Neverland ranch to a company he has partial control over. Jackson signed over the deed to Sycamore Valley Ranch Co. LLC according to Santa Barbara County clerk-recorder Tom Pearson.

Sycamore Valley Ranch Co. is a joint venture between Colony Capital LLC and Jackson. It is not known what will happen now with the 2,500 acre ranch that has an amusement park on it. The property is located 120 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

Earlier this year Colony Capital bailed Jackson out when it looked like he would lose the ranch to foreclosure. Colony Capital is run by billionaire Tom Barrack. The company also owns the Las Vegas Hilton.

Thousands of children have played on the ranch since 1988 when Jackson purchased the property. Jackson added a miniature amusement park that includes a zoo, Ferris wheel, roller coaster and other rides. He named it Neverland Ranch after the land that Peter Pan lived in.

Jackson has struggled to pay for the $24.5 million loan he has on the ranch since he was arrested on molestation charges in 2003. Jackson was not convicted of that crime. He no longer lives on the property.

Mitch Mitchell, Drummer For Jimi Hendrix, Dead At Age 61

Mitch Mitchell has been found dead at the age of 61 in his hotel room early Wednesday. The drummer for Jimi Hendrix Experience was the last surviving member of the group.

Mitchell’s powerful drumming style was a central part of the band’s 1967 album “Are You Experienced?”

Mitchell had been staying at Portland, Oregon’s Benson Hotel. An employee discovered his body Wednesday morning and called the police. It appears the Englishman died of natural causes. An autopsy is planned.

Mitchell was on a four-day vacation and had planned on leaving Wednesday.

Mitchell performed just two weeks ago in Los Angeles. On Friday he performed in Portland as part of the Experience Hendrix Tour.

Could Bone Marrow Transplants Cure AIDS?

An American man who received a bone marrow transplant appears to have been cured from AIDS. The man had the bone marrow transplant 20 months ago the man’s doctors said on Wednesday.

The medical procedure is usually for those fighting leukemia. The doctors and researchers admit that the man’s cure may be a fluke but it could be a way in which to fight the virus. Worldwide 33 million people are infected with the HIV virus.

The 42-year-old American living in Berlin has not been named. He had been living with the AIDS virus for over ten years. Dr. Gero Huetter who treated him said that he underwent a transplant of genetically selected bone marrow.

For the past 20 months doctors have waited for the virus to reappear in tests. That day has yet to come. The man has tested clean of the HIV/AIDS virus on his bone marrow, blood and other organ tissues.

There have been other attempts to use bone marrow to treat the AIDS/HIV virus. According to the research there have been two other cases that appeared to have eradicated the virus.

Huetter’s patient though was being treated for non-AIDS related leukemia. Huetter is not an HIV specialist, he is a hermatologist. He remembered research that he had read in 1996 about a gene mutation called Delta 32 that makes people resistant to HIV infection. The 61st person who were suitable donors for the man’s bone marrow transplant also had the mutation.

Prior to the transplant the patient had to undergone radical radiation and powerful drugs to kill all of his own bone marrow. The treatment is fatal to 20 and 30 percent of all who undergo it.

The patient was also taken off the drugs that are used to treat AIDS. The team of doctors feared that they may interfere with the new marrow’s chance of survival. It was hoped that by lowering his defenses the new mutated cells would reject the HIV virus on their own.

Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allery and Infections Diseases in the U.S., says that the treatment is too dangerous and costly to use as a firstline cure. It could though be an inspiration for researchers to pursue gene therapy as a way to block or suppress the HIV virus.

The Associated Press reports:

“It helps prove the concept that if somehow you can block the expression of CCR5, maybe by gene therapy, you might be able to inhibit the ability of the virus to replicate,” Fauci said.

Obese Children Can Have Arteries That Look Like They Are Middle Aged

Some obese children as young as 10 can have arteries that look like they are have a 45-year-old a study shows. This and other heart abnormalities how that obesity in childhood puts the young at risk for heart disease.

