Stream Filtered
The Peek Squad Chronicles
July 31, 2007 by swivel
As a former tech, I can tell you how tempting it is to browse other people’s files. And Killroy can tell you what it’s like to take some of these files home and play tug-of-war with his grounding strap. We got away with it, but the Geek Squad, Best Buy’s internal PC-Repair outfit, isn’t.
Following a newspaper article featuring whistle-blower Brett Haddock, there looks to now be a wave of dismissals including some Geek Squad supervisors. According to Brett, “They’re testosterone-driven geeks, and they’re going to look around. It’s the male prerogative. The temptation is always there.”
Here’s a run-down of the recent offenses: Hao Kuo Chi, a California agent, used his cell-phone to take a video of a client while on a house call. In May, the Consumerist featured an expose from an anonymous employee who wrote, “If you have any interesting pictures of yourself or others on your computer, then they — will — be — found.” David O’Hare, a former employee admitted that his shop had 50-100 gigabytes of music stolen off of various PC’s that anyone could grab from.
I am sure this is rampant. You have socially inept freaks making $8 an hour and you keep putting gigs of random data in front of them. The safest thing to do is probably to just consider that access a “perk” and look the other way. Of course, we did nearly abolish the sale of alcohol 100 years ago, so giving this a shot just… might… work.
Lego gaming franchise finds new subject
July 30, 2007 by ZombieBabe
games – Collecting studs, 2 player fun, free play and the hilarious scenes made famous in the Star Wars series.
Should be released SummerSummer reviews
2008, and while the systems haven’t been announced, chances are it will hit all of platforms.
Michael Vick Indicted By Grand Jury in Dogfighting Probe
July 30, 2007 by Morbid
RICHMOND, Va. — NFL star Michael Vick was indicted by a federal grand jury Tuesday on charges of sponsoring a dogfighting operation so grisly the losers either died in the pit or sometimes were electrocuted, drowned, hanged or shot.
The Atlanta Falcons quarterback and three others were charged with competitive dogfighting, procuring and training pit bulls for fighting and conducting the enterprise across state lines.
he operation was named “Bad Newz Kennels,” according to the indictment, and the dogs were housed, trained and fought at a property owned by Vick in Surry County, Va.
Update 7-30-07
Dogfighting co-defendant flips
One of the co-defendants in the Michael Vick federal dogfighting case pleaded guilty on Monday and pledged to fully cooperate with prosecutors. Tony Taylor, 34, of Hampton, Virginia, entered the guilty plea in U.S. District Court in Richmond. He will be sentenced December 14.
Read full article | Ongoing discussion
Violent Video Games: Good for Kids!
July 30, 2007 by swivel
The Journal of Adolescent Health has recently published a study of more than 1,200 7th and 8th graders that play violent video games. Not only did the study show no link to violence, they found that there might be beneficial effects, such as teaching the kids how to control and regulate emotions. They also found that the stereotype of dangerous kids playing alone is not accurate. KidsKids reviews tend to play in small groups, or while interacting with others online.
I think it is obvious that violent videogames are just another way for boys to determine a pecking order. It is no different than lion cubs wrestling and biting one another, or our parents playing “war” and their parents playing “cowboys and Indians”. How is simulating the shooting of a friend’s avatar worse than the real-life simulation of actually shooting your friend in the head? Because that is what we used to do before videogames.
The truth is actually very simple: Violent people look for ways to express their violence. They hurt animals, they play with firecrackers, they pick on younger/smaller kids, and if someone makes a videogame that lets them blow shit up, they will play with that toy as well. Correlational Observations != Causation.
Feel free to discuss videogames and violence in our lovely forums.Â
Real Life Lady Vengeance
July 30, 2007 by Morbid
Brigitte Harris, 26, calling herself “Dark Angel” and “Lady VengeanceLady Vengeance reviews“, used emails to lure her stepfather Eric Goodridge, 55, to her third story apartment in Queens. Once there, Harris handcuffed, asphyxiated him and then severed his penis. Revenge for alleged sex abuse when she was a girl.
Harris had left notes in her Rockaways apartment accusing Goodridge of abuse and justifying her crime.
“He wrecked my life,” read one note. “At first, I blamed myself. Now I know it’s not my fault,” another said.
“She planned this – it was premeditated,” a law enforcement source said. “In her mind, it was justified vengeance.”
