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 6)
Daphne said 6:22PM on 1-14-2008
What a fine example of the bang up job congress is doing under the Bush administration. Damn all those homeless people living on the streets and parentless children of America. Lets just hand out 900 MILLION DOLLARS in coupons for people to be able to keep watching television. By all means, I’m sure everyone thinks its just lovely that there are 10 year olds calling each other b*tch and wh*re thinking its cute---just because they saw it on tv. Thank you to the FCC and poor parenting around the nation. If someone can’t afford $50-70 dollars for a converter box then I’m sorry but I’m sure they’re not doing a very good job at paying their bills either and really need to prioritize. I can think of so many more useful things to spend that kind of money on right here in the US. If being able to watch television is at the top of this governments priority list that’s a huge shame. This administration has in every way been a complete disappointment. If they really find it necessary to provide entertainment to this nation it would be a heck of a lot cheaper to hand out $5 off vouchers for people to go buy a cheapie radio while stating ‘turn on talk radio and use your imagination.’ At least then it wouldn’t be as much of a waste. After all, if you can’t afford to spend your own money on a converter then how in the world do you manage to pay your cable/satellite bill each month much less own a television to begin with!
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JM said 2:53PM on 8-23-2008
I love your very intelligent comment! Rare are the people thinking like you.
Have you tried living without TV? It makes your house peaceful and willing to wander into your library where a realm of beautiful books open your imagination to universes you might not even conceive....
Bravo for voicing such interesting ideas!
SS79 said 8:30PM on 1-14-2008
The website I went to for my coupons said that it will not even issue the coupons until the end of February/beginning of March--about the time that the converter boxes are due to arrive in the stores. There should not be an issue of the coupon expiring before the boxes are in the stores if the coupons on not issued until the boxes are available.
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ascatal said 12:52AM on 1-15-2008
okay this is bungled the coupons should either have no expiration date or be held and not sent out til thereis an adequate supply of the boxes on hand in stores so the coupons can be used before they would be come useless
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Marie said 6:18AM on 1-15-2008
And why is the government regulating how we watch tv? What is going to be next? geez
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Elaine said 6:54AM on 1-15-2008
To Daphne,
Such "holier than thou" attitude, you must be a really special person.
It would help if you realized that there are still people who only get "free" television reception, hence the reference to rabbit ear antennas. Those are the folks who only watch what they can afford, and now they will either need new digital televisions, or a converter, both of which will require a hookup that costs money as well. Keep in mind that not everyone, even if they are hard working, frugal people, can afford to pay anything at all for television and are making use of the antenna for that reason.
Stop judging people, and try checking out how the other half lives before you shoot your mouth off. And as for radio, most of those lovely words kids are spouting are also found on talk radio and in music as well.
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Ibis1996 said 6:56AM on 1-15-2008
Daphne says "After all, if you can’t afford to spend your own money on a converter then how in the world do you manage to pay your cable/satellite bill each month much less own a television to begin with!"
First of all, I am being forced to get a convertor box because I DON'T have cable/satellite service. Why pay upwards of $50 a month when I don't feel the need to have dozens of channels of television? I think that's being responsible with finances.
However, I do like to have a half-dozen broadcast networks available to me. If the government is telling me that I have to buy something so I can see the over-the-air networks, and that they're giving out coupons to facilitate that, you bet I'm going to apply for one!
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laura said 7:17AM on 1-15-2008
Daphne has a point. Don't you think that the millions of dollars that the government spent on coupons for televisions is ridiculous? There are so many better ways to spend that money. Donate it to St. Judes Hospital to help sick children.
And for you, Ibis......you're just plain cheap!
You say "Why pay upwards of $50 a month when I don't feel the need to have dozens of channels of television? I think that's being responsible with finances."
WHY SPEND MONEY ON YOU SO YOU CAN GET A BOX JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE CHEAP?
SPEND THE MONEY ON WHERE IT'S NEEDED MOST.....NOT ON SOME CHEAPSKATE!
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Doctor Bob said 7:47AM on 1-15-2008
Daphne, that's a slick trick, trying to blame George Bush for CONGRESS'S actions. However, here's a red-hot news flash for you: CONGRESS is run by DEMOCRATS! Ever hear of Nancy Pelosi (Nut-Case Democrat), or Harry Reid (Corrupt Democrat)? Those are the people you want to be blaming. George Bush had nothing whatsoever to do with it. But, you DUMBocrats keep trying to blame Bush for everything, so why not shift Congress's blame off onto him as well? Yeah, right.
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deidra said 8:04AM on 1-15-2008
This conversion has been in the works for years. It is not something brand new.
