samhexum

Exclusive: Florida Police Issue Arrest Warrant For TheGuySite Model “Ludvig” (a.k.a. Richard Lam) Following Murder Of Studio Owner this is too easy... So I guess the guy is on the lam...

Exclusive: Florida Police Issue Arrest Warrant For TheGuySite Model “Ludvig” (a.k.a. Richard Lam) Following Murder Of Studio Owner this is too easy... So I guess the guy is on the lam...

A family-run bus business in Astoria that has been in operation since the 1980s may have to close down after its premises were repeatedly broken into and its vehicles were damaged by youth vandals. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to try to save the business. Astoria Express Transit, known for its fleet of yellow school buses, has been repeatedly targeted over the last two months by youths who have caused damage and loss of earnings to the business totaling more than $100,000, according to its owner Gail Gualotuna. The alleged assailants got into the company’s 26th Avenue yard in broad daylight on April 2 and then started up a bus Gualotuna had just purchased a few weeks earlier. They then “wreaked havoc,” Gualotuna said, driving the bus into several parked buses and other vehicles – smashing windows, doors and mirrors. Some of the carnage was captured on CCTV footage. The same vandals broke into the location again on April 23, Gualotuna said, although she managed to chase them off the site before they could do any damage. A different group broke into the yard on Sunday, May 7, and threw rocks and stones at a bus smashing a further five windows and a door, Gualotuna said. Police confirmed the three incidents took place. Covering the cost of repairs to her buses has put the company in the red, Gualotuna said, and she is considering laying off some of her 10-person workforce next month if circumstances don’t improve fast. Her father, Luis, set up a GoFundMe page this week to try and bring in some much-needed cash to keep the business afloat. The fundraiser has so far generated around $2,000, with a goal of raising $50,000. Gualotuna said she is upset and worried about the future of the business her parents established in 1986 after immigrating from Ecuador. Gualotuna took the business over when the pandemic hit, she said. “I’ve worked so hard these past two years after the pandemic to continue this business,” Gualotuna said. “But I don’t I don’t know if I can keep up with it. I don’t know.” Gualotuna spoke with the Queens/Astoria Post on Tuesday, May 9, after law enforcement and small business owners in Astoria launched a new initiative aimed at deterring suspects from repeatedly targeting local businesses. The new initiative, called the Astoria Merchants Business Improvement Program, sees police issue suspects with a trespass notice if they return to a premises after previously shoplifting there. The notice can also be issued to individuals who persistently harass or threaten staff and customers at the location, or if they continuously damage the premises. However, Gualotuna said the program will not deter repeat offenders from harming her business, given the assailants who have been targeting her company are minors who were apprehended and then let out again. “What can I do?” Gualotuna said. “They get arrested, get let go and come back,” Gualotuna said. “What do I do in that case? I feel like my hands are tied.” Gualotuna said many youths who commit crimes in the city are not being punished, so they do not fear law enforcement. “They’re not scared of the police. They’re not scared of being arrested,” Gualotuna said. She said the attacks on her business are tough to take. “I’m recovering from the pandemic. I took out loans to be able to keep running like I am now, but it’s becoming impossible to keep up with the loss that I’m constantly having to repair my buses,” Gualotuna said. She added that the company cannot generate revenue when the buses are out of service and getting repaired. Astoria Express Transit transports students to local schools and also provides services for private trips and camps. She feels that the city is soft and crime, which is putting businesses and staff at risk. “They pick and choose what they want to be serious about,” Gualotuna said. “I feel like there’s not too much justice in the system … especially for the small business owners, families that are hard working-class families. [Law enforcement] need to be stronger, reinforce more.” https://queenspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/May-7-damage-Photo-provided-by-Astoria-Express-Transit.jpg

Giannis is apparently trying to create his own basketball team. He's preggers with #3.

No baa-d ending here. Oklahoma police rushed to rescue who they believed to be a man screaming for help — but to their surprise, the source of the cries ended up being a goat. Hilarious bodycam footage captured two Enid cops walking down a field toward the faint sound of someone yelling, “Help.” “I think that’s a person,” one confused officer said. After another anguished scream, officers David Sneed and Neal Storey both broke into a run directly toward what they thought was a man in distress. The yelps — which sounded deep and similar to the voice of an adult man — became louder and closer together as the brave officers ran in the direction of uncertainty. In spite of what they “herd,” Sneed and Storey quickly realized their damsel in distress was a pissed-off barn animal. “It’s a goat,” Sneed said. “It’s a goat?” a confused Storey responded before laughing: “Ah, it is!” The silly billy was upset that he had been separated from his friends, the farmer explained to law enforcement. The property owner greeted and laughed with Sneed and Storey outside the goat’s pen as it continued to shriek, prompting the farmer’s dogs to join in on the noisemaking. “Sometimes a call can really get your goat,” the Enid police department said in a statement. “Thank you, gentlemen. Your swift actions (although in the end not necessary) are appreciated by us all. “All in all, you really can’t say it was that baaad of a call.” https://nypost.com/2023/05/10/oklahoma-police-run-toward-screaming-man-find-goat-instead/

