Feds: California teen alleges captivity, sexual abuse on marijuana 'farm'

(CNN) -- Two Northern California men are due in federal court Wednesday in what began as another big pot-growing drug bust but what has become a horrifying story of one teenager's alleged torment, captivity and sexual abuse.

The criminal complaint against the two men -- Ryan Balletto, 30, and Patrick Pearmain, 24 -- outlines the allegations of a 15-year-old girl's ordeal of being held in a coffin-like box for hours on end at a marijuana-growing "farm" where she worked trimming plants.

Balletto and Pearmain were criminally charged in federal court earlier this month -- and are in custody without bail -- with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute more than 1,000 marijuana plants and with using a minor in a drug operation. Additionally Pearmain faces state charges of kidnapping to commit robbery or rape and unlawful sex with a minor. Balletto faces state charges of lewd and lascivious acts with a child.

Efforts Tuesday to reach attorneys for the two men were not successful.

The girl sometimes was held in a metal toolbox 4 feet long, 2 feet wide and 2 feet high, authorities said. According to the criminal complaint, she told authorities that the men "put her in the box to 'teach' her because they had a 'point to prove.'"

The girl referred to the marijuana operation as a "mission" and said the men locked her in the box to protect the operation, according to the complaint.

"Specifically, they did not want (the girl) to 'ruin the mission' or 'go off and say something about the mission,'" the complaint stated.

Abused but alive

The box was hoisted at an angle to allow a hose to be inserted "to wash her off and rinse human waste from the inside of the box without letting her out," the complaint said.

Federal authorities declined to comment Tuesday on the whereabouts or current condition of the girl.

But a psychologist who had read about the case told CNN that he was shocked by the details and that he believes the girl will suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

"She is no different from, say, a POW ... She was in a box. She's going to need a lot of therapeutic treatment," said California-based clinical psychologist Mark Burdick, who is not involved in the case.

"This is obviously a very traumatic situation for her...It is cruel, cruel and unusual punishment for a 15-year-old girl, and she will undoubtedly need a structured therapeutic environment for what could be years," Burdick said.

According to the criminal complaint, federal agents began a suspected narcotics investigation in late 2011, and Balletto was one of the individuals suspected. Last August, agents identified land that he had bought in Lake County, California, north of San Francisco.

During a surveillance flyover of that land in April, a Lake County detective spotted two greenhouses that appeared to be full of marijuana plants.

Meanwhile, also in April, the Los Angeles Police Department "requested urgent assistance of the Lake County Sheriff's Department regarding a missing juvenile from the Los Angeles area," the complaint stated.

The minor was traced from a cell phone call to a hotel in Sacramento, where she was found with Pearmain on April 30, the complaint said. He was immediately taken into custody, and the girl was placed in protective custody.

Authorities said they also found a black notebook in Pearmain's possession with a script apparently for the girl to read from if confronted by police.

Balletto was taken into custody on May 1 when he was found in a trailer on the property that had been under surveillance.

According to the complaint, the minor said she worked for Balletto by trimming the marijuana plants on what she referred to as the "farm."

The girl then went on to describe an ordeal of being held in the box twice "for a total of approximately three days," according to the complaint. She said both men "engaged in multiple sex acts with her," and Balletto "told her she was a 'trooper' because she didn't scream in the box," the complaint said.

"A poem signed by (the girl) found in Balletto's trailer described her life as being locked inside a box with holes in it," the complaint added.

At the property, authorities found the two greenhouses with 970 individually potted and irrigated marijuana plants, according to the complaint. Authorities later found a third greenhouse with an additional 346 plants.

Authorities also uncovered a stash of weapons including, assault rifles, pistols, shotguns, loaded magazines, night-vision scopes, ballistic face masks and gas masks, body armor and a large cache of assorted ammunition, according to the complaint.

The Northern District of California U.S. attorney's office said a search of Balletto's residence uncovered even more weapons, including several sniper rifles and additional assault rifles.

Lake County Sheriff's Department Lt. Chris Chwialkowski said the stash was one of the largest collection of weapons seized in his department's history.

Tatum King, acting special agent in charge of investigations for the Homeland Security office in San Francisco, which mounted the federal narcotics investigation, said, "The criminal groups involved in growing and trafficking marijuana have repeatedly shown they have no qualms about using violence and intimidation against those who get in their way.

