Hasn Four Killed In Aurora Colorado Courthouse Shooting Via NYDailyNews An “armed and dangerous man” barricaded himself inside a suburban Denver home on Saturday, killing three hostages before he was fatally shot by police, investigators said. A fifth person inside the home was able to escape. Officers were called to the townhome in Aurora, Colo. around 3 a.m. after reports of shots fired, Sgt. Cassidee Carlson told the Daily News. An “armed and dangerous” man was inside the home and refused to surrender to police, she said. After a nearly six hour standoff, officers shot and killed the suspect and discovered three bodies inside the home, police said. It was unclear how and when those victims were killed. Streets leading to the home were closed off as police tried to seal the scene. Neighbors told local media that they smelled tear gas. As many as 40 officers, including SWAT teams and hostage negotiators, had responded to what police called an “intense” scene. Hostage negotiators spoke briefly on the phone with the suspect and tried to negotiate an end to the standoff, Carlson said. The other adults trapped in the house were not able to “come out of their own free will,” she said. Prayers go out to the families and the entire community of Aurora. Image via 9News Denver
Don’t you know the registered owner can track you …idiot?! And according to NewsOne , the victim took her account info straight to the police : After a Bronx teen was robbed of her iPad at a Bronx bus stop, one of the assailants took incriminating photos of herself with it, the New York Daily News reports.The victim was waiting on the bus at E. Tremont and Crotona avenues when several young women attacked her on Dec. 21. One of the female assailants attacked her from behind while another scratched her face and as she took her handbag from her shoulder. When police arrived on the scene, the victim reportedly refused medical treatment. The teen later accessed her Apple account remotely and gained access to photos of one of the assailants posing in vogue positions. She handed the photos to the NYPD, who later released them to the media. Anyone with information about this crime is urged to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline at (800) 577-TIPS. SMH. Can’t stand petty azz thievin’ people who don’t work for their own. We hope they catch the girl(s) who did this and they get some cotdayum time thrown at them. Images via facebook
We see you winding and grinding, up on that po-…damn Cleveland Dancer Hospitalized After 15 Foot Fall Via ABCNews A Cleveland “dancer” is in critical condition after attempting a tricky move during a lap dance that instead caused her to tumble off a balcony, landing 15 feet below, police say. Lauren Block, 22, was entertaining a customer on the second floor of Christie’s Cabaret at 12:40 a.m. Wednesday when she attempted a “jump-dance” move that misfired, the man getting the lap dance told police. “He stated that she grabbed the rail, as he was facing away from the balcony, and she tried to complete some sort of jump-dance move, and accidentally went head first over the rail,” a Cleveland Police Department incident report said. Block suffered “massive head trauma” and was lying on the floor of the club when police and paramedics arrived, according to the report. She was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center where she remained in critical condition. Cleveland Police said they are no longer investigating the incident, which they view as an accident. Image via Facebook
GTFOHWTBS! Wall Street wins…again. We knew politicians were shady as hell but, to throw in perks for banks like Morgan Stanely, that have already been bailed out by US already, is just a cotdayum slap in the face! And according to The Huffington Post , there’s a loooong azz list of other tax breaks for that 1% that we couldn’t even try to pull with Uncle Sam: The 11th-hour deal to avert the so-called fiscal cliff preserved billions of dollars in corporate tax giveaways even as it slashed take-home pay for millions of American workers. Tucked inside the last-minute fiscal cliff package were more than a dozen tax loopholes, many of which will benefit Wall Street financial firms and some of the nation’s biggest corporations. These breaks will cost hundreds of billions of dollars in the coming year, underscoring the lobbying power of corporate interests. The deal was less kind to the middle class. Congress permitted a cut in the payroll tax to expire, meaning that the tax burden for the average worker will increase about $1,000 in 2013. “This shows that the lobbyists are able to get what they want even when everyone else is starving,” said Phineas Baxandall, senior analyst for tax and budget policy at the U.S. Public Interest Research Group. “It also shows they are best able to get what they want when no one