5 THINGS YOU DO ON FACEBOOK (BECAUSE YOU'RE TOO STUPID TO KNOW BETTER)

I remember when people knew that giving out too much information could get you in trouble, maybe even killed. For example, a latch-key kid at home alone would get in trouble if they told a caller or visitor that their parents were gone. The phrase was usually "he/she's in the bathroom" or "he/she's asleep". The idea was to not let people know that they were alone. It was the only time a child was given permission to lie, and it prevented robberies and possible abductions. You see, keeping your information to yourself was a good thing.

Nowadays, as I look through Facebook, I wonder how people are willing give up so much of their personal information. There's so much "tmi" going on, I put together a list of my top five things people should stop sharing on Facebook.

1. Stop complaining about your boss/job/co-workers

If you're lucky enough to be able to get on Facebook at the job, please stop telling us how big of an idiot your boss is. Your boss is a person too, and probably has a Facebook page. And look, we know that your co-worker smells like feet and throw-up. All co-workers smell like feet and throw-up. Finally, don't diss your job's policies. The last thing you want is someone in charge seeing you bash their mission statement online.

2. Stop posting your kids' information

You know, some people you just can't talk to about this. If I had my way, my children wouldn't be on the internet at all. Since that isn't the case, I do have a major caveat for those of you who plaster your babies' faces all over Facebook. Those of you whose young children are old enough to know their name: stop putting their names on Facebook. I know, you gotta have a name to go with the face, but if I were a pedophile, I'd clean up. You not only give me their names, but you tell me what school they go to. Now, all I need to do is go up there armed with a name and a face, and do my thing.

3. Stop checking in everywhere

Really? Do I need to know that you're at T&D beauty supply? You must don't care about people rolling up on you everywhere you go? What if someone on your friend's list hates your guts, and you check into a place that they can get to before you leave? You just might get yourself in some trouble. Oh! and stop checking in at home and calling it "the spot" or "the crib" or something like that. Your home address? Really? Not to mention that pedophile from #2 might be waiting to get that kid whose name and face he already knows.

4. Stop giving home tours

If you're not on MTV doing it, don't do it on Facebook. Yeah, I know it seems cool to show everyone your jewelry and money and televisions and how many rooms you got, but the last thing you want to do is give people a friggin' layout of your home. You might as well invite everybody over to see for themselves.

5. Stop telling everyone the details of your vacation

It doesn't stop there though. Your "I'm going on vacation" is more like this: "okay we're going on vacation everybody! I'm videoing myself walking through my house because I want you to see what I have to go through to get prepared. I'm going to narrate as I walk. After this I have to go to *enter child's name and school* to let them know that *enter child's name* will be gone. I'm not even going to put in for the time at work. I'll just call off Thursday and Friday, use the Saturday and Sunday, and since Monday isn't technically three consecutive days off, I'll be alright. My stupid-ass boss will be none the wiser." Then when you finally hit the road: "ok we're 150 miles from *enter city*. Getting hungry. Gonna stop." Then you check in at *enter restaurant*. Meanwhile everybody knows how far you are from home and destination, everything in your home, oh - and your home address.

Staying clear from these five no-nos could be the difference between safety, danger and your children being stolen from you.

Did I miss anything? Do you know a violator of one of these rules? Are you a violator of one of these rules? Are you mad?

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SEX OFFENDER ON THE RUN CAUGHT AFTER GIRLFRIEND LIKES SHERIFF'S DEPT. ON FACEBOOK

Once again Facebook exploits a person's stupidity and catches another criminal. 29-year-old Dyllan Naecher of Maryland is a registered sex offender. He went to Virginia with the idea of not being found, but when his girlfriend liked the Tazewell County Sheriff's department on Facebook (their local police department), they used the information attached to her profile to determine that Naecher was with her in Virginia.

Naecher was picked up at their house and is being charged with failing to register as a sex offender in Virginia. His girlfriend may be facing charges for harboring a fugitive.

Naecher could also face charges for crossing state lines under the Adam Walsh Act, the law named after the son of America's Most Wanted host, John Walsh.

Other acts of stupidity on Facebook include a Mississippi man using Facebook Places to check into a location he was breaking into, an Oregon man on the run from child support checked into a restaurant in Arizona, and another Oregon man who skipped out on probation and fled to Alabama only to be caught because he posted EVERYTHING he did.

