Police outside the home Tuesday after a homeowner defended himself against intruders with a firearm. (Image: KTRK video screenshot)

Three suspected burglars on Tuesday broke into Texas man’s home, beat him, and then forced him into an upstairs closet.

Luckily for the homeowner, his assailants made a ​huge ​mistake: they put him into same closet where he keeps his guns.

Houston Police Department Sgt. Jerry Brandon told an ABC affiliate the homeowner thought the three men had left his home after a few minutes and headed downstairs, firearm in hand.

This is where he confronted one of the burglars and exchanged fire, wounding the intruder. The two other men escaped, according to authorities, while their compatriot has been hospitalized.

Here’s the KTRK’s report:

“Guess what? The owner had a gun,” neighbor Craig Gaddis told KTRK. “He did exactly what he was supposed to do — with the gun, that’s what they’re made for — protect his home.”

(Image: KTRK video screenshot)

The Houston Chronicle reported Gaddis saying a similar robbery occurred a couple weeks ago in the same area and neighbors believe they are connected.

Charges are expected to be brought against the wounded intruder, but not the homeowner, according to the report.

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(H/T: Gawker)

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“It exploded in a flash nearly 10 times as bright as anything we’ve ever seen before,” said Bill Cooke with NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office of the explosion that took place March 17, according to NASA’s website.

The explosion was so large, in fact, that it could have been seen from Earth with the naked eye.

NASA scientists speculate the meteoroid weighed 40 kg (about 88 pounds) and was less than 0.5 meters (about 1.6 feet) wide. But moving at 56,000 miles per hour, they compare its resulting explosion to the detonation of five tons of TNT.

(Image: NASA/YouTube screenshot)

Here’s a look at video showing just the explosion:

“We’ll be keeping an eye out for signs of a repeat performance next year when the Earth-Moon system passes through the same region of space,” Cooke said. “Meanwhile, our analysis of the March 17event continues.”

Here’s NASA’s full ScienceCast on the event:

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(H/T: Business Insider). Featured image via Shutterstock.com.

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“As a first step in the process, Dr. Robertson stated that she should stop dwelling on the cheating. Next, he recommended that she remind herself of all the reasons she fell in love with him in the first place so that she might try to fall back in love with him all over again.”

“Lastly, his point was that everyone is human and there is much temptation outside of the home, so she should do whatever she can to strengthen their home and relationship. His intent was not to condone infidelity or to cast blame. We regret any misunderstanding,” the statement added.

The controversy began Wednesday when Robertson on his “700 Club” program was presented with this viewer question:

Credit: CBN.

“Here’s the secret,” Robertson responded, “Stop talking about the cheating. He cheated on you. Well, he’s a man, okay.”

He continued, offering the following suggestions [via TheBlaze’s Dave Urbanski]:

• “Recognize, also, like it or not, males have a tendency to wander a little bit, and what you want to do is make a home so wonderful that he doesn’t want to wander.”
• Focus on why you married him in the first place.
• Does he provide food, shelter, clothing? Is he nice to the children and does he do things with them?
• “Is he handsome?”
• Fall in love with him all over again.
• Touch his face, hold his hand, look into his eyes.
• Don’t focus on what makes you mad, just the good stuff.
• Give him honor.
• Keep in mind that there’s a lot of pornography out there, to which men are enticed every day.

You can watch Robertson’s comments here [relevant comments at the 49:20 marker]

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In early February, TheBlaze featured a story about this unlikely hero named ‘Kai.”

Image: KMPH/Fox26

Kai was a homeless man who became a hero in the eyes of many after he used a hatchet to stop a crazy man from attacking two women. The video of Kai telling his story became something of a viral sensation. And as with most viral video stars, Kai seemed to have drifted back into obscurity. Until today…today he’s a murder suspect. Police in New Jersey have just arrested Caleb Lawrence McGillvary (Kai’s real name). He is the prime suspect in the bludgeoning death of 71-year-old North Jersey attorney, Joseph Galfy.

According to Union County Prosecutor Theodore Romankow, “Kai” was identified from video captured on a Times Square surveillance camera. The local police also say that Mr. McGillvary  had cut his hair in an attempt to alter his appearance.

At a press conference on Wednesday, law enforcement officials shared details about the murder of Mr. Galfy and said Kai had actually posted on his Facebook page a possible explanation for the violent attack on the elderly lawyer. The suspect claimed that he was raped. According to ABC 7 in NYC, the Facebook post stated;

what would you do if you woke up with a groggy head, metallic taste in your mouth, in a strangers house… walked to the mirror and seen … dripping from the side of your face from your mouth, and started wretching, realizing that someone had drugged, raped…? what would you do?

Late Thursday night, police in Philadelphia captured the suspect at the Greyhound bus station in downtown Philadelphia. He has been charged with murder and bail was set at $3 million.

New York’s ABC 7 has the story.

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Huh. Maybe it’s just us.

Anyway, the following video comes courtesy of biologist Brad Josephs who “recently planted a GoPro camera out in the Alaskan wilderness,” Deadspin explains, “hoping to capture some up-close footage of bears for a BBC nature show.”

But rather than catching bears (i.e. “nature’s Shermans”) acting all cute and nature-y, Josephs’ GoPro camera answers our opening question, that is, this is what it’d look like to have your face taken off by a bear:

“Amazingly there was no damage to the camera!” Josephs writes on the video’s YouTube page, apparently undisturbed by images of the bear’s cavernous, gaping jaws of death.

–

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A look inside David Barton Gym’s Miami locker room. (Photo: David Barton Gym)

Men who had just finished working out at a Miami gym and were showering were stunned when six to eight armed bounty hunters wearing bullet-proof vests burst into the locker room.

WFOR-TV reported Scott Linnen saying he feels that his privacy rights were violated by the bondsmen seeking fugitives in the shower room.

“I was standing in a shower relaxed after having a good workout and the next thing I know I’m seeing a gun in my face,” Linnen said of the incident that occurred Tuesday night. “My first thought was I’m going to be shot.”

Although the bondsmen eventually told the shocked, naked patrons of Miami Beach’s David Barton Gym what they were searching for, Linnen says he is surprised “pulling a curtain aside and revealing me naked is apparently not breaking any kind of law.”

And according to Florida law, the bondsmen, believing a suspect was inside the gym, were within their rights to enter it. WFOR-TV reported Sgt. Bobby Hernandez with the Miami Beach Police Department saying “they work under whole different set of rules than police.”

Police would have needed a warrant to enter a third-party establishment, such as the gym.

The gym said in a statement it had “no control” over the situation, but it believes the bondmen “ignored our normal security measures.”

Watch WFOR-TV’s report:

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Featured image via Shutterstock.com.

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A group of individuals from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore were caught early Wednesday morning trespassing at the Quabbin Reservoir in Massachusetts, one of the largest man-made public water supplies in the county, CBS Boston reports.

The trespassers, five men and two women, were caught in one of the no-trespassing zones of reservoir, according to Massachusetts state police.

Police also said that the trespassers “cited their education and career interests” for being in the area and claimed they are “chemical engineers” and “recent college graduates,” CBS Boston reports.

The Quabbin, located about 65 miles from Boston, supplies several Massachusetts communities, including the state’s largest city, with clean drinking water.

“State Police say there were no warrants or advisories on any of the individuals and ‘there was no evidence that the seven were committing any crime beyond the trespassing,” the CBS Boston report notes.

“All seven were allowed to leave and will be summonsed to court for trespassing. The FBI is investigating and routine checks of public water supplies have been increased following the incident.”

The seven individuals reside in Amherst, Cambridge, Sunderland, Northampton, and New York City.

“Police have not released their names because a court date has not been set,” the report adds.

-

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A video taken by Norman Dreger and posted on YouTube shows his point of view as he appears to be wading in a river and captures audio of his stunned reaction when the bird manages to snag his fish and fly with the line.

(Image: YouTube screenshot)

(Image: YouTube screenshot)

(Image: YouTube screenshot)

Check it out the scene in the video that has more than 1 million views since being posted three days ago:

In a second video that has seen less traffic, Dreger wrote that the bird tried to steal his prey again, but failed this time around. This version shows a clearer view of the bird and Dreger too seems a bit more mentally prepared for it.

(Image: YouTube screenshot)

Here’s the footage:

You might think there’s something about the footage — or perhaps the reaction — that just seems, well, fishy. But few commenters, like those talking about it on a Reddit thread, are labeling it as a fake.

It’s not the first time a bald eagle has tried to steal someone’s catch. A family in Alabama had a similar experience, but the eagle didn’t get away with it. The bird became trapped in the line instead.

