Fred Zajonczloski is going to miss his father’s funeral because Continental Airlines was charging him almost $675 to change his flight – on top of the $1,200 he had already paid.
The grieving son Fred Zajonczloski flew from his home in San Antonio, Texas, to Rochester, New York, as soon as he found out his father Walter, 85, was dying.
Fred Zajonczloski was scheduled to return on Saturday December 17 but when he found out his father’s funeral was being changed to tomorrow, he tried to change his flight and his fiancee’s.
Continental Airlines informed him that the changes would cost a total of $675.
Fred Zajonczloski’s sister Julie Knapp told News10 they are “just a normal family” and could not afford that kind of money.
Julie Knapp said: “All we wanted was some compassion.”
Now, Fred Zajonczloski is going to miss his father’s burial tomorrow as he has already flown back on the original ticket.
Julie Knapp said: “I understand that people have jobs and people have things to do, but have a heart. Have a heart. I mean there’s somebody there that could have said yes, it’s okay to switch this flight.
“It’s frustrating and it’s very disappointing when I put my brother on that airplane and I said goodbye to him and knew he wasn’t going to be here.”
Julie Knapp also revealed that it was her father’s last wish to be buried beside his son Dale, who was just three when he died.
“That’s why it is so important that Freddie was here. To have that closure to be able to see his dad be buried with his son.
“He should be here with his family so he can say goodbye.”
Continental Airlines believe that a simple mistake has been made as their highest charge fee for changing flights is $200 – and that is for international flights.
A Continental Airlines spokesman said they are looking into the story.
He said: “Continental customer care will contact the customers directly. We certainly offer them our deepest condolences.”
Teenage model Gabrielle Joseph from UK killed herself under a train after a text from a boy cancelling a date at the cinema, an inquest heard today.
16-year-old Gabrielle Joseph told friends on Facebook: “I am going to kill myself tonight” after being upset when the date fell through.
Gabrielle Joseph, known as Gabby when she modelled for top fashion chain Hollister – was left “distressed” after receiving a message cancelling the date at 8:15 p.m.
The inquest heard Gabby Joseph died just 75 minutes later from multiple injuries after she was hit by the 75 mph Milford Haven to Cardiff train near her home on Easter Monday.
Teenage model Gabrielle Joseph killed herself under a train after a text from a boy cancelling a date at the cinema
Gabrielle Joseph told friends on Facebook that she was upset that the boy had cancelled their trip to the cinema the following night.
The teenager, who was studying for her A-levels, lived with mother Julie Joseph, a hairdresser, and father Terry.
Weeks before Gabrielle Joseph’s death, her portrait had been chosen as an image of the week by Digital Photographer magazine.
Gabby Joseph wrote a three-page message on Facebook to her friends just before she died in April.
Coroner Philip Rogers gave copies of the message to the jury but he did not read it aloud.
Philip Rogers said: “The last part of the message is a clear indication on Gabby’s part that she is going to take her own life.”
Gabrielle Joseph was described as “bubbly” and “outgoing” with a busy life attending college along with two part-time jobs – including with one fashion retailer Hollister at its store in Cardiff.
The teenager dreamed of being a top fashion model – and on her own modelling website, she wrote: “In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.”
But her father Terry Joseph described her as being “groggy and pale” on the day of her death near her home in Briton Ferry, South Wales.
A jury in Swansea returned a verdict of suicide.
A statement from her family after the inquest said they were “devastated by the loss of our precious Gabrielle”.
The statement added: “We have received an overwhelming amount of support from family and friends, to whom we will always be extremely grateful.
“We are trying to move forward positively by attempting to increase awareness and understanding of the issues surrounding youth suicide and the impact it has on those left behind.
“We would like to take this opportunity to urge young people to share their problems by talking to someone they trust.
“No problem is insurmountable and there is always help available.”
Gabrielle Joseph’s mother said in April following the death: “She was the most beautiful girl in the world, both inside and out. Nothing will take away the pain and devastation this has brought to us as a family. We wouldn’t want anyone to go through this.”
On April 12, Gabrielle Joseph had written on her Twitter account: “So much to look forward to this summer.”
Dutch researchers who developed a deadly strain of bird flu to help create vaccines have been told their research is a terrorist threat.
Scientists have for the first time been able to mutate the H5N1 strain of avian influenza so that it can be transmitted easily through the air.
Previously it was thought that H5N1 bird flu could only be transmitted between humans if they came into very close physical contact.
The research team of the Erasmus Medical in Rotterdam was hoping their work would help with the development of drugs and vaccines to counter mutations of the disease.
However, the groundbreaking investigation may never see the light of day amid fears that it could be used to develop a biological weapon.
Last month it was reported that there were fears the modified strain of the H5N1 virus is more dangerous than anthrax.
At the time, virologist Ron Fouchier admitted the strain is “one of the most dangerous viruses you can make”, but is still adamant he wants to publish a paper describing how it was done.
Last month it was reported that there were fears the modified strain of the H5N1 virus is more dangerous than anthrax
The findings had been due to be published in the American journal Science, but the U.S. National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity is now reviewing the paper to assess whether it should be blocked from publication.
One senior scientific advisor to the U.S. Government was last night quoted as saying: “The fear is that if you create something this deadly and it goes into a global pandemic the mortality and cost to the world could be massive. The worst-case scenario here is worse than anything you can imagine.”
The mutated virus is being stored under lock and key in a basement building at the centre in Rotterdam, but is without armed guards.
Dr. Ron Fouchier, who led the study, said that by experimenting on ferrets, whose immune system is very similar to humans, it is possible to create a highly-infectious strain through just a few mutations.
The decision on whether the findings should be published has divided academics as well as security specialists.
Thomas Inglesby, of the Center for Biosecurity at the University of Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania, told the New Scientist: “The benefits of publishing this work do not outweigh the dangers of showing other how to replicate it.”
Some critics have said that the research should never have been carried out because there is a risk that the dangerous form of flu could escape from the laboratory.