Police recovered a bloody knife and caught up with Harris after she checked herself into a mental hospital and ranted incoherently about the slaying. So, if the abuse was true, is any of her actions justified? Could an insanity plea be applicable?
Prank on patient leads to lawsuit, riches
July 28, 2007 by ZombieBabe
An oral surgeon was sued by a patient, who was also the surgeon’s assistant, after she found pictures of herself sporting boar tusks while she was unconscious during a procedure. The assistant/patient owned a pot-bellied pig that made her the brunt of jokes from her boss, including his continued remarks about wanting to roast her beloved pet pig. While she was unconscious for the procedure, the surgeon put fake boar tusks in her mouth and took pictures, which he then showed to other workers in the office. One of those employees then gave the woman a copy of the picture as a birthday present. She did not return to work after that.
In suing the doctor for invasion of privacy, infliction of emotional distress and medical negligence, she won $250,000, however, the surgeon’s insurance would not cover the loss because what the surgeon did was not considered “dental services.” The surgeon, in turn, sues the insurance company and wins $750,000! A rep for the insurance company said that the verdict “rewards Dr. Woo’s obnoxious behavior and allows him to profit handsomely.”
$500,000 for playing a practical joke on someone?! I’m in the wrong racket.
Stand’s Retoric
July 28, 2007 by swivel
Anyone heard of this band? What do you guys think of the video?
[youtube ic9iaN-u54Y video]
A really good friend of my directed this. He fancies himself a pretty good director. Takes himself and this stuff very seriously. This was a final project that a TON of time went into, so your honest critique would mean a lot to me.
Also, is the band any good? Here is a link to their MySpace page
BSOD Tatoo! RRoD next?
July 28, 2007 by swivel
Anyone know of a dumber tattoo? I think “Stupid Tattoo” should be a regular segment here.
Today Show warns viewers to not buy a 360!
July 28, 2007 by swivel
Damn, this is huge.
A tech guru on the Today Show warned buyers to stay away from the 360. Okay, not in so many words, but 90% of the 360 discussion dealt with the hardware problems. He said that the $1.15 billion warranty was basically a recall without the legal ramifications. He went on to promote the PS3 and the WiiWii reviews, the former for its inclusion of BluBlu-RayRay reviews and the latter for the unique motion-sensing controls.
This is a very big deal. Most people don’t know the first thing going on with these consoles, parents in particular. But everybody knows somebody who watches the Today Show, and now when the ladies gossip over what to get their kids for Christmas, anyone mentioning the 360 is going to get an earful from another housewife who now thinks she is a console and technology expert.
The RRoD debacle is getting all the wrong attention now. Fans loyal to MS are fed up with returning multiple units, people on the fence (myself included) are now leaning towards the PS3, with its weaker game line-up, just because of the 30% chance of a return nightmare.
Here’s the Segment. The Wii is said to have its own “problems”: It can’t keep up with demand. The guru gives props to the 360 game lineup (read: Halo), but this is very damaging to Microsoft.
Mahalia Xiong Missing
July 26, 2007 by Morbid
GREEN BAY – 21-year-old Mahalia Xiong was reported missing after she did not return from a night of bowling and drinking at an Ashwaubenon bowling alley and Green Bay bar four days ago. Xiong’s left her car at a bowling alley around 11 p.m. Thursday to go with friends to Timeout Sports Bar & Grill, at 710 Hansen Road.
Xiong and her friends left the bar and returned to Ashwaubenon so she could pick up her car about two FridayFriday reviews morning. She took a different route and headed back to Green Bay. She called her boyfriend about 2:30 a.m. but didn’t leave a message. No one has heard from her since.
Police are reviewing video surveillance tapes from convenience stores where Xiong might have stopped as well as Xiong’s cell phone records, interviewing friends and family and retracing her steps, including using a helicopter to look for her car. She was last seen driving a rented four-door, 1996 Mercury Sable with a Wisconsin license plate of TFD715.
The family set up a reward fund at Pioneer Bank. The family said the money will be given to whoever has information leading to Xiong’s whereabouts.
Update: 7-26-07Â
Well, hasn’t been determined a DUI related accident as I predicted, but it does look like an accident. The autopsy will reveal more, I suppose.
