Man bursts into flames after being tasered by Police

BBC news is reporting that "a man in Western Australia was engulfed in flames when police officers fired a Taser stun gun at him."

The police used the Taser on Ronald Mitchell, 36, after he sniffed petrol and began behaving erratically. After arriving on the scene to respond to the complaint of Mitchell's behavior, the police were soon forced into action when the intoxicated man rushed towards them aggressively.

Not knowing that he had been sniffing petrol, they used the Taser, leaving him hospitalized in critical condition with third degree burns.

To add further insult to injury - literally - Michell was charged with assault to prevent arrest and possession of a sniffing substance. Sucks to be him.

Petrol?! This is a truly bizarre and, I dare say, comical story. This man has paid a very high price, for going to that extreme (sniffing petrol) to get a high, and sadly for him, it gets worse, because he is set to face charges for his behavior.

I'm not 100% sure about the relevance of what was said by Dennis Eggington, the Chief Executive Officer of the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. Eggington called for an urgent review of Taser use, because Aboriginal people, he said, were often in poor health which made them particularly vulnerable to stun weapons and electric shock.

I can't hate on him for trying to seize a moment.... But I just don't see why his quotes were published in a story which involves a man who pretty much caused his own detriment. Whether he is an Aborigine or not, Mitchell's vulnerability to the stun gun had nothing to do with what Eggington stated. Eggington's input would have been great, IF Mr. Mitchell's injuries weren't partially self-inflicted.

Singer Chris Brown releases public apology five months after Rihanna assault

R&B singer Chris Brown released a belated public apology in which he addressed his assault of fellow singer and girlfriend at the time, Rihanna.

In the video, the singer attributes the late timing of the apology to advice from his lawyers, and reiterates his regret for

his abusive actions. He reached out for forgiveness from the public and pledged to never make the mistake again and

"be truly worthy of the term role model."

Brown accepted a plea bargain for the felony last month, and was sentenced to five-years' probation, six-months of

community service, and was ordered to attend a two-week domestic violence course.

I do not understand the thought process behind Brown's lawyers telling him to delay the apology. I find the apology to be

very scripted, and clearly edited. He would have done a better job being on a TV or radio talk show, where he could

prove via impromptu answers, that he was truly remorseful about the assault on Rihanna.

As for the comment he made about hoping "to be truly worthy of the term role model", I think he should first seek to shed

the term "woman-beater", before setting such lofty goals for himself.

11-year-old Ohio boy sells toys to help family survive recession

CNN reports that 11-year-old Zach McGuire is helping ease his family's financial burdens, one toy at a time.

In recognition of his family's struggle with bills, and with their home in jeopardy, the Ohio native is selling his toys to raise money to help ease the strain.

Zach plans to use the proceeds to help his unemployed father Tom McGuire, a licensed contractor in Toledo.

The selfless boy told CNN affiliate WNWO "You can't live in toys, or eat toys. Even though they are fun, you don't need them." See below, a video of Zach as he tries to help his family.

This boy deserves to be lauded for his maturity and selflessness.

Just for laughs

This is what happens when video editors have too much free time on their hands. Priceless.

UPDATE: Murder suspect arrested after six slayings in Tennessee and Alabama

Above: A booking photo of Jacob Shaffer

CNN reports that authorities have arrested 30-year-old Jacob Shaffer, in connection with the killing of six people - five in Tennessee and one in neighboring Alabama.

The Fayetteville, TN man was arrested Saturday after three people were found dead at a house in the town, 90 miles south of Nashville. Two other victims were found in another residence on the same street, South Lincoln Road, officials said. A sixth person was found dead at a business, about 30 miles away in Huntsville, Alabama.

Jackson death shines spotlight on modern America.... Has their media gone too far?

Has CNN's most senior anchor gotten carried away with the Michael Jackson investigation and all it's drama?

Arguably the biggest culprit when it comes to creating and abetting controversies

Can the United States of America's media claim to be anything other than a drama seeking machine?

The Telegraph newspaper's Philip Sherwell suggests that they can't, and states that the recent death of Michael Jackson has thrown a spotlight on the excesses of 21st century America.

CNN, arguably the least drama-driven news network in the country, has recently shown an uncharacteristic tendency to be caught up in the many speculations surrounding Jackson's untimely death. There now seems to be an obsession on the part of one of their most senior anchors, to constantly "investigate" stories derived from some of the blatantly attention-seeking relatives and "friends" of Jackson.

