Lance Armstrong, capturing a stage of the Tour de France in 2004.Credit...Patrick Kovarik/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images - If you are a great fan of a sporting hero it is very damaging and upsetting to find out that the person you adore is a cheat..In the case of Lance Armstrong a cycling prodigy who later in his elusive career was found out to be a cheat..
Lance Armstrong: From Hero to Zero - The True Story
Armstrong became the subject of doping allegations after he won the 1999 Tour de France. For years, he denied involvement in doping. In 2012, a United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) investigation concluded that Armstrong had used performance-enhancing drugs over the course of his career and named him as the ringleader of "the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen". While maintaining his innocence, Armstrong chose not to contest the charges, citing the potential toll on his family. He received a lifetime ban from all sports that follow the World Anti-Doping Code, ending his competitive cycling career. The International Cycling Union (UCI) upheld USADA's decision and decided that his stripped wins would not be allocated to other riders. In January 2013, Armstrong publicly admitted his involvement in doping. In April 2018, Armstrong settled a civil lawsuit with the United States Department of Justice and agreed to pay US$5 million to the U.S. government after whistleblower proceedings were commenced by Floyd Landis, a former team member.
Lance Armstrong: From Hero to Zero - The True Story
Lance Armstrong's Comeback From Cancer │ Short Documentary
Lance Armstrong's Comeback From Cancer.
Armstrong was thrust into the international spotlight and helped increase the popularity of cycling globally. He won the Tour de France seven times in a row before retiring at the age of 33. Armstrong came back years later -- though not at the same level of dominance -- and raced in a handful of big races before retiring again.
Despite all his success and glory, Armstrong's career was not without controversy. From the beginning of his dominance in the cycling world, he was constantly accused of taking performance-enhancing drugs -- accusations he vehemently denied. Eventually, however, the truth caught up to him. In 2012, Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France victories following a report by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, and in 2013, he admitted publicly that he doped during each of his Tour de France wins.
The ‘Hand of God’
Diego Maradona’s goal six minutes into the second half of the 1986 World Cup quarter-final between England and Argentina is one of the most infamous moments in sporting history. Maradona punched the ball into the goal with his left hand, but the officials failed to spot the infringement.
Argentina won the game 2-1, leaving Maradona to claim afterwards that the goal was scored ‘un poco con la cabeza de Maradona y otro poco con la mano de Dios’ – a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God.
England goalkeeper Peter Shilton continued to harbour a bitter grudge for years after the incident. He even blasted Maradona for a lack of sportsmanship during an interview about the Argentinian’s death in 2020. The referee and linesman did not see Maradona cheat with his hand so allows the goal..
Maradona 'Hand of God' Goal World Cup 1986 Explained
Diego Maradona on the greatest goal ever.mp4
Diego Maradona on the greatest goal ever.mp4
Maradona 'Hand of God' Goal World Cup 1986 Explained
Maradona later said he considered the goal to be "symbolic revenge" for the United Kingdom's victory over Argentina in the Falklands War four years earlier.
"I never spoke of forgiveness. I said only that the story could not be changed, that I do not have to apologize to anyone, because it was a football game in which there were 100,000 people in the Azteca stadium, twenty-two players, that there were two linesmen, that there was one referee, that Shilton (the goalkeeper) speaks up now and he hadn't noticed, the defenders had to tell him. So the story is already written, nothing can change it. And that was what I said. I never apologized to anyone. Besides, I don't have to apologize by making a statement to England. For what? To please whom? What pisses me off the most is that they repeat this in Argentina and talk to people who know me. They talk about contradictions. At forty-seven I think that apologizing to the English is stupid."
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Six minutes into the second half of the game, Maradona took the ball out of the box with his left leg and passed it to teammate Jorge Valdano. Valdano tried to take on several English defenders, but the ball was intercepted and thrown back and forth and kicked towards England's goal by English midfielder Steve Hodge.