-WUSA

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MOM BLAMES GENETIC ATTRACTION AFTER MAKING SEX TAPE WITH 16-YEAR-OLD SON

#insane - Mistie Atkinson of Napa, CA. had been separated from her 16-year-old son his whole life. So when she decided to track him down on Facebook last year, it wasn't to catch up and be a mother. The 32-year-old wanted to have sex with him.

The 16-year-old, who lived with his father at the time, began receiving naked pictures of his mom shortly after the Facebook reunion. Atkinson also sent him lewd messages including some convincing him that they should run away together.

In October of last year, the boy's relatives found out about the inappropriate contact and notified authorities. A restraining order was put in place for Atkinson, and her son was sent to Ukiah to stay with a relative until he was placed in a group home.

By February, he was sneaking out of the relative's house regularly to meet up with his mother to have sex. He even recorded a short sex tape involving his mother performing oral sex on him, among other things too hot for this article. In April, they were caught in a motel room, bringing the whole ordeal to an end...for now.

Last month, Atkinson pleaded no contest to lewd contact with a minor, oral copulation, distribution of lewd material to a minor and incest. She claimed that this wasn't a case of incest, it was "genetic attraction" - a term to describe close relatives who are attracted to each other after they meet as adults.

Atkinson was sentenced last week to four years, eight months in prison, but she could be out in two years for good behavior.

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MAN WHO SKIPPED OUT ON PROBATION CAUGHT BECAUSE HE COULDN'T STAY OFF FACEBOOK

I've been saying it for years. Stop putting all your business on Facebook. You people continue to inform the masses what you're eating for dinner, what you're thinking about, what your co-worker said and what your current location is. You put your phone number out there, and continue to tell us that you're going out of town, where you are in the trip, and when you're coming home. Perfect for someone who's looking to break in your house. And since you have a map of where you live on your unsecured Facebook page...well, we'll talk about unsecured Facebook pages in a minute. The bottom line is that it's lame. And because of this very act of lameness, James Tindell of Portland, Oregon got himself caught up during a time he was supposed to be "on the lam".

In 2010, Tindell was convicted of robbery and sentenced to 70 months in prison. In lieu of the 70 months, he was offered probation and drug treatment classes. For a while, Tindell cooperated but eventually stopped going to his class and stopped reporting to his probation officer.

According to investigators who were monitoring his Facebook page, Tindell left the state with his girlfriend and landed in Alabama. He used Facebook page to take jabs at the judge who so graciously spared him, and taunted any law enforcement agency trying to find him. He told his probation officer "catch me if you can", and that he was the one who "got away". He even used his Facebook page to post sonogram pictures of his unborn child in May. That's when the investigators were able to pinpoint his location in Alabama - the sonogram pics had the name of the hospital on them.

But don't take my word for it, see for yourself on his unsecured Facebook page. Scroll on down to "older posts" and behold.

Once they had a location for Tindell, a nationwide warrant was signed by the Governor of Oregon himself, John Kitzhaber. He was eventually stopped recently in Daphne, AL. for speeding and was extradited back to Oregon. Tindell was sentenced to 30 months in prison and ordered to pay the amount it costed to extradite him.
Because of his desire to skip town, avoid his classes and probation, and because of need to put his entire life on Facebook, Mr. Tindell is going to miss the first couple of years of his child's life.

So why do people put their information out there like that?


We live in a "look at me" society. With reality shows in celebrity homes documenting every move, wannabes want the same thing. And with YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, the dream of telling everyone your business as if it were your own reality show is within arms reach. With those tools, everyone can be a star - at the same time telling the government all of your business.

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JUDGE ORDERS BLOGGER TO PAY $2.5 MILLION TO COMPANY SHE WROTE ABOUT

Remember the name Crystal L. Cox because she just might be the new pioneer for bloggers' rights. This woman from Montana runs many whistleblower sites including bankruptcycorruption.com, obsidianfinancesucks.com and crystalcox.com.

In January, investment firm Obsidian Finance Group filed a $10 million lawsuit against Crystal for critical blog posts about their company - citing the blog posts were defamatory.

She represented herself during her day in court last week, with U.S. District Judge Marco Hernandez throwing out all but one of the blog posts in question. That one however, was the dagger in the back - or face, depending on how you want to look at it. He told her that the singled out blog post seemed more from the heart than the other ones.

She told the judge that it appeared that way because an inside source to the finance company provided information for the other ones. Because she wouldn't name her source, none of what she wrote could be proven, and therefore taken as slander.

