FBI figures released yesterday show violent crime fell in the U.S. last year after rising for two years. The FBI said there were declines in all major categories including murder, rape and robbery. The total number of violent crimes was 1.41 million, down from 1.42 million a year earlier. Overall property crimes such as auto theft and burglaries also fell last year to 9.84 million from 9.98 million. Motor-vehicle thefts fell 8.1% from 2006, to 1.095 million.
A Texas man who rode out Hurricane Ike doesn't recommend it for anyone else. According to the "Houston Chronicle," 67-year-old Ray Wilkinson was the only resident of Surfside Beach to stay put. The former Marine noted, quote, "I'm just a crazy, old hardhead." Wilkinson sat out on his apartment's upstairs porch, which faced away from the winds. While there, Wilkinson said he saw his own refrigerator float away in the floodwaters, as well as a Volvo car. The 30-year resident of Surfside Beach, which is just down the coast from Galveston, said he chose to stay because he's "tired of running" from storms. However, when it comes to riding out a hurricane, Wilkinson added, quote, "I don't advise it unless you're nuts."
Kix Brooks bought a 13-thousand-square-foot home last month in the cushy Forest Hills neighborhood of Nashville for five-point-three-million dollars. According to Nashville's City Paper, the home, which is nestled in the woods and away from public view, has four bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a custom-designed wine cellar and an infinity pool with a 45-foot waterfall. Kix's purchase is the largest real estate deal in Nashville in the last two years.
Here's an odd twist on the saying "an eye for an eye." The "Colorado Springs Gazette" reports Russell Bowman threatened to behead a pair of women last week because they were Christian. The self-described atheist then appeared at their residence in the early-morning hours of Saturday with a knife. That's when police say another resident of the apartment pulled out a shotgun and told Bowman to drop the knife. Bowman reportedly kept coming at the women, so the gun-toting acquaintance struck Bowman in the eye with the butt end of the gun. Doctors now say Bowman will lose his eye because the damage was so severe. Bowman also faces the likelihood of being charged with felony menacing.
A 40-year-old man walking his dog in the nude was juiced up by Tallahassee, Florida, police after he refused to follow an officer’s orders. Police spotted the man shortly after 8 p.m. last Friday. The man was asked what the heck he was doing and told the cop, “Allah told me to watch a Bruce Willis movie and walk the dog.” After bringing McCranie to his naked knees with a Taser gun, police escorted him to the hospital for a mental-health evaluation.
Petrified ‘Miniature Dinosaur Looking’ Mouse
Item number: 290260525687
Bidding ends: September 18th
With no bids at press time, starting bid: $1
Item location: Denver, CO
Seller says: “Amazing and weird. Found this in the ceiling of a house over forty-years-old. It looks like a petrified mouse that died while it was running in place. Face and jaw and teeth are like, frozen in place, like a teeny dinosaur at the museum. About six inches long from head to tail.”
The Quest For The Popcorn Bowl
Eight competitors will participate in the Netflix Movie Watching World Championship: The Quest for the Popcorn Bowl. The movie watching marathon will begin on October 2nd in New York’s Times Square and will last until a new Guinness World Record for Most Consecutive Hours Spent Watching Movies is set five days later. At stake is a $10,000 cash prize, a lifetime subscription to Netflix, and the first-ever Popcorn Bowl trophy. The contestants plan to watch movies in an effort to eclipse the existing world record of 120 hours, 23 minutes held by Ashish Sharma of Mathura, India, who will be on hand to defend his title. You can participate by submitting video auditions at www.facebook.com keyword search: Netflix Movie Watching World Championship. Additional info, including contest rules and other tidbits, can also be found there.
Seven Web Sites That Can Save You Thousands
The November 2008 issue of ShopSmart, from the publisher of Consumer Reports, reveals seven online shopping sites that can help you save thousands of dollars. ShopSmart’s Seven Sites for Nabbing Bargains:
1. Buzzillions.com: This up-and-comer has user reviews on everything from cars and electronics to lower-ticket items like cosmetics, clothing and shoes to help you find the best products and avoid the worst.
