Gizmodo New Pavement Made From Tires Will Save Old Faithful’s Groundwater
Gizmodo New Pavement Made From Tires Will Save Old Faithful’s Groundwater | io9 Seriously.
11-Year-Old Shoots 16-Year-Old "Home Invader," But Neighbors Say There Was No Break-In
An 11-year-old boy in St. Louis County, Mo., fatally shot a 16-year-old who police believe was attempting a home invasion, but neighbors of the younger boy say what happened Thursday afternoon was not a break-in.
Police told the Associated Press that two suspected burglars, the 16-year-old shooting victim and a 22-year-old who is now in custody, tried multiple times to break into the home, and made it through the front door on their third attempt. The teen was apparently gunned down in the foyer.
The 11-year-old was home alone with his four-year-old sister at the time. Their mother said she’d purchased the gun for protection after previous home invasion attempts.
But neighbors say there’s no way there was a break-in in the middle of the day. One, Donna Jackson, says she saw a conversation between the two boys, then a point-blank shooting.
“It was not a break-in,” Jackson told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, “He shot him in the head.”
Another neighbor said the teen was trying to sell the 11-year-old a phone, but when the older boy reached the house, the younger one shot him.
“He was never in the house,” Jazmyne Clark told the Post-Dispatch, “He wasn’t breaking in at all. He was just trying to sell him his phone.”
She added the 11-year-old had been waving a gun around in front of the house earlier in the day.
A third neighbor said the shooter was a known troublemaker who had previously broken into her house and stolen cell phones.
Police told the Post-Dispatch they’re sticking to the home invasion account for now, but they’re not done interviewing witnesses, and they want anyone with information to come forward.
Six of the Biggest Box Office Bombs in Movie History
Zac Efron’s EDM drama We Are Your Friends became instantly legendary when it opened with some of the worst numbers ever for a wide release last weekend (it did just $1.8 million in 2,333 theaters). It joins an elite group of movies best known for their ability to repel audiences. Six more box-office disasters are explored in the video above.
500 Days of Kristin, Day 222: 2 Weeks 2 Love 2 Marry
During a Twitter Q and A sponsored by Revlon® cosmetics earlier this summer, Kristin Cavallari was asked about the timeline of her relationship with her current husband, Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler. Here’s how she put it:
See, Kristin can move fast.
This has been 500 Days of Kristin.
[Photos via Getty]
‘Only Lesbians Play Pokémon,’ And Other Video Game Store Horror Stories
After roughly 1,200 comments and dozens of emails, I have assembled the first round of your horrible video game store experiences.
It’s disconcerting how many of you seem to have been conned out of your money due to bullshit policies on returns and generally grouchy employees. Fortunately, sharing the misery helps lighten the load (I think). Sit down and prepare for 18 stories that will likely make you wince in empathy. I’ve lightly edited submissions for typos, and bolded some lines for emphasis and readability.
Only Lesbians Play Pokémon
(via Corgi Caer)
I think I was around twenty or so, and I was very much into Pokémon. Loved all the games. It was around 1998 and the card game was in full throw. I remember walking into a Babbage’s and this guy immediately jumped on me asking me if I needed help. Being an adult, I politely said no, I’m good. But the guy would not leave me alone.
Finally, exasperated, I asked if he had any Pokémon games. He kind of stared at me a few seconds and then smirked and said “Little lady like you playing Pokémon? That’s a first. Wouldn’t you like something a little more your type? We have a great Zelda game” OOT had just come out and yes, I already had it. Telling him so he looked slightly discouraged and then made a comment about how he only knew that lesbians ever played Pokemon.
Slightly offended, I looked at him and said, “I AM a lesbian.”
The look on his face was priceless. He back-peddled and stammered something I just can’t remember and then tried to sell me a game. I told him to keep his game to himself and cram it where the sun didn’t shine, and walked out.
He followed me to the door trying to stammer apologies, but I was having none of it. I went to a different place and got better service. And didn’t get harassed.
Store Credit Or 80% Of The Amount In Cash
(via Will)
Thought I’d drop a line about what transpired during the worst trip I ever had to a GameStop…
It was back before the release of the PS4. I had placed my full deposit towards the console months before and was eagerly awaiting launch day so I could swing through and pick mine up. Pre-order receipt in hand, I walked into the store and stood in the half-hour line until I got to the counter and was told that they didn’t have a pre-order for me. I laughed and presented my receipt (printed and highlighted at the very store I was in). They ran the numbers and said that, nope, sorry, they don’t have a reservation under my name.
Confused, I mentioned the receipt and they said they just don’t have record of it in the system and they couldn’t release it without that. I figured, okay, I’ll go and get all the physical proof I could. I took my receipt and went home, printed up my bank statement from the time of the transaction, made sure to link all the numbers to the right place and returned to the store. Still nothing they can do, according to the front desk attendant. I ask to see the manager, which of course irritates the person who wasn’t helping me. Which of course irritates me, I’m SO SORRY that I don’t want to just walk away from a 400-dollar-or-so investment because YOU fucked up!
After some confusion, the manager, who in all fairness did his absolute best to locate my reservation, said that due to some internal error my reservation had been overwritten. Done at this point after 4 hours, I just said “Fine” and asked for a refund. THEN the manager said that he could return the money in store credit for the full amount or 80% of the amount in cash. My jaw dropped. Not only had they fucked me out of the console I had been waiting months for, but I also had the privilege of losing 80 bucks in the process.
I took the cash and went to the Walmart in the shopping block. Got a PS4 in 20 minutes.
Fuck Gamestop.
End.
And No Effort Had Been Made To Hang Them Properly
(via Jared)
This actually happened to me yesterday, 8/30. I was at my local Walmart looking for the Kanan Jarrus Disney Infinity figure, which is unfortunately a Walmart timed exclusive. I had checked the online stock checker prior to going in to the store and it said my store did indeed have him in.
So I go to the Infinity section, which has been consolidated down to 4 rows (it used to be twice that. As an aside, my Walmart keeps its amiibo selection mixed in with Clearance, and does not have a dedicated place for them). Kanan is not there, but there are only two new figures; Yoda and Obi-Wan. So I go to the employee and show him a picture of the figure I want and ask:
“Would you guys have this figure in the back? I know it just came out today but there’s barely any stock over there so I thought I’d ask.”
“Did you see it over there?” He responded.
“Well no, that’s why I...”
“Then we don’t have it.”
“Ooook...you don’t think it might be in the back?”
“We have plenty of that stuff, we probably don’t have room for it.” At this point, he looks at the dates on the tag saying Walmart exclusive, which reads 8/30-9/XX. “Yeah, see it doesn’t come out until tomorrow.”
“Today is the 30th...”
“Well it’s probably sitting in the back then and we haven’t got it out. Try checking tomorrow buddy.”
“Oh ok,” I said and just walked off. I go back this morning and there were 3 Kanans stacked on top of a peg, and no effort had been made to hang them properly. Walmart sucks.
‘Get Out Of My Face’
(via Zabdiel)
I was at my local Gamestop one afternoon, I believe it was November, last year, and I was just there to purchase some very old, very used Xbox 360 games, because I am too poor to afford the PS4, so I was doing my best to drag along my last-gen play time. Still am.
So anyway, I picked out three games, and went to pay at the register, and the employee at the register lets me know that my Gamestop “Power Up Rewards” card was going to expire the very next day, and that if I had the time, he could help me out with using all the points I had saved up since dinosaurs roamed the earth, because I had never thought to use them.
So he is helping me out, and of course, we are taking our time because:
A. This was, as Aladdin would say, a whole new world for me, and…
B. He was a new employee.
But I didn’t mind the time it was taking because hell, benefits for me, and as a person who has dabbled in retail before, I could appreciate the effort he was making to actually care for me as a customer, and as an actual human being.
