Sky News reports that a man has been arrested for allegedly sending President Obama and his staff envelopes containing HIV-infected blood.
Saad Hussein, an Ethiopian refugee in his late 20s, sent a number of items to the offices of the Illinois government in the weeks before the US President's inauguration, according to court documents.
One envelope contained a letter with reddish stains and an admission ticket for Mr Obama's election night celebration in Grant Park, Chicago.
Court documents claim Hussein told FBI agents he is "very sick with HIV" and cut his fingers with a razor so he could bleed on the letter.
More details from the Cleveland Leader:
A spokesman for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service said that this is only the second time that HIV-infected blood has been sent with malicious intent through the U.S. mail system. [...]
After the envelope was opened, Hazmat teams were called in. The offices of the Illinois Department on Aging, as well as the Dept. of Revenue were locked down for about two hours. 300 staff members were thus stuck in their offices.
Using his brother as an interpreter, Hussein told the FBI that he was an "admirer" of Obama. He also said that he was "seeking help from the government", and that he was hoping to obtain tickets to the inauguration in Washington D.C.
X (sorry, we mean Earl Simmons) released a statement yesterday saying in part, "Many of you know me as DMX but right now I am speaking to you as Earl Simmons ... For the record, I want to state 'I Did Not' physically touch or hit an officer. This is just another attempt to destroy my credibility."
Sorry Earl, you did a pretty good job of destroying it on your own.
BTW -- if you haven't been following all of X's escapades in Tent City jail -- where Charles Barkley is also set to serve time -- X is accused of throwing a food tray at an officer after he was accused of stealing an extra meal.
OCTO MOM OFFERED A MILL TO BE OCTO HO!!!!! AND DROP THEM DRAWS
Nadya Suleman, mother of fourteen, and most notably known as “octomom” is being pursued by a popular adult film studio to star in pornographic movies. According to TMZ, adult film studio Vivid Entertainment has made Suleman a $1 million offer, plus a year of health insurance, in exchange for doing whatever they need her to do in a XXX film. “Nadya obviously needs income to ensure that her children are secure, so we are offering her up to $1 million to act in one movie,” says Vivid cochair Steven Hirsch. “We’ve had many single mothers work with us over the years, and their income from Vivid has been very important to them. We would schedule production so the movie could be shot in less than one week.” Hirsch makes it clear that hooking up with Vivid makes good, bottom line sense for Suleman. “There is a tremendous amount of interest in Nadya, and we can help her capitalize on that interest and put some real cash in her bank account.” Hirsch also added that they would do their best to make sure Suleman wasn’t put into any compromising positions. “As with our Vivid Girls, she would have her choice of partners, including ‘Octodad.’
UPDATE: There is a serious effort underway to block OctoMom from taking a million dollar offer to do porn -- except the opposition is coming from a rival XXX company!
Fearing that Nadya Suleman "will become the subject of endless ridicule and scorn," the president of Pink Visual has offered Octo a "full year's worth of diapers" if she keeps her baby maker where it belongs ... fully covered and far away from any type of recording device.
In a letter sent to Octo, morally righteous Pink Visual warns, "There's a great deal of stigma attached to being a porn star" and that Octo needs to think "in the best interest of your children." For once.
So what's it gonna be? Do porn ... and get a million bucks, health insurance and benefits -- or keep it covered ... so you can keep your kids clean? Decisions, decisions.
Rihanna finally broke her silence since allegedly being assaulted by Chris Brown, issuing a statement of thanks to her fans.
"At the request of the authorities, Rihanna is not commenting about the incident involving Chris Brown," says the statement from her rep on Friday. "She wants to assure her fans that she remains strong, is doing well, and deeply appreciates the outpouring of support she has received during this difficult time."
The statement comes on her 21st birthday and a day after she was spotted in Los Angeles after spending nearly two weeks in seclusion.
The singer was photographed Thursday heading to an airport the same night a graphic photo reportedly showing her battered face surfaced on the Internet, upsetting her father, who criticized police for their "sloppy work."
