WWE wrestler Benoit murder / suicide

It seems the facts of this situation are getting more and more bizare as new information is discovered and released to the public involving the death of WWE wrestler Chris Benoit, his wife Nancy (Woman) and their 7 year old son Daniel.

www.cnn.com is reporting that only two days before the bodies of the three family members were found in their home Benoit told told co-workers his wife and son had food poisoning and then Benoit called other co-workers and claimed to have missed a flight to a scheduled WWE show in Texas on Saturday. It is believed that his wife Nancy and possibly their son Daniel was already dead by this time. The same co-worker claimed Benoit said "I love you," during the conversation which was completely out of context.

Police are saying that Benoit placed Bibles beside the bodies of his wife and child after he killed them and spent at least one (1) day in the home with the bodies before hanging himself from one of his weight machines in his work out room at the home. There was no suicide note found in the home or anywhere else but there were text messages sent to co-workers from Benoit's cell phone on Sunday. Most of the text message sent from Benoit's cell phone to his co-workers included his address and one said "The dogs are in the enclosed pool area. Garage side door is open." It is apprent that he wanted the bodies of him and his family discovered fairly soon after his own death.

WWE held a 3 hour tribute to the career of Chris Benoit Monday night after canceling their regular edition of Monday Night RAW. However, Benoit had been traded to the ECW brand during last weeks roster draft. The mood was completely different for the ECW show after more information was learned about Benoit's involvment in the death of his family. Aside from an introduction to the show by chairman Vince McMahon, who appeared less sympathetic for Benoit than before, there was no mention of Chris Benoit or what had happened over the weekend. There were no tributes or dedicated matches or anything of the sort and the mood of the night was less somber than the show on Monday had been.

Update on WWE Star Chris Benoit's death

In an update to my earlier post today regarding the murder / suicide involving World Wrestling Entertainment star Chris Benoit, it has been released that Benoit was indeed the killer of his wife Nancy and his 7 year old son Daniel.

Police are saying that Benoit strangled his wife to death and smothered his son to death over the weekend before hanging himself in the weight room of his home Monday. Police are investigating if steroids could have played a factor in the actions of Chris Benoit over the weekend but are not saying much more than that.

For more on this strange story go to:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/W/WRESTLER_DEAD?SITE=OKTUL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

WWE Superstar Chris Benoit Found Dead

As a fan of professional wrestling for the vast majority of my life I find it kind of unsettling watching the wrestlers that I grew up cheering and booing passing on at such young ages. Over the years the likes of Owen Hart, "Flyin'" Brian Pillman, Curt Henning and others have passed away in the professional wrestling world leaving behind great matches and a legend that will one day will be an inspiration to others who desire the business as they once did.

Over the weekend there was yet another unexpected death in the world of professional wrestling. Current World Wrestling Entertainment superstar Chris Benoit was found dead in his home Monday along with his wife Nancy and their 7 year old son Daniel. Benoit was scheduled to participate in the pay-per-view Vengence on Sunday night; however, he left the show 40 minutes into it claiming he had to return home for personal reasons and was expected to return in time for his title match. However, he did not return and was found dead the next day.

The police department is now investigating the scene as a murder-suicide. It is believed that Benoit killed his wife and son over the weekend and then killed himself on Monday after sending "strange" text messages to friends. What could make a man snap in such a fashion as to return home and kill his wife and child before killing himself the following day? After watching Benoit for many years in the professional wrestling business it kind of amazes me to find this information out. I went back and forth in my like and dislike for his character in the wrestling world but the character they portray and the person they are are sometimes rarely similar. For the last few years I have not been a fan of Benoit's character in the ring; however, that does not change the fact that he was a person who was giving his all in the ring and was a very sound technical wrestler, something that you don't see much of in the professional wrestling business anymore.

One has to wonder what it was that sent him over the edge if in fact the scinario that the police department released is accurate. There is nothing 100% known yet. The autopsies on the family are scheduled for latter today and hopefully then more will be known.

For more on this on going story go here:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/W/WRESTLER_DEAD?SITE=PASUN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

"Thomas and Friends" railway toys recalled

Joining the likes of Peter Pan Peanut Butter, various pet foods and now a brand of toothpaste is the children's toy Thomas and Friends. According to Yahoo.com news: More than 1 million of the popular "Thomas & Friends" wooden railway toys made in China are being voluntarily recalled because some may contain lead paint, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Wednesday.

About 1.5 million wooden vehicles, buildings and other train-set parts for young children are being recalled, the CPSC said in a statement. The toys were sold in the United States from January 2005 through June 2007, the statement said. The recall of toys made in China follows a series of health scandals in the United States involving food, drugs and other products imported from China, from poisoned cough syrup to tainted toothpaste and pet food.

