WTF NEWS - Mom Allegedly Assaults Drug Dealer Trying To Supply Son With Heroin

A Jefferson County mother is facing assault charges in a case where she allegedly struck a man she says was supplying her son with heroin.  Sherrie Gavan says she felt threatened during a conversation with the man.

Sherrie Gavan claims the man aided Clayton in relapsing several times.  She finally says she had enough in December and went to try and talk to him.

“I just wanted him to leave my son alone, and stay away from where I work and stay away from where we live,” she said.

In her statement to police she says during the conversation the man reached for something in his car.

“I felt extremely threatened,” the four foot eleven Gavan told us. “As you can tell I’m not a young person and I’m not a tall person so I’m not a strong person. “

In the statement she says she hit the man with a baseball bat, telling him to get away.  When he approached her again, she says she hit him a second time.

About a month later, prosecutors filed a bill of information, charging Gavan with third degree assault for striking the alleged drug dealer.  She says she nearly laughed at first, then realized how serious this is.

“It is the state prosecuting me for trying to protect my son.  And I’m just at this point I don’t know what to do.  I could lose my job.  I could lose everything I own because I was trying to protect my son.”

Asked if she has any regrets, she said through tears, “No. No.  My children are my life, and they’re wanting to take his life away and I can’t let that happen.  And other kids’ lives.  I’ve watched kids that I work with. I see kids that he knows, and it’s killing them.  And nothing is being done.”

Asked why they chose to file charges, Jefferson Count y Prosecutor’s spokesman Mike Ravetta offered little detail.

“Our reasons for charging a case are not public information,” he said by phone.

He went on to say the circumstances surrounding Gavan’s case may be part of a defense, but he wouldn’t comment on that.  In the end, he said, someone saw enough evidence to file charges and that’s what they did.

Gavan is due in court on March 12.

'Dead' woman climbs out of coffin

A 95-year-old grandmother terrified her neighbours in China - by climbing out of her coffin six days after she 'died'

Li Xiufeng was found motionless and not breathing in bed by her neighbour more than a fortnight after tripping and suffering a head injury.
When he failed to wake her up, Chen Qingwang assumed the frail grandmother had passed away in her sleep, in the village of Liulou, in Beiliu, Guangxi Province.
Recounting his daily visit to bring the elderly lady breakfast, Mr Qingwang, 60, said: ""She didn't get up, so I came up to wake her up.
"No matter how hard I pushed her and called her name, she had no reactions. I felt something was wrong, so I tried her breath, and she has gone, but her body is still not cold."
According to tradition, the 'dead' woman was laid in her coffin ahead of the funeral for friends and relatives to pay their respects.
But the day before the funeral, Mr Qingwang arrived at his neighbour's house to find the coffin empty and the corpse gone.
"We were so terrified, and immediately asked the neighbours to come for help," he said.
After searching for the missing body, the villagers were stunned to find Mrs Xiufeng sitting on a stool in her kitchen cooking.
She reportedly told villagers: "I slept for a long time. After waking up, I felt so hungry, and wanted to cook something to eat. I pushed the lid for a long time to climb out."
A county hospital reportedly believes Mrs Xiufeng suffered an artificial death, during which the person has no breath, but the body remains warm.

Names with funny meanings

UNISEX:

CAM: Short form of Scottish unisex Cameron ("crooked nose"), and other names beginning with Cam-. Compare with another form of Cam.

CAMERON: Scottish surname transferred to unisex forename use, from the name of the great Highland clans whose ancestor had an ungraceful proboscis, composed of the Gaelic elements cam "bent, crooked" and sròn "nose," hence "crooked nose."

CORTNEY: Variant spelling of English unisex Courtney, meaning "short nose."

COURTNEY: English surname transferred to unisex forename use, derived from the French baronial name Courtenay, from the byname court nez, meaning "short nose."

KENNEDY: Irish surname transferred to unisex forename use in honor of the assassinated American president John F. Kennedy, derived from an Anglicized form of Gaelic Cinnéidigh, meaning "ugly head."

KORTNEY: Variant spelling of English unisex Courtney, meaning "short nose."

KOURTNEY: Variant spelling of English unisex Courtney, meaning "short nose."

MALE:

AMLODI: Anglicized form of Icelandic Amloði, possibly meaning "heavy" or "the dullard."

AMLÓÐI: Icelandic saga name from Snori Sturlasson's Skaldskaparmal, possibly a translation of the Latin name Brutus, meaning "heavy" or "the dullard."

