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Funny RSVP Card Shows Off Couple's Sense Of Humor (PHOTO) A typical wedding RSVP card usually gives guests the option to check one of two boxes: either "happily accept" or "regretfully decline." And maybe, if you're lucky, the couple will ask if you prefer chicken or beef. But one Chicago-area couple -- Katie Kerr and Chris Sabino -- decided to up the ante with their RSVP card and let their awesomely snarky personalities shine through. Check out the hilarious reply card below: The couple -- who are big White Sox fans, in case you couldn't tell -- is set to tie the knot on September 21, 2013.

Documentary 'Terms And Conditions May Apply' Airs Confrontation With Mark Zuckerberg The Huffington Post | By Betsy Isaacson Posted: 07/22/2013 2:58 pm EDT A clip from the Zuckerberg footage found in "Terms And Conditions May Apply" Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has faced privacy snafus before, usually involving his users, but now the CEO is dealing with a breach in which he's the victim. Last week, "Terms And Conditions May Apply," a documentary about internet privacy, was released in select theaters. According to the Agence France-Presse, the film contains an uncomfortable clip of Cullen Hoback, the documentary's filmmaker and director, confronting Zuckerberg. "Do you still think privacy is dead? What are your real thoughts on privacy?" the director asks Zuckerberg outside the CEO's California home. "Are you guys recording?" Zuckerberg replies. "Will you please not?" Hoback turns off his video camera and Zuckerberg relaxes -- unaware that Hoback continues to film with an additional camera hidden in his glasses. Zuckerberg eventually asks Hoback to connect with the Facebook's public relations department. Hoback told the AFP he wanted to turn the experience of privacy infringement onto Zuckerberg. "I just wanted him to say, 'Look, I don't want you to record me,' and I wanted to say, 'Look, I don't want you to record us.'" In the past, Facebook's CEO has regularly changed network terms and conditions. In an instant-message conversation when he was 19, he called users "dumb fucks" for trusting him with their information. Despite this, Zuckerberg's Facebook is now the largest social network in the world. Hoback's documentary has met with rave reviews, garnering an 86 percent "fresh" rating on film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes and appellations from top critics like "quietly blistering" and "spirited." The movie likely benefits from fortuitous timing: Its release coincides with continuing fallout from the revelations provided by former National Security Agency employee Edward Snowden that the U.S. government, with the help of big tech companies including Facebook, collected millions of Americans' digital information.

David Vanbuskirk, Rescue Officer, Killed During Rescue Of Hiker NW Of Vegas By HANNAH DREIER 07/23/13 06:17 PM ET EDT LAS VEGAS — A Las Vegas police officer who was rescuing a hiker stranded in an off-limits area of a mountain northwest of the city died after falling from a helicopter hoist line Monday night. At an emotional news conference Tuesday, police offered new details about the accident that killed search and rescue officer David Vanbuskirk, 36, at Mount Charleston. Rescuers responded shortly before 9 p.m. to reports that a hiker was disoriented and stranded on a rocky ledge just above Mary Jane Falls. The area was marked with signs warning hikers to stay out or face fines, according to Jay Nichols, spokesman for Spring Mountains National Recreation Area. A wildfire now entering its third week has been burning in the area, and park workers have closed some trails in the interest of public safety. The fire is still throwing off smoke and glows at night, Nichols said. Some trails are closed to protect hikers from smoking material, ash pits and falling trees. On Monday night, conditions were breezy with a bright moon, officials said. After landing, Vanbuskirk attached a safety harness to the stranded man, who was hiking alone. He signaled to the four rescue workers in the helicopter above to hoist them both up from the craggy ledge, but then somehow detached from the line in midair and fell a "non-survivable" distance to the ground below, officials said. The hiker was safely rescued and is being interviewed, police said. The mood was somber among officers, who have not lost one of their own in the line of duty since 2009. Officers Tuesday wore black bands over their badges in honor of their fallen comrade. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and other agencies are investigating. "We're a big family, a close family, and this is going to be trying on us for quite a while," Las Vegas police Assistant Sheriff Joseph Lombardo told reporters shortly after the accident. "We will survive it. We'll come back together, and hopefully in my lifetime, it will never happen again." Vanbuskirk grew up in the Las Vegas area, was married and lived in Henderson. He had worked for the department since 1999, and had served on the search and rescue team since 2007. Clark County Sheriff Doug Gillespie said Vanbuskirk had performed "dozens" of rescues like the one that killed him Monday. Las Vegas rescue workers have completed 130 helicopter rescues in the past 12 months. Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval said Vanbuskirk's death was "a tragic reminder of the dangers our first responders are exposed to on a daily basis." "His service to his community, state, and country will not be forgotten," Sandoval said in a statement. On Twitter, U.S. Sen. Dean Heller of Nevada called Vanbuskirk a hero. Others in the police department also praised him. "He was an exceptionally fine officer," police spokesman Bill Cassell said.