But Dr. Ron Fouchier defended the experiment, saying: “We know which mutation to watch for in the case of an outbreak and we can then stop the outbreak before it is too late. Furthermore, the finding will help in the timely development of vaccinations and medication.”
A second team of independent researchers at the universities of Wisconsin and Tokyo have carried out a similar study and are thought to have found similar results, which show how easy it is to create a more contagious strain.
The H5N1 strain of bird flu is fatal in 60% of human cases, but its spread has been limited because it is not passed between humans easily.
It has led to the deaths of millions of birds, but has only killed around 300 people since 2003.
There are more than a dozen strains of bird flu in the wild. The most virulent are H5 and H7, while the H5N1 subtype is the deadliest.
Scientists have previously warned that H5N1 could mutate into a new, deadly form of human flu.
Paul Keim, chairman of NSABB, said: “I can’t think of another pathogenic organism that is as scary as this one. I don’t think anthrax is scary at all compared to this.”
Traditionally scientific research has always been open so that fellow scientists can review the work of others and repeat their methods to try and learn from them.
But numerous scientists have said they believe research on the avian flu should be suppressed.
However bio-defense and flu expert Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, said the work carried out was medically important.
He added he could not discuss the papers because he was a member of NSABB but said if they were published certain information could be withheld and made available to those who really need to know.
“We don’t want to give bad guys a road map on how to make bad bugs really bad,” Michael Osterholm said.
Dead body of North Korean “Dear Leader” Kim Jong-Il has been laid in state in a glass coffin as weeping mourners filled public squares across the country.
State television showed still images of the Kim Jong-Il body in the open coffin, surrounded by wreaths and covered with a red blanket.
Kim Jong-Un – his third son and successor – paid his respects to his father along with top military and Workers’ Party officials during a “solemn ceremony”.
North Korea declared an 11-day period of official mourning, with flags flown at half-mast at all military units, factories, businesses, farms and public buildings.
The streets of the capital Pyongyang were quiet, but crowds of people gathered at landmarks to mourn Kim Jong-Il who died suddenly on Saturday from a massive heart attack at the age of 69.
Kim Jong-Il ruled North Korea for 17 years in a brutal and repressive dictatorship.
Under his regime’s economic mismanagement, a terrible famine in the 1990s caused the death of millions from starvation and hardship.
The tyrant imprisoned thousands of political “opponents” and there is no access to freedom of the press, the internet or health care in the country.
North Korean state television showed still images of the Kim Jong-Il body in the open coffin, surrounded by wreaths and covered with a red blanket
The dictator’s body was lying in state in the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, a mausoleum where the embalmed body of his father – national founder Kim Il-Sung – has been on display in a glass sarcophagus since his death in 1994.
A state funeral will be held there on December 28.
Ri Ho-Il, a lecturer at the Korean Revolutionary History Museum, said: “Our General is our people’s benevolent father. He defended our people’s happiness, carrying on his forced march night and day.”
Since Kim Jong-Il’s death, state media have stepped up their lavish praise of his son Kim Jong-Un in an effort to strengthen a cult of personality around him similar to that of his father.
Although there have been no signs of unrest or discord in Pyongyang’s somber streets, the possibility of a power struggle in a country seeking nuclear weapons and known for its secrecy has heightened tensions in the region.
North Korean officials said they will not invite foreign delegations and will allow no entertainment during the mourning period.
The Korean Central News Agency described Kim Jong-Un as a “great person born of heaven”, a propaganda term only his father and grandfather Kim Il-Sung had enjoyed.
The Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the ruling Workers’ Party, described Kim Jon-Un as “the spiritual pillar and the lighthouse of hope” for the people.
It described him as “born of Mount Paektu” – one of Korea’s most cherished sites and Kim Jong-Il’s official birthplace.
Yesterday, North Korea’s military pledged to “uphold the leadership of comrade Kim Jong-Un” and called him a “great successor”.
A hilariously sad clip of a FedEx delivery man chucking a computer monitor over a fence before returning to his van was posted on YouTube.
“Here is a video of my monitor being <<delivered>>,” the YouTube user wrote to describe surveillance footage taken outside a gated residence.
The 21-second clip, uploaded to YouTube by user goobie55 on Monday night, shows the delivery man taking the package from the back of a FedEx-branded van parked outside of the home’s front lawn.
Taking the package out, he walks alongside an iron gate enclosing the residence and past what appears to be a security keypad that might buzz him in.
Without missing a beat, its fragile contents are tossed onto a driveway on the other side of the gate.
Peering over his shoulder, the unidentified male continues his march back to the van – and, presumably, his next delivery.
A hilariously sad clip of a FedEx delivery man chucking a computer monitor over a fence before returning to his van was posted on YouTube
“The sad part is that I was home at the time with the front door wide open. All he would have had to do was ring the bell on the gate,” the YouTube user who uploaded the clip wrote in the description.
“Now I have to return my monitor since it is broken.”
Within hours of the footage being uploaded, several others shared similar horror stories.
One commenter, claiming to be a former FedEx employee, attempted to explain – suggesting the package might have been in pieces long before the botched delivery.
“I can tell you that that incident pails in comparison to the way they [sic] packages are handled behind closed doors,” the user wrote.
Basketball star Kobe Bryant was almost served with divorce papers four years ago it has emerged.
Kobe Bryant’s estranged wife Vanessa saw divorce lawyers after being pushed to the limit by the NBA legend’s antics, according to RadarOnline.
But Vanessa Bryant had a change of heart after he promised to change his ways and attend marriage counseling.
A source close to them said: “Vanessa almost threw in the towel four years ago. “Kobe has always had a slew of girlfriends, and the cheating was almost blatant.
“Vanessa had consulted with a divorce attorney, not Laura Wasser, who she has hired to represent her now. Kobe promised Vanessa he would stop cheating, and the two went to marriage counseling.
“Kobe did seem like a devoted husband, and Vanessa decided not to go through with filing at that time.”
Vanessa Bryant filed for divorce from Los Angeles Lakers star citing “irreconcilable differences”
Vanessa Bryant, 29, even stood by Los Angeles Lakers star when he was accused of sexually assaulting a worker at a hotel in Colorado.