"Consumers should take the recalled toys away from young children immediately and contact RC2 Corp. for a replacement toy," the CPSC said.

For more on this story please go to: http://news.yahoo.com/

Colgate warns of fake toothpaste in U.S.

In the wake of the large Pet Food Recall in recent months and the peanut butter recall a few month prior there is yet another product on the American market that could pose potentially harmful effects to those who may use it. According to Yahoo.com news section: Colgate-Palmolive Co. on Thursday warned counterfeit "Colgate" toothpaste that may contain a toxic chemical had been found in discount stores in four U.S. states.

Colgate-Palmolive said it does not use, nor has ever used, diethylene glycol as an ingredient in its toothpaste anywhere in the world. The chemical, also known as DEG and sometimes illegally used as an inexpensive sweetener and thickening agent, is commonly found in solvents and antifreeze.

The counterfeit toothpaste is labeled as being manufactured in South Africa but Colgate-Palmolive said it does not import toothpaste to the United States from South Africa. The packaging also contains several misspellings.

For more on this story visit http://news.yahoo.com

Company recalls 129,000 pounds of beef

According to various news websites including yahoo, AP, and others, a meat company in Kalamazoo, Mich. is recalling the beef due to ecoli contamination. Davis Creek Meats and Seafood were the manufacturers of the product for Gordon Food Service stores.

Products which were made between April 30th and May 1st were shipped to the following states: Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

The items in question are boxes of mechanically tenderized steaks and ground beef of different weights and each has the label "Est. 1947A" on it.

For more on this go here: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BEEF_RECALL?SITE=NCKIN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

India must resist China pressure on tiger ban

Ok, anyone who has been reading my blog for some time now knows that I adore Tigers. My favorite of which is the white tigers and it really saddens me to think that there are truely a limited number of these awesome creatures left in this world. I for one have been lucky enough to have been able to see one of these creatures in person (at a zoo mind you but in person none the less) and their beauty and power is simply amazing to behold. I would love to see the numbers in these creatures incrase as opposed to decrease. Anyway, enough of my ranting here is the story from www.news.yahoo.com :

India must not support a Chinese campaign to lift a ban on trading tiger parts as any relaxation could wipe out the endangered cats, conservation group WWF-India said on Wednesday. The call came a day after a Chinese delegation met Indian officials seeking support to lift the ban, imposed in 1993 on the sale of tiger bones in China for use in traditional medicines as well as skins. "At a time when the tiger is already facing threats like habitat loss and poaching, China's move to lift the ban will only compound the problem further," Sujoy Banerjee from WWF-India's Species Conservation Programme told a news conference.

"The Indian government should take a strong stance on this issue in the interest of tiger conservation in India, which has the world's largest population of tigers in the wild." "Breeding a tiger costs $1,500 per year, but poaching a tiger costs just $40. If the trade becomes legal, which is more profitable -- poaching or breeding?" said wildlife biologist A.J.T. Johnsingh.

For more go to www.yahoo.com news section.

Man charged with stealing $250,000 worth of Skittles

Now I like these candies as much as the next person but this is a little extreme. Here's the report from www.cnn.com :

A man caught removing tires from a truck has been charged with stealing the tractor-trailer containing $250,000 worth of Skittles, police said.

Seven pallets of the 28 in the truck are still missing, authorities said. Alan Chavez, 22, has been charged with first-degree felony theft. It was unclear Monday whether he had a lawyer.

Chavez said he had paid someone else $500 for the truck's rims and tires, police said. The truck has an estimated value of $85,000, and the trailer's value is $30,000.

For more on this story go to: www.cnn.com

Most-wanted part of $2M estate: the dog

In Memphis, Tenn. A man who didn't have a will left a $2 million estate, but the most hotly contested item in court has been his golden retriever, Alex. The four-way dispute over the 13-year-old pet was so intense, an attorney was appointed to represent the dog's interest. On Monday, the judge decided the man's divorced parents should split custody, The Commercial Appeal reported.

"At first glance, the petition seems almost frivolous, but after speaking with all parties, it is evident that this is a highly emotional issue for all involved," said Alex's attorney, Paul Royal, in his report to the probate court. Ron Callan Jr., 35, committed suicide on New Year's Day. He had been a partner with his father in Callan Salvage & Appraisal Co., and the father was named the estate's administrator.