So 45 minutes go by and the floor manager, at the time, comes up and asks him what is taking so long, and he explains it to his boss… His boss, however, sees what was happening as a waste of time, and seeing as Christmas was around the corner, the line was super packed with people… So his boss, clearly deserving such a title, cancels the order, tells me that there is no time for this, and that if I wanted the games, then I’d have to pay full price, or I’d have to come back tomorrow to work out this issue.
The employee, being new, apologizes to me and was freaking out a bit, but I told him I would talk to the manager myself, and I thank him for the help.
When I go talk to the same manager that just pulled that off, I start explaining the situation calmly, because I didn’t want him to think I was one of those horrible screaming customers one sees so frequently at your local Walmart’s and McDonald’s.
Halfway through my sentence, he literally, and I can’t stress this enough, shouts at me to, “THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO FOR YOU, SO JUST GET OUT OF MY FACE AND LEAVE MY STORE!!!”
I write his name down on my phone, and walk away from the store. Next day I return, ask to speak to the other manager, he let’s me know he knew of the situation and that his employees had told him about the matter, and that he would do what he could to help me out.
Nothing could be done. That lousy excuse for a manager still works there, to this day. And my reward points? Gone with the wind… Just like that, that stupid managers code of conduct, workplace guidelines, and my hope at bargain bin shopping that day…
Ate some pizza afterwards though, which was pretty good!
Casual Sexism
(via Ashley)
This occurred when I lived in Austin, Texas and worked for Blizzard at the time. I did in-game support and spent a good 40 hours a week on the system as well as raiding outside of work hours.
Now. I’m a small woman with big... um, benefits. The kind that cause back problems. This was right as Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood came out, and I had preordered and I was way pumped because F - YEAH ASSASSIN’S CREED PARKOUR. So, going for the release at midnight, I approach as one of the first people in line with a friend of mine (a dude), and the comments just start pouring in. From “it’s so nice that you’re holding a place from your boyfriend,” to, “do you even know what StarCraft is?” to my absolute favorite, “do those get in the way when you’re playing?”
The cherry on top was the sales associate who told me that chicks like me are the problem with video games these days, because the developers just want to please us, and it’s women’s fault that content sucks now.
To Disc Repair Or Not Disc Repair
(via Dan)
I am sending this because I had a shitty time at a GameStop once after I had an issue with my Xbox 360 copy of GTAV. Though I will preface it by saying that the problem was caused by my negligence.
I had originally bought the game about a week after it had been released at a GameStop near my house that I frequented. After buying the game I noticed a sign on the door saying that they were moving the store within the next week. After a few days of having the game, I had to leave for a short tour with the band that I’m in and brought my Xbox and GTAV since our merch guy had something similar to the GAEMS travel suitcase.
We had a bed set up in the back of our van, and thinking that it would be stable enough, I impatiently set up the 360 so I could watch Michael De Santa do yoga by the pool. I will say right now that this was a stupid move (...and that I should have waited until we got to the venue to set it up) because not long into Mike’s flattering tree pose we hit a bump and the disc got scratched. I booted the game up again and got an error screen saying there was corrupted data. I tried reinstalling the game and deleting my save file, but the disc was unplayable.
Once we got home I had to go to a different GameStop since my go-to spot moved. I brought in the receipt and my copy of the game, asking if GameStop offered any sort of disc repair services. Instead of just telling me they couldn’t do it, they said it was laser burn, that it could not be fixed, and then suggested that I trade the game in, get a $30 credit, and then pay almost $40 (including tax) more for a new copy of the game. I technically didn’t have a real job, so I went home with the game still broken.
On the way back I was thinking about why they would suggest trading the game in and finally put two and two together: because they could fix it and would just resell it for $55 AND they would get more on top of that with me getting a new copy (duh). So I checked at a place called Play N Trade (sadly it’s now closed) that was also near my house. I stopped in there and they told me that yes, they could fix it, and if I paid around $10 for their membership card I would get three free disc repairs with any after costing between $5-7. Afterwards I went home and (even though I had to restart the game) was still able to enjoy it. Shitty start, but at least there are still good people working in retail.
Pre-Orders Get A Game To Release Earlier?
(via Kyle)
Just a quick one here. I don’t have any as a consumer but I worked at a gamestop for two years. Worked with a guy who would routinely lie to customers in order to get them to reserve games and sign up for subscriptions. He once told some kids that if a game is preordered enough it sometimes will come out earlier. When they looked all happy at that I explicitly told the kids he was wrong and that wouldn’t happen. He was pretty mad at me for costing him those reserves.
He would also lie about being able to cancel reserves since the negative balance affects the employee who happens to process it, so he would refuse to do it. The higher ups naturally liked him because of his numbers and didn’t care how he got them. As I’m sure you have heard GameStop only cares about those numbers and threaten employees with no hours in order to get them, no matter how. District managers also threaten strong stores to do better in order to carry their bad stores, which forces those stores to be even worse.
Oh, and if you see at a GameStop one employee doing all the transactions and another not, while there is a line, the employee not doing any is likely trying to protect his numbers. They aren’t just raw numbers, they gauge them against your transaction percentage. So even if you get 5 reserves in a day but do more than a 100 transactions it would be looked as lesser than someone with 3 reserves but managed to only do 15 transactions because he ignored the register otherwise. The aforementioned guy would do this all the time along with another guy I knew who would log in other people if he wasn’t getting a reserve or a sub on an order.
Since leaving the company I never go back to their stores.
Pizza 15
(via Kevin)
On the day FIFA 15 came out, I started calling around to see who had it in stock. Target insisted it wasn’t out yet (not true). The man I spoke to at Walmart said he couldn’t find it, but actually believed me that it was out. He put me on hold for a several minutes to look for it. When he came back on, he apologized and said not only could he not find Pizza 15, but no one in the store had heard of it, and that I shouldn’t be wasting employee’s time with pranks. I just downloaded it off of Xbox Live instead.
‘Are You An Idiot?’
(via Mike)
I very vividly [remember] when I was treated poorly when I went into a GameStop because it was the last time I stepped foot into one. I remember walking in on launch day for Bioshock Infinite and asking to purchase a copy, and the manager asked me if I had preordered it. I kindly responded that I did not but I would like to purchase it anyway. The manager and the other employee looked at each other for a few seconds and then replied with “Are you an idiot?”
I froze and I didn’t actually know how to respond and I just kind of starred at him. He then proceeded “Why would you buy a game on launch day without pre ordering it?” To that I responded “I didn’t really think anything of it I just figured I’d see if you had a copy.” He replied to me “It’s stupid to buy a game on launch day without preordering it.”
At this point I was getting kind of agitated as I replied “You mentioned that already but do you have it?” And so he blankly stared at me for a few seconds then without saying a word just walked into the back of the store. I didn’t know if at this point he was getting the game or just waiting back there till I lost interest and went away.
More than ten minutes later he comes back out and just tosses the game on the counter and goes “Yeah we have it.” At that point I was flat out pissed off and I responded with “So you’re saying you do have it in stock despite me not preordering it.... So the point of me preordering it would be?...” He just blankly looked at me and said “If you preorder it, it guarantees we have a copy for you and you get pre order bonuses now do you want it or not?” I looked at him and paused for a second and just said “Nope” and walked out and bought the game at Best Buy which was in the same mall.
The clerks at Best Buy gave me no hassle and got the game for me quickly and I have not been back into a GameStop since. I realize this probably isn’t even half as bad as other stories but I was just so enraged after it happened that he actually asked if I was an idiot for not preordering something that they had in stock anyway!
Neverending Questions
(via OptimusEvo)
This is literally the conversation I had last time I was at gamestop buying a game.
GS: I see your picking up GTA V...would you like the Strategy guide?
Me: No.
GS: I see you do not have a Powerup rewards card. Would you like to sign up? Save on preowned titles and get more for trades?
Me: No.
GS: Would you like to preorder any upcoming titles?
Me: No.
