- America is a FAT place. Unfortunately, there is not always a remedy for those who suffer because of the obese individuals around them. James Boling, a landlord in New Haven, Conn., is (allegedly) striking a blow for all those in such a position by giving the heave-ho to a hefty tenant. The tenant, Joseph DiBenedetto, has lived in the home in question with his mother for the past four years. However, his battle with obesity has gone on for much longer and he currently checks in at a ridiculous 600-plus pounds. According to his mother, Debbie Verab, Boling is evicting the family simply because her son is morbidly obese. "When I was younger, it was easier to put up with. I didn't really care," DiBenedetto said. "But, now getting kicked out of the house is terrible. Because I'm big? That don't make no sense." Right now, their side of the story is the only one being told because the landlord has remained under the radar since serving the eviction notice. The story mother and son are selling is that Boling blames DiBenedetto’s girth any time there is structural damage around the home. "When the stairs get broken, I get blamed for that. I get blamed for every little thing here and it's hard," he complained. One incident involved a hole somehow ending up in the floor and the landlord blaming him. "I got up and was going to get a drink because nobody was here and I fell through," he said. "This leg went right through the floor." Wait…..you’re admitting to putting the hole in the floor? Memo to you, bro: non-obese people typically do not put holes in floor when they get up to get a glass of water. The floors might not be great, but a 200-pound dude is probably not putting his leg through the floor. Boling wasn’t in an expansive mood when asked about the situation by a local TV station. "I've asked them to move a number of times," Boling said. "I don't want them as tenants. There is [a reason] and the reason is I don't want to share it with you.” Don’t be shy Boling, say it. An orca-FAT man and his mother who has to stay home to take care of him are undesirable tenants and you’re seizing on the first real chance you’d had to evict them…………..
- The NCAA has finally gotten around to hammering North Carolina's football program for its litany of rules violations during the 2008-09 seasons and the discipline is not as severe as it could have been. The Tar Heels were placed on three years' probation and banned from the 2012 postseason, the governing body announced Monday. Athletic department officials were clearly hoping their self-imposed penalties, including vacating all 16 wins for 2008 and 2009, reducing nine scholarships over the next three academic years and putting the program on two years of probation, would be enough. On account of academic fraud, impermissible agent benefits, participation by ineligible players and a failure to monitor the football program, the NCAA disagreed. Its findings showed multiple student-athletes received impermissible benefits totaling more than $31,000, six players competed while ineligible and an assistant coach was compensated by an agent for the access he provided to student-athletes and failed to disclose the income to the university. In addition to the penalties on the school, the NCAA issued a three-year show-cause penalty and recruiting restrictions against former assistant coach John Blake, who resigned in 2010 and was also cited for unethical conduct and failing to cooperate with investigators. He had previously been employed by agent Gary Wichard's firm and was wired money from Wichard's bank. "This case should serve as a cautionary tale to all institutions to vigilantly monitor the activities of those student-athletes who possess the potential to be top professional prospects," the NCAA Committee on Infractions said in its report. "It should also serve to warn student-athletes that if they choose to accept benefits from agents or their associates, they risk losing their eligibility." As with nearly all NCAA investigations and discipline, those who committed the crimes won't be around to suffer the consequences. The school fired Butch Davis before last season because of the investigation, the players in question are gone and so is Blake. For the record, the infractions included: a former tutor “constructing significant parts of writing assignments" for three players, provided more than $4,000 in impermissible benefits to players after she graduated and refused to cooperate with the investigation, seven players accepting more than $27,500 in benefits, including cash, flights, meals, lodging, athletic training, admission to clubs and jewelry and a former player determined to be an agent runner to have regular access to current student-athletes at its athletic facilities without any oversight………