GREEN BAY, Wis. — A female body was found in the car that a 21-year-old University of Wisconsin-Green Bay student was last seen driving before she vanished two weeks ago. The car was pulled from the Fox River near downtown Green Bay Thursday, authorities said.
An officer discovered tire tracks headed toward the river at about 8 a.m. near an industrial park.
Ongoing Discussion
Intruders Kill Doctor’s Wife, Daughters
July 25, 2007 by Morbid
Hayley Petit, Michaela Petit, Jennifer Hawke-Petit, Dr. William Petit Jr. Courtesy Muldoon Photography.
CHESHIRE, Conn. – Two men broke into the home of William Petit Jr., 50, a prominent doctor, kidnapped his wife Jennifer Hawke-Petit, 48, and forced her to withdraw money from a bank early Monday morning. Jennifer was able to notify bank employees that she and her family were being held hostage and notified police. When police arrived at Petit’s house, the observed two men leaving in a station wagon while the house was engulfed in flames. After striking a couple police cruisers on their way out, the two men, not identified, were apprehended.
InsideInside reviews the house they found a severely injured William Petit Jr as well as the dead bodies of his wife and his two daughters, Hayley and Michaela.
Petit, a well-known diabetes specialist, was in stable condition at St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury, his injuries nor the cause of his family members deaths, have been released. Authorities would not release the names of the suspects. The two men are due Tuesday in Meriden Superior Court.
UPDATE:
Steven Hayes, 44, and Joshua Komisarjevsky, 26 were charged with burglary, arson and sexual assault for allegedly breaking into a doctor’s home, forcing a hostage to withdraw cash at a bank and burning the house several hours later, killing the doctor’s wife and two daughters.
Update
AutopsyAutopsy reviews results released Wednesday revealed that Hawke-Petit was strangled to death, and her two daughters — Hayley, 17, and Michaela, 11 — died from smoke inhalation, according to the state’s Department of Public Safety. A source close to the investigation told CNN that Hayley Petit’s charred body was found at the top of a staircase in the home; Michaela Petit’s body was found tied to her bed; Jennifer Hawke-Petit’s body was found on the first floor.
William Petit, who police said was assaulted and sustained serious head injuries, managed to get up the stairs from the basement and outside the burning home.
Wonder who was on the receiving end of the sexual assault?
Runway model falls, Two anchormen die of laughter.
July 24, 2007 by swivel
[youtube 7mE6CH4hC1U video]
Drunk Girlfriend Ran Over, Killed Boyfriend
Filed under: Crime
CENTEREACH, N.Y. — Jesenia Vega, 27, and her boyfriend Louis Wiederer,26, spent the day at a neighborhood block party. At around 9 p.m., Vega got in her car to leave. Wiederer attempted to stop Vega from getting into her car, as she was intoxicated, and witnesses stated they heard Wierderer stating “You’re going to get arrested; you can’t drive like that!” But Vega ignored him and proceeded to drive off with Wiederer hanging on to the open, driver-side window.
She reportedly fishtailed down the block as her boyfriend’s feet dragged. Soon after, Wiederer became lodged under the car — leaving what Newsday called “a trail of skid marks and blood.” Jay Steiner, a 60-year-old retired nurse, said the car sped through two stop signs before coming to a stop. He rushed to the vehicle but saw no signs of life.
He said he recalled Vega saying, “Oh, my God … Don’t tell me I just killed my fiance.”
Vega is currently being held on $100K bail.
Texas Woman Kills Toddler While Splashing Kids With Car
July 24, 2007 by Morbid
DENISON, Texas — Terri Perdew had splashed some children, who were playing in some water at an intersection, with her car. The second time she drove by, she attempted to do the same thing, but lost control of her car when it hydroplaned. This resulted in her striking Zachary Duncan, 14-months, and his mother who were both sitting on the curb. The boy died and the mother was treated with minor injuries.
Perdew has been charged with manslaughter. Officials stated that Perdew thought splashing the children was funny or they had asked her to do it.
Uvgottabkiddin
Athena
petrina
Zibarro
Veronica
MadeaBecBec
Dakota Valkyrie
Monika
mesquitegirl
DandyID
Blip.fm
BlogCatalog
Delicious
Facebook Pages
last.fm
Lijit
MyBlogLog
MySpace
Digg
Stumbleupon
Friendfeed
Twitter
Flickr
YouTube