He then told her that bloggers aren't entitled to the various protections given to journalists - whatever that means - because she has no affiliation with any newspaper, magazine, book, news service, wire service, feature syndicate, broadcast station/network or cable TV system.

That's when he hit her with the $2.5 million judgement.

Now, if it's like that, then what the hell is the first amendment about? When I say things like, "the Governor of Alabama sucks" or "President Obama sucks" - because they do - I say that with an air of confidence. I say those things knowing that as a citizen of this country, I have the right to say whatever I want (of course within taste). Especially since I'm saying these things as a journalist. Or social observer  - whatever.

From what I understand from the judge is that if we're not affiliated, we're just a bunch of people with too much time on our hands.

What do you think? Are freelance bloggers different from people affiliated with a company or network of companies? What's the difference between the two? Shouldn't bloggers be protected by the First Amendment? Do you think there will be a crackdown on bloggers like in other countries?

(bonus)What if you were sued for $10 million by Pepsi or any other company because of a comment you made on Facebook or Twitter?

Your Ad Here

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FACEBOOK CHECK-IN LEADS TO ARREST

#insaneasylumblog - I can't put my finger on how, but it seems like Facebook has somehow made zombie meat out of people's brains. Even when committing a crime, people just can't seem to stay off of it.

Police in Jackson, MS. say a man who had broken into a business last week after hours logged onto his Facebook page on one of their computers. Now, it doesn't actually say if he used Facebook Places to "check in" or if he simply logged into Facebook. Either way, the activity is documented in some fashion.

He must've thought about that very thing, because five days later, he went back to steal the computer he used.

Jason Andrew Smith is charged with two counts of burglary at a Uhaul rental service. The prosecutors told Judge Houston Patton that the Facebook page holds all the cards against Smith. After review, Judge Patton agreed that there was sufficient evidence to recommend the indictment of the 30-year-old.

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TEACHER ACCUSED OF MAKING FUN OF HIS SPECIAL-ED STUDENTS ON FACEBOOK

[update: Jeremy Hollinger has been suspended with pay.]

It takes a certain type of person to be a Special Ed teacher. You must love kids, and you need to have patience and compassion in your heart. Apparently, the Mobile County school system wasn't looking for patience and compassion the day they hired Jeremy Hollinger. He doesn't fit the description at all. In fact, it's as if they went to the set of Jackass and chose the one who would work for the least amount of money.

Hollinger is accused of repeatedly belittling his second-grade students on Facebook. I mean, this guy posted statuses that said, "I guess crayons are on the menu" and "why is there sh*t on the floor?" And he literally took one of the kids' helmets, put it on his head, took this picture, and put it on Facebook.

Celeste Dennis transferred her son from the Eichold-Mertz Elementary School in Mobile, AL. after she saw what he did with her son's helmet.

"It hurt. It genuinely hurt me. My son wears a helmet for seizures during P.E. He had a picture of himself with my son's helmet on making fun on him like that was some type of a joke."

Well, I don't think it's funny either. I do think that Hollinger should be fired and never allowed to work around children again. Why was Hollinger spending all that time Facebooking when he was supposed to be keeping an eye on his kids? Why isn't that a question in the matter?

When asked what happened with Hollinger, Nancy Pierce with the Mobile County Public School system said, “Because it's a personnel matter, I can't discuss that, but the appropriate measures were taken by our Human Resources Department." 

She didn't specify what "appropriate measures" were taken, but the fact that he's still teaching 2nd grade Special Ed tells me that nothing appropriate happened.

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MAN BEATS WIFE FOR NOT LIKING HIS FACEBOOK STATUS

For some reason, when people post a status on Facebook, it just doesn't feel complete to them unless someone "likes" it. Hell, some people will "like" their own comment as if we didn't know that they wouldn't have posted it if they didn't like it. Some people actually measure their Facebook worth by the number of likes they get, and will do anything to get those "likes".

Now, everyone doesn't act this way, but there's a guy from Texas who is facing battery charges after he beat up his estranged wife and pulled her hair because she didn't "like" his Facebook status.

​Benito Apolinar and his wife Dolores recently decided to separate after 15 years of marriage. She and the kids moved from their house in Pecos, Texas, to Carlsbad, New Mexico. The 36-year-old Benito even followed and moved in with Dolores and the kids briefly to try to patch things up. Soon after, the anniversary of his Mother's death came around. He posted a status noting that occasion on his Facebook wall, and many of his friends paid their respects. Dolores didn't respond the way he wanted her to. Dolores didn't click the "like" status button.