Let us know if you think the footage is real or fake by taking our poll:

 –

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Religion News Service (RNS) reports that, while Anglican church attendance has continued to drop in England, there are some positive signs that the decline may actually be starting to stabilize. Of the 16,247 parishes in the nation, average church attendance was 1.1 million in 2011, according to a spokesperson for the Church of England. This was down only 0.3 percent from proportion observed in 2010.

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh stands with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, right, and the Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, left, after the ceremonial funeral service for former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in London, Wednesday, April 17, 2013. In the foreground are Thatcher’s children Mark, right, and Carol, left. Credit: AP

Of course, 0.3 percent is still a decline, but it’s important to note, as per RNS’s analysis, that Sunday church attendance fell about 1 percent each year from 2000 until 2011; the 0.3 percent proportion is notably smaller. While it may certainly be an anomaly, it’s possible that it’s also a sign that faith could be gaining a bit of ground in England. RNS has more:

The annual statistics reveal a substantial increase in attendance at the country’s storied cathedrals: Christmas churchgoing rose by 14 percent, christenings were up 4.3 percent and adult baptisms were up 5 percent. The number of weddings was down 3.6 percent, to 51,880.

The 1.1 million Britons in church pales in comparison to the estimated 22 million — about four in 10 Britons — who are considered official members of the Church of England.

CANTERBURY, ENGLAND – MARCH 31: The Most Rev and Rt Hon Justin Welby (C), the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, leads the Easter Sunday service at Canterbury Cathedral on March 31, 2013 in Canterbury, England. Justin Welby was enthroned on March 21, 2013 as the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury and head of the Church of England. Credit: Getty Images

Not all of the statistics are positive, though. Still, it’s worth continuing to monitor to see what this could mean in the long run. RNS has the full story.

Is a religious resurgence on the horizon — or will faith simply plateau and stop bleeding supporters in England? These questions can only be answered with time and continued analysis, but the most recent statistics will likely be seen as positive by many who have been hoping and praying for a revival.

(H/T: Religion News Service)

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S.E. Cupp (file)

During her other gig on MSNBC’s “The Cycle,” TheBlaze’s S.E. Cupp on Wednesday attempted to get Salon writer Joan Walsh to admit that it was wrong for some in the liberal media to hope the Boston bombers were “white Americans” and/or a “right-wing” Tea Party members.

Cupp was not successful.

Walsh said it’s isn’t as bad to prematurely blame whites as it is to pin attacks on non-whites because “white Americans” are not profiled the same way other groups are.

“We really don’t want to acknowledge that these boys have as much in common with Timothy McVeigh and – actually, more to the point, with school shooters; the Columbine killers, James Holmes, then really they do with hardened jihadis.” Walsh said, despite the fact that the FBI has identified radical Islam as a motive in the attack.

She said the alleged bombers “are a product of America as well as a product of alienation.”

Cupp brought up and criticized a Salon column by David Sirota in which he openly hoped the Boston bomber would be a “white American.” She also noted several tweets and statements from other liberal figures who expressed similar feelings, including Michael Moore.

“You both seem to suggest that there is a need for conservatives to pin these kinds of moments on non-whites, but surely – surely, Joan – you have to also admit that there is a need among liberals to pin these kinds of attacks on white right-wingers,” Cupp said, agreeing that neither side should rush to judgement. “Surely, you have to find equal problem with that as well?”

“Well, I don’t know if I find equal problem with it…If it’s a white American, whites are just not profiled the way, you know, the way other groups are,” Walsh answered.

Walsh went on to say that as white person “one of our many privileges” is that people consider white attackers “individuals.” But when mass violence is committed by minorities there is a “wave of paranoia, and profiling and prejudice.”

“But the wave of paranoia and prejudice is also fomented on the left by folks like David Sirota,” Cupp shot back.

“I don’t see it that way,” Walsh added. “All we can see is what we have here and, in that sense, David was right.”

“Amen,” co-host Toure got in before he thanked Walsh for speaking out on race issues.

Watch the segment via MSNBC/Mediaite below:

The point here really is this: No one should ever “hope” that a person of a particular race or religion is found responsible for a horrific attack like the Boston bombings.

(H/T: Noah Rothman, Mediaite)

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“The hatred for the United States runs deep,” he said during a broader discussion on the Boston Bombings.

“I think we really have to consider, given the fact that so many people hate us,” he added, “that we’re going to have to cut off Muslim students coming to this country for some period of time so that we can absorb what we’ve got, and look at what we’ve got, and decide whether some of the people here should be sent back home or to prison.”

Beckel’s comments come at the 04:20 mark:

Unsurprisingly, the liberal pundit’s moratorium recommendation stirred up controversy on both sides of the aisle. Fox News’ Megyn Kelley, for example, on Tuesday challenged him to defend his position.

“It wouldn’t have stopped the Boston Marathon bombing, but there is a lot of investigation that needs to be done and take a break and get that done and take a two-year hiatus” from awarding visas to students from Muslim countries, he explained.

“How do we get there?” Kelly asked.

She pointed out that among 75,000 Muslim student visas in the U.S., only five have been linked to terrorist activities.

“The numbers are not in favor of saying let’s penalizing,” she said.

“Of the 74,995, how many of those have been looked at very carefully?” Beckel said. “We have a lot of students here who may themselves harbor feelings about resentments. They come from countries where they brainwashed from the United States from the beginning.”

“If that’s true, why aren’t we seeing mass attempts of terror by these students?” she pushed. “The facts don’t bear it out.”

But even after being challenged by Kelley, Beckel refused to back down, reaffirming his position later in a tweet and during a Tuesday broadcast of Fox News’ “The Five.”

“Despite the early morning calls from my liberal friends who hung up on me,” Beckel said, he chose not to “pull back” on his suggestion.

“If the FBI could not deal with this fellow in Boston with all they had on him,” Beckel said, “it seems to me that we ought to give time for them to clear up their problems with the current Muslim population here and then let students come back in.”

Well alright then. Didn’t see that one coming.

–

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Saturday night at 10pm ET (or on-demand), Brian Sack and company return with an all new program. And this week, they were kind enough to give us a preview of one of the sketches entitled, “If You See Anything, Say Something.”

We present it for your enjoyment.

Find out how you can start a free, two-week preview of TheBlaze TV here.

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“The term comes from the pranksters’ desire to have heavily armed special weapons teams dispatched to their calls,” the Associated Press notes. “The calls, sometimes made by children, can tie up resources ranging from dispatchers, patrol officers, detectives helicopters and police dogs.”

“At about 7:15 p.m. Thursday, the restaurant got a call from a person who claimed to be from the Honolulu Police Department,” KHON 2 reports. “The caller told the manager that someone in the restaurant was armed and dangerous.”

The manager reacted on instinct, telling patrons to duck for cover.

“The waiter was taking our order and we heard someone, everybody on the phone. And it took twice for her to say it before it registered, and everybody just went down on the floor,” customer Kathryn Jupp told KHON 2.

“And I’m shaken up now and the outrageous symbolism of lying on top of my son and my young daughter, feeling that it could be real,” another customer, Robert Ovadia, said

The report estimates roughly 10 heavily armed police officers showed up to restaurant.

“But they did not find anyone in the restaurant who was armed and dangerous,” the report notes. “A police officer on the scene told KHON2 news, the call to the restaurant that started it all, was likely, a prank call.”

Hilarious, right?

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Image: YouTube.com

This past Monday, Susan called her sister and told her, “I shot my husband. I’m cleaning up the mess. Let’s go bury him in Blackwater.”

Shortly after placing that call, Hudson’s home was surrounded by local cops with guns drawn. She was cuffed and officers started investigating the report of a murder. Ms. Hudson tried to explain to the police that she was playing a joke on her sister and that her husband was not dead. Fortunately for Susan, her very-much-alive husband came home and police released her.

Local TV station WKPT visited the prankster and provided us with the wrap up of the story.

–

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“Jeffery Bush, 37, died when the hole opened up while he slept in the bedroom of his central Florida home,” Fox News notes. “His brother, Jeremy, tried to jump into the hole to save Jeff but was unsuccessful. Jeremy Bush said part of the bed could be seen in the sinkhole at the time of the accident.”

The following (eerie) video released by a Hillsborough County, Fla., inspection crew shows the size and damage of the sinkhole that took Jeffery Bush’s life:

The home was demolished shortly after the above footage was shot.

“The footage shows there was almost no floor remaining in the bedroom, though amazingly, clothes and other personal effects were still hanging on the walls, apparently undisturbed,” Fox explains.

“Bush’s body was never recovered. The family says they’re hoping to regain control of the property from the county so they can set up a permanent memorial for Jeff.”