Kobe Bryant, 33, admitted having sexual relations with 19-year old hotel employee Katelyn Faber, but denied assault.
The case was dropped by prosecutors after she refused to testify in the trial, but a separate civil lawsuit was eventually settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.
However, Vanessa Bryant decided to call time on their marriage of almost 11 years after growing tired of his philandering, despite hoping they could work things out for the sake of their two daughters.
The source said: “Vanessa wanted to stay together for the children. Vanessa stood by Kobe during his darkest hour, and she believed him when he said there would be no more women.
“Vanessa began to get suspicious again about 16 months ago about Kobe cheating on her, he knew that if he wasn’t faithful, she would leave him. Vanessa had no other choice.”
The revelation follows claims Kobe Bryant was growing close to one of Kim Kardashian’s best friends, Carla DiBello.
Several websites claimed Carla DiBello, 27, has been on close terms with Kobe Bryant for the last couple of years, according to Radar Online.
Some note that Carla DiBello has been spotted courtside at Lakers games.
Carla DiBello is one of Kim Kardashian’s closest friends, and is also a producer on Keeping Up With The Kardashians and Kourtney & Kim Take New York.
She travels around the world with the reality behemoth, and most recently was by her side during Kim Kardashian’s trip to Dubai.
Carla DiBello was director of strategic relations for SBE Group which owns a number of exclusive hotels and clubs in Hollywood.
She was also Steve Wynn’s assistant at his luxury hotel casino of the same name in Las Vegas.
Meanwhile, TMZ are reporting that Kobe Bryant is worth much less than the $400 million that was being suggested in some quarters, with his net worth instead being around $150 million.
Still a small fortune, but with a divorce settlement looming, every dollar will count as Kobe Bryant prepares to negotiate spousal and child support.
Vanessa Bryant filed for divorce from Los Angeles Lakers star citing “irreconcilable differences”.
TMZ further claims that she has caught Kobe Bryant with “multiple women” over the years – but the latest affair was the one that broke the camel’s back.
Sources did not tell the website how Vanessa Bryant found out about his alleged fling with Carla DiBello – but apparently it was through text messages.
Vanessa Bryant has been married to the LA Lakers player for ten years.
They have no pre-nuptial agreement, according to TMZ, so Vanessa Bryant will be entitled to substantial monies and has requested spousal support.
It is said that Kobe Bryant has already moved out of the mansion in Orange County that the couple once shared.
According to TMZ, Kobe Bryant purchased the abode ten years ago, but his wife will get the home as part of the couple’s divorce settlement.
They met when Vanessa was just 18, when she was working as a backing dancer in a studio where he was recording, though that material was never released to the public.
According to the legal documents obtained by TMZ, Vanessa Bryant is asking for joint custody of their two daughters – eight-year-old Natalia and five-year-old Gianna.
But she is asking that Kobe Bryant get visitation rights, which means she wants the kids in her care most of the time.
Vanessa Bryant is being represented by Laura Wasser and attorney Samantha Klein, whose clients include Britney Spears, Angelina Jolie, Maria Shriver and Kim Kardashian.
A CCTV camera in a shopping centre in Uzbekistan captured the image of how people encountered difficulties in using the escalator.
The video shows Uzbek shoppers as they try to get to grips with an escalator for the first time – and luckily they seem to have a much better understanding of the emergency stop button.
In the first sequence, a brightly dressed mother approaches the escalator with her son, who is young enough to be only half her height.
She stands, apparently sizing up the moving stairs before gingerly stepping on – and almost immediately tumbles head over heels backwards.
Gallantly, her tiny boy – who, typically of the young, seems to have a much better grasp of the modern technology – holds her and stops her tumbling further until another woman can shut it off.
The video shows Uzbek shoppers as they try to get to grips with an escalator for the first time - and luckily they seem to have a much better understanding of the emergency stop button
In the second sequence, three young women courageously step straight on to the escalator. But they immediately get into trouble.
They tumble into each other, trying to find their footing. One twigs that the key is to actually stop trying to walk and is carried away.
But her two friends are in a pickle, trying to escape the infernal machine and stop each other from getting hurt until a quick-thinking young man can hit emergency stop and they are able to walk up the now stationary stairs, as they are used to.
The third and final clip shows two old gents. The first, wearing a black jacket, steps on comfortably.
All seems to be going well for the first second until he tries to grab the handrail for support, then apparently changes his mind and tries to walk backwards.
He hasn’t noticed that a second man has embarked on the escalator behind him – and apparently had similar doubts.
The two men struggle with the moving stairs, close to disaster, until they are finally rescued – again – by the emergency stop.
Andre Curry, a young father from Chicago, is now the subject of a police probe after a shocking photo of his daughter with her hands and feet bound was posted on Facebook.
Andre Curry, 21, has generated intense internet backlash after he posted the photo in July.
Last week, the shocking photo appeared on websites like TheDirty.com and The Smoking Gun.
In the image, the tape holds the girl’s arms and legs together at the wrists and ankles, with another large piece of tape across her mouth.
The picture is slapped with the caption “this is wut happens wen my baby hits me back”.
Je’Vanna Cobbins, a friend of Curry’s, told The Smoking Gun that he was just “playing around”, and would “never do anything to harm anyone”.
She said: “[He was] being playful with his child. People play with their child differently.”
Andre Curry, 21, has generated intense internet backlash after he posted the photo in July
The Chicago Police Department said they were tipped off to the photo and their special investigations unit is looking into it.
A police spokesman said: “It’s an ongoing investigation.”
Andre Curry has not commented on the issue.
He has since taken the photo off Facebook, but as the image has spread on the internet, angry users have targeted his page.
One commenter called Andre Curry a “nasty child abuser”.
Another commenter said: “I hope you fall down the stairs and land on a bunch of bullets. Hate hate hate hate!”
Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia De Rossi have reportedly bought Brad Pitt’s Malibu mansion for $12 million.
It appears that Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi may have gotten special mate rates, as they purchased the property for $2 million under the asking price.