Doctors used ultrasound tests to look inside the hearts of obese children for a study conducted by Dr. Geetha Raghuveer of Children’s Hospital in Kansas City. Raghuveer and other doctors involved in the study presented their findings at an American Heart Association conference on Tuesday.

The Associated Press reports:

“As the old saying goes, you’re as old as your arteries are,” said Dr. Geetha Raghuveer of Children’s Hospital in Kansas City, who led one of the studies. “This is a wake-up call.”

American’s children are increasingly becoming overweight. About one third of American kids are overweight and one-fifth are obese. While many parents believe that “baby fat” will melt off as a child grows older it is now known that most fat kids will become fat adults. Heart disease is one of the risks for those who are overweight.

Using ultrasound tests Raghuveer and colleagues tested the thickness of a major neck artery in 70 children aged 10 to 16. Many of the children were obese. Most of the children had abnormal cholesterol levels.

The shocking results showed that many of the obese children had a ‘vascular age’ that was about 30 years above their biological age.

“Obesity is not benign in children and adolescents,” said Dr. Robert Eckel, a former heart association president and cardiologist at the University of Colorado-Denver. It is why the American Academy of Pediatrics recently recommended cholesterol-lowering drugs for some kids, he noted.

Jennifer Aniston Says Angeline Jolie’s Comments Are ‘Very Uncool’

Jennifer Aniston has remained mostly quiet about Angelina Jolie since the break-up of her marriage to Brad Pitt. She finally spoke though in an interview for Vogue magazine’s December issue.

Aniston stated the way that Jolie revealed details of the start of her relationship with Brad Pitt was “really uncool.”

The 39-year-old Aniston said that she and Pitt have remained friendly after their 2005 divorce.

Reuters reports:

“There was stuff printed there that was definitely from a time when I was unaware that it was happening,” Aniston said.

“That stuff about how she couldn’t wait to get to work every day? That was really uncool,” said Aniston.

Jolie and Pitt got together during the filming of “Mr. and Mrs. Smith.” The couple have six children, most recently twins born this past summer.

Aniston was on the popular show “Friends” and has appeared in several movies. She is starring in the soon to be released “Marley and Me.”

Aniston also said in the interview that she and Pitt still talk on occasion.

“I have nothing but admiration for him and … I’m proud of him!,” Aniston said, adding the divorce “never was that bad.”

“I mean, in the end, we really had an amicable split. It wasn’t mean and hateful and all of this stuff they tried to create. … It just didn’t happen. The marriage didn’t work out.”

Woman Boiled To Death Stepping Out Of Her Car In Russia

A Russian woman is dead after falling into a pit of boiling water in Saint Petersburg. The woman fell into the pit after parking her car beside a ruptured underground heating pipe.

A man who attempted to rescue the woman suffered burns but is in stable condition.

Russia has many underground heating pipes that pump boiling water into houses for heat. As the infrastructure ages these type of accidents could happen more often.

The ruptures regularly happen in the late autumn when the system begins to operate for the winter.

KKK Is Alleged Of Killing Woman Wanting To Leave Initiation Ritual

An Oklahoma woman was slain after she wanted to leave a Ku Klux Klan initiation ritual. Eight people have been arrested for the shooting death of the woman in rural Louisiana.

The woman was left in the brush along the side of the road. Her name is not being released by the authorities.

The group’s leader, Raymond ‘Chuck’ Foster, is said to have shot and killed the woman Sunday night. A fight had broken out when the woman requested to leave the ritual. Foster is in jail at this time charged with second-degree murder. He is being held without bond.

Captain George Bonnet, a spokesman for the Covington, Louisiana police department, said that this is the first time that he remembers that the KKK has been involved in a criminal case. He has been in the department for three years.

The seven other people that were arrested range in age from 20 to 30. The five men and two women are being charged with obstruction of justice and held on $500,000 bond at the St. Tammany Parish jail. All eight live in the neighbouring Washington Parish.