"In this case the alleged victim was only 15 years old."

- Friday was the last day of vacation for Natalie

CNN) -- Friday was the last day of vacation for Natalie Giorgi. The 13-year-old took a bite of a dessert at the summer camp where her family was staying, but spit it out because something didn't seem right.

Later that evening, she was pronounced dead.

Natalie died of a severe allergic reaction to peanut butter, CNN affiliate KXTV reported. Her sudden death in California is especially alarming for the food allergy community because, according to a family friend's account to KXTV, Natalie received three epinephrine injections. Epinephrine is the only treatment known to prevent a serious allergic reaction from turning deadly.

Anyone familiar with food allergies knows how important epinephrine auto-injectors are in emergency situations. Allergists recommend having multiple epinephrine auto-injectors available at all times for people with a risk of anaphylaxis.

Fort Meade, Florida (CNN) -- When an attorney involved in Pfc. Bradley Manning's sentencing hearing made reference Wednesday to something being "normal" in the WikiLeaks case, the former general promptly cut him off.

"There was nothing about WikiLeaks that was normal," said retired Army Brig. Gen. Robert Carr, a 31-year veteran.

The prosecution called Carr to testify about his time with the Information Review Task Force put together when WikiLeaks first started releasing the documents leaked by Manning.

The task force was charged with determining if any coalition members, intelligence sources or methods that had been put at risk by the leaks.

About 900 Afghans were identified in some way in the documents, Carr said, but he didn't say if any of them were harmed.

Asked if Manning had made the jobs of junior intelligence analysts more difficult by damaging their superiors' trust in them, Carr said it was "hugely important to empower these young intel analysts."

As Manning's sentencing phase began Wednesday, the convicted leaker has already tallied 1,274 days behind bars.

The question now is how many more of the potential 136 years he'll serve.

The military will give Manning credit for each of his 1,162 days of pre-trial confinement, plus the judge, Col. Denise Lind, credited Manning with an additional 112 days for the harsh treatment he suffered while being held at a Marine Corps Base Quantico brig.

The defense has also filed motions to have four of the charges on which he was found guilty merged into two. Lind isn't expected to rule on that motion before Friday.

Convictions and acquittal

Lind acquitted Manning of the most grievous charge of aiding the enemy. Had she convicted him of that one charge, he could have spent life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Manning still faces the prospect of a lengthy prisoner term. He was found guilty of 20 counts that include violations of the Espionage Act. Twelve of them carry maximum sentences of 10 years each.

Lind may decide not to slap him with the maximum for each count. She may rule that he'll serve the sentences concurrently, rather than consecutively.

Whistle-blower or traitor?

It may take several days before she reaches a decision.

Manning was convicted of stealing and disseminating about 750,000 pages of classified documents and videos to WikiLeaks. The leaks dealt with everything from U.S. military strategy in Iraq to State Department cables outlining foreign relationships. They also included a secret military video from the Iraq war.

WikiLeaks has never confirmed the soldier was the source of its information.

The military accused him of putting lives in danger, saying some of the material was found in Osama bin Laden's compound.

Lind, in acquitting Manning of the main charge, said he didn't know that al Qaeda would get the material and therefore did not aid the enemy.

Free speech

Manning said he just wanted the public to know what the government was doing.

WikiLeaks supported his claim in a statement Tuesday blasting the convictions on the other counts as "a dangerous precedent and an example of national security extremism."

What do his actions mean?

"It can never be that conveying true information to the public is 'espionage.' "

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange plans to talk about the verdict live on the Internet on Wednesday, according to a tweet from WikiLeaks' confirmed feed.

Civil rights organizations also came out in support of Manning as a hero of free speech.

"The only reason why the government decided to proceed with this trial is so that it could pursue this dangerous theory that equates leaks to the press with aiding the enemy," said ACLU spokesman Ben Winzer.

(CNN) -- A Saudi court has sentenced a activist to seven years in prison and 600 lashes for violating the nation's anti-cybercrime law, Human Rights Watch reported Wednesday.

A Jeddah Criminal Court found Raif Badawi, who has been in prison since June 2012, guilty this week of insulting Islam through his website and in television comments.