The new purchase comes as Ellen DeGeneres, 53, just put her $49 million Beverly Hills compound up for sale and is now looking for something smaller.
Brad Pitt’s mansion consists of two separate houses, a pool, a tennis court and expansive lush gardens.
The sprawling 4,100 square foot property also has private beach access and is set back off the Pacific Coast Highway by a long private driveway.
The main house has four bedrooms and four baths, a large chef’s kitchen with stainless steel appliances, bamboo floors, three fire places and a top of the range security system.
Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia De Rossi have reportedly bought Brad Pitt’s Malibu mansion for $12 million
The mansion has had extensive renovations in the past couple of years with an additional story added by the environmentally conscious designer Christopher R. Sorensen.
The house was just one part of a property portfolio belonging to Brad and Angelina Jolie that also includes homes in Malibu, Los Angeles, New Orleans, France and Italy.
No one knows why they chose to sell the property, which is set into a hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Cher’s transgender son, Chaz Bono, and his fiancée Jennifer Elia have decided to end their engagement.
Chaz Bono, 42, and Jennifer Elia – who have dated since 1999 – have not only cancelled plans to get hitched but have decided to end their relationship entirely.
Howard Bragman, Chaz Bono’ spokesperson, said yesterday: “They leave this relationship with great love, respect and affection toward one another.
“No further amplification will be forthcoming and they ask that you respect their privacy at this time.”
Earlier in the day, Chaz Bono tweeted: “Thanks for your concern about our separation. I’m doing fine, and we remain on good terms with nothing but respect and affection 4 eachother.”
Chaz Bono and his fiancée Jennifer Elia have decided to end their engagement
Just last month, Chaz Bono was shown popping the question during his one-hour TV-show special Being Chaz, which aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network.
The programme was a follow-up to his Emmy-nominated documentary Becoming Chaz which focused on his transition from female to male.
Jennifer Elia – who writing a book – supported Chaz Bono during his gender reassignment process and later said she found her partner “more attractive” as a man.
She said that their intimate relationship as “straight couple” improved “for the good”.
Chaz Bono, who is now almost four years into the transition, also agreed they were enjoying a healthy sex life.
“We feel very lucky,” Chaz Bono told Piers Morgan in May.
Jennifer Elia was also regularly seen cheering him on from the audience during his time on Dancing With The Stars earlier this year.
Jennifer Elia also revealed that the process of dealing with Chaz Bono’s transition was difficult at times, admitting that she started drinking again when he told her that he made the final decision about changing genders.
“Well I can’t blame it solely on Chaz’s transition, my sobriety has always been a problem,” Jennifer Elia told Piers Morgan during the same May interview.
“When he told me about this, I used it as a pass to fall off the wagon which is what alcoholics tend to do.”
“I was sober when we meet, when things go bad I drink. When Chaz told me about this, I told him I needed a drink.”
Jennifer Elia said she was a year and two months sober, and that she felt that the transition had become easier for the couple.
“Things have leveled out,” Jennifer Elia said.
Chaz Bono is the only child of American artists Sonny and Cher although both have offspring from other relationships.
Few days ago, Angelina Jolie was on the brink of death because of her obsession to lose pounds.
It was reported that Angelina Jolie came to the hospital in serious condition after an overdose of amphetamines. The person who called the emergency services was right her husband, actor Brad Pitt.
For Angelina Jolie, risk meant this time, an African weight loss drug based on amphetamines. The pills almost killed her, according to U.S. tabloids. The actress was unconscious and not breathing when Brad Pitt called the paramedics. The doctors barely managed to revive her.
Angelina Jolie’s amphetamine dependence began three years ago, when she decided to take drastic measures to regain the body size she had before the birth of twins Knox and Vivienne
Angelina Jolie’s amphetamine dependence began three years ago. At that time she decided to take drastic measures to regain the body size she had before the birth of twins Knox and Vivienne, especially because she had to return on filming set where she was preparing her role in the super-action movie Salt and that required the best form.
Angelina Jolie has meanwhile become dependent on amphetamines and obsessed with weight loss. At a certain point the actress was weighing just 43 kilograms, very little for a woman of 1,72 meter in height. Tabloids wrote that she was influenced also by her African missions in refugee camps. Shockingly, Angelina Jolie told Brad Pitt that if adults and children in Africa have nothing to eat, therefore she must not eat as well.
Now, Angelina Jolie is currently under recovery. She showed up on Saturday, along with Brad Pitt and the six children at a Cirque De Soleil show in Las Vegas.
Eye Secrets is a miracle anti-wrinkle eye patch which claims to banish bags under the eyes in just 15 minutes and will go on sale in the UK this week.
Eye Secrets is a collagen-based patch which works by instantly reducing fine lines, dark circles and puffiness by 92%.
The patch manufacturer claims it reverses ageing by one year every two minutes and can knock up to eight years off the eyes.
The eye patches are favorites of celebrities Jennifer Aniston and Christine Bleakley.
And demand for the product is so high there is a waiting list of over 12,000 orders.
“The result is exposed wrinkles and lack of skin hydration and so the battling ageing process begins.
“The skin around your eyes is about considerably thinner than anywhere else on your face which is why wrinkles will hit this area first.
“The product can be used in the comfort of your own home and has no downtime unlike cosmetic treatments which can not only be extremely painful but can leave you with a recovery time of up to seven days.”
Eye Secrets is a miracle anti-wrinkle eye patch which claims to banish bags under the eyes in just 15 minutes
The Collagen and Q-10 Technology optimizes the skin’s natural repair process, locking in vital nutrients lost through environmental damage, poor diets and lack of sleep.
The revolutionary formula continues to work throughout the day protecting the skin against further dehydration with high levels of soothing anti-irritants preventing dark circles reappearing.
As the skin around your eyes is about 4 times thinner than anywhere else on your face, it’s more vulnerable to environmental damage and premature ageing.
During trials “Eye Secrets Collagen and Q-10 Technology” provided the optimal environment to immediately create the effects of nine hours sleep.
Actress Michelle Collins revealed the product was one of her beauty secrets.