St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Jack Strain said in a news release that investigators found weapons, flags and six Klan robes at a campsite. Some of the suspects tried to cover up the crime by burning the woman’s belongings at the campsite.

The slain woman is said to have gone to the campsite with two of those connected to the Klan group that calls itself “Dixie Brotherhood.”

The Associated Press reports:

“The IQ level of this group is not impressive, to be kind,” Strain said, adding, “I can’t imagine anyone feeling endangered or at risk by any one of these kooks.”

Mark Pitcavage, directive of investigative research for the Anti-Defamation League, said the Dixie Brotherhood appears to be a small, loosely organized group of people.

“This is not what I would call an established Klan group,” he said. “The Klan has a pretty high association with violence. Some of these guys are just crooks, sociopaths.”

Botox Program Offered For the Poor In Rio de Janerio School

Do you need Botox and are not able to afford it? If you don’t mind a trainee injecting poison you may be in luck if you live in Rio de Janerio.

At the Brazilian Society of Esthetic Medicine those wanting the treatments can get a freebie if they make under $250 a month.

Killing two birds with one stone the school offers free treatments so students can learn how to inject the botulism used for facial wrinkles. The poor can get the treatment of the rich by being the students guinea pigs.

The school has treated over 10,000 people since the program started in 1998.

Other treatments available for the poor are laser hair or acne removal, chemical skin peels, treatment of varicose veins and nutritional counseling.

The program lasts for 10 days bringing the special treatments to the poor. Monday was the start of this years run.

Britney Spear’s Youngest Son In Hospital

Britney Spear’s youngest son is in hospital after having a reaction to something he ingested. Jayden James Federline was admitted to Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center on Sunday.

The toddler is expected to be discharged on Tuesday. The hospital is close to Spear’s home in Kentwood, Louisiana. She is reported to be staying with her family.

Federline and Spears also have an older son, Sean Preston.

Kevin Federline has custody of the two boys but Ms. spears has gradually been gaining more visitations with her young sons.

Merle Haggard Underwent Cancer Surgery

Country legend Merle Haggard, 71, is battling lung cancer. He had part of his lung removed and is in recovery at his home in Bakersfield, California.

Reuters reports:

“I’m feeling good … better and better each day,” Haggard was quoted as saying in a statement. “If not for the love and wisdom of my wife (Theresa), I might not be around today.”

Doctors removed the upper lobe of Haggard’s lung after a biopsy showed that the singer had a non-small cell lung cancer. According to tests all of the affected tissue has been removed. This type of cancer is less aggressive than other lung cancers. It generally spreads to other body parts more slowly than small cell lung cancer.
Haggard began recording in 1965.

British Pilot Guided Safely After Having A Stroke

Jim O’Neill was flying from Scotland to southeastern England last week when he had a blinding stroke. the Royal Air Force guided the pilot down for a safe landing.

The story played out as O’Neill radioed for help requesting to land as soon as possible. RAF Wing Commander Paul Gerrard was just finishing a training flight when the call came in. He flew close enough to O’Neill’s Cessna to radio directions.

The Associated Press reports:

“Landing an aircraft literally blind needs someone to be right there to say ‘Left a bit, right a bit, stop, down,’” Gerrard said. “On the crucial final approach, even with radar assistance, you need to take over visually. That’s when having a fellow pilot there was so important.

Those instructions turned a potential tragedy into a victory. Douglas O’Neill, son of the 65-year-old Cessna pilot said his father has been a pilot for almost twenty years.

“The doctors have confirmed that he suffered a stroke from a blood clot, but he doesn’t seem to have suffered any other ill-effects apart from losing his sight,” Douglas O’Neill said. “He says he went blind very suddenly and then, once he’d got over the shock, was able to distinguish a bit of darkness and light.”

