Elderly Amish Man Caught on Film With Prostitute, Blackmailed
When a 75-year-old Amish widower slept with a prostitute, he -- we feel certain -- felt pretty bad about it the next morning. As if that guilt weren't enough for the old man, the prostitute and her boyfriend demanded $67,000 from him, claiming that they had filmed the scene with wall-mounted cameras and would upload the recording to the Internet. The pair was later arrested and, we can only imagine, the Amish man abhorred technology more than ever.
Bank Robber Gets Away With the Help of Craiglist
In October, a bank robber -- wearing a safety vest, blue shirt, face mask and goggles -- eluded police with the help of Craiglist. Just outside the bank, while the robbery was in progress, stood a group of men who were responding to a Craiglist day labor opportunity. As the advertisement required, they were all wearing safety vests, blue shirts, face masks and goggles.
Nude New Zealander Arrested After Responding to Fake Sexy Text Message
Late in 2007, a Wellington, New Zealand man received a racy text message from two anonymous "ladies," giving him only an address and a request that he show up naked. Well, he indeed showed up naked... at the home of one appalled, unsuspecting New Zealander. Both the nude Romeo and the sadistic texter were arrested, though neither were prosecuted.
Fake Craiglist Ad Costs Man Most of What He Owns
Last Spring, a post appeared on an Oregon Craigslist board stating that the owner of a specific house was leaving all of his worldly possessions (still in said house) to whoever wanted them. When homeowner Robert Salisbury rushed home -- on a tip from a woman suspicious about the offer of a free horse -- he found his house being ransacked by 30 strangers. We suggest he take that horse and collect some vengeance Clint Eastwood-style.
17-Year-Old Jailed for Stealing Virtual 'Furniture'
When a 17-year-old Dutch boy hacked into several accounts on the Second Life-style site 'Habbo' in 2007, the the law got involved. The boy was discovered to have stolen $5,800 worth of virtual furniture and knick-knacks. Apparently, crime -- whether actual or virtual -- does not pay.
Phishers Going After Your Phones in New 'Vishing' Trend
Over the past year, sneaky spammers have begun to forsake the worn-out territory of e-mail in favor of cell phones' fertile frontier. The result? "Vishing." Get it? Voice mail phishing. It might be more ominous if it didn't sound like a James Bond villain saying, "Wishing."
Burglars Break Into Restaurant, Steal HDTV, Leave Money / Food Behind
Around Halloween of last year, a truckload of thieves drove into -- that's right, into -- a Pennsylvania Mexican restaurant, where they -- apparently uninterested in the cash register -- stole a mid-grade 47-inch HDTV and fled the scene. We've all heard about how this generation is lacking in ambition, but this generation's thieves, too?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ben said 12:54PM on 12-14-2007
"the U.S. government is not prepared for..."
Wow! I'm astonished to see those words grouped together!
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Ron said 8:23PM on 1-14-2008
This and any other FCC regulations are unconstitutional. The Constitution of this country GUARANTEES free speech and free press and the government here is mandating what private corporations and people are allowed to broadcast. They are making our expensive equipment useless and obselete and they have no right to do so. If a station wishes to broadcast only in digital, that is their business. It is not the business of the United States government.
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Susannah said 11:14AM on 1-15-2008
I don't exactly understand why the government is forcing this conversion from analog to digital in the first place - what's the benefit (or should I say who is benefitting?)
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Fox said 12:18PM on 2-08-2008
@ Susannah The switch is being forced due to the spectrum analog takes up. Analog signals are affecting other signals near its spectrum (or since analog was first others are affecting it). In most areas analog reception is much worse then it was 10 or even 5 years ago. And to answer the who benefits question the government does because even after the coupons because they are now free to auction off the old analog spectrum to new companies for new technologies. Electronics companies also benefit since the new uses of the analog spectrum will allow them to create many new devices etc to make use of it (better wireless internet etc has been mentioned and seen as a competitor against cell phone companies 3G)
@ Ron The FCC isn't unconstitutional (at least in the digital switch) they are only saying HOW the content can be delivered which is their job, they are not saying what can be delivered etc by simpling forcing analog tv off the air. The digital switch was actually brought about in congress by leaders WE elected to make these decisions for us. The FCC is merely doing what they're told by the powers that be.
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yatleung said 4:48PM on 3-10-2008
Actually, it doesn't matter. Most of the TV programs are so trashy that I only turn on the TV once a week to watch PBS shows like Nature. Why bother with nice advanced hardware (TV sets) when the software (programs) are crappy.
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