In the consent order the judge approved, the elder Callan and his ex-wife, Esther Snow Gnall, will trade custody of Alex every two weeks. Both parents also agreed to take the dog to the veterinarian for arthritis treatments and any other needed procedures. Before the agreement was reached, the elder Callan had custody and took Alex to work during the day. The father has cats at home, though, so at night, the dog stayed with Callan Jr.'s former girlfriend, who had known Alex since he was a puppy. The son's fiancee also was interested in Alex, and Gnall had said if she won custody, she would allow the fiancee to spend time with the dog.

Royal, the dog's attorney, said he believes all four people love Alex and would take good care of him, but they were using the fight for the dog to punish each other for past transgressions.
"This case is similar to a bitter custody battle involving children where each party loves the children, but the kids are stuck between two people who cannot coexist," the attorney said in his report.

For more on this story go to http://news.yahoo.com/

Lilly gets U.S. approval for Prozac for pooches

As someone who has two CRAZY poodles who suffer from separation anxiety time to time when left alone at the house when I have to leave them there, this article that I found on could very well be a blessing. However, I doubt that even my precious poodles would take to the treatment. I'm often reminded of Happy Bunny when I look at my two little poodles. "Cute But Psycho...Things Even Out!"

Man's best friend may have a new best friend after Eli Lilly and Co. won U.S. approval to sell its former blockbuster antidepressant Prozac to treat misbehaving mutts. The drug, repackaged into a chewable, beef-flavoured tablet to be called Reconcile, was officially approved by the Food And Drug Administration for the treatment of separation anxiety in dogs in conjunction with behaviour modification training.

"Lilly research shows that 10.7 million, or up to 17 percent of U.S. dogs suffer from separation anxiety," Steve Connell, manager of technical, academic and consumer services for companion animal health at Lilly, said in a statement. Canine separation anxiety can occur when dogs are left alone and manifests itself in a range of undesirable behaviours, such as destruction, excess barking, eating disorders or urinating or defecating in the house. The drug, known chemically as fluoxetine hydrochloride, can minimise a pet's distress from being left alone.

For more on this please visit
http://www.reuters.com/article/health-SP/idUSN2538704320070426

Grandma finds condom in McDonald's bag

A grandmother was alarmed to find a condom in a happy meal gift pack bought for her 7-year-old granddaughter at a McDonald's restaurant in New Zealand, local media reported Thursday.

The condom was discovered Tuesday night in a bag that came with Maia Whitaker's meal, which her grandparents bought at a McDonald's outlet in the city of Wellington. Grandpa Rowan Hutch told The Dominion Post newspaper it was lucky his wife was first to look inside the small sports bag that came with the meal. She was aghast when she found the green condom and its packet inside the bag, he said.

"I was pretty horrified really. The fact my granddaughter was going to look in the bag and find this thing. It would be difficult to explain, she's only seven," said Hutch. The outlet quickly swapped the happy meal for a hamburger and pencil case. McDonald's is investigating the find.
Spokeswoman Joanna Redfern-Hardisty said because of its popularity, the previous happy meal gift had sold out at the outlet and prepackaged sports bags were substituted as children's gifts.
One was left unsealed for display purposes and "somehow" had ended up with the customer, she said, without explaining why the condom was present.

http://news.yahoo.com

Fruity cocktails count as health food, study finds

A fruity cocktail may not only be fun to drink but may count as health food, U.S. and Thai researchers said on Thursday.

Adding ethanol -- the type of alcohol found in rum, vodka, tequila and other spirits -- boosted the antioxidant nutrients in strawberries and blackberries, the researchers found.
Any colored fruit might be made even more healthful with the addition of a splash of alcohol, they report in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture.

Berries, for instance, contain compounds known as polyphenols and anthocyanins. People who eat more of these fruits and vegetables have a documented lower risk of cancer, heart disease and some neurological diseases. The study did not address whether adding a little cocktail umbrella enhanced the effects.
www.yahoo.com news section.

Man brings donkey to testify in court

Faced with complaints that his donkey was too loud, attorney Gregory Shamoun decided to bring his case directly to the court: He had the donkey testify.

Buddy the donkey appeared in court Wednesday. He walked to the bench and stared at the jury, the picture of a gentle, well-mannered creature and not the loud, aggressive animal he had been accused of being.

Shamoun was in a dispute with oilman John Cantrell, who had complained to the city about a storage shed Shamoun was building in his backyard in Dallas. Cantrell said Shamoun retaliated by bringing the donkey from his ranch and putting him in the backyard.
Cantrell complained of donkey noise and manure piles.

"They bray a lot any time day or night. You never know when they're going to cut loose," he testified.

Despite the donkey's appearance, neither jurors or Buddy had the last say — the neighbors settled their dispute while jurors deliberated.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2007-04-19-court-donkey_N.htm?csp=34

Pocky

Ok, so I have become adicted to a new candy that I have found. Now I'm not one to get hooked on a candy in this way but this stuff is really good. It's Pocky and is basicly a biscuit stick coated with some sort of flavoring. I have only seen the chocolate and the strawberry but according to wikipedia there are many many more flavors that I must find.

