Preview of the Royal Family Christmas card photo

Sign of the day

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Police install security cameras to watch other cameras

Many people find speed cameras frustrating, and some in the region are taking their rage out on the cameras themselves. But now there's a new solution: cameras to watch the cameras.

One is already in place, and Prince George's County Police Maj. Robert V. Liberati hopes to have up to a dozen more before the end of the year."It's not worth going to jail over a $40 ticket or an arson or destruction of property charge," says Liberati.

Since April, six people have damaged speed cameras. On April 6, someone pulled a gun out and shot a camera on the 11400 block of Duley Station Road near U.S. 301 in Upper Marlboro, Md. Two weeks later, a speed camera was flipped over at 500 Harry S. Truman Drive, near Prince George's Community College. Police believe several people were involved because of the weight of the camera itself. Then in May, someone walked up to a camera on Brightseat Road near FedEx Field, cut off one of the four legs, and left.

But when someone burned down a speed camera on Race Track Road near Bowie State College on July 3, Liberati and his colleagues began to rethink their strategy.

"It costs us $30,000 to $100,000 to replace a camera. That's a significant loss in the program. Plus it also takes a camera off the street that operates and slows people down. So there's a loss of safety for the community."

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Topless woman in G-string arrested after leading police on 128 mph car chase

A topless and drunken woman led police on a car chase along route 422 at speeds of up to 128mph before surrendering to officers.

Erin B. Holdsworth, 28, of Hiram, Ohio, was found to be wearing only fishnet stockings, a g-string and high heels when she was arrested in Auburn Township.

Officers used stingers along the highway to disable two of Holdsworth's tires and she was forced to pull over on the side of the road a short time later.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2054028/Erin-Holdsworth-Police-chase-topless-drunk-woman-G-string-arrest-her.html

Malaysia warns parents to look out for signs that their kids are gay

The Ministry of Education in Malaysia has endorsed guidelines to help parents tell if their children are gay or lesbian.

Malaysiakini reports that the list of 'symptoms' for gay men includes stereotypes such as:

• ‘Have a muscular body and like to show their body by wearing V-neck and sleeveless clothes’
• ‘Prefer tight and light-coloured clothes’
• ‘Like to bring big handbags, similar to those used by women, when hanging out’

ACLU sues Georgia on behalf of the KKK

Hoping that every Georgian has the right to free speech – even when it is uncomfortable to some – the American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit against the state on behalf of the Ku Klux Klan.

The Klan is suing the state after it was denied an opportunity to participate in the Adopt-A-Highway program. The group is seeking an injunction that would allow them to participate in the program.

In June, an application to participate in the program was filed by Harley Hanson, who calls himself the exalted cyclops of the Georgia Realm of the International Keystone Knights of the KKK, and his wife.

In rejecting the Klan, which has a history of violence against blacks and minority groups, DOT said the highway cleanup program was open only to “civic-minded organization in good standing."

I just don't get the ACLU. I get helping the little guy being railroaded by government rules and regulations and taking on cases involving discrimination. But do they have to also represent the most vile members of society? Can they not be even a little bit picky?

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Man hit by train after robber leaves him to die

Instead of helping a man who had passed out on a subway track in Stockholm, a passer-by chose to rob the unconscious victim before leaving him to be run over by a train. “This shows an unusual ruthlessness,” said Peter Brottman of the South Stockholm police. The victim, referred to in the Swedish media as Johnny, 38, was returning home after a drunken night out on the town with his friends when he fell down on the tracks at Sandsborg metro station south of Stockholm. Shortly thereafter he was robbed of all his valuables and left on the tracks before being run over by an oncoming train.

Despite sustaining serious injuries, Johnny nevertheless survived the accident, as only five metres of the train actually ran him over. “He had amazing luck, really. The train came from the other direction and the driver managed to see him and pull the emergency brakes,” Brottman said. The incident, which occurred early on Sunday morning, was caught by security cameras. Police are hoping that someone might be able to identify the perpetrator from the security camera footage.