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In case you missed it the first time…

That video now has over 7 million views on YouTube.  The man behind the camera phone is Rev. Aamon Miller and he talked about his experience with RightThisMinute.  As it turns out, there’s a method to the Kungfu Grandpa’s madness — and it involves avoiding shopping with his “girlfriend.”

WATCH:

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No, really, it’d be full of valuable lessons like: “Don’t play with gas around a campfire” and “Stay off the tracks when a train is coming your way.”

Now you may think that a book like this wouldn’t sell because there’s supposedly no need for it, but we’re here to tell you you’re wrong.

Case in point: A girl in Sao Paulo, Brazil who almost got herself killed last week after she jumped on some train tracks to allegedly rescue her cell phone — while a train barreled down on her.

Luckily for the girl, a nearby security guard was able to haul her to safety just as the train passed. And luckily for those of us want to write a life lessons book, a nearby witness was able to capture the dramatic rescue on their camera, “giving us this short clip that’s enough to make us all rethink our priorities,” as MSN puts it.

[Editor’s note: Although the terrifying rescue at the Corinthians-Itaquera Metro station happened last week, the following video has only recently started to gain some major online traffic]:

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So while the show is good for a few chuckles, some think Thursday’s episode went out of its way to attack the Tea Party.

How so? Let’s set the stage.

Meet the Loudons:

Courtesy ABC

Mother Gina Loudon is a proud conservative Christian and card-carrying member of the Tea Party. Originally from the South, she and her husband, former Missouri State Senator John Loudon, dedicate much of their time to conservative activism.

“The toughest part is that politics can be consuming during an election cycle, but we do it as a family (knock doors, campaign, even speeches). We work hard to balance work and family, but I admit that in peak political season, I look forward to down time with my family when campaign time is over!” said Gina, who lives in deep blue California (San Diego, to be exact).

The Loudons have five children.

“As a family, we do like to keep moving and give back to our community, so when we are not in political season, we are still busy with charity work, civic involvement, writing books, creating media, etc.,” she adds.

Now let’s meet the Envy family:

Courtesy ABC.

Angela Envy has been married to Chris, a semi-professional wrestler, for eight years. They have four children.

They also have a 23-year-old girlfriend named Ashley.

No, not the kids. The parents. The parents share a live-in girlfriend.

“We consider ourselves to be a polyamorous family. Ashley came into our lives about one year ago, almost by accident, and she never left. And just like that, we became a triad. It was easy and natural and we have such a good time!” said Angela.

“With Ashley, there was twice the energy and convenience of a normal relationship and she fulfils the needs that Chris cannot. The three of us share a room and sleep in the same bed and I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s going to be hard for me to be away from her for this experience,” she adds.

You get the picture.

So now that we have the stage set and we’ve been introduced to the two different clans, how do you suppose things played out? Well, let’s just put it this way: Gina Loudon is the first guest in the show’s nine year history to not stick it out the full two weeks.

Gina Loudon called it quits halfway though taping and decided that being swapped into a polyamorous family was just a bit too much for her.

But did the show really paint the Tea Party (via Gina Loudon) in an unfavorable light?

“The show definitely cut the polyamorous trio — one dude living with his wife, his kids, and his girlfriend — to be the ‘normal’ ones. And the sympathetic ones,” writes conservative blogger Ace.

See for yourself:

And Ace isn’t alone when he writes that the disastrous episode’s purpose was to paint Tea Partiers in an unflattering light. Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh is right there with him.

“The Tea Partiers are painted as the Bible-thumping freaks, and the polyamorous family portrayed as the open-minded, full of love, and sympathetic bunch,” Limbaugh said Friday. The Loudons are “painted as intolerant, Bible-thumping prudes.”

Listen [via Daily Rushbo]:

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In case you think that’s an overstatement, here’s a video released Tuesday of him hitting what’s called a “flop shot” over the head of a man standing just 35 inches in front of him. In other words, he has a man stand in front of him as he hits a shot over that man’s head:

It’s no fluke. He has mastered this trick shot. Behold: a video from 2009 of him doing the exact same shot:

But wait! That’s not all!

Here’s a video of him landing an impressive bunker shot on the green while facing the opposite direction:

Want to know how he does it? Here he is explaining the shot in detail:

Bonus — Here he is pulling off a crazy bunker trick shot that involves two golf balls:

So, Mickelson. One of the best in the business. Any questions?

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Here’s the shocking footage captured on dash cam (watch past the first crash):

“Dayton fire Capt. Barry Cron was speaking to a victim of a crash on U.S. 35 before daybreak Tuesday as snow fell. Moments later, another vehicle lost control on the roadway and struck the first truck, which slammed into Cron,” The Associated Press reports.

Fire Capt. Barry Cron. (Screen grab).

Dayton police Officer Jason Ward was the only witness to the accident, according to WDTN-TV.

“I had just pulled up to the scene and saw the Captain get hit,” said Officer Ward. “I was the only one who saw it because the other firefighters and officer were further up on the scene.”

Officer Ward. (Screen grab).

“He raised his arm at one point but he never said anything to me,” the officer adds.  “He was obviously out of it.”

Ward and two firefighters carried Cron away from the wreck.

“I knew he was still in danger,” said Officer Ward.  “At any moment another car could have crashed on him.”

Cron was rushed to a nearby hospital where as was later released in stable condition.

–

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Allison Meadows, who attends Silverdale Baptist Academy in Chattanooga, Tenn., is expected to fully recover from a collapsed lung and other wounds, the school said on its website.

Hey y'all. This is actually Allison...thank you all so much for your prayers! I will try to get back with you all as soon as I can. ❤ Y'all!

March 25, 2013 11:43pm via iOSReplyRetweetFavorite

@al_meadows27

allison meadows

She was grabbed by Leon Raymond Walls, 41, Monday and stabbed, along with two men who were chasing him, as she stood in the checkout lanes with her family, police spokeswoman Diane Richard said Tuesday.

Leon Raymond Walls (courtesy: wpxi.com).

Police said Walls ran into the store wielding a knife about 5:30 p.m. Monday after he stabbed a man named Jobe Wright at a nearby construction site. Along with friends Michael Turner, Tyrique Walker, and Roland Smith, who grabbed a baseball bat, Wright followed Walls to the nearby Target. Walker dialed 911 to alert police to the situation.

Walls at first headed toward the restrooms in the back of the store in the East Liberty neighborhood and at least two men entered the store searching for him, police said.

“Walls saw Walker and attempted to stab him with a large swing at his neck area,” according to the criminal complaint. “Walls, missing his target, then moved towards the checkout area at the Target store where he began trying to stab additional victims who were in the store. Walls then grabbed Allison Meadows and held her against her will at knifepoint in one of the checkout lanes to use her as a shield.

“Victims Hosea Davis, Mike Turner, Jobe Wright and Roland Smith attempted to subdue Walls and to free Meadows when they saw him [stab] the knife into Meadows’ back,” it adds.

Allison Meadows (Instagram).

One witness, Hosea Davis, recounted the scene for Channel 4 Action News:

I went back up the top of the steps, and he had this girl by the top of her hair. He just kept screaming, “I’ll stab her again!” He kept stabbing her. Me and like four or five other guys, they ran and tackled him. He cut the one guy’s lip almost off. The other guy’s finger was, like, hanging off.

Using a nearby baseball bat, Davis and a handful of shoppers were able to beat and subdue Walls until police arrived.

“That little girl, he just kept stabbing her. I just couldn’t stand there and watch that. You can’t stand there and watch that,” Davis said. “It was crazy in there. That was horrible. That was something you don’t want to see again, ever.”

“I had to jump in because I couldn’t hear her screaming, the screaming…it just got the best of me,” he added.

Silverdale Baptist Academy posted a request for prayers for Meadows following news of her stabbing (Facebook).

Police said one of the men will need surgery to repair an injury to his face; the other man was treated for a hand injury and released.

A police officer was taken to a hospital to be treated for pepper spray exposure. A bystander who helped subdue Walls complained of chest pains and also was taken to a hospital, where he was listed in stable condition.

“After hearing the actual details of the attack, only God could have saved her life,” Meadows’ school’s Facebook post said.

“Our job now should be to pray for the Meadows family and Allison, show our love and support, and be there for them should they need us. Praise God that this little girl was being watched over and she we will be back home soon.”

Watch KDKA.com’s report on the bizarre story:

Walls was in custody Tuesday. He was unable to post $250,000 bond, court records show.

