$11 Dollar Robber Sisters Released with a Condition

December 30, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Two sisters who made an armed robbery netting $11 sparks a debate after a Mississippi governor offers to release them with a price. The governor is requiring one sister to donate her kidney to the other.The condition of the release has alarmed critics and experts a ethical and legal questions arose. One question stands; if the sisters aren’t a tissue match then the healthy one has to go back to jail?

The governor Haley Barbour, decided to suspend the life sentences of Jamie and Gladys Scott to the appreciation and applause of civil rights organizations and the attorney of the accused women.  It was earlier reported that the masses considered the charges a bit harsh. Both sisters are black and some speculated that their coloring may have had a slight influence in the outcome of the initial trial. The suspension of the life sentences was a cause of celebration for the African-American community.

Both women were convicted in1994. According to records, there were three teenagers who lead on two men into an ambush. The teenagers hit the two men and made off with one wallet with $11. Jamie Scott is to be released because of her daily dialysis which cost the state some $200,000 a year. Gladys on the other hand has to donate her kidney within the year before being granted release.

This is the first time that this kind of condition was made for an organ donor. Usually an organ donor is made with consent, free of any coercion. The fact that the freedom will be given for the price of a kidney goes against most ethics and legal considerations in organ donation.

While suspending the life sentences may be a breakthrough for civil rights, the conditions may be worse. According to federal law, no one is allowed to trade or sell any organs. What is happening now is like trading 20 years in prison for a kidney.

Andriel, Netherlands

Trendypress.com

Paul Waggoner Accused Haiti US Aid Worker Released

December 29, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Paul Waggoner, an American relief worker who was jailed in Haiti under suspicion of kidnapping a 15 month old boy. Last Wednesday Waggoner was released. Waggoner commented that he was at first shocked as he was being released after dark and nothing usually happens after dark.

The American relief worker was transported to a safe location and received medical treatment. A group he co-founded, the Materials Management Relief Corps broke the news to media.

According to sources, Waggoner spent 18 days in jail in Mid-December after being accused of kidnapping a 15 month old. Waggoner was jailed in the National Penitentiary in Port-au-Prince. He was jailed despite the fact that that evidence showed that the child had already died in the Haitian Community Hospital last February.

Waggoner however insists that the boy’s parents were trying to extort him.

Some stated that the parents of the child were attempting to make money out of their child. Finally a judge was able to find conflicting statements from the father prompting the release of Waggoner.

Sources say that during the earthquake, a man was bringing his 15 month old child  for treatment. What happened next wasn’t recoded properly however the father believed that the child survived and that Waggoner kidnapped him. Statements from Waggoner’s supporters as well as two physicians say that the child in question died and the remains cremated though the father refused to claim the remains.

A volunteer physician Dr. Kenneth Adams says that he was there when the father was looking at his child waiting for the baby to breath for several minutes. In one statement, the father returned after 24 hours with a “witch doctor” claiming that the child was alive.

The father filed charges last March and Waggoner was arrested last December 12, 2010. The trial which was in favor of the parents of the child hinted heavily of extortion attempts of Haitian authorities on Waggoner, however there were no concrete evidence of the fact.

Waggoner was whisked to safety from people not happy with the ruling though he says he still wants to do charity works for the country.

Andriel, Netherlands

Trendypress.com

The Million Dollar Money Drop Contestants Versus the Host

December 29, 2010 · Leave a Comment

It’s been days since the controversy of the “Million Dollar Money Drop” hit the news. Two contestants bet eight hundred thousand dollars ($800,000) to one question and eighty thousand dollars on another ($80,000) question.

The couple faced a question about items being sold first. The items were a Macintosh computer, Post it notes and finally a Sony Walkman. The couple bet their $800,000 on the question and answered Post it notes. They lost the money when the host said the answer was incorrect.

Minutes later, the video of the couple was posted online and went viral. That is after some people reported that the correct answer was indeed post its. A lot of people rallied to the side of the couple.

The host of Money Drop, Kevin Pollak, spoke recently and said that even if the couple won the question they would have lost the game anyway. He expressed that the story of the couple that went viral on the internet is a moot point as the couple lost everything on the next question. Apparently the video only showed the couple answering the Post it question and not the final question that made the couple lose.

Pollak however says that regardless of the situation the couple is being invited back again on the show. The Million Dollar Money drop couple however was very hesitant to return stating that the pressure is too much a second time around.

The Million Dollar Money Drop is a game where contestants start off with one million dollars ($1,000,000) and start betting the money on questions. They lose the money they bet on questions they answered incorrectly.

Andriel, Netherlands

Trendypress.com

Snow Storm Paralyzes US Transport

December 28, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Almost ten thousand (10,000) flights have been canceled due to the ongoing blizzard that has covered most of United States Northeast leaving thousands stranded.

Affected airlines due to the snow storm include AirTran, American, Continental, Delta Air Lines, United, Jet Blue, Spirit, United States Airways and Southwest. Representatives from the said airlines affected by the storm reported a total of 9,726 flights that were cancelled. Affected flights scheduled last Saturday to present time.

Even New York’s LaGuardia Airport was scheduling flights way below the normal 70 flights per hour. In New York, Queens the John F. Kennedy Airport and New Jersey Newark Liberty International  was able to open and started handling flights last 6 pm Monday.