Because of the position of the players, Maradona would have been caught offside, but as the ball came off an opponent, there was no offside offence. Alone inside the penalty box and with the ball dropping down, Maradona contested the ball with goalkeeper Peter Shilton, who stood 20 centimetres (8 inches) taller than Maradona. Shilton jumped forward with his right hand, while Maradona did so with his left arm outstretched. Maradona's fist, which was raised close to his head, touched the ball first and hit the ball into England's goal. Maradona began to celebrate while glancing sideways at the referee and the linesman for confirmation. He then fully celebrated the goal when it was given. Tunisian referee Ali Bennaceur gave the goal, but after the English players' protests he sought the advice of his second linesman who confirmed the goal. Mexican photographer Alejandro Ojeda Carbajal immortalized this moment in a photograph in which Maradona can be seen hitting the ball with his hand.
The controversial ex-player was pictured handing Ali Bennaceur a signed Argentina jersey with the words "For Ali, my eternal friend", at a meeting in Tunis.
In return Bennaceur handed Maradona – the player who broke English fans' hearts in 1986 – a framed photo of himself, Maradona and Peter Shilton, who captained England, before the match kicked-off.
Bennaceur admitted that he doubted the validity of Maradona's infamous 'Hand of God' goal, but said the football legend's second strike in the game was a "masterpiece". In the 51st minute of a politically-charged, last-eight clash in Mexico, four years after the Falklands War, Maradona outjumped England goalkeeper Peter Shilton and punched the ball into the net to give his country the lead. "I didn't see the hand, but I had a doubt," Bennaceur, the first Tunisian to referee a World Cup quarter-final, told AFP. "You can see the pictures - I stepped back to take the advice of my assistant, Bulgarian (Bogdan) Dochev, and when he said it was good, I gave the goal." The 76-year-old said he believed he was a go-to man for FIFA in tough matches, and that world football's governing body gave him a high rating for his performance in the game. "I had already refereed a match between the USSR and China in 1985, I was the man of difficult missions for FIFA," Bennaceur added. "FIFA gave me a 9.4 on this game, I did what I had to do, but there was confusion - Dochev later indicated that he had seen two arms, and he didn't know if it was Shilton's or Maradona's."
'It left a bitter taste': Peter Shilton on Maradona's 'Hand of God'
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Argentina captain Diego Maradona (l) shakes hands with England captain Peter Shilton (r) as referee ... [+]
PA IMAGES VIA GETTY IMAGES
'It left a bitter taste': Peter Shilton on Maradona's 'Hand of God'
Shilton: I can't forgive Maradona for Hand of God
Shilton: I can't forgive Maradona for Hand of God
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Theranos Inc. was an American privately held corporation that was touted as a breakthrough health technology company. Founded in 2003 by then 19-year-old Elizabeth Holmes, Theranos raised more than US$700 million from venture capitalists and private investors, resulting in a $10 billion valuation at its peak in 2013 and 2014. The company claimed that it had devised blood tests that required very small amounts of blood and that could be performed rapidly and accurately, all using compact automated devices which the company had developed. These claims were later proven to be false..
A turning point came in 2015, when medical research professor John Ioannidis, and later professor of clinical biochemistry Eleftherios Diamandis, along with investigative journalist John Carreyrou of The Wall Street Journal, questioned the validity of Theranos's technology. The company faced a string of legal and commercial challenges from medical authorities, investors, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), state attorneys general, former business partners, patients and others. By June 2016, Forbes estimated that Holmes's personal net worth had dropped from $4.5 billion to "nothing". After several years of struggle, lawsuits, and sanctions from CMS, what remained of the company was dissolved on September 4, 2018.
Medical research professor John Ioannidis. Professor Ioannidis had his doubts about Theranos and it's medical technology..
Professor of clinical biochemistry Eleftherios Diamandis - Professor Diamandis was also dubious about the claims..
John Carreyrou, Described the 5-Hour Meeting With Theranos and the Threatening Letters That Came Next..