Police say he showed up at the house drunk, furiously wanting to know why she didn't like his post. Through the door, Benito told his wife that he had "so many comments on his status" and was pissed off. "That's amazing everyone 'likes' my status but you. You're my wife. You should be the first one to 'like' my status."

At first, Dolores didn't let him in, because she's under house arrest for an undisclosed reason and feared that trouble was near.  Eventually, Benito got in, and that's when things got rough.

When police arrived, Benito told them that Dolores hit herself in the face and then hit him with a cellphone - I guess because she was mad for hitting herself in the face. She said he pulled her hair and punched her in the face. Although both Benito and Dolores showed visible injuries, Benito was the only one arrested.

Moral of the story: If you see someone's status about a dead relative or friend, just like it - even though you shouldn't like the idea of someone being dead.

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FACEBOOK CHECK-IN LEADS TO ARREST

There's no need to panic or anything, but there's a person on my Facebook friend's list who "checks in" whenever she arrives at a location. Don't get me wrong, I cringe when everyone does it, but I genuinely worry a bit when she does it. She makes it seem like she wants to invite everyone to her job, the DMV, Starbucks, Best Buy or even her house, and someone as important as she is to the people who rely on her shouldn't let everyone know their every move.

Someone or something from your past could be checking you out.

With that said, Matthew Ledbetter, who's been on the run from Oregon since 2009, was arrested last week on a warrant that said he owed money for child support. Apparently, he "checked in" at a restaurant in Arizona last Friday, and one of his "friends" called authorities and told them where he was. He was processed on a $5000 bond.

I've been saying for the longest that we're not even making it hard for the government - or people in general - to pry in our business. Facebook appears to make it "fun" to reveal all of our personal info, and surprisingly people actually dig it.  Go ahead and continue to put the names and pics of all your friends and family on your profile. Go ahead and tell people that you're going out of town, and exactly where you are every moment of your trip. Let the world know your every thought.  And if you participate in Facebook "check ins", well just know that one day you're going to run into someone you wish you hadn't.

Picture having a past so bad that you changed your whole name.  You get on Facebook and put your old name up there so your friends can recognize you, but your past sees you too.  You "check in" at a location and shortly after that, your past has caught up with you.  What do you do?

This time, Facebook check-in led to someone's arrest. Next time, it could lead to someone's death.

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WOMAN FAKES KIDNAPPING TO GET ATTENTION FROM BOYFRIEND

Normally, people who lack excitement or attention in their lives just turn to Facebook. There, one can get all the excitement and attention they can stand. Apparently Rashell Barfield didn't want to settle.

The 21-year-old and her boyfriend, Kieth Walker, got into an argument because to her it seemed like he cared about their son more.  That's when she stormed out the house. Soon after, she sent him a text saying that she had been grabbed by two men wearing ski masks and thrown into the back of a white panel van.  She said she didn't know where they were because they had been driving around in circles.

Walker called the police. Miami detectives began distributing flyers and interviewing people.  By the time the investigation got into full swing, Walker got a call from Barfield.

It was a miracle! She had escaped her captors and was hiding in a bush somewhere. Police talked to her and found her location. When they arrived, she gave them a thorough description of the two men and the van. At police headquarters is where she came clean and finally admitted to making up the whole thing.  All because she wanted attention from her boyfriend.

Barfield was arrested yesterday after leading her boyfriend, family, and police on a white van scavenger hunt. She was charged with one count of false report of commission of crimes and one count of obstructing justice.

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WOMAN BEATS SON FOR HAVING FACEBOOK PAGE

62-year-old Althea Ricketts was charged with aggravated child abuse after she beat her son for having a Facebook page. Her son (whose name and age was not released) was beaten with a computer cable, police said.

The Orlando Sentinel reported that Ricketts found out about his Facebook page on Friday after her friend said he posted a disturbing message that suggested that he might try to hurt himself.

Ricketts told police that she was mad not because of what he said, but because he lied to her about being on Facebook altogether.  The Apopka, FL. woman told the arresting officer that hitting a child with a cable is a common way of disciplining kids where she comes from.

Let's see.  She's 62 years old.  I don't think computer cables were available to the public when she was a little girl.  Matter of fact, I don't think any kind of "cable" was available to the public when she was a little girl.

Unless she's more spry that meets the eye, her "son" has to be like, 30-something, am I right?  