Prior to the statement, neither Rihanna nor her representatives had commented since the arrest of Brown, 19, on Feb. 8
On Friday, friends in Rihanna's native Barbados marked her birthday by taking out an ad in the local paper wishing her a happy 21st "amidst all the negativity about Ri Ri. God will continue to bless her."
"I just really love that girl," Sharon Thompson, who bought the birthday greeting, told PEOPLE MAGAZINE. " Some nights I cry because of what I'm hearing. It has me deeply hurt. She's just so lovely."
UPDATE!! TMZ Rihanna photo being investigated by LAPD
The Los Angeles Police Department opened an internal investigation late Thursday into whether a picture posted on a celebrity gossip website purportedly showing the bloody and bruised face of R&B star Rihanna was part of police evidence in the case, department officials said in a statement.
The photo posted by TMZ.com at 8:39 p.m. Eastern Standard Time time under the headline "Rihanna -- The Face of a Battered Woman" showed a woman said to be Rihanna with her eyes closed, a fat lip and apparent bruising to her forehead. The site ran a short sentence above the photo stating "TMZ has obtained a photo of Rihanna taken after Chris Brown allegedly beat her."
The LAPD currently is investigating an alleged altercation between Rihanna and singer Chris Brown, who police said injured the female artist during a fight the couple had last week in a Hancock Park neighborhood the morning of the Grammy Awards.
BREAKING NEWS!!! ((WARNING PARENTAL DISCRETION ADVISED)) TMZ JUST RELEASED RIHANNA PHOTO AFTER ATTACK
Don't get mad at T4R we are just reporting from TMZ we hope all people take notice that Domestic violence is a serious matter! No Man has the right to hit a women or vice versa.
A photo of a beaten up Rihanna has surfaced -- and it's downright shocking.
The singer's face appears bruised, scratched and swollen in a picture obtained by TMZ.com that was taken after she was allegedly beaten up by boyfriend Chris Brown.
This is the first photo of Rihanna that has surfaced since the incident that took place during the early morning hours on Feb. 8 in Los Angeles.
Over the weekend, Chris issued a statement saying that he was "sorry and saddened... over what transpired." He added that he's seeking the counseling of his pastor and was hoping to emerge a "better person."
He did not mention Rihanna by name in his statement.
In the March 3 issue of Star, they reported that Rihanna has stayed in touch with her battering beau -- and her unhealthy devotion to him is making those close to the abused singer worried sick.
PAST: Chris Brown left her bruised and battered, but, according to friends, Rihanna can't help her deep feelings for her boyfriend of more than a year.
In the March 2 issue of Star — on sale now — they reported that, to the shock of many, the singer has stayed in touch with her battering beau — and her unhealthy devotion to him is making those close to the abused singer worried sick.
"She keeps saying she wants to make sure that he's okay," a friend tells Star. "She thinks this will all just blow over and they can go back to how they were."
We have details about exactly what Rihanna said to Chris before he attacked her -- as well as an interview with an earwitness who heard Rihanna's piercing screams on the night of her shocking assault.
Plus, Chris was ready to cheat on Rihanna back in December — one day before he performed a duet with Rihanna! We have an interview with a woman who says Chris invited her back to his hotel room — and she shares text messages he sent her!
Three weeks ago hip hop artist, M.I.A. spoke about the on-going situation in Sri Lanka. M.I.A. spent much of her youth there as a member of Sri Lanka's minority Tamil population, which she says is the victim of "systematic genocide." Sri Lanka's Foreign Secretary, Dr. Palitha Kohona, who took exception to M.I.A.'s remarks.
AND CONGRADS TO M.I.A on her newborn son!!
M.I.A., who performed at the Grammy Awards last Sunday despite experiencing labor contractions, has given birth to a baby boy, she said on her MySpace page.
The unnamed baby was born on Wednesday, and is "healthy, fine, beautiful and the most amazing thing ever on this planet," according to her Web posting on Saturday.
The baby's father is musician Benjamin Brewer, son of Canadian liquor scion Edgar Bronfman, chairman and CEO of Warner Music Group. The location was not disclosed.