Sunny Balwani with Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes
The Theranos team met with John Carreyrou at the Wall Street Journal for five hours, “Their demeanor was very aggressive,” Carreyrou explained. “They proceeded to tell me that I had misappropriated Theranos trade secrets and that I needed to destroy them or return them immediately.” Carreyrou informed the Theranos legal team that the Journal would not destroy the information, so the lawyers continued their aggressive attack. In 2015, Theranos Wellness centers were in 41 Walgreens stores testing actual patients’ blood. “We went around in circles for five hours,” the journalist explained. “All that they would concede to is that they did own some commercial machines, and they claimed to use them only for comparison purposes internally, essentially for research. They wouldn’t comment on whether they used them to test patient samples. It was frustrating, but the stonewalling was also a sign that I was on the right track.”
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Theranos, Holmes and former company president Sunny Balwani were charged with fraud by the SEC in 2018. Holmes and Balwani were also charged with wire fraud and conspiracy, with Holmes being found guilty on four counts in January 2022 and sentenced that November to 11 years and 3 months in prison. Balwani was convicted on all 12 counts brought against him in July 2022, and in December 2022 was sentenced to 12 years and 11 months in prison and 3 years of probation.
Youngest self-made female billionaire takes high-tech approach to blood testing
Youngest self-made female billionaire takes high-tech approach to blood testing.
While at Stanford University, Elizabeth Holmes had an idea to develop a wearable patch that could adjust the dosage of drug delivery and notify doctors of variables in patients' blood. She started developing lab-on-a-chip technology for blood tests, with the idea to start a company that would make blood tests cheaper, more convenient and accessible to consumers. Holmes dropped out of Stanford in 2003 and used the education trust from her parents to found the company that would later be called Theranos, derived from a combination of the words "therapy" and "diagnosis". The company's original name was "Real-Time Cures", which Holmes changed after deciding that too many people were skeptical of the word "cure"
Elizabeth Holmes takes Sanjay Gupta inside Theranos (2016)
At its peak in 2015, Theranos had over 800 employees working for the company, Now the public know Theranos was fake, and so what were these 800 workers doing?
Elizabeth Holmes takes Sanjay Gupta inside Theranos (2016)
At the other end of the spectrum, there was an ex-Theranos recruiting coordinator who viewed their time at Theranos as a positive: “Theranos was the perfect tie in between my career in recruitment and my love of biological sciences. I loved coming to work everyday, ‘doing the best work of my life,’ and knowing that I was making a real difference. Working at a fast past [sic] biotech startup such as Theranos also really evolved my skills in the recruitment world.”
Micah Nies, a former Theranos employee, with his twin sons.
Micah Nies
Micah Nies was a former employee of Theranos, he say's “The fear is real,” Nies said. “Even several years later. The atmosphere was so toxic you would hear the stories of people being disappeared. There was always this fear of retribution and afterward you carry it with you.” Nies was hired at Theranos in March 2015 for $185,000 a year to be the senior manager of customer service and call center operations at the company’s headquarters in Palo Alto, Calif., according to an acceptance letter he shared with CNBC. Theranos recruited him at age 41 from another healthcare company in San Diego. He reported directly to Balwani, who he called “the king manipulator.” His job was to solve problems but he said he soon realized the real problem was Theranos itself. “There was always something fishy or peculiar going on,” Nies said. “It was very clear they were trying to hide something. Every morning I woke up and wondered what they were going to spin today, while I was trying to find my exit strategy.”
Elizabeth Holmes, founder of Theranos Inc., left, arrives at federal court in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021.
Maybe in the future a technology will become available that does perform similar to Theranos claims.. I particularly dislike giving blood and a pin prick to my finger would be considerably better in my view.. DNA can be discovered from a small speck of blood..
Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes: Firing Back At Doubters | Mad Money | CNBC
Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes: Firing Back At Doubters
When it comes to serious illness there are some brave people out there who simply ignore there doctor and continue to fight until the end.. Many people have been diagnosed with terminal illness and have been given 6 months to live or less, but some people disagree with there doctor and are still alive many years later..A will to live is always better than a will to die a slow and painful death..People need to learn to live with pain and not take the easy way out, Euthansia is not something I agree with, Sometimes God wants us to experience pain.
Cancer Sufferer Peter Hedgemont.
Guy dies on live TV after refusing to believe he has cancer
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Guy dies on live TV after refusing to believe he has cancer
Mount Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano located in Kilimanjaro Region of Tanzania. It has three volcanic cones: Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. It is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest single free-standing mountain above sea level in the world: 5,895 m (19,341 ft) above sea level and about 4,900 m (16,100 ft) above its plateau base. It is the highest volcano in Africa and the Eastern Hemisphere. Kilimanjaro is the fourth most topographically prominent peak on Earth. It is part of Kilimanjaro National Park and is a major hiking and climbing destination. Because of its shrinking glaciers and ice fields, which are projected to disappear between 2025 and 2035, it has been the subject of many scientific studies. Peter planned to climb Mt Kilimanjaro..
Joasia Zakrzewski completed 2.5miles of the race in a car
A Scottish marathon runner has been thrown out of the 2023 GB Ultras race from Manchester to Liverpool having completed two-and-a-half miles by car with the matter referred to UK athletics. A top Scottish athlete has been disqualified from a 50-mile ultramarathon after allegedly riding in a car for a section of the gruelling race. GP Joasia Zakrzewski, 47, achieved a podium finish of third place in the 2023 GB Ultras at the start of this month but was subsequently thrown out of the competition after tracking showed she had travelled two-and-a-half miles of the race by car. Zakrzewski, who hails from Dumfries and was Scotland's marathon representative at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, was followed by GPX mapping data which, when analysed, showed she covered a mile of the race in just one minute and 40 seconds. Figures showed Zakrzewski hit a top speed of 35mph in the car, seven faster than the 28mph Usain Bolt achieved when he broke the 100m world record in 2009. Her bronze medal has since been awarded to NHS podiatrist Mel Sykes, who later launched a tirade against her "cheat" competitor on Twitter.
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Helicopter tours for Mt Everest.. Why climb when you can fly..
Peter Hedgemont also planned to run in a marathon for cancer study..
Mount Everest Overview 4K Helicopter Tour. 8000 meter peaks, Everest, Cho Oyu, Lhotse, Makalu.
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Mt Everest Overview 4K Helicopter Tour. 8000 meter peaks, Everest, Cho Oyu, Lhotse, Makalu.
A Flight to Mount Everest + World’s Most Dangerous Airport - Lukla
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A Flight to Mount Everest + World’s Most Dangerous Airport - Lukla
Quick facts:
As of July 2023, 327+ people have died on Everest. Over 200 bodies remain on the mountain and have not been removed due to the dangerous conditions. Sadly this has not deterred adventurous climbers to attempt the feat of reaching the peak of Mt Everest at a height of 29,029 feet [8,849 meters]. Everest summit averages around -37 degrees Celsius or -35 degrees Fahrenheit from December to January. The average temperatures can drop to -60 degrees Celsius or -76 degrees Fahrenheit in January. At the summit of Mount Everest at 8850 metres, there will be approximately 33% of the oxygen that is available at sea level. That's like climbing up stairs and only getting 1 out of every 3 breathes!. Some climbers use oxygen tanks while others prefer to go without for weight reasons and if they are trying to break a record for unassisted breathing.. Like the bottom of the ocean Mt Everest is unforgiving and many climbers have frozen to death or slipped from the mountain side. Staying at high altitudes can cause brain damage, The first acute stage is called, naturally enough, acute mountain sickness. It can cause headache, insomnia, dizziness, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. The next, more serious stage is high-altitude cerebral edema, also known as HACE, brain swelling that is potentially fatal. And dont break a leg or sprain your body as this could have serious consequences..
NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover used two different cameras to create this selfie in front of Mont Mercou, a rock outcrop that stands 20 feet (6 meters) tall.
On average, the temperature on Mars is about minus 80 degrees F (minus 60 degrees Celsius) according to NASA. In winter, near the poles, temperatures can get down to minus 195 degrees F (minus 125 degrees C). The top of Mt Everest can reach -60 Celsius which is similar to being on the surface of Mars..
This mosaic, taken by the Mars Curiosity rover, looks uphill at Mount Sharp.
Kathmandu: The five Mexican nationals killed in a helicopter crash in eastern Nepal near Mount Everest on Tuesday 11th July 2023 visited India before touring the Himalayan nation for sightseeing. The Manang Air helicopter 9N-AMV took off from Surke Airport in Solukhumbu district at 10:04 am for Kathmandu on Tuesday and suddenly lost contact at an altitude above 12,000 feet at 10:13 am. The helicopter crashed in the Lamjura area of Likhupike Rural Municipality in the remote mountainous Solukhumbu district.
The bodies of Ismael Sifuentes, Luz Gonzalez and their three adult children, Abril, Maria Jose and Fernando - all said to be in their 20s - were recovered near the town of Lukla. It's understood the family - from the Mexican state Nuevo Leon - wanted to see Everest from the air. But their chopper ride to the 29,028ft peak - the highest point on Earth - crashed at 11,500ft. Nepal's Civil Aviation Authority said contact with the Manang Air flight was lost just eight minutes after takeoff. Search teams in the skies and on the ground frantically combed the area for the stricken aircraft, and discovered the wreckage. The body of Nepalese guide and pilot Chet Gurung was also recovered at the crash site north of Kathmandu.
Two search and rescue helicopters were sent to the crash site but were unable to land due to poor weather. Tiwari said: "The teams on the ground brought the bodies to the helicopters which were able to land close by." Lhakpa Sherpa - who took part in the search - said the scene was "very scary". He said the helicopter had apparently hit a tree before smashing into the ground. The Mexican Embassy is understood to be coordinating the repatriation of the victims' bodies to Mexico. Tourist flights to the mountains are less common this time of year as visibility is poor and weather conditions become unpredictable.
MANANG-AIR-27
Nepal has had a fraught record of aviation accidents, partly due to its sudden weather changes and airstrips located in hard-to-access rocky terrains. According to the record of CAAN, 35 fatal helicopter crashes have occurred in Nepal. In 2023 alone, four helicopter crashes were reported in the country In early May, a Simrik Air helicopter crashed in Sankhuwasabha district resulting in the tragic death of one passenger, while four others sustained injuries. Likewise, Heli Everest and Air Dynasty helicopters crashed this year, but there was no casualty. Founded in 1997, Manang Air is a helicopter airline based in Kathmandu. It has been operating helicopters in commercial air transportation within the Nepalese territory under the Regulation of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.
This guy is just so cool and mixes the best Drum n Bass about..Dom Whiting, from High Wycombe, said he had been frustrated at not being able to help stage parties with the events company Audio Venom for so many months and thus took matters into his own hands to provide an outdoor forum for people to gather and listen to music. The covid pandemic cancelled the party for so long..
Dj Dom Whiting shows how it should be done on his bike..
Drum & Bass On The Bike - LONDON
Drum & Bass On The Bike - LONDON
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“I wanted to bring people together and enjoy a bit of music, because we’ve been away from each other for a long time. We hadn’t had live music for so long, it’s nice for people to be able to come out and experience it,” Whiting said. “It’s not exactly a club atmosphere, it’s completely different, which actually makes it unique and special. It’s a nice feeling, people appreciate you coming to their city.” almost a million people watched his drum’n’bass journey through London. “I didn’t actually realise that amount of people were going to come,” he said of his jaunt on the south coast, for which he wore a “Surveillance State” jersey. “I was so surprised when I looked behind and saw so many people following. I’m very humbled to have people come out and appreciate what I do.”