AMLUÞ: Anglo-Saxon form of Icelandic Amlóði, possibly meaning "heavy" or "the dullard." This name appears on an eight-century runic inscription on the Westeremden yew-wand.

AMLUTH: Variant spelling of Anglo-Saxon Amluþ, possibly meaning "heavy" or "the dullard."

AMMADON: English surname derived from Gaelic amadan, meaning "numskull, simpleton."

BABIECA: Spanish name meaning "a simpleton; stupid." This was the name of the white Andalusian steed belonging to El Cid. According to legend, Babieca was frail and wild and when El Cid chose her, his godfather exclaimed "Babieca!" and so this became his name. But Babieca was not stupid; he became a great and famous warhorse and El Cid loved him so much he requested that he be buried with him in the monastery of San Pedro de Cardena. Unfortunately, his wish was not granted; instead Babieca was buried before the gate of the monastery and two elms were planted to mark the site.

BALLARD: From an Old English derogatory name for a bald-headed person; it became a surname, then transferred to forename; derived from Middle English balled, meaning "rounded like a ball," hence "bald-headed."

BAMBER: German byname meaning "short and fat."

BASSETT: English name derived from the Old French word basset, a byname for a short person, derived from a diminutive form of the word basse ("low, short"), hence, "shorty."

BRIAN: Old French derogatory byname derived from the Old Occitan word brian, meaning "maggot." Compare with another form of Brian.

BRICKEL: South German byname related to the word bröckel, a diminutive of brocken "chunk," hence "little chunk," denoting a short stocky person.

BRODIE: Modern English variant spelling of Irish Brody, meaning "ditch."

BRODY: Irish surname transferred to forename use, meaning "ditch."

BRÓGÁN: Old Gaelic name composed of the word bróg "shoe," and a diminutive suffix, hence "little shoe."

BROGAN: Irish surname transferred to unisex forename use, from Gaelic Ó Brógáin, meaning "descendant of Brógán," hence "little shoe."

BRÖKK: Old Norse myth name of a dwarf who, along with his brother Eitri, made magical objects for the gods, including the hammer of Thor, probably derived from the Nordic element bróka, meaning "breeches."

BRUTUS: Roman Latin name meaning "heavy" or "the dullard."

CADE: English surname transferred to forename use, originally a byname for someone or something "round and lumpy."

CALBHACH: Irish Gaelic name meaning "bald."

CALVAGH: Variant spelling of Irish Gaelic Calbhach, meaning "bald."

CALVIN: English name derived from Latin Calvinus, meaning "little bald one."

CALVINO: Italian form of Latin Calvinus, meaning "little bald one."

CALVINUS: Latin form of the French surname Chauvin, from a diminutive of Norman calve ("bald"), hence "little bald one."

CAMP: English short form of Scottish Campbell, meaning "crooked mouth."

CAMPBELL: Scottish surname transferred to forename use, composed of the Gaelic elements cam "bent, crooked" and beul "mouth," hence "crooked mouth."

CAMRON: English masculine variant spelling of Scottish Cameron, meaning "crooked nose."

CANUTUS: Latin form of Old Norse Knútr, meaning "knot." In use by the Norwegians and Swedish.

CINNÉIDIGH: Irish Gaelic name composed of the elements ceann "head" and éidigh "ugly," hence "ugly head." Kennedy is an Anglicized form.

CNUT: Variant spelling of Scandinavian Knut, meaning "knot."

CRAWFORD: English byname for someone with splayed feet, transferred to surname then to forename, composed of the Old English elements crawe "crow" and fot "foot," hence "crow-foot."

CULHWCH: Welsh Arthurian legend name of a cousin of King Arthur and hero of the story Culhwch and Olwen, composed of the elements cul "something narrow and straight" and hwch "pig, sow," hence "pig's run." While still pregnant with Culhwch, Goleuddydd went mad after being frightened by a herd of swine. Culhwch was found in the pigs' run by the swineherd and taken to his father. Years later, his stepmother wanted him to marry her daughter; angered by his refusal, she cursed him so that he could never marry anyone but the beautiful Olwen, daughter of Ysbaddaden, a fierce giant who was cursed to die if his daughter ever married.

GWEMBESHE: African Zulu name meaning "bow-legged."

HEPHAESTUS: Latin form of Greek Hephaistos, possibly meaning "seven." In mythology, this is the name of the lame god of artisans, craftsmen, metallurgy and fire. His Roman name is Vulcan. It was from the forge of this god that Prometheus stole fire to give to man. He is also known by the epithet "both feet crooked."