Four Children Pulled From The Rubble At Haiti School Collapse

As the death toll mounts at the Haitian school that collapsed on Friday four children were pulled out of the rubble alive on Saturday. There are 88 confirmed deaths.

The children ranged in age from 3 to a teenager. They appeared to be in good health other than the 3-year-old having a cut on her head. The toddler was alert and drinking juice.

search teams arrived from the United States and France on Saturday hoping to dig more survivors out of the rubble that once was the College La Promesse in suburban Port-au-Prince.

On Friday the school was in the midst of a party when the three floors tumbled down. Because of the celebration the students were not wearing their normal school uniforms. That change in dress code is hampering the identification process.

Parents stood waiting for news with pictures of their beloved children clutched in their hands. Riot police had to chase away some who crossed the yellow tape to dig in the rubble.

Doctors Without Borders is on the site treating more than 80 of the survivors.

As more than 38 search and rescue officials looked for survivors four specially trains canines from Virgina scoured the area.

On Friday the voices of trapped children were heard beneath the rubble. As neighbours attempted to pass the children cookies the ruined shifted once more crashing down on the students. That was the last time their voices cried out.

The buildings shoddy workmanship is being blamed for the collapse. It is thought that many of the structures in Haiti are at risk for a similar disaster.

Kidnapped CBC Reporter Mellissa Fung Released In Afghanstan

On October 12, 2008 Canadian CBC reporter Mellissa Fung was taken by gunmen in Afghanistan. On Saturday morning her relieved parents talked to their daughter after she was released by the kidnappers.

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Fung had been stationed in Kandahar far from her home in Regina, Canada. She was in the Kabul area for a news story when she was abducted.

Her parents believe the experience will not stop their daughter from her chosen field.

CBC reports:

“Because she’s been through the whole situation herself, she can understand more now about other people’s situation, and especially those people who are in need,” Mellissa’s mother Joyce Fung said. “She’s always had a very kind heart for them. She always wants to tell their story.”

“This is the job that she wants and this is the way she want to report,” Kellog Fung said. “In a way, she has done the right things, even though it gets her into this situation.”

The news about the young reporters abduction were kept secret over concern about her safety.

Brandon Crisp Died From Injuries From A Fall

The autopsy report says that the teen died of injuries to the chest. Using dental records the coroner positively identified young Crisp as the body found on Wednesday by a tree close to his home in Barrie, Ontario.

The medical report states that Brandon Crisp, the Ontario boy that ran away from his home after being banned from playing a video game, died from falling out of a tree in the woods.

What is not known is how long the 15-year-old laid on the ground in fall condtions wearing only a T-shirt before he died.

The Crisp family was told the results Friday evening. His parents are in seclusion this weekend as they begin the mourning process for their son.

The area where Brandon was found had not been part of the massive search begun after he stormed off when his parents told him he was not allowed to play his X-box.

His funeral is set for 10 a.m. Friday at St. Mary’s Church in Barrie

Arizona Boy, 8, Accused of Shooting Father and Another Man to Death

Two men in St. Johns, Arizona were believed to have been shot to death by an 8-year-old boy. One of the men was the child’s father. The child had never before shown signs he was troubled or abused. The shooting happened on Wednesday.

The court determined there is probable cause that the child shot his father, Vincent Romero, 29, and Timothy Romans, 39, of San Carlos with a .22-caliber rifle. The boy has been charged with two counts of premeditated murder.

Both men lived in the home in which they were found dead. Officers arrived just after the crime took place.

Romans was renting a room from his fellow employee Romero. The two worked for a construction company that was working at the Salt River Project power plant near St. Johns.

The boy went to a neighbour stating he believed his father was dead. Police began to question the boy and obtained a confession. The child’s attorney, Brad Carlyon, said the boy was questioned without representation and was not advised of his rights.

The Associated Press reports:

“They became very accusing early on in the interview,” Brewer said. “Two officers with guns at their side, it’s very scary for anybody, for sure an 8-year-old kid.”

