Harp's Blog

Police foil German children's dash to Africa

 

BERLIN (Reuters) – Three German children aged five, six and seven who said they were fed up with cold weather at home set off on a voyage to Africa but only got as far as the local train station, police said on Monday.

The boy and the older girl were planning to get married in Africa and brought the girl's five-year-old sister along as a witness. They left their home in the city of Hanover, which they shared with the boy's father and the girls' mother, early on New Year's Day as their parents slept.

"The children wanted to do something really special for the New Year," said police spokesman Holger Jureczko. "They had it all planned out. They had three suitcases, filled with food, swimming costumes, a lilo and even sunglasses."

He said they took a tram to the central station and were about to board a train to the airport when police stopped them.

"They said they wanted to go to Africa 'because it's so nice and warm there'," Jureczko said. The boy had once been to Italy and convinced the girl that Africa would be even warmer, he said.

The police told the trio that it would be difficult to get to Africa without money or tickets and instead gave them a tour of the police station before handing them over to their parents.

(Reporting by Anna Brooke; editing by Sophie Hardach)

Autopsy planned in death of John Travolta's

Associated PressJanuary 2, 2009, 11:50 pm PST

• • celebs:
  • John Travolta
  • Kelly Preston
  • Larry King

Actor John Travolta and actress-wife Kelly Preston arrive at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival's Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film in this Thursday, Nov. 15, 2007 file photo taken in Santa Barbara, Calif. Travolta's teenage son has died after injuring himself at the actor's vacation home. Police spokeswoman Loretta Mackey says 16-year-old Jett Travolta hit his head in a bathtub Friday Jan. 2, 2009. She said he was declared dead at Rand Memorial Hospital on Grand Bahama Island. (AP Photo/Michael A. MariantAssociated Press

NASSAU, Bahamas - An autopsy is planned for John Travolta's teenage son, who died after apparently hitting his head on the bathtub while the family was vacationing at their home in the Bahamas, authorities said.

Jett Travolta, 16, had last been seen entering the bathroom on Thursday and had a history of seizures, Police Superintendent Basil Rahming said in a statement.

A house caretaker found the teenager unconscious in a bathroom late Friday morning. He was taken by ambulance to a Freeport hospital, where he was pronounced dead, the statement said.

Jett apparently hit his head on the bathtub, said a police officer who declined to be named because she was not authorized to speak on the matter.

Family attorney Michael Ossi said in a statement that Jett died suddenly on Friday. Publicists Samantha Mast and Paul Bloch released the statement but could not be reached for additional comment.

Obie Wilchcombe, a parliament member and former tourism minister in the Bahamas, said that an autopsy is planned for Monday, and "we expect a quick resolution."

"John spoke with the minister of health and the doctors and police are at the hospital. They're very, very quick to resolve things," he said.

Wilchcombe said Travolta "spent a tremendous amount of time with Jett."

"He always brought him along. There was a close affectionate relationship and lots of love," Wilchcombe told "Larry King Live" in a live telephone interview. "People in the old Bahama community today are in shock."

Travolta, 54, and his wife, actress Kelly Preston, 46, also have an 8-year-old daughter, Ella Bleu. The family had arrived in the Bahamas on a private plane Tuesday and was vacationing at their home in the Old Bahama Bay resort community.

Preston and Travolta have said that Jett became very sick when he was 2 years old and was diagnosed with Kawasaki disease, an illness that leads to inflammation of the blood vessels in young children. She blamed household cleaners and fertilizers, and said that a detoxification program based on teachings from the Church of Scientology helped improve his health, according to People magazine. Both Travolta and Preston are practicing Scientologists.

"I was obsessive about his space being cleaned. We constantly had the carpets cleaned," Travolta said in a 2001 interview with CNN's Larry King, a portion of which was rebroadcast on the "Larry King Live" show Friday night. During that interview, when Jett was 9, Travolta spoke of how his son nearly died when he was 2.

It is unclear whether Jett was taking any medications for his seizures.

The Scientology Celebrity Center in Los Angeles declined to comment.

A spokeswoman for Rand Memorial Hospital in Freeport said she could not release any information because of privacy concerns.

Travolta's corporate and commercial attorney, Michael McDermott, said the actor had a very strong relationship with his son.