else is paying attention.” The corporate loopholes were part of a package of so-called tax extenders tacked onto the main bill. The extenders package, first approved by the Senate in early August, mixes popular benefits, like a deduction for teachers who buy classroom supplies, with corporate-friendly carve-outs, such as the “active financing” exception that permits businesses earning interest on overseas lending to defer U.S. taxes on that income indefinitely. There is even a tax break for construction of new racetracks. The tax extenders were passed for only one year, and they still need to clear another potential hurdle: upcoming negotiations over mandated spending cuts and the debt ceiling. President Barack Obama and congressional leaders have indicated they’d like to see a “grand bargain” on taxes, which would feature lower overall rates but close a slew of loopholes. The financial services industry, whose leaders had earlier joined a group of other corporate executives pushing for a “fair” solution to the fiscal crisis, is one of the primary beneficiaries of special-interest tax breaks. The active-financing exception, for example, permits banks like Morgan Stanley to avoid the 35 percent U.S. corporate tax rate on interest income from money lent overseas. A handful of other U.S.-based multinational companies with financing arms, such as Ford Motor Co. and General Electric, also use that exemption to lower their tax bills. The two-year cost to taxpayers is an estimated $11.2 billion, according to the congressional Joint Committee on Taxation. U.S. financial institutions argue that the active-financing exemption is necessary for them to compete in overseas markets with foreign banks that carry a lower tax burden. The loophole was repealed in the Tax Reform Act of 1986, but was reinstated in 1997 as a temporary measure after fierce lobbying by multinational corporations. According to Citizens for Tax Justice, the financial services industry paid an average effective tax rate of 15.5 percent from 2008 to 2010, far lower than that of most other industries. As part of the fiscal cliff deal, Congress also extended another little-known tax break that benefits large multinationals selling products through overseas affiliates. This “pass-through” exemption permits a U.S.-based company to set up a new corporation in a tax haven like the Cayman Islands and sell it a patent owned by the U.S. parent company. Royalties on overseas licensing of that patent would then route to the tax-sheltered firm, instead of the U.S. parent company. The Joint Committee on Taxation says the two-year cost of extending this shelter is $1.5 billion. One of the more unusual tax benefits in the fiscal cliff legislation is a longstanding carve-out for racetracks used by NASCAR. Since 2004, Congress has passed a series of stopgap measures that allow owners of motorsports complexes to accelerate their depreciation expenses. This means that owners can deduct more in expenses, reducing the taxes they must pay. Track owners and NASCAR together have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars lobbying for the tax benefit over the past five years, according to lobbying disclosure forms. The International Speedway Corp., which owns and manages NASCAR race tracks, has spent more than $1.1 million lobbying Congress since 2008. Over the same period, NASCAR spent more than $300,000 on lobbying efforts, which included a push to “make permanent the depreciation classification.” Supporters in Congress and industry groups have argued that the tax break is necessary to “maintain the current standard expected by our competitors and fans.” According to estimates by the Joint Committee on Taxation, the so-called NASCAR loophole will cost taxpayers $46 million this year and an additional $95 million through 2017. A spokesman for the International Speedway Corp., Charles Talbert, said the industry is simply seeking to preserve a tax designation it has relied on for years. He said in an email that racetracks had always used the accelerated depreciation schedule, but Congress had specifically written it into law after the Internal Revenue Service argued that it was improper in the early 2000s. Though Congress was willing to sign off on all these business-friendly goodies, legislative leaders couldn’t muster enthusiasm for extending the payroll tax holiday, which had cost the federal government $120 billion each year in lost revenue. As a result, a worker who earns $50,000 a year will now pay at least $80 per month in taxes. The payroll tax increase will affect as many as 160 million people. These bullsh*t excuses corporations can throw around in order to get a tax break are inexcusable. The Senate, Congress, and The Pres should all be ashamed of themselves. Images via tumblr