The judge ordered the boy undergo a psychological evaluation. He is being held at the Apache Country juvenile detention center.

Considering the child’s age it’s unclear how this case will play out. Under Arizona law, a child under the age of 8 is treated as a dependent child. Charges are allowed on children 8 and over.

St. Johns Police Chief Roy Melnick believes the child did not act on the spur of the moment.

Defense attorney Mike Piccarreta says it would be difficult for an 8-year-old to comprehend the act of murder and the implications of that act. He is not involved in this case.

“If they actually prosecute the guy, it’s a legal minefield,” he said. “And, two, society has to make a decision as to whether they want to start using the criminal justice system to deal with 8-year-olds. That doesn’t mean you don’t have a troubled kid.”

The child lived with his father who had full custody. His mother had visited St. Johns on the weekend before returning to her home in Mississippi. She returned to Arizona after the shootings.

Opinion: The Littlest White House Residents

Not since Amy Carter or the Kennedy tots has the White House needed a toy room. With the election of Barack Obama though there will be Barbies in the Oval Office again. Make way for Sasha and Maila Obama.

Sasha Obama is a mere seven years old. She will be one of the very youngest to ever have her bedroom located at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Malia is ten. Amy Carter was just nine when her father took the nation’s top job.

Sasha and Malia have been dealing with the cameras in recent months but from now on they will be the shutter bugs focus. Their world is about to become the size of a microscope.

Grandma will also be moving to Washington to help with caring for the girls. Their mother Michelle doesn’t want to use a nanny. There will also be a new member of the family in short order. Their father promised them a puppy when the campaign trail ended and he means to keep his promise to his girls. During his victory speech he let them know that a new pup would be coming with them to the White House.

As Americans look forward to change so will the littlest Obamas. They will be getting more used to the men in black that will protect them as they grow up. They will be dealing with a new school and new friends. They will have to natigate the perils of having a famous parent and kids who cozy up to them for that reason alone.

Welcome Sasha and Maila to the big time. I think you two will be having a blast.

This opinion article was written by an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not necessarily intended to reflect those of DigitalJournal.com

Mexican Kidnappers Kill 5-Year-Old By Injecting Acid Into His Heart

Javier Morena was killed by cruel kidnappers who injected acid into his tiny heart. The child was abducted from a Mexico City street. His father, a poor man who sells fruit in the district of Iztapalapa searched for the child since Sunday October 26.

A taxi driver remembered driving the boy and a teenager from the market where his father worked that fateful day. He dropped the pair off about a block from the police station. He recalled that the child was crying and that the teen said it was because his older brother had been stolen. The teen told the driver that they were meeting Javier’s mother at the police station.

Javier was the oldest child in his family. The teen has been identified as a family friend and is thought to be the kidnapper.

The teen was arrested at his home during a police raid. He confessed that he and others killed the child before asking for a 300,000 peso ransom. The teen and other assailants injected the boy with acid and then buried his little body on a hill outside the capital city.

Javier’s body was found and yesterday he was buried.

The motive for the kidnapping has not been revealed.

Woman Died After Ambulance Canceled Because of Welsh Pilot Program To Save Costs

A woman in Ceredigion, Wales died after a doctor canceled an ambulance as part of a pilot NHS scheme to cut medical costs.

Ruth Hedge, 60, called 999 complaining of vomiting. An ambulance was dispatched to take the mother to hospital but then canceled by a doctor working with the new program. The doctor had spoken to Ms. Hedge on the phone and deemed the ride was not needed. The doctor advised the woman to contact her GP out-of-hours service.

It is now known that the woman made a series of calls but never managed to make the right connection to the proper service. Her body was found a week later last April.

Ms.Hedge’s death has been listed as natural causes by Pembrokeshire coroner Michael Howells.

The control room at 999 should have directly transferred the woman’s call to an out-of-hours service or given her the correct telephone number. Neither option was completed in this case.

