Tragedy has struck an Ohio family after a 15-year-old boy accidentally shot his 11-year-old cousin dead when they were left home alone.
According to News Net 5, Ashton Nicholson was pronounced dead after his unidentified cousin killed him with a gun found in his parents bedroom.
Lt. Gregory Johnson told the site:
“I have nothing to indicate that it was an intentional act, nothing to indicate that whatsoever. This is a terrible tragedy that he was involved in, but I have to give him credit for standing up.”
The gun was not secured, which was how the 15-year-old boy knew where to find it in the house. The boys were home and not at school because it was a snow day.
When the 11-year-old – who was said to have also handled the gun at one point – was shot, the 15-year-old’s older brother called 9-1-1 and told the dispatcher:
“My brother just shot my cousin on accident… Oh my God, he shot him with a pistol.”
Johnson also said that he wants this case to be a lesson to parents who hold guns in their house to be more responsible about securing them.
We pray for family of these young boys during this tragic time.
Sen. Rand Paul leads the GOP 2016 pack, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is more likely to be perceived as capable of handling crises than is President Barack Obama, according to new survey data released Sunday.
A CNN/ORC International survey found Paul the slight favorite for his party’s nomination, with 16 percent of those polled on the question tapping the Kentucky Republican as their choice for the 2016 GOP nod. He was closely followed, within the margin of error, by 2012 vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), who pulled in 15 percent; and Texas Gov. Rick Perry, with 11 percent.
Perry, whose unsuccessful 2012 bid was characterized by a series of high-profile missteps, made a big splash at the Conservative Political Action conference earlier this month. Like Paul, he has signaled he is weighing a 2016 presidential bid.
On the other side of the aisle, Clinton was the prohibitive Democratic favorite according to the survey, clocking in with 63 percent support for the 2016 presidential nod. She was followed by Vice President Joe Biden at 13 percent.
The March 7-9 survey of 801 adults across the country — including 367 Republicans and voters who lean Republican; and 372 Democrats and voters who lean Democratic — hase a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.
Other data from CNN/ORC indicated that 64 percent of Americans surveyed perceived Clinton as “tough enough to handle a crisis” and the same percentage of people called her a “strong leader,” while only half called Obama a “strong leader” and 53 percent said he is “tough.” Sixty-eight percent of those surveyed considered her likable, the poll said. However, the survey also found that only 50 percent of those polled would be “proud” to have her as president.
Come on. Did you really expect Reince Priebus to disagree with Ryan?
Priebus made an appearance on CNN over the weekend and responded to the controversial hole Paul Ryan dug for himself when he casually said that the inner cities, “generations of men” are “not even thinking about working or learning the value and the culture of work.” Priebus – who once proclaimed that the Republican party needs to do more to reach Blacks, Latinos, Women and younger people – couldn’t use the opportunity to denounce Ryans racist statement. Instead, he commended the racism.
On Sunday, CNN’s Candy Crowley asked Priebus if he thought the remarks were “artfully phrased.”
“I’m not sure,” Priebus shrugged. “Here’s what I would say, why was Paul even talking about this? The reason he was talking about it is he devoted a large part of his life — starting back when he worked for Jack Kemp — on finding ways to tackle poverty, to free up capital, to create opportunities in urban areas around this country.”
“Whatever race, whatever gender, we are the ones leading the way, I think, in this country on these issues,” he added. “And so I commend Paul for his work that he’s doing around country.”
Although Sen John McCain thinks otherwise, Senator Chris Murphy told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos there was nothing the U.S. could do militarily to prevent Russia from moving into Eastern Ukraine following its seizure of the Crimean Peninsula. But Murphy advocated for new sanctions on Russia that could put economic pressure on President Vladimir Putin and prevent further Russian action in Ukraine.
“Clearly, this is a longer-term effort to build up the Ukrainian military,” said Murphy. “But if on Monday, we announce – with the European Union – a set of crippling sanctions coming after not only individuals, but Russian business entities, I think that sends a strong message to Putin.”
“I think [Putin] marched into Crimea because he didn’t believe that the United States and Europe would actually take a chunk of flesh out of his economy,” Murphy added. “And, if we stand together on Monday, that gives us a chance, at least, to change the calculus in Moscow.”