Subway Employee Puts His Penis On Sandwich Bread; Another Freezes His Urine At Work (PHOTOS) Posted: 07/22/2013 1:23 pm EDT | Updated: 07/23/2013 12:24 pm EDT This photo was posted and then deleted from Instagram with a caption, "My name is @ianjett and I will be your sandwich artist today." A Subway "sandwich artist" admitted today to putting his penis on the store's sandwich bread and posting the photo on Instagram. The bombshell comes after HuffPost Weird News received several photos posted by two men in Columbus, Ohio, who work for the restaurant chain. Their Twitter and Instagram pages are festooned with photos of their exploits (see below). In several photos, Subway's signature bread is shaped into penises. One of the men, Cameron Boggs, admitted on Instagram that "today at work I froze my pee" in a water bottle. Boggs posted -- and later deleted -- the most incriminating photo, which depicts a man rubbing his genitalia on foot-long bread. It was posted on Instagram by username "weedpriest" with a caption that reads, "My name is @ianjett and I will be your sandwich artist today." In an exclusive interview with HuffPost Weird News, Ian Jett copped to defiling the footlong, but denied doing the dirty deed at work. "I would never do that at work -- it was at home," he said. "This isn't something I'd ever do at Subway. It was totally a joke." PHOTO (Story continues below): Boggs' other photo shows a water bottle full of a yellow substance that he describes as urine. Though you can't tell from the photo whether the frozen urine is inside a Subway restaurant, Boggs says it was. Store employees confirmed that Boggs and Jett currently work at the Subway location at Tuttle Crossing Boulevard in Columbus. The chain's corporate office didn't return calls for comment by press time. UPDATE: Boggs and Jett were fired on Monday, and a representative from Subway public relations released this statement: The anonymous tipster who sent in the photos was horrified by the pair's handiwork.This isolated incident is not representative of SUBWAY Sandwich Artists™. These actions are not tolerated and the franchisee took immediate action to terminate the two employees involved. "I saw the frozen piss picture and thought, 'What is this guy doing?'" the tipster said. "Then came the penis picture. They're stupid enough for doing this in the first place, but then to post it to the world? It was a dumb move. "I didn't send these to be vindictive," he added, "But something needs to be done. It's disgusting." He said he turned in the photos after reading about another case of tainted food on HuffPost Weird News last week. Giusepp Scire, owner of Jersey Joe's Pizzeria in San Diego, denied on Thursday that he masturbated in the eatery's kitchen, an act that was reportedly caught on security footage by users on 4Chan. A picture posted last week clearly shows a man with white hair, handling his pepperoni in what appears to be a pizza kitchen, but Scire said he was the victim of disgruntled ex-employees' pranks. In June, a Taco Bell employee became instantly infamous and was fired after he posted a picture of himself licking a stack of taco shells -- at work -- online. Taco Bell apologized and noted that the employee didn't intend to harm anyone by appearing to salivate all over the shells.

Redneck Bath On The Go: __________________

Brave Little Girl

Toast

Royal baby: Kate gives birth to boy A formal bulletin confirming the birth of a baby boy has been displayed at Buckingham Palace The Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to a baby boy, Kensington Palace has announced. The baby was delivered at 16:24 BST at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, west London, weighing 8lb 6oz. The Duke of Cambridge said in a statement the couple "could not be happier". He and the duchess will remain in the hospital overnight. The news has been displayed on an easel in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace in line with tradition. A bulletin - signed by the Queen's gynaecologist Marcus Setchell, who led the medical team that delivered the baby - was taken by a royal aide from St Mary's to the palace under police escort. The document said: "Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 4.24pm today. The official bulletin was signed by members of the medical team at the hospital "Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well." When the news was announced, a large cheer went up from well-wishers and journalists outside the hospital while a large crowd greeted the posting of the bulletin outside Buckingham Palace. The Kensington Palace press release said the Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth of his son, who will be known as the Prince of Cambridge and who is third in line to the throne. , The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and members of both families have been informed and are delighted with the news," it said. A Kensington Palace spokesman said the names of the baby - who was delivered in the private Lindo Wing of St Mary's - would be announced in due course. The Prince of Wales, in a separate statement, said he and the Duchess of Cornwall were "overjoyed at the arrival of my first grandchild. "It is an incredibly special moment for William and Catherine and we are so thrilled for them on the birth of their baby boy," he added. "Grandparenthood is a unique moment in anyone's life, as countless kind people have told me in recent months, so I am enormously proud and happy to be a grandfather for the first time and we are eagerly looking forward to seeing the baby in the near future." BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt said the duke and duchess spent time bonding with their son before they told the family their news. Royal doctor Mr Setchell described the new arrival as "wonderful baby, beautiful baby", our correspondent added. Prime Minister David Cameron, speaking outside Downing Street, hailed the "wonderful news". "It is an important moment in the life of our nation but I suppose, above all, it's a wonderful moment for a warm and loving couple who've got a brand new baby boy," he added. He said the Royal Family could "know that a proud nation is celebrating with a very proud and happy couple tonight". “Start QuoteMay God bless this family with love, health and happiness in their shared life ahead” Archbishop of Canterbury Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said: "I am sure that people across Scotland will be absolutely thrilled to hear the news of the birth of a baby boy to the Royal couple and will want to join me in wishing the proud parents many congratulations." And Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones congratulated the couple "on behalf of the people of Wales" as "they enter their journey into parenthood". The Archbishop of Canterbury, meanwhile, said he was "delighted to congratulate the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the arrival of their baby boy". "Along with millions here and around the world, I share in their joy at this special time," he added. "May God bless this family with love, health and happiness in their shared life ahead." Catherine and Prince William had arrived at the hospital at 06:00 BST ahead of a Kensington Palace announcement that she was in the early stages of labour. The world's media had been camped outside St Mary's for days in anticipation of the birth.

Mike Tyson Begins Career as Boxing Promoter With Iron Mike Productions by Glenn Erby | Posted on Saturday, July 20th, 2013 3Share 21Tweet 0 27Share Mike Tyson is preparing to make a regular return to the sport of boxing, but it’s not what you would expect. ESPN is reporting that Tyson will begin his career as a boxing promoter, with the start of Iron Mike Productions. “I thought about it, I talked to my wife [Kiki] about it and we thought we wanted to do it,” Tyson said in an interview with ESPN2′s “Friday Night Fights” about his upstart Iron Mike Productions. “I feel so awesome to be involved with the game again. That just feels so awesome.” The first official fight card under the Iron Mike Productions will take place on Aug. 23 at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y. The card, featured on Friday Night Fights, will feature junior lightweight world titleholder Argenis Mendez (21-2, 11 KOs) in his first title defense against Arash Usmanee (20-1, 10 KOs) in the main event with Claudio Marrero (14-0, 11 KOs) taking on Jesus Andres Cuellar (22-1, 18 KOs) for a vacant interim featherweight title in the co-feature. Tyson’s involvement in boxing as a promoter was supposed to be a partnership with Acquinity Sports, a Florida based promotional company that has been around for about two years and has a growing stable of talent, including Mendez and Marrero. Tyson worked on a deal with Acquinity Sports chief executive Garry Jonas for the past five months before they decided to go with name recognition, and change the company to Iron Mike Productions. “They gave me a call and believed we could help each other,” Tyson said of Jonas and Henry Rivalta, who heads boxing operations for the company. “We struck up a deal where we would form Iron Mike Productions. We have a few fighters, we have a world champion and a few up-and-coming contenders, and we’re still recruiting fighters. I just thought that would be something remarkable because I always wanted to be in boxing but I was unable to because of all the stuff that I’ve done that wasn’t too cool, back in the past.”