A bizarre neighborhood dispute has erupted in Perth’s northern suburbs. And it’s over the smell of food … On behalf of their vegan family members, a Burns Beach resident has written to their neighbor asking they close their window when cooking their “sickening” meat — PerthNow reports. The upset writer presented the letter with “PLEASE TAKE SERIOUSLY” written on the front of the envelope containing the request. The letter submitted to Hey Perth on Facebook begins: “Hello neighbor, could you please shut your side window when cooking? “My family is vegan — we eat only plant-based foods — and the smell of the meat you cook makes us feel sick and upset. “We would appreciate your understanding — thanks. Sarah, Wayne, and kids.” The letter has garnered hundreds of reactions from users on Facebook, primarily dumbfounded by what they’ve read. “I bet her mouth starts watering when old mate mows his lawn and she gets a whiff of that deliciously fresh cut grass but!” one user wrote. “I’m offended by the smell of the kale she always cooks,” another wrote. Others said it was time to get their BBQs out despite the letter. “Oh, man … I’d be firing up the bbq and inviting the entire street,” one said. I'm guessing the author's iron deficiency makes him obnoxious.

Would @mike carey fight this hard for his homestead? A family in Australia has remained defiant in selling their nearly 5-acre property in the last few years as developers have been forced to build around them. Most recently, they declined a whopping $50 million offer for their home, according to local outlet, 7News. Slap bang in the middle of a new-build development in The Ponds area near the city of Quakers Hill, the Zammits have indicated they cannot put a price on their beloved home. It’s a stark contrast to the adjacent rows of newly constructed houses that surround their longtime property. Their neighbors have praised their resilience as they enjoy the cul-de-sacs that this in-the-middle property creates by staying put, rather than having a typical through street. “The fact that most people sold out years and years ago, these guys have held on. All credit to them,” Taylor Bredin, an agent with Ray White Quakers Hill, told the outlet. Bredin estimated that the land could accommodate up to 50 houses, with each subdivided 3,200-square-foot block potentially fetching a million dollars each. Diane Zammit, 51, previously spoke to the outlet and reminisced about the area’s past, describing it as “farmland dotted with little red brick homes and cottages.” “Every home was unique and there was so much space — but not any more. It’s just not the same,” she said. Most of the neighboring blocks of land sold back in 2012 — which would have valued the Zammits’ property at around $4.75 million 10 years ago. Their Windsor Castle-style home features a 650-foot driveway in the middle of their expansive lawn. About 40 minutes from Sydney’s central core, the property offers panoramic views of the Blue Mountains. The neighboring high-density homes are built right up to the property’s fence line. A time-lapse video on Twitter showed the home standing valiantly amid surrounding construction over the years. “Poor guys. They just want to live in peace,” one person commented. A person responded: “True, but at this point wouldn’t $50m be enough to buy a house with a nice piece of land so this situation wouldn’t happen again as they own the surrounding land.” https://nypost.com/2023/05/10/this-family-rejects-developers-offers-to-keep-dream-home/

2 critically injured in NYC fire have died as FDNY confirms blaze sparked by lithium battery

Tempur Sealy International said Tuesday it would buy retailer Mattress Firm in a cash-and-stock deal valued at about $4 billion, as the leading US bedding maker looks to stem a post-pandemic decline in sales. Mattress companies have struggled in recent quarters from an easing in demand following the explosive growth seen during the early months of the pandemic when consumers upgraded their home furnishings. Mattress Firm, part-owned by Steinhoff International Holdings, is among the biggest bedding retailers in the US, with more than 2,300 brick-and-mortar store locations. The deal would give the combined company a footprint of about 3,000 stores globally. Earlier this year, Mattress Firm said it was continuing to explore all options for the business after withdrawing plans to go public. The companies, however, expect to close the deal only by the second half of 2024, with analysts anticipating a lengthy review by regulators. Tempur Sealy said it had received a request for additional information and documentary material from the Federal Trade Commission. Negotiations with the FTC are in the “early innings,” Tempur Sealy executives said in an earnings call. The firms also submitted a Hart-Scott-Rodino filing, or a pre-merger notification, with regulators back in October, given the uncertain regulatory environment. “In the current environment … it has become difficult when you try to negotiate a deal as to understand how much FTC risk you have, because it’s different than what it has been historically,” Tempur Sealy CEO Scott Thompson told Reuters. “(The early filing helps) get a flavor of the initial reaction and make sure you understand where there might be issues.” The companies believe they can ultimately clear the process either traditionally or through litigation and said they were considering all options to ensure closing, including store divestitures. The merger agreement includes a $50 million break-up fee for FTC issues and a maximum store divestiture limit, Thompson said. https://nypost.com/2023/05/09/tempur-sealy-agrees-to-buy-mattress-firm-for-4b/

Nah, that's just sweat.

It's maybe a mile from one of the 2 Retro Fitness locations where Dino Tomassetti (who shot his parents on Christmas in 2021) worked as a trainer. I'd love to have a taste of his bratwurst. BTW, still no resolution in his case.