GS: How will you be paying today? You might be pre approved for a GameStop Credit Card, would you like to sign up for one? It will only take a minute?
Me: No.
GS: Well do you have any ipads, tablets, or phones? We give store credit and cash that can be used towards your purchase today?
Me: No.
“Transaction finally Happens”
GS: Thank You for your purchase. On your receipt there is a survey, please let me know how i’m doing. By filling out the survey you may be entered to win a $100 gift card. Thanks!
Every purchase is a worst experience at GameStop.
The Gaming God
(via Robobojangles)
A friend of mine was scoffed at for his choice of game.
None of my experiences were quite as bad as this. I don’t remember the exact game he wanted to preorder (I want to say it was DMC or some other notable release). When he told the cashier he wanted to preorder it the cashier actually made a scoffing sound and asked indignantly, “Why would you want to preorder that game?” noting how it would be a terrible game.
My friend and his girlfriend stared in disbelief for a moment and then responded simply saying it looked pretty good to them. The cashier apparently needed to ensure that they understood his authority on the matter by stating once again that it won’t be a good game and that he would know because he is a “gaming god”. They just laughed and insisted on preordering anyways. He gave up on his insistence and did the preorder.
Personally, I would have spoke with his manager and preordered it elsewhere. I cannot fathom how anyone could say something so ridiculous in a real world setting like that. I don’t care what mental illness(es) you have.
An Hour And A Half At Walmart
(via Sol)
Walmart had a deal for Borderlands 2 where I could get two copies for PS4 (one for myself, one for my brother) for the price of one last summer. I hadn’t stepped inside a Walmart for at least two years prior, and I have no intention of going back again, after what happened at the store.
It was a weekday night, around nine o’clock. I walked straight to the electronics department and looked for an employee to open the locked shelves with the game racks inside. Only one employee was on staff at the time, apparently, and he was busy dealing with a family trying to buy a TV. I stood around, glancing at him occasionally, not wanting to interrupt him. Several others started waiting in the area for either him or another employee to assist us. Ten minutes went by, some people left, even more came. Eventually the manager walked by, noticed the crowd of fifteen people or so, and said he would get someone to come help us. The first employee was still discussing TVs with that family and paid no attention to the rest of us.
Another five minutes passed and a single employee arrives to help us. I said I was there first, but an angry looking middle aged guy forced himself to the front of the line. After he was finished, I had the guy get the copies of Borderlands from the shelf. At the counter, I said there was a deal online for $30 each and showed him their online store. He seemed satisfied and rang me up.
As I was pulling out the cash to pay, the lights went out. I still don’t know why the power shut off, but we were forced to the front of the store and had to leave all products at the back of the store. I had already been there for nearly thirty minutes at this point, but decided to stick it out. I stood around in front of the store for about fifteen minutes before the lights turned back on. I rushed to the back of the store again, hoping that the employee would still be there. He wasn’t, and I had to wait around again over five minutes for him to show up. When he finally did, he said that the computers needed to reboot and that it would take about ten more minutes since they were over ten years old and not good enough for the store software they ran.
Halfway through the reboot process, the lights went out again. I went to the front of the store and waited again, only for five minutes this time. I went back to the electronics department again, but someone else beat me there. The computers rebooted again, the other person was helped before me, and a third employee finally came to help the dozen or so of us still hanging around. I gave the games to this employee, mentioned the online deal and showed it to him on my phone. This employee did not believe the deal was real and refused to give me that price. I insisted and said that the other guy had already typed in the price and would give it to me, but he didn’t believe me. I had to wait for the manager to come by and tell him to give me the sale price, in which I finally was checked out and could leave. It took over an hour and a half to get out of there with the games and will probably always be the worst buying experience I will have for any sort of media.
tl;dr version: Went to Walmart to get Borderlands 2 half off, electronics department understaffed, power went out twice, guy didn’t believe the online deal, had to wait for manager, over an hour and a half to get rang up and leave.
Note: I know I could’ve ordered it online instead, but I wanted the games that night so my group could finish before one of us went out of town for several weeks.
Turns Out The Asshole Was A Thieving Asshole
(via Edmund Hunsicker)
Some friends and I were heavy into MMORPGs, and decided to try Rift after playing through EQ2, WoW and Guild Wars. We play the beta, get heavily into it, and all decide we want Collector’s Editions when they get announced. The day comes, and I pre-order and my local Gamestop. It was my first pre-order there, because I had just moved across county.
So, launch day comes, and I’m ready to get my copy so I can continue playing the character I started in Early Access. Get down to the store, and I walk up to the desk. First sign something was wrong: the two people behind the counter glance at me, then continue talking to each other. I waited a minute, as I guessed maybe one of them was the store manager talking to his employee. I have been there, done that, so no worries.
Finally the older of the two asks me what I want. As in: “Yes, what do you want?”. A bit annoyed, I say that I am there to pick up my pre-order for Rift Collector’s Edition. He looks at me, and says with a straight face “Those haven’t shipped out yet, they come out next week.”
Now, I’ve been talking to my guildies all morning before heading out to work (and this place before work), and I know for a fact that some of them have already gotten their copies, two of them at midnight releases.
After I tell him I know they have been release, he then tells me “I mean Gamestop isn’t getting them for a week.” I once again call him out on it, informing him that two of my friends picked up their copies at Gamestop Midnight Launches. His reply is then “Well they haven’t been shipped to our store.” I’m about to go off on him, when the other employee says “You know, there are some boxes that came in this morning that haven’t been checked yet, maybe they’re in there.” The elder gives him a sour look, and then goes off in the back to ‘check’.
About ten minutes later, he comes out with the Collector’s Edition, telling me how lucky I was, there was one copy in the box. He also checks my pre-order information THREE TIMES to make sure I’m not trying to pull one over on them and take someone else’s Collector’ Edition.
Transaction concluded, I politely ask who the manager of the store is. Surprise surprise, it’s the man who has been giving me trouble. He has a smirk on his face when he tells me this. I thanked him for the information, and left. I then called the local District Manager, who I knew from when I worked for Gamestop years beforehand.
I found out a week later that they had caught him stealing Collector’s Editions of different games that way, and reselling them on Ebay for much higher prices.
Fuck Steve
(via GeoStar)
Three years ago I would go to a Gamestop in LA every other week. The people who worked there were smart and all around good employees. That was, UNTIL STEVE CAME. The store had a change in management and this guy named Steve took over the store. He was one of those nerdy, gross, all around unhygienic special snowflakes who had to have everything his way. He unnecessarily yelled at customers and employees for things that were perfectly okay.
One time I was in the store and he yelled at a couple of kids around the age of 8, because they were “fogging up the Gameboy games case” by breathing on it. He was also the Gamestop equivalent of selling drugs to kids. He forced people who worked at the store to charge kids under 17 10 bucks if they wanted to buy M rated games (which is punishable by jail time here in California, but hey, Steve gets what Steve wants). A friend of mine worked there during the time Steve was in charge, and he told me half the employees had quit, and store sales went down 70%.
Steve just never came in on weekends so luckily Saturdays were a safe haven for the store. Sadly, even with no-Steve-Sundays, the store’s lease ran out a year and a half ago. Steve and my friend were transferred to work at the register in another mall in LA. Steve was fired and banned from every Gamestop in California within 3 days.
Why was he fired? He threw a game case at an irate mother trying to return an unopened game an HOUR after its 2 week warranty was up. Whose mother was that? My mother. Fuck Steve.
Should’ve Known Better
(via Started as a Cleric and Ended up an Innkeeper)
There’s a local GameStop I reluctantly shop at because they never bother to update their prices and I frequently find expensive collector’s editions at clearance-level prices. The only problem was that a majority of the staff do not care if you’re alive or dead. I can’t remember a single time when an employee has picked up the phone.