M.I.A., 31, whose real name is Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam, was born in Britain but raised in Sri Lanka, where her father agitated for an independent Tamil state. She achieved fame with her second album "Kala," a cross-cultural mishmash of beats, slogans and lyrical drama. Her ubiquitous single "Paper Plane," which incorporates elements of an obscure Clash track, received a Grammy nomination for record of the year.
CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: The constant flow of information and the build up of images from North America has led to a somewhat confused state of affairs, with regard to the cultural identity of the people of the region.
That view was expressed by Minister with responsibility for Culture on Nevis Hensley Daniel at the official launch of a Travelling Caribbean Film Showcase in Nevis which concludes this weekend.
Michael Phelps Bong Picture: Olympic Champion Caught Smoking Marijuana
Michael Phelps lost Kellogg's endorsement because of the (f.r.e.a.k.i.n.g) Media all up in his business. man leave the kid alone he made a mistake as we have all done as youths! No one is entitled to privacy anymore. and the media is getting more and more stupid everyday by invading American people life's and being to d**m nosy!! just like the lady with 8 kids, I dont agree with it, but it's HER business and her life. MEDIA (F-)
Michael Phelps was suspended from competition for three months by USA Swimming in the wake of the photo that showed the Olympic record-setting champion inhaling from a marijuana pipe.
The Associated Press reports:
The sport's national governing body also cut off its financial support to Phelps for the same three-month period, effective Thursday.
"This is not a situation where any anti-doping rule was violated, but we decided to send a strong message to Michael because he disappointed so many people, particularly the hundreds of thousands of USA Swimming member kids who look up to him as a role model and a hero," the Colorado Springs-based federation said in a statement.
***UPDATED February 5th, 5:20PM*** In an interview with a Baltimore TV station Thursday Phelps was asked about rumors that he would not compete in the 2012 Olympics in London. He avoided giving a clear answer, saying only that it would be "good to get back in the water."
FUK!! THE MEDIA!!!!!!!! LEAVE THE KID ALONE!!!!!!!!!!! INSANELY FUKIN AMERICAN MEDIA. Look at how they are trying to rip him apart like he's some sort of rampaging psychopathic madman--and i say even as i think drugs are stupid.
Why don't they leave this women alone! its her choice to have a large family! the Media has just about destroyed this women!!
Nadya Suleman, age 33, is the mother of the octuplets born in California, on January 26, 2009. Nadya Suleman's mother, Angela Suleman spoke to the media about her eight new grandchildren and revealed that Nadya, who is divorced and has six chidren at home, had undergone fertility treatments.12
According to news reports, Suleman's parents have financial problems; the octuplets are all preemies and will require special treatment. She has hired an agent; and reportedly plans to make money through paid TV interviews or working as a on-air childcare expert.3 Suleman mentioned to media that she wants $2 million to be interviewed by either Diane Sawyer or Oprah Winfrey.4
28-year-old Sheyla Hershey of Brazil is the proud owner of the world's largest breasts -- with a staggering, life-threatening, and unfortunately-named bra size of 38KKK.
In May, ABC News reported that Hershey's breasts were 34 FFF after eight surgeries and one gallon of silicone. But she wasn't done yet. On her way to achieving her dream, she encountered certain roadblocks, like Texas law. The state limits the amount of silicone that one person put in their body because the implants could kill her. So she headed to Brazil, which has no such restrictions, and walked away with the breasts of her dreams.
Sheyla Hershey, born Sheyla Almeida Hershey, singer, dancer, actress and model resides in Houston, Texas. Sheyla is 5'3" and is a talent on the rise. She is a twenty-eight year old Sagittarius. Sheyla is a proud wife and mother. Sheyla was born in Brazil and likes to travel. Sheyla is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Chinese and English.
Sheyla takes her craft seriously in that she has had over 18 plastic surgeries, mostly to her breast, but also her nose, lips and buttocks. She is currently at a breast size of KKK. For this, she has been awarded with the Brazilian equivalent of the Guinness Book of World records award.