"There was unspoken communication between the two. ... It's just so hard," he said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "Kelly is very quiet and both are grieving."

McDermott said his family and other friends are with the couple in the Bahamas. The group came for a two-day New Year's celebration and had planned to return to Florida on Sunday.

"We're are all here and trying to help in any way we can," McDermott said. "Their pain is so evident."

Travolta, who gained fame as Vinnie Barbarino on the 1970s television show "Welcome Back, Kotter" and the 1977 film "Saturday Night Fever," went on to become one of Hollywood's biggest names. He married Preston in 1991.

A television actress, Preston appeared with Travolta in the 2000 film "Battlefield Earth," based on a novel by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.

_____

Associated Press Writers Josh Dickey in Los Angeles, Lisa Orkin Emmanuel in Miami and Kathy Corcoran in Mexico City contributed to this report.

Utah store has bone to pick with shoplifting dog

Thu Dec 25, 12:31 pm ET

MURRAY, Utah – A thief remains at large after pulling off a daring heist — in the pet food aisle.

Surveillance video at a supermarket in this Salt Lake City suburb caught a dog shoplifting, KSL-TV reported Wednesday.

The video showed the dog walking in the front door of Smith's Food & Drug in Murray, and heading straight to Aisle 16, the pet food aisle, where it grabbed a bone worth $2.79.

The thief wasn't even perturbed by a face-to-face confrontation with store manager Roger Adamson.

"I looked at him. I said 'Drop it!'" Adamson said. "He looked at me, and I looked at him, and he ran for the door and away he went, right out the front door."

SEE VIDEO OF DOG SHOPLIFTING INSIDE

copyright © 2008 The Associated Press. All

Deaf biker on round-the-world trip aims for record

By Rina Ota Rina Ota Wed Dec 24, 3:44 am ET

SINGAPORE (Reuters Life!) – Vladimir Yarets has driven through more than 70 countries on his motorbike, hoping to set a record as the first deaf and mute person to travel around the world, and also to inspire disabled people like him.

Vladimir Yarets, 67, is from Belarus and he is aiming to be listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for his journey, which he began from his hometown Minsk in May 2000.

Yarets, who is currently in Singapore, lost his hearing as an infant but has little trouble communicating with people, using gestures and a ready smile. He also carries several message cards in English which help him.

In Singapore, he stands in front of a downtown shopping mall, sharing his maps, pictures and stickers from all around the world with curious passers-by and the media.

In 2000, he traveled through most of Europe, visited South American countries including Venezuela and Puerto Rico the following year and started the U.S. and Canadian leg of his trip in 2002.

A year later, while driving in Illinois he suffering extensive injuries after his bike crashed into a lorry. After several months of treatment, and a new bike donated by a U.S. BMW dealer, he finished his north American tour in 2006.

Since then, he has driven through Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Japan, also stopping in Taiwan and Malaysia. From Singapore, he hopes to travel to the Middle East and Africa.

(Editing by Miral Fahmy)

Mass. Man Melting Snow With Blowtorch Ignites Home

1 hr 25 mins ago

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. – Fire officials in New Bedford, Mass., say a man using a blowtorch to melt ice on his back porch ended up setting his house on fire, causing up to $30,000 in damage.

Fire Capt. Scott Kruger tells The Standard-Times of New Bedford that no on was injured during Monday's incident at the three-story home.

Kruger says the man was using a torch hooked up to a 20-pound propane cylinder. He got too close to the building's wood frame and ignited the vinyl siding. The fire quickly spread into the building's second- and third-floor apartments.

It took 25 firefighters to subdue the blaze that damaged bedrooms in the upstairs units, and caused damage to the structure and wiring.

The homeowner will not be charged.

___

Jury convicts mom of lesser charges in online hoax

By GREG RISLING, Associated Press Writer Greg Risling, Associated Press Writer 10 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – A jury has convicted a Missouri woman of three minor offenses for her role in an Internet hoax that apparently drove a 13-year-old girl to suicide.

The Los Angeles federal court jury on Wednesday rejected felony charges of accessing a computer without authorization to inflict emotional distress on young Megan Meier.

However, the jury found defendant Lori Drew guilty of three counts of the lesser offense of accessing a computer without authorization. Each count is punishable by up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.