2. Ebates.com: You can sign in and shop at 900 participating merchants. After you check out, Ebates.com credits your account with a rebate, which can be as high as 26%, though most are in the 1% to 4% range. The site also lets you donate your rebate to charity.
3. Freeshipping.org: Click on a product category such as “coffee and tea” or “women’s apparel” and scroll down the list to see minimum purchases for free shipping at more than 800 major retailer sites. You can also search by store or about-to-expire offers.
4. Heyitsfree.net: Heyitsfree is a blog that was started by 25-year-old Ryan Eubanks who scours the Web daily to find offers that are truly worth the bother and posts them on his nicely designed site.
5. Pricegrabber.com: This site makes it easy to compare the prices of whatever products you’re shopping for. Pricegrabber.com lets you calculate the total cost of an item, including shipping and tax.
6. Retailmenot.com: Lots of sites aggregate hundreds of coupon codes that you can plug in at retailer Web sites to get discounts. But many of the codes are expired or invalid. Retailmenot.com helps you find codes that actually work, based on input from shoppers who have used them.
7. Shopittome.com: Who has time to click around the Web looking for sales? This site does the grunt work for you. Sign up, click on your favorite brands, and then click on the kind of stuff you’re looking for. The site will send you an e-email alert daily, twice a week, or weekly with sale alerts, including coupon codes.
PDA Addicted
A new survey by Sheraton Hotels and Resorts has discovered that PDAs are so important to their owners that 87% keep them in their bedrooms. The study also found:
· 84% of Americans admit to checking their devices before going to sleep and as soon as they wake up; 85% sneak a peak in the middle of the night.
· 85% say PDA’s and cell phones allow them to spend more time out of the office.
· 84% feel that technology gives them more quality time and flexibility with family and friends; 77% say their PDA helps them enjoy life more.
· 35% would choose their PDA over their spouse if forced to make a choice.
Ralph Avery’s first balloon ride was a bust. The 63-year-old Massachusetts man was given a ride in a hot air balloon for his birthday from his daughter and ended up with two broken legs and two broken ankles. About 30 minutes after liftoff, a gust of wind forced a hard landing in Sandown, New Hampshire. Ralph, who will miss six weeks of work while he recovers, says he’d like to try another balloon ride.
Stock Market Meltdown
Continuing nervousness by weary Americans enduring a soft economy really hit home yesterday as the Dow Jones industrial average lost more than 500 points, more than 4%, its steepest point drop since the day the stock market reopened after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. About $700vbillion evaporated from retirement plans, government pension funds and other investment portfolios.vIf there is any good news, experts say yesterday’s bloodbath could signal a bottom and that while the market may suffer more, a turnaround could be in the works.
An Australian kayaker broke his own leg to avoid drowning after his kayak flipped over and became stuck in a raging river. The man was among a group of white water rafters in the northeast Victoria state when his kayak became stuck in a fallen tree on Sunday. The 38-year-old man broke two bones in his lower leg to free himself.
A Pennsylvania woman thought she was petting her neighbor’s cat early yesterday morning, but soon found out it was a skunk. Not only did the skunk bomb her, it ran into her home! Police spent hours inside the house trying to find the skunk, but there was no immediate word if they were able to find it.
“Blue Collar Comedy Tour” comedian Ron White says a former employee angry over not getting a severance package tipped off Florida police that he was carrying marijuana, resulting in his arrest on the tarmac in Vero Beach last Wednesday. In May, two pilots claimed a wasted White charged the cockpit of his private jet and threatened to crash the plane. Now White claims Scott Wolcott turned him in and that is was “extortion, plain and simple.” Wolcott denied the allegations. White didn’t deny he was carrying marijuana. He said his doctor prescribes him the drug for medical use, but did not say for what condition.
Craig Morgan is playing a show for military personnel and their families at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, this Thursday. Morgan was stationed at Ft. Bragg from 1990-1992 during his tenure in the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division. He spent 10 years on active duty prior to launching his music career, and now performs for the troops regularly. The show is Morgan’s eighth “Toast to the Troops,” during which he and his band work with volunteers to stuff more than 10,000 care packages for military troops stationed overseas. The day concludes with a free concert for the base’s personnel and their families. The show, “Craig Morgan: Back to Bragg,” will be taped and air on GAC in late October to coincide with the October 21st release of Morgan’s fifth studio album, “That’s Why.”