Here's the link to wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pocky#In_manga_and_anime and there you can find all the info on this sweet temptation. I know I'll definately be looking for other flavors. At the moment the only places that I can find this stuff is on the shelves at Wal-mart usually in the asile where the pasta and the Raman noodles are found, and in a local comic store that may possibly have different flavors of the things. Oh well, I'm off to find more pocky! I hope everyone has a great day.

Girl kicked off plane for coughing

Now this is just a little extreme don't you think? I mean we have all had fits of uncontrollable coughing and things. Talk about going just a little over board. Oh well that seems to be the norm in the world today.

Rachel Collier was removed from the Continental Airlines plane as it was about to leave Newark, N.J., for Honolulu earlier this week. She had fallen asleep after boarding the plane with about three dozen classmates and woke up coughing and gasping for breath as it was about to take off.

The flight attendants gave her water, and a doctor on the flight said she would be OK to make the 10-hour flight. But the captain returned the aircraft to the gate to drop off the girl and one of her teachers. Rachel said she started crying when the captain told her to leave. She and the teacher finally made it home the next day.

Teacher Maile Kawamura, a chaperone for the spring break trip to New York and Washington, D.C., said she was shocked. The two didn't know what to do or where to stay, she said. They finally found accommodations in New York and bought clothes and toiletries.

Continental said in a statement that Collier was coughing "uncontrollably" on the plane Tuesday and that "the captain felt he was acting in the best interest of the passenger and other passengers on the flight."

More on Pet Food Recall

There has been a lot of stuff in the news regarding the recent pet food recalls. I have two poodles and feed them Pedigree dog food so I was hoping that it wasn't listed on the recall so you can imagine my relief when it WAS NOT there. Here is a link to Pedigree's website wher they talk about the safety of their product.

http://www.pedigree.com/petfoodrecall.asp

Hope this helps some out there who have furry members of their family.

Rat poison found in tainted pet food

Tests turned up rat poison in the pet food suspected of causing kidney failure in dogs and cats across the country and killing at least 16, state officials and scientists announced Friday.

The toxin was identified as aminopterin, which is used to kill rats in some countries, state Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker said. Aminopterin is not registered for killing rodents in the United States, though it is used as a cancer drug.

The pet deaths led to a recall of 60 million cans and pouches of pet food produced by Menu Foods and sold throughout North America under 95 brand names. There have been several reports of kidney failure in pets that ate the recalled brands, and the company has confirmed the deaths of 15 cats and one dog.

Menu Foods last week recalled "cuts and gravy" style dog and cat food. The recall sparked concern among pet owners across North America. It includes food sold under store brands carried by Wal-Mart, Kroger, Safeway and other large retailers, as well as private labels such as Iams, Nutro and Eukanuba. A list of the recalled pet food can be found at: http://www.menufoods.com/recall/

I have two dogs myself and find this type of thing very disturbing. I view my puppies as members of my family and hope this stupid thing gets straightened out quickly so that I don't have to worry about the type of food my puppies are getting. Thankfully Pedigree and Mighty Dog brand dog foods in the can are NOT included in the recall. HOWEVER: the Mighty Dog Pouches have been added to the recall list. For more on the story go to Yahoo.com news.

Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World's End

The trailer for Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World's End is now up at the official website at http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/pirates/atworldsend/ . Enjoy. I can't wait to see the movie. It's going to be quite interesting. The movie comes out May 25th.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Here's the Irish Unicorn wishing you the best St. Patrick's Day!!!!

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Indiana Man Tries to Cash Check From God

HOBART, Ind. - Kevin Russell found out it's not easy trying to cash a check from God. The 21-year-old man was arrested Monday after he tried to cash a check for $50,000 at the Chase Bank in Hobart that was signed "King Savior, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Servant," Hobart police Detective Jeff White said.

Russell was charged with one count attempted check fraud and one count intimidation, both felonies, and one count resisting law enforcement, a misdemeanor. He could face prison time.
Police were called to the bank after Russell tried to cash the check, which was written on an invalid Bank One check with no imprint, White said. Russell had several other checks with him that were signed the same way but made out in different dollar amounts, including one for $100,000.

Russell struggled with police as they tried to detain him, White said, and then threatened police as they transported him to the Hobart Police Department. "I've heard about God giving out eternal life, but this is the first time I've heard of him giving out cash," White said. No court date has been set for Russell. He was being held Wednesday at the Lake County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

For more go to http://news.yahoo.com/