It's hard to believe how callous some people can be but here you are. He could have robbed him and still pulled him to safety but why bother.

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Sign of the day

Kate Middleton topless photos go viral (NSFW)

The photos are very disappointing and blurry. Wonder if she plans on visiting the Royal plastic surgeon?

Flashback Friday - Nancy Sinatra

Amanda Bynes loves driving drunk, loves driving stoned, loves drving with a suspended licence, she just loves to drive

Amanda Bynes is fast mastering the art of her own downfall, flouting rules of a suspended driving license and smoking from what is alleged to be a hash pipe.

She was seen driving around Los Angeles for hours on Tuesday, according to TMZ, who reported that the actress took 'multiple hits' of what appeared to be marijuana.

The tool which Amanda looks to be using is a pipe designed to look like a car cigarette lighter.

The incident is the latest episode in a long line of disasters that have plagued the troubled star since she left acting in 2010.

The fall from grace is all the more shocking because of the Californian's previously squeaky-clean image portrayed in Nineties' Nickelodeon shows All That and The Amanda Show.

Last week, Amanda was charged with two hit and run charges and faces court later this month.

Her driving license has also been suspended, thought to have stemmed from when she refused to give a sobriety test following an arrest in April for a DUI misdemeanor after sideswiping a police car.

So sad. But damn doesn't she have great legs!

45 years of Maple Leafs frustration: 2010-11

By the time the 2010-11 season came around only 1 player remained from the John Ferguson Jr. era - Tomas Kaberle. An entire roster had been swept away in just 18 months. That's not to say the Leafs were a better, because in fact they weren't. At the Entry Draft, Brian Burke watched the Bruins select Tyler Seguin with the second overall pick that Burke has shipped to Boston for Phil Kessel.

Unlike the previous summer, Burke showed some constraints in pursuing free agents. He decided to sign role players Colby Armstrong and Brett Lebda, both turned about to be major disappointments. He also signed free agent goalies Ben Scrivens out of college and Jussi Rynnas from Finland. His best signing was Clarke MacArthur who released by the Flames after Atlanta had lost an arbitration decision with MacArthur.

The biggest story of the offseason was the naming of Dion Phaneuf as Leafs captain. This was a huge burden on a player who was still trying to find his "A" game but management was counting on him to be a leader on this team.

Burke continued to search for front line players who could play with Kessel, his offensive centre piece. Burke traded Viktor Stalberg and two prospects to Chicago for Kris Versteeg. Versteeg never fit in with the Leafs and before the trading deadline he was traded to Philadelphia for 1st and 3rd round draft picks. The Leafs also traded Tomas Kaberle before the deadline to Boston for 1st and 2nd round draft picks as well as Joe Colborne. The last member of the Muskoka Five had been moved. Burke made one other trade which turned out to be his shrewdest deal while with the Leafs when he traded Francois Beauchemin for Joffrey Lupul and Jake Gardner.

The Leafs continued to be plagued with inconsistent goaltending. Jonas Gustavsson was still having health problems and J-S Giguere was fighting injuries. In January the Leafs called up James Reimer from the Marlies who instantly shone in net and almost carried the team into a playoff spot. He played 37 games and finished with 20 wins, a 2.60 GAA and .921 SAV%. In addition, the line of Clarke MacArthur, Nikolai Kulemin and Mikhail Grabovski all had career years finishing with a total of 80 goals. In the end the Leafs once again finished out of the playoffs, 8 points behind the New York Rangers in 8th place.

A history of Rob Ford conflicts or how to be a 1-term mayor

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford literally swept into office on a promise of eliminating waste, holding the line on taxes, taking away undeserved privileges for council members and reducing the power of unions. You know for the most part he has delivered on many of his commitments. But to know surprise he has alienated people and ignored rules and laws that he just doesn't fit into his way of thinking. This should come as no surprise since he operated in the same manner when he was a Toronto councillor.