Sheyla has interest in various aspects of entertainment. Among having her own record label in Brazil, these interests have allowed her to participate with a Philippine band, attend acting school and various auditions for other endeavors.
She has appeared on national television shows, Fox News and The Insider. She has appeared on NBC's The Last Comic Standing and will be making appearances in upcoming movies. Her career is just taking off and about to soar to heights of majestic proportions.
LOS ANGELES — An exotic dancer was set on fire outside the club where she worked early Thursday, burning more than 60 percent of her body, police said. They were searching for two suspects.
A woman and a man called the 27-year-old dancer outside around 1 a.m. and then doused her with a flammable liquid next to the Babes & Beer sports club in the San Fernando Valley, police said. The dancer ran back inside and patrons came to her aid, police said.
Police identified the suspects as Rianne Celine Theriault-Odom, 27, and Nathaniel Marquis Petrillo, 22, both frequent patrons of the club. They were being sought for investigation of attempted murder, police said.
"Given the condition of this victim, they may be responsible for ultimately her murder," Deputy Chief Michel Moore said. "This is a terrible, terrible attack."
Moore said the dancer, a mother of two, was in grave condition after being burned over more than 60 percent of her body. Her identity was not immediately released.
A sign at the club indicated it was a sports bar. A message left at the club was not immediately
Etta James Slams Beyonce: "Gonna Get Her A** Whooped"
wooooo weeee!!!
Etta James has lashed out at Beyonce weeks after Beyonce sang James' classic "At Last" for the Obamas' first dance at the inauguration.
At a concert in Seattle last week, James told the crowd, "I tell you that woman he had singing for him, singing my song, she gonna get her ass whupped," sarcastically calling her "The great Beyoncé."
And she went on.
"I can't stand Beyoncé... [she] had no business ... singing my song that I been singing forever."
She even slammed the President himself. "You know your President, right? You know the one with the big ears? He ain't my President."
James was unable to attend the inauguration for health reasons.
Beyonce actually played James in "Cadillac Records," which came out in December. The above photo is from the film's premiere.
50 to Rick Ross: I’m Ending Yo Life And Taking Yo Babymoms
This aint looking too good for you. 50 recently flew Rick Ross’ babymama, Tia Kemp, to New York and paid her to sing like a newly rich canary. Not only did she embarass the hell out of Officer Ricky, but 50 took the chick on a shopping spree and taped the whole thing…
can someone say GROUPIE.
Ricky’s Rebuttal: “You’re Such a Monkey, a Parody of Hip-Hop”
Officer Ross was obviously not ready for 50’s insults and war games. Last night The Boss came with a rebuttal calling the video of his baby moms a joke and, 50, a monkey:
Last night, Ross called in to Hot 97’s Miss Info and argued 50’s actions should not take attention away from the lyrical battle. “We not gonna let Curly (50 Cent) distract us from the fact ‘Mafia Music’ ended his career,’ Ross declared. “The man has not charted a #1 record in Lord knows how long.” Addressing Dr. Dre and Eminem, Ross claimed the two superstars are hurting their legacies by their close association with 50. “He makes Dr. Dre look like a [expletive]. I got Cool and Dre. Eminem is a genius,” Ross explained. “The worst move… …he could’ve done is be affiliated with such a monkey. He’s (50 Cent) a parody of Hip-Hop. I’m speaking from the streets.” Last night, 50 Cent also called in to Hot 97, speaking with Funkmaster Flex. The mogul claimed that he has secured a tell-all book deal for Tia Kemp, and that his recent attack was based on Ross’ previous demand for 50 to “come with something better within 48 hours.”
Officer Ross has to be hurting seeing his ex-girl going shopping like that, and the book will just top it all off. We wonder if 50 chopped down Ross’ baby moms…
NEW YORK – Never mind the 40-foot snake that menaced Jennifer Lopez in the 1997 movie "Anaconda." Not even Hollywood could match a new discovery from the ancient world.
Fossils from northeastern Colombia reveal the biggest snake ever discovered: a behemoth that stretched 42 to 45 feet long, reaching more than 2,500 pounds.
