Bus Stops - November 23

Greyhound passengers stranded after driver deserts them (JC Online) 

(A Greyhound bus bound for St. Louis was stranded all night at a truck-stop after the driver got off the bus and never came back. Passengers say the driver kicked a 65-year-old passenger off the bus in Sikeston, Mo., because she didn't like what he was saying. Around Cape Girardeau, Mo., on Interstate 55, the driver stopped the bus on the side of the road, told passengers she was leaving and went outside to wait for a ride. Passengers called 911, and police ordered the driver back on the bus.)

School Bus Catches Fire Near Penn Station (DNA Info) 

(A group of students escaped a school bus that caught fire on Seventh Avenue near Penn Station Tuesday morning, authorities and witnesses said. Fire crews responded to the blaze, outside 460 Seventh Ave. near West 35th Street, after getting reports of heavy smoke in the area about 8:30 a.m., the FDNY said. A witness who was working across the street at the time saw bus riders getting off the bus before flames engulfed the vehicle.)

Australian dog drives double decker bus (Digital Journal) 

(An Australian sales assistant got the shock of his life when he saw a dog, a two-year-old German Koolie, driving a double decker bus through the streets of the northern Australian city of Darwin. Phil Newton, according to The Daily Telegraph, said: "I thought, 'What the...! This was weird, even for the [Northern] Territory.'")

10-year-old boy in Bellingham, Wash., defends mom with BB gun, shoots attacker in the face (Washington Post) 

(Police in Bellingham, Wash., say a 10-year-old boy defended his mother from an attacker by shooting him in the face with a BB rifle as many as four times. The man accused of the attack rents a room in the woman’s home and came home drunk and angry Tuesday morning. Police say he kicked in a bedroom door and started choking the woman.)

Passenger forced to stand for a seven-hour airline flight (Elliott) 

(At nearly seven hours, US Airways flight 901 is one of the longest domestic nonstop airline flights. And Arthur Berkowitz knows how long it takes to get from Anchorage to Philadelphia down to the minute. That’s because he says he had to stand for most of the flight when he returned to Philly last July. Why would anyone stand for that long? Because he says a morbidly obese passenger seated next to him was spilling into his personal space, making it impossibly to sit in his assigned seat, and the flight was completely full.)

Terror of family who claim their five-year old son is haunted by the 'man with grey skin' (Daily Mail) 

(A father has told how his five-year-old son claims he has been troubled by visions of a ghostly man with grey skin who speaks to him in the night. Dave Gerrity, 41, said his son Dagan first complained about seeing something in his bedroom in the family's Bridlington home around six months ago.)

Kmart pulls 'disgusting, sleazy' girls underwear off shelves (SMH) 

(The retail chain Kmart has been forced to withdraw a line of underwear for young girls that carries slogans such as "call me" and "I ♥ rich boys" after the store was accused of sexualising teenagers. Kmart has confirmed that it will remove the underwear, which is part of its popular Girl Xpress range, after it was the target of a Twitter campaign led by outraged parents, who described the slogans as "disgusting" and "sleazy".)

Getting a handle on feral cats (LA Times) 

(The 90037 ZIP Code in South Los Angeles has about 60,000 residents. And by some estimates, almost 12,000 feral cats. Colonies of the strays roam the alleys and backyards of these low-income neighborhoods. L.A.'s mild weather means the cats come into season frequently, breeding like wild. Add to that residents' inability to seek veterinary care when most are struggling to make ends meet, rescue groups say.)

'$1 million' left behind in suitcase in cafe (SMH) 

(A suitcase reportedly containing "a million dollars" was left in a Sydney cafe yesterday morning in an episode befitting a Hollywood film. The two owners of Caffe Marco in Burwood, in Sydney's inner-west, thought the deserted suitcase was a bomb at first and calmly placed it on the footpath of George Street until police arrived. A worker at the dentist surgery next door watched as police cautiously opened the suitcase to find wads of cash inside. "They took it into a stairwell away from public view and opened it," said the worker, who did not want to be named.)

Cadbury Trademarks Purple Chocolate Wrappers, Wins 3-Year Battle With Nestle (Huffington Post) 

(British chocolate manufacturer Cadbury has successfully secured a trademark for the color used in its purple candy wrappers. The company has been using the purple packaging for more than 100 years and began seeking to secure exclusive rights to the shade in 1995, according to The Birmingham Post. The British Intellectual Property Office (IPO) granted Cadbury the trademark in 2008. But Nestle, Cadbury's major competitor, objected to the registration. They argued that, in the language of the IPO, "the trade mark is one which is not unique to the applicant and should be free for everyone in that line of trade to use.")

Gynecologist faces charge for secret photos (Reuters) 

(A German prosecutor said on Monday that 700 women had agreed to press charges against a gynaecologist who is suspected of secretly taking thousands of pictures of patients during check-ups in his practice. As many as 3,000 female patients may have fallen victim to the doctor's hidden camera during examinations at his office in the town of Schifferstadt in western Germany, local state prosecutor Lothar Liebing said.)