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MAN GETS 4 YEARS FOR STALKING, FALSE IMPERSONATION ON FACEBOOK

George Bronk was sentenced to over four years in prison after pleading guilty to charges that include possession of child pornography, computer intrusion, and false impersonation. The 24-year-old lived in Citrus Heights, CA while caring for his parents back in December 2009. That's when he began using Facebook for the purpose of taking over email accounts. This lasted until September 2010.

Bronk would look for email addresses and gather enough personal information from posts to get past basic security questions. After he gained access and changed passwords, Bronk searched their folders for skin pics or videos then sent them to people on their contact list, prosecutors said.  According to records, women in 17 states, the District of Columbia and England were victimized. He even somehow got one woman to send him more hard-core pics by threatening to further share the pictures he already had.

As part of an offered deal in seeking a lighter sentence, Bronk's parents offered to take away his internet access as a condition of releasing him back to their custody. Gotta love Mom and Dad.

“This case serves as a stark example of what occurs in so-called cyberspace. It has very real consequences,” Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Lawrence Brown said. “The intrusion of one’s profile is no different than intruding one’s home.”

Judge Brown sentenced him to four years in state prison for the charges related to the Facebook and email offenses, and added eight more months for charges related to child pornography. His attorney, Monica Lynch, said her client took responsibility for his actions and showed remorse. She tried to get him one year in the local jail with probation, or two years in state prison with no probation.

Bronk had hoped to become a paramedic but because of the child pornography that he stole, he will have to register as a sex offender, and will be ineligible. I wonder if the person he got it from will ever be charged for having it in their possession. I also wonder if the people on Facebook who are posing as others could get in trouble if I report them. It would be quite the surprise since they don't know that I know what they're doing.

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MAN POSTS "BOUT TO KILL MA KID" ON FACEBOOK...THEN DOES IT

You know, I just don't know what it is about Facebook that makes people do and say the things they do. It goes from one extreme to another, starting with people who post their thoughts and every move they make.  It's like Facebook is a tool to get everyone to volunteer as much personal info as possible while making it fun to do so.  I've even seen phone numbers and lists of family members and the location of some people's jobs.

It almost seems automatic to run to Facebook as soon as something happens.  We all want to be our own little CNN, and bringing the "story" first is the goal.  With that in mind we lose our sense of privacy or what should be private in certain situations. Like the girl who was gang-raped at a club in Canada.  Instead of calling for help, witnesses put the pictures on Facebook.

Facebook is commonly used as evidence to some type of crime.


I've covered all types of crimes that started as a comment or message on Facebook.  I remember the woman who got stabbed over a comment her daughter made about someone's child. I also remember the two young ladies who got into it over a guy who's in prison.  It started on Facebook and ended deadly.

No matter how aware I am of how people have gotten with FB over the past year, I always seem surprised or amazed when I hear the next big story.  Which brings me to this story out of Australia:

As payback to his estranged girlfriend, Rachelle D'Argent, Ramazan Acar admitted to stabbing his two-year-old daughter Yazmina back in November.  According to court documents, on the day of the murder, Rachelle reluctantly allowed Ramazan to pick Yazmina up. He said they were going to get chocolate but never returned. "If you saw her face when she saw her dad. She had stars in her eyes when she ran up to him. That's why I let her go with him",  Rachelle said.

Right after picking her up, Ramazan texted Rachelle to ask if he should kill their daughter in a car crash or stab her.  He eventually opted for the latter, stabbing baby Yazmina in the chest and stomach, and leaving her in the woods to die.  Not before running to Facebook to update his status, though.  After killing her, he texted D'Argent saying, "it's ova, I did it."  Ramazan, who was banned from seeing his daughter due to drug problems and history of violence also told Rachelle, "How does it feel to not have your child when I did not have mine for three months? I loved you Rachelle and look what you've made me do."


He's scheduled to face their Supreme Court later this month.


What kind of sick individual goes to Facebook to announce he's about to kill somebody?  Maybe someone who's going to commit suicide afterwards.  When asked about killing himself, he simply replied, "I didn't have the balls".

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TWIN BROTHERS LIVE IN HOUSE WITH DECEASED, DECOMPOSING MOTHER FOR MONTHS BEFORE POLICE DISCOVER BODY

Police in Houston conducted a welfare check at a house on Glennscott Dr. near Hinman when a woman called and told them that her neighbor, Sybile Berndt hadn't been seen in a while. When her son, Edwin Berndt, answered the door, he told the cop that everyone was fine and there was no need for her to be there. The report said the officer would not leave, and insisted she had to see mother Berndt. She went in and found the body of the 89-year-old, lying face-down on the floor without underwear. Detectives said the body had been there for months, decomposing with insects crawling through it.