Michelle Collins said: “I think there are many lifestyle factors which can mean looking well, for me it’s getting lots of sleep and going to the gym.
“My secret to looking good has to be my hero beauty product – Eye Secrets. It’s very quick and it’s not visible.
“They are these little strips that you can put on your eyes to firm and brighten them.
“It just makes you feel brighter and I think you can carry on those extra hours and feel bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as they say.”
Researchers say airborne traces of illegal drugs could pose a health risk for people as the air pollution does.
Scientists at the Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research in Rome found traces of cocaine and cannabis in the air around dozens of sites in Italy.
Researchers also discovered statistical correlations between cocaine levels and certain types of cancer – and between cannabis levels and mental disorders.
The project’s leader, Angelo Cecinato, was cautious about drawing firm conclusions from his study, but epidemiologist Wilson Compton of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Bethesda, Maryland, told Science Now:
“The researchers did find this link, and it’s worth further exploration.
“Second-hand cigarette smoke wasn’t considered a health threat either, until comparatively recently.”
Angelo Cecinato and his team tested air quality in 59 sites in Italy across various regions in the summer and winter months, screening it for cocaine and cannabinoids, the active ingredient in marijuana.
As well as the links with health problems, researchers found higher airborne concentrations of the drugs in areas where police had made big seizures, where higher than average numbers of people requested treatment and with cocaine levels and certain types of crime.
The results left the team wondering if air-testing for drugs might be a cheaper and more efficient way for authorities to target drug abuse.
Wilson Compton added: “We’re always looking for more accurate ways to gauge the amount of drug use in communities.”
A model in an advert for Bloomingdales appears to have lost her entire pelvis thanks to some creative use of Photoshop as she presents the latest sweater dress.
The description for the Max & Cleo turtleneck sweater dress says it “boasts a waist-cinching belt for the most flattering fit”.
Models tend to be on the skinny side, but it looks like this woman’s belt has managed to squash her hips and completely remove her bottom.
A close-up of the dress shows it has been digitally altered to make it “drape” over her body.
The software is regularly used to create the ideal look for magazine or advertising purposes.
The description for the Max & Cleo turtleneck sweater dress says it “boasts a waist-cinching belt for the most flattering fit”
In May this year, Grazia magazine came under fire after a picture of the Duchess of Cambridge on its cover appeared to have been altered to slim down her waistline.
Less than a week after the Royal Wedding, the image of Kate in her wedding dress revealed a discrepancy between the line of her corset and the fabric of her Alexander McQueen skirt.
The Duchess of Cambridge was already slim, so it hardly seemed necessary to doctor the image.
H&M was also guilty of altering its images after a campaign featuring model Gisele Bündchen this year was deemed too risqué for the Middle East.
Despite revealing only her bare arms or a hint of cleavage, t-shirts or vests were Photo-shopped into the images for adverts running in Dubai.
In November, Beyoncé’s usually voluptuous legs were shaved until they were virtually stick-thin for the front cover of Harper’s Bazaar.
The image also did not show any hint of a baby bump – despite the fact her first child is thought to be due in February.
Parts of New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Colorado will encounter heavy snow and high winds bringing a nasty blizzard starting with today until Wednesday.
Weather forecasters warn interstate highways and local roads will make driving treacherous, or even impossible, snarling holiday travel plans the days before Christmas.
Up to 18 inches of snow is expected in northeastern New Mexico, the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles, southwestern Kansas and southeastern Colorado, which were under blizzard watches or warnings today through Wednesday.
Meteorologist Kerry Jones in Albuquerque, New Mexico is warning people in the region not to be fooled by today’s pleasant weather – the storm is expected to move in quickly and is potentially life-threatening.
“Those are tremendous amounts of snow,” Kerry Jones said.
“Add to that the fact that that snow is going to be blowing, and you’re going to have winds easily in the 40 mph range if not higher, it’s going to be a very ugly, potentially life-threatening situation.
“We try to reserve these blizzard watches for very intense storm systems.”
Much of Kansas will be affected, with the heaviest snowfall from southwestern Kansas, south into the Oklahoma panhandle, south toward Amarillo, Texas, and west into the New Mexico plains.
The intense low-pressure system was circulating south of Yuma, Arizona, today, but was expected to move into southwestern New Mexico overnight.
Much of Kansas will be affected, with the heaviest snowfall from southwestern Kansas, south into the Oklahoma panhandle, south toward Amarillo, Texas, and west into the New Mexico plains
Rain will develop first, but the system is expected to intensify and turn colder, with snow expected in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico, by midday. Up to four inches could fall in the foothills around Albuquerque, and Santa Fe could get up to five inches.
Much heavier snow is expected as the storm moves to the northeast along the Great Divide and into the plains, where winds above 40 mph may create near white-out conditions along highways. Clayton, New Mexico, near the Texas-Oklahoma line, could see the most snow it’s measured in five years, estimated at 15 inches or more. One area outside Amarillo could get up to 18 inches.
There is a 90% chance that Interstate 40 in eastern New Mexico will be closed because of low visibility and blowing snow by late tomorrow afternoon.
Livestock could be affected, so ranchers in the region should take precautions to protect their cattle.
The storm is a fast-mover and is expected to leave the region by midday Tuesday. But temperatures will stay in the 20s and 30s so the snow won’t melt quickly, and a weaker storm that could move into New Mexico Tuesday will likely follow the same general track.
Aiden Moe, a six-year-old boy from South Dakota, who won a $1,000 prize, spent all the money buying gifts for children in hospital.
Aiden Moe delivered more than 100 “Pillow Pet” toys to families at the Ronald McDonald House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota this weekend. The house accommodates families who have children in local hospitals.
The boy received the special pillow shaped like an animal when he was a patient at Brookings Hospital and liked it so much he wanted other sick children to have one.
Aiden Moe delivered more than 100 “Pillow Pet” toys to families at the Ronald McDonald House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota this weekend
His mother, JaMae Moe, told local station KSFY-TV that she’s happy her son wants to give back to others.