Reported Saudi paralysis sentence 'outrageous,' rights group says

"This incredibly harsh sentence for a peaceful blogger makes a mockery of Saudi Arabia's claims that it supports reform and religious dialogue," said Nadim Houry, the deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. "A man who wanted to discuss religion has already been locked up for a year and now faces 600 lashes and seven years in prison."

Saudi Arabia may block Skype, Viber, WhatsApp, others

His lawyer, Waleed Abu al-Khair, told Human Rights Watch that Judge al-Harbi read the verdict Monday. The court is expected to send him a written notification by August 6. They'll have 30 days to appeal.

Economists surveyed by CNNMoney are forecasting that growth slowed to 1.2% in the second quarter. That would be even worse than the already modest 1.8% gain in the first three months of the year.

Four of the 18 economists who responded expect growth to fall below 1%, while only two expect it to be faster than the first quarter's anemic gain.

That would make three straight quarters of what most would consider an economy performing below potential, despite a rebounding housing market. Worries about cutbacks in federal spending, known as the sequester, and higher taxes that went into effect at the start of the year are the biggest headwinds for the struggling economy, the survey showed.

"The economy has shown some animal spirits in housing and new car demand, but still faces headwinds, not the least of which is mandated spending cuts," said David Nice of Mesirow Financial.

But the news isn't all bad. The economists think better growth is ahead. For the full year, they expect growth of 2%, despite the sluggish first half, and 3% in 2014.

The report on second quarter growth, which will be released Wednesday, will also be the first to implement a new measure of the U.S. economy. The Commerce Department will now factor in additional services -- such as research and development and the production of artistic properties -- which should increase the size of the entire economy. The expanded methodology will apply to previous quarters, and is not likely to have a major effect on the rate of growth.

Related: Why the housing market could grow even if economy slows

The recovery in the long suffering housing market will be a major driver of better growth ahead. Fueled by record low mortgage rates and a drop in foreclosures, major housing indicators like home prices, home building and home sales have all been rebounding throughout 2013. The recent rise in mortgage rates might slow the pace of recovery, but not enough to kill off the rebound entirely, the economists said. And despite a 12.2% jump in home prices over the last 12 months, few of the respondents are worrie

CNN) - The driver of a train that derailed in northwestern Spain last week, killing 79 people, was on the phone with railway staff when the train crashed, court officials announced Tuesday, citing information from data recorders.

The train was going 153 kph (95 mph) when it derailed, the superior tribunal of Galicia said.

That's nearly twice the speed limit on the curve where the accident happened.

Authorities have charged the train's driver, Francisco Jose Garzon, with 79 counts of homicide by professional recklessness and an undetermined number of counts of causing injury by professional recklessness.

U.S. wireless carriers have found a new appreciation for used smartphones.

Carriers were long happy to let customers drop their old phones in desk drawers or pass them down to their kids. But the market for previously owned iPhones and Androids is booming, producing high and predictable resale values that carriers are starting to exploit.

Big Bucks for Your Old Phone

See the prices as of July 26 on Gazelle.com for some phone models that are in good condition.

View Slideshow

Matt Stroshane/Bloomberg

The BlackBerry Bold 9700 was selling for $30 on Gazelle.com as of July 26.

That shift underlies a spate of recently announced plans from T-Mobile US Inc.,TMUS -0.63% AT&T Inc. T -1.20% and Verizon Wireless that offer users more frequent upgrades. Instead of insisting subscribers pay off their phones in full before becoming eligible for newer models, carriers are now confident they can milk enough value from trade-ins to let upgrades happen more frequently.

"Many of the phones could have a $200 or $250 value," AT&T Chief Financial Officer John Stephens said on a call with analysts last week. "That's what makes this project work."

What this might mean for consumers and device makers isn't yet clear. The new trade-in plans from AT&T and Verizon Wireless have been panned by some smartphone market observers as too costly. And the strong demand for used phones is a sign that many consumers are finding older devices are good enough as the pace of innovation from device makers like Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. slows.

Still, the emergence of new efforts to capture the value of used phones ultimately could leave the smartphone market more like the auto business, where trade-ins fuel sales of newer models.

Coming This Week

• An interactive tool to help you sort through the wireless-plan mess and find the service that's right for you.

For years, the main market for used American smartphones has been overseas. While some are sold on eBay or to wholesalers, resellers like Brightstar Corp. packed the majority of them into boxes and shipped them overseas, generally to locations in Asia, Africa or Latin America.

