WEIRD NEWS
John Lennon Album Set to Bring $1.5 Million
It's one of the most disturbing artifacts in rock 'n' roll history - and it can be yours for just $1.5 million. Autograph and document dealer Moments in Time has announced the sale of the copy of John Lennon's Double Fantasy album that Lennon signed for Mark David Chapman just hours before Chapman murdered him. Following the infamous shooting outside the Dakota building in New York City on Dec. 8, 1980, a Dakota superintendent found Chapman's copy of the album in a flower container outside the building. The record was used as evidence against Chapman and then returned to the superintendent by the district attorney after it was no longer needed. Per Moments in Time, the man "wrestled for 19 years before coming to the decision to sell the album," which he finally did in 1999, for $150,000. The album was sold a second time in 2010 for $850,000. The album cover features Lennon's signature, Chapman's forensically enhanced fingerprints, and a police evidence marker. A spokesman for Moments in Time who's also an agent for the seller says, "I have never come across a piece with such provenance; police reports, fingerprint documentation, letters from the District Attorney, it goes on and on." Chapman is serving 20 years to life for second-degree murder and has been denied parole nine times. He tried to reclaim the album himself to auction it for a children's charity, writing in a 1986 letter it would be the least he could do. (FOX News)
When You Use an Extension Cord for the Bathtub
By now you've probably heard the tragic story of 14-year-old Madison Coe - the teen who was electrocuted in her bathtub while using her cell phone. Her parents have now released a picture of the terrible mistake that killed her. Madison sent a picture to her friend with the caption: "When you use and (sic) extension cord so you can plug your phone in while you're in the bath." The picture shows the brown extension cord connection sitting on top of a bath towel. But despite the precautions, Madison was apparently unaware that there was fraying on part of the cord. Officials say she was killed after touching a frayed section while she was in the water. Investigators believe her phone was never immersed in the water. Family members released her final message and the picture to help raise awareness of the danger. Her father, firefighter and EMT Logan Coe, says that Madison often took her phone into the bathroom to listen to music while she was in the tub. He said, "Whenever I talked to Madison about it, she said, 'Dad, it's outside the tub.'" (NBC)
Woman Calls 911 for Help - Gets Shot By Police
In Minneapolis, 40-year-old Justine Damond was due to be married next month - but that won't happen - because she called the police. Damond was shot to death by an officer after she called 911 to report a noise in the alley near her house. In a release, the department said that the responding officers' body cameras were not turned on and that the shooting is under investigation. The Minneapolis Star Tribune quotes three sources who say that Damond came out of the house in her pajamas when a police car arrived about 11:30pm Saturday and approached the driver's side. She was speaking to the officer in the driver's seat when the officer in the passenger seat opened fire and shot her through the door. It's unclear whether it was accidental. Damond, a native of Australia, was a yoga instructor and meditation teacher, per her website. Her name was actually Justine Ruszczyk, but she had already begun using the name Damond. She was engaged to Don Damond, a 50-year-old businessman who was away on a business trip when the shooting took place. Mayor Betsy Hodges said she was "heartsick and deeply disturbed by the shooting," which was also making headlines in Australia, per that country's 9News. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
Ya Know - Maybe Just Stay Out of the Middle East Right Now
Over in Iran, 37-year-old Chinese-American Xiyue Wang, has been sentenced to 10 years behind bars for "infiltrating" the country. However, Princeton University has confirmed that Wang, a fourth-year doctoral student in its history department, was in Iran solely for the purpose of completing his doctoral dissertation. In a statement, the University wrote: "We were very distressed to learn that charges were brought against him in connection with his scholarly work, and to learn of the subsequent conviction and sentence." The Iranian judiciary spokesman did not elaborate on what specific charges led to the conviction (which he said could be appealed) or say when the verdict was handed down. The US State Department was not immediately able to provide any details on the case. "The Iranian regime continues to detain US citizens and other foreigners on fabricated national-security related changes," it said in a statement. In case you didn't know, the US does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Tehran and has warned Americans, particularly dual nationals, that they risk arrest or being barred from leaving Iran if they head over that way. (Guardian)
Elvis - 1, Brewery - 0
A Scottish brewer has lost its battle to name a bestselling beer Elvis Juice IPA. Attorneys for Elvis Presley Enterprises objected to the name and trademark. BrewDog launched the grapefruit infused IPA in 2015 and it quickly became a bestseller. Not long after, however, attorneys for the Presley estate sent them a copyright infringement notice. But BrewDog wasn't going to go down without a fight. In response, company co-founders James Watt and Martin Dickie legally changed their first names to "Elvis" in October 2016. At the time they said, "There isn't just one single person in the world called Elvis, so we added two more to make a point." Despite those efforts, hearing officer Oliver Morris ruled last week against the brewers, saying, "On the basis that Elvis is a relatively uncommon name, and given that Mr. Presley is the most famous of Elvises, I consider that most average consumers, on seeing the name Elvis alone, are likely to conceptualize that on the basis of Elvis Presley." In addition to losing the name of one of its most popular products, BrewDog must also pay the Presley estate $1,934 in court costs. (Daily Record)
Senator Caitlyn Jenner?