One time I managed to find a new copy of the Anniversary Edition of NBA 2K10 (It was the one that came with the locker you could store blu-ray discs in) and asked the employee at the counter if everything was there since the box had been on display for quite some time and the tape looked like it had been resealed.
The employee continued to ask me if I was stupid because, “it’s a brand new game,” and essentially shooed me away after I paid. Not only was it missing a couple small items, the employee and his manager denied me a refund because, “I should have known what I was getting myself into with a display copy.”
Well That’s Pretty Accusatory
(via ThatOneGuyWho)
I bought two Gamecube adapters (for the WiiU) from Gamestop in store for my roommate and myself. I was lucky that I got it since it wasn’t even supposed to be in stores yet (restocked). I did order it online but it wasn’t going to ship for another month, so I was going to cancel it.
Next thing you know, my online order did ship. Of course I didn’t need the two I bought in store so I went to return it. I go into the store and the guy working asks me why I don’t need them anymore. I explain the story and he just scoffs at me. Saying, “Good, now someone who ACTUALLY wants it can have it” and “now you can’t make money off this.”
I’m sitting here saying to myself “what the fuck!” I do resell as a hobby but this wasn’t for that. If he really wanted to see if I was telling the truth he could have looked up my order history and seen that I did have the adapters shipped online.
Anyway, I end up contacting corporate and got a formal apology from the district manager. They offered to have me come back and get a game for free but I turned them down. I just wanted to be treated with respect regardless of if I resell or not. No one should be talked to like that at a place they spend money.
Dude, No One Wants To See The Back Of Your Car
(via tokidokipoptarts)
During my last year of college, I stopped off in a Gamestop one day to buy my boyfriend (at the time) a copy of Dark Souls for the 360. He had already played the game several times on my PS3, but I figured it’d be nice for him to have it at his apartment and figured it was a nice gesture.
So I go in there and, not wanting to browse or anything, immediately ask the guy for a copy of the game. The two employees in front at the time (both male) were both like, “Oooh, you play Dark Souls?” with stars in their eyes. I explained that, no, I don’t play Dark Souls, but I do like to watch my boyfriend play it. One of them says, “Oh, well, that makes more sense.”
Already a bit peeved, I tell him to just check me out. Well, while that guy is ringing me up, the other guy goes in back, and when he knows he’s not going to get caught, asshole number 1, no fucking joke, WRITES HIS NUMBER ON MY RECEIPT AND SAYS, “Call me if you wanna see the back of my car sometime.”
Yep, this is a thing that actually fucking happened to me. Good thing he gave me physical proof to show his manager later.
The Finger Jabber
(via Lizard_King)
November 22, 2005... I arrived at a Circuit City about 5AM to find a small line of people waiting for the release of the Xbox 360. It was known there was going to be scarce supply, and yet retailers were keeping quiet on the number of units they had received.
As the store got closer to opening, some people came and tried to mix into the less-than-linear line, unsuccessfully, as we had remembered our own place in line, and we were talking together and had become familiar. People sent loved ones out for coffee and donuts for everyone. People brought extra blankets and chairs. I was talking to a guy behind me who said he wanted to get it for his son for Christmas for them to enjoy together.
Employees passed us as they went in to work. A manager in his 20s snarled something about a disorderly line and went inside. He reappeared 15 minutes from opening to let us know they had 15 Premium Systems, and 15 Core Systems for sale. The systems were by the registers, and he would hand out tickets for the systems so we could go in when the store opened and purchase them. Of course, everyone was counting up and down the line over and over. A different employee handed out the tickets. I was number 30; I got the last ticket.
I already had preorders on two Premiums at two separate Gamestops, but I was not going to get one until after launch day. I did not want to buy the Core and then buy all of the accessories totaling more than the $100 difference. So I took my ticket, handed it to the guy behind me, who was just about to leave empty handed and told him to have a nice Christmas, and he was overjoyed. I then walked up to the manager who was standing at the door, and asked him if any rainchecks would be offered or if future stock could be put on hold for those of us that waited.
He looked at me and said, “I’m not answering any more questions.” I was shocked and mentioned that we waited a few hours without any indication of how many were for sale, a number they obviously knew before they closed, and I felt that it was a valid question, deserving a bit less obnoxious of a response. He then felt it was necessary to touch me. He jabbed his finger into my chest three times and stated “Right now you are trespassing. You are not a customer, you are not able to buy something, you need to get off of our property before I call the police. I do not have to answer your questions.”
As I felt the blood draining from my face, and I felt my hands tighten, I had to force myself to leave.
Illustration by Tara Jacoby
To contact the author of this post, write to tina@kotaku.com or find her on Twitter at @tinaamini.
Kevin Spacey's Brother Is a Limo-Driving Rod Stewart Impersonator in Boise
Meet Randy Fowler, the Rod Stewart-impersonating, electronic drum-playing, limo-driving flamboyant sweetheart of Boise, Idaho. He is also the older brother of deeply private, Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey
Randy, who looks, perhaps, more like a slightly smaller Rod Stewart wearing his dad’s suits assuming his dad is Liberace, does at least have the hair down.
Prospective customers can actually go to Rod’s website and pick out the outfit you’d like him to wear on your big night. According to the local interview below: “We have like 92 outfits posted, and there’s 366 different outfits crammed in my condominium... It’s getting bad, no man should have more shoes than his wife.”
Apparently, Randy was also writing—or at least planning to write—a sort of tell-all (during a separate interview for which he called his brother a “lying weirdo”) at some point in 2004, but by 2012 when the interview was filmed, he denies having any sort of book to his name. He does, however, mention that “someone” is writing a book about “his” childhood, but that it is being “totally rewritten.” While there’s no record of his book being published anywhere yet, his website does have this to say:
Though Randy has allegedly been estranged from his brother for some time, according to his Facebook, he still cares for Kevin deeply.
And lest you think Randy might be riding the coattails of his significantly more famous little bro—well, you’re probably right. Randy, however, disagrees.
Because Randy Fowler is not just Kevin Spacey’s Rod Stewart-impersonating limo-driving brother. He is also a drummer.
And a builder and painter of models of all sorts.
This one is called “The Phantom of Randy.”
He is also a UFO truther.
And, of course, a graphic designer.
But despite his many talents, Randy is a humble man. In the above interview, he mentions that he’s been a limo driver for the Make-a-Wish Foundation for a number of years. But the “wish” often ends up playing second fiddle with Randy in the car:
A lot of times, my Wish kids are so happy to be in the limousine with Rod, that going to Disney World really doesn’t mean that much.
OK, Randy. Sure.
[h/t @ironicsans]
Contact the author at ashley@gawker.com.
Jimmy Kimmel Is Hot Now
Have you been paying attention to Jimmy Kimmel lately? I hope not! There are much better things going on. Anyway, let me update you on some Jimmy Kimmel news: you might want to fuck him now.
Recently, Jimmy Kimmel has appeared on his television show in a beard. This is how he looks now:
This is how he normally looks:
With the beard, Kimmel looks slightly haggard and kinda hot. Without the beard he looks like... Jimmy Kimmel.
Here are some intentionally dopey screenshots of Kimmel just to prove how strong of a look this beard is:
*Frank Underwood voice* BeardWorks. And to think, several people engaged in sex with Jimmy Kimmel before this moment.
Here is a comparison. Maybe it’s insane, but here it is:
Am I crazy? Or are you crazy?
The world is shifting beneath your feet:
Jamie, friend, it is not just you.
[Hamm, Kimmel/Saget images via Getty]
Contact the author at jordan@gawker.com.
That "Ancient Romans vs Chinese" Movie Is a Total So-Bad-It's-Good-Gasm
I have to confess I have an ulterior motive in urging everybody in the world to watch Dragon Blade this weekend: I am dying to see the GIFs that people are going to make of this movie. So many GIFs. Endless, wonderful GIFs of WTFery. This movie will never stop giving me joy.