Video Game Bike

Microsoft's Surface RT Didn't Have To Be A $900 Million Disaster The Huffington Post | By Dino Grandoni Posted: 07/19/2013 3:44 pm EDT In some unknown warehouse presumably sits a pile of millions of beautiful, unused Surface RTs, the tablet computer that was supposed to resurrect Microsoft. Late Thursday, the company revealed for the first time that it has failed to entice many people to buy the product, and the software maker made an unexpected, $900 million writeoff on its unsold Surface inventory. The losses don't end there: On Friday morning, Microsoft shed $30 billion in value after its stock tumbled 10 percent. According to one calculation, that loss translates to nearly 6 million sleek and rather stunning machines that consumers have decided they don't care to own. No matter how the math works out -- the company would not provide exact sales numbers -- that heap of Surfaces just burned a nearly $1 billion hole in Microsoft's pocket. The irony of the Surface debacle is that Microsoft actually managed to design a product that many reviewers admired, but it failed anyway -- underscoring the degree to which this once-dominant technology company appears to be past its moment. Good, bad or mediocre, the Surface was apparently doomed on arrival because that arrival was way too late, with the market already claimed by Apple’s wildly popular iPad. How did such a powerful company manage to engineer such a colossal loser? A number of factors conspired -- each the result of a miscalculation from the company executives, which probably explains why CEO Steve Ballmer reshuffled leadership in Redmond and put one person, Julie Larson-Green, in charge of all hardware. Let's break down a few numbers on why this tablet bombed so badly: 30 months, or the amount of time between the release of Apple's first iPad and that of the Microsoft Surface. That, apparently, was all the time Apple needed to extend its walled-off ecosystem of apps and music to tablets. Had Microsoft foreseen that the world was ready to use slabs of glass as computers -- and having made an ahead-of-its-time tablet in the early 2000s, it should have -- it could have beat Apple to the punch. $100, or the difference between the cheapest full-sized iPad and the cheapest Surface RT (with cover) when it first arrived. Say you're the sort of luddite who hadn't gotten around to buying an iPad, and had to choose between it and the Surface. Advantage still goes to Apple if you own an iPhone with a bevy of purchased apps or own an iTunes account full of purchased songs. Microsoft could have still swayed that customer with a lower price point -- but decided that its tablet should be significantly more expensive. It took until this month for Microsoft to finally lower prices and undercut the iPad. 20 stores, or the number of physical retail locations Microsoft had open when it first announced the Surface. Taking a major cue from Apple, Microsoft now has a retail strategy of opening Microsoft-branded stores. Initially, the stores were going to be the only physical place where you could buy a Microsoft-branded tablet. But Business Insider counted only 20 Microsoft stores after the Surface was first announced. Even though the tablet could be ordered online, people often want to feel and test out something in real life before putting down hundreds of dollars to buy it. Leaks suggest that Microsoft is expected to sell its second line of Surfaces within the year. Microsoft is one of the few companies rich enough to blow nearly a billion dollars selling a product and continue full-steam doing the same thing -- which, it should be noted, is some people's definition of insanity. Get ready to watch, GIF-like, Microsoft stumble again. Or maybe not. As Yahoo News' Jason Gilbert points out, there was considerable excitement for the Surface when it was previewed at a hush-hush media event last year. When it finally went on sale, there were swarms at Microsoft Stores -- as if it was made by Apple! Reviews were mixed, but certainly not bad enough to scare away diehard Microsoft fans. Even if sales didn't meet that stir, the hype showed a pent-up desire for a tablet that doesn't run on software made by Apple or Google. Microsoft is hoping the same thing is true of smartphones, and is having more success is that category. Windows Phones have edged out BlackBerry as the No. 3 operating system.