Delta Air lines have canceled more than 300 flights last Tuesday and will probably handle flights below the normal number they usually have every day in JFK and Newark because of runway issues. AirTran on the other hand have no more problems and will resume operations after cancelling 81 flights last Monday. Airtran plans to move majority of their flights from LaGuardia to Boston’s Logan Airport and White Plains and Westchester County Airport in New York.

Thousands of families have been stranded as a result. Most expected the delays however some were not prepared to be delayed for four more days.

In other news, the storm caused a lot of problems caused by the snow storm. In Sugarloaf Mountain in Main, a ski lift malfunction stranded passengers 20 to 40 feet above the air. A gust of wind blew off three chairs dropping passengers and injuring them.

The severity of the snow storm show no signs of slowing down as experts say the storm will continue for several days. Travel by air may be impeded however travel by road and rail may well be almost impossible.

Andriel, Netherlands

Trendypress.com

Khodorkovsky A Victim of Kremlin Campaign?

December 27, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky was found guilty recently. His business partner was also found guilty on charges of corruption. The news was broken by Khodorkovsky’s lawyer last Monday. Pavel, Khodorkovsky’s son on the other hand reported that his father already filed an appeal.

“Of course there will be an appeal. What I’m hoping for right now is the shortest sentence possible, because I’m really hoping to see my dad as soon as possible a free man.” Pavel Khodorkovsky

Specifically, Khodorkovsky was charged of money laundering and embezzlement and the second trial started in March 2009. If pushed through without any appeal, Khodorkovsky could be sentenced to 5 – 7 years in prison.

However lead defense lawyer Vadim Klyuvgant wrote that the trial was a charade of justice and that the charges were non-existent though the sentences will be real enough to land his client in jail.

Mikhail Khodorkovsky is the former head of Yukos oil. His business partner, Platon Lebedev was also implicated and charged with embezzlement and laundering of stolen property.

According to papers, both are accused of stealing nearly billions of dollars’ worth of oil from Yukos from the years 1998 to 2003. Khodorkovsky was already convicted in a separate trial for evading taxes and underpaying taxes on oil.

Khodorkovsky claims that his intent to run for a political position as well as funding opposition parties has resulted to fake charges. The charges were part of the Kremlin campaign designed to pull him down and his company built through privatization deals back in the 1990s.The Kremlins so far denied the allegations.

Andriel, Netherlands

Trendypress.com

Natalie Mendoza Quits Spiderman Broadway

December 23, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Natalie Mendoza, the actress who plays Arachne in a Broadway production of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark quit the show recently.  She was the lead actress in the most expensive production in Broadway history.

The ambitious show has been plagued by a series of safety setbacks. A series of injuries have been happening on set. A couple of stunt doubles got injured during flight sequences and even top aerial stuntman, Christopher Tierney, fell approximately 30 feet.

Natalie Mendoza was injured in one of the previews after she hit her head by stage equipment. The actress suffered a concussion after she fell into the orchestra pit. Tierney who was also injured last December 20 when he fell into the orchestra pit.

The 65 million dollar play may be in jeopardy however a spokesman of the play does not confirm who will be replacing Mendoza or ifshe changed her mind. The show will still go on February 7 and her Understudy America Olivio may be replacing her. Natalie Mendoza, the actress who plays Arachne in a Broadway production of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark quit the show recently.  She was the lead actress in the most expensive production in Broadway history.

The ambitious show has been plagued by a series of safety setbacks. A series of injuries have been happening on set. A couple of stunt doubles got injured during flight sequences and even top aerial stuntman, Christopher Tierney, fell approximately 30 feet.

Natalie Mendoza was injured in one of the previews after she hit her head by stage equipment. The actress suffered a concussion after she fell into the orchestra pit. Tierney who was also injured last December 20 when he fell into the orchestra pit.

The 65 million dollar play may be in jeopardy however a spokesman of the play does not confirm who will be replacing Mendoza or ifshe changed her mind. The show will still go on February 7 and her Understudy America Olivio may be replacing her.

Brian S.K., Michigan

Trendypress.com

Ralphie of A Christmas Story Grows Up What’s He Doing Now?

December 22, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Christmas well wishers might be familiar to the movie “A Christmas Story”, it’s a 1983 movie that depicts the life of a family during Depression. It actually became a classic when TBS showed it the first time and since then, the network has been showing the movie every holiday season.

Everyone also remembers Ralphie, the cute lovable boy who only wanted a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. Ralphie was played by Peter Billingsley and of course, nearly 2 decades after, people are curious as to what happened to him.

A grown up “Ralphie” or Billingsley shows up  in ABC’s Nightline last Monday. He talks about the movie “A Christmas Story” and his life as a producer of movies and musicals. He also talks about the musical he is currently producing, “A Christmas Story: The Musical” which will play in Seattle.

Billingsley says that no one wanted to actually wanted to make the musical because the story line of a boy wanting only a BB gun isn’t much of an impact today. He even had to agree to make a separate horror just to start the production of “A Christmas Story”.

Fans may also remember that Ralphie started in nearly over a hundred commercials in the 70’s and 80’s for his cute smile and blue eyes. Now, Billingsley is enjoying a successful career behind the camera. He has produced movies such as “The Break Up”, “Couples Retreat” and even had small roles in the movies.

Here’s an old but still memorable commercial of Peter Billingsley in a Hershey’s Syrup commercial.

Brian Scorcese K., Michigan

Globaltrends.co