We posted the trailer for Dragon Blade a while back,
To make matters infinitely more ridiculous, Cusack is being chased by his former commander, who’s played by Adrien Brody. And where Chan and Cusack at least sort of think they’re in a real historical drama, Brody did not get that memo at all. In every scene he’s in, Brody just snarls and preens and purrs and shouts and yarrrrghs, and generally acts like a villain from the never-made third Joel Schumacher Batman film. All of the ancient Chinese scenery is crushed within the mighty jaws of Adrien Brody’s acting in this film. It’s the most incredible performance I’ve ever seen.
All of that was evident from the trailer, hence the head-scratching. Sadly, the trailer we posted back then has been taken down. But here’s one that contains at least some of the Brody magnificence:
Honestly, though, nothing I can tell you can convey the amazing wonder of this film. You really just have to see it for yourself.
So the trailer made it clear that this is a movie where the brilliant action-comedy star Jackie Chan is playing it straight, and meanwhile Cusack sort of stands around looking puzzled in his Roman soldier armor—while Brody is busy UNCAGING THE BEAST WITHIN, with the sort of performance that makes you wonder if the man prepared for this role by making Tarzan noises in the shower.
What the trailers do NOT adequately convey is quite how nutso this film is. This is the sort of film where there are like 10 armies—Peter Jackson, eat your heart out—and one of those armies has trained attack birds. You read that right—trained attack birds. At one point, they go in for the kill against the enemy cavalry, and suddenly this movie turns into Birdemic 3. And everytime there’s a dramatic moment, the movie flings you into a series of nested flashbacks, to the point where it’s hard to tell what’s happening now and what happened back then. Also this is the sort of movie where plot developments whip past at lightning speed, to the point where you have no clue who’s supposed to be a good guy or a bad guy—but there’s also time for a ten-minute sequence where Jackie Chan, John Cusack and a small blind child all sing to each other.
(Apparently one reason for the movie’s lightning-fast pace and lack of coherence is the fact that 25 minutes was cut from the U.S. version, including possibly all the stuff where the plot is explained.)
ALSO! This is the sort of movie where an elaborately New Wave-made-up woman that we’ve basically never seen before shows up towards the end, to sort everything out, and utters lines (in English) like, “Power is the conceit that reveals our limitations.” So, so true.
But at the same time—Roman soldiers versus Chinese warriors! There are some straight-up excellent martial-arts-on-Roman-shield action sequences, and part of the movie’s sense of total insanity comes from throwing those two very different styles of combat (or the movie versions thereof) together and watching them smash into each other.
Oh, speaking of which—all the Romans in this film speak English, but all the Chinese people speak Chinese. And when Jackie Chan meets the Romans, he starts speaking English to them within about five minutes.
I don’t want to get too much into listing all the completely rando things that happen in this film, because I want you to experience them for yourself, so you can have the same “holy shit, did they just —” moments that I had. Also, I couldn’t possibly do justice to the ridiculosity of Dragon Blade without an MFA in poetry from a school co-founded by Charles Bukowski and Russ Meyer, where in lieu of critique sessions they administered speedballs from a rusty bike-pump syringe and the naked concussions swarmed over rooftops of flaming magnesium in the barking moonlight. And too bad, I didn’t get that MFA.
Let’s put it this way—when it comes to shouty fighty dementedness, Dragon Blade makes 300 look like .003.
In fact, Dragon Blade is a strong contender for this year’s Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters, or Season of the Witch. (It’s sad that we’re already in September, and I can’t really name any other leading contenders for that honor off the top of my head. WTF, movie-makers?)
After watching this movie, a thought that’s been in the back of my mind for a while started forming into an actual theory: One key ingredient of a truly excellent so-bad-it’s-good movie is that it should actually have a kernel of goodness in it. Some element that is admirable, or so sincere that you can’t help be moved by it. Some sense that either the people making the film were trying hard to do something good, or else they were wonderfully self-aware about the badness of the enterprise.
Certainly, a lot of my favorite so-bad-it’s-good movies have something weirdly sympathetic about them, that come from a low-budget auteur’s obsession with—for example—making a half-dozen exploitation movies about post-apocalyptic roller-skating nuns. Or some central idea, or some strong emotion, that comes through despite all of the clutter and questionable artistic choices.
Dragon Blade definitely has that. At its center, this is a film about the meeting of two cultures, with a message (that’s hammered home again and again) about the importance of understanding other cultural viewpoints. There’s a bit of jingoism here and there—in one scene, Jackie Chan tells John Cusack that the Romans are trained from childhood for war, while the Chinese are all trained for peace. But the movie’s sentimental bleeding heart is all about the idea that every culture has something to teach every other culture, and that mutual understanding is always preferable to war. It’s not subtle, but it is something the movie hangs some of its better emotional moments on (the ones where Chan and Cusack, in particular, seem to think they’re in a real historical drama.)
So maybe to achieve total so-bad-it’s-good supremacy, to be not just apathetically bad but gloriously bad, a movie needs to have something good, or sincere, or meaningful, at its heart. I’m not sure that theory will stand up in the case of every great bad movie ever. But it’s something that felt valid in the case of Dragon Blade—a film where you come for the attack birds, the completely nonsensical storytelling, and Adrien Brody’s mighty roar, and stay for the heartfelt-but-spoonfed messages of peace and understanding.
Dragon Blade is in select theaters and on Video On Demand (including iTunes) today. Please do not let me down, GIF-makers.
Today's Best Deals: Star Wars Toys, Nexus 6, Ultrawide Monitor, and More
Here are the best of today’s deals. Get every great deal every day on Kinja Deals, follow us on Facebook and Twitter to never miss a deal, join us on Kinja Gear to read about great products, and on Kinja Co-Op to help us find the best.
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This Week’s Best Apparel Deals
http://deals.kinja.com/this-weeks-bes...
Top Deals
Need some motivation to start running? Amazon’s taking 55% off select Mizuno running shoes for men and women, today only. [Get 55% Off Mizuno Running Shoes at Amazon]
http://deals.kinja.com/this-weeks-bes...
Read this ringing endorsement of the Nexus 6 from Gizmodo, then pick one up unlocked for $350, which is by far the best deal we’ve ever seen. Yeah, it’s basically a year-old phone at this point, but it’s still a really strong performer at this price. [Nexus 6, $350]
http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-Unloc...
The typical price for a third party Lightning cable these days is about $8, so today you can basically get a lipstick battery pack or a 3-port USB car charger for a couple bucks extra.
Update: The car charger code only works on the white model.
- Lumsing 3-Port Car Charger and MFi-Certified Lightning Cable ($10) | Amazon | Add both to cart and use code MUZAHL2V
- 3200mAh Lipstick Battery Pack and MFi-Certified Lightning Cable ($10) | Amazon | Add both to cart and use code 5WZLEOF8
We’ve all heard that watching TV in the dark can be pretty tough on the eyes, but an ambient bias lighting setup can make the experience much more palatable. This basic USB-powered kit from Antec is only $19 right now, and takes just a few seconds to install.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...
All you have to do is plug the LED strip into the USB port on the back of your TV (or any other USB charger, as you just need it for power), stick it to the back of your set with the built-in adhesive, and then enjoy the glow. It has a small switch to turn the light on or off, but a lot of TVs will cut power to their USB port automatically when turned off, which saves you from having to flick it off manually.
This, along with the 100-pack of Velcro cable ties, is one of the most elusive deals we post. It hasn’t been this cheap in months, and it seems to sell out incredibly quickly whenever we post it, so you’d better order quickly if you want it for under $20, and without a backorder. [Antec Bias Lighting Kit, $19]
Mpow’s Swift Bluetooth headphones are one of the most popular items
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NZTHGN2
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YS8H6R0/
Most computer monitors are 16:9, but this $200 LG IPS display is a ridiculous 21:9, giving you extra real estate for application windows, or a wider view in games. [LG 29” IPS LED HD 21:9 UltraWide Monitor, $200]
Today only, Best Buy is offering big discounts on color-shifting Philips Hue products. The Iris is a standalone lamp that you point to a wall to bathe it in color, while the LightStrip is great for mounting under cabinets or furniture to add accents to any room.
