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)
mike from joisey said 12:52PM on 3-07-2008
Hey this a bunch of crap!!! How much more government involvement do we really need in our personal lives. Give me a break!!! Whats next you wont be able to have a converstion with your fellow passengers because it may be "TOO DISTRACTING" or maybe no eating or smoking......PLEASE GIVE IT UP ALREADY!!
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Buster said 1:07PM on 3-07-2008
Cell phones in cars are very dangerous. Even the face of this Carnegie-Melon study there are people who still think that it is okay to use them while at the wheel. How stubborn do you have to be? People on the cell phone are dangerous--always, but especially in parking lots and when making turns. They just can't pay attention to their driving.
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You can take a chance with YOUR life but not with MINE.
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Roberta Kramer said 2:15PM on 3-07-2008
I am easily distracted, even while using a hands free phone if the conversation is heated with the person at the other end of the conversation
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Mike said 3:01PM on 3-07-2008
I've used two-way radio in the car since 1962-- Amateur, CB, Local Government, old-style IMTS phone with full-size handset and rotary dial, and now a cellphone. Baffling, isn't it, how I've survived almost half a century of "drunken driving," eh?
Maybe, the radio has nothing to do with it... rather, it's just that more people are behind the wheel today who have the attention span of a gnat?
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John said 8:34PM on 3-17-2008
This study doesn't compare apples to apples. I'd like to see a study where the "scientists" (and I'd like to see some real scientists for once instead of captive researchers to either the government or some company) compare talking with passengers, esp. children, to driving without distractions at all. I would contend that driving with children is much more dangerous than driving while using a cell phone. The issue is that reaction time and attention span go down whenever ANY distraction is presented. Let's try doing a study with talking on a cell phone vs. a). driving with a child under 5 in the car b). driving with a child 5 - 12 in the car c). driving with a teenager in the car d). listening to National Public Radio e). listening to a popular music station f). listening to classical music g). driving with another adult in the care h). driving with multiple adults in the car (the government pushed carpooling effect) and, finally, i). driving with multiple children in the car of varying ages.
I will bet anyone that driving wtih three toddlers in the car, or a fighting brother and sister or a bunch of teens or a bunch of rowdy pre-teens or even a bunch of adults in the car is MUCH more distracting than talking on the phone. I'll also bet that listening to an engaging story on NPR winds up just as dangerous as talking on the cell phone. Also that car-pooling is at least as dangerous as cell phone conversations. Let's compare apples to apples and then we have something to talk about (only a little pun intended).
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Martin said 9:08PM on 3-17-2008
No one should brag about engaging in a bad habit and so far no accident. It's just a matter of odds. The ideal of course is no distractions. I don't even have a radio in my car. I don't understand why being alone with one's thoughts isn't enough on a drive in the country, which I make about three times a week. And yet on that windy country road I've almost "bought it" several times from cell phone drivers crossing the center line on curves! Too bad when such idiocy thins the herd it doesn't just "thin" them.
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Realitycheck36 said 11:37PM on 3-19-2008
Ever notice when you're lost, you turn down the radio? No difference. Cell phones have become a huge distraction. I can't count the times I see someone going under the speed limit, swerving on the road, because they are on the phone. Is it really that important?
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greg said 4:05AM on 3-20-2008
its hard to put a blinker on with a phone in your ear. outlaw it all togather.
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pclassiclv said 11:32AM on 3-21-2008
Try using a cell phone while using a stick shift. I must be a genius !!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
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bruce said 2:00PM on 3-21-2008
I believe it. I have seen the consequences of, and been the victim of people driving while using cellphones.
My car was totaled by a person talking on a cellphone. I was at a stoplight, and saw him coming in my mirror, but could do nothing to get out of the way. I just had to hope it would not injure me in any way.
Cellphones while driving are very dangerous.
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