Sherwell says "The King of Talk cannot shake his addiction to the King of Pop. Some 24 days after Michael Jackson's death, the veteran American chat show host Larry King remains obsessed with all the twists and turns and claims and counter-claims of the sorry saga."

"Amid the orgy of coverage after his death, there were plenty of voices on blogs and websites raising the allegations of paedophilia against the dead singer, who was acquitted of molesting a boy in a high-profile sex abuse case. But few public figures were willing to put their heads above the parapets on that front.

A notable exception was New York Republican congressman Pete King who dismissed Jackson as a "pervert" and lamented that society was "glorifying" a "low-life". He was rapidly assailed for vilifying the dead.

Never one to hide his opinions, outspoken conservative Fox News pundit Bill O'Reilly decried the "phoney platitudes", criticised Jackson's "unacceptable" behaviour with children and derided the black activist preachers Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson for making a "racial deal" of his death. "Jackson bleached his own skin and then chose white men to provide existence for his in vitro children," he claimed." - Philip Sherwell (Telegraph)

No shame whatsoever.... vilifying a dead man

Interesting piece, and I have a feeling that it represents a view that the rest of the world, and even some Americans share.

Male suspect in custody for Tennessee and Alabama slayings

Lincoln County Tennessee Sherriff Murray Blackwelder speaks with the media about the slayings (AP Photo / The Huntsville Times, Bob Gathany)

Jacob Lee Shaffer was taken into custody and is being questioned by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) as a suspect for the six slayings in Tennessee and Alabama.

Though he is reported to have confessed to the homicides, Shaffer, who is from Fayetteville, TN, has not yet been charged.

North Alabama news station WAFF reported that the "Lincoln County, TN authorities confirmed that five people were found shot to death on South Lincoln Road on Saturday morning. They also confirmed that a sixth person related to the Lincoln County deaths was also found dead at a Huntsville business."

Kristin Helm of the TBI told CNN that "Five people, some of whom were related, were found dead in two nearby homes in Fayetteville, Tennessee." Helm said that "Investigators think the killings occurred either Friday night or early Saturday."

According to Lincoln County Sheriff Murray Blackwelder, a sixth person was found dead in Huntsville, about 30 miles from Fayetteville.

An extremely random post...... but I couldn't help myself

First of all, forgive my inner geek. While surfing the internet, some of the most random things (mostly in the form of art) tend to catch my attention.

England's Daily Mail newspaper ran a story (yes an entire story) online about the super-slow motion pictures of a bubble bursting.

I couldn't help but look at the photos below and be somewhat amazed by the creativity and science involved. I would tell you what I really thought when I first saw the photo sequence, but that kind of language would be inappropriate for my blog.

"To the human eye the bursting of a bubble is a simple affair. One prod of a finger and - pop! - it's vanished in a split second. But as these breathtaking pictures show, the process is spectacular - if only we could see it." - Daily Mail

New federal study reveals black Americans to be most obese group in America

The Associated Press (AP) reported yesterday that a new study by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) revealed that nearly 36 percent of black Americans are obese.

The CDC reported that about 29 percent of Hispanics and 24 percent of whites are obese, and, overall, about 26 percent of U.S. adults are obese.

The AP article stated that because there have been racial differences in obesity rates reported before, health officials were not surprised to see larger proportions of blacks tipping the scales."

What has surprised them, and made this latest study different from its predecessors, is the fact that it is the first CDC report to look at the gap state-by-state, finding blacks had significantly higher obesity rates in 21 states and somewhat higher rates in many others.

The CDC has released a detailed report on the findings, and you can view it here.

Broadcast journalism forefather Walter Cronkite passes

Walter Cronkite: 1916 - 2009

CBS' legendary news anchor Walter Cronkite has passed away in New York at the age of 92. His journalistic career covered historic events such as the coronation of Queen Elizabeth, the assassination of JFK and MLK, as well as the journey of the first man to the moon. Check out the CBS video obituary here.

The New York Times posted a video tribute in Cronkite's memory, showcasing some of Cronkite's most defining and memorable news reports throughout his iconic career.

I cannot recall a year (or a brief period of 2 months) in my short life, where so many friends, icons and celebrities passed away. 2010 can't come fast enough.