Glendale’s longtime German restaurant, bar Zum Stammtisch celebrates 50th anniversary Most notable to those both near and far who walked into the swinging doors at Zum Stammtisch on May 5 were the golden-colored balloons, streamers and decorated flyers in celebration of the establishment’s 50th anniversary. For the 50th anniversary celebration, the restaurant offered a night full of both classic and unique German meals, including a mango habanero bratwurst, steak with a peppercorn sauce, jägerschnitzel, goulash soup, sauerbraten and a Munich-style pork shank. Those who were able to book their spot for the night also received a commemorative glass stein and T-shirt. A major part of the night’s services also included quality German beers like the Hofbrau, a traditional Munich beer and Warsteiner Pilsner.

Just did a search for my profile pic & got 'no results.'

2 of my long-time TV staples, THE BLACKLIST & NCIS: LA, are ending this season, and I am finding their final seasons to be very enjoyable. It's nice when that happens, unlike...

Besides the fact that I like his humor, Josh seems like a decent guy. In his early 20s he hooked up with a woman who had two kids. They had another together, and when they split up, he kept all 3 kids. He raised them as a single dad in LA on $1000/month for a while, which became part of his act later. The oldest made him a sexy grandpa in his early 40s.

and you think this is surprising, why?

Dear Abby: My in-laws live out of state, and they would stay with us when they visited. Once my son was born, I told my husband they would need to stay in a hotel because we no longer have the room. They are also the most disrespectful houseguests, and I have terrible insomnia. My MIL speaks to me only when my husband is around, and my FIL complains about everything — our streaming services, saying I need to buy more towels and complaining that we don’t have soda. I have tried explaining to my husband that they send my anxiety into the next dimension, but because none of this happens when he’s around, he doesn’t understand. I have had to ask my doctor to give me a small supply of medication for my nerves. Since they have been staying at a hotel, they complain about the cost and the accommodations. I have offered to pay for a rental. Now she’s telling my husband she will buy a sleep sofa for when they visit. I have tried telling my husband all the reasons why this is not a good idea, but it always ends up in an argument. Am I being unreasonable, and should I just suck it up a few weeks a year, or should they respect the fact that having them as houseguests does not work for our family? — Defeated in Massachusetts Dear Defeated DUMMY: Your in-laws appear to be quite a handful. Your solution about them staying in a hotel or rental when they visit is sensible since they are unpleasant to be around when their son is absent. If, however, your husband won’t back you up, consider spending as much time away from the house as you can during those visits. It will give Grandma and Grandpa more time to bond with the little one and save your sanity. Get a hotel for YOURSELF the next time they visit and have a little ‘me-time’. Let Daddy and Grandma and Grandpa bond with the little one and save your sanity. I’ll bet all 3 agree Grandma and Grandpa should stay in a hotel thereafter, with no bitching about the cost.

Only because Gilbert Gottfried died, right? My vote was always for Josh Wolf, cousin of Scott, though he's not as young & firm as he used to be (unlike the rest of us).

Free cycle Bare biking is back — Philly Naked Bike Ride returns on Aug. 26 Well, now we know what @WilliamM will be training for this summer.

My doctor recently switched me from Metformin to Ozempic. I gave myself my second shot last night. Does my typing looking thinner?

I suppose this is for when you've burned the matzo brei... Sale Price$1.05 Original Price$1.39 Manischewitz Memorial Candle Paraffin Wax 2.75 oz jar | $0.38 /oz

Cardinals To Shift Willson Contreras Off Catcher By Simon Hampton | May 6, 2023 at 1:30pm CDT On the face of it, the Cardinals’ decision to call up minor league catcher Tres Barrera didn’t seem like the sort of deal to make headlines around baseball, but the ramifications of it are significant. It’s not so much the call up of Barrera, but the fact his arrival means St Louis will shift Willson Contreras off catcher for the “next couple of weeks”, as Katie Woo of The Athletic reports, with Andrew Knizner to take over as the primary backstop. It’s a huge move to shift your star off-season recruit off his primary position just a month into his first season, but the Cards clearly feel this is the best move to help them turn around their 10-23 start to the season. Contreras, signed to a five-year, $87.5MM deal in the winter, will now serve as a DH/outfielder for the team, further muddying an already crowded outfield picture in St Louis.

POSTED ON ANOTHER SITE: I read a fascinating article today about how to store electricity generated by solar and wind, since those often generate more electricity than needed when active and yet make none when the sun goes down or the wind quits blowing. It is to created storage “lakes” at different topographic heights. The technology, which is tried and true, is to use the excess electricity to pump water into the higher lake, and then when the electricity sources stop producing, to allow the water to fall through hydroelectric turbines into the lower lake, where the water will be stored until the solar and/or wind sources kick on again, and the cycle can repeat endlessly. There might be need to replenish the water occasionally, but the idea is to figure out ways to reduce evaporation of the water to minimize those losses. It claimed that even a relatively small lake could produce enough electricity this way to power a city of 1 million homes. It would be a bit tricky in a place like the midwest which is so flat, but I think even a 200 foot difference in elevation would be sufficient to create this double-lake “battery”.

Can't wait for season 2. I haven't read if it will be 13 episodes or 22 (minus however many are lost to the writers' strike).