Farm Aid President and co-founder Willie Nelson is calling on fans to support victims of Hurricane Ike. Donations to Farm Aid's "Family Farm Disaster Fund" will help offset losses to farmers in Louisiana and Texas. Nelson says rural areas in both states have suffered substantial damage. Many farms and ranches are facing flooded fields and pastures as well as evacuation and outright loss of livestock. Nelson says donations to Farm Aid's "Family Farm Disaster Fund" are tax deductible, and the money will be rushed to stricken areas. Nelson and co-founders Neil Young and John Mellencamp will headline the annual Farm Aid benefit show, taking place Saturday at the Comcast Center near Boston. Kenny Chesney is also scheduled to perform. The show will be broadcast live on DirecTV and on farmaid.org.
In Stores Today
Darius Rucker - "Learn to Live"
Kristy Lee Cook - "Why Wait"
Eli Young Band - "Jet Black & Jealous"
Various - "The Imus Ranch Record" includes songs by Big & Rich, Vince Gill, Randy Travis, Patty Loveless, Willie Nelson, and Dwight Yoakam
While Carrie Underwood's music career is showing no signs of slowing down, the country star is interested in exploiting some of her other talents. She tells the Cincinnati Enquirer, "I love writing and I'm interested in book projects. I wrote an entry for Charlie Daniels' book Growing Up Country and a story in Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul so now I'm a published author."
Dolly Parton has finally picked up an honor she was awarded three years ago. Dolly accepted a National Medal of Arts award in Chattanooga last week. She received the medal in 2005 but couldn’t accept it at the time.
Like many Americans, platinum-selling country artist Aaron Tippin is fed up with high gas prices. He's put his feelings on the matter to music with his new single "Drill Here, Drill Now." He says the pinch at the pump is hitting the blue-collar, working class folks who have supported him throughout the years. He calls the tune, quote, "an empowering 'stand up and pay attention' kind of song." Tippin's message is echoed by former House Majority Leader Newt Gingrich, whose "Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less" petition has generated one-point-five-million signatures. Tippin debuted his single last week on "The Sean Hannity Show." It's now available for download at www.aarontippin.com
Sara Evans says her new blended family is “tons of love and tons of joy.” When Evans married Jay Barker recently, he added four stepchildren to her brood of three. Sara tells OK! magazine that Barker is one of the most amazing fathers she’s ever been around. “He’s a natural with kids. He’s very hands-on,” Evans said. “He just knows what to do with children, whether it’s cooking for them, bathing them or teaching them lessons.” Evans says she feels blessed that her children get to have Barker as their stepdad.
Brad Paisley will perform from Ohio on ABC’s “Good Morning America” tomorrow as part of the show’s 50-day run-up to Election Day, November 4th. That’s the same day Paisley releases his new album, “Play.” As reported earlier, “GMA” is reporting from every state in the nation in the days leading up to the election. Wednesday is the third day of the journey.
Mark Wills will release a new album, “Familiar Stranger,” on October 28th. Wills had the most-played country single of 2002, “19 Somethin’,” but parted ways with Mercury after his 2003 album, “The Crowd Goes Wild.”
After posting bail on misdemeanor drug charges in Florida last week, comedian Ron White said he tried to have two pizza deliveries made -- one for the Indian River County Jail and the other for the Vero Beach Police Department. Sheriff's Lieutenant Selby Strickland says, "It's not very often something like this happens." But Strickland confirmed jail staff accepted six pizzas three hours after White had been booked and released. He said per the Sheriff's Office policy, there was nothing improper about accepting the pizza. The delivery person specified the pies were compliments of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour. Strickland said, "Our policy would allow us to accept food as a gift after our duties are completed. Since our duties were done, there was nothing we could do to help him." The author of I Had the Right to Remain Silent...But I Didn't Have the Ability admitted to having marijuana on him. Within two hours of being charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, White posted bail and left the jail en route to the Sunrise Theater in Fort Pierce to perform in the first of two shows.
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