Marte Deborah Dalelv, Alleged Norwegian Rape Victim, Sentenced To 16 Months Jail In Dubai For Sex Outside Of Marriage By BRIAN MURPHY 07/19/13 05:44 PM ET EDT DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- A Norwegian woman sentenced to 16 months in jail in Dubai for having sex outside marriage after she reported an alleged rape said Friday she decided to speak out in hopes of drawing attention to the risks of outsiders misunderstanding the Islamic-influenced legal codes in this cosmopolitan city. The case has drawn outrage from rights groups and others in the West since the 24-year-old interior designer was sentenced Wednesday. It also highlights the increasingly frequent tensions between the United Arab Emirates' international atmosphere and its legal system, which is strongly influenced by Islamic traditions in a nation where foreign workers and visitors greatly outnumber locals. "I have to spread the word. ... After my sentence we thought, `How can it get worse?'" Marte Deborah Dalelv told The Associated Press in an interview at a Norwegian aid compound in Dubai where she is preparing her appeal scheduled for early September. Dalelv, who worked for an interior design firm in Qatar since 2011, claims she was sexually assaulted by a co-worker in March while she was attending a business meeting in Dubai. She said she fled to the hotel lobby and asked for the police to be called. The hotel staff asked if she was sure she wanted to involve the police, Dalelv said. "Of course I want to call the police," she said. "That is the natural reaction where I am from." Dalelv said she was given a medical examination seeking evidence of the alleged rape and underwent a blood test for alcohol. Such tests are commonly given in the UAE for alleged assaults and in other cases. Alcohol is sold widely across Dubai, but public intoxication can bring charges. The AP does not identity the names of alleged sexual assault victims, but Dalelv went public voluntarily to talk to media. Dalelv was detained for four days after being accused of having sex outside marriage, which is outlawed in the UAE although the law is not actively enforced for tourists as well as hundreds of thousands of Westerners and others on resident visas. She managed to reach her stepfather in Norway after being loaned a phone card by another woman in custody. "My stepdad, he answered the phone, so I said, that I had been raped, I am in prison ... please call the embassy," she recounted. "And then I went back and I ... just had a breakdown," she continued. "It was very emotional, to call my dad and tell him what happened." Norwegian diplomats later secured her release and she has been allowed to remain at the Norwegian Seamen's Center in central Dubai. She said her alleged attacker received a 13-month sentence for out-of-wedlock sex and alcohol consumption. Dubai authorities did not respond to calls for comment, but the case has brought strong criticism from Norwegian officials and activists. "This verdict flies in the face of our notion of justice," Norway's foreign minister, Espen Barth Eide, told the NTB news agency, calling it "highly problematic from a human rights perspective." Previous cases in the UAE have raised similar questions, with alleged sexual assault victims facing charges for sex-related offenses. Other legal codes also have been criticized for being at odds with the Western-style openness promoted by Dubai. On Thursday, Dubai police said they arrested a man who posted an Internet video of an Emirati beating a South Asian van driver after an apparent traffic altercation. Police said they took the action because images of a potential crime were "shared." In London, a spokesman for the Emirates Center for Human Rights, a group monitoring UAE affairs, said the Dalelv case points out the need for the UAE to expand its legal protections for alleged rape victims. "We urge authorities to reform the laws governing incidents of rape in the country," said Rori Donaghy, "to ensure women are protected against sexual violence and do not become the targets of prosecution when reporting crimes."

Man Dies After Winning Beer Drinking Contest In Spain Posted: 07/19/2013 12:24 pm EDT A 45-year-old Spanish man died after drinking several liters of beer during a drinking contest in Spain. (Photo via Getty) Joaquín Alcaraz Gracia claimed the title of beer drinking champ during a festival in Spain Wednesday, but his victory was short-lived. The 45-year-old man died after the beer drinking contest, during which he reportedly consumed six liters of brew (about 12.5 pints) in 20 minutes. According to local reports, Gracia won the drinking festival's top prize and hoisted his trophy into the air. But the event, held in the Gea y Truyols district of Murcia, took a tragic turn soon after when Gracia began to vomit and didn't stop. At that time, witnesses called emergency services, believing Gracia was suffering from alcohol poisoning. Seated in a chair, Gracia was held upright while bystanders waited for medical personnel. Observers noted to local media that the heavyset man appeared to nod off. By the time the medical team arrived, Gracia was reportedly in cardiac arrest. The 45-year-old was rushed to a local hospital, but passed away shortly after his arrival Wednesday night. Though Gracia's alcohol consumption is believed to be a factor in his death, officials have not confirmed his specific cause of death. In fact, Mayor José Manuel Gracia walked back the official tally of how much Gracia drank, telling local newspaper La Verdad the winner consumed two to three liters during the contest. Under the rules of the drinking competition, contestants must drink as many liter-glasses of beer as possible in the 20-minute time span. The beer drinking contest is part of the area's annual festival, which has been held for more than 15 years. However, following the death, future festival plans have been suspended, La Nueva España notes.

Fields Taylor, 3-Year-Old Mute Girl, Miraculously Starts Talking After Cream Cheese Diet The Huffington Post | By Emily Thomas Posted: 07/20/2013 10:59 am EDT | Updated: 07/20/2013 11:16 am EDT Mum's the word for a 3-year-old girl who, thanks to a diet of cream cheese, gained the ability to speak despite a disease that left her mute from birth. Fields Taylor, from Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, was born with the incurable genetic disease Glut 1 Deficiency that caused a lack of glucose to flow to her brain. Today, Taylor's diet of four containers of the cream cheese per week gives her a voice. The unique high-fat Ketogenic diet helps her body use fat as an energy source rather than glucose, according to the New York Daily News. “The amount of Philadelphia she goes through is mad but worth it. It really has been our saving grace. She loves the stuff and piles it on crackers," The Mirror quoted her mother Stevie as saying. "The first time I heard Fields say 'Mum' it was just wonderful." Field's parents first noticed something was wrong when she was just 15 weeks old. “I took her to see the GP when all of a sudden she had a seizure in the waiting room. I was petrified," Stevie Taylor said. "She went really vacant, like she was going into another world." Doctors originally diagnosed her with epilepsy. A year later they realized she was suffering from the Glut 1. "I didn't really believe that something so simple as changing her diet could make such a big difference," her mother said. "It's just fabulous to know that she does have a voice inside her and we can finally communicate." Glut 1 affects just 26 people in the U.K., according to The Mirror. While there is currently no cure for the disease, a diet high in fats can help victims. Emma Williams, the CEO and Founder of Matthew's Friends, a Ketogenic Dietary Therapies Charity told the Daily News: "The Ketogenic Diet is really the only treatment there is for Glut 1 DS and sadly there are still patients in the UK that have been diagnosed with Glut 1 DS that are then put on a long waiting list for the treatment -- this is not acceptable as there should be no waiting list for these patients. Fields' story just highlights the difference the correct treatment can make to a person and the Ketogenic Diet can work wonders in these patients and those with drug resistant epilepsy."