When asked about the effectiveness of economic sanctions, Murphy said, “We have to wait for our European friends to tell us if they’re willing to move forward… There is no doubt that if you cut off Russian gas to Europe, it will hurt. There’s no doubt that if you freeze Russian assets in places like Germany and Great Britain, it will hurt them.”
“But this is a threat to the territorial integrity of Europe – who knows who’s next?” he added.
Doctors may soon be able to remove kidney stones from patients in just one procedure following the development of pioneering new treatment.
The procedure, known as bilateral simultaneous ureteroscopy, aims to clear both kidneys at the same time, instead of during two separate operations.
It involves visualising and positioning stones with a ureteroscope, before using a laser beam to break them up.
Pioneering treatment: Bilateral simultaneous ureteroscopy involves visualising and positioning kidney stones, left, with a ureteroscope, before using a laser beam to break them up. Right, a patient’s stone-free body is pictured post-operation, with ‘stents’ inserted to allow any stone fragments to pass down from both kidneys
Traditionally, patients are forced to undergo treatment on each kidney individually during separate hospital admissions.
Kidney stones, which affect around 10 to 15 per cent of men, compared to just 2 to 7 per cent of women, develop when crystals of salt accumulate into stone-like lumps and are not flushed out of the body.
WHAT ARE KIDNEY STONES?
Kidney stones, known as nephrolithiasis, develop in one or both of the kidneys when crystals of salt accumulate into hard stone-like lumps.
Small stones may be passed out in urine and even go undetected, but medium-sized or large stones might block part of the urinary system, such as the urethra.
If this happens, they can cause severe pain in the abdomen or groin, and may case a urinary tract infection.
Kidney stones are fairly common and are typically seen in people aged between 30 and 60.
They affect around 10 to 15 per cent of men, compared to just 2 to 7 per cent of women.
They can lead to stone blockages in the urinary system and cause pain and recurrent urinary tract infections or sepsis.
Bhaskar Somani, consultant urological surgeon at Southampton General Hospital, is helping to develop the use of the technique to clear both organs at the same time.
‘Stone treatment no longer has to be carried out in a staged manner when we have a chance to make people stone-free in one sitting,’ he said.
‘Performing them separately means they have more hassle, more time off work and, logically, if both stones can be removed at the same time then why do it at different times and prolong discomfort for these patients.
‘The idea is to clear all stones in both kidneys at the same time rather than individually as patients then only have to undergo one procedure and, as a result, only one anaesthetic.
‘In particular, for patients with urinary tract infections who have stones in both kidneys, it is sensible to try and clear everything at once as you can’t be sure which side is causing the infection.’
He added: ‘Many surgeons may be fearful of attempting both sides due to the risk and worry of causing trauma to the kidneys.
‘But, with the right expertise, confidence and experience, the benefits of a single procedure far outweigh the risks of performing more work in a single session.’
Expert: Bhaskar Somani (left), a consultant urological surgeon at Southampton General Hospital (right), said a recent study had seen the pioneering technique performed on 22 patients – with a 92 per cent success rate
Mr Somani said a recent study had seen the technique performed on 22 patients suffering from kidney stones – with a staggering 92 per cent success rate.
More than three-quarters of patients were sent home the same day – with others suffering only minimal complications, comparable to those recorded following individual procedures.
‘Our data, which we believe is the first published and presented series in the UK, suggests this is a safe and effective technique with minor complications that are equivalent to individual procedures and can be used as standard treatment,’ said Mr Somani at a regional meeting of the British Association of Urological Surgeons.
No matter where you are, get that body fit with this new and wonderful 7-minute workout. It requires no gym equipment whatsoever, therefore no excuses. All you need is in your house already, a chair, a wall and your own body weight.
This routine combines the best 10 exercises to burn calories and stay fit and strong, and you should do each for 30 seconds with a 10 second rest in between in order for the workout to be effective.
Remember to always keep your abdominal muscles contracted in every exercise and in every position as well.
#1 Jumping Jacks The first step is to stand up straight with your feet together and your arms at your side, then bend your knees slightly and follow this with a jump. In mid-jump, bring your legs out to the side about shoulder width or slightly wider. As you are moving your legs outward, you should raise your arms up over your head to elevate your heart rate.