HEPHAISTOS (Ήφαιστος): Greek name said to be pre-Hellenic and of unknown origin, but possibly from the word hepta, meaning "seven." In mythology, this is the name of the lame god of artisans, craftsmen, metallurgy and fire. His Roman name is Vulcan. It was from the forge of this god that Prometheus stole fire to give to man. He is also known by the epithet "both feet crooked."

HOYT: English byname for a tall, skinny person, turned surname turned forename, from Middle English hoit, meaning "long stick."

KADE: Variant spelling of English Cade, "round and lumpy."

KAM: Short form of English Kameron, meaning "crooked nose."

KAMERON: English masculine form of Scottish unisex Cameron, meaning "crooked nose."

KANUT: Short form of Latin Kanutus, meaning "knot."

KANUTUS: Variant spelling of Latin Canutus, meaning "knot."

KNUD: Danish variant form of Scandinavian Knut, meaning "knot."

KNUT: Scandinavian form of Old Norse Knútr, meaning "knot."

KNUTE: Norwegian variant form of Scandinavian Knut, meaning "knot."

KNÚTR: Old Norse byname for a short, squat man, meaning "knot."

KORACH (קׄרַח): Variant spelling of Hebrew Qorach, meaning "bald" or "ice." In the bible, this is the name of a Levite who led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron.

KORAH: Anglicized form of Hebrew Qorach, meaning "bald" or "ice." In the bible, this is the name of a Levite who led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron.

MEALLÁN: Irish Gaelic name which was probably originally a byname for a short stocky person, composed of the elements meall "knot, lump" and a diminutive suffix, hence "little lump."

MELLAN: Variant spelling of Irish Meallán, meaning "little lump."

MIKIO (美樹夫): Japanese name meaning "tree trunk man."

PORCIUS: Roman family name, meaning "pig."

QORACH (קׄרַח): Hebrew name meaning "bald" or "ice." In the bible, this is the name of a Levite who led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron.

RACA (ריקה): Variant spelling of the Aramaic byname Raka, meaning "fool; empty head."

RAKA (ריקה): Aramaic byname meaning "fool; empty head."

SCANLAN: Irish name meaning "scandal."

SCANLON: Variant spelling of Irish Scanlan, meaning "scandal."

WAQUINI: Native American Cheyenne name meaning "hook nose."

FEMALE:

CALVINA: Feminine form of of Italian Calvino, meaning "little bald one."

CAMRYN: English feminine variant spelling of Scottish unisex Cameron, meaning "crooked nose."

CANUTE: Variant spelling of Latin Canutte, meaning "knot."

CANUTTE: Feminine form of Latin Canutus, meaning "knot." In use by the Norwegians.

CORIANDER: English name derived from the spice name coriander (also commonly called Cilantro), from Latin coriandrum, from Greek corys ("bedbug") with the added element -ander "resembling" (referring to the smell of the spice which is similar to the odor of bedbugs), hence "smells like a bedbug."

KAMRYN: English feminine form of Scottish unisex Cameron, meaning "crooked nose."

KANUTTE: Variant spelling of Latin Canutte, meaning "knot." In use by the Norwegians.

PORSCHE: German form of Roman Latin Porcius, meaning "pig." A moon of Uranus was given this name.

PORTIA: English Shakespeare character name derived from Roman Latin Porcius, meaning "pig." A moon of Uranus was given this name.

SEQUOIA: From the Native American Cherokee name of the giant redwood trees that grow in California. The tree was named after the half-blooded scholar George Gist, inventor of the Cherokee alphabet. The name Sequoia ("pig's foot"), was given to him after a hunting accident disfigured his foot.

Blind Date Horror Stories

1) "I met a cute guy on Match.com and we decided to meet for dinner. Things were going well until he said, 'I'm from Staten Island...we don't pump our fists, we pump our chests.' And then he squeezed his pecs." —Kate N.

2) "My friend set me up with a guy who was really into improv. Since I'd taken an improv class in college, we started talking about it. When I mentioned I'm not that great at it, he insisted that we play an improv game—for 30 minutes! In one scene, he even wanted me to pretend to be his mom. Never again." —Anna D.

3) "I recently moved to a new town, and one of my friends insisted on setting me up with this cute guy she knew who was from Austria. He was sweet, and I loved his accent. But things got a little weird when he invited me back to his place and showed off his machete collection. When he started waving one around, I bolted." 

—Brittany W.



4) "My best friend kept insisting for months that I meet her cute, single guy friend. Finally, I caved. She was right—he was cute and single…and totally obsessed with my friend. All he did was talk about her. I finally made up an excuse to end the date early after he asked how happy I thought my friend really was with her boyfriend. Ugh." —Sara W.