For the price of a semi in London, your very own private island idyll: (But don't expect it to be sunny every day!) Wiay, off the coast of South Uist, has been put up for sale for £500,000 It is where Bonnie Prince Charlie hid after his defeat at Culloden Uninhabited for over a century, the current owners used it only for holidays A ruined croft, which was once home to ten islanders, has planning permission for a new home that will provide spectacular views By Becky Barrow PUBLISHED: 23:56 GMT, 17 July 2013 | UPDATED: 10:32 GMT, 18 July 2013 Its 970 acres offer you breathtaking island views, unspoilt sandy beaches and the chance to watch otters, golden eagles and red deer. If you fancy the self-sufficient lifestyle, Wiay off the north-west coast of Scotland also boasts an endless supply of lobster, scallops and grouse. The private island has just gone on sale for £500,000 – less than you’d pay for a family home with a tiny patch of garden in London and many parts of the South. The island of Wiay: It has been uninhabited since the Second World War Famous visitor: Hercules with owner Maggie Robin Before you decide to leave the chaos, expense and pollution of city life behind, however, a word of caution: Although it looks idyllic in this picture, Scotland’s north-west coast is the windiest part of Britain, and it suffers more than its fair share of rain – up to 250 days a year. Wiay (pronounced ‘wee-a’) used to be home to a crofting family with ten children, but has been uninhabited since the Second World War. Half a mile south-east of Benbecula, it has to be accessed by private boat from nearby Petersport. The island is currently owned by Sarah Chettle, a mother of five from Dorset, who bought it for about £20,000 in 1980 after she and her late husband, Robert, spotted a small advert in a newspaper. She said: ‘It just seemed such an opportunity to have our own island. It was a bit of a romantic whim.’ As far as she can recall, they did not even visit the island before buying it. The hideout used by Bonnie Prince Charlie following the Battle of Culloden in 1745 was put up for sale earlier this month The 970-acre island also has sporting rights, and in recent years the land has been used for woodcock and duck shooting. There is also red deer stalking and fishing Mrs Chettle, 57, compared owning the island to having ‘your own wildlife reserve’, adding that deer often swim over from nearby islands. Wiay, which has views to neighbouring North and South Uist, has two claims to fame. The fugitive Bonnie Prince Charlie is said to have hidden in a cave there for a few days after the disastrous Battle of Culloden in 1746. The cave, known as Prince Charlie’s Rest, is on the east side of the island, which is mostly covered in heather with a number of small freshwater lochs. More recently, the island was briefly home to Hercules, the tame grizzly bear which ran away while being filmed for a TV advertisement for Kleenex tissues. In August 1980 Hercules, who was an impressive 8ft 4in, escaped while swimming, triggering a three-week hunt which became a worldwide media sensation. Wiay from the air. The island has been uninhabited for over a century, although the current owners - the Chettle family from England, who bought it in 2003 - used it for holidays and summer camping Bonnie Prince Charlie eventually sought shelter in this cave on Wiay, now known as 'Prince Charlie's Rest', while his followers kept watch for the British navy The prince eventually obtained passage to France and escaped, pledging to his remaining followers that he would return with an army After a long and fruitless search, the first clue was found on Wiay when his collar and his pawprints were spotted there. He was eventually rescued on North Uist and reunited with owner Maggie Robin. Yesterday Archie Leslie-Melville, an associate at Bell Ingram, the estate agency selling the island, said it has already attracted one viewer keen to return for a second look. But there are some significant hurdles for anybody keen to get away from it all and live the ‘Good Life’ dream. There is no house on the island, except the ruins of an old stone cottage, although it does have planning permission to be turned into a small three-bedroom home. The planning rules dictate that it can be used only as a holiday home, although it is not clear who will enforce this rule if the new owner decides to move permanently to the island. It currently has neither running water nor electricity, although Mr Leslie-Melville said both problems could be fixed by a wind turbine, solar panels or a generator, and water pipes from the fresh water lochs. He said: ‘You could live on the island very happily and be self-sufficient.’ It is likely to have its own salmon and sea trout fishing rights, although these are currently being negotiated. For her part, Mrs Chettle admits that she and her children rarely visit the island, which is why she has decided to put it on the market, although she feels in two minds about the decision. ‘I don’t really mind if it does not sell,’ she said

Six Flags Over Texas investigation continues after woman plummets to death from Texas Giant coaster The amusement park stayed open after Friday evening's tragedy though the area around the massive rollercoaster was temporarily closed. Six Flags is being tightlipped about the investigation, claiming any speculation concerning the accident would be a 'disservice to the (deceased woman's) family.' By Michael Walsh / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Saturday, July 20, 2013, 2:58 PM 513 10 0 Print Facebook Rosy Esparza has been identified as the woman who fell to her death Friday from a rollercoaster at Six Flags Over Texas. Investigators will try to find out how a Texas mother plummeted to her death from a Six Flags roller coaster as her children looked on in horror. “My mom! My mom! Let us out, we need to go get her!” her daughter and son reportedly screamed as their car came to a stop just after 6:30 p.m. on Friday. Chris Hagerman/Wikimedia Commons The Texas Giant roller coaster at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas, was the scene of a horrific accident in which Rosy Esparza died. RELATED: MAN ARRESTED, COMMITTED AFTER CLIMBING SEASIDE HEIGHTS COASTER The deceased woman’s family identified her as Rosy Esparza of Dallas, reported the Dallas Morning News. David R. Tribble/Wikimedia Commons The Texas Giant, which cost $5.5 million to build, debuted as a solely wooden coaster in 1990. "It would be a disservice to the family to speculate regarding what transpired," Parker said. "When we have new information to provide, we will do so." RELATED: WORKERS PLUCK ROLLER COASTER DESTROYED BY SANDY OUT OF THE OCEAN Ian McVea/AP A woman died while riding a roller coaster after some witnesses said she wasn't properly secured. Medical staff and paramedics responded immediately but nothing could be done to revive her. Other park-goers could not believe their eyes. "Literally just witnessed someone fly off the Texas Giant two seats in front of me," Joshua Paul Fleak tweeted. "Restraint came undone, coaster turned and she was gone." Six Flags Over Texas spokeswoman Sharon Parker told the Daily News that the Arlington park was using every resource to determine how Esparza met her death on the Texas Giant, which at 153 feet is considered the world’s tallest steel-wood hybrid roller coaster. Tom Fox/AP Emergency personnel raced to the scene at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas, after a woman died on July 19, 2013. RELATED: COASTER REOPENS AFTER SCREAMS YIELD COMPLAINTS A person waiting in line for the ride said she thought Esparza had a problem with her safety belt. Ian McVea/AP John Putman told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram of the two children, "they were screaming, 'My mom! My mom! Let us out, we need to go get her!" “She goes up like this, then when it drops to come down, that’s when it [Esparza’s restraint] released and she just tumbled,” Carmen Brown told WFAA-TV.