JaMae Moe said: “It makes me feel like I raised him well.”
Aiden Moe and his family live in Bryant, 110 miles northwest of Sioux Falls.
Since 1983, more than 6,000 families who have children in hospital in South Dakota have been able to stay nearby at the Ronald McDonald house.
Jerome Isaac, the man accused of burning a 73-year-old Delores Gillespie to death in the elevator of her Brooklyn, New York, apartment, appeared in public for the time since his arrest today – revealing a visibly singed face.
New York City police arrested Jerome Isaac, 47, who they believed doused his former employer with gasoline before setting her on fire in an elevator.
Jerome Isaac is reportedly a disgruntled handyman who was angry over a $2,000 unpaid bill. He was charged this afternoon with first-degree murder and arson, hours after he turned himself in to police reeking of gasoline with the entire left-side of his face clearly singed by flames.
Police say Jerome Isaac waited for Delores Gillespie to return home from shopping. When the elevator door opened, he sprayed her in the face and across her body with gasoline and set her on fire with a Molotov cocktail.
The elderly woman cowered in the corner of the elevator and tried to shield herself, but neighbors say they heard her screams of agony as she burned to death after her alleged killer fled the scene.
The brutal attack seemed to be all over Jerome Isaac’s unpaid bill after he worked for Delores Gillespie as a handyman, the New York Post reported.
New York City police arrested Jerome Isaac, 47, who they believed doused his former employer Delores Gillespie with gasoline before setting her on fire in an elevator
The fatal bill: $2,000, according to police.
Jerome Isaac had lived with Delores Gillespie while he worked for her doing odd jobs.
When Delores Gillespie found out Jerome Isaac was stealing, she fired him, Rickey Causey, the victim’s 52-year-old nephew, told the Post.
“He was doing more stealing than cleaning,” Rickey Causey said.
Jerome Isaac left a note on Delores Gillespie’s door demanding payment for chores he had done, but the elderly woman didn’t want to pay him after she caught him taking things from her, Rickey Causey said.
The horrifying attack lasted one minute and was caught on two surveillance cameras at the 203 Underhill Avenue apartment block.
Delores Gillespie, who had just returned from grocery shopping, turned and crouched in an attempt to protect herself, according to police.
Jerome Isaac, who was wearing a protective mask on top of his head, sprayed her directly in the face and over her head and body as she retreated to the back of the elevator.
Caught on camera is a still from surveillance video allegedly shows a man, now identified as Jerome Isaac, spraying Delores Gillespie with a flammable liquid in an elevator.
Jerome Isaac then pulled out a barbeque-style lighter and used it to ignite a rag in a bottle.
He waited for a few seconds before using the flames to set her alight and throwing the bottle inside the lift.
The attacker ran away, using the apart block’s staircase, leaving the woman to die in agony.
Delores Gillespie, who neighbors believe grew up in Louisiana and suffered a mental illness, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said they believe Jerome Isaac had been waiting for Delores Gillespie to return home.
“It was apparent he knew she was on the elevator,” New York City police spokesman Paul Browne said.
Firefighters and the police arrived at the apartment block at 4:00 p.m. after residents reported fire and smoke – but remained unaware of the elevator horror.
“I’ve never seen any s*** like this, and I’ve been doing this a long time,” an unnamed detective added.
Delores Gillespie had often complained other tenants were stealing from her – yet neighbors believe she was simply paranoid.
Harry Judd, the Strictly Come Dancing champion and the now clean-cut drummer of McFly has revealed he once had a crazy night Lindsay Lohan.
Harry Judd, 25, and Lindsay Lohan, 25, met on the set of movie Just My Luck in 2005 when the boy-band had a cameo in the film.
According to Harry Judd, he and LiLo clicked and she invited him back to her hotel room.
Speaking to The Daily Mirror newspaper Harry Judd said: “At the time I thought, <<This is awesome>>, but I was really nervous. Lindsay invited me back to her hotel. I left at eight o’clock next morning.”
Harry Judd, the Strictly Come Dancing champion and the now clean-cut drummer of McFly has revealed he once had a crazy night Lindsay Lohan
But despite having to do the walk of shame the next day, Harry Judd confesses they didn’t sleep together.
“I didn’t s**g her,” the drummer said.
“But we spent the night and had a fumble.”
Harry Judd added: “We did things teenagers do. We went far enough but not the full home run.”
However Lindsay Lohan denies the encounter ever happened.
Whatever the case, it was certainly an eye opener for Harry Judd, who had attended a posh $30,000-a-year boarding school two years before the alleged incident.
Harry Judd does admit to spending McFly’s early days in a drunken haze but has since given up his wild ways.
“I stopped drinking last year and that has been a good think for me on Strictly as I’ve had no hangovers and I’ve been really able to focus,” he said.
Harry Judd is now completely in love with his long term girlfriend Izzy Johnston and his former rock and roll lifestyle seems a life time ago.
Izzy Johnston has been very supportive for him and was at the Strictly final on Saturday night.
They met back in 2005 when Izzy Johnston was a member of the string section during McFly’s arena tour.
Harry Judd and Izzy Johnston have previously revealed how she was “banned” from speaking to the drummer for the entire tour, but the pair got together during a party to celebrate the end of the tour.
Now it looks like Harry Judd may soon pop the big question.
“She’s the only girl in the world for me,” he gushed.
“I absolutely know 100 per cent that in her I have found The One, and yes I do want marriage, kids, the whole deal. I’m lucky to have her.”
And, like the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Harry Judd and Izzy Johnston split briefly around 18 months into their relationship.
Then, after six months apart, Izzy Johnston turned up on his door step in tears.
“She was standing there in tears with make-up running down her face,” Harry Judd said.
“I knew then that I couldn’t ever be without her.”
US President Barack Obama’s annual vacation in Hawaii in 2011 is likely to be his most expensive ever – or rather the taxpayer’s most expensive.
President Barack Obama and his family travelled separately this time because he wanted resolve the payroll tax cut issue before leaving Washington. First Lady Michelle Obama didn’t not want to hang around waiting.