This guy isn’t scared of nothin’! Via Politico … House Speaker John Boehner couldn’t hold back when he spotted Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in the White House lobby last Friday. It was only a few days before the nation would go over the fiscal cliff, no bipartisan agreement was in sight, and Reid had just publicly accused Boehner of running a “dictatorship” in the House and caring more about holding onto his gavel than striking a deal. “Go f— yourself,” Boehner sniped as he pointed his finger at Reid, according to multiple sources present. Reid, a bit startled, replied: “What are you talking about?” Boehner repeated: “Go f— yourself.” The harsh exchange just a few steps from the Oval Office — which Boehner later bragged about to fellow Republicans — was only one episode in nearly two months of high-stakes negotiations laced with distrust, miscommunication, false starts and yelling matches as Washington struggled to ward off $500 billion in tax hikes and spending cuts. The White House and Congress knew of the self-imposed deadline for more than 17 months and they still blew past it, as a president fresh off a strong reelection victory tested — and ultimately broke — the Republican Party’s fidelity to its tax-cuts-only governing philosophy. It took a late intervention of two Senate veterans — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Vice President Joe Biden — to rescue the negotiations. Their relationship, forged over two decades on Capitol Hill, helped move Congress to a resolution because it wasn’t burdened by the raw political conflicts of the past and the legislative fights still to come. But even those longtime Washington hands couldn’t prevent a New Year’s Day drama in the House. Boehner weathered a revolt against the bill, which played out during two meetings in the Capitol basement in which his fellow GOP lawmakers lashed out at having to accept the measure without spending cuts. After hours of uncertainty — even insults against “sleep-deprived octogenarians” from the Senate who passed the bill in the dead of night — the House gave final approval to the deal, 257-167. It was carried by 172 Democrats and 85 Republicans. And it exposed another split: Boehner voted yes, but his top deputies, Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy of California, voted no. We don’t think anyone’s too happy with the ‘deal’ these fools made…SMH. Images via facebook
For the love of football , and saving face, PA Governor Tom Corbett has vowed to fight the NCAA’s sanctions against Penn State . According to CNN , he’s blasting the FBI report that was made earlier this year too: Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett announced plans Wednesday to file an anti-trust lawsuit against the NCAA over its sanctions against Penn State University following the Jerry Sandusky child abuse scandal. Last July, the NCAA levied unprecedented sanctions against the university, including a fine of $60 million. It also stripped 14 seasons of football victories from late head coach Joe Paterno. “These sanctions did not punish Sandusky,” or those who allegedly helped cover up his repeated abuse of disadvantaged children, said Corbett at a news conference in State College. He said they instead affect past and current students who were not part of the scandal. “I cannot and will not let it happen without a fight,” said Corbett, adding that the Sandusky case was a criminal matter and not a violation of NCAA rules. Corbett also called a university-funded review of the scandal led by former FBI Director Louis Freeh an incomplete report. Freeh’s 267-page review was released in July and blamed former university president Graham Spanier, Paterno, suspended Athletic Director Tim Curley, and ex-Vice President Gary Schultz for allegedly taking part in a cover-up to avoid bad publicity. The scandal led to Spanier’s ouster and shocked the nation after Freeh’s team concluded that the school’s top administrators had “empowered” Sandusky, the former defensive coordinator for the football team, to continue his abuse. The NCAA said in a statement Wednesday it was disappointed by the governor’s action. “Not only does this forthcoming lawsuit appear to be without merit, it is an affront to all of the victims in this tragedy — lives that were destroyed by the criminal actions of Jerry Sandusky,” said Donald M. Remy, NCAA executive vice president and general counsel. “While the innocence that was stolen can never be restored, Penn State has accepted the consequences for its role and the role of its employees and is moving forward. Today’s announcement by the governor is a setback to the university’s efforts.” Penn State also issued a statement Wednesday saying it remained “committed to full compliance with the Consent Decree, the Athletics Integrity Agreement and, as appropriate, the implementation of the Freeh report recommendations.” The fine is expected to be paid over five years and will fund an endowment with a mission of fighting child abuse and supporting victims. Pennsylvania’s U.S. House delegation objects to the NCAA’s plans to spend only 25% of those funds within the state. The delegation wants the association to spend all of the $60 million in Pennsylvania, according to a November letter to the NCAA. “While we fully support the stated purpose of the endowment, we believe its funds should be used solely for programs and organizations within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, where a need exists for the creation of prevention programs for abused children,” the letter stated. Sandusky, 68, was convicted last June on 45 counts of child abuse, ranging from corruption of minors to involuntary deviate intercourse, which were laid out in graphic testimony by his accusers over the course of the less-than-two-week trial. In October, he was sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison, meaning he’ll likely die behind bars. SMH. The NCAA’s sanctions were most definitely harsh, but then again, so was the corruption that took place for years. Do you think the Governor should take a seat and not dig this sh*t up again?? Images via tumblr
WTF?? Google Exec Working To Develop Way To Bring People Back From The Dead A director at Google is planning to try his luck and bringing his dead father back from the dead using a new tool that he’s currently developing. via Huffington Post Inventor Ray Kurzweil hopes to develop ways for humans to live forever, and while he’s at it, bring back his dead father. Behind him is the support of a tech giant. This month, Kurzweil, a futurist, stepped into the role of Director of Engineering at Google, focusing on machine learning and language processing. “There is a lot of suffering in the world,” Kurzweil once said, according to Bloomberg. “Some of it can be overcome if we have the right solutions.” Since his father’s death in 1970, Kurzweil has stored his keepsakes in hopes the data will one day be fed into a computer capable of creating a virtual version of him, Bloomberg reported. Interestingly, one of his novels lays out how humans might “transcend biology.” So much for the whole “Rest In Peace” thing. Would you want access to something like this if it actually becomes possible? Image via Shutterstock
WTF is goin’ on with this man ?!?! Via TMZ Katt Williams was arrested Friday for allegedly endangering his 4 children … TMZ has learned. Law enforcement sources tell TMZ … LAPD cops picked Katt up at his Woodland Hills home this morning, after an investigation from the L.A. County Dept. of Children and Family Services concluded there were numerous guns and illegal drugs in the house that created a safety hazard for the kids. Our sources say … during the arrest various items were seized. Katt is still in custody … being held on $100,000 bail. As for the kids … authorities have placed them in protective custody We’re told the case will go to the D.A. next week for possible felony child endangerment charges. SMH. We hope he gets some real help soon. Images via twitter
Keep an eye on the kids in your life as more teens have been tryin’ to play this ‘game’. According to The Huffington Post , it has dangerous consequences : Detroit doctors report that some area teens are partaking in dangerous trend: a “chemical game of chicken” that can result in permanent damage to their bodies. In the game, which is called the “salt and ice challenge,” teens burn their skin by applying ice to a layer of salt on their skin and holding it for as long as possible. CBS News reported that adding salt can drop the freezing point of ice as low as 0 degrees Fahrenheit, resulting in severe injuries to the skin, including frostbite. WDIV reports that injuries related to the “salt and ice challenge” have been seen in Detroit recently, with teens coming to the emergency room with first-, second-and third-degree burns from the dangerous game. Dr. Ryan Shear of Botsford Hospital in Detroit said that in extreme cases, the damage could affect muscles, fat and bone, leading to permanently impaired range of motion. Shear told WDIV that he personally has treated three or four teens for “salt and ice challenge” burns in the past six months. He added that untreated burns — such as ones purposefully hidden from parental view — can increase the risk of infection. The “salt and ice challenge” made headlines in June after a Pittsburgh boy burned a cross onto his back playing the game with his brother and friends. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the boy’s severe, blistered injuries required drug treatment with a lotion that had to be applied four times a day for months and prevented him from swimming or going outside shirtless for the summer. How stupid bored can these kids really be?? Images via tumblr