"This thing weighs more than a bison and is longer than a city bus," enthused snake expert Jack Conrad of the American Museum of Natural History in New York, who was familiar with the find.
"It could easily eat something the size of a cow. A human would just be toast immediately."
"If it tried to enter my office to eat me, it would have a hard time squeezing through the door," reckoned paleontologist Jason Head of the University of Toronto Missisauga.
Actually, the beast probably munched on ancient relatives of crocodiles in its rainforest home some 58 million to 60 million years ago, he said.
Head is senior author of a report on the find in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature.
(The same issue carries another significant report from the distant past. Scientists said they'd found the oldest known evidence of animal life, remnants of steroids produced by sponges more than 635 million years ago in Oman.)
The discoverers of the snake named it Titanoboa cerrejonensis ("ty-TAN-o-BO-ah sare-ah-HONE-en-siss"). That means "titanic boa from Cerrejon," the region where it was found.
While related to modern boa constrictors, it behaved more like an anaconda and spent almost all its time in the water, Head said. It could slither on land as well as swim.
Conrad, who wasn't involved in the discovery, called the find "just unbelievable.... It mocks your preconceptions about how big a snake can get."
Titanoboa breaks the record for snake length by about 11 feet, surpassing a creature that lived about 40 million years ago in Egypt, Head said. Among living snake species, the record holder is an individual python measured at about 30 feet long, which is some 12 to 15 feet shorter than typical Titanoboas, said study co-author Jonathan Bloch.
The beast was revealed in early 2007 at the University of Florida's Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville. Bones collected at a huge open-pit coal mine in Colombia were being unpacked, said Bloch, the museum's curator of vertebrate paleontology.
Graduate students unwrapping the fossils "realized they were looking at the bones of a snake. Not only a snake, but a really big snake."
So they quickly consulted the skeleton of a 17-foot anaconda for comparison. A backbone from that creature is about the size of a silver dollar, Bloch said, while a backbone from Titanoboa is "the size of a large Florida grapefruit."
So far the scientists have found about 180 fossils of backbone and ribs that came from about two dozen individual snakes, and now they hope to go back to Colombia to find parts of the skull, Bloch said.
Titanoboa's size gives clues about its environment. A snake's size is related to how warm its environment is. The fossils suggest equatorial temperatures in its day were significantly warmer than they are now, during a time when the world as a whole was warmer. So equatorial temperatures apparently rose along with the global levels, in contrast to the competing hypothesis that they would not go up much, Head noted.
"It's a leap" to apply the conditions of the past to modern climate change, Head said. But given that, the finding still has "some potentially scary implications for what we're doing to the climate today," he said.
The finding suggest the equatorial regions will warm up along with the planet, he said.
"We won't have giant snakes, however, because we are removing most of their habitats by development and deforestation" in equatorial regions, he said.
MISSION VIEJO, Calif. – Authorities say a 4-year-old girl died after she climbed into a washing machine and her little brother switched it on.
Orange County sheriff's officials say Kayley Ishii apparently climbed into the front-loading washer Monday and her 15-month-old brother managed to start the device.
Sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino says the machine's controls were 20 inches from the floor and the start switch was a simple push button.
The girl was in the water-filled, tumbling machine for at least two minutes before her mother found her. Her death was ruled accidental.
Investigators say the mother could not explain why Kayley climbed inside the machine.
Says Amormino: "They don't know if they were playing or what."
Days after moving out of Drew Peterson's home, the much younger woman he had called his fiancee said on national TV that they were never really engaged and the marriage plans were "more like a stunt."
On Monday Christina Raines, 24, who broke up with Peterson after the former Bolingbrook cop suspected in the disappearance of his fourth wife and whose third wife died under suspicious circumstances talked about their relationship in an interview with "Nightline" Thursday, told CBS' "The Early Show" that their relationship was "never an engagement, really. ... It was more like a stunt."
Raines said Peterson told her that "his lawyer had wanted him to be in the media and wanted to propose to someone at a restaurant."
Raines said she was hesitant to play along, but Peterson told her: