Slelected news and photographs.

2. Armstrong Convinced Moon Landing Was Faked September 1, 2009 “ Apollo 11 mission commander and famed astronaut Neil Armstrong shocked reporters at a press conference Monday, announcing he had been convinced that his historic first step on the moon was part of an elaborate hoax orchestrated by the United States government . According to Armstrong, he was forced to reconsider every single detail of the monumental journey after watching a few persuasive YouTube videos, and reading several blog posts on conspiracy theorist Ralph Coleman’s website, OmissionControl.org. “It only took a few hastily written paragraphs published by this passionate denier of mankind’s so-called ‘greatest technological achievement’ for me to realize I had been living a lie, ” said a visibly emotional Armstrong, addressing reporters at his home. “It has become painfully clear to me that on July 20, 1969, the Lunar Module under the control of my crew did not in fact travel 250,000 miles over eight days, touch down on the moon, and perform various experiments, ushering in a new era for humanity. Instead, the entire thing was filmed on a soundstage, most likely in New Mexico.” w/ photos

3. Farmers' Almanac Predicts Numbing Cold This Winter Check Your Thermostats: Farmers' Almanac Predicts Numbing Cold For Much Of The Country (AP) Americans, you might want to check on their sweaters and shovels the Farmers' Almanac is predicting a cold winter for many of you. The venerable almanac's 2010 edition, which goes on sale Tuesday, says numbing cold will predominate in the country's midsection, from the Rocky Mountains in the West to the Appalachians in the East. Managing Editor Sandi Duncan says it's going to be an "ice cold sandwich." "We feel the middle part of the country's really going to be cold _ very, very cold, very, very frigid, with a lot of snow," she said. "On the East and West coasts, it's going to be a little milder. Not to say it's going to be a mild short winter, but it'll be milder compared to the middle of the country." The almanac, which has been published since 1818, issues annual forecasts using a formula based on sunspots, planetary positions and the effects of the moon. This winter, the 200-page publication says it'll be cool and snowy in the Northeast, bitterly cold and dry in the Great Lakes states, and cold and snowy across the North Central states. It says the Northwest will be cool with average precipitation, the Southwest will be mild and dry, the South Central states will be cold and wet, and the Southeast will be mild and dry. The almanac's forecast, however, is at odds with the National Weather Service, which is calling for warmer-than-normal temperatures across much of the country because of an El Nino system in the tropical Pacific Ocean, said Mike Halpert, deputy director of the NOAA Climate Prediction Center in Camp Springs, Md.

4. Gov. Schwarzenegger's Twitter Idea Sees 'High' Times Aug 26, 2009 California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is trying to convert the collective intelligence of Twitter users into real-life ideas that would help the revenue-starved state. Schwarzenegger announced this week the launch of Myidea4ca.com, a Web site that indexes ideas for California's state government submitted via Twitter. The governor is asking people to "tweet" their ideas with the hashtag identifier #myidea4ca. During a conversation Wednesday at Twitter's headquarters with company founders Evan Williams and Biz Stone, Schwarzenegger said Twitter has "tremendous power and insight." He said the idea came from a Twitter user that he should autograph some state-owned cars and bicycles for sale at the Great California Garage Sale on Aug. 28 and Aug. 29. The governor said the Twitter-generated ideas also could be used for issues like solving the state's water woes. The governor is a frequent tweeter. He has nearly 1 million Twitter followers. Myidea4ca.com scoops up tweets tagged with #myidea4ca, and people can then give a thumbs up or thumbs down to each idea -- a function that's commonplace on social bookmarking Web sites like Digg and Delicious. Users also can submit comments about the ideas, which are searchable by keyword, Twitter username, category, most popular, most commented and most recent. Early results suggest that the public's most popular idea is legalizing and taxing the sale of marijuana , a possibility Schwarzenegger himself floated earlier this year as state legislators struggled to close a multibillion-dollar budget deficit.

5. How to Lose $3 Million in Six Years Callie Rogers was just 16 when she won a whopping $3 million in the lottery. Six years later, she reports that she blew untold sums on drugs, partying, exotic cars, and breast implants. A staggering $730,000 went to designer clothes alone, Ms. Rogers explains in an article from AOL . Says Rogers : "I honestly wish I'd never won the lottery money — and knowing what I know now I should have just given it all back to them." She's currently left with around $32,000. In these trying economic times, Ms. Rogers will likely find little sympathy. Still, it's worth noting that she's hardly the first big winner who wished she'd never bought a ticket. There is such a thing as the lottery curse : As mentioned in a previous Buzz Log , there are numerous cases of lotto winners getting divorced due to stress and losing everything from poor investments. A few have even died at the hands of greedy relatives. A 2007 article from ABC will fill you in on a few more examples. Knowing she's not the first jackpot winner to suffer hardship won't make her life any easier. But perhaps Ms. Rogers can take some comfort from the fact that there are others out there with eerily similar stories: They won big then lost big, and often wish they'd never even played.

