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)
Debby said 2:15PM on 11-26-2008
I couldn't have said it better Jeff. Too often we are so busy that we fail to take time to be thankful and to receive the peace that could be ours for the asking. I also am not Catholic but I think the Pope is wise and we would be smart to listen and ponder what he says rather than ridicule and make fun of him.
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LB said 2:16PM on 11-26-2008
I must have missed where the pope said its bad for the soul. I'm not a supporter of the Catholic church by any means, but don't misquote people.
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Jeff said 2:49PM on 11-26-2008
First of all, I'm not catholic. Second of all, he didn't say that cell phones were bad for the soul. What they are saying is that it's really easy to be so distracted by the multitudes of ways that we can keep ourselves entertained 24/7 that we never take any quiet time for thinking about life, or prayer, or meditation, or considering weighty matters like what happens to a person when they die and what is my purpose in life.
I think this is absolutely the case. I'm sure we've all see people who won't ever set down their phones. All day long they are touching, using, or peering into their phones as if their lives depended on it. This is especially true in the case of the youth culture.
No one is blaming technology for the downfall of society. But I think it is a good thing any time someone encourages us to step away from the noise, and spend some time feeding our souls. Because whether you are a religious person or not, we all need that quiet time for reflection.
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Art said 3:54PM on 11-26-2008
I can't think when there is too much noise going on around me. Especially television. I find it annoying and distracting. I am retired and during the day when I'm alone at home I keep the TV turned off and like it to be quiet so I can just hear my own thoughts. Sometimes it is good for the soul to have quiet and solitude.
Lady Ann said 4:49PM on 11-26-2008
JEFF,
You explained the Pope's comment very well. Anyone reading this blog....if you do not have a close relationship with "Jesus Christ,"
and are on a cell phone, computer, telephone several hours a day,
just THINK ABOUT THE POPE'S COMMENT.
Many are running away from reality with all the evil going on in this world, especially the young people. Just remember that God is always there to listen to you, """ALWAYS.""" and remember, He does give us free will...just ask for help and mean it, God will take care of you.
Davyd said 5:24PM on 11-26-2008
Well at least Mr. O'Brien knows where he's going. So I guess it would be superfluous to direct him there. What an absolutely ignorant interpretation of comments from the Vatican. The old saying, "The press is only free if you own one" would come into play here.
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Tania G said 6:19PM on 11-26-2008
What? If you are not alll backward living in the dark ages you don't know that the hell has been created mostly by religion?
Dave Tuck said 7:23PM on 11-26-2008
Actually, I definitely agree with your position that hell has been created by religion, primarily Chistianity. Pagan religions generally don't believe in the concept of either hell or the devil. While I personally don't think that cell phones or the internet are inherently evil, I believe, as the Vatican spokesman put it so elequently, that they both are a deterrent to self realization and meditation. No matter what your belief system, looking inward is the first step on the path to spirituality - in my world, at least. I don't mean to preach, just my opinion.
Tania G said 6:11PM on 11-26-2008
Is this pope psychotic?
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Tania said 6:20PM on 11-26-2008
Religious people want you all in the dark ages again so you can believe their crap and control you into submission
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Terrence said 7:51PM on 11-26-2008
You guys take everything way too seriously.
But allow me to defend my light hearted post anyway...
You can easily read his comments as saying that cell phones are bad for the soul. By being part of the noise and distraction that are preventing the faithful from developing satisfying spiritual lives it leads to losing your soul.
The interpretation is hyperbolic for the sake of entertainment and to draw in the reader. By the way I am Catholic, was in choir, was an altar boy, went to a catholic school for my first 10 years of school plus a year in a Catholic university. Have a sense of humor people.
It is actually good advice, but the Vatican is certainly not immune mockery.
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Mark said 9:38PM on 11-26-2008
Unfortunately (for you?), it just wasn't funny.
James Miller said 8:13PM on 11-26-2008
Look, The Pope means well, but the Catholic church is in crisis. Like all religions, they have lost their way down through the ages. Technology can be detrimental to the world and a person's health. But it also can be a blessing. We have cured many deceases with modern science and the pope and most religions are all for that, but if anything challenges the church's authority, watch out. The pope's main problem is Europe. After hundreds of years of death and destruction despite Christianity, Europeans have turned their back on Religion. They look now for things to make sense before they accept advice. The pope is just a man who made his way up through the ranks. they say he was openminded when young but that is no longer the case. It's the same thing all over. He's against birth control in a world suffering from starvation and over population. Priests are still not allowed to marry which is foolish. They are just men and the policy has fiiled the ranks with gays looking for a place to hide unnoticed in straight society, which is ironic because of the churches stand against gays. The church, for the most part, failed Europe during its horrible wars. And to top it off, the church failed God's creation, remaining silent while the world, mostly Christian nations, raped our planet. yes, I think the pope should forget about cell phones; he has many other things to think on deeply.
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