In Hong Kong, Brightstar has its own auction warehouse where hundreds of people gather to bid on bunches of used phones every day, said Brightstar Chief Executive Marcelo Claure. The company has tried to convert to an electronic format, but buyers like to inspect the phones before putting a bid in an envelope. Tens of thousands of used phones are sold at the facility every day, he said.

Do This First

Your phone isn't just a phone, it's a detailed record of your life. So whether you are trading in to help pay for an upgrade or looking to ditch that dinosaur in your sock drawer, take these three steps first.

"Most of the world cannot afford a new iPhone or a new Galaxy," said Mr. Claure, whose company expects to process more than 25 million used phones this year. "But once the phone is one day old, it becomes cheaper."

U.S. carriers have left the business of trading in their customers' phones to resellers like Brightstar and Gazelle Inc., which estimates the U.S. used phone market could be worth $5 billion a year by 2015.

The market is fast growing but is still small compared with the annual market for new phones U.S., which Strategy Analytics puts at $57 billion.

Many consumers simply aren't aware of the value of their device, said Israel Ganot, Gazelle's chief executive. That in part is because carriers have masked the price of smartphones by selling them at subsidized prices to subscribers who sign long-term contracts.

A base model of the iPhone 4, launched more than three years ago at $200 with a contract, can now be sold to Gazelle for $130. Many U.S. carriers now offer the same phone free with a contract.

Michael Graham, of Lee's Summit, Mo., said he exchanged four smartphones to AT&T last year when his family switched from Sprint S +7.32% . He has previously sold his used phones on eBay, learning about the cost of secondhand devices after his 12-year-old daughter dropped her flip phone in the sink a few years back.

Enlarge Image

"I always keep in mind when I buy a phone, that I'm probably going to be reselling that phone down the line," said Mr. Graham, who works for a local food company.

Carriers have stayed out of the market, because they generally have little incentive to encourage upgrades to new smartphones. Every time a customer trades up, the carrier has to pay another profit-sapping subsidy.

Both AT&T and Verizon recently extended the waiting period before subscribers become eligible for new phones, and carriers have been imposing fees for trading up.

They shifted gears this month with plans that replace subsidies with monthly payments to cover the cost of new phones. The plans let users trade up after six or 12 months depending on certain conditions.

AT&T said it would refurbish the trade-ins and either resell them to customers as discounted devices or use them as replacement devices through insurance programs. Verizon and T-Mobile declined to provide details.

Sprint Corp., the other national carrier, wouldn't say whether it is planning a similar upgrade plan, but does already offer a trade-in program used in four out of every 10 transactions in Sprint stores, spokeswoman Marci VerBrugge-Rhind said.

AT&T and Verizon had similar programs before they launched their new upgrade plans. They may get more use as subscribers get more familiar with the value of their aging phones.

"It is going to be part of regular behavior, having consumers upgrade by trading in their old device," Gazelle's Mr. Ganot said.

Write to Thomas Gryta at thomas.gryta@wsj.com

Hoping to break an impasse with Republicans, President Barack Obama on Tuesday called for an overhaul of business taxes in exchange for a guarantee that a resulting one-time revenue gain be used to underwrite various job-creation proposals.

Mr. Obama laid out the proposal during a speech in Chattanooga, Tenn., part of a bid to win support from Republican lawmakers who have opposed White House requests for new spending on roads and bridges and other projects aimed at boosting employment. The White House laid out few details of the possible changes and didn't say how much revenue it hoped to raise.

Enlarge Image

European Pressphoto Agency

President Obama spoke in Jacksonville, Fla., Thursday as part of a series of speeches about job creation and the economy.

Related Articles

• Text of Obama's Remarks on Jobs
• Too Much Tax? Move to Ireland, From the Comfort of Your Home

The proposal is part of a renewed White House effort to jump-start its domestic agenda and focus attention on jobs and the economy. It also adds new fodder for talks between the White House and a set of Republican senators on fiscal matters that must be resolved in the next few months, among them funding levels for the federal government for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 and the terms for raising the nation's debt ceiling.