But his problems with ignoring rules and laws may come back to haunt him when he runs for re-election in 2 years or sooner if a judge throws him out of office as a result of a conflict of interest lawsuit. As a reminder to all, here is a run down on some of the Mayor's problems:

Boardwalk Pub Libel Suit

Council gives final approval to a 20-year lease extension for Tuggs Incorporated, the company that has operated the Boardwalk Pub in Ashbridge’s Bay Park under contract to the City since 1986. The extension is controversial because it hasn’t been put out to competitive bids, contrary to advice from City staff. Ford is quoted in a newspaper as saying the Tuggs lease vote was characterized by “corruption and skullduggery” and implies that Tuggs owner George Foulidis’ campaign donations to then-Councillor Sandra Bussin helped him land the lease extension. Foulidis is suing Ford for $6 million in damages and costs.

Toronto Star Article

The Toronto Star publishes an article that contains allegations that then-Councillor Rob Ford had been asked to stop coaching a high school football team in 2001, following a confrontation (a physical one, according to some of the Star’s sources) with a student player. After the article is published, Ford publicly disputes its truthfulness. The Ford’s campaign will no longer talks to the Star. Once Ford becomes mayor, he continues this policy, and his office doesn’t send press releases to Star reporters. The Star eventually files a complaint with the integrity commissioner.

Improper Donations

The integrity commissioner releases a report in response to a complaint about then-councillor Ford’s methods of raising money for his private charity, the Rob Ford Football Foundation. The commissioner finds that by using his office letterhead to solicit donations for the foundation, Ford had violated City rules that prevent politicians from using office resources and political influence for personal ends. Also in violation of the code of conduct, he had accepted donations from lobbyists, their clients, and a corporation that does business with the City. City council approves the integrity commissioner’s recommended sanction: that Ford be required to pay back the improper corporate and lobbyist donations, at a cost of $3,150. A year later council votes on the matter again. This time, they decide to reverse their earlier decision. Ford is officially absolved of all financial responsibility for his breach of conduct. But he makes a procedural mistake: rather than recuse himself, he speaks and votes on the item. Paul Magder, a Toronto resident, brings a lawsuit against the mayor accusing him of violating the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.

Failure to Account for Office Spending

Jude MacDonald, a freelance writer and former editor-in-chief of Rabble.ca, files a complaint with the integrity commissioner about the suspiciously low totals on Rob Ford’s office-expense disclosure reports. The mayor, like all members of council, is required to report all office spending (including out-of-pocket spending). Ford’s office expenses in the first quarter of 2011, according to his disclosure records, were just $1,718.46. The integrity commissioner determined that Ford did not breach the code of conduct rules.

Election Finance Compliance Audit

A Globe article points out an interesting feature of financial disclosure filings by Ford’s mayoral campaign: they appear to show that the campaign effectively borrowed $69,722.31 from Doug Ford Holdings, a corporation whose directors include Rob Ford and his brother, Doug. Ford opponents file for a compliance audit of Ford’s campaign finances. The City’s Compliance Audit Committee unanimously agrees that Ford’s election expenses should be audited.

Improper Use of Office Phone Number

On the weekly radio talk show Rob Ford says that he will be attempting to assemble a slate of likeminded council candidates to unseat his opponents on council in the 2014 municipal election after losing the Sheppard subway council vote. He asks any Torontonians interested in running with his blessing to call him, and then he reads out his office phone number. Councillor Josh Matlow threatens to complain to the integrity commissioner that Mayor Ford, by giving out his office phone number, had violated city council’s code of conduct, which forbids members from using office resources for electioneering. Before the integrity commissioner has an opportunity to launch a formal investigation, Ford apologizes publicly.

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Countdown to the NHL lockout: 2 days

So here we are just 2 days away from another NHL lockout. Initially I was ambivalent since it has become obvious the Maple Leafs will not only miss the playoffs but have a shot at being the worst in the league unless more changes are made. I will give my reasons when the season actually begins. As the deadline approaches I realize that watching a bad Leafs team is better than no hockey. If you are passionate about hockey then watching terrible hockey at least makes you angry. No hockey just leaves you with a void.