He also has a rap sheet about a mile long [via the Pittsburgh Post Gazette]:

He served a sentence for voluntary manslaughter and robbery at Mule Creek State Prison between July 1991 and June 1999, according to Bill Sessa, spokesman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Court records show that Walls and another man were initially charged with murdering Hilda Blackburn and robbing her and a man named Louis Roldan. The murder charge was later downgraded.

While Walls was in prison, he was charged with battery, Mr. Sessa said.

When he was arrested in Pittsburgh, Walls was wanted by the U.S. Marshals Service on a probation violation stemming from an assault in Washington, D.C. Walls was charged with simple assault after he jumped on a man at a homeless shelter on Aug. 4, 2011, began to strike him with his fist and then bit him on the head, according to a police report.

There is no attorney representing Walls, court documents show.

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Courtesy TMZ

It looks like Sean Penn may need to wash his 19-years-old son’s mouth out with soap.

While following his father into a “medical building,” as gossip site TMZ puts, Hopper Penn on Tuesday rammed into a black photographer in Beverly Hills, hurling gay insults and racial slurs.

“F**k you!” the younger Penn can be heard yelling at the paparazzo. “You’re a f**king fa**ot!”

Responding to the seemingly unprovoked outburst, the photographer warned Hopper to watch it with the tough guy talk.

“Shut up, you fu**ing ni**er,” Hopper Penn replied.

Luckily for the Penn family, the photographer told nearby police that it was just a verbal altercation and that he wasn’t going to press charges.

When asked about his choice words, the younger Penn defended himself: “I was accosted by paparazzi and made to feel like an animal – threatened and under attack, but that does not condone my own actions.”

“I deeply regret my choice of words,” he adds.

This isn’t the time that a member of the Penn clan has had a nasty run-in what a photographer. You may recall that noted Hugo Chavez fanboy Sean Penn had to serve three years probation after he assaulted a photographer nearly four years ago.

Watch the unedited version via TMZ [warning: the following video features extremely offensive language]:

Attacking a photographer and hurling racial slurs? Like father, like son? Think about it, won’t you?

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A Miami woman accused of stabbing her husband with a Swiss Army knife broke down in screaming hysterics on Monday after being denied bond.

“Blanca Regalado faced Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Jorge Rodriguez-Chomat where he denied her bond after she admitted to stabbing her husband multiple times at their home,” WSVN.com reports.

Bound to a wheelchair because she claims her husband broke her leg, Regalado repeatedly screamed, “Please don’t!” as bailiffs attempted to remove the panicked woman from the courtroom:

WSVN.com provides some details on the woman’s case:

Late Friday night, police responded to 1800 N. Bayshore Dr. Apt. 4201 where they found Regalado’s husband suffering from several stab wounds. Paramedics transported him to a local hospital where he remains listed in stable condition.

Authorities took Regalado into custody.

According to the arrest form, Regalado told police she stabbed her husband because he abused her, and he had a drinking problem. Miami-Dade Police Officer Freddie Cruz said, “She did make spontaneous statements to our officers that she is tired of him, so she stabbed him, and he is a drunk.”

And if you’re wondering how Judge Rodriguez-Chomat was able to stay composed during Regalado’s meltdown, know that this isn’t his first time dealing with an unruly defendant.

You may remember when the seemingly mild-mannered judge in February had to sort out Penelope Soto, a foul-mouthed 18-year-old who flipped him the bird during her sentencing:

It looks like he’s used to these types of outbursts.

–

RELATED:

• ‘Fu** You’: Shocked Woman Flips Off Judge in Court After Hearing Bond Amount — Judge Responds in Amazing Way
• Woman Who Flipped Off Judge in Viral Vid. Appears Back in Court — Hear What Was Said This Time

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Rumors of North Korea’s allegedly Holocaust-style concentration camps have long been the source of concern and outrage for some in the West.

Indeed, between firsthand accounts from supposed escapees and disturbing satellite photos that seem to prove the existence of labor camps, it appears North Korea has a terrifying amount of control over its people. And now, a collection of drawings that has seen a recent surge in Internet traffic is drawing attention to the issue once again.

Detailed satellite photos reveal the existence of camps North Korea says don’t exist. (Daily Mail).

As reports of torture and unspeakable inhumanities continue to leak out of the Hermit Kingdom, a portrait of murder and suppression has slowly emerged — one that has the United Nations Human Rights Council considering an inquiry into possible crimes against humanity.

But although an “inquiry” sounds like a good first step, it may not be enough. If reports from those who say they managed to escape North Korea’s prison system prove accurate, perhaps something stronger than an “inquiry” will be required from the international community.

Of North Korea’s 24 million people, roughly 150,000-200,000 have mysteriously “disappeared,” according to the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea. (Screen grab).

And speaking of supposed first-hand accounts, CBS News’ “60 Minutes” in December sat down with Shin Dong-hyuk, an escapee who claims he was born, raised, tortured, and starved in Camp 14, the most notorious of North Korea’s “political prisons.”

Shin Dong-hyuk says he was kept prisoner for 23 years because of “political crimes” his grandfather may or may not have committed. (Screen grab).

His story is terrifying:

In case you don’t have time to watch Dong-hyuk recount his life as a prisoner, here are some illustrations from another ​alleged escapee that seem to corroborate his claims (note: the source of these drawings has not yet been confirmed):

Imgur.

Imgur.

Imgur.

Imgur.

Imgur.

Imgur.

IImgur.

Imgur.

Meanwhile, Kim Jong-un, North Korea’s new ruler, lives a life of splendor, apparently unmoved by the alleged campaign of brutality and “thought correction” waged against his people.

Kim Jong Un, Dennis Rodman share a laugh at basketball game in Pyongyang. (Jason Mojica/ VICE Media/AP).

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And we’re not kidding when we say Kentuckians are intense about their basketball.

Consider, for example, “Chester.” Chester is so upset by the fact that his Kentucky Wildcats didn’t make it into this year’s NCAA tournament, that he believes creeping socialism may have had something to do with it.

“I think it’s a disgrace and a joke that the NCAA didn’t put us in the tournament,” he told Kentucky Sports Radio’s Matt Jones. “If you ask me, it’s a bunch of liberal socialism that’s made its way into sports.”

“Laugh all you want,” he adds. “But it’s the truth. That mindset is creeping its way into everything.”

“It ain’t nobody’s fault, I’m not mad at you,” he told the host. “That’s just the reality. Maybe you oughta’ think about what your party is doing to this country.”

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Think about it: We see baseball and football coaches doused all the time. When was the last time you saw a basketball coach thoroughly soaked? What’s the deal?

The explanation is actually pretty simple.

“Gatorade baths seem to be almost exclusive property of victorious football coaches. It’s easier to create mischief on crowded sidelines, coaches usually aren’t wearing fancy suits that can be ruined and, again, you’re not challenging the laws of friction and gravity,” writes Kevin Kaduk for Yahoo! Sports.

Indeed. Observe what happens when the women of North Platte Community College douse Coach Richard Thurin after their “huge” win in Sunday’s NJCAA Division II Region F title game:

Ouch.

Luckily, according Joe Kinsey of Busted Coverage, Thurin’s granddaughter, who uploaded the video to YouTube, said no one was hurt during the incident.

And that’s why you don’t dump Gatorade on your basketball coach. Now you know, and knowing is half the battle.

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It is not, however, a contact sport. Well, it isn’t unless your name is Pete Rose or you happen to be pitching for a Division III college baseball team that’s down 6-2:

The hit happened during a Sunday game between Hendrix College (Conway, Ark.) and Berry College (Mount Berry, Ga.), according to the video’s description.

Larry Brown Sports describes the scene:

The YouTube uploader, whose user name is “HendrixBaseballFan,” says the Berry College pitcher threw at batter Matt Simmons, who had called timeout just before the pitch was delivered. The next pitch was in the dirt, and Hendrix’s runner at third tried to score. We say “tried” to score, because nobody could have predicted what happened next.

As junior center fielder Collin Radack was attempting to score, he was leveled by Berry’s pitcher. You can’t even try to argue the contact was accidental, because the video shows the pitcher locating the runner and running straight at him.

As mentioned in the above, Berry was down by four runs when the pitcher, Levi Austin, took down Hendrix’s Collin Radack. So who knows? Maybe the dirty hit was a bit of frustration coming out.

Amazingly enough, and despite Radack being awarded the run (even though he ​clearly ​didn’t touch home plate), Berry managed to rally and take the game 9-7.

Oh, also, you better believe Austin was disciplined for his “unorthodox” tactics: “The school’s athletic director informs Larry Brown Sports that the player has been suspended for the team’s next conference three-game series.”

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Really.