The Daily Mail reports:

Mr Howells added: ‘There was a systemic failure by the NHS to provide full help to patients. The aim should be to remove barriers, not to create them.’

The doctor in this case though can not be criticized according to Howells. It appeared that Hedge had been drinking and was ‘confused.’

Jane Hedge is shocked at the treatment her mother received prior to her death by the emergency phone service.

She said: ‘I just hope there’s going to be better care for people. It’s just shocking that the priority of the pilot scheme was cost-cutting. Hopefully no-one else is going to die as the result of a cost-cutting scheme.’

The pilot scheme for ambulances has since been canceled. It was proved not to be ‘cost cutting’ but focused on emergency ambulance responding more effectively.

Opinion: Obama Wins, Is America Ready?

Tonight history was made with the first black name elected President of the United States. Are Americans ready or does it make a difference the colour of Obama’s skin?

“We can’t go back to the way things were……..” Obama’s acceptance speech

It would be nice to think that the United States has moved past the days of bigotry that plagued the nation. The days of separate washrooms have long since past but as a fairly young woman those lines to use a toilet depending on the pigmentation of one’s skin were still in place.

I grew up in the South. Prejudice was a way of life. Archie Bunker sat in many a lazy-boy spouting words of hatred to their kids while relaxing at night. It’s a long road that has only in recent times had roadblocks put in. The Klan is still alive and well visiting schools to recruit the young to join their hooded activities.

The high school I graduated from had one black student teacher. She had to deal with idiots placing Klan pamphlets on her desk.

Have we changed in the past 25 years?

As Barack Obama tells us that in America anything is possible does his words ring of truth or of a dream yet to be?

I hope so. I hope that the fact that Obama’s skin is dark won’t matter. That his actions are judged on how he performs. I hope that race finally isn’t a gauge of the value a person.

I hope that idiots don’t try to harm a good man.

I hope that the United States will make a come back in the world. That the nation will gain respect as a fair world power. That the nation starts again to move forward.

I hope that promises made will be promises kept. I hope that people will have health coverage.

I hope that dreams do come true.

Get ready Americans, the world is about to change. Let’s hope we’re ready.

“We rise or fall as one nation.”
Barack Obama

Virgin Atlantic Gives 13 Pink Slip Because of Facebook Posts

Thirteen Virgin Atlantic employees who made criticisms about their employer have been fired. The airline states that their behaviour was out of line.

The company believes that those who commented that the planes were filled with cockroaches and insulting passengers could not uphold the standards of customer service.

The airlines are part of Richard Branson’s Virgin group. The comments were focusing on the planes that fly out of London’s Gatwick airport.

Physorg.com reports:

“Virgin Atlantic can confirm that 13 members of its cabin crew will be leaving the company after breaking staff policies due to totally inappropriate behaviour,” the airline said in a statement.

“Following a thorough investigation, it was found that all 13 staff participated in a discussion on the networking site Facebook, which brought the company into disrepute and insulted some of our passengers.”

It’s Going To Be A Warm One This Winter According To Environment Canada

Last year Canadians got a few extra muscles shoveling piles of snow. This year Environment Canada says that the weather will be a touch warmer.

Winter’s on its way but experts are saying that eastern Canada will have warmer than average temperatures this year. That good news doesn’t hold out for the entire country though.

Those living in B.C. and the prairies may have to still have to do extra shoveling.

City News reports:

“What it’s showing is warmer than normal,” said Environment Canada’s Dave Phillips. “We think this winter will in fact be near normal amounts of precipitation and I think the safest prediction of all is to say we’re not going to do as much shovelling and plowing and pushing as we did this year.”

Last year’s massive snows in the city of Toronto cost the government over $65 million for 2008. The city had to dip into a reserve fund of about $20 million to cover the snow costs for November and December.

Don’t Expect A Huge Company Holiday Party This Year, Downsizing Is The Trend

It’s the season of work holiday parties, except it isn’t. With the recent economic crisis ongoing the work party is downsizing. This year won’t be beanie weanies but it also won’t feature caviar and champagne if your company is even handing out invites.