So will the two sides settle in the next two days? Not a chance. The current negotiations are not focused on the economic survival of the league or even the smaller market teams. They aren't focused on resolving some systemic problems in the game. The negotiations are a just two greedy parties wanting the biggest slice of the pie they can grab. The league generates $3.3 billion in income which is up from $2.1 billion when the current contract began 7 years ago. So both sides have gotten richer. Over those 7 years the players' share has grown from $1.2 billion to $1.9 billion. The owners would like to cut that back to $1.6 billion and pocket another $300 million.

So will the owners' approach help the teams not making money? Not really. Much of the $1.4 billion in income on the owners' side goes to just 10 teams. It would be great if the additional income would be used to help the weaker teams but without a robust income equalization scheme the extra income will likely be absorbed by the big 10.

So we fans are to sit by the sidelines and let these rich business people and athlete fight over how much richer they want to be. Wake me up in November when it's over.

Went star gazing because I have no TIFF tickets week

Masturbating on a plane is a big no no

It's been an interesting week so far. First I found out that jerking off on girls sunbathing will land you in jail. Now I found out that the same could happen if you play with yourself on a plane. I get it you are supposed to do that stuff at home.

A Nevada man accused of viewing pornography and fondling himself aboard a Southwest flight was arrested, federal authorities announced Monday.

Daniel Drinan, 63, was taken into custody Saturday night at Denver International Airport on charges of committing lewd, indecent or obscene acts in public aboard an aircraft, the U.S. Justice Department said Monday in a news release.

The arrest followed a Saturday night flight between Baltimore-Washington International Airport in Maryland and Denver. An affidavit filed in conjunction with the criminal complaint states that Drinan sat down, hooked up his laptop computer to the airline's Wi-Fi Internet service and began viewing pornography.

A person seated nearby noticed a man fondling himself and ultimately alerted a flight attendant, the Justice Department said, citing the affidavit. A male flight attendant arrived and, after finding the suspect's genitalia exposed, told him to "put his pants back together," according to the federal department.

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Woman discovers ex-boyfriend living in her attic 12 years after they broke up

When Tracy, a single mother-of-five, heard banging in her attic, she thought the worst it could be was an animal or a ghost.

But when she sent her older sons and nephew up to check, they found a man she had broken up with 12 years ago sleeping in her heating unit at her home in Rock Hill, Charlotte.

The 44-year-old had just been released from prison two weeks ago.

Tracy, who did not want to be named because her ex-boyfriend is still on the loose, said she last saw him a year ago when he did some odd jobs for her at her home and, though she had letters from him while he was in jail, she made it clear things were over.

His addiction to drugs and offenses for robbery - including her own truck - meant she was not interested and broke up with him for good 12 years ago.

talking about the night she discovered the man in her house, the nurse said she had a feeling 'something wasn't right'. Then, she said she heard a thump coming from the ceiling and noticed things coming loose from the ceiling.

They found a man. He had packed all the old coats and jackets into the heating unit and was sleeping in the heating unit,' she said, adding that the man ran downstairs and out of the house before police could get there.

Tracy later discovered that her husband had been sneaking into her house, though police are still unsure how he managed to do so.

Officers said they found a number of Sonic cups filed with feces and urine in the attic.

How sick is this puppy? Forget that he is living in an attic. But he is sleeping next to cups full of shit and piss. Anne Frank and her family when they were hiding from the Nazis in an attic would sneak down during the day to use the toilets.

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Woman pulls gun on a guy while having sex in a moving car

A Florida woman was arrested yesterday for allegedly attempting to rob a man in the midst of a sexual encounter inside a moving vehicle.

Authorities in Port Charlotte say the incident began to unfold last week, after the victim and two friends picked up two women inside the Paddy Wagon Irish Pub.