The pit bull mix, Buzz, was taken to an animal shelter in San Bernardino, Calif., after his owner Dave Thomas was arrested last week and there was no one to care for the dog. After Thomas was released, he visited the shelter and sat heartbroken by Buzz’s cage, because he didn’t have the $400 it was estimated to release the dog.

Thomas with his dog Buzz when he was still impounded. (Photo: Maria Sanchez/Facebook)

That’s when Maria Sanchez of Riverside, Calif., who visits the shelter regularly to take pictures of the dogs, snapped a photo that would eventually go viral on Facebook and raise funds enough to help Thomas get Buzz back.

Thomas was so happy he kissed Sanchez’s feet on video to express his gratitude.

Of the more than $2,000 that was raised, Thomas told the San Bernardino Sun, “I believe it’s for my dog and not me.”

Thomas was able to take Buzz home this week, after he was neutered. But shortly after the happy homecoming, things seem to have turned sour between Sanchez and Thomas.

On Facebook, Sanchez posted that she had received a call from the local news station, letting her know that Thomas had told them she was keeping his donations.

Here’s how Sanchez explained it:

I have transferred $842.07 into my bank to reimburse myself for the shelter fees, vet and PetSmart shopping spree that I put onto my personal credit card. I had a discussion regarding the remainder of the donations and how he would like to spend them.

I said it would be a good idea to pay off any outstanding tickets so that he will not be taken to jail in the future for having a warrant for unpaid traffic tickets. I asked if he had any bills that were due at the time. I told him that every dime that was donated would go to him and Buzz, but that I would not be giving him the cash. I explained to him that the money that was donated was a blessing for him, I wanted to be sure that we respected that and used the donations responsibly. He sat next to me and nodded his head. Not one response, question or concern.

After I hung up with KTLA channel 5, I tried to call Dave. His wife would not let me speak to him. She screamed at me that I was stealing their dog’s money. She said they have called the news stations and that if I did not give them their money, they were going to call the police.

Sanchez continued, writing that — given this latest development — she would not give Thomas any of the leftover money but would be refunding it.

“I have had my life and the lives of my children devastated by drug addiction. I will play no part in supporting anyone’s habit,” Sanchez wrote.

She is, of course, referring to Thomas’ arrest last week. The San Bernardino Sun reported Police Lt. Paul Williams saying Thomas was arrested for suspected possession of drugs for sale. Thomas was found to have marijuana upon his arrest, but the Sun reported he had papers to show he was a medical marijuana patient.

Sanchez then posted a voicemail on YouTube she had recorded from Thomas responding to her Facebook post where he accused her of slander, embezzlement, and grand larceny.

“You are dead wrong,” Thomas said in the voicemail. “I will be getting in touch with a lawyer.”

In the voicemail, which we should note cannot be verified if it is officially Thomas, he says he is clean from drugs.

“I’ll test it for these cops again to prove,” Thomas said. “Enjoy.”

Watch the clip:

As Sanchez put it in her Facebook post, “No good deed goes unpunished, right?”

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Because this one is definitely nastier:

So who is she?

“Best we can tell,” sports website Deadspin notes, “a Georgia College Bobcat shot a free throw approximately four feet high and four feet out, en route to a 70-60 loss to the Columbus State Lady Cougars in a Division II women’s matchup in the Peach Belt conference this past Saturday.”

After a little more digging, it appears the free-thrower is Georgia College freshman Shanteona Keys who, despite the ugly throw, is actually a talented basketball player.

Also, according to a few Deadspin commenters (take it with a large grain of salt), Miss Keys allegedly sneezed right at the moment of release.

Watch the video again and judge for yourself.

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“Organizers often request that people who show up to rallies leave their weapons at home, but one man didn’t get that message and now faces a misdemeanor,” WSMV reports.

“Troopers arrested Reggie Robertson of Byrdstown for carrying an AR-15 as about 100 people gathered to express their concern about the proposals in Washington to limit semiautomatic assault rifles and high-capacity magazines,” the report adds.

“The state troopers are doing their job, and while it’s legal to carry a gun around, it does upset some people so it’s best to keep it hid, I think,” attendee Jeff Quinn told reporters.

Robertson had attached a loaded magazine to the rifle and had two more clipped to his belt, the Tennessee Highway Patrol said.

“While permit holders are allowed to carry handguns on the Plaza, the THP said it’s unlawful to carry a loaded rifle in public places,” the report explains. “The man was cited for unlawful carrying and possession of a weapon, which is a misdemeanor.”

“Robertson … must appear for booking on March 4. He was a valid handgun permit holder, and this is his first offense,” the report adds.

Despite the minor mishap, the rally continued as protesters expressed their thoughts on the issue of gun control.

“I just feel as an American citizen if I have the right to life, I have the right to defend my life with the best tools available to me,” one protestor, James Anderson, told reporters.

“I realized kind of one night when I thought there was someone in my house – and thankfully there wasn’t – but that was the night I realized the scissors by my bed would do no good,” said Ellie Lentz.

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Get that? Here’s a closer look at the picture in the video:

Twitter

And this is by no means the only example of a New Englander who got “snowed in” by Nemo. Check out some of these other pictures:

Twitter

Twitter

Facebook

Penobscot Bay Pilot

Penobscot Bay Pilot

Photo by Elyse Socker

Photo by Kim Dunn

Let the digging out begin:

Here are some photos showing just how hard Nemo hit certain towns:

Twitter

Courtesy Heather Littlefield

“Up to my taller son’s chest & it would’ve been over my shorter son’s head.” Twitter

Twitter

“Yup, the tractor died and Marshall shoveled a walking path down the 1,000 foot driveway…” Twitter

But you know, while most of us would approach a five-foot wall of snow with both dread and loathing, we guess it’s all just a matter of perspective. Just ask these kids:

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And you didn’t miss out on much:

So, yeah, that’s actor and comedian Will Ferrell making out with an older woman for, like, a solid minute. That’s it. That’s the whole commercial.

Now we understand Ferrell is known for his quirky humor, but there has to be some sort of a set-up and punch line, right?

Heck, the Old Milwaukee ad from last year’s Super Bowl, which was only seen by residents of North Platte, Neb., was at least kind of entertaining:

Maybe we’re missing something. Maybe it’s ultra-sophisticated humor and we’re just not smart enough to “get it.” Or maybe, just maybe, the entire purpose of the commercial was to get everyone talking about it — and apparently, it worked.

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In case you’re wondering what’s going on, here’s a brief description from the BBC:

Staff at a Japanese zoo have been practising procedures designed to recapture escaped animals in the event of an earthquake.

An employee of Tama Zoo outside Tokyo donned a zebra costume during the drill as emergency workers set up a barricade.

Personally, we can’t decide which is funnier: The zoo video or BBC’s Carrie Gracie’s attempts to describe it without laughing.

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And it was a nasty one:

“Thirteen ejections, an AHL-record 230 penalty minutes and two fully engaged goalies packed extra umph into a fight that lasted — on and off — nearly 3 1/2 minutes,” the Huffington Post notes, adding that the IceHogs were wearing commemorative pink jersey “as part of Pink in the Rink breast cancer awareness.”

So what happened?

It all started when Rockford’s Kyle Beach and Grand Rapids’ Riley Sheahan started to duke it out mid-ice. After that, everything pretty much went to shambles. Even the goalies got in on it!

Screen grab

“Guys are sticking up for each other, and that’s a big part with us,” Rockford captain Martin St. Pierre explained to the Rockford Register Star.

Oh, yeah, Grand Rapids beat Rockford 11-6, but who remembers that?

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As a member of the Madison High School wrestling team in South Dakota, it was McComish’s moment in the spotlight, unfortunately both figuratively and literally — that’s because a spotlight literally came crashing down on him:

“That was the scariest thing, folks, I think I have ever seen,” one of the announcers can bear heard saying in the video.

Thankfully for McComish, and despite the fact that the 100-lbs spotlight dropped 15 feet onto his head, the damage was minimal and he laughs off the incident.

“After a couple of seconds I realized what it was — I noticed all the glass and thought ‘okay, this isn’t good,’” McComish told KSFY.

“I thought this guy’s kind of aggressive and then I realized it was the light. Everyone’s been asking if I’m going to look up every time I wrestle now,” he joked with Today.

McComish needed about 20 stitches after the incident. (Courtesy KSFY).

“The incident sent him to the emergency room where McComish had to have about 20 stitches in two places on his head,” CBS News reports.

McComish’s mother and his school are thankful the incident wasn’t more serious.

“We are very thankful it was not more serious. We are hoping for the best and taking it just one day at a time,” his mother told the Madison Daily Leader.

“The unfortunate accident that occurred on Friday was indeed a scary moment for everyone involved. We are thankful to report that (McComish) is recovering and is in school,” Madison High School said in a written statement.