Parents of Adolf Hitler Campbell lose custody of newborn Hons (MSNBC) 

(A German prosecutor said on Monday that 700 women had agreed to press charges against a gynaecologist who is suspected of secretly taking thousands of pictures of patients during check-ups in his practice. As many as 3,000 female patients may have fallen victim to the doctor's hidden camera during examinations at his office in the town of Schifferstadt in western Germany, local state prosecutor Lothar Liebing said.A New Jersey couple who lost custody of their first three kids after giving them Nazi-inspired names has been denied the right to take home their fourth child, a newborn boy they named Hons. Heath and Deborah Campbell's other children - Adolf Hitler Campbell, JoyceLynn Aryan Nation Campbell and Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie Campbell - are in foster care.)

Illinois Teenager Blames DUI Crash On Not Seeing 'Twilight' Film: Police Arrest Olivia Ornelas (Huffington Post) 

(Thousands of dedicated fans turned out over the weekend to see "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1." But for one teenage girl, the tragedy of not making it was a lot worse than choosing between Jacob or Edward. Police in Illinois arrested an "extremely upset" 18-year-old girl on Saturday after she told authorities that she crashed her car because her boyfriend did not take her to see the new Twilight movie.)

Silent Bob Strikes Back: 5 Kevin Smith Movies (Screen Junkies) 

(Loaded with the perfect amount of raunchy comedy, sexual deviance and memorable characters, these five Kevin Smith movies belong in any true fan’s collection. The New Jersey native first burst onto Hollywood’s radar after he maxed out ten credit cards and sold a portion of an extensive comic book collection to raise the $27,575 needed to create his debut film. “Clerks” went on to become an instant cult classic and one of the most profitable independent films in motion picture history. Smith took advantage of the success and went on to release a number of films that showcased his love for New Jersey, his understanding of engaging conversation and his special brand of vulgar humor.)

The Dark Knight Rises—Secrets Revealed! (E Online) 

(It's an excruciatingly long eight-month wait until The Dark Knight Rises opens July 20, but we're one step closer to learning where the final chapter of Christopher Nolan's Batman saga picks up and what's at stake. This comes courtesy of the filmmaker himself who, along with star Tom Hardy, spoke to the U.K.'s Empire magazine in its upcoming issue about what moviegoers can expect in his exceedingly grim telling of the Bruce Wayne mythos.)

The Dark Knight Rises Picks Up 8 Years After Predecessor (MTV) 

(Christopher Nolan has revealed details regarding eagerly anticipated movie, Batman: The Dark Knight Rises, stating the story will pick up eight years after its predecessor. Discussing his final Batman outing, Nolan told Empire magazine that the flick is also "really all about finishing Batman and Bruce Wayne's story".)

Skulls will be crushed, shins stamped on and heads snapped clean off in The Dark Knight Rises (Herald Sun) 

(Details of Christopher Nolan's final Batman flick, The Dark Knight Rises, have emerged online, giving fans a clearer idea of who and what the hero will be up against. In a preview of next month's edition of Empire magazine in the UK, Nolan reveals we'll be seeing an older, wearier Bruce Wayne battling a pumped-up psycho who likes to quite literally break his foes in half. It's "really all about finishing Batman and Bruce Wayne's story", says the director, adding: "Our story picks up quite a bit later, eight years after The Dark Knight. So he's an older Bruce Wayne; he's not in a great state.")

Bizarro Back Issues: Batman in The Worst Thanksgiving Ever (Comics Alliance) 

(The time is once again here for Thanksgiving in America, and while most of us just use the holiday as an excuse to binge on turkey, there is a deeper meaning behind it. It's the day that we set aside to honor the time that the Native Americans helped out the Pilgrims, who would not have otherwise survived the harsh winter in their new home. Things eventually turned pretty sour between the two groups, but that first Thanksgiving stands as a testament to the power of people helping each other through the rough times.)

Ozone from Rock Fracture Could Serve as Earthquake Early Warning (Science Daily) 

(Researchers the world over are seeking reliable ways to predict earthquakes, focusing on identifying seismic precursors that, if detected early enough, could serve as early warnings. New research, published this week in the journal Applied Physics Letters, suggests that ozone gas emitted from fracturing rocks could serve as an indicator of impending earthquakes. Ozone is a natural gas, a byproduct of electrical discharges into the air from several sources, such as from lightning, or, according to the new research, from rocks breaking under pressure.)

New senior survey may reveal secret to happy life: sex (Boston.com) 

(A new study announced Sunday finds that married seniors who are sexually active once a month report happier lives and marriages. The survey was based on the responses of 238 married people age 65 years or older. Findings revealed that 40 percent of the participants who reported no sexual activity in the last 12 months said they were "happy" with life in general. But almost 60 percent of those who had sex more than once a month said they were "very happy." Researchers controlled for other factors such as age, health, gender, and financial satisfaction.)