The five continued from there to a private residence, where the victim and one of the women retired to the bedroom. After engaging in sexual intercourse, the woman asked the victim for $250. He handed her $120, and she and her friend quickly left the house while the victim was in the bathroom.

He later phoned the woman and they arranged to meet outside a local Pick N Run convenience store. Expecting to find the woman he spoke with on the phone, the victim was instead greeted by 26-year-old Amanda Jean Linscott, who informed him that the other woman had left her there.

Linscott entered the victim's Nissan Sentra, and the two took off. At some point during the drive, Linscott and the man began having sex while the car was still in motion. During the act, Linscott suddenly demanded money, but was rebuffed by the victim, who said he had already given $120 to her friend.

Linscott subsequently pulled out a .357 Taurus revolver, placed it against the victim's head, and restated her demand. A fight ensued, and the victim told investigators he was forced to punch Linscott in the face to free the weapon.

The two eventually crashed into a palm tree, which caused the victim to fly out of the car. He got up and ran across two front yards before returning to the scene to find Linscott had bolted leaving the revolver behind. The victim drove his busted car to his friends' house, where he phoned the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies managed to track Linscott down a week later, and arrested her on suspicion of armed robbery. She is currently being held without bond.

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Went star gazing because I have no TIFF tickets week

Hump day hottie

Kate Beckinsale

Is that a primate in your pants...

An Indian man was arrested by customs officials in New Delhi for attempting to board an airplane with a monkey stuffed in his underwear. A man hailing from the United Arab Emirates had just arrived from Thailand when he attempted to catch a flight to Dubai. Before he could board, authorities at the airport discovered that the gentleman was attempting to smuggle a monkey onto the flight by hiding the small primate in his pants.

According to officials, the loris monkey is an endangered species, so attempting to smuggle one out of the country is a pretty serious offense.

Sadly, another loris monkey was found in a garbage can inside the Indira Gandhi International airport. Authorities explained that the poor little animal was dumped into the bin after the would-be smuggler realized that he wouldn’t be able to carry the loris any longer. The three suspects, Hamad al-Dhaheri, Mohammed al-Shamsi, and Rashid al-Shamsi, were turned over to Wildlife and Customs Department officials before being arrested by police.

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$0.5 million Ferrari driven into a pole

A Ferrari F40 was reportedly on its way back from a car show in western Canada when the driver lost control on a wet road and spun out into a telephone pole. From the sounds of it I would say either the car isn't good on wet roads or the driver couldn't control the powerful car. The wreckage left the $500,000 supercar in dire condition. The damage may be repairable, but the F40 will likely never drive the same again. Fortunately neither driver nor passenger were seriously hurt.

Ferrari only 1,315 F40 which makes it a rare beast, and a highly-coveted performance machine.

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Police shut down zoo in a Brooklyn apartment

Police seized 13 exotic animals, including alligators, bearded dragons, and a tarantula in the raid of a public housing unit Friday, police said.

Last week, Animal Care and Control officers removed five pythons and a boa constrictor, as well as two alligators, two bearded dragons, a gecko, a scorpion, and a tarantula, from the fifth-floor apartment of a Crown Heights public housing complex called the Weeksville Houses, police said, as part of an ongoing investigation.

Neighbors at the 1625 Dean Street building, said the city's findings were shocking. They also said the wild animals were not the only beasts living in the unit.

"They've got some big dogs," said Jeff Hayes, 43, a private contractor. "They've got some pit bulls up there. They need to do something," he said, speaking about the city-contracted animal protection agency, AC&C.

"That tarantula scares me more than anything because the poison is deadly," added Hayes.

In the past, he said, when NYCHA, which runs the public housing complex, wanted to get into the fifth-floor unit to check on the leaks, he said the tenants would bar city workers from entering. "They didn't want to let them in," he said. "Now it all makes sense."

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Pole dancing classes for kids, what's next lap dancing?

A Canadian dance studio is offering pole dancing classes for children as young as 5 years old, CTV News reports.