*CYCLING RAVE WITH A PARROT* Drum & Bass On The Bike - BRIGHTON
*CYCLING RAVE WITH A PARROT* Drum & Bass On The Bike - BRIGHTON
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Wheres the HORN - NAA NAA
On the more than 2.2 million views he has amassed on his YouTube channel, he said: “It makes no difference to me, I’m still just the same and looking forward to getting to the next city. The most important thing is bringing people together. I just want to keep going and see how many more people we can add to the train of bikers.” Whiting said it did not take him long to learn to proficiently mix tracks and pedal at the same time – though it is not plain sailing. “You just need to be aware of your spatial surroundings and keep your eyes out to make sure you don’t crash into a car or cause any damage. But when the sun’s out, it’s impossible to see the decks, it’s an absolute nightmare.
*ST BIKETRICKS DAY* Drum & Bass On The Bike - DUBLIN
“I almost came off twice going down a hill in Bristol. I have to be careful sometimes when I’m riding because it is easy to come off.” The idea came about when he was discussing how best to be a mobile DJ. “I was with my friend one night and he said: ‘Have you tried DJing on a bike?’. I didn’t take it that seriously but then, after assessing the options, I realised that it was probably the best way possible to be moving and DJing.”
*ST BIKETRICKS DAY* Drum & Bass On The Bike - DUBLIN
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Whiting has a keen social conscience, too: a charity ride of about 16 miles from High Wycombe to Maidenhead raised £1,500 for the mental health charity Buckinghamshire Mind. “During these very crazy times, I think mental health issues have been heavily overshadowed, arguably affecting people’s lives more than ever before,” he said at the time. With a movement seemingly burgeoning behind the pedalling disk jockey, Whiting – who repairs cars for a living – said he intended to take his travelling roadshow across the country. “We’ll go to all the cities in England, for sure. That’ll see me to the end of the year. We’ll do it – no problem. It would be awesome to go abroad, too, but let’s see what happens.”
*A ROLLING FESTIVAL* Drum & Bass On The Bike - BOURNEMOUTH
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*A ROLLING FESTIVAL* Drum & Bass On The Bike - BOURNEMOUTH
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The Danish designed bike Christiania cargo bike has a unique handlebar and surprisingly manoeuvrable turning radius (480 cm). Whiting came across “a very expensive Hyundai power pack.” “I took the plunge, and for £650 I bought it,” he says.”To my delight when it arrived it was very lightweight and actually, for how long it lasts, it’s one of the best purchases I’ve ever made.” With battery and bike in hand, he gave himself a two week deadline to plan and build the bike. He needed to mount his CDJ deck, create a deck stand, a floor support, a battery support and a speaker mount. “It may not seem like that many things,” says Whiting, “but trust me, when you’re trying to work it all out in your head without any drawings to go by it’s pretty damn difficult.” “Many drill bits, cutting discs, bolts and general man hours later,” he thought he had pretty much finished the project.
The camera and stand were the final and most complicated part of the project. “Vibration and shakiness was a real issue when riding on roads,” says Whiting.”I spent a lot of time trying different materials and different mounting fixtures.” He wanted to get the best picture and an overall good quality viewing experience. “I sorted this by mounting a custom made bit of piping with a bend in it.” The piping was bolted straight on to the deck stand. The setup absorbed more of the road vibration than when he mounted the camera to the bike itself.
Techno On The Bike - BERLIN
Techno On The Bike - BERLIN
“Everything is pretty much as good as it will get in terms of viewing experience,” says Whiting. “Now, with the customized bike, I feel I’ve got a good concept to be able to bring to people.” He says actually mixing and riding does lead to the occasional small mixing error, but,”that is part n parcel of doing something that requires a lot of concentration.” From taking a plunge in the local river to riding a jump in the skate park, the livestreams themselves are fun and eventful. Whiting says his favourite stream so far was his most recent in Marlow, UK: “It was next level,” he says.”I had a record number of viewings across Fb which I don’t even know if I’ll ever beat!”