Restaurateurs love the holiday season. Along with a steady increase of diners many cater employee holiday parties. This year though seems to be lacking in the general festive cheer. The grand party of last year is being changed for a less expensive version as wallets are being locked away for rainy day funds.

ABC News employees received word last week that their holiday party was a no go this year.

Caterers and party planners are feeling the pinch of bank failures and downsizing. This year they are seeing cancellations and toned down affairs.

As the New York Times reports:

“Everyone is very conscious of the fact that while Rome is burning, we shouldn’t be having a great time,” said Sean Driscoll, a partner in Glorious Food caterers. “Nobody’s ordering caviar as a first course.”

The cutting back makes sense in the business world. With many companies under the microscope for wild spending huge parties that cost a small fortune doesn’t make sense. With the increase of layoffs it could appear to be a slap in the face to those no longer with a job if those still at a desk are treated to lobster and steak while others shuffle through unemployment lines.

Perhaps the grand holiday party days are over and will be replaced with fun filled pot luck dinners. Still some companies may want to throw the mega gala to appear to be on top.

As this year winds down don’t expect a big celebration on your company’s dime. Even if your place of business is doing well they may be keeping up with the Jones by downsizing their party plans.

Obama’s Aunt Is An Illegal Immigrant Living In Boston Public Housing

A Kenyan woman living in Boston’s public housing has been there four years after being instructed to leave the United States by a U.S. immigration judge. This wouldn’t be big news except for the fact that Zeituni Onyango is the aunt of Barack Obama.

Because of the nature of U.S. immigration law the details on why the woman that Obama referred to in his memoir as ‘Aunti Zeituni’ was denied asylum cannot be disclosed. It is known that her case was rejected in 2004. Late on Friday the Associated Press was told of the matter on condition of anonymity. It is not known if anyone at a political level in the Bush administration or the McCain campaign has been involved in this information.

Onyango’s refusal to return to Kenya is a noncriminal violation of immigration law handled outside of the criminal court system. It is believed that 10 million other immigrants are living in the U.S. under the same status.

The Obama campaign declined to comment late Friday night.

Onyango is not a person that Obama has decided during any of his campaigning appearances.

The Associated Press reports:

Onyango’s case — coming to light just days before the presidential election — led to an unusual nationwide directive within Immigrations and Customs Enforcement requiring that any deportations before Tuesday’s election be approved at least at the level of the agency’s regional directors, the U.S. law enforcement official told the AP.

It is believed that the sensitive political implications of this case are behind the unusual directive. The disclosure about this case came into light just one day after the Obama’s presidential campaign confirmed to the Times of London that Onyango was Obama’s half aunt on his father’s side.

Lily Edwards Dead At The Hands Of Her Babysitter

Steven and April Edwards of Lakeland, Florida thought nothing of leaving their 15-month-old daughter Lily with family friend Gordon Finley Dugger III. The 24-year-old had babysat the little girl before. She is now dead.

Dugger was watching the little girl on Thursday night when she began to cry. When he could not calm he he bounced her on his knee. That must have still not done the trick as his next step was to toss her in the air. The man told detectives that he tossed her abour 5 1/2 feet into the air and dropped her. The child landed on the back of her head knocking her unconscious.

Trying to wake up the injured child Dugger shook her. When she would not wake up he then hit her on the back of the head 10 times, striking her harder with each blow.
Finally he called for emergency services.

Dugger lied to the detectives that the child was fine when he put her to bed but at 2 a.m. she was unresponsive. He lied again telling the police that he had used CPR prior to calling 911.

Little Lily was taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center where she was pronouced dead. The Medical Examiner’s Office listed her death as head trauma and declared her death a homicide.

Dugger had been a tenant of the Edwards family since July 2008 and had often tended to Lily.

He has been booked into the Polk County Jail.