Twisted Grip Dance & Fitness, in Duncan, British Columbia, has in its lineup a pole dancing class it calls “Little Spinners,” geared toward boys and girls of all ages, owner Kristy Craig tells CTV.

Craig said she introduced the class because existing clients wanted it, and so far three girls and one boy have registered for classes, which start on Sept. 22. Her youngest student is 5 years old, the oldest is about 12 years old.

Craig says there's nothing sexual about the class, but the front page of the studio's website shows sexy, sparkly high-heeled shoes for sale for performers, MyFoxDFW.com reports.

The children's pole dancing class will reportedly offer moves similar to those used in the adult classes.

"It's pure fitness and strength and fun," Craig told the CBC. "I mean kids love climbing trees. They will climb anything."

Hey if pole dancing for kids takes off then I have more money making ideas directed at kids. How about lap dancing, moshing, how to use a waterpipe, and making porn films. There is a lot of money to be made in after school programs.

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Mugshot of the week

57-year-old, Californian man Lee Hazen Williamson was arrested last week after he allegedly lifted his dress to expose his genitals. As seen above sheriff’s personnel photographed Williamson while he was wearing a lovely season-appropriate floral top.

A look back on the early days of Osama Bin Laden

Back in 1993 following the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan, mujahedin leader Osama Bin Laden settled in Sudan. He brought with him his fighters. This interesting article in The Independent is one of the rare interviews that he gave to a Western media outlet. The paper characterized Bin Laden as a Saudi businessman who was using his mujahedin fighters for peaceful endeavours such as building highways. Although the article did note that some people at the time claimed that Bin Laden was also training fighters for further jihad wars.

From this obscure beginning we had the 9/11 attacks 11 year ago today.

Sign of the day

Went star gazing because I have no TIFF tickets week

Apparent record-breaking winner mistakenly runs half-marathon course

A man who first appeared to be winning the Sioux Falls Marathon on Sunday morning was disqualified for running the wrong course.

Olok Nykew crossed the finish line first among runners who registered for the full 26.2-mile race. That event began at 6:45 a.m. But officials determined that Nykew had instead run only the half-marathon, a companion event that began at 7:30 a.m. The two races followed separate but sometimes overlapping routes through the city before ending at the same finish line.

He said he thought an email had indicated a 7:30 a.m. start, when in fact it was 45 minutes earlier. He knew at the finish that something was wrong.

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Photo of the year

This Steeler fan at Mile High stadium yesterday was so incensed by the play of the Steelers that when the Borncos' Tracy Porter picked off Ben Roethlisberger to seal Denver's 31-19 victory she drenched the photograher with her beer. A very classy lady.

Jessica Simpson's new Weight Watchers commercial is out

Notice how the camera only shows her head. That's because she is so big below the neck. Not making fun of her because she is fat,but because she is so dumb. She says she didn't want the commercial to be about her weight. So Weight Watchers is about weight loss and she is a spokesperson but lets not talk about her weight. Okay.

Jessica put on at least 50 lbs during her pregnancy and honestly believed the weight would disappear when she squeezed out that baby. She believed it was all water which would disappear when she gave birth. Fortunately the $4 million deal with Weight Watchers should be a pretty good incentive.

Teen accidentally shoots off his penis and testicle

A teenager is recovering after police say he shot himself in the penis and testicle while cleaning a gun he just bought.

Police say 18-year-old Michael Smeriglio first lied to police saying someone shot him while he was walking down the street. After being questioned by police he admitted to accidentally doing it himself.

Doctors say the bullet went through his penis, his left testicle and then lodged itself in his thigh.

Smeriglio told police he bought the gun last month at a party.

I think gun advocates said it best - guns don't kill penises, people kill penises.

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Just wondering where Miley Cyrus gets her hair design ideas from?

Ejaculating on sunbathers is an unacceptable practice

A 30-year-old Fredericton, New Brunswick man who snuck up on unsuspecting female sunbathers this summer and ejaculated in their hair is going to jail.