In Tuesday's speech, Mr. Obama aimed to entice Republican lawmakers to agree to jobs proposals he has long advocated in exchange for tax changes that are important to the GOP's allies among big 

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Bradley Manning, the Army private who sent hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. government documents to WikiLeaks, was found not guilty on Tuesday of the most serious charge against him -- aiding the enemy -- but guilty of several other charges at a military trial in Fort Meade, Md.

Conviction on aiding the enemy carried a possible sentence of life in prison without parole.

Col. Denise Lind, the military judge in the case, made the ruling. Manning had requested that a judge, not a jury, determine the verdict against him.

Lind found Manning guilty of 19 of 21 charges, including five counts of theft, six counts of espionage, a computer fraud charge and other military infractions.

Manning's sentencing hearing is set to begin Wednesday. He still faces a potential 128 years in prison if he receives the maximum sentence for the charges on which he was convicted.

RIEDER COLUMN: Sensible decision made in Manning case

In his closing argument last week, military prosecutor Maj. Ashden Fein, told the court Manning was a traitor who joined the Army to steal government documents, turn them over to the anti-secrecy organization and enjoy adulation as a whistle blower.

Manning's lawyer, David Coombs, portrayed him as a soldier troubled by what he saw while deployed to Iraq and struggling as a gay man to serve before the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the policy that resulted in more than 14,000 gay troops being discharged.

Manning, 25, has acknowledged giving WikiLeaks some 700,000 battlefield reports, diplomatic cables and videos. But he says he didn't believe the information would harm troops in Afghanistan and Iraq or threaten national security.

ANALYSIS: Manning case redefined what it means to be a traitor

The prosecution argued that Manning knew a- Qaeda terrorists could benefit from the leaks. Some of the information turned up in the search of Osama bin Laden's compound in Pakistan, they said.

Manning pleaded guilty in February to charges that he had misused classified information. Those charges carry a maximum term of 20 years in prison.

Analysts say the government had to clear a higher hurdle in proving that Manning intentionally aided the enemy. They would have to prove that he could reasonably conclude that release of the information would find its way into enemy hands after he turned it over to WikiLeaks.

"They did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he had a specific intent to aid or assist the enemy," said Phil Cave, a former military lawyer now in private practice.

Manning was a low-level intelligence analyst, working at a forward operating base in Iraq when he gained access to the files. He used his computer savvy to gain access to sensitive government documents and communications.

The material he released included footage of a U.S. Army helicopter attack in Iraq in 2007 that killed at least nine men, including a Reuters journalist. Other documents revealed tepid U.S. support for the government in Tunisia. Manning's supporters say that helped bring about the revolution there that sparked the Arab Spring movement.

The verdict and sentence will be reviewed by the commander of the Military District of Washington. A hearing on his sentence is set to begin Wednesday.

Manning has been held in military jails since his arrest in 2010.

Contributing: Jim Michaels and Associated Press

Postman's Park is a park in central London, a short distance north of St Paul's Cathedral. Bordered by Little Britain, Aldersgate Street, St. Martin's Le Grand, King Edward Street, and the site of the former head office of the General Post Office (GPO), it is one of the largest parks in the City of London, the walled city which gives its name to modern London.^{[n 1]} Its name reflects its popularity amongst workers from the nearby GPO's headquarters.

Postman's Park opened in 1880 on the site of the former churchyard and burial ground of St Botolph's Aldersgate church and expanded over the next 20 years to incorporate the adjacent burial grounds of Christ Church Greyfriars and St Leonard, Foster Lane, together with the site of housing demolished during the widening of Little Britain in 1880; the ownership of the last location became the subject of a lengthy dispute between the church authorities, the General Post Office, the Treasury, and the City Parochial Foundation. A shortage of space for burials in London meant that corpses were often laid on the ground and covered over with soil, thus elevating the park above the streets which surround it.

In 1900, the park became the location for George Frederic Watts's Memorial to Heroic Self Sacrifice, a memorial to ordinary people who died while saving the lives of others and who might otherwise be forgotten, in the form of a loggia and long wall housing ceramic memorial tablets. Only four of the planned 120 memorial tablets were in place at the time of its opening, with a further nine tablets added during Watts's lifetime. Watt's wife, Mary Watts, took over the management of the project after Watts's death in 1904 and oversaw the installation of a further 35 memorial tablets in the following four years along with a small monument to Watts. Later she became disillusioned with the new tile manufacturer and, with her time and money increasingly occupied by the running of the Watts Gallery, she lost interest in the project, and only five further tablets were added during her lifetime.