#2 Wall Sit Stand approximately 2 feet in front of a wall with your back facing it, and lean against the wall slowly and begin to slide down the wall until your knees are bent at 90 degree angles, as though you are sitting in a chair. Keep this position for a minimum of 20 seconds or a maximum of 60 seconds.
#3 Push-Up This exercise is great for targeting your pectoral muscles, triceps, and anterior deltoids. Push-ups are performed by pushing your body up and down using your upper body and arm strength. To do a correct push-up, you must raise your body up onto your toes so you are balanced on your hands and toes. It is important to keep your body in a straight line from head to toe without sagging your torso or arching your back.
#4 Abdominal Crunch Lie on the floor, facing up, with your knees bent, then curl your shoulders towards your pelvis. You can either place your hands beside your neck, resting gently behind your neck, or placed across your chest. To perform a proper crunch, your lower back must remain resting against the floor allowing your hip flexors to rest so all of the attention can be focused on your abdominal muscles.
#5 Step-Up onto Chair The step-up onto chair routine is super effective for your body. Not only does it work on your abdominal muscles, but it also builds lean muscle mass, boosts your metabolism and aids in weight control – Bonus!
Position a sturdy chair in front of you and stand with your feet about hip-width apart and your arms at your sides. Next, step up onto the seat with one foot and press down while bringing your other foot up next to it. Step back with the leading foot and bring the trailing foot down beside it to finish one complete step-up.
#6 Squat To perform a proper squat, your feet should be flat on the ground, about shoulder-width apart and point your feet slightly facing outward, rather than straight ahead. Never let your knees extend beyond your toes, as this will increase the likelihood of damage to your knees. Keep your back straight and bend at your knees as if you were going to sit back in a chair, thrust your hips forward and pull in your abs whilst keeping your back only slightly arched. Slowly lower your body so that your legs are almost parallel to the floor.
#7 Triceps Dip On Chair Sit on the chair with the palms of your hands on the edge, and then slowly slide your buttocks off the seat whilst supporting your weight with your hands. First, straighten your right leg and keep your left leg bent at a 90-degree angle keeping your elbows bent all the time, slowly lower your buttocks towards the floor. Push back up until your arms are straight.
#8 Plank This exercise is vital for building your core and arm strength.
Lie face down on the floor with your elbows resting on the floor and your arms in a 90-degree position. You then push down on the toes of your feet to extend your feet and push your body so it is off the ground and resting on your elbows and toes. Hold the position for as long as you can.
#9 High Knees Running In Place Perform a typical running motion while lifting your knees high into the air. Ensure that your legs are at 90-degree angles when being lifted high into the air and point your toes forward in order to maintain the correct form and to really benefit from this simple exercise. This exercise is great for the muscles in your legs and hips, and can even improve your lower body flexibility.
#10 Lunge Lunges are great for toning a number of different areas of your body, so they are a particularly useful exercise.
To perform a basic lunge, you must first begin by standing up straight with your shoulders back and relaxed and your chin up, step forward with one leg, lowering your hips until both knees are bent at about a 90-degree angle. Maintain the weight in your heels as you then push up to the starting position.
I think I’m just going to assume that the Democrats will lose the Senate in November and prepare myself as I would for any frustrating event I’ve endured over the past few years. That way, if they do eke out a win or tie, then it will be that much sweeter.
There’s been no shortage of discussion about the ramification of a GOP takeover of the Senate, but not much would really change, save for the fact that no judges or executive appointments would be ratified. The Congress would pass some bills that President Obama would veto, and the country would be treated to an intramural fight as the far more conservative House would pass more extreme bills that the less extreme Senate would either ignore or try to temper so that they’re palatable to the larger caucus. In short, how would this term be different from all other terms, save for Obama’s first two years in office?
Which makes former White House press secretary Robert Gibbs’ comment that a Democratic loss would mean that “The party’s over” seem rather quaint. The party’s been over and it doesn’t look like it’s coming back anytime soon. Even if the Republicans take the Senate, they will most likely lose it back to the Democrats in 2016, because the GOP will have to defend a whopping 27 seats and convince the young, the Hispanic and the African-American that they have their best interests at heart. And they’ll have to win the presidency, which at this point doesn’t look like it will ever happen.