The detectives also said the house was in a "deplorable condition and smelled terribly", as 48-year-old Edward Larry and Edwin Christian Berndt were taken into custody and charged with murder. In an interview, they told the cops that they were her caregivers and that she had taken a fall on Jan 10. They never gave her any food or water during the time she was alive. They also never called for help and she died a few days later. They told the police they didn't call them because they didn't want to go to jail. While searching the house, investigators found bank statements totaling around $700,000, but the brothers said they didn't have enough money to get her medical treatment or bury her.

I just thought they were these weird twin killers before I heard about this discussion on Facebook about them.  Apparently, someone got upset at the people who were saying bad things. The commenter fervently told everyone that they were her neighbors, and the Berndt twins have a mental disability. That's why they were at home with their mother.

This changes everything for me. Now it makes sense that they said they didn't have money to get her any care or pay for a funeral, when there was $700,000 at their disposal. It makes sense that they didn't give her any food or water, leaving her to die. That's why they sat in there with her, decomposing with the insects. The brothers have since been ordered to undergo psychiatric exams.

Based on this information, do you think they should be charged with murder?

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TEACHER MAKES FUN OF STUDENT'S JOLLY RANCHER HAIRDO ON FACEBOOK, LAWSUIT PENDING

Recently at Overton Elementary School in Chicago, a student showed up for picture day with a hairstyle good enough to eat: braids with Jolly Ranchers tied to the ends. Ukailya Lofton saw the 'do in a magazine and begged her mother to replicate it so she could take pictures for all to see. Her computer teacher took a cellphone picture of the seven-year-old and put it on her Facebook page - for all to see. "My boyfriend is not going to believe this", she said before she took the shot. Later that evening, she posted the pic to Facebook with the caption, "Right! This was for picture day".

A parent (whose child is on the teacher's Facebook friend's list because apparently seven-year-olds have Facebook pages these days) spotted the post and told Ukailya's mother, Lucinda Williams that people were making fun of her daughter on the internet. Here's the video:



Weighing all the information given in this situation, and trying not to factor in how inarticulate Lucinda Williams is, I came up with the following: There shouldn't be a lawsuit. People are looking for that one opportunity to get rich, and this shouldn't be one. What's the difference between Ms. Williams' friends telling her the hairstyle looks stupid and strangers on Facebook saying it? Not saying that anyone she knows said that but it's the same First-Amendment right, right? We do still have rights in this country. If we're going to act like we don't, we might as well let the government do away with 'em.

Personally, I think Ms. Williams' feelings were hurt. She's a hairdresser. A hairdresser is an artist, and artists are sensitive about their sh*t. I get that. I also get that not only did the teacher apologize, she deleted the Facebook page in question. Not to mention, the teacher never showed Ukailya's face. She made sure the braids concealed her, and she didn't name her.

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SWIPER NO SWIPING: CZECH PRESIDENT VACLAV KLAUS STEALS PEN DURING VISIT IN CHILE

For as long as I can remember, I've always loved to write. (And) thanks to my Dad's Guantanamo Bay-style techniques used to hone my penmanship, I'm a regular John Hancock. As I got a little older, I realized that the type of pen you use affects how well you write. So I started collecting pens. I'd buy a pen every chance I got. (And) I didn't buy those packs of Bic pens that you probably kept in your Trapper Keeper either, I mean real pens. 

Over the years it seemed that no matter how many pens I bought, the ones that I absolutely loved were the ones I stole.  They just seemed to write better.  Even the erasermates. That's why I love the job the Czech President pulled in Chile. At a meeting with Chilean leader Sebastian Piñera on live TV, Czech Republic president Vaclav Klaus is caught stealing red-handed. An ink pen, laced with semi-precious stones was the target.

Vaclav Klaus, a conservative who has attracted international news coverage more often in recent years as a result of his combative views, is shown in the following clip opening a box containing the pen at the start of a press conference alongside Sebastián Piñera. As Piñera addresses journalists and gives Klaus an enthusiastic welcome, the Czech president takes the pen out, examines it carefully, moves his hands under the table, shuffles with his jacket, then buttons it up with both hands and finally lets his empty hands emerge above the table again to close the case. Czech television initially broadcast the video on Sunday, the same day as the appearance, before a copy later showed up on YouTube with the headline "President of Czech Republic steals pen", complete with the addition of a crime scene soundtrack and red circles and arrows highlighting various points in Klaus's maneuver. Versions of the clip have been viewed over a million times.