Inside the Brains of Psychopaths (Live Science) 

(Differences in psychopaths' brains may help explain their anti-social behavior, according to new research. Psychopaths are identified as highly selfish, and lacking in emotion and conscience. Experts estimate that about 1 percent of the general population and as many as 25 percent of male offenders in federal correctional settings are psychopaths. Research looking into the minds of psychopaths has found not only differences in their brains but also, at least in one recent study, speech patterns.)

Terminator-Style Contact Lenses On Their Way (Sky News) 

(A contact lens has been developed that could one day allow the wearer to read emails, news reports and other digitised information - like a Terminator cyborg. The prototype infovision super lens is aimed at allowing personalised information to be streamed across the user's line of vision. The idea is that messages and images flit onto the lens so they are available in an instant, wherever the wearer is.)

Didn’t Get That New Job? You Need a Better Facebook Score (Wired) 

(What if your Klout score — that controversial measure of your “influence” on social networks — determined whether you got a job? What if hiring managers combed through online data metrics trying to determine your work ethic? What if you needed a certain score on the job market equivalent of your SATs to even be considered for a new position?)

25 worst passwords of 2011 revealed (CBC) 

(The most common passwords of 2011 — obviously ones you should avoid using — range from the simple "password" and "123456," to "football" and "michael," data posted by hackers reveals. "Hackers can easily break into many accounts just by repeatedly trying common passwords," said Morgan Slain, CEO of SplashData, Inc., the computer security that compiled the list, in a statement Monday.)

Sidney Crosby Returns to NHL in Style (Time) 

(Having not played in a NHL game since January, fans were anxious to see how the game’s best player and face of the Pittsburgh Penguins would fare in his return to the game. The verdict? He’s doing just fine. Crosby, 24, who struggled to overcome two subsequent concussions and even tried alternative forms of dealing with the symptoms, scored the game’s first goal less than six minutes into the contest. The home crowd was deafening. As was the scream—an obvious curse word highlighted the shout—Crosby let out, releasing 10 months of pent up frustration over his slow recovery.)

Plan to Tax Jack Daniel's Derailed (Time) 

(The makers of Jack Daniel's whiskey can take a victory sip after a proposal by local officials to tax its barrels of booze was derailed before it could reach the Tennessee Legislature. The Moore County Council in Lynchburg voted 10-5 Monday evening to rescind a vote asking lawmakers to authorize a local referendum on the proposal, which would have taxed Jack Daniel's up to $5 million annually with the revenue going to local coffers.)

Why Parents Still Want to Read Real Books, Not E-Books, to their Kids (Time) 

(In my house, bedtime stories are sacred. Rarely does something derail the nightly routine, although feverish kids have been known to be tucked in, sans story. But last week, my strep-throated 4-year-old awoke at 1 a.m. with this complaint: “You forgot to read me my bedtime story.” She was right. So I groggily pulled a book from her shelf and cuddled her close as she turned the pages. Reading forges connections between parents and children (even in the middle of the night). It's also good for little brains.)

The Day the Music Died: Why Labels Are Abandoning Streaming Music Services (Time) 

(What happens to streaming music services when they have no music left to stream? That seemingly zen question may be answered if more record labels follow the lead of the more than 200 labels that have withdrawn their catalogs from services like Spotify, Napster and Rdio following the release of a study that suggests streaming music hurts music sales. The various indie labels are all represented by British indie distributor STHoldings, which released a statement last week explaining that “[despite] these services offering promotion to many millions of music listeners we have concerns that these services cannibalise the revenues of more traditional digital services.)

Woman Claims She Heard Natalie Wood’s Cries for Help on Night Actress Died (Yahoo) 

(Police have reopened the investigation into the drowning death of actress Natalie Wood, and a witness has now come forward to say she heard the actress screaming for help on the night she died. Wood died Nov. 29, 1981 while she was boating with her husband, Robert Wagner, and actor Christopher Walken, off Catalina Island in California. Even though the couple had reportedly argued that night, there was no determination of foul play following Wood’s death. The Los Angeles County coroner’s office said the actress could have slipped and fallen into the water while trying to secure a dinghy to the boat.)

Steve Coogan gives evidence to phone hacking inquiry (The Drum UK) 

(Comedian and actor Steve Coogan has become the latest celebrity to take to the witness stand at the Leveson inquiry into phone hacking. The Alan partridge star is expected to launch a full on assault on News International having been involved in a number of tabloids run ins over the years – including allegations of press harassment of his friends and family and having his own phone hacked.)

Yeti Evidence Falls Flat: Scientist Says Local Officials Staged Siberian Snowman Hunt For Publicity (Huffington Post) 

(A group of international scientists made headlines last month after suggesting they were "95 percent" certain they'd found evidence that the elusive Yeti -- or fabled Siberian Snowman -- really exists. But one scientist who was part of the big snowman hunt tells The Huffington Post that local Siberian officials staged the entire snowman scenario -- all for publicity.)