When I was in undergrad I took a Digital Video class (2003) and we were told the conversion was supposed to be final in 2006. The deadline has gotten extended by 3 years!
I can understand the problems facing the older/poorer communities who do not already have subscriber service and that is who the coupons are for. There are already so many people who've gone out and bought new HDTVs not understanding the technology and not understanding that they do NOT need the converters.
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Kay said 8:06AM on 1-15-2008
I think its absolutly crazy to expect everyone to PAY to be able to watch tv that is not cable...there are elderly people out there on fixed income that cannot afford this, even with the "coupon"! its nuts!!!!!just another way for someone to take your money!
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A.R.Alan said 8:25AM on 1-15-2008
Forget the idiot box (TV). It's about time that children read books and used their imagination to create the vision of the characters and what they're up to in the story.
All too often parents are using TV as babysitters for their children, instead of giving them the attention they need. Grow up America. TV is not that important in the grand scheme of life. Who cares what character is having the third love affair on the show, who cares whose baby Maddy is having, and who cares about these silly soaps that go on and on for twenty years and take over peoples lives like their real live characters. Get a life of your own. Meet new people. Join organizations that help others instead of watching the idiot box. If you can't get out of the house, call your local library and ask if someone can bring you some books to read. And if you're able to get out, call some senior organizations and see if you can provide those books to shut ins. Down with the glorified idiot box (TV) and on with books that stir the imagination. A. R. alan
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paula brill said 8:27AM on 1-15-2008
C'mon people it's stupid TV! mindless entertainlmenT\t. I like TV as well as the next person, heck, i grew up with it. Do I pay for cable? no! Am i going to pay for some stupid converter box? no. just not going to play that game. Is TV a necessity? no. you all know that once the major hype is over those ridiculous boxes will be a dime a dozen or free. THEN, maybe, i'll get one.
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paula brill said 8:34AM on 1-15-2008
what i dont understand here is the mind set that TV is somehow a RIGHT. Guaranteed by the constitution. It's not! If you're not able to watch TV, maybe you'll find other things to do. To be outraged because something that you have chosen to have is changing is pretty shallow. just dont have it. THERE's a concept!
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Jo said 8:36AM on 1-15-2008
Unfortunately there are still areas that do not have cable service available to them. Those people cannot use cable and therefore would need to get the boxes. Also, I do not believe that I should have to pay in excess of $50 to have every channel available (99% of whch I have no interest in watching). They should make calbe a la carte with a basic package of local channels and then you add on what YOU prefer to watch for additional fee.
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vinoman2 said 8:36AM on 1-15-2008
Eh, Let me get this strait, this box will cost me $50.00 to $70.00. Hmm, at the very high cost of $70.00, if I start saving now it will cost me $5.33 per month, hmm, ok I can do this, I will pass on one Moccha latte' per month at Starbucks, yes!! Sorry starbucks but it's you or my TV. uh-oh I have two TVs, Ok one less trip to McDonalds but I can still have the Latte'.
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Tevis said 8:46AM on 1-15-2008
To those posting anti-bush rhetoric, please research your facts (as if) before posting. The effort to move this country into the 21st century, for television broadcasting was not a republican or democratic effort, its the industry not wanting to broadcast in old legacy format while moving forward. The analog format is old, blurry and did I mention old and outdated. For anyone with HD, there is no comparison.
So, with some due respect, get off your High Horse and drop the partisan rhetoric.
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John said 8:46AM on 1-15-2008
The only reason that we're switching to digital tv is the the government wants to sell the frequinces that the old tv use for lots of $$$$$ ( 1 billion on some estimates) Also try to fine a "portable tv" I have been looking for one and they aren't making any that I have found.
You can still receive FREE tv over the air, but you must put up a HD antenna and have a TUNER in the tv ( some don't have tuner are used with cable/sat)
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mary ann said 5:10PM on 8-23-2008
I HAVE A CUTE LITTLE HAND HELD 3 INCH COLOR TV I LIKE TO BRING WITH ME ON THE BUS......WILL I STILL BE ABLE TO USE IT? .......IM SO PISSED ABOUT ALL THIS CONVERTER BOX NONSENSE. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE..........LEAVE US ALONE. YOU ARE NOT THE HIGHER AUTHORITY LIKE YOU THINK YOU ARE...........ONLY JESUS IS,.....THE GOVERNMENT WILL CRUMBLE. READ MATTHEW. CHAPTER 24 1-35 THE WHOLE THING!!!!!!!
Jerry said 8:53AM on 1-15-2008
All you people need to get a life. Throw the TV away. Overthrow the goverment, and destroy all PC's.
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