As with all Hue products, these lights can change color with a tap of your smartphone, or even based on rules you create in IFTTT. Just note that you’ll need a Hue Bridge to control the Iris, while the LightStrip kit comes with one.
Philips Friends of Hue 120Lumen, 12W LightStrip Luminaire Starter Kit ($120) | Best Buy
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/philips-f...
Philips Friends of Hue Iris Extension Dimmable Plug Based Light ($60) | Best Buy
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/philips-f...
The Force Awakens hype train is gaining steam, and you can get set with a great deal on Star Wars toys, courtesy of Amazon. You’ll save $10 automatically if you order $50 worth of toys, or $25 off $100 if you get carried away. There are over nine pages full of eligible items, so you shouldn’t have any trouble filling your cart. [$10 off $50, or $25 off $100 on select Star Wars Toys]
Need a little push to get off the couch, or just want to recreate a viral web stunt? The Fitbit Charge HR is the best fitness tracker for most people, and you can get one for just $110 today ($40 off), which is the best deal we’ve seen on the heart rate-tracking model. [Fitbit Charge HR, $110]
http://www.amazon.com/Fitbit-Charge-...
http://gizmodo.com/fitbit-charge-...
If Amazon sells out, Best Buy also has it for the same price.
Today only, Amazon’s marked this high-end Panasonic Arc5 electric shaver down to $148, an all-time low. That’s still a decent chunk of change, but you get what you pay for:
- 5-Blade Ultra-Thin Vibrating Foil Cutting System with 30 Degree “Nano Blades” for a clean shaving experience
- 14,000 CPM Linear Motor Drive with a Multi- Flex Pivoting Head with Stainless Steel Foil and Blade, Built-in Pop-up Trimmer
- 10-Stage LCD readout, Lock Button, Sonic Vibration Cleaning Mode for quick clean-up
[Panasonic ES-LV61-A Arc5 Electric Shaver Wet/Dry with Multi-Flex Pivoting Head, $148]
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005GNL5G4/...
This microfiber towel is considered by many detailing aficionados to be the best for drying off your car. I own it, and can confirm that it’s less a towel and more a towel-shaped sponge. It’s been cheaper than this, but today’s price is on the low end of its usual range.[Meguiar’s X2000 Microfiber Drying Towel, $8]
http://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-X2000...
Xbox One’s DVR functionality won’t be out until next year
Microsoft’s official live TV bundle includes an amplified Mohu Leaf 50 antenna (a Lifehacker favorite
All Labor Day weekend, Microsoft is offering up your choice of Xbox One bundle, plus a copy of Assassin’s Creed Unity, and an extra game of your choice. It’s not uncommon to see Xbox One bundles being sold with two extra games, but this is the first time we’ve seen such a large selection of bundles. [Xbox One Labor Day Sale]
Need to get caught up on Star Wars before The Force Awakens? Both trilogies are on sale on Blu-ray for $35 each, today on Amazon.
Star Wars Original Trilogy Episodes IV-VI ($35) | Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E9PMMX0/...
Star Wars Trilogy Episodes I-III ($35) | Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E9PMML2/...
Waterproof Bluetooth speakers are perfect if you like to sing in the shower, or even just need more time to clear your podcast backlog, and you can choose from two great options today for around $25.
First up, the OoontZ Angle Plus boasts an impressive 15 hour battery, IPX5 water resistance, and an impressive 4.5 star review average on over 1,300 customer ratings. If all you need is a basic, reliable shower speaker, it’s a steal at $24. [OontZ Angle PLUS Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker, Water Resistant, $24 with code OONTZ30P. Black model only]
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NC3SU6I/...
For a few bucks more, you can opt for Mpow’s Armor speaker instead. It will only play for 10 hours on a charge, but it actually includes a built-in 1,000mAh backup battery (separate from the one that powers the speaker itself) that you can use to top off your phone. Granted, that’s not a ton of extra juice, but it could come in handy on a camping trip. [Mpow Armor Bluetooth Speaker with 1000mAh back-up power supply, $26 with code 28G5CZKI]
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QF1DHP8
If you want to get real work done on your phone or tablet while on the road, this Bluetooth keyboard will work with iOS or Android, and can fold up to fit in just about any bag. [iClever IC-BK03 Tri-folding Magnetic Control Bluetooth Keyboard, $27 with code IBO23O6H]
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YWLJNPQ
Whether you’re counting calories, baking, measuring espresso shots, or weighing small packages, a kitchen scale is a always a great tool to have on hand
http://www.amazon.com/Etekcity-Digit...
Featuring a customizable LED light show that pulses along with your music, the JBL Pulse Bluetooth speaker is a self-contained party. A new model is coming soon, but if you don’t need water resistance or care about an enhanced light system, you can save $100 on the original model, which is the best deal we’ve ever seen. [JBL Pulse Wireless Bluetooth Speaker with LED lights and NFC Pairing, $100]
If Super Mario Maker has convinced you to buy a Wii U, this is the best price we’ve ever seen on the Deluxe model. [Refurb. Nintendo Wii U Deluxe Set with Nintendo Land, $190 with code VISA5]
If you have a Regal theater in your neighborhood, here’s a chance to buy a $50 gift card for $40. That’s like a free large popcorn (maybe)! [$50 Regal Gift Card, $40]
http://www.ebay.com/itm/50-Regal-E...
Tech
Storage
- SanDisk Pixtor 32GB SDHC Class 10 Memory Card ($15) | Best Buy
Power
- Insignia 6 Outlet Surge Protector with USB Adapter ($12) | Best Buy
- Aukey 9.6A / 48W 4-Port USB Car Charger with AIPower ($7) | Amazon | Use code 2N2LIHR2
- Lumsing 3-Port Car Charger and MFi-Certified Lightning Cable ($10) | Amazon | Add both to cart and use code MUZAHL2V
- 3200mAh Lipstick Battery Pack and MFi-Certified Lightning Cable ($10) | Amazon | Add both to cart and use code 5WZLEOF8
Audio
- Urge Basics Cuatro Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker ($19) | Amazon | Use code SB86FHRN
- Mpow Swift Bluetooth Sport Headphones and Mpow Armband for iPhone6 ($26) | Amazon | Add both to cart and use code XFNJ2C9F
- AudiOHM RNF Army Green Earbud Headphones by GOgroove ($17) | Amazon | Promo code AUDIOSAV
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NZTHGN2
Home Theater
- Live TV Bundle for Xbox One ($99) | Microsoft
- Toshiba 40-Inch LED 1080p HDTV ($230) | Best Buy
- Westinghouse 24-Inch LED 1080p HDTV ($100) | Best Buy
- Refurb. Sony BDP-BX520 1080P 3D Blu-Ray Player With Built in WiFi, Netflix, More ($40) | Newegg
- Logitech Harmony Ultimate Home ($250) | Best Buy
- Projecta Model B 92” Pull Down Projector Screen ($130) | Best Buy
http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en...
Computers & Accessories
- Asus 15.6” Core i5, 6GB, 1TB Win 8.1 Laptop ($400) | Best Buy
- Asus Transformer Book T100TAF 10.1” Intel Atom 32GB With Keyboard ($180) | Best Buy
- LG 29” IPS LED HD 21:9 UltraWide Monitor ($200) | Best Buy
- Insignia 2.1 Speaker System ($18) | Best Buy
- Logitech MK320 Wireless Keyboard and Mouse ($23) | Best Buy
- Refurb. AirPort Express Base Station ($50) | Best Buy
- Gear Head Laptop Cooling Wedge with Built-In Stand ($20) | Amazon
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/lg-29-ips...