A spokesman for Klaus said that it was "a common pen with a logo of the state or office, which presidents and members of their delegation receive during state visits". The pens are encrusted with Chilean lapis lazuli stones, which are prized for their intense blue color, but a spokeswoman for Piñera said the Chilean president's guests were free to take them. "All I have to say is, it is not a pen but just a stylus," Klaus himself said on Tuesday, adding that he takes things all the time. He said he had a pen from a NATO summit in October and a notepad from the Latvian parliament. "It is what people do regularly. They keep notepads and pens from such events," he said.

But back in the Czech Republic, the clip has inspired a Facebook campaign in which the public is being asked to contribute to a special collection for him. Participants are asked to send pens to Klaus's office on May 2 "as the president obviously has nothing to write with", according to the Facebook group. -source

Here's the video:

Classic! Technically, it was his but damn.  He had that smirk on his face like he just fondled someone's wife under the table at a social dinner.  He looked like one of those ghetto chicks who slips chicken in her purse at a buffet.  He must really be a klepto because he didn't wait until like, after the meeting or anything. He had to have it right then. Oh, and good one, Prez for saying that you take stuff all the time. (And) that pen from NATO?  Expect your country to get carpet-bombed because...that's what NATO does. 

Maybe if they ran a security Czech, they would have found it on him.

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IF FACEBOOK HAS A REAL NAME POLICY, THEN IT'S GOT TO BE RACE-BASED

Although Facebook enables people to network and keep in contact with friends and loved ones, it also enables people to be whatever entity they chose. You can roleplay with the people on your contact list by portraying yourself as the "I'm always sad" person, the "I'm a thirsty chick" person, even the "everything makes me angry" person. In addition to that, I've always known Facebook to let you be whatever name you choose (with a few restrictions). Quickweave Shorty Davis, Jerome Godsgifttowomen Smith and Kesha Checkinghoesbecausewhoelseisgonnadoit Brown are just a few names I've seen, and with all the fake names I see across the site, I never knew Facebook had a real name policy.

Facebook pulled the page of Chinese dissident blogger and journalist Zhao Jing because he posted under an alias, Michael Anti, violating the site’s rules. But he thinks this violates his right to express himself on the site.

Facebook company officials told him he must use the name listed on his government ID, as part of the company’s policy that no pseudonyms are permitted on the popular social networking site. However, Jing claims that he is well known as Michael Anti, and that in denying him access to his profile, Facebook is also denying him access to nearly a thousand Chinese academics, professionals and friends who rely on his online commentary. source

Really? The name Michael Anti violates a name policy? All these unrealistic names flying around and this guy's name raises flags?  It makes me wonder if governments have a hand in how their citizens use Facebook.  There's just no way Khary Ilikemidgetporn Andimproudofit can slip past FB admin and his didn't.  Besides, I know people who have accounts for their cats, and Zuckerberg has one for his dog.  Mrchap X Perience isn't my real name, and I know at least two people with accounts for their deceased loved ones. C'mon Zuckerberg, have some sympathy for the guy. I figured you would since your girlfriend is Chinese. Just sayin'.

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5 PEOPLE YOU SHOULD AVOID ON FACEBOOK

~by Author Tammy L. Bradley

[editor's note] Tammy is one of several talented writers that have written a piece for the Insane Asylum Blog.  She is the author of two books currently on sale everywhere books are sold.  Click on her name or Google to check her out. [editor's note]

#1 The App Addict


With seemingly millions of apps on Facebook , this person not only wants them all for themselves, but feels the need to recommend them to you every time they find a new one.   The Application Addict  usually doubles as Cell Phone Message Forwarder and is a descendant of the Email Forwarder.  And like the Email Forwarder they are completely clueless to the fact that you have no interest in the cutesy nonsense they send you.  How many times have you seen this:  

Ashley has sent you an Elementary School Wedgies request.  Do you accept?


#2 The Friend Bandit

This person has not found the level of fame they crave in the "real world" and is determined to satisfy their thirst for stardom over the web.  The Friend Bandit is the original Facebook harlot.  You've taken lots of time to cultivate and weed out your list of personal acquaintances, and this offender sees nothing sacred in that.  Once you add this person to your friend's list, they'll crawl through your profile and solicit friendships from each and every one of your childhood friends, classmates and exes.  The only thing that matters to this person is that number to the left of "friends" on their profile. It's strictly quantity over quality with this person.