6. AP IMPACT: Tainted cocaine kills 3, sickens dozens Associated Press – Mon Aug 31, 2009 LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Nearly a third of all cocaine seized in the United States is laced with a dangerous veterinary medicine - a livestock de-worming drug that might enhance cocaine's effects but has been blamed in at least three deaths and scores of serious illnesses. The medication called levamisole has killed at least three people in the U.S. and Canada and sickened more than 100 others. It can be used in humans to treat colorectal cancer, but it severely weakens the body's immune system, leaving patients vulnerable to fatal infections. Scientific studies suggest levamisole might give cocaine a more intense high, possibly by increasing levels of dopamine, the brain's "feel-good" neurotransmitters. Drug Enforcement Administration documents reviewed by The Associated Press indicate that 30 percent of all U.S. cocaine seizures are tainted with the drug. And health officials told the AP that most physicians know virtually nothing about its risks. "I would think it would be fair to say the vast majority of doctors in the United States have no idea this is going on," said Eric Lavonas, assistant director of the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center in Denver, where as much as half of the cocaine is believed to contain levamisole. "You can't diagnose a disease you've never heard of." Authorities believe cocaine manufacturers are adding the levamisole in Colombia, before the cocaine is smuggled into the U.S. and Canada to be sold as white powder or crack. Economic pressures may play a role. Decreased supply in the U.S. has raised cocaine prices and lowered street-level purity. Cocaine traffickers may believe levamisole adds an extra boost to an otherwise weakened product.

7. New Miss Universe duties: Blowing up condoms Pageant beauties told to fill sex devices with water to 'promote AIDS awareness' September 02, 2009 WorldNetDaily Glamorous beauty contestants competing in the recent Miss Universe pageant were required to participate in "Condom Olympics" – sponsored by a group whose founder is president of the largest mail-order adult toy and pornography distributor in the U.S. According to Fox News, the women were expected to blow the condoms up until they burst, fill them with water and conduct condom demonstrations. Donald Trump himself is reported to have approved the activities. AIDS prevention group Population Services International, or PSI, sponsored the event held in Nassau in the Bahamas just three days before the Aug. 23 pageant.

8. Vodka-Soaked Tampons and Anal Beer Bongs "Latest Trends" Among Teens? Really? Aug. 26 2009 The cybersphere has been flooded in recent days with "news" about vodka-soaked tampons and anal beer bongs . Much of this chatter apparently comes from an August 16 Channel 15 (KNXV-TV) interview with drug-treatment-facility spokeswoman Stephanie Siete, who listed "snorting vodka shots" and the tampon-and-beer-bong activities as things "teens are doing" these days. Let's take a deep, unadulterated breath here. First of all, we imagine -- cynically -- that Siete's primary job at Community Bridges , a non-profit company in Arizona, is to drum up more clients. Getting the attention of parents is one way to do that -- hence, the emphasis on the sensational. Secondly, there's just no way more than a few dumbasses are doing those things. If a teen has vodka, it's safe to say that the teen is going to drink it, not soak a tampon in it or snort it. Same with beer. We admit we could be wrong -- maybe you know someone whose anus has a problem with alcohol. But we called Siete to find out if she knows of any documented cases of her examples here in Arizona. "You do hear anecdotal reports," Siete says. "If go to YouTube, you'll see this." Well, sure, and if you go to YouTube you'll see a video of a housecat chasing away a bear , too. It's called a fluke. Siete claims she's also heard young people say they know others who have committed such antics. Not exactly the stuff of which science is made. One urban-legend researcher found a 1999 reference to some girls in Finland who supposedly did the tampon-soaking trick, and says the concept became more mainstream following a CSI episode that mentioned it.

10. The ElectraPour August 27, 2009 “Our drink pouring could use some flair, and ElectraPour’s LED light show is the greatest drinking gadget we’ve seen since St. Patrick’s Day. Equipped with a red LED light that’s activated when liquid passes through its spout, it somehow Illuminates that stream of firewater all the way into its waiting vessel .”

11. Naked neighbour ‘put me off men’ September 02, 2009 The victim of garden pervert Paul Darlow – who told a court he had put her off men and sausages for life – has told how she still suffers flashbacks. Denise Woodage saw oddball Darlow pleasuring himself in his back garden in Churchwood Walk, Calcot, and frequently spotted him going about his chores naked – save for a pair of boots. Darlow faced trial at Reading Crown Court after denying indecent exposure with intent to cause alarm or distress but was convicted last Friday. He was jailed for six weeks. The 54-year-old, who is mum to Hazel, 26, told the Post she “pale and hairy” body in the November chill and is now on anti-depressants. He initially denied the incidents but during his trial, before Judge Zoë Smith, he confessed to touching himself outdoors. However, he claimed he did not realise Mrs Woodage could see his actions and he did not intend to cause her distress – a claim the jury did not believe. Mrs Woodage told the Post: “I am now on anti-depressants and also sleeping tablets – this has really affected me. There are not many houses in this street and [there are] a lot of children. I would’ve hated for them to see Darlow flashing. “I didn’t even know his name when I first saw him but I was horrified. I couldn’t believe it. “He looks younger than he is and he was well-endowed and really hairy. “It has put me off men.

12. Fine for pot in Denver could go down to $1 DENVER - A city panel in charge of overseeing marijuana possession crimes in Denver recommended on Wednesday that the fine for possession be set at $1. If Denver's presiding judge accepts the recommendation from the Denver Marijuana Policy Review Panel, the fine would be the lowest in the entire nation for marijuana possession. The panel was created by Mayor John Hickenlooper in December 2007 after voters passed an ordinance that made it so adult marijuana possession is the city's "lowest law enforcement priority." In May 2008, the city attorney's office made it so those cited for the crime can mail in their fines instead of having to appear in court. At that time, the city attorney's office assigned the value of the fine at $50. "By setting the fine at just $1, we are sending a message to Denver officials that the era of citing adults for using a less harmful drug than alcohol is over. It's simply not worth the city's time or resources," said panel member and SAFER Executive Director Mason Tvert, who coordinated the successful Denver marijuana initiatives. Lt. Ernest Martinez with the Denver Police Department is also part of the panel and voted against lowering the fine. "There's no indication that there's a problem with the fine schedule," Martinez said. "The panel is going outside the bounds of the language of the ordinance." Martinez thinks there should be more dialogue about the changes. KUSA*TV,

13. New KFC Opens In Palms? Sort of...(Instead of Fried Chicken, They Sell Marijuana) Thursday, Aug. 27 2009 There has been an abandoned Kentucky Fried Chicken in Palms, slumping sadly these past few months on the corner of Exposition Blvd. and Hughes Ave. What, locals wondered, would replace it? A new burger joint? A Peruvian rotisserie chicken stand? It turns out that the KFC has been replaced by... a KFC. In this instance, though, the KFC stands for "Kind For Cures", and while they do sell things that are edible, you can't buy them, or even ask about them, without a prescription. There have been marijuana dispensaries popping up all over Southern California of late, but this one is slightly different. Rather than tearing the whole thing down and starting from scratch, the proprietors of this alternative KFC decided to incorporate the design of the previous tenants. They have removed the official Kentucky Fried Chicken logo, but the rest of the building remains mostly intact. So do they plan on selling hot biscuits with THC butter? Can you order your Pineapple Express by the bucket? Do they offer family meals? "No comment." Hm. I suppose we'll have to take that as a no.

14. Pot May Protect Brain From Booze Brain Scans Show Less Damage August 28, 2009 Marijuana may protect the brain from some of the damage caused by binge drinking, according to a new study. Researchers at the University of California San Diego performed brain scans on 16- to 19-year-olds in three groups: binge drinkers, binge drinkers who also smoke pot, and those with very little drug or drinking experience. Binge drinkers showed damage in their white matter. But those who drink and smoke showed more damage than the control group in only three of eight areas of the brain. In seven of the areas, their brains were in better shape than the binge drinkers. Researchers said in a news release from the Marijuana Project that the result was unexpected. They said it could be that marijuana somehow stops alcohol from damaging brain cells. The study was published online by the journal Neurotoxicology and Teratology.