His round trip flight to Hawaii via Air Force One is estimated to be the largest expense of the holiday trip.
The Hawaii Reporter estimates that the cost of Barack Obama’s travel in total is $3,629,622.
The U.S. Air Force calculates it costs $181,757 per flight hour to operate Air Force One.
President Barack Obama’s annual vacation in Hawaii in 2011 is likely to be his most expensive ever
Travel time direct from Washington, DC to Hawaii is about nine hours, for a total of $3,271,611 there and back.
Additionally, the cost for a USAF C-17 cargo aircraft is required to carry Presidential limos, helicopters and other equipment.
According to a GAO report, flight time between Andrews Air Force Base and Hawaii is approximately 21.5 hours roundtrip, with estimated operating cost of $12,000 per hour.
A four-to-six member Marine Corps unit travels on a separate flight for additional support and security, at an estimated cost of $258,000 for the group’s per diem and hotel.
According to the White House Dossier, Michelle Obama’s early trip to Hawaii cost about $100,000 including travel, security and personnel.
It is thought the accommodation runs to $151,200.
The president’s family covers the cost of a private beach front residence in Kailua, Oahu, for the vacation – that costs up to $3,500 a day, or $75,000 a month.
But taxpayers take care of housing costs for U.S. Secret Service, Coast Guard and Navy Seals who guard the rentals, and arrive one day ahead of Barack Obama.
That is about $21,600 per home for approximately seven houses rented for 18 days.
There is also a hotel bill for $72,216. Barack Obama’s staff and White House Press Corps are staying at the Moana Surfrider, where rates range between $177 and $450 depending on the time of the year.
Excluding tax, meals and other charges at the more conservative rate, the amounts reach more than $72,216 for approximately 24 members of staff.
Then there’s the local taxpayer costs of $260,000.
The overtime for local police in Oahu is expected to cost taxpayers $250,000.
A city spokesman said an ambulance that travels with the president at all hours will cost an additional $10,000.
Several costs are unknown and will not be released by the White House, citing security reasons. Some include security upgrades, additional phone lines, the installation of bullet proof glass, car rentals, fuel, travel costs for the Secret Service and staff travelling ahead of POTUS.
The total cost (based on what is known) for a 17-day round trip vacation to Hawaii for Barack Obama and his family and staff and security is an estimated $4,113,038.
The Hawaii Reporter annually has requested details on the cost of the President’s trip, but the White House will not release any figures, citing security concerns. A spokesperson has maintained the costs are “in line” with other presidential vacations.
Jason Burton, a 21-month-old toddler from Spartanburg County, South Carolina, has been reunited with his family after a day of frantic searching by more than 200 people.
Jason Burton wandered off through the front door sometime Friday when his mother was in the bathroom, his family told police.
Though Jason Burton was lost for more than a day in woods near his home and spent a rainy night outdoors, rescuers found him unharmed and sleeping on a log beneath the river’s embankment.
The boy was examined by doctors at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center and described as being in good condition for his night alone in the elements.
About 200 people – including members of the Department of Natural Resources, the South Carolina Guard, and the Spartanburg County Sheriffs’ office – searched for Jason Burton from the time he disappeared from his home early Friday afternoon.
Though Jason Burton was lost for more than a day in woods near his home and spent a rainy night outdoors, rescuers found him unharmed and sleeping on a log beneath the river’s embankment
Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright said a deputy and a state natural resources officer kayaking on the Tyger River about two miles upstream from the boy’s home spotted the toddler sleeping on a log beneath an embankment.
Jason Burton was flown by helicopter to a command post where officers and his parents were waiting.
Though his blood pressure and heart rate were down, he rapidly improved on the way to Regional One Hospital.
“I’m just glad he’s found, thank God, thank God!” the toddler’s mother Brittney Burton told WSPA News.
Sheriff Chuck Wright said Jason Burton was incredibly lucky. “A 21 month old isn’t supposed to survive in the river, he’s not supposed to do that, he’s just curious like other kids supposed to get in the water,” WSPA News reported.
Chuck Wright called Jason Burton’s safe return a Christmas miracle, especially due to the size of the search. He said around five to six miles of land were covered around the boy’s home.
A child that age, he said, usually doesn’t go farther than a mile.
Kim Jong-il, the North Korean leader, has died at the age of 69, state-run television has announced.
Kim Jong-il, who has led the communist nation since the death of his father, Kim Il-sung in 1994, died on a train while visiting an area outside the capital, the announcement said.
North Korean leader suffered a stroke in 2008 and was absent from public view for months.
Kim Jong-il’s designated successor is his third son, Kim Jong-un, who is thought to be in his late 20s.
North Korea’s state-run news agency, KCNA, urged people to unite behind the younger Kim.
“All party members, military men and the public should faithfully follow the leadership of comrade Kim Jong-un and protect and further strengthen the unified front of the party, military and the public,” the news agency said.
State media also referred to Kim Jong-un as the “great successor to the revolutionary cause” in what appeared to be the first such reference.
Kim Jong-il, the North Korean leader, has died at the age of 69
A funeral for Kim Jong-il will be held in Pyongyang on 28 December and Kim Jong-un will head the funeral committee, KCNA reports. A period of national mourning has been declared from 17 to 29 December.
International media reports say Kim Jong-il’s death will cause huge shock waves across North Korea, an impoverished, nuclear-armed nation with few allies.
The announcement of Kim Jong-il’s death came in an emotional statement read out on national television.
The announcer, wearing black, said he had died of physical and mental over-work. A later report from KCNA said Kim Jong-il had had a heart attack.
China – North Korea’s closest ally and biggest trading partner – said it was “distressed” to hear the news of his death.
“We express our grief about this and extend our condolences to the people of North Korea,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu was quoted by Xinhua news agency as saying.
South Korea’s military has been put on alert following the announcement and its National Security Council is convening for an emergency meeting, Yonhap news agency reports. The Japanese government has also convened a special security meeting.
The White House said it was “closely monitoring” reports of the death. The US remained “committed to stability on the Korean peninsula, and to the freedom and security of our allies”, it said in a statement.