From Bruce Jenner to Caitlyn Jenner to ... Senator Jenner? It could happen. In a radio interview in New York, the transgender activist said she's considering a run for the Senate in California. The former Olympian is a lifelong Republican and supporter of President Trump, which won't make it easy for her in blue California. But she also has publicly disagreed with Trump over transgender policy. During the interview she that she likes politics but is debating whether she can be more productive as an insider or an outsider, noting, "I gotta find out where I can do a better job." The next Senate election in the state is 2018, when Democrat Dianne Feinstein's seat will be up for grabs. Feinstein, 84, has not said whether she'll seek re-election, and no big-name Republican has stepped up so far. (Hill)
What the What?
Meanwhile, in St. Louis, Bruce Redding has lived in the same house for the last 25 years - the same house his mom lived in before that. All was well until an SUV came crashing into the house - through the roof!! The St. Louis Fire Department responded to the unusual call and used their ladder trucks to rescue the driver of the SUV, who drove up onto the homeowner's lawn before launching onto his roof. He is in critical condition. Deputy Chief of Special Operations Michael Arras said, "He had to be traveling pretty fast to launch himself up there." Fortunately, Mr. Redding was nowhere near the scene of the crash. He was at the gym when he got a call from his neighbor. (KSDK)
It's one of the most disturbing artifacts in rock 'n' roll history - and it can be yours for just $1.5 million. Autograph and document dealer Moments in Time has announced the sale of the copy of John Lennon's Double Fantasy album that Lennon signed for Mark David Chapman just hours before Chapman murdered him. Following the infamous shooting outside the Dakota building in New York City on Dec. 8, 1980, a Dakota superintendent found Chapman's copy of the album in a flower container outside the building. The record was used as evidence against Chapman and then returned to the superintendent by the district attorney after it was no longer needed. Per Moments in Time, the man "wrestled for 19 years before coming to the decision to sell the album," which he finally did in 1999, for $150,000. The album was sold a second time in 2010 for $850,000. The album cover features Lennon's signature, Chapman's forensically enhanced fingerprints, and a police evidence marker. A spokesman for Moments in Time who's also an agent for the seller says, "I have never come across a piece with such provenance; police reports, fingerprint documentation, letters from the District Attorney, it goes on and on." Chapman is serving 20 years to life for second-degree murder and has been denied parole nine times. He tried to reclaim the album himself to auction it for a children's charity, writing in a 1986 letter it would be the least he could do. (FOX News)
When You Use an Extension Cord for the Bathtub
By now you've probably heard the tragic story of 14-year-old Madison Coe - the teen who was electrocuted in her bathtub while using her cell phone. Her parents have now released a picture of the terrible mistake that killed her. Madison sent a picture to her friend with the caption: "When you use and (sic) extension cord so you can plug your phone in while you're in the bath." The picture shows the brown extension cord connection sitting on top of a bath towel. But despite the precautions, Madison was apparently unaware that there was fraying on part of the cord. Officials say she was killed after touching a frayed section while she was in the water. Investigators believe her phone was never immersed in the water. Family members released her final message and the picture to help raise awareness of the danger. Her father, firefighter and EMT Logan Coe, says that Madison often took her phone into the bathroom to listen to music while she was in the tub. He said, "Whenever I talked to Madison about it, she said, 'Dad, it's outside the tub.'" (NBC)
Woman Calls 911 for Help - Gets Shot By Police