Four men - including war vet - found in Houston 'dungeon' home claiming to have been held hostage for up to TEN YEARS while 'captor cashed their welfare checks' Military vet among men, aged between 54 and 79, held in filthy garage Man in 40s arrested over claims he was cashing welfare checks Three victims so malnourished they were taken away on stretchers By Jessica Jerreat PUBLISHED: 19:24 GMT, 19 July 2013 | UPDATED: 01:10 GMT, 20 July 2013 Four men have been found living in 'deplorable' conditions in a north Houston home, where police say they were being kept captive so a suspect could claim their welfare checks. The men, including a military vet, were so malnourished they were almost invalids, according to police who were tipped off by a neighbor. Three of the men were found in the garage, where they allegedly were forced to sleep on the linoleum floor, and a fourth was found in a room that had locks on the door and window. Scroll down for video: Search: Four men have been found Friday living in 'deplorable' conditions in a north Houston home In custody: A man believed to be the captor sits in a police car. The captives were lured inside under the promise of cigarettes and alcohol while the captor used them to cash their government assistance checks Waiting for help: One of the four men believed to be a captive waits outside for medical attention Suspect: A man in his 40s has been arrested after police found four men allegedly being held captive Red flag: Police were tipped off to unusual activity in the house by a neighbor during a welfare check Friday Homeless men 'kept captive for welfare checks' Police believe the alleged victims, who were aged 54, 65, 74 and 79, may have been homeless and that they were being kept at the house so the suspect, who has been arrested, could cash their welfare checks. Sergeant Steve Murdock told the Houston Chronicle that residents in the house had been taking the men's social security checks. A man in his 40s, who is not believed to live at the house, has been arrested but no charges have been made. Houston police were tipped off about the men by a neighbor, and then called at the house at about 8.30am to do a welfare check. Little explanation: No names of individuals involved have been released, but police described the building where the men were being held as being 'deplorable conditions' Targets: Police believe the alleged victims, who were aged 54, 65, 74 and 79, may have been homeless Sergeant J W McCoy added: 'One of [the men] seemed to think he was just picked up off the street, kind of recruited to come and stay here.' 'In exchange for beer and cigarettes, and a place to stay, he had to turn over his social security checks,' he told ABC 13. The room where they were found had no furniture and one of the alleged victims, who has been taken to hospital, told officers the house 'was a dungeon'. 'They were apparently given scraps to eat, very little food was provided to them. They didn't have access to a restroom,' police spokesman Jodi Silva said. She told Fox: 'They clearly stated to us they were being kept against their will.' Transparency: The Houston Police Department spokeswoman Jodi Silva told as much as they knew early Friday Captive: Police said the house was 'like a warehouse for people' and that the alleged victims were kept in a room with no furniture 'They were prisoners in that house,' Sergeant Murdock said. He added that police found evidence that other men had also been held there. When police arrived at the house they found the door nailed shut. The converted garage that the men were in had no furniture except for one chair, a malfunctioning air conditioning unit, and was filthy, with police describing it to ABC 13 as like 'a warehouse for people'. Three of the alleged victims were so weak they had to be taken from the house on stretchers. The fourth man, who said he did not want to leave, was due to be taken to a hospital for veterans. Police said as well as the alleged victims, four women were found living in the main part of the house. Three of them appeared to have mental disabilities, Ms Silva said. She added that the fourth woman appeared to be a caregiver, and said their living conditions inside the house were more normal. Rescue: One of the men found living at the house waits to be taken to a hospital Neighbors said they recognized the men who were taken from hospital but did not know about the alleged conditions inside the house. One of the men said he had lived there for about six months and, although the conditions were not good, he wanted to stay. Adult Protective Services has been called to help in the investigation.

Detroit Files Largest Municipal Bankruptcy Ever Posted Thursday, July 18, 2013, at 4:27 PM Amazing in retrospect that the implausible part of this movie is that someone would want to take over Detroit. Orion Pictures Today it's official. Detroit is bankrupt. Not like metaphorically bankrupt as politicians tend to say in order to criticize opponents' fiscal policies. Actually bankrupt, as in filed under Chapter 9 of the bankruptcy code. This is the largest city to ever file for bankruptcy, and obviously no large city goes bankrupt without a complicated array of problems. But the basic reason Detroit needs to do this is pretty simple. In 1950 there were 1.85 million people in Detroit. In 1970, it was 1.5 million. In 1990, it was a million flat. By 2010, it was down to 710,000. When your city is shrinking like that, you end up with a tax base that's inadequate to maintain the fixed infrastructure or to pay off pension costs that were incurred in more prosperous times. Shedding legacy obligations is a necessary part of the fix. You can shed legacy obligations without filing for bankruptcy by just stiffing pensioners. But the scale of Detroit's fiscal problems are so enormous that doing it entirely that way would be cruel and pointless—bondholders need to take a hit and this is the way to do it.