PC Parts
- Toshiba Q Series Pro 128GB Internal SSD ($50) | Best Buy
- Toshiba Q Series Pro 256GB Internal SSD ($85) | Best Buy
Mobile Devices
- Motorola Nexus 6 Unlocked Cellphone, 64GB, Cloud White ($400) | Amazon
- Motorola Nexus 6 Unlocked Cellphone, 64GB, Midnight Blue ($400) | Amazon
- Motorola Nexus 6 Unlocked Cellphone, 32GB, Cloud White ($350) | Amazon
- Motorola Nexus 6 Unlocked Cellphone, 32GB, Midnight Blue ($350) | Amazon
- Acer Iconia Tab 8 16GB Android Tablet ($100) | Best Buy
- ASUS MeMO Pad HD 7 16GB Android Tablet ($75) | Gamestop
- Verizon Wireless Prepaid LG Optimus Exceed 2 No Contract Phone ($10) | Best Buy
- Vansky® Ultra Compact Foldable Bluetooth Selfie Stick ($8) | Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R1984DS/...
Photography
- Manfrotto Advanced Shoulder Bag VII ($20) | B&H
- Refurb. Nikon D3300 DSLR 24.2 MP HD 1080p Camera with 18-55mm VR Lens ($329) | eBay
- GoPole GPE-10 EVO 14-24-Inch Floating Extension Pole for GoPro Cameras ($29) | Amazon
- GoPro Rechargable Battery for HERO4 ($13) | Amazon
- Smatree SmaCase G360 Large-Size Case for GoPro ($20) | Amazon | Promo code 69XNVVSP
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NIYNU66/...
Home
- Great Value LED Light Bulb 8.5W (60W Equivalent) A19 (E26), Soft White ($2) | Walmart
- Philips Friends of hue 120 Lumen, 12W LightStrip Luminaire Starter Kit ($120) | Best Buy
- Philips Friends of Hue Iris Extension Dimmable Plug Based Light ($60) | Best Buy
- MIU COLOR Pet Grooming Large Deshedding Tool ($10) | Amazon | Use code UC5BE9KI
- LOFTEK® Waterproof Heat-insulated Starry String LED Lights - 2m/6.6ft ($18) | Amazon | Use code ZA6GU3O4
- Panasonic 4 Channel, 2 Camera Outdoor Wireless Surveillance System ($200) | Best Buy
- Bissell 1132A Symphony All-in-One Vacuum and Steam Mop ($130) | Amazon
- Holmes Table Fan ($20) | Best Buy
- Whitmor Dryer Balls, Set of 4 ($6) | Amazon
- Select Furniture and Furnishings are up to 43% IOff at Home Depot
- ICOCO LED Strip with 300 LEDs, RGB Color Changing and 5050 SMD ($23) | Amazon | Promo code 65BK6D42
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/philips-f...
Beauty & Grooming
- Panasonic ES-LV61-A Arc5 Electric Shaver Wet/Dry with Multi-Flex Pivoting Head for Men ($148) | Amazon
- MelodySusie® Sonic Waterproof Facial Cleansing Brush ($30) | Amazon | Use code SJYE7S4L
Kitchen
- Thermos Soft Lunch Kit, Camo ($9) | Amazon
- MaxiMatic ESB-301F Elite Cuisine Single Cast Burner 1000-Watt Hot Plate ($15) | Amazon
- Igloo 6.9 Cu. Ft. Upright Freezer ($200) | Best Buy
Fitness
- Get 20% off at Withings with Code WITHINGS-FRIENDS-20%
- Sunny Health & Fitness Folding Recumbent Bike ($95) | Woot
- Weider 7’ Chrome Olympic Bar ($40) | Sears
Camping & Outdoors
- The North Face Waterproof Daypack ($41) | 6pm
- Coast HL7 Focusing Headlamp ($28) | Amazon
Tools & Auto
- Meguiar’s X2000 Water Magnet Microfiber Drying Towel ($8) | Amazon
- Nite Ize SBO-03-11 S-Biner Ahhh Carabiner Clip Bottle Opener ($3) | Amazon
- DieHard 425 Watt Power Inverter ($25) | Kmart
- Plus Start 12ft - 150A - 10 Gauge - Booster Cable ($7) | Kmart
- X-Cargo 15 cu. ft. Car Top Carrier ($160) | Sears
- Craftsman Mach Series 83-Piece Ratcheting Tool Set ($80) | Sears
- Craftsman Socket Organizer Set ($13) | Sears
- Vantrue R1 Pro Dash Cam ($100) | Amazon | Promo code VANTRU20
http://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-X2000...
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Disgraced Nevada Beauty Queen Caught in Second Meth Arrest This Year
Katie Rees, the former Miss Nevada 2007 who had her crown (and her shot at the Miss USA title) taken away in a naughty photo scandal, is having an eventful 2015. After being arrested in July
http://gawker.com/former-miss-ne...
Rees, 31, was in the car with her boyfriend of 10 months, Kevin “DJ Kulprit” Sims, when Vegas police stopped them for speeding and failing to signal, the Las Vegas Sun reports.
According to the arrest report, the cops smelled marijuana and asked DJ Kulprit if he had any weed or weapons in the car. He hesitated to answer, and he and Katie both ended up in cuffs.
Kulprit, who had three outstanding traffic warrants (that’s why they call him Kulprit, I guess?) was carrying a jar of liquid GHB, as well as coke and meth, according to police. Rees allegedly had weed, pipes, and rolling papers in her purse, along with Xanax, Oxy, and yes, more meth in her purse.
Sims chivalrously told the cops all the drugs were his, not Katie’s, but police say she admitted to smoking meth earlier that day.
When DJ Kulprit was searched at Clark County Detention Center, officers found another baggie of meth in his sock. He’s charged with multiple counts of trafficking and drug possession.
Rees, who was out on $10,000 bond after her previous charges, faces five new counts, notably felony meth possession. Her new bond has been set at $9,000.
[Photos: Las Vegas Metro Police]
None of the 600 San Francisco men on PrEP contracted HIV during one study’s two-and-a-half-year dura
Don’t forget: You can email us tips at tips@gawker.com, call them in at 646-470-4295, send them dire
Don’t forget: You can email us tips at tips@gawker.com, call them in at 646-470-4295, send them directly to any of our writers
Kim Davis Won't Resign, Plans to Appeal Contempt Ruling
Kim Davis, the Kentucky county clerk who refuses to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples, will appeal the contempt of court ruling that put her in jail, her attorney said Friday. Davis has been locked up since Thursday, and her deputies have been granting long-awaited licenses
Davis’ lawyer Mat Staver—founder of the Christian, stridently anti-gay law firm Liberty Counsel—said Davis has no intention of resigning or of granting any same-sex couple a license. He promised to appeal her contempt ruling by the end of the day.
Staver claimed that even though the marriage licenses issued while Davis is in jail don’t have her name on them, they “aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on” and are void without her authority.
Critics of Staver, a former pastor and Liberty University law school dean, claim he’s a zealot who may have thrown his client under the bus by failing to inform her she doesn’t actually have a case.
Right now, Davis is slated to remain in jail for at least six more days while her deputies carry out their duties as the law requires. Staver says she’s already started Bible study “by herself.”
Staver compared his client, without apparent irony, to “people who today we admire, like Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Jan Huss, John Bunyan, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and more.”
[h/t TPM, Photo: Getty Images]
24 West Point Cadets Concussed in Annual Plebe Pillow Fight
In August, an annual pillow fight between freshmen cadets at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, left 30 injured and 24 concussed, the New York Times reports, after some cadets apparently stuffed helmets in their pillowcases.
The “plebe pillow fight” is an annual tradition, extending back to at least 1897, marking the end of a long seven weeks of basic training during which time cadets are not supposed to speak to each other. At the end of their training, West Point cadets build fellowship within their class by beating each other with pillows.
Tweets, photos, and videos of the brawl hit social media on August 20th, but West Point did not confirm its occurrence to the Times until Thursday.