The GOP seems to think that young people are in play because they aren’t signing up for health insurance at the rate that the ACA needs in order to function, but recent surveys show that the millennials aren’t attached to either political party, and less so to the Republicans. It is true that many people become more conservative as they gather life experiences such as marriages, children and mortgages, but let’s remember that on social issues, the younger generation is far removed from the right wing scolds who want to decide who gets rights and who doesn’t. And we’ve also seen the effects of less government involvement in, say, North Carolina, that should scare people away from a more libertarian direction.
It hasn’t been a good year for Democrats so far, but nothing that a more robust turnout can’t alter. But the party? Turn out the lights.
The investigation is looking at the pilot off the missing Malaysia airplane and the political beliefs he held. And the strange move his wife and kids made a day before the Malaysia flight took off.
An image has emerged of the pilot of the missing Malaysia Airlines jet wearing a T-shirt with a ‘Democracy is Dead’ slogan as it has been revealed he could have hijacked the plane in an anti-government protest.
Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah, a father-of-three, was said to be a ‘fanatical’ supporter of the country’s opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim – jailed for homosexuality just hours before the jet disappeared.
It has also been revealed that the pilot’s wife and three children moved out of the family home the day before the plane went missing.
It comes as FBI investigators say the disappearance of MH370 may have been ‘an act of piracy’ and the possibility that hundreds of passengers are being held at an unknown location has not been ruled out.
Officials also revealed that it is possible the aircraft could have landed and transmitted a satellite signal from the ground. If the plane was intact and had enough electrical power in reserve, it would be able to send out a radar ‘ping’.
If it’s Sunday, John McCain is on a television network somewhere calling for a war somewhere in the world and this Sunday was no exception. On CNN’s Candy Crowley’s The Situation Room, McCain – who is slowly becoming a regular on Crowley’s program – called for the United States to step up our military presence in Ukraine against Russia.
McCain of course would disguise his new military presence in Ukraine as a support group.
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) on Sunday called for economic sanctions against Russia, arguing that they would be effective since its economy depends on oil and gas exports.
“Russia is a gas station masquerading as a country,” he said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
While McCain said that in the short term Russia has won Crimea, the U.S. can still work to help Ukraine gain that land back in the long term.
McCain said that in addition to sanctions the U.S. needs a long term military plan to help Ukraine, but not one that will lead to American troops in the region. The senator suggested aid to the Ukrainian military so “at least so they can defend themselves.”
Based only on our past track record, sending in military “support” to Ukraine will not de-escalate the situation, but looked upon as a move of aggression by the opposition, in this case Russia. At that point, the obvious will be true. If our military is there and Russia attacks, then we will be bound to protect ourselves and Ukraine, thus, war!
The founder of the Wesboro Baptist Church, Fred ‘God Hates Fags’ Phelps is reported to be “on the edge of death.”
The news comes via Nate Phelps, one of Fred’s estranged children, who wrote this in a Facebook post Saturday night:
I’ve learned that my father, Fred Phelps, Sr., pastor of the “God Hates Fags” Westboro Baptist Church, was ex-communicated from the “church” back in August of 2013. He is now on the edge of death at Midland Hospice house in Topeka, Kansas.
I’m not sure how I feel about this. Terribly ironic that his devotion to his god ends this way. Destroyed by the monster he made.
I feel sad for all the hurt he’s caused so many. I feel sad for those who will lose the grandfather and father they loved. And I’m bitterly angry that my family is blocking the family members who left from seeing him, and saying their good-byes.
Jamaican dancehall artist Vybz Kartel and three associates were convicted Thursday in the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams. Jurors deliberated less than two hours before announcing their verdict, which may result in a life sentence for the popular dancehall musician.
In August 2011, prosecutors argued, Williams was taken to Kartel’s home and beaten to death over two missing guns. Williams’ body has never been recovered, yet the prosecution was able to score a conviction based on voicemail and text messages alongside circumstantial evidence. According to the New York Times, Jamaican police found a text message on Vybz Kartel’s phone that Williams’ body had been chopped to “mincemeat.”