Revealed: How the TSA is secretly ordering the cars of innocent traveler's to be searched in airport parking lots without asking them first Valet attendants at Greater Rochester International Airport have been directed to search vehicles for explosives, according to a report Traveler Laurie Iacuzza said she was not warned that her car would be searched When she returned from a trip she found a notice in her car announcing the vehicle had been inspected A TSA official says only cars that are parked valet are subject to the searches By Hayley Peterson The Transportation Security Administration is directing valet attendants to search parked cars for explosives at a New York airport, according to a report by local television station News10NBC. Traveler Laurie Iacuzza recently flew out of Greater Rochester International Airport and upon returning from her trip, she found a yellow slip of paper inside her valet-parked car that announced her vehicle had been searched. 'Thank you for your patronage,' the slip of paper read. 'Your vehicle has been inspected under TSA regulations.' Surprise inspection: This note was left inside a woman's valet-parked car at Greater Rochester International Airport Traveler Laurie Iacuzza said she is furious that her car had been searched without her knowledge TSA has not responded to MailOnline's inquiries about the searches. According to TSA policy, agents or people directed and trained by the TSA can carry out vehicle screenings in secure areas if they are random and drivers are notified that their cars could be searched. There are no reports of valet-parked cars being inspected at other airports across the country, though many other airports have policies that allow for vehicle screenings. The Miami International Airport notes on its website that 'all vehicles entering [the airport premises] may be inspected, as well as baggage in the vehicle.' Similarly, the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, Michigan states on its website that 'vehicles entering the terminal curbside or parking facilities may be subject to inspection.' The TSA has additional screening authority through its Visible Intermodal Prevention Response program, or VIPR, which is authorized by the Department of Homeland Security. The program allows TSA to work with law enforcement officials to 'augment security of any mode of transportation' - which translates to a surge in screenings on highways, in train stations, at airports, or other transportation hubs. The program caused outrage two years ago when it was used to inspect vehicles on highways in Tennessee and again last year when it was used to screen Amtrak passengers' luggage. This white sign on the valet attendants' airport kiosk alerts customers to the possibility that their cars will be searched John McCaffrey, federal security director for the Rochester airport, confirmed that the cars were being searched News10NBC talked to John McCaffrey, federal security director for the Rochester airport, who confirmed that cars were being searched. He said only valet-parked cars are subject to inspection because those vehicles spend time directly in front of the airport. 'Those vehicles that are in the garage, short-term [and] long-term parking, even if they carry pretty large amounts of explosives, they would not cause damage to the front of the airport,' he said. 'But for those who use the valet, the car could be there for a half hour or an hour so there is a vulnerability.' The television station spoke to a valet attendant who said that he and his coworkers - not TSA agents - had been ordered to search the cars. 'I have to,' he said, adding that the directive came about a month ago. A large sign on the valet attendants' airport kiosk alerts drivers to the possibility that their car could be searched. Iacuzza said the sign was not displayed when she dropped her car off and that she is 'furious' that her vehicle was searched without warnin. 'They never mentioned it to me when I booked the valet or when I picked up the car or when I dropped it off,' she said.

HBO Asks Google to Take Down VLC Media Player Link in DMCA Notice In an effort to take down pirated copies of “Game of Thrones” from the Internet, HBO has also included a link to a copy of the popular media player VLC as a copyright infringement. HBO sent a DMCA takedown to Google, listing a copy of the popular media player VLC as a copyright infringement. An honest mistake, perhaps, but a worrying one. Day in and day out copyright holders send hundreds of thousands of DMCA takedown notices to Google, hoping to make pirated movies and music harder to find. During the past month alone copyright holders asked Google to remove 14,855,269 URLs from its search results. Unfortunately, not all of these requests are legitimate. In some cases the notices are flagged as false because the content has already been removed from the original site. Usually these notices ask Google to get rid of links to pirate sites, but for some reason the cable network also wants Google to remove a link to the highly popular open source video player VLC. Pirate VLC? The URL in question belongs to the torrent site TorrentPortal but as can be seen here, it doesn’t link to any infringing content. The same DMCA notice also lists various other links that don’t appear to link to HBO content, including a lot of porn related material, Ben Harper’s album Give Till It’s Gone, Naruto, free Java applets and Prince of Persia 5.

Train derailed as bridge collapses A train derailed when a bridge in Canada collapsed, threatening to send five carriages carrying a diesel-like substance into a river, officials said. Published: Thu, June 27, 2013 Crews at the scene of a rail bridge collapse south-east of Calgary (AP/The Canadian Press) Efforts were under way to stop the cars falling off the slowly sagging bridge near Calgary and then pump out the yet-unspecified but potentially flammable liquid. No injuries were reported. "It appears that the bridge is failing," said emergency management director Bruce Burrell. The train derailed after a section of the bridge dropped 2ft. Each car could have 36,000kg of flammable product, said acting fire chief Ken Uzeloc. He could not specify what the liquid is. A sixth car on the bridge is an empty oil tanker, he added. Canadian Pacific spokesman Ed Greenberg said the bridge gave way after most of the eastbound train had crossed. He said: "The (derailed cars) are all upright. There are no leaks reported and no injuries reported as a result of the incident." The bridge, south-east of Calgary, is typically about 25ft above the water level, though the levels is currently high after flooding last week. Emergency crews were working to string a cable through the rail cars to secure them to bulldozers on land to prevent them being carried down the river in case the bridge gives way. Mr Uzeloc said crews then hope to pull another train along a parallel bridge so the cargo can be pumped off and the empty cars can be removed with a crane. He said: "The last thing we want is these cars floating down the river and causing problems downstream." Booms were being deployed down river in case of any spills. Canadian Pacific said the bridge was inspected by a qualified inspector last Saturday and the track was inspected on Monday. Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi questioned the timing of the last bridge inspection when water on the river was still at record levels. He said he knows a lot of railway employees have been laid off, and he was angry that it took him six hours to contact Canadian Pacific officials. "How many bridge inspectors did they fire?" the mayor asked. Officials said it was too early to say whether the structural failure was specifically due to flooding.

