Friday, May 17, 2013

Finds among Friday's headlines

Former Argentine dictator Jorge Rafael Videla died today of natural causes at the age of 87.  He was in prison, serving a 50 year sentence for his involvement in the "snatching" of children from kidnapped mothers during his rule.  He had been in and out of prison since 1985.

A study by the Pew Charitable Trusts reveals that Gen X and late baby-boomers face a declining standard of living in retirement.

The University of California medical centers at UCLA (both on campus and at their Santa Monica location), UC Davis, UC Irvine, San Diego and San Francisco are cancelling elective surgeries scheduled for Monday and later, due to a possible strike by hospital workers.

Bernie Madoff is serving a 150 year sentence at age 75, for his involvement in a gigantic Ponzi scheme and the media is making much of the fact he's having to work hard to earn only $40 per month at his prison job.

The jackpot for Saturday's Powerball drawing has hit $600 million and continues to climb.  Remind me to stop and buy the winning ticket when I leave in a bit.

Few details have been released regarding the accident that claimed the life of a Navy SEAL in a training accident at Fort Knox.

A bacon restaurant in San Francisco was forced to close after neighbors complained about the smell of bacon and the health department discovered the place didn't have proper permits.

In the wake of Kobe Bryant's on-going battle with his parents and an auction house over memorabilia his mother wanted to auction comes the story of Tyron Smith of the Dallas Cowboys.  There's $1 million missing from his accounts and his former financial advisor had been recommended by his parents.  When he told his parents he was cutting them off financially, Smith's attorney claims that either his mother or stepfather threatened his physical well-being and that of his girlfriend.

The Atlanta Hawks basketball team is considering hiring the first European born coach in NBA history.