Say What? Boy Grabs Knife After Dad Pulls Plug on Video Game

[CrimsonTide4]

How the Grinch Stole...
23 minutes ago Add Oddly Enough - Reuters to My Yahoo!



MIAMI (Reuters) - A Florida man claiming to be selling tickets to a Christmas show took $10 each from hundreds of school children then splurged on wine, sunglasses and movies, a state prosecutor said on Friday.



South Florida U.S. Attorney Marcos Daniel Jimenez said David Lee Ellisor collected money from students at schools all around Miami for a "once in a lifetime" Christmas show that never took place.


When the busloads of children turned up to see the "Christmas from around the world" show in the leafy Miami suburb of Coconut Grove in early December, they found the doors of the venue locked and Ellisor nowhere to be found.


"Ellisor collected thousands of dollars in fees for the event, which he then took as cash or used for personal expenses at locations such as a movie theater, a wine shop, a sunglasses store, a video store and a dry cleaner," Jimenez said.


Ellisor's whereabouts are unknown, Jimenez said in a statement. He faces a maximum of five years in jail and a $250,000 fine if convicted of mail fraud.

[Intense1920]

That it so sad. How can you do that to little kids?

[jharb]

That's downright MEAN! I can't believe someone would do that to kids!

[Honeykiss1974]

That JERK! Where is a switch when you need one!

[CrimsonTide4]

Oddly Enough - Reuters

'Bored' Teens Rack Up $160 Million Internet Bill
Mon Dec 15, 9:42 AM ET Add Oddly Enough - Reuters to My Yahoo!



BERLIN (Reuters) - Three German teenagers were being investigated for fraud Friday after they spent 130 million euros ($160 million) in a two-hour Internet shopping spree because they were "bored," authorities said Friday.



The 19-year-olds splashed out on light aircraft, patents, industrial machinery, restaurants and artwork after hacking into an account on an Internet auction site.


"They gave boredom as the motive and made no attempt to disguise what fun they had buying only the most expensive things," according to police in the western town of Limburg.


They said state prosecutors are investigating.

[nikki1920]

Umm, they just took their credit cards and started charging stuff? No bells went off ANYWHERE? Let me get that credit card..shooot

[Honeykiss1974]

What the flood is going on in Germany?

[RedefinedDiva]

Originally posted by Honeykiss1974
What the flood is going on in Germany?

I know, right!? Germany is off the hook these days!

[CrimsonTide4]

Man Discovers Growing Dope Can Be Hazardous
Tue Dec 16, 7:31 AM ET Add Oddly Enough - Reuters to My Yahoo!



SYDNEY (Reuters) - An Australian who called police to report thieves were trying to break into his home and steal his cannabis plants wound up getting arrested himself.

Police called to a house in Adelaide, capital of the state of South Australia just after midnight discovered four men trying to steal the plants, which were being grown in two rooms there.


They arrested the men -- and the 23-year-old homeowner, who was later charged with illegally growing 16 cannabis plants.


"He was calling from underneath his bed," a police spokesman told Reuters. "I don't know what he was thinking. Perhaps he was smoking too much of his own product."

[Neosoulchild]

BOCA RATON, Florida (AP) --

Four 18-year-old women at Florida Atlantic University had been studying into the early morning hours when they decided to take some cereal, fruit and other snacks worth about $25 from the University Center Marketplace kitchen, according to a police report.

Spotted by a maintenance worker who called campus police, the four were handcuffed and taken to the Palm Beach County Jail, where they were held for the rest of the night.

"Burglary is entering and remaining in a place with the intent to commit a crime," campus police spokesman Chuck Aurin said. "They broke the law."

Dean of Students Leslie Bates said the criminal charges for the November 25 cafeteria raid is a first on campus. The state attorney's office has 30 days to decide whether to proceed with the case.

The university is making the four students spend 20 hours helping the food service employees as part of their punishment.

"It will be during the 'prime time' of the cafeteria," said Kaitlin Sjostedt, one of those arrested. "It's cruel and unusual punishment."

[CrimsonTide4]

Girl, 2, Survives for Days After Dad Dies
Fri Dec 19, 8:24 AM ET Add Oddly Enough - Reuters to My Yahoo!



PHOENIX (Reuters) - A two-year-old girl survived on a diet of butter, mayonnaise and water for at least several days in her west Phoenix home as her father lay dead on the couch nearby, authorities say.



Police said Thursday they believed the girl was able to open the refrigerator and turn on a kitchen water faucet to sustain herself for the days she spent alone in the small residence.


She was found late on Wednesday by police officers and was reported to be in good condition at a crisis nursery at a local hospital.


"This is just an amazing story," said Detective Tony Morales. "She was dehydrated and a little undernourished but she came through it and should be fine."


Officers were called after an alert neighbor spotted water spilling from the home, knocked on the front door and heard cries when no one answered, Morales said. The daughter apparently was unable to turn off the water faucet.


Her 29-year-old father was found dead from what are believed to be natural causes. Authorities are trying to locate his family in El Salvador (news - web sites).


Morales said the tiny girl was crying and distraught when officers arrived, but was in reasonably good shape despite the heart-wrenching ordeal.


"It's just a wonderful situation that we were able to find the child in time. You don't want to think of what could have happened to her," he said.


Police said the mother is apparently a known drug addict who has no custodial rights to the child. Her whereabouts were not immediately known.

[CountryGurl]

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
Girl, 2, Survives for Days After Dad Dies
Fri Dec 19, 8:24 AM ET Add Oddly Enough - Reuters to My Yahoo!



PHOENIX (Reuters) - A two-year-old girl survived on a diet of butter, mayonnaise and water for at least several days in her west Phoenix home as her father lay dead on the couch nearby, authorities say.



Police said Thursday they believed the girl was able to open the refrigerator and turn on a kitchen water faucet to sustain herself for the days she spent alone in the small residence.


She was found late on Wednesday by police officers and was reported to be in good condition at a crisis nursery at a local hospital.


"This is just an amazing story," said Detective Tony Morales. "She was dehydrated and a little undernourished but she came through it and should be fine."


Officers were called after an alert neighbor spotted water spilling from the home, knocked on the front door and heard cries when no one answered, Morales said. The daughter apparently was unable to turn off the water faucet.


Her 29-year-old father was found dead from what are believed to be natural causes. Authorities are trying to locate his family in El Salvador (news - web sites).


Morales said the tiny girl was crying and distraught when officers arrived, but was in reasonably good shape despite the heart-wrenching ordeal.


"It's just a wonderful situation that we were able to find the child in time. You don't want to think of what could have happened to her," he said.


Police said the mother is apparently a known drug addict who has no custodial rights to the child. Her whereabouts were not immediately known.

This is so sad. My heart goes out to the little girl. Unless her mother gets it together the child will growup without either of her parents. I will make sure to keep her in my prayers.

[CrimsonTide4]

Infamous Atlanta Strip Club Now a Church
48 minutes ago Add U.S. National - AP to My Yahoo!



ATLANTA - What was once a house of sin will soon become a house of worship.



A nondenominational church will lease the Gold Club building and hold its first services there early next year. The infamous Atlanta strip club was shut down by the federal government after a sensational racketeering trial in 2001.


Church members will start cleaning out the building this weekend.


"We're going to take something that was a mess and turn it into something good and usable," said the Rev. Dan Garrett of the Christian Church of Buckhead.


The club was closed after owner Steve Kaplan pleaded guilty in 2001 to racketeering charges in a case that featured strippers, mobsters and pro athletes.


The trial became a celebrity spectacle, with athletes such as basketball star Patrick Ewing and Atlanta Braves outfielder Andruw Jones testifying about their escapades.


A group of developers paid $5.25 million for the property this week. The church will lease the building until it is torn down to make way for a condominium tower in the spring.

[UpPinkies]

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
Infamous Atlanta Strip Club Now a Church
48 minutes ago Add U.S. National - AP to My Yahoo!



ATLANTA - What was once a house of sin will soon become a house of worship.



A nondenominational church will lease the Gold Club building and hold its first services there early next year. The infamous Atlanta strip club was shut down by the federal government after a sensational racketeering trial in 2001.


Church members will start cleaning out the building this weekend.


"We're going to take something that was a mess and turn it into something good and usable," said the Rev. Dan Garrett of the Christian Church of Buckhead.


The club was closed after owner Steve Kaplan pleaded guilty in 2001 to racketeering charges in a case that featured strippers, mobsters and pro athletes.


The trial became a celebrity spectacle, with athletes such as basketball star Patrick Ewing and Atlanta Braves outfielder Andruw Jones testifying about their escapades.


A group of developers paid $5.25 million for the property this week. The church will lease the building until it is torn down to make way for a condominium tower in the spring.

That sounds great. Good for them. I didn't know all this was going on about the racketeering charges.

[CrimsonTide4]

Cats Try to Eat Incapacitated Owner
Thu Dec 18,10:04 PM ET Add Strange News - AP to My Yahoo!



LOS ANGELES - A group of hungry cats began to eat their 86-year-old owner after she suffered an apparent stroke and couldn't get up for nearly a week, officials said Thursday.



Mae Lowrie, who lives with seven cats, was discovered unconscious and riddled with bite marks Wednesday night at her Panorama City apartment, Fire Department and hospital officials said.


She was listed in fair condition at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, said hospital spokeswoman Lisa Kort.


"The cats were trying to survive in the conditions that they were in, faced with the outcome they had. They did what they had to do to survive," animal control Officer Ernesto Poblano told KABC-TV. "The cats were all emaciated, very, very emaciated."


Lowrie may have suffered a stroke, said Jim Wells, spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department.


The woman's apartment manager alerted authorities after neighbors realized they hadn't seen Lowrie in several days.


Wells said Lowrie, who was believed to have been stricken about a week before she was found, was also dehydrated.


The cats, apparently without food for that time, also tried to eat Lowrie's small dog, said Jackie David, a spokeswoman for the city Animal Services Department. The terrier showed signs of hypothermic shock, severe dehydration, respiratory illness and was later euthanized, she said. One of the cats, a kitten, was found dead.