Heatwave killer: Postman collapses and dies in heat as temperatures continue to soar A POSTMAN collapsed and died while delivering mail in sweltering heat, it has emerged. By: Emily Fox Published: Thu, July 18, 2013 Graham Bennett with wife Fiona who collapsed and died while delivering mail (Pic:Facebook) Tragic Graham Bennett, 47, keeled over as he posted letter and parcels through people's doors as temperatures rose to 27C yesterday. He was half way through his round on the Ermine Estate in Lincoln and had just finished delivering to houses in Thurlby Crescent when he collapsed at 11.30am. Residents desperately tried to resuscitate the dad-of-two while others dialled 999. He was rushed to hospital but he died a short time later. Just two weeks ago rugby fan Graham posed in British Lions team shirts with his wife Fiona at the 2nd Test in Melbourne. Lincoln Royal Mail delivery office where postman Graham Bennett worked We appreciate the messages of condolence posted. Graham's stepdaughter Stacie Vine Fiona, who turned 51 on Wednesday, was too upset to comment and was being comforted by family and friends at their home in Saxilby, Lincs. A spokesman for the Met Office confirmed temperatures rose to 26.9C at the highest point in Lincoln on Monday. Hourly figures show the thermometer rose from 21.3C to 23C between 11am and midday on one of the hottest days of the year. Graham's stepdaughter Stacie Vine said a passer-by tried to resuscitate him, but the circumstances of what happened were still unclear. Graham Bennett died of a heart attack in the heat (Pic: Facebook) Writing on Facebook, she said: "We appreciate the messages of condolence posted." Paying tribute to the postman, colleague Lee Marshall wrote: "Will miss you Graham, it was a pleasure to work alongside you in my time at RM, your passing leaves our office in shock and we are still struggling to comprehend everything that's gone on . R.I.P my friend." Chris Gooding added: "sleep tight my friend I will always remember are (sic) last chat together about the british lions, i hope your rugby stories are going down well with the big man upstairs..R I P Graham." The popular postie, who lived in Saxilby, Lincs., had worked at the Lincoln depot for 29 years. A spokesman for Royal Mail spokesman, Nick Martens, said: "Royal Mail confirms that one of our colleagues at the Lincoln Delivery Office died this week while out delivering the mail. "Our thoughts are very much with his family, friends and colleagues at this very sad time." Over the weekend there was a 17.6 per cent increase in 999 calls regarding people who had fainted The current heatwave gripping the country is estimated to have caused up to 760 deaths in England alone and that shocking figure could double. Researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) issued the warning as the country enters its sixth straight day of temperature above 30c. Professor Ben Armstrong, an epidemiological statistician at the LSHTM, said: "Our previous studies have shown that as temperatures rise above a certain threshold, the risk of death increases. "Using the same model, we estimate that the current heatwave has caused the premature deaths of 650 people. "The excess is likely to have been overwhelmingly among the elderly, especially those over 75, some of which may have been among people who would have died just a few weeks later if there had been no heatwave." Brits looking to cool off by taking a swim have been warned against doing so by the police and fire service after four people died on separate incidents on Tuesday. While the London Ambulance Service took 5,500 calls yesterday as Britain enjoyed its hottest day of the year with temperatures rising to 32.2C. Types of calls recorded included patients with breathing problems, chest pains and fainting. Over the weekend there was a 17.6 per cent increase in 999 calls regarding people who had fainted or fallen unconscious compared to the previous four weekends. Director of Service Delivery Jason Killens said: "We always see a rise in 999 calls in hot weather; for a variety of reasons including people forgetting to keep hydrated and the heat making pre-existing conditions like asthma worse. "It is important people help us to respond to the most seriously ill and injured by only calling 999 in a genuine emergency. "Anyone with a minor condition should consider other healthcare options such as visiting their GP, local pharmacy or calling 111."

The 40-mile disabled train station exit DISABLED rail passengers at a busy station are being forced to make a 40-mile detour just to reach the exit. Published: Fri, July 19, 2013 0Comments Marlene Bennett is just one of the 212,000 passengers who use Alfreton station every year Steep stairs to the footbridge mean those with wheelchairs or crutches who want to cross to the other platform have to continue 20 miles along the line before heading back on another train. Despite promises of Government funding for a lift at Alfreton station in Derbyshire, the work is not expected to start for another year. Marlene Bennett, who suffers crippling arthritis, is one of 212,000 passengers who use the station every year. She said: “The steps are very steep and slippery. A month or so ago I was returning from Blackpool with heavy cases. I had to struggle up the steps one at a time. “By the time I got over, I had to sit down and recover for about half an hour.” The alternative is to carry on the journey to either Nottingham or Sheffield and get another train back, a detour which takes an hour. It’s a 40-mile round trip for some to get from one side of the station to the other John Walker, local councillor Local councillor John Walker said: “It’s a 40-mile round trip for some to get from one side of the station to the other. There is no exit on the south-bound side.” Campaigners had tried to secure funds to fit the footbridge with a stairlift for disabled people. But the council had recently been told funds for the project had been redirected, he said. MP Nigel Mills said the station was “high up on the list” to receive funding to be announced next April.

Paintings by little genius, aged 5, stun the art world A GIFTED five-year-old girl whose stellar IQ amazed experts has blossomed into a talented artist. By: Tom Morgan Published: Wed, July 3, 2013 1Comments Child artist, Heidi Hankins, has an IQ of 159 Heidi Hankins was accepted into Mensa last year with a genius-level IQ of 159 – one point below famous physicist Stephen Hawking. Now the little girl who could read and write aged two has shown remarkable artistic skill as well. Heidi first picked up a paintbrush six weeks ago and has been creating beautiful watercolour landscapes ever since. Her astonished family are considering holding an exhibition of her work. Proud father Matthew, of Winchester, Hants, said: “Heidi was always good at drawing but now she mixes watercolours and will sit happily chatting to you and knock off three landscapes.” Heidi only began painting six weeks ago She is not trying to grow up too fast Winchester School of Art’s fine art programme leader Nick Stewart described Heidi’s paintings as “remarkably mature and confident”. But university lecturer Mr Hankins, whose wife Sophy is an artist, said his daughter still loves to play. He insisted: “She is not trying to grow up too fast.”