15. BucketVAC The BucketVAC ($TBA) turns "a gallon bucket into a wet/dry vacuum" . It is a basically a self-contained lid that attaches to any 5 gallon bucket, turning it into an easy-to-empty receptacle for either wet or dry waste. BucketVac only weighs 7 lbs. and can be quickly changed from one bucket to another. It will be available Q4 2009. Price: $TBA | BUY | Source

16. Bikini-clad teacher turns to porn DAILY NEWS September 1st 2009 A Florida biology teacher fired after posing for racy pictures has landed a new career – in pornography. Tiffany Shepherd , 31, made headlines in April after bikini-clad pictures of her on a fishing charter got her canned from Port St. Lucie High School . She turned to doing porn, she told a Florida news outlet, after losing custody of two of her three kids to her ex-husband and sending out 2,500 resumes – some even to prisons – without landing a new teaching job. "I'm not particularly proud of it. To be honest, I hate it," Shepherd told Page2live.com. "I'm an educated woman, but I never thought it would come to this. No one gets brought up thinking they'll be a floozy." On screen, Shepherd goes by the name Leah Lust and has filmed five feature films, including one titled ‘My first sex teacher,' where Shepherd portrays the very job she's been trying to get back. "It's very professional," says Shepherd on the Web site. "Everyone's tested -- for venereal diseases and AIDS -- and I'm carrying around my little piece of paper that says I'm fine. They love me because I take care of myself and I don't run out to party with my money." Shepherd got into the business after the captain of the fishing charter that got her into trouble in the first place recommended it as a way to make good money. Captain Gil Coombes , of the boat ‘Smokin ‘Em,' owns a porn Web cam studio with his wife, Kat, called KLC productions. "We sat down with her and told her she'd never get a teaching job again," Coombes told Page2live.com

17. Marijuana's new high life Cannabis is moving into the mainstream, with fashion, films, TV and politicians acknowledging it's here to stay. In June, an estimated 25,000 people attended the inaugural THC Expo hemp and art show in downtown Los Angeles, an event that pumped hundreds of thousands of dollars into the local economy -- including a $22,400 payment directly to the city of Los Angeles for use of its convention center. Barneys New York in Beverly Hills is celebrating the Woodstock spirit by selling $78 "Hashish" candles in Jonathan Adler pots with bas-relief marijuana leaves; Hickey offers $75 linen pocket squares or $120 custom polo shirts bearing the five-part leaf; and French designer Lucien Pellat-Finet is serving up white-gold and diamond custom pot-leaf-emblazoned wristwatches for $49,000 and belt buckles for $56,000. After decades of bubbling up around the edges of so-called civilized society, marijuana seems to be marching mainstream at a fairly rapid pace. At least in urban areas such as Los Angeles, cannabis culture is coming out of the closet. At fashion-insider parties, joints are passed nearly as freely as hors d'oeuvres. Traces of the acrid smoke waft from restaurant patios, car windows and passing pedestrians on the city streets -- in broad daylight. Even the art of name-dropping in casual conversation -- once limited to celebrity sightings and designer shoe purchases -- now includes the occasional boast of recently discovered weed strains such as "Strawberry Cough" and "Purple Kush." Public sentiment is more than anecdotal; earlier this year, a California Field Poll found that 56% of California voters supported legalizing and taxing marijuana. Last month, voters in Oakland overwhelmingly approved a tax increase on medical marijuana sales, the first of its kind in the country, and Los Angeles Councilwoman Janice Hahn has proposed something similar for the City of Angels. "In this current economic crisis, we need to get creative about how we raise funds," Hahn said in a statement .

18. Pigs halt Coventry woods gay sex trysts Sep 1 2009 RAMPAGING pigs have put a stop to gay sex trysts in a picturesque wood on the outskirts of Coventry. Farmer Richard Fonge became so exasperated by the sordid shenanigans in the shady dells of Roughknowles Wood, off Crackley Lane, near Kenilworth, that he agreed to unleash a couple of dozen Tamworth porkers. In addition he’s felled a row of about 30 beech trees, erected steel fences, barbed wire, and a number of ‘Private Keep Out’ signs. The 64-year-old, who lives at Hurst Farm, just north of the wood, said he was “mightily relieved” that the trespassers had now been flushed out after a long-standing battle. The area, which boasts some of the most exclusive homes in the area, first became a venue for sleazy assignations 15 years ago. He now believes that those responsible have migrated to nearby Crackley Wood, which is owned by Warwickshire County Council.The Telegraph revealed in 2005 how Mr Fonge had made repeated efforts to stop people entering the farmland.The dad-of-two had become so outraged, after finding a makeshift bed and used condoms, that he placed tree trunks where Cryfield Grange Road meets Crackley Lane, to try to deter men from parking up.