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Eminem - Stan (Long Version) ft. Dido
Eminem - Stan (Long Version) ft. Dido
Justin Bieber with Hailey Bieber..
Justin Bieber's coolness is priceless, we all know that. But one crazy Bieber fan in New Zealand shelled out $683 (NZ$855) recently for a bottle of water that the teen dream took one sip out of. Justin was touring NZ when he took a swig from the bottle - which he then discarded because he didn't like the fizzy taste. A woman who worked at the TV station Justin was appearing on at the time thought fast, snapped up the rejected bottle and passed it onto her 16-year-old daughter, Emma Hall-Phillips. Emma whacked the bottle on auction site TradeMe - and the rest is history. “I’m not (a) crazy Justin Bieber fan," she said. "I’d rather sell it and give money to a good cause." Emma will donate the money to cancer charity CanTeen.
A male pop fan who idolised Britney Spears has undergone a sex change operation to make himself look more like the star. Transsexual Kara Hays has now spent over £60,000 on gender re-alignment surgery and breast implants. The 26-year-old, who was born a man and used to be known as Kody, now has long-flowing blonde hair in imitation of the 90s pop singer.
Ms. Hays said after deciding to have a sex change choosing which woman he wanted to look like was a natural choice. 'When you feel like you’re a girl living in a boy’s body and you try to change you want that validation that you look like a girl. I viewed her as a very strong woman, everybody wanted to date her. 'I focused on Britney and Christina Aguilera for my inspiration: they were the stars that were around when I was younger, they are who you looked up to. 'Nowadays people have Lady Gaga and Katy Perry. 'I was just thinking, I want to be a girl now, who do I emulate?' And it is not merely just in looks that the 26-year-old takes after her idol, as she even claims to have had a mental breakdown around the same time as Britney - shaving off her head to join her beloved heroine.
Kara said: 'I was in a really bad mood one day and just went into the salon and told them to take my extensions out. 'I thought if Britney has the strength to do it then I do too. 'People told me it was such a bold statement, I felt so liberated. 'I’ve never felt good enough and I tried to do anything to make myself ugly, this was one of those things.' The 26-year-old says her new appearance, which has turned her into a lookalike of the pop singer who shot to fame with her debut album '...Baby One More Time' in 1999, has finally brought her happiness following years of anguish. After shocking classmates by turning up at a Halloween dance, aged just 12, dressed in a red vinyl body suit in homage to Britney's costume in her 'Oops I did it again' video - he caused uproar in the Bible-belt town in Ohio, US, where he grew up. But at the age of 15, his parents allowed him to see a doctor and he was diagnosed with gender dysphoria in 1999 and began taking female hormones. Over the next few years, he sprouted breasts, began to freely dress as a woman and changed his name to Kara.
Leave Britney Alone (Complete)
Leave Britney Alone (Complete)
Every time Britney Spears comes on... #FreeBritney
Every time Britney Spears comes on... #FreeBritney
Kara began experimenting with drink and drugs once she had graduated high school, and moved to Los Angeles in an attempt to pursue a career in acting. She began being mistaken as Britney and was even referred to as the mega star by members of the paparazzi, something she claims was 'incredibly validating'. Kara later moved to New York to attend the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts for a year, graduating last year before starting on a degree in public relations. This article was PUBLISHED: 13:43, 22nd July 2012
A light aircraft that crashed in a Los Angeles street on Monday 22nd February 2016 is owned by a 39-year-old man recently accused of stalking Sandra Bullock, it has been revealed. The plane was approaching Whiteman Airport when a gust of wind set it down, causing it crash into several cars on San Fernando Road in Pacoima. No one was injured in the crash, however the plane turned out to be registered to Joshua J. Corbett, of Montrose, who is still facing charges of stalking and burglary after allegedly breaking into Bullock's house while she was home in summer 2014,
The plane was piloted by his father, Henry Corbett. Corbett Jr. is awaiting a court hearing on April 12. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree residential burglary, stalking and possession of a machine gun and is being held on a $2.2 million bond. Bullock awoke early the morning of June 8, 2014, to find an intruder in her home. She didn't know it at the time, but the man had lurked outside her gates for several days, writing in a spiral notebook about his obsession with the Oscar-winning actress. He had jumped her fence and rang her doorbell for 10 to 15 minutes before entering her home through a sunroom door.