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Meanwhile, the Republican members of the House of Representatives assembled for a second New Year’s Day meeting to discuss the latest bill to solve the Fiscal Cliff approved by the Senate.

Before joining his colleagues in the meeting, Rep. Darrell Issa of California’s 49th District spoke with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer about the Senate bill, the chances for the bill to pass the House, and Issa’s support for Speaker John Boehner.

Image: CNN

One of Issa’s statements does not exactly send a positive message about the potential for the Senate bill to pass easily in the House.

“This bill in its present form is not good enough because it doesn’t deal with spending reduction in any way, shape, or form.”

Near the end of the interview, Blitzer asked Rep. Issa about his “confidence” in Speaker John Boehner. The Congressman’s reply:

I have confidence in the Speaker, he’s listening, he’s making the process open, but of course, that includes people like myself and leader Cantor, who say we’ve got to be open for change, and we want to see them.”

The abbreviated CNN interview is here.

Watch the full 8:05 CNN interview here.

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Much to his critics’ chagrin, Beck has proven to be insightful and indeed accurate on many such fronts, particularly as it relates to the Arab Spring; the increased erosion of privacy in American life; withering congressional power with President Obama’s sweeping use of executive orders; the rise of gun sales following the 2012 presidential elections, and so on.

Below are a series of clips spanning the last year in which Beck has brought to light some very telling revelations.

From the end of 2011 through today, Beck has pored over seemingly countless reports to provide his viewers with a new perspective. He dedicated numerous programs to exposing the Benghazi scandal that left a U.S. ambassador, two Navy SEALs, and a civil servant dead, with both he and his news site, TheBlaze, tackling the unpopular theory that the late Christophers Stevens may have been the point man in an administration-led gun-running scheme:

In terms of the Arab Spring and rise of the Muslim Brotherhood, few have spoken more candidly or astutely on the clear and present threats than Beck.

For instance, he cautioned Americans and Israelis to be particularly leery of the Arab Spring lest its agenda not truly be one of freedom and democracy. He also accurately predicted the ambitions of the Muslim Brotherhood and its clear goal to implement a hardline theocratic agenda in the countries to which it had set siege.

Even before moving to his own network, as early as January 2011, Beck talked about the Brotherhood’s destabilizing force in the Middle East and its ability to set the region ablaze:

Beck on those who criticized his Muslim Brotherhood predictions:

Moving into domestic issues, Beck also touched a great deal on invasion of privacy as he discussed the use of surveillance drones and internet security (or perhaps insecurity) in daily lives of Americans. Of course, earlier in 2012, Congress succumbed to pressure from the Defense Department and drone manufacturers, ordering the FAA to give drones greater access to civilian airspace by 2015.

Few are also aware of an administration-led plan Beck exposed one year ago in January that could essentially turn the nation into a real life “1984″:

The mandate applies to drones operated by private companies or individuals and civilian government agencies, including federal, state, and local law enforcement, according to a previous report on TheBlaze.

Few small-government leaders have been more outspoken nor have fought harder to stop the “out of control freight train” that is America’s ever-growing Nanny State than Beck:

Beck also discussed what could become a trend of affluent people “dressing down” in order to skirt the ire of those who seek to do them harm for no reason other than, well, their wealth:

On October 31, 2012 Beck made a prediction that if Obama won his re-election bid, the following day would mark “the biggest day of gun sales in the history of the world.”

“There will be more ammunition and more guns sold in the United States than any place at any time in the history of the planet next Wednesday. And let me make another prediction: If Obama wins, you are going to be very angry that you didn’t buy your gun in advance because they’re going to be hard to get, and ammunition will be hard to get,” said Beck.

“Because there will be a run on ammunition. Maybe I’m crazy, but I don’t think anybody who is an NRA member has any doubt on how much of a friend President Obama is to guns, and everybody will want to be grandfathered in,” he added.

Like clockwork on November 7, TheBlaze reported that gun sales, indeed, did skyrocket following the 2012 election.  What’s more, the November 2012 cover of TheBlaze Magazine asked “Will the Constitution Be Disarmed?” and discussed the fact that everything from the Fast and Furious scandal, to numerous exploitations of tragedies, to legislation making gun ownership increasingly difficult has made it clear that Americans Second Amendment rights are under threat.

Following the politicization of the Newtown, Conn., school shooting, the threat to gun rights may be more clear than ever:

On September, 5, 2012, Beck talked about monetizing the debt and the government’s penchant for printing money.

TheBlaze’s Becket Adams wrote that when the Federal Reserve announced in September an unlimited and open-ended third round of quantitative easing (“QE3” or “QE-Infinity”), “we figured that’s about as far as you can go in terms of monetizing the debt,” but then “December rolled around and the Fed introduced yet another round of open-ended quantitative easing (‘QE4′), this time committing $45 billion a month to purchasing Treasury securities.”

“So with the Fed’s $40 billion a month commitment to mortgage backed securities (i.e. ‘QE-Infinity’) and its never-ending $45 billion a month commitment to Treasury securities (i.e. ‘QE4-Ever’), a monthly total of $85 billion, it looks like they can’t monetize the country’s debt fast enough — and all this in the span of about three months.”

Below, Beck talks about quantitative easing (or, “printing money”) along with several other predictions he made in 2012:

Some of these predictions did indeed come to come, others may be well on their way to doing so, but in each case one thing is clear: few media personalities have had their finger on the pulse of the world-stage quite like Beck.

And when it comes to 2013, a line from the classic movie “All About Eve” seems more apropos than ever: “Fasten your seat belts, it’s going to be a bumpy night.“

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The results are surprisingly hilarious (it picks up steam at around the 0:37 mark):

“Thanks to my lovely wife Kim Evey Benson for shooting this! And thanks to Kyle Macias, who suggested the idea on my Facebook page,” reads the video’s YouTube description. “After I shot this, I found out this was originally done on The Ellen Show (‘Ellen’s Dance Dare’), so thanks to Ellen DeGeneres too!”

And even if you don’t think it’s all that funny, that’s fine, too. We ​think it’s funny (and that’s what really matters).

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“He’s as good as he’s ever been,” Griffin said of the confrontational host. “He’s at a place in his life where he’s really comfortable in his own skin. He’s a statesman. He has so much knowledge and I think he understands it better. He’s always been great, but I really think he’s been at the peak of his game.”

“He is sort of the model figure for who we are,” he adds. “He doesn’t stick out loving politics and being passionate about politics. It comes across in everything we do … And that’s Chris.”

And “passionate” he is. In fact, there were several moments this year when, instead of commenting on the news, Matthews ​became ​the news for his confrontational style and controversial statements.

So, without any further introduction, here are six of the most entertaining Matthews moments from 2012:

6. Matthews Goes Full-Bore on RNC Chairman Reince Priebus

During a sit-down on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Matthews attacked Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus for the GOP’s supposed attempts to paint the president as an “other”:

“I think Obama’s policies,” Priebus said, “have created a sense that for whatever reason, he looks for guidance — as far as health care is concerned, as far as spending is concerned, as far as the stimulus packages are concerned — he’s looking to Europe for guidance. That’s the problem.”

“Where do you get this from? This is insane.” Matthews interjected. “You mean the fact that every president we’ve had has tried to offset the economic cycle with stimulus going the other direction is somehow European?

“Look at the spending, he said he’d get the debt under control. Where are we at?”

“What’s this got to do with Europe and this foreignization of [Obama]?” Matthews said. “You’re playing that card again. What’s this European thing of yours?”

5. Matthews Wants Conservative Group to Show Him the Money

During a segment on Michigan’s newly passed right-to-work legislation, Matthews berated a spokesman for Americans for Prosperity, an anti-tax and government spending organization, for the group’s connection to the conservative billionaire Koch brothers.

“You work for the Koch brothers, they don’t like unions, why are you working for them?” Matthews said.

“I work for Americans for Prosperity,” Scott Hagerstrom responded. “This is not about the Koch brothers this is about — ”

“Well, who’s paying your salary?” Matthews said.

“I work for Americans for Prosperity,” Hagerstrom responded. “We’re a nonprofit.”

“Who’s paying your salary?” Matthews repeated.

Hagerstrom said he came on the show to talk about policy. Matthews wasn’t interested: “Who’s paying your salary to do what you’re doing right now?”

“I just told you, Americans for Prosperity,” Hagerstrom said.

“What’s that?” Matthews asked, “You’re not answering my question.”

Watch the full segment below, via MSNBC. NewsBusters has an abridged version (scroll):

4. If you don’t vote, you are an idiot

There were a few moments this year when it became apparent that the presidential election was weighing heavily on Matthews. The following monologue on “idiots,” “haters,” “numbskulls,” and the GOP’s “evil” voter suppression tactics is one of those moments:

But wait! There’s more!

Okay, let’s recap:

Anyone who doesn’t vote is an “idiot,” “haters” always vote, “lovers” don’t vote because they’re distracted in frivolous pleasures, third and fourth party candidates are “numbskulls,” long waiting lines at polling stations are because of racist voter suppression tactics, Donald Trump and former New Hampshire Gov. John Sununu are racists, any conservative who mentions the president’s ethnicity is kind of “evil,” and the GOP’s supposed anti-ethnic strategy is an appeal to “undereducated, white, working-class voters.”

3. I’m not losing it!

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ October jobs report was notable not only because it showed a sizable decrease in the unemployment rate, but because it was also met with a certain amount of skepticism, most notably from former General Electric CEO Jack Welch:

Unbelievable jobs numbers..these Chicago guys will do anything..can’t debate so change numbers

— Jack Welch (@jack_welch) October 5, 2012

Matthews was not pleased that the former executive would dare to question the data.

“It’s not funny, Jack…You’re talking about the President of the United States playing with the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ numbers. This is Nixon stuff. This is what Nixon said back in the old days,” Matthews said.

“Chris, don’t lose it now,” Welch said.

“I’m not losing it. Look at my face. I’m not losing it,” Matthews said.

“Jack, do you want to take back the charge that there was corruption here,” Matthews asked again, getting the same answer.

“You don’t think it’s coincidental that we’ve got the biggest surge since 1983 in the jobs surge? Come on, Chris,” Welch said, refusing to back down. “It’s a six percent improvement in employment in two months…The numbers don’t jibe.”

He continued: “These numbers defy logic. They defy logic. We do not have a 4 to 5 percent booming economy with 873,000 people added. I mean, stop it, Chris. On the face of it, we don’t have this GDP. I love you, but you can’t get there.”

2. First Debate Meltdown

Following Barack Obama’s tired and widely-panned performance in the first presidential debate, a deeply dismayed Matthews took to the airwaves to vent his frustration.

“I don’t know what he was doing out there. He had his head down, he was enduring the debate rather than fighting it. Romney, on the other hand, came in with a campaign. He had a plan, he was going to dominate the time, he was going to be aggressive, he was going to push the moderator around, which he did effectively, he was going to relish the evening, enjoying it,” Matthews said.

“Here’s my question for Obama: I know he likes saying he doesn’t watch cable television but maybe he should start. Maybe he should start. I don’t know how he let Romney get away with the crap he throughout tonight about Social Security,” Matthews complained.

“Where was Obama tonight? He should watch — well, not just Hardball, Rachel, he should watch you, he should watch the Reverend Al [Sharpton], he should watch Lawrence. He would learn something about this debate. There’s a hot debate going on in this country. You know where it’s been held? Here on this network is where we’re having the debate,” Matthews said.

“We have our knives out,” Matthews added. “We go after the people and the facts.”

1. Gee, I’m happy we had that terrifying & destructive hurricane sandy

While wrapping up his thoughts on the outcome of the 2012 presidential election, Matthews expressed gratitude for the political boost Hurricane Sandy gave President Obama:

BONUS: Although Matthews is well-versed in the art of “shouting down,” a few people refuse to be pushed around by the left-leaning host. Take, for example, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich who, during a heated debate on supposed “racist dog whistles,” turned the tables on Matthews.

“What’s a ‘food stamp president’?” Matthews asked.

“A ‘food stamp president’ is the guy whose policies are so destructive, that he creates the longest unemployment since the Great Depression and he puts more people on food stamps — most of them white — than anybody else,” the former speaker responded.

“Why do you assume food stamp refers to blacks?” Gingrich added, turning the tables on the MSNBC host. “What kind of racist thinking do you have? You’re being a racist because you assume they’re black!”

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Image: NBC’s Today Show

As we mentioned in our update yesterday, the scam was part of a classroom assignment called  “Hoax the Internet” from the film school, Centre NAD in Montreal.

NBC scored the first American interview with the school and the students. Thursday morning they appeared on the Today Show.

Image: NBC’s Today Show

The two-month process involved creating the computerized images that were then digitized and placed into the scene in the park.

Image: NBC’s Today Show

According to one of the hoaxers, students were promised a grade of “100″ if their video managed to generate more than 100 views on the web. Grades should not be a problem for this team. At press time, the overachievers are approaching 20 million views for their entry.

Team member Normand Archimbault explained it all to the Today Show:

We did all the basic steps of creating a 3-D element for a film. We rigged the eagle, the kid, and then we integrated it with the clip.

The full “Today” show segment with further explanation is below:

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But wait! That’s not all!

At 9:30 p.m. ET, TheBlaze TV will also feature “American Traditions: Christmas” — “a look at what Christmas has meant to American families over the years, with appearances by Andy Williams, Peter Billingsley, Janine Turner, Ted Nugent and Santa Claus.”

(Because what would Christmas be without the Motor City Madman?)

But what Beck is really excited about is the music. Yup, TheBlaze TV Christmas special prominently features original music composed by Clyde Bawden and Jason Barney and featuring the voices of Michelle Moyer, Freddie Ashby, and David Osmond.

Here’s Beck talking about the music – which was put together at his direction — at the 4:59 mark:

That music has started to burn up the digital world. How so? Well, as of this writing, the album is sitting in the top 20 on iTunes and just outside the top 10 at number 17:

(iTunes)

(iTunes) 

You can preview and purchase the music via Amazon or on iTunes by clicking here.

And you can even check out Beck’s Spotify music list below:

In the meantime, listen to the artists’ reinterpretation of “Joy to the World” below. It’s sure to strike a chord:

Be sure to tune into the Christmas special at 8 p.m. ET online at TheBlaze TV (sign up here) or on Dish channel 212.

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The public posturing is a familiar element of negotiations that by any measure still have a long way to go. How political leaders talk in public isn’t always a good indication of their private discussions. This time, both sides acknowledge they are running short on time before $500 billion in scheduled tax increases and spending cuts begin in January.

Congressional aides for both parties say current back-channel talks are just as unproductive as those taking place in front of the TV cameras.

On ‘Real News’ Monday the panel discussed the dismal progression of negotiations between the House GOP and White House, where this Fiscal Cliff came from, and whether there is any possible political win for Republicans in this fight:

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(YouTube)

When Sgt. Cody Palmer of the Canadian County, Ok., Sheriff’s Department on Tuesday pulled over a Chevrolet Trailblazer for tailgating, he got a little more than he bargained for.

“I’m driving eastbound on I-40,” Sgt. Palmer told Fox 25, explaining why he pulled over the tailgating SUV. “He’s so close, he’s less than a car-length’s distance.”

“I go up and start talking to him, ask him for his license, insurance, everything,” Sgt. Palmer added. “He tells me he does not have an American license and he doesn’t have his passport.”

The driver, Jose Mascarena-Ayala, told Sgt. Palmer that he and his passengers had just finished a roofing job and that they were on their way back to Alabama. However, as noted by the police officer, there were no tools in the vehicle.

“They just appeared to be … terrified,” the office recalls.

It wasn’t until he ordered everyone to step out of the vehicle for a mandatory search that he realized how many occupants were squeezed in there.

“There was no luggage. There were bottles of urine in the back where literally they just go to the bathroom in these big jugs and they just keep driving down the road,” said Sgt. Palmer.

Once the search was finished, the officer ordered everyone back into the vehicle because, he says, it was unsafe for that many people to mill about the side of the highway. Once they were all re-loaded, Sgt. Palmer took Mascarena-Ayala back to his squad car to fill out some paperwork while they waited for immigration services to arrive.

That’s when the 13 passengers decided to head for the hills. Literally.

“They just scattered. 13 people running across the Interstate in front of cars (that were going) 70 — 80-miles-an-hour,” said Sgt. Palmer. “The driver takes off running from me. He gets out of my car and takes off running.”

Authorities eventually tracked down and apprehended 13 of the fleeing occupants, each one in the U.S. illegally, including Mascarena-Ayala. One passenger is still at large.

“People picture the U.S. — Mexico border as being this big, secure fence … and truly, it’s not,” said Sgt. Palmer. “It is literally in our backyard and it’s happening right here in Oklahoma. We’re going to start seeing a lot more of this.”

As it turns out, Jose Mascarena-Ayala has been banned from the U.S. for — you guessed it — human trafficking. This latest episode adds another 13 counts to his already sizable record.

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Business Insider:

Emergency services battled the flames for 12 hours as the blaze spread to four buses, a minibus and a second tanker

Despite the size of the explosion, there have been no reports of any injuries.