Daniel Kelly Gould pleaded guilty in August to May 5 and July 17 counts of indictable sexual assault. He was sentenced to a total of 10 months in jail on the two offences.

The court was told the sexual assaults occurred at Odell Park and Wilmot Park.

In the Odell incident, the victim was tanning and had her eyes closed only to have someone ejaculate in her hair and on her shoulder. The suspect, later determined to be Gould, ran off, but was subsequently arrested by police.

The second incident happened as a woman was sitting in a chair sunbathing at Wilmot Park. The victim suddenly became aware that someone was standing behind her and masturbating.

Gould was later identified through semen recovered from the victim’s hair. It was matched to an earlier DNA sample taken from Gould.

Crown prosecutor Hillary Drain said going to a public park and ejaculating on women minding their own business isn’t acceptable.

I've learned long ago that messing with a woman's hair is a formula for trouble. Not that I'm condoning jerking off on women. But would have gotten 10 months for ejaculating on their legs? Maybe not.

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Went star gazing because I have no TIFF tickets week

One of the best bleachers fight I've seen

This beautiful fight broke out in the stands of a soccer game in the Ukraine. Best part is the guys tumbling down the stairs swinging at each other. Could the soccer game have been as entertaining?

45 years of Maple Leafs frustration: 2009-10

The 2009-10 season was the first full season under Brian Burke. At the 2009 Entry Draft, the Leafs selected 7th overall and chose Nazem Kadri. Burke's push to finish the previous season strong moved the Leafs up 2 or 3 spots in the standing a out of the running for players like Brayden Schenn, Evander Kane and Matt Duchene.

Burke was determined to make a splash in the free agency market and signed signed two defencemen of note, Mike Komisarek of the Montreal Canadiens and Francois Beauchemin of the Anaheim Ducks, signing both to multiple-year deals. At the same time, defenceman Pavel Kubina was traded (the fourth member of the Muskoka Five) to the Atlanta Thrashers for Garnet Exelby. The Leafs also signed free agents Colton Orr and Tim Brent. After extensive talks, the Leafs were able to sign highly-regarded Swedish free-agent goaltender Jonas Gustavsson, who was considering offers from several NHL teams.

Then Burke made the deal that would inevitably determine his legacy with the Leafs. Burke dealt for Boston Bruins's talented forward, Phil Kessel, trading two first-round draft picks and a second-round draft pick. Burke's and Kessel's fates would be for ever linked during their tenure in Toronto. Kessel was a shy but talented and speedy scorer who Burke would continue to try to build a winning team around.

The price paid for Kessel looked steep from the start but only got worse as the season progressed and it became evident that the Leafs were even worse than the season before. The Leafs got off to a slow start to the NHL season, with a record of 0 - 7 - 1, the worst start for the Leafs since the NHL formed in 1917. Also, the Leafs surrendered the first goal to their opposition in each of their first 11 games, and 17 of their first 19 games. They finished second last in the NHL and surrendered the second overall pick to Boston, Tyler Seguin.

Kessel started the season on the injured list as he was recovering from an off season shoulder surgery. He still managed to lead the team in goals with 30 and points with 55. Much of the time he played with linemates who were unable to supplement his talents.

The goaltending was terrible. Gustavsson was expected to challenge Vesa Toskala for the staring job but was having problems adjusting to a new country, language and league. He also developed heart problems which required two minor procedures during the season. Both Komisarek and Beauchemin struggled under the weight of their new contracts and a pretty bad defensive system being played by Toronto.

The Leafs gave up on a previous first round pick, Jiri Tlusty for a prospect. Then Burke made two major deals later in the season to try to solidify his goaltendng and defense. First shipped mostly spare parts to Calgary - Matt Stajan, Jamal Mayers, Niklas Hagman and Ian White for Dion Phaneuf, Fredrik Sjöström and Keith Aulie. The Flames were eager to unload Phaneuf who had a large contract and was underperforming. Then Burke shipped two players in Coach Ron Wilson's doghouse to Anaheim, Vesa Toskala and Jason Blake for Jean-Sébastien Giguère who also came with a large contract. So now the Leafs were burdened with some big contracts - Komisarek, Beauchemin, Giguere and Phaneuf. Hardly a typical rebuild.