19. Man Slaps Stranger’s Crying Kid September 3, 2009 “ A Gwinnett County man is in custody accused of slapping a stranger’s crying toddler in a Stone Mountain Wal-Mart on Monday . Sonya Mathews, the mother of the 2-year-old child, told police that both were walking in the aisles of the Rockbridge Road store when Roger Stephens, 61, approached and said “if you don’t shut that baby up, I will shut her up for you,” according to a police report. A few moments later, in another aisle, Stephens grabbed the 2-year-old and slapped her across the face four or five times, according to the report. Stephens then told Mathews, “See, I told you I would shut her up,” according to the report.”

20. The ad, proposed by a Brazilian advertising agency, shows dozens of planes flying toward Lower Manhattan, and was rejected by the World Wildlife Fund.

21. Man Tried To Pay For Gas With Pot September 2, 2009 “ Authorities in Frederick County, Maryland say a 52-year-old man was arrested after he allegedly tried to pay for gas with marijuana instead of cash . Frederick County Sheriff’s deputies say it happened at the Classic Fuels Store on Old National Pike in New Market, Maryland on Sunday afternoon around 3 p.m. They say 52-year-old James T. Hart of Frederick offered the store clerk marijuana in lieu of cash to pay for his gas. The store employee refused, and immediately called deputies to investigate. When they arrived, authorities found what they believed to be cocaine, marijuana, and Oxycodone in his possession.”

22. WTF Gadget of the Moment: PooTrap Sorta gross? Depends. Cruel and unusual ? Perhaps. Less contact with dog shit for us ? Totally. The PooTrap is a bag that straps on to your dog’s ass with a harness, eagerly awaiting Fido’s fecal evacuation. There are worse things you can do (sorry for stealing your line, Riz). Think about it. If your dog is willing to eat their own crap, this won’t bother them too much. It’s just sort of awkward walking with a bag hanging between your legs. Just ask my grandpa.

23. What Would Megan Fox Look Like As Catwoman?

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25. The top ten best cars?

26. 10 Maybach 57 S – US $430,000 Maximum speed: 275 km/h Acceleration, 1-100km : 5 seconds Horse power: 612 CLICK TO ADVANCE

27. 9 Porsche Carrera GT – US $440,000 Maximum speed: 330 km/h Acceleration:1-100km : 3.9 seconds Horse power : 612

28. 8 Maybach 62 – US $448,153 Maximum speed : 250 km/h Acceleration 1-100km : 5.5 seconds Horse power: 550

29. 7 Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren – US $452,750 Maximum speed: 334 km/h Acceleration 0-100km: 3,8 seconds Horse power: 626

30. 6 Koenigsegg CCR – US $545,568 Maximum speed: 388 km/h Acceleration 0-100km: 3,2 seconds Horse power: 806

31. 5 Saleen S7 Twin Turbo – US $637,723 Maximum speed: 390 km/h Acceleration 0-100km: 2,8 seconds Horse power: 750

32. 4 Leblanc Mirabeau – US $643,000 Maximum speed: 370 km/h Horse power: 700

33. 3 SSC Ultimate Aero – US $654,500 Maximum speed: 420 km/h Horse power: 1046

34. Pagani Zonda Roadster F C12 7,3 Clubsport Acceleration: 0-100km: 3,6 seconds Maximum speed: 345 km/h 2 US $667,321 Horse power: 650

35. 1 Bugatti Veyron – US $1,192,000 Maximum speed: 402 km/h Acceleration 0-100km: 2,5 seconds Horse power: 1001

36. Auston Martin One-77 Supercars are by definition exclusive. Cars like the Bugatti Veyron, Ferrari Enzo and McLaren F1 sit at the pinnacle of automotive development, a rarefied place where engineering is unfettered by accounting. Cost is no object with cars like these. Their only purpose is perfection. Even by that definition, the Aston Martin One-77 stands alone. The British automaker best known as James Bonds’ car of choice will build just 77 of them. Each will cost $1.8 million . The super-exclusive, super-expensive supercar seamlessly melds racing technology and fine craftsmanship in a hand-made automobile capable of blistering acceleration. It may be the finest car Aston Martin has produced in the 96 years since it was founded.

37. mug shots