- Google and Microsoft aren’t exactly tech BFF’s. If that wasn’t clear before now, it’s crystal clear after former Google executive James Whittaker- now at Microsoft – dropped a series of verbal nukes on his former employer in an official Google corporate blog post. In the post, Whittaker ripped Google CEO Larry Page's emphasis on social media and insisted that the company’s inability to effectively compete against Facebook ruined what was once a great place to work. "The Google I was passionate about was a technology company that empowered its employees to innovate. The Google I left was an advertising company with a single corporate-mandated focus," Whittaker wrote. Whittaker served as an engineering director at Google from May 2009 until last month before jumping ship to work for the maker of the world’s worst operating system. He ruminated on how he "became fairly passionate" about Google during his time there, but became disenchanted with its new direction. "My last three months working for Google was a whirlwind of desperation, trying in vain to get my passion back," he wrote. An added focus on ad dollars and an insistence on competing with Facebook apparently sapped that drive to rise. Maybe Whittaker’s distaste for Google stems from his dislike for Page, who replaced former CEO Eric Schmidt, who stepped down as CEO to become executive director in April 2011. "The fact that all this was paid for by a cash machine stuffed full of advertising loot was lost on most of us," Whittaker wrote. He went on to deride Google for not knowing as much about its users as Facebook and blasted Page’s decision that one-fourth of all employees’ 2011 bonuses would be tied to Google's performance in the social realm. Privacy concerns and other complaints from have risen under Page’s leadership, but no one has laid out the tech titan that would dominate the world quite like Whittaker. "Perhaps if they offer an ad for a divorce lawyer because I am writing an email about my 14 year old son breaking up with his girlfriend I'll appreciate that ad enough to end my own marriage," he snapped. "Or perhaps I'll figure all this stuff out on my own." Well said, J…………
- Once again, “American Karaoke” swings and misses in spectacular fashion. A reality show with no real credibility or musical integrity should grasp feverishly at any semblance of drama or scandal because that drama can extend its already overdrawn run of notoriety a little longer. If an aspiring karaoke-er is wanted in three separate jurisdictions and has been arrested twice, seize the opportunity. Don’t boot said karaoke-er from the show; promote him as your resident bad boy. Instead, someone named Jermaine Jones is apparently out on “AK” after producers learned that he had concealed the fact that he had been arrested twice and was still wanted in multiple cases. Sure, one of the incidents involved violence on Jones’ part and he gave police fake names both times he was arrested, but why is that a problem for the show? It’s not as if the show is known for being this bastion of value and moral certitude and would lose its musically ignorant viewers if it kept Jones. If fans are willing to ignore the glaring lack of decent music on the show, then they would probably be willing to ignore Jones’ rap sheet as well. He is currently wanted in three separate counties for failing to appear on a variety of criminal charges, including a 2006 arrest involving violence when he was caught up in a drug bust and incidents in 2008 and 2009 in which he was cited for an open container and gave officers a fake name in both incidents. In 2011, he once again provided a false name to avoid being taken in on outstanding warrants for his previous arrests. But wait, there’s more. He was arrested a second time last year for AGAIN trying to use a different fake name to avoid being arrested. Clearly, dude has a problem owning his mistakes and taking responsibility for what he’s done. He broke the news of his “AK” dismissal via Twitter when he posted: "Awww I will no longer b on the show." The post was deleted, but the damage was done. His departure comes after the show’s musically oblivious fans selected him among this season’s top 13 finalists after the judges gave him a last-minute spot among the 11th season's top 13 male semifinalists. He follows in the footsteps of former AK-ers kicked off the show for various indiscretions, including Corey Clark (booted in 2003 for his arrest record) and Frenchie Davis (booted in 2003 because of her previous appearance on an adult website). Sooner or later, maybe producers will learn their lesson and embrace the controversy……….
- And Republicans thought their presidential race was a ginormous clusterf**k. Having a dozen or so candidates begin the race and four remaining with the general election just eight months away seems pedestrian compared to the field in Egypt’s upcoming presidential poll. So far, at least 500 Egyptians have taken the first step to run for president, election officials said on Wednesday. Maybe it’s the novelty of the country's first presidential elections in which the outcome isn't predetermined or maybe there are just a lot of aspiring politicians in the greater Cairo area, but so far 500 have obtained applications to officially declare their candidacy for the vote. Following a despicable despot like Hosni Mubarak will be difficult, but a collection of current politicians, journalists, judges, lawyers and teachers have filled out the paperwork to run. To qualify for the May 23-24 vote, independent applicants must secure the endorsement of 30 lawmakers or 30,000 people in at least 15 of Egypt's 18 provinces. Those from political parties with at least one member in parliament are exempt from these endorsements. The winner of the election will receive powers far exceeding any other branch of government, the sort that kept Mubarak in power for 29 years until his ouster by a popular uprising 13 months ago. Even the military leaders who took temporary control of the country after his ouster have wielded far-reaching powers. Islamists who control both chambers of parliament would like to see those powers limited. Regardless of the outcome, it should be refreshing to see (and experience) an election that isn't rigged by the man already in power……….
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