What now?

Went star gazing because I have no TIFF tickets week

It's not easy being a parent these days

You just have to look at the daily headlines to appreciate the difficulties parents encounter raising children and keeping them safe. Just this week these stories jump out at me - kids stealing cars, playing with dead squirrels and getting sucked into sewers.

Ohio Teen Sucked Down Sewer and Dragged a Quarter of a Mile

An overflowing creek in a Cleveland suburb sent a 14-year-old boy on the ride of his life. Jeffrey LaPorta traveled more than a quarter of a mile Tuesday through multiple storm sewer pipes, at times completely submerged in water, before finding enough breathing room to await rescue. He was eventually pulled out of the sewer in less than an hour, with only scrapes and bruises. The teen was riding his bike with a friend through puddles created by the rising creek, which flows near a strip mall parking lot in Parma. He fell into the overflowing water just off the edge of the parking lot and was forced into a drain pipe — roughly 2 feet in diameter, authorities said. Jeffrey said he held his breath for what felt like two minutes, as his body flipped around in the pipe. Miguel then got the attention of a city worker, who had just arrived at the parking lot to check out the flooding. The worker contacted authorities, and firefighters from a station across the street from the parking lot headed to the scene.



Girl Gets Bubonic Plague After Playing With Dead Squirrel

A pediatric critical care doctor's quick, outside-the-box thinking saved the life of a 7-year-old girl who'd contracted a rare case of bubonic plague while camping in southwest Colorado.Sierra Jane Downing had come upon a half-eaten squirrel while on a picnic with her family on Aug.19 in Pagosa Springs. A passionate animal lover, the young girl asked her parents if she could bury the animal. Her mother said no. Sierra Jane went back to the squirrel, put her sweatshirt down next to it, and then picked up the sweatshirt and put it around her waist. Five days later, Sierra Jane woke up with a fever and was vomiting, and by 9 p.m. her father found her lying on the bathroom floor. When he picked her up to bring her back to bed, the girl threw up again and then had a seizure. At that point the girl's dad knew something was very wrong, and he rushed her to the local hospital near their Pagosa Springs home. Two days later, Sierra Jane was in a children's hospital in Denver being treated for septic shock. The Plague is usually transmitted through the bites of infected fleas (doctors found some bites around Sierra Jane's waist, where she'd tied the sweatshirt), but can also be contracted simply from direct contact with infected animals. After learning about Sierra Jane's macabre interests, doctors finally realized what was wrong. Just a little case of the Black Death.



13-Year-Old Steals Car, Takes Off On Thousand-Mile Road Trip to Be with 12-Year-Old Internet Boyfriend

A 13-year-old lovestruck girl who stole a car and headed to Kentucky to meet her 12-year-old boyfriend almost got her wish. Beth Robinson made it all the way to Nashville, Tennessee before an alert trooper pulled her over and ended her adventure. Beth was bound and determined to see Dylan, the boy she met while playing Xbox online. She stole her mom’s ATM card, snuck out her bedroom window, hopped in her brother's car and hit the road. The teen’s parents discovered she was missing from their Cypress home Thursday morning. They called police and her father headed out to try and find her. Authorities also began tracking Elizabeth’s travels through the ATM card. After a Nashville station ran KHOU 11 News' story, an Amber Alert was issued. When Beth stopped for fuel in Hope, Arkansas, her ATM card was declined six times. Strangers finally gave the teen gas money, but the delay gave her father and authorities time to catch up. The Robinsons decided to let Beth meet Dylan so she could put this to rest, once and for all. Robbie and Beth made the drive to Hodgenville, but they never found Dylan's home.

Bikini Sunday

Helen Flanagan