5) "One guy I was set up with thought it'd be a good idea to meet at a park and go for a walk on a Sunday afternoon. We wandered around, with no clear destination in mind. About half an hour later, I asked if he had thoughts about what to do next, since I knew of a cute outdoor café a little ways up. But before he listened to my suggestion, he started freaking out. He was like 'I'm so stupid! This was such a dumb idea. I knew I should have planned something else. Ugh. I hate myself.' Um, wow." —Kathryn D.

Website matches targets and hit man

As with other online businesses, the site promised convenience and efficiency.

With a few clicks of the mouse, one could hire a professional hit man ready to kill "at a moment's notice." On the "employment" section of the site, would-be assassins could upload resumes for consideration.

"Thanks to the Internet, ordering a hit has never been easier," read the site HitmanForHire.net, in a chipper, infomercial-like tone.

Most thought it was a joke, including the Web designer in Florida commissioned to create the site. FBI Agent Ingerd Sotelo, who had investigated perhaps half a dozen hit-man cases in her 12-year career, probably wouldn't have taken it seriously if she came across it Web-surfing.

Except there was a terrified 23-year-old woman sitting in front of her, pale with genuine fear, saying someone had used the site to put a $37,000 hit on her head.

::

The man behind HitmanForHire.net showed up at Woodland Hills mortgage broker Anne Lauren Royston's office one Saturday morning in 2006, wearing head-to-toe black and driving a yellow Corvette.

He was middle-aged and tan, with a thick mustache and a heavy accent, and brought along a woman with cigarette breath he called his wife. He carried a black folder holding numerous photos of Royston and an e-mail message: "I want her done by a shot to the head." The message was from her boyfriend's ex-girlfriend.

His client, the man said, had deposited $17,000 for the job.

The hit man calmly told Royston she reminded him of his daughter. Then he made her an offer: Pay him the balance on the contract, and he would let her live. She had three days.

Sotelo, who other agents in the violent crime squad knew as the "prison girl" for the number of federal lockup cases she's investigated, now sat in the same conference room with Royston. It was Tuesday, the deadline the man had given.

Royston easily picked him out in a photo lineup. In either a sophomoric gaffe or a sign of brazen confidence, he had given Royston his real name.

::

Essam Ahmed Eid of Las Vegas seemed an unlikely killer — or at least one who hid it incredibly well. The Egyptian-born man was 51, had a heart condition, and worked as a poker dealer at the Bellagio. He lived in a four-bedroom tract home in North Las Vegas with his family, including a daughter in college.

Sotelo recorded a series of calls to Royston in which Eid and the woman purported to be his wife repeated their demands for money. At the agent's direction, Royston asked for more time to come up with the cash. But a couple of weeks later, the man seemed to disappear.

Following her instincts, the agent pulled up a database of entry and exit records into and out of the United States. Sure enough, Eid, along with a woman named Teresa Engle, had left the country.

But the couple hadn't flown to Eid's native Egypt, or some remote tropical paradise with no extradition treaties with the United States.

Eid, it appeared, was in western Ireland.

Passengers mistake 'mom' for 'bomb'

A pilot who sent birthday greetings to a colleague's "mom" on board triggered panic when passengers thought he said "bomb".

An air traffic controller asked the Southwest Airlines pilot to wish his mother a happy birthday as he flew from Baltimore to New York.

Taking to the plane's intercom, the pilot told passengers that they had a "mom on board" - but man thought he said a "bomb on board".

Panicking passengers asked other members of the crew to clarify what the pilot had said, and were assured that there was no bomb.

Several passengers complained to the authorities about the announcement.

Brandi King, spokesman for Southwest Airlines, said: "The pilot made an announcement that was misunderstood.

"He did clarify with the passengers that he was wishing the mother on board a happy birthday."

In a statement, the Federal Aviation Administration said: "Pilots and controllers will sometimes engage in brief greetings.

"If such conversations go beyond this limit, controllers are counselled to refrain from such unnecessary talk."

WTF NEWS - Mysterious 'Dog-Headed Pig Monster' Terrorizes Africa

Residents in northern Namibia, on the southwest coast of Africa, have reported being terrorized by a bizarre dog-pig hybrid creature. The animal is said to be mostly white and unlike anything the villagers have ever seen, with a doglike head and the broad, round, nearly hairless back and shoulders of a giant pig. The beast was spotted chasing and attacking dogs, goats and other domestic animals in this arid region not far from the Kalahari desert.