In Minneapolis, 40-year-old Justine Damond was due to be married next month - but that won't happen - because she called the police. Damond was shot to death by an officer after she called 911 to report a noise in the alley near her house. In a release, the department said that the responding officers' body cameras were not turned on and that the shooting is under investigation. The Minneapolis Star Tribune quotes three sources who say that Damond came out of the house in her pajamas when a police car arrived about 11:30pm Saturday and approached the driver's side. She was speaking to the officer in the driver's seat when the officer in the passenger seat opened fire and shot her through the door. It's unclear whether it was accidental. Damond, a native of Australia, was a yoga instructor and meditation teacher, per her website. Her name was actually Justine Ruszczyk, but she had already begun using the name Damond. She was engaged to Don Damond, a 50-year-old businessman who was away on a business trip when the shooting took place. Mayor Betsy Hodges said she was "heartsick and deeply disturbed by the shooting," which was also making headlines in Australia, per that country's 9News. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
Ya Know - Maybe Just Stay Out of the Middle East Right Now
Over in Iran, 37-year-old Chinese-American Xiyue Wang, has been sentenced to 10 years behind bars for "infiltrating" the country. However, Princeton University has confirmed that Wang, a fourth-year doctoral student in its history department, was in Iran solely for the purpose of completing his doctoral dissertation. In a statement, the University wrote: "We were very distressed to learn that charges were brought against him in connection with his scholarly work, and to learn of the subsequent conviction and sentence." The Iranian judiciary spokesman did not elaborate on what specific charges led to the conviction (which he said could be appealed) or say when the verdict was handed down. The US State Department was not immediately able to provide any details on the case. "The Iranian regime continues to detain US citizens and other foreigners on fabricated national-security related changes," it said in a statement. In case you didn't know, the US does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Tehran and has warned Americans, particularly dual nationals, that they risk arrest or being barred from leaving Iran if they head over that way. (Guardian)
Elvis - 1, Brewery - 0
A Scottish brewer has lost its battle to name a bestselling beer Elvis Juice IPA. Attorneys for Elvis Presley Enterprises objected to the name and trademark. BrewDog launched the grapefruit infused IPA in 2015 and it quickly became a bestseller. Not long after, however, attorneys for the Presley estate sent them a copyright infringement notice. But BrewDog wasn't going to go down without a fight. In response, company co-founders James Watt and Martin Dickie legally changed their first names to "Elvis" in October 2016. At the time they said, "There isn't just one single person in the world called Elvis, so we added two more to make a point." Despite those efforts, hearing officer Oliver Morris ruled last week against the brewers, saying, "On the basis that Elvis is a relatively uncommon name, and given that Mr. Presley is the most famous of Elvises, I consider that most average consumers, on seeing the name Elvis alone, are likely to conceptualize that on the basis of Elvis Presley." In addition to losing the name of one of its most popular products, BrewDog must also pay the Presley estate $1,934 in court costs. (Daily Record)
Senator Caitlyn Jenner?
From Bruce Jenner to Caitlyn Jenner to ... Senator Jenner? It could happen. In a radio interview in New York, the transgender activist said she's considering a run for the Senate in California. The former Olympian is a lifelong Republican and supporter of President Trump, which won't make it easy for her in blue California. But she also has publicly disagreed with Trump over transgender policy. During the interview she that she likes politics but is debating whether she can be more productive as an insider or an outsider, noting, "I gotta find out where I can do a better job." The next Senate election in the state is 2018, when Democrat Dianne Feinstein's seat will be up for grabs. Feinstein, 84, has not said whether she'll seek re-election, and no big-name Republican has stepped up so far. (Hill)
What the What?
Meanwhile, in St. Louis, Bruce Redding has lived in the same house for the last 25 years - the same house his mom lived in before that. All was well until an SUV came crashing into the house - through the roof!! The St. Louis Fire Department responded to the unusual call and used their ladder trucks to rescue the driver of the SUV, who drove up onto the homeowner's lawn before launching onto his roof. He is in critical condition. Deputy Chief of Special Operations Michael Arras said, "He had to be traveling pretty fast to launch himself up there." Fortunately, Mr. Redding was nowhere near the scene of the crash. He was at the gym when he got a call from his neighbor. (KSDK)
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