Snopes

SnopesGang initiation rumors untrue.

An e-mail and text message warning that women at Walmarts across the country are at risk sparked concern locally today.

Although The Gazette has not received the e-mail, a check of reputable Web sites indicates that what is circulating is a variation of a message that began in 2005.

According to urbanlegends.about.com, one version of the text circulating reads, "FWD: Police are asking all women not to go to any Walmart tonight there is a gang iniation and three women will be shot this is not a joke pls foward."

Snopes.com says the supposed killings will take place in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, TExas, Utah, Virginia or Washington.

The e-mail and texts often contain an introduction that indicates the author has heard of this from someone in law enforcement.

According to Snopes, the rumors began in Memphis in 2005.

Original Source : http://www.emporiagazette.com/news/2009/mar/19/gang_initiation_rumors_untrue/

Tonga Earthquake

Tonga EarthquakeTsunami alert cancelled after Tonga quake.

A tsunami alert for New Zealand has been cancelled, following a magnitude 7.9 earthquake near Tonga this morning.

In Tonga itself, the earthquake caused panic, but there was no sign of a tsunami.

An hour after the tsunami was scheduled to strike Tonga and Apai Moala, senior geological assistant with the Tongan Ministry of Land and Surveys said there had been no reports from coastal areas of a wave.

Mr Moala said Tongan authorities were therefore confident there had been no wave of any significance generated.

New Zealand's Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management issued a tsunami warning shortly after 8am today, but cancelled it about an hour later.

"As more information has become available it is now clear that there is no risk of a tsunami that could cause damage to New Zealand," director John Hamilton said at 9.15am.

"I understand that the advisory the minstry issued is likely to have caused concern and inconvenience for some people. However, the first information we received immediately after the earthquake showed that a tsunami could have been generated and may have posed a danger to New Zealand.

"Based on that information, we could have endangered lives in our country if we did not issue the advisory. Given similar information in the future, we would again issue a advisory".

Mr Hamilton said it was vitally important that people did not become complacent about possible future risk from tsunami.

"The next time we might not be so lucky. Instead of cancelling a warning, we could be cleaning up the aftermath".

The Tongan earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometres, 210 kilometres south of the capital of Nuku'alofa. The region, along the Kermadec Arc, is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire.

It sparked the tsunami warning for Tonga, Niue, New Zealand, Kermadec Islands, American Samoa, Samoa, Wallis and Futuna and Fiji. It was not related to the major undersea eruption occurring to the north of Tonga's capital.

A reporter in Nuku'alofa told Stuff.co.nz that the quake caused panic in the city.

"A lot of people were running around," he said, but added there was no obvious sign of damage at this stage.

People were worried by a possible tsunami but there had been no sign of one.

If a tsunami had been generated from the earthquake these were the expected arrival times for the wave:

Tonga, Nukualofa - 7.45AM NZT
Niue, Niue Is. - 8.04AM NZT
Kermadec Is, Raoul Is. - 8.12AM NZT
American Samoa, Pago Pago - 8.25AM NZT
Samoa, Apia - 8.34AM NZT
Wallis-Futuna, Wallis Is. - 8.47AM NZT
Fiji, Suva - 9.03AM NZT

Original Source : http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2279282/Tsunami-alert-cancelled-after-Tonga-quake

Natasha Richardson Epidural Hematoma

Natasha Richardson Epidural HematomaNatasha Richardson Died of Epidural Hematoma After Skiing Accident.

British Actress' Family and Friends 'Devastated by the Tragic Death of Their Beloved Natasha'.

Natasha Richardson's death was indeed caused by her fall on a Canadian ski slope.

The New York City Medical Examiner's Office conducted an autopsy on the Tony Award-winning actress today. She died Wednesday at age 45. The office ruled her death accidental, citing the cause as an epidural hematoma due to a blunt impact to the head.

Funeral arrangements for Richardson will be handled by New York City's Greenwich Village Funeral Home.

Richardson's husband, actor Liam Neeson, and family members were by her side when she died. Her death was announced in a statement released Wednesday evening by Neeson's publicist.

"Liam Neeson, his sons and the entire family are shocked and devastated by the tragic death of their beloved Natasha," the statement said. "They are profoundly grateful for the support, love and prayers of everyone, and ask for privacy during this very difficult time."

With a gracious wave, Neeson returned to his New York City home late Wednesday night, cameras shuttering all around him, ABC News' Sharyn Alfonsi reported.

Richardson fell Monday at the Mont Tremblant ski resort in Quebec. She initially appeared fine and joked about the fall, but the ski patrol insisted she see a doctor. Richardson declined, the resort said in a statement Tuesday.

On Wednesday, a Canadian newspaper reported that an ambulance was dispatched to the resort right after the accident, but the paramedics were told they were not needed and left.

"They never saw the patient," Yves Coderre, the operations manager for the ambulance service, told the Globe and Mail. "So they turned around."

"When you have a head trauma you can bleed. It can deteriorate in a few hours or a few days," Coderre added. "People don't realize it can be very serious. We warn them they can die and sometimes they start to laugh. They don't take it seriously."

Richardson later complained of a headache and another ambulance was called to take her to the hospital. She was later transferred to Hôpital du Sacre-Coeur in Montreal before being flown to New York City's Lenox Hill Hospital Tuesday, where her relatives rushed to her side.

Original Source : http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Movies/story?id=7119825&page=1

Brazilian Bikini Wax

Brazilian Bikini WaxA ban on ‘Brazilian’ bikini waxing?

In New Jersey, the state Board of Cosmetology is considering a ban on genital waxing after two women reported being injured in their quest for a smooth bikini line.

The women were reportedly hospitalized for infections following so-called “Brazilian” bikini waxes — so named because women in Brazil wax so they can wear skimpy thongs.

Jersey might be the first state to ban the procedure. National cosmetology officials said they were unaware of another state that had banned genital waxing.

Regular bikini waxes would still be allowed in Jersey.

Skin care experts say genital waxing can be dangerous because the hot wax can irritate or tear delicate skin in the bikini area, resulting in infections, ingrown hairs and rashes.

Despite such risks, millions of American women — and some men — choose to have the hair down there ripped away, and are willing to pay upwards of $50 to $60.

Original Source : http://blogs.ajc.com/better-health/2009/03/19/a-ban-on-brazilian-bikini-waxing/

March Madness On Demand

March Madness On DemandN.C.A.A. March Madness is more mobile than ever. Yahoo’s site at m.yahoo.com/ncaa works on most smartphones and offers news, analysis and bracket updates throughout the tourney, as does ESPN’s mobile site (espn.mobi). The CBS Sports N.C.A.A. March Madness on Demand program ($5 in iTunes) lets iPhone users stream live game video over a Wi-Fi connection.

Original Source : http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/19/technology/personaltech/19askk-003.html?ref=personaltech