How many times have you seen this:

Anonymous guy with 1 friend in common just sent you a friend request. Wanna risk it?


#3 The Advice Addict

This person is completely uncomfortable with making decisions on their own.  Regardless of the reason, they're always seeking counsel for the most trivial situations.  They may try to make it seem like they're just trying to make their little corner of Facebook interactive, but I can see right through it.  It's a wonder how they managed to stumble onto the internet in the first place.   Even Chappy is guilty of asking in a status if he should order the Kobe beef or catfish.  Seriously?  Couldn't figure that one out, huh?  How was your catfish? :/ 


How many times have you seen this:

Do you think it will be okay to have two starches with my dinner?


#4 The Sympathy Seeker

This is the person that always needs a hug.  Nothing ever goes right for the Sympathy Seeker and if it ever does, you'll never hear about it.  This person posts pity statuses that prompts all of their friends to baby them.  This attention harlot  usually isn't as down and out as they pretend to be in person, but has learned that he/she can get special privileges and better treatment by appealing to people's pity.  This friend will cry and moan until it brings you down and has you looking at the world through their sad eyes.
How many times have you seen this:

I'll never find true love.


#5 The Angry Updater

These people get a kick out of drama.  They like to incite e-riots mainly because it's not real life.  More than likely they've had to commit internet suicide on other sites, only to come right back and  beef with new people.   They hate everything and everything makes them mad.  Whether it's the traffic, their job, their boss, co-workers or their neighbors, they stay vexed and we get a front row seat to vexfest.  


How many times have you seen this:


If you got something to say about me, don't just put it in a status.  Confront me like a real woman.  I guess you can't because you're too fat and your man wants me.


Staying away from these five deadly venoms will make your Facebook reality more palatable.




-Tammy L. Bradley

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BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH - CAN YOU LIVE WITHOUT FACEBOOK?

Facebook has taken over life as we know it, and even if you're not on Facebook, it’s all we hear about whenever we turn on the TV, radio, or browse the Internet.  Never has it ever been so cool to make public your information, your location, your thoughts, the names of all your friends and family, pictures of you and your friends and family, how you vote, how you worship, and whether or not you're gay.  


I don't have to tell you how addictive Facebook is, and everyone has their own level of addiction.  I'm at a level between being appalled when I don't have any notifications and saying often to myself, that would've been a nice status. Some people spend whole days on Facebook, updating their lives by the minute.  I don't like those people.  I especially don't like hearing about "phantom poop", and how amazing it was to look in the toilet and nothing was there.  Followed by the query, "was it Divine Intervention or Poop Fairy?"   


There's a rumor circulating the 'net about Facebook shutting down on March 15.   The story, which originated from the Weekly World News website, says that Matt Zuckerberg is shutting it down because Facebook has "gotten out of control" and "the stress of managing this company has ruined my life". The story also quotes Avrat Humarthi, Vice President of Technical Affairs at Facebook as saying "if you ever want to see your pictures again, I recommend you take them off the internet.  You won’t be able to get them back once Facebook goes out of business.”

So I ask, can you picture life without Facebook?  I can, but one person I polled on the question felt a little different.  She said that Facebook is her excuse to do nothing around the house.  She would be expected to cook and clean with the extra time.  

I'm not sure how valid the claim is, but we may have to acknowledge the possibility that Facebook won't be around forever.  Although my fellow Yahoo 360 refugees and I have healed, it won't be as easy to overcome a Facebook loss.

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MAN ARRESTED FOR POSTING NUDE PICS ON EX-WIFE'S FACEBOOK ACCOUNT

This is classic.  Sometimes I wish I'd thought of something like this when I needed it, but then again I'm glad I didn't because they got a hold to this guy pretty fast.  It's always better to sit back and watch guys like Donald Childress go out in a blaze of glory. He was arrested for suspicion of felony computer trespassing and stalking after he allegedly hacked his ex-wife's Facebook account, changed her password and posted nude pics of her to her profile, where everyone could see.

According to his ex-wife, he's been harassing her via threatening texts, and calling her job and telling everyone that she's on drugs.  She also believes he's been tracking her by GPS, since he's been popping up everywhere she's been.

Ol' Donnie boy was already about to start a four-month jail sentence for selling 50 Oxycontin pills to an informant for $2000.  He also was being held on suspicion of first-degree theft for allegedly stealing up to $14,000 from his former employers at the Nisqually Rez Mart. 

Yeah...I would say he was going out in a blaze of glory because he knew he was going down for a while.

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