Suspect Stalker Joshua J. Corbett
Sandra Bullock arrives at the 2014 Oscars.
CHRIS PIZZELLO, CHRIS PIZZELLO/INVISION/AP
This undated photo provided by the Los Angeles Superior Court shows the first page of a letter that Joshua James Corbett wrote to actress Sandra Bullock, that is included as evidence in the Los Angeles court case against Corbett for stalking the Oscar-winning actress
Bullock got a glimpse of him as he walked past her bedroom and toward her attic, giving the actress an opportunity to seal herself behind a security door, hide in a closet and call police. Corbett's attorneys denied their client wanted to hurt Bullock and said he needed mental health treatment. The items presented in court during a hearing this week and released on Friday include a two-page letter Corbett wrote to the Oscar-winning actress the day before he entered her home. Once Bullock locked the door to her bedroom and got into the closet, she dialed 911. Over the next 15 minutes, she guided police through the gates of her home and led them to her location, opening the door only after confirming with a police dispatcher that officers had secured the home.
Listen To Sandra Bullock' 911 Phone Call | msnbc
Bullock's fear is evident on the call — she was breathing heavily and sounded near tears at points. Although she saw only one man, Bullock heard what she thought were two voices. About three-and-a-half minutes after calling police, Bullock heard a new noise. 'I hear them,' Bullock said. 'I hear someone banging on my door.' Police were already on their way, and a dispatcher assured the actress they were coming with lights flashing and sirens blaring. 'Thank you. Thank you. Thank you,' the actress responded. 'You're doing good,' the dispatcher told Bullock about six minutes into the call.
Listen To Sandra Bullock' 911 Phone Call | msnbc
'Thank you,' Bullock said, letting out a nervous laugh. The actress thanked the dispatcher 10 times during the call. When he was arrested, police found warped Corbett with a two-page letter professing his love for Bullock that was apparently written the day before, about 20 hours before his arrest.
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The letter makes clear Corbett has been watching Bullock, commenting on her comings-and-goings. 'You could have had me today however you chose other people over me,' the letter opens. 'I'll be around as you know.'After his arrest, police reviewed Bullock's surveillance footage and saw creepy fantasist Corbett outside the actress' gate on each of the three days before he hopped the fence. The letter was signed, 'Always and forever, Love, your husband.' Police also found a spiral bound notebook with 25 pages of writings commenting on Bullock, her life and Corbett's perceived relationship with her.
A man convicted of stalking Sandra Bullock and breaking into her Hollywood home has shot himself dead after a standoff with police. Joshua Corbett, 42, was sentenced to five years probation and treatment at a mental health facility in 2015. Police said they were carrying out an arrest warrant at his home on Wednesday 2nd May 2018 when Corbett barricaded himself. It prompted a SWAT team to descend on the property and negotiators spent five hours trying to convince Corbett to give himself up. But Corbett said he was armed and made threats to kill anyone who tried to capture him. Eventually, the SWAT team stormed the house and found Corbett dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. It comes four years after the shocking incident at Sandra Bullock's west LA mansion. An "arsenal" of guns and ammunition was later found in his home. Corbett was also subject to a ten-year protective order banning him from contacting Bullock. It is not clear if it was a breach of this order which prompted police to serve the arrest warrant. Bullock's lawyer was not aware of the situation when contacted by NBC.