In 1972, key elements of the park, including the Memorial to Heroic Self Sacrifice, were grade II listed to preserve their character. Following the 2004 film Closer, based on the 1997 play Closer by Patrick Marber, Postman's Park experienced a resurgence of interest; key scenes of both were set in the park itself. In June 2009 the Diocese of London added a new tablet to the Memorial, the first new addition for 78 years.

Actor Claire Danes participates in the "Homeland" panel at the 2013 Showtime Summer TCA Press Tour at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Monday, July 29, 2013 in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Invision/AP)

She cries a lot on "Homeland," but Claire Danes brought the laughs today with a killer impression of Anne Hathaway. And it's only fair: Hathaway started it by parodying Danes on "Saturday Night Live."

Speaking to TV critics about the upcoming season of her Emmy-winning Showtime drama "Homeland," Danes was asked about Hathaway's uncanny impression of her in last season's "SNL" spoof of "Homeland." Danes still hasn't seen the sketch, but she told reporters that Hathaway reached out to warn her about it before it even aired.

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Hawaii braces for Tropical Storm Flossie

Residents and tourists across Hawaii are bracing for heavy rains and strong winds from Tropical Storm Flossie, while the system weakens as it approaches the state.

National Weather Service officials said they expect people on the Big Island and Maui to see the brunt of the storm on Monday morning, with wind gusts up to 60 mph, possible flooding and waves up to 18 feet high.

Flossie could also bring flash flooding, mudslides, tornadoes and waterspouts, the forecasters said.

The service issued a tropical storm warning for Oahu, Hawaii's most populous island with the city of Honolulu, to go along with previous warnings for the Big Island, Maui, Molokai and Lanai. The warning means the storm represents a threat to life and property.

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed an emergency proclamation in anticipation of the storm, allowing the state to use its disaster fund to pay for staff overtime, supplies and other resources. The proclamation also allows the state to call Hawaii National Guard members to duty, if necessary.

"The purpose of signing this proclamation is to ensure that state agencies have full powers necessary to best protect and serve the people of Hawaii," Abercrombie said.

The U.S. Coast Guard also ordered three ports closed -- two on the Big Island where the storm is expected first and a third on Maui.

Michael Cantin, a warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Honolulu, said Sunday that the tropical storm warnings were expanded because the storm strengthened overnight Saturday, before it began weakening Sunday.

Cantin said heavy rains are likely with winds a growing possibility, including gusts able to knock down power poles and blow away loose objects.

"These winds will be strong enough to pick up debris and throw things around," Cantin said.

The service also issued a tropical storm watch for Kauai and Niihau, a less severe notice, asking people to make a plan and pay attention to see if things get worse.

Officials warned people to cancel beach trips, finish necessary storm preparations and evacuate if asked by local officials.

Mike McCartney, chief executive of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, said Sunday afternoon that some airlines have begun to adjust flights.

"Visitors should contact their airlines and hotels to confirm their travel plans," he said.

State officials on Saturday closed trails and campgrounds on the Big Island, and warned people to avoid forest areas until Flossie clears.

"Hikers, campers or hunters should avoid trails, streams and back-country areas under these conditions," said William Aila Jr., chairman of the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

It's not immediately clear which island faces the most danger, though the Big Island -- the easternmost island in the archipelago -- is likely the first in Flossie's path. Flossie's center was expected to pass near the Big Island and Maui on Monday morning and then south of Oahu several hours later on Monday evening into Tuesday morning.

Cantin said Flossie could stray from its currently projected path up to 60 miles north or south as it crosses the Hawaiian islands and end up some 100 miles away from where forecasters project it to be by the time it passes.

Cantin said the storm is likely to shift south if it gets weaker and north if it gets stronger.

The storm could drop up to 15 inches of rain to windward areas of Maui and Hawaii counties, and 6 to 10 inches in other areas, forecasters said. Up to a foot of rain could fall on windward Oahu and 4 to 8 inches in central and leeward areas. Kauai may see 2 to 4 inches of rain, with up to 6 inches on windward slopes.

Waves of 12 to 18 feet are expected for the Big Island and Maui, with surf of 10 to 15 feet on other islands.

