Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Death Penalty ruled unconstitutional in California and other eye-catching headlines

A federal judge has ruled that California's death penalty is unconstitutional, because the system for applying it is dysfunctional.  No word yet if CA Attorney General Kamala Harris will appeal the decision.  More on this in tomorrow's blog.

It's been 25 years since Estelle Reiner said "I'll have what she's having" referring to Meg Ryan's famous fake orgasm scene in the film "When Harry Met Sally."  Ms Ryan happened to be in NYC on the anniversary, but she did not partake in the numerous recreations of the famous scene at a number of NYC delis.

Britney Spears and her bodyguard got their signals crossed at a Thousand Oaks location of the Cheesecake Factory that resulted in her failing to pay her $30 check.

Kim Kardashian may make as much as $100 million in the next year as her cut in the profits from an app named after her.

The Ku Klux Klan is recruiting in the South and using candy as part of their recruiting pitch.

Jillian Michaels wanted to make it clear she's leaving The Biggest Loser again because of differences she's had with the producers for some time, not to seek "greener pastures."

If Michael Jeter was looking down from Heaven during the MLB All-Star game, he had to be smiling.  After all, CBS Sports tweeted his name rather than Derek Jeter's in a tweet congratulating the long-time Yankee star on his pending retirement and final All-Star game appearance.

On a related note, the absence of any tribute at the All-Star game to perennial All-Star Tony Gwynn, who passed away last month, was glaring.

Kacy Catanzaro is a 5', 100 lb former gymnast, who just became the first woman to make it to the finals of the American Ninja competition.  Reporter's note:  I hope she makes it to compete in Japan.

The acting VA Secretary, Sloan Gibson testified on Capitol Hill that the VA has lost the trust of veterans.

Activision, maker of the video game "Call of Duty:  Black Ops II" is being sued by Manuel Noriega.  The former dictator of Panama, who is serving jail time there, filed suit in Los Angeles claiming the company misappropriated his likeness.

In Oxford, OH, a 93 year old man who has been working at a local Wendy's for 25 years has no plans to retire.

WaterSaver Faucet company in Chicago is under fire by the union that represents workers there, because employees who use the bathroom for more than six minutes per day outside of non-work time are being disciplined.

Dance instructor Kriste Lewis decided to try out for the Saintsations, the cheer squad for the NFL's New Orleans Saints.  She made the squad.  What makes that unusual is that she is 40 years old.  She is one of only two cheerleaders in the entire NFL in her 40s.

The driver whose accident resulted in the deaths of two Good Samaritans was sentenced to three years probation. 

A woman says she will sue Starline Tours, the bus company that provided the double-decker bus on which a Manhattan Beach teen was killed last week; claiming she was injured in a very similar incident.  Lauren Guerra suffered a fractured skull, shattered left eye socket and has had double vision since the October 2013 accident where she was struck by a tree branch.

The woman who was stripped of her title as Miss Delaware has sued to regain the title.