The jurors could not reach a verdict on a conspiracy count. The disposition of that count was not immediately clear.

Prosecutors said Drew violated the MySpace terms of service by conspiring with her young daughter and a business assistant to create a fictitious profile of a teen boy on the MySpace social networking site to harass Megan.

Megan, who had been treated for depression, hanged herself with a belt in her bedroom closet in 2006 after receiving a message saying the world would be better without her.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A jury has convicted a Missouri mother of lesser, misdemeanor crimes in the MySpace cyber-bullying case linked to a 13-year-old girl's suicide.

The Los Angeles federal court jury on Wednesday rejected felony charges of accessing a computer without authorization to inflict emotional distress on young Megan Meier.

However, the jury found defendant Lori Drew guilty of three counts of the lesser offense of accessing a computer without authorization.

The jurors could not reach a verdict on a conspiracy count.

Prosecutors said Drew violated the MySpace terms of service by conspiring with her young daughter and a business assistant to create a fictitious profile of a teen boy on the MySpace social networking site to harass Megan.

Megan, who had been treated for depression, hanged herself in 2006 after receiving a message saying the world would be better without her.

Now a Florida guy only 19 killed him self online live for 12 hours people egged him on and called him names..Yet nobody called police or anything to help him..

 Megan Myers killed her self and because of 2 things one she had mental problems an 2 because people were pushing her into it by say mean things to her..

What has become of America and the people have we just become cold hearted non caring people..I seen on tv news that if someone is on a ledge thinking about jumping..Many the people watching yelling jump jump MY GOD... Don't people relise that there just making things worst and the person is thinking nobody cares and they want me to die so they give into the people who are pushing them into killing them selfs..

We need a new STRICK law anyone who eggs on anyone to kill them selfs should get manslaughter I think..

Look at Megan Myers Drew new she had mental problems and she and the others egged her on by telling her she was mean nobody liked her.. And that just made Megan thinking she is not wanted on this earth..So she kills her self 

I for one do not belive in killing your self If people who just take 10 minets to think about what there doing mabey they change there minds...

Most the time people kill them selfs over the crazest things like because there girl friend broke up with them or because someone like Megan Myers case made fun of her and broke her heart..

If they would just wait a few days to a week they relise just how wrong they are to let such things get to them..I had a cusion who at age 21 killed him self over a girl who broke up with him..He had lunch with his dad told him she brok up with him..He then whent home and hanged him self in the basment..

If he would of just thought about it wated a day he relise killing him self was not the answer to his little problem..

Gee if I let stuff get to me I would been dead years ago but I don't belive in taking your own life because it would not be fair to the ones who do care about you..

Just think about who you will be leaving behind and how it can mess up there lives if you kill you self...

I hope I worded this right and I hope it will help at lease one person because that be at lease one person who will still have a life to live...

 

 Officials Won't Let Santa Hand Out Candy Canes On City Street

Friday, November 21, 2008 – updated: 5:39 pm EST November 21, 2008

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- So long Santa! The jolly old elf has been banned from a Daytona Beach street.

 

Daytona Beach code enforcement officials are kicking Santa off a city sidewalk and have sent the store owner who put him there a warning.

 

The live Santa Claus has been a fixture on Beach Street for several years. He hands out candy canes outside of Sheila LaBosco's store. He bellowed, "Hoho, Hoho, Hoho" but code enforcement said, "No, No, No."

 

"They came in and said, 'We're gonna cite you for having Santa on the street,'" said LaBosco.

 

"That's unacceptable," said shopper Leslie Neese. "Santa is part of Christmas and he's been out there for seven years now taking pictures with children."

 

A city spokesperson says a review of article 18 of the city code considers Santa an animated sign and officials say LaBosco is "exploiting Santa Clause."

 

LaBosco has been told that Santa is okay to wave his way through the weekend but come Monday, she'll likely be fined if he's still out there.

 

City code officials say making an exception for Santa would not be fair to other businesses as officials consider Santa a form of solicitation, just like someone waving a sign.