Despite the system weakening, the current forecast keeps Flossie as a tropical storm through Wednesday.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/weather/2013/07/29/hawaii-braces-for-tropical-storm-flossie/?test=latestnews#ixzz2aSjs8Zj5

Christian Benítez

Christian Rogelio Benítez Betancourt (May 1, 1986 – July 29, 2013), also known as Chucho, was an Ecuadorian footballer who played as a forward for El Jaish of the Qatar Stars League. He began his career with El Nacional in Ecuador and then joined Santos Laguna, with whom he won the award for Best Player of the Clausura 2008.^[2] He spent the 2009–10 season on loan to Premier League clubBirmingham City. He was a member of the Ecuador national football team.

'Vegan Sellout List' outs and shames ex-vegans online - UPI.com

 

Do you know any meat-eaters who used to be vegan? If so, they might appear on the Vegan Sellout List at exvegans.com, where vegans can post details about "traitors" to the cause. "The spirits of the billions murdered have risen to deliver: The Vegan Sellout List," the site declares, calling out "swarms of haughty, nose-turning carnists" guilty of "ethical degeneracy and paleo-terrorism." The site says there is an "epidemic" of vegan sellouts, "those who are aware of the suffering caused by meat, dairy, egg, fur, and leather production, yet choose to look away while the animals suffer." Users can submit photos, city, narrative description and links to a person's website "or other supplemental info" to the site, and the ex-vegan will be added to the directory, searchable by location or name. Many of the ex-vegans are just regular people, who may not even know a former friend or partner with a grudge added them to the directory. Others, though, are well known ex-vegans, including Berlin Reed, 31, a vegan-turned-butcher who was inspired to write "The Ethical Butcher" after working at a Brooklyn shop that partnered with small local farms. “Here we have yet another person hiding behind anarchism to justify their selfish behavior,” says Reed's entry on the Vegan Sellout List. The site seems to anticipate backlash from those who find themselves on the site. Instead of an ordinary "contact us" form on the website, visitors are encouraged to "send hate mail." In the field where a visitor can write their message, the site prompts, "Your Hateful Message / How You're Going to Sue Us / Etc." Former Top Chef contender Andrea Beaman was also called out on the site for turning away from veganism for health reasons. She said she isn't bothered by it, and she understands their extreme mentality. "When I was a vegan, it was the most judgmental time of my life!" she said.

Human head transplant now possible, says neuroscientist - UPI.com

Human head transplant now possible, says neuroscientist - UPI.com

Dr. Sergio Canavero, a member of the Turin Advanced Neuromodulation Group, has published a paper saying we now have the technology to complete the transplant of a human head onto another human body. Robert White successfully transplanted the head of a rhesus monkey onto the body of another rhesus in 1970, but so far, scientists have been unable to connect spinal cords, leaving the animals paralyzed below the point of transplant. “The greatest technical hurdle to cephalosomatic linkage [head transplant] is of course the reconnection of the donor’s and recipients spinal cords. It is my contention that the technology only now exists for such linkage,” Canavero wrote, citing recent advances in reconnecting surgically severed spinal cords. Much of the procedure remains the same as in the old experiments. The head to be transplanted is cooled to between 12°C and 15°C (54.6°F and 59°F). Surgeons then have one hour to remove both heads at the same time, and re-connect the transplant head to the circulatory system of the donor body. During the reconnection procedure, the donor body must be chilled and total cardiac arrest induced. Once the head is reconnected, the heart of the donor body can be restarted. Once the head is reconnected, Canavero says surgeons may now be able to proceed to reconnect the spinal cord. A head to body spinal connection has never been attempted in animals, but Canavero points to studies in which scientists have restored limited connectivity to a severed spinal cord in a rat. In his paper, Canavero proposes cutting spinal cords with an extremely sharp knife, then mechanically connecting the spinal cord from one head to another body. "It is this "clean cut" [which is] the key to spinal cord fusion, in that it allows proximally severed axons to be ‘fused’ with their distal counterparts. This fusion exploits so-called fusogens/sealants….[which] are able to immediately reconstitute (fuse/repair) cell membranes damaged by mechanical injury, independent of any known endogenous sealing mechanism." Canavero speculates that plastics like polyethylene glycol (PEG) could be used to accomplish this fusing, citing research showing that PEG has allowed the fusing of severed spinal cords in