South Korea’s President Lee Myung-Bak spoke to US President Barack Obama by telephone.
“The two leaders agreed to closely co-operate and monitor the situation together,” a South Korean presidential spokesman said.
Asian stock markets fell after the news was announced.
Kim Jong-il inherited the leadership of North Korea – which remains technically at war with South Korea – from his father Kim Il-sung.
Shortly after he came to power, a severe famine caused by ill-judged economic reforms and poor harvests left an estimated two million people dead.
Kim Jong-il’s regime has been harshly criticized for human rights abuses and is internationally isolated because of its pursuit of nuclear weapons.
Under Kim Jong-il’s leadership funds have been channeled to the military and in 2006 North Korea conducted its first nuclear test. It followed that up with a second one three years later. Multinational talks aimed at disarming North Korea have been deadlocked for months.
Kim Jong-il unveiled his son as his likely successor a year ago. Many had expected to see this process further consolidated in 2012.
Professor Lee Jung-hoon, specializing in international relations at Yonsei University in Seoul, told the BBC that with the transition of power from father to son incomplete, Kim Jong-il’s death could herald “very unstable times” in North Korea.
“We have to be very worried because whenever there is domestic instability North Korea likes to find an external situation to divert the attention away from that – including indulging in provocation.”
Christopher Hill, former US representative to the six-party talks on North Korea’s nuclear programme, said all parties needed to “keep cool heads”.
As for Kim Jong-il’s son and successor, very little is known about him – including his exact age. He was educated in Switzerland and is the son of Kim Jong-il’s reportedly favorite wife, the late Ko Yong-hui.
Kim Jong-un has an older brother, Kim Jong-chol, and a older half-brother, Kim Jong-nam – both of whom appear to have been passed over for the succession.
Many household appliances come with confusing features that people do not want and which could be driving up prices, a new research has found.
A consumer watchdog has found the duvet cycle on washing machine is one of the most pointless and expensive options on a household appliance.
Gimmick-laden washing machines fare particularly badly in a survey of 10,500 adults carried out by consumer watchdog “Which?”.
Among the top ten features “you can live without” are those that enable owners to operate a pre-wash – soaking dirty clothes before the main wash – or to clean a duvet.
In the poll, 66% of people said they hardly ever or never used the duvet cycle.
Which? consumer watchdog has found the duvet cycle on washing machine is one of the most pointless and expensive options on a household appliance
Even less popular was the pause wash, which allows householders to stop their machines in mid-cycle if, say, they spot a black sock in with the whites. Only 5% of people said they used this feature regularly.
On fridge-freezers, “holiday” settings, which allow the fridge section to be turned off while keeping the freezer on when people are away, got the thumbs-down. Extra rinse cycles on dishwashers are a particular irritant, while there was little enthusiasm for delay controls on various appliances, which allow people to start the process when electricity rates are lowest.
But not all extras are bad, the survey found. The frost-free setting on fridge-freezers, which circulates air to prevent them frosting up, was judged the most useful “extra” in the kitchen.
Fan-assisted ovens and alarms warning householders when the fridge door is left open were also praised.
“Which?” is now sending the findings to manufacturers in the hope they might influence future design and cut prices.
A spokesman for “Which?” said the message from the survey was clear – people wanted fewer gimmicks, especially if they drove up the prices of appliances.
“Extra rinse cycles for dishwashers and holiday settings for fridge-freezers aren’t worth having,” he added.
A spokesman for manufacturers Bosch said: “We will definitely be studying these findings with interest.”
Scientists from Upstate Medical University in New York have discovered a range of health complaints including coughing, wheezing, lethargy and insomnia can be attributed to the Christmas tree.
If you’re feeling lethargic or having problems breathing, it might be down to your Christmas tree.
The condition, known as the Christmas Tree Syndrome, is caused from mould spores and was discovered by a team from Upstate Medical University after they noticed a peak in respiratory problems during December.
To test the theory, the researchers examined clippings from 28 trees, including needles and bark, and found 53 cases of mould.
70% of trees were responsible for causing symptoms like fatigue, chest pains, sinus congestion, itchy nose and shortness of breath.
Some forms of the mould can also cause long term breathing problems and conditions like pneumonia or bronchitis.
If you're feeling lethargic or having problems breathing, it might be down to your Christmas tree
Dr. Lawrence Kurlandsky said he had seen patients who he believed had a clear link between their illness and their Christmas tree.
He told the Sunday Telegraph he usually recommends that people try to use an artificial tree instead.
If you’re not convinced he advises hosing down the tree in the garden and leaving it to try before bringing into the house and removing it immediately after Christmas Day.
Dr. Lawrence Kurlandsky said: “I explain that there are nicer places to be on Christmas Eve than seeing the doctor and to perhaps just not have a tree or an artificial one.”
The study, published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, also reported on other research which found that after a Christmas tree has been on display for two weeks the number of airborne mould spores increases from 800 per 35 cubic feet to 3,000.
Googling the phrase “let it snow” causes Google to turn your browser window into a winter wonderland.
One week before Christmas, Google are trying to get us all into the festive spirit.
On Saturday Google rolled out its latest joke which had a very seasonal nature.
If you typed in the words “Let it snow”, snow flakes started gently falling from the top of the screen and eventually the whole screen was covered in snow, the Huffington Post reports.
Googling the phrase “let it snow” causes Google to turn your browser window into a winter wonderland
Before the searcher collapsed in exasperation at another computer problem the cursor would wipe away the snow, before adding “Bye :)” in the bottom right hand corner.
There was even a “Defrost” button instead of blue “Search” button.
When the joke was taken down, it could be still be played by searching for “let it snow easter egg”.
An easter egg is an intentional hidden message or an in-joke inserted into a computer programme or web page.
Last month it came up with “do a barrell roll”.
When you typed in those wounds the screen rotated and flipped over like a fighter pilot doing a barrel roll.
Google’s search engine home page has attracted its fairs share of attention in recent years.
With a vast array of so-called Google doodles, the company has changed its logo more than 1,000 times.