Dr Pepper to deliver on its free-soda promise Thu Nov 20, 6:26 pm ET

LOS ANGELES – Dr Pepper is making good on its promise of free soda now that the release of Guns N' Roses' "Chinese Democracy" is a reality. The soft-drink maker said in March that it would give a free soda to everyone in America if the album dropped in 2008. "Chinese Democracy," infamously delayed since recording began in 1994, goes on sale Sunday.

"We never thought this day would come," Tony Jacobs, Dr Pepper's vice president of marketing, said in a statement. "But now that it's here, all we can say is: The Dr Pepper's on us."

Beginning Sunday at 12:01 a.m., coupons for a free 20-ounce soda will be available for 24 hours on Dr Pepper's Web site. They'll be honored until Feb. 28.

Dr Pepper is owned by Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.

As many of you may not know Santa has been hit hard by this economaney thing..He has had to lay off many elfs and there are many kids who may not get much this year for Christmas ..

I sent a email asking if  the  Goverment would to give Santa some that bailout money...He should get it more than any them greedy companys..So please everyone email the Times asking to give Santa bailout money..

I emaild the times because I not know who else to email and they seem to have lots to say about Goverment in there news..We need to get this out so Santa can be helped..

So lets help Santa email the Times or email the goverment asking them to give Santa some that bailout money..

comments@whitehouse.gov

You can email the govermemt and ask if they would give some bailout money to Santa...It cost lot money to bu the milterals to make toys so come on peoples lets help Santa...

HELP SANTA!

A 13 year old girl refuses a heart transplant because the risk.

I have told mom and dad years ago if I ever need a kidney transplant or any kind transplant I do not want it...

My reson is because I have bad health I know the chances of the transplant being refused because of my imune system being low are great..

I also know that within a year to 5 years I probley would lose that transplant anyways...To me that would be a wast of life that could use it and live many more years than I could with it..

So they agreed to my wishes and I will not get any kind of a transplant because I know the chances of it not lasting in me are higher than most..

Look at Micky Manttle the baseball player he was told a transplant would not help him..And he had one and less than a year later had another one..

I use to think of him as a hero but in his own words I am scared of diying and that is why he did what he did..

So 2 lifes were taken away becuse of one mans fear of death and cowerdness...

LOOK INSIDE TO SEE BRAVE 13 YR OLD..

Kids open lemonade stand to help cat get surgery

The homemade signs says it all: Buy a drink, help my cat. Aspen Granath hopes the plea will draw enough customers to her lemonade stand on a street corner to pay for expensive surgery for her cat, Patches.

The 10-year-old and her 8-year-old brother, Skylar, opened for business a few days ago and say they plan to staff the roadside stand for about four hours a day.

A spinal cord injury left the cat partially paralyzed. The children's father said a veterinarian has recommended amputation of the leg so that Patches can have a more normal life.

The cost of the surgery, medications and other care could run as much as $700.

For thirsty passers-by, the cost of helping out is just $1 for a bottle of water and 25 cents for a packet of powdered lemonade or fruit juice.

Aspen said she'll "do this as long as it takes" because Patches is one of her favorite pets

Ok if they take the Bush Beer company over

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO GRANTS FARM???

Will it still be here or what??

Let us know please!!!

Thank You

Kids picking up trash discover hand grenade

Wed May 21, 6:50 PM ET

Three children picking up trash along a river in Hudson for community service work found much more than garbage. Charlie Thompson, 11, Maddie Roth, 10, and Demetri Roth, 8, came across a hand grenade, picked it up and headed home to show off their discovery.

On their way back Monday, they ran into a neighbor, who immediately called 911. Hudson police cordoned off the block, then determined the grenade wasn't a danger, even though it still had the firing pin inserted. Sgt. Eric Atkinson says the grenade was rusted and contained no powder.

Thompson's mother, Heidi Hansen, says the children wanted to keep the grenade for a souvenir, but police are holding it.

Hansen says the kids plan to write a story about their adventure.

___

Information from: Leader-Telegram, http://www.leadertelegram.com/

 Now they are saying this guy put road light on balloons and let the loose..That is a bunch of MARLARKY...who belives this I don't because how did he get the balloons to do all the shapes and stuff..Sorry but that is very very hard to belive...So what is the Gov.hiding this time???

I don't belive in anything till  see it with my own eyes and I have yet to see any UFO'S..so till I do I think it is something else....