Kartel’s trial lasted 65 days, one of the longest trials in Jamaica’s circuit court system, according to Jamaica Observer. Kartel’s lawyers will appeal the verdict.
In 2013, the singer, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, was acquitted of a separate murder charge stemming from the killing of Jamaican businessman and promoter Barrington “Bossie”’ Burton. Kartel was arrested for murder, conspiracy to murder and illegal possession of a firearm.
A chilling theory suggests the missing Malaysian Airlines plane could have been hijacked using a mobile phone or USB stick.
An anti-terror expert believes the speed, altitude and direction of the aircraft could have been changed, simply by sending radio signals from a small remote device.
A framework of ‘codes’ created by cyber terrorists would also be able to get into the plane’s in-flight entertainment system and override the security software.
Probe: Police in Malaysia have searched the home of pilot Zaharie Ahmad Shah (left) and Fariq Abdul Hamid after officials confirmed the plane was taken over by a ‘deliberate act’
It is also believed, once the systems have been successfully hacked, the plane could be landed by remote control.
The theory has emerged as the search for flight MH370 continues to grow, with 25 countries now involved in the rescue effort.
Yesterday, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak confirmed the plane’s disappearance was the result of a ‘deliberate act’ and could have flown as far as Kazakstan.
Dr Sally Leivesley, a former Home Office official, said: ‘It might well be the world’s first cyber hijack.’
Dr Sally Leivesley, a former Home Office official, said: ‘It might well be the world’s first cyber hijack’
Dr Leivesley, who now prepares businesses and governments for potential terrorist attacks, told the Sunday Express: ‘There appears to be an element of planning from someone with a very sophisticated systems engineering understanding,’
‘This is a very early version of what I would call a smart plane, a fly-by-wire aircraft controlled by electronic signals.
She added that once the plane is air-side, you can insert a set of commands and codes which can begin a new set of processes.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak confirmed that the plane could have travelled, undetected, for a further seven hours.
Friends of Capt Zaharie Ahmad Shah, whose home was searched by police yesterday, said he was a ‘gadget geek’ while at school.
They described the 53-year-old as someone who would ‘never compromise his passenger’s safety’, the Malaysian Star reported.
A flight simulator, which was taken from his luxury house in a suburb outside Kuala Lumpur, has been dismantled and is being examined by investigators.
Police also searched the home of co-pilot Fariq Abdul Hamid, who lives in the same upmarket district.
A journalist films the home of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 co-pilot Fariq Abdul Hamid in Shah Alam, near Kuala Lumpur.
Police sources have confirmed that Shah was a vocal political activist – and fear that the court decision left him profoundly upset. It was against this background that, seven hours later, he took control of a Boeing 777-200 bound for Beijing and carrying 238 passengers and crew.
It is not yet clear where the plane was taken, however Mr Razak said the most recent satellite data suggests the plane could have been making for one of two possible flight corridors.
The search, involving 43 ships and 58 aircraft from 15 countries, switched from the South China Sea to the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Ocean.
Satellite data has shown that after losing contact with air traffic controllers, the plane could have kept flying as far north as Kazakhstan in Central Asia or deep into the southern Indian Ocean.
It has left authorities desperate to narrow down a search area now stretching across 11 nations and one of the most remote oceans in the world.
‘The search was already a highly complex, multinational effort. It has now become even more difficult,’ Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said at a news conference Sunday.
‘It is our hope with the new information, parties that can come forward and narrow the search to an area that is more feasible,’ he said, adding that the search effort now includes 25 countries.
“The search area has been significantly expanded.
And the nature of the search has changed. From focusing mainly on shallow seas, we are now looking at large tracts of land, crossing 11 countries, as well as deep and remote oceans,” Hishammuddin said.
Given that the northern route the plane may have taken would take it over countries with busy airspace, most experts say the person in control of the aircraft would more likely have chosen the southern route.
The southern Indian Ocean is the world’s third-deepest and one of the most remote stretches of water in the world, with little radar coverage. The wreckage might take months – or longer – to find, or might never be located.
Malaysia has asked for help from countries in South, Central and Southeast Asia for assistance in tracing the jet by providing satellite and radar data, the government said in a statement. It said that for now, both the northern and southern routes that the plane may have taken were being treated with ‘equal importance.’
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