According to the Times, the fight left one cadet with a broken leg and others with dislocated shoulders. Cadets speaking on the condition of anonymity said one was knocked unconscious, taken to a hospital, and has not yet returned, but an academy spokesman, Lt. Col. Christopher Kasker, said all cadets had returned to duty.
Upperclassmen overseeing the freshmen required cadets to wear helmets during the pillow fight, Colonel Kasker said. But, clearly, not everyone did, and some cadets said that some of the helmets ended up getting stuffed into the pillowcases.
“At first the body count, people were joking about it,” a female first-year cadet told the Times. “My friends were really excited. And right after, when we learned how many people had gotten hurt, everyone felt totally hard-core. I know it looks weird from the outside, but it really bonds us.”
But then she saw a classmate being carried into an ambulance. “The goal was to have fun, and it ended up some guys just chose to hurt people.”
“If you don’t come back with a bloody nose,” one first-year cadet told the Times his upperclassman commander told him, “you didn’t try hard enough.”
“West Point applauds the cadets’ desire to build esprit and regrets the injuries to our cadets,” Colonel Kasker said. “We are conducting appropriate investigations into the causes of the injuries.”
Mayor Who Tried to Prosecute Parody Twitter Account Settles in Free Speech Lawsuit
Last year, Peoria resident Jon Daniel, 29, started a Twitter account satirizing (loosely) his city’s mayor, Jim Ardis, portraying the mayor as a hard-partying strip club patron. Ardis did not take kindly to this caricature, ordering a police raid on Daniel’s house; Daniel sued in federal court claiming civil rights violations. This week, the city of Peoria announced that it had agreed to settle the case out of court, paying Daniel and his lawyers $125,000.
According to the complaint filed against the city (a copy of which was obtained by Ars Technica), Daniel tweeted from the account for just 10 days, from March 9th to March 19th:
The Twitter account—which juxtaposed the mayor’s clean-cut image with a series of tweets conveying in a crude or vulgar manner an exaggerated preoccupation with sex, drugs, and alcohol—was a satiric form of expression protected by the First Amendment and the Illinois Constitution.
As part of the settlement agreement, the city agreed to inform its police that parody Twitter accounts are not a crime (even if they are criminally unfunny).
The announcement continues:
We believe strongly that the City would have ultimately won the case, but the reality is it would have cost the City several times the amount of the settlement in order to win in Court, and as a result, settling early was the soundest fiscal strategy for the taxpayers.
In other words: they’re not mad, actually they think the whole thing is pretty funny, and if they really cared, they would keep fighting about it, but they don’t, so they won’t, so bye.
Photo credit: AP Images. Contact the author of this post: brendan.oconnor@gawker.com.
Insert Jokes Here
We’re leaving this one up to the commenters. Do your best!
[ESPN]
Oakland Whole Foods Security Guard Fired After Allegedly Assaulting Customer
An armed security guard employed by a Whole Foods market in Oakland has been “permanently removed” after an altercation with a customer ended in violence, SF Weekly reports. “He was trying to buy groceries with his EBT card and ended up in a stretcher,” one witness, Zoe Marks, wrote on Facebook.
“In Oakland less than four hours and I just saw a young man violently assaulted by an armed security guard at Whole Foods - slammed repeatedly against concrete pillars, put in a chokehold, restrained, and suffocated until he was thrown face down on the pavement unconscious,” Marks wrote in her post, published yesterday morning. “The guard locked him out of the store despite the fact he was immobile. Not a single employee called the paramedics.”
The Oakland Police Department told SF Weekly on Friday afternoon that they are “investigating an assault that occurred on September 3, 2015, at 9:42PM, at Bay and Harrison Street,” and that the victim is in stable condition at a local hospital.
Marks posted three photographs of a man lying on the ground, covered in blood. “Armed private guards cannot be tolerated in our grocery stores and communities when this is what they do to paying customers. Whole Foods needs to be held accountable - security is NOT selective, it is collective,” she added.
Initially, the security guard involved in the incident was simply suspended, but later on Friday a Whole Foods spokesperson said, “The security guard involved with this incident has been permanently removed from Whole Foods Market.”
Speaking of the customer, Marks told the Oakland Tribune: “He wasn’t shouting at anyone. He wasn’t violent or disruptive.” Marks is from Seattle and is visiting Oakland from Scotland’s University of Edinburgh, where she is a lecturer, for a conference. “There was no threat from him to any of the customers or employees. (We) felt safe until the security guard attacked him.”
“Whole Foods Market considers the safety and security of all team members, customers and members of our community a top priority,” Whole Foods spokesperson Beth Krauss told the Tribune over email. “While we move swiftly to gather the facts, we want to make it clear that Whole Foods Market takes a zero tolerance approach to violence.”
Photo credit: Zoe Marks/Facebook. Contact the author of this post: brendan.oconnor@gawker.com.
Washington Investigators Determine Arson As Cause of Planned Parenthood Fire
At 3:30 a.m. on Friday morning, a Planned Parenthood clinic in Pullman, WA was set on fire. Investigators have determined the cause of the fire to be arson.
The Spokesman-Review reports that the fire caused significant damage that will leave the clinic closed for a month or more (thankfully no one was injured). Karl Eastlund, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho, told the paper, “This is an appalling act of violence towards Planned Parenthood, but unfortunately a predictable ripple effect from the false and incendiary attacks that fuel violence from extremists.”
The fire follows a wave of protests at Planned Parenthood clinics across the country. Those protests were sparked by heavily-edited videos released by the Center for Medical Progress which claim to show Planned Parenthood employees acknowledging that they illegally harvest and sell fetal body parts. Planned Parenthood has vigorously denied any wrongdoing and questioned the authenticity of the videos.
It’s worth noting, however, that the Pullman clinic neither participates in the donation program nor does it provide abortion services. The clinic provides basic women’s health, family planning, and provides abortion referrals.
The Associated Press notes that this isn’t the first time that a clinic in the region has been targeted:
In 1996, a Planned Parenthood clinic in Spokane Valley was bombed. Four men were convicted in the blast. They were members of a white supremacist, anti-abortion group.
The local fire department is working with federal agencies to investigate the arson. In the meantime, Planned Parenthood is looking for temporary offices in the region.
Image via Getty.
Man Sentenced After Skinning and Eating Ex-Girlfriend's Bunny Rabbit
Today in men handling rejection poorly: Dimitri Diatchenko skinned, cooked, and ate his ex-girlfriend’s pet rabbit, California prosecutors said, after she suggested that they stop living together. He also sent her pictures. The Associated Press reports that Diatchenko plead guilty on Friday to animal cruelty.
According to Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokesperson Ricardo Santiago, it’s possible the pair lived together for several years after breaking up.
The AP reports that Diatchenko, 46, has been ordered to perform 60 days of community labor and undergo 48 hours of animal cruelty counseling.
Image via Shutterstock. Contact the author of this post: brendan.oconnor@gawker.com.
500 Days of Kristin, Day 223: Kristin Honors Her Style Icon
In 2011, Kristin Cavallari designed her first shoe for a company called Shoe Dazzle, which was founded by Kim Kardashian. Kristin discussed this accomplishment in an interview with CosmoGIRL!, in which she revealed that she named the shoe after her “style icon”:
CosmoGIRL!: Tell us about your shoe design for ShoeDazzle and what inspired you to create it?
Kristin Cavallari: I designed a wedge because I wanted a great spring/summer shoe. I loved the fuchsia color, for my first shoe I wanted to make a statement, so it seemed perfect.
CosmoGIRL!: What was the inspiration for naming the shoe Bardot?
Kristin Cavallari: Bridgette Bardot is my style icon, so I thought Bardot was the perfect name.
Kristin also has a dog named Bardot. It’s a Yorkie.
This has been 500 Days of Kristin.
[Photos via Getty]