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The incident at the Florida high school took place on November 8, 2012, according to WPTV, but it’s just now going viral.

When asked about the incident, students spoke highly of the substitute teacher who they identify as “Mr. Smith” or “Smitty.”

“It’s just like, to see a kid, someone like that step up to someone. First of all you should have respect for that man. I know I would have,” Darrel Phillips, a senior at Palm Beach Lakes High in Florida, told WPTV.

Phillips, like his colleagues, believes both parties may be to blame for the incident.

“A teacher should, you know, stand up for himself, but not to go on ahead and you know. I’m speechless right now,” he said.

So far, the high school is keeping quiet on the incident, opting only to issue the following comment: “The incident is being investigated, and no report or further comment is available since the investigation remains open.”

At this moment, it is unclear what prompted the fight.

According to the WPTV report, the teacher has been terminated and the unnamed student has been expelled:

Shortly after the video was uploaded to Facebook, it was picked up by World Star Hip Hop and has been viewed 962,561 times since being posted last Sunday.

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Image: screen capture MRC video

Of course, the answers to the question, “What is the fiscal cliff?” will have you shaking your head. But unlike some videos, there may be more hope than you would think:

(H/T: Bob Parks and MRC)

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The park has a museum showing the development of the toilet through history, painting of toilets, and sculptures showing people… well… you know.

Image: Screen grab BBC video

Why would a town, any town, build a theme park dedicated to toilets? The BBC’s Lucy Williamson explains:

TheBlaze editors are wondering, if a toilet theme park opened in America… Would you go? What should it be called? (Flushland is a favorite with some) And what should the park’s slogan be?

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Do elections have consequences? If you have been paying attention to the financial markets, you might think so. Wall Street has had two horrible days since President Obama won a second term.

However, stock prices are not the only thing taking a hit. It appears that the job market is also suffering. In the last 48 hours, the following major corporations have announced layoffs in America (links take you to news stories about the layoffs – with details from the companies):

• Energizer -

The St. Louis-based company said Thursday that it expects to shed about 1,500 employees. When finished, the restructuring should lead to $200 million in pretax yearly savings, Energizer said. It aims to have most of its restructuring steps finished by the end of September 2014.

• Exide Technologies -

Exide Technologies announced Thursday that it will be idling its lead-recycling operations in Laureldale and laying off 150 workers, effective no later than March 31.

• Westinghouse -

Westinghouse Anniston, the contractor responsible for shutting down Anniston’s chemical weapons incinerator, has reduced its workforce by another 50 employees.

• Research in Motion Limited -

Research in Motion Ltd., the maker of BlackBerry smartphones, laid off about 200 people at its U.S. headquarters in Irving on Wednesday, according to a source close to the company who did not want to be named.

• Lightyear Network Solutions -

More than one dozen employees at a Pikeville company lost their jobs this week. Officials with Lightyear Network Solutions said they are consolidating offices in Louisville and Pikeville to save money.

• Providence Journal -

The Providence Journal Co. laid off 23 full-time workers Wednesday as part of a cost-cutting effort, including 16 members of the Providence Newspaper Guild and 7 non-union employees.

• Hawker Beechcraft -

The company says 240 employees will lose their jobs with the closing of Hawker Beechcraft Services facilities in Little Rock, Ark.; Mesa, Ariz.; and San Antonio, Texas.

• Boeing (30% of their management staff) -

Boeing Co. said Wednesday it plans to employ 30% fewer executives at its Boeing Defense, Space & Security unit by the end of 2012 compared to 2010 levels.

• CVPH Medical Center -

CVPH Medical Center has handed pink slips to 17 employees. The layoffs — nine in management and eight hourly staffers — are part of an effort to “help bolster the hospital’s financial position in 2013 and beyond,” a press release said.

• US Cellular -

The move will result in 980 job cuts at U.S. Cellular, with 640 in the Chicago area, according to a spokeswoman. The cuts are slightly under 12 percent of the approximately 8,400 total employees U.S. Cellular had at the end of the third quarter.

• Momentive Performance Materials -

About 150 workers at Sistersville’s Momentive Performance Materials plant will be temporarily laid off later this month, officials said this week.

• Rocketdyne -

About 100 employees at Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, most of whom work in the San Fernando Valley, were laid off Wednesday in response to dwindling government spending on space exploration, the company said. The layoffs were effective immediately, and 75 percent of them came at the facilities on Canoga and De Soto avenues, which employ about 1,100 people. The company has six sites across the Valley.

• Brake Parts -

The leader of an automotive parts plant in Lincoln County has told state officials that there are plans to lay off 75 workers starting in late December…The layoffs are expected to start Dec. 28 and continue in the first quarter of 2013

Vestas Wind Systems A/S (VWS) is seeking to sell a stake of as much as 20 percent and said it’s reducing headcount by 3,000 to raise the staff cuts by the biggest wind turbine maker to almost a third over two years.

• Husqvarna -

Husqvarna AB (HUSQB), the world’s biggest maker of powered garden tools, plans to cut about 600 jobs in a move that will save 220 million kronor ($33 million) a year by 2014.

• Center for Hospice New York -

The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care plans to temporarily lay off as many as 40 employees next year as it embarks on a major renovation of the inpatient unit at its Cheektowaga campus.

• Bristol-Meyers -

Bristol-Myers Squibb is following up its lackluster third-quarter results with almost 480 layoffs. As Pharmalot reports, the company notified the New Jersey government that it would scale back in Plainsboro, which means the cuts will hit its sales operations.

• OCE North America -

Trumbull printer- and scanning-equipment provider Oce North America, Inc. will lay off 135 workers in three Connecticut communities, including East Hartford, according to its notice with the state Labor Department.

• Darden Restaurants -

The company, which was among those who had received an Obamacare waiver in the past, is looking to limit workers to 28 hours per week. A full time employee that is required to have health insurance (lest the employer pay a fine) works 30 hours per week, as defined by the Obamacare law.

• West Ridge Mine -

In its statement, UtahAmerican Energy blames the Obama administration for instituting policies that will close down “204 American coal-fired power plants by 2014″ and for drastically reducing the market for coal.

• United Blood Services Gulf -

United Blood Services Gulf South region, the non-profit blood service provider for much of south Louisiana and Mississippi, will lay off approximately 10 percent of its workforce. It was a hard decision to make according to Susan Begnaud, Regional Center Director for the Gulf South region.

A layoff is tough enough for employees to deal with, imagine hearing the crushing news that your office is shutting down just before Thanksgiving and Christmas…  Here are some of the business closings that were announced in just the past two days:

• Caterpillar Inc. will close its plant in Owatonna Minn.
• Mount Pleasant’s Albrecht Sentry Foods
• The Target store at Manassas Mall Va.
• Millennium Academy in Wake Forest NC
• Target Closing Kissimmee FL Location
• The Andover Gift Shop in Andover MA
• Grand Union Family Markets Closing Storrs Location CT
• Movie Scene Milford Location NH
• Update: TE Connectivity Closing Greensboro Plant – 620 Layoffs Expected
• Gomer’s Fried Chicken in South Kansas City
• Kmart in Homer Glen
• Fresh Market on Pine Street in Burlington
• AGC Glass North America to permanently close its Blue Ridge Plant in Kingsport Tenn.
• The Target store at Platte and Academy in Colorado Springs
• The Roses store on Reynold Road in Winston-Salem NC
• Bost Harley-Davidson at 46th Avenue North and Delaware Ave. in West Nashville TN
• Townsend Booksellers in Oakland
• The Kmart store in Parkway Plaza off University Drive in Durham NC – 79 Jobs Lost

To see even more companies that announced layoffs since the election, visit the Daily Job Cuts page.

This story has been updated.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story stated: Meanders Kitchen losing its West Seattle location at 6032 California Ave. While the West Seattle location is closing, there is more to this story. TheBlaze has heard from the restaurant’s owner who told us:

 ”we’ve expanded into a much larger space with more than double the seating capacity.”

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Veteran political ad man and CNN contributor Alejandro “Alex” Castellanos had some choice words for the Obama campaign last night.  In the post debate coverage panel, CNN’s Nancy Grace and David Gergen were commenting that they were shocked  the President did not have a more hard-line attack on Romney.   Castellanos stated that if you believed Obama advertising, you would think Romney was a “terrible person” who wants to “eats babies” and “throw granny in the snow.”

“That guy didn’t show up tonight” he says, and instead Romney was “nice” and “would be very comfortable in your living room as President.”  The CNN polls were devastating for the President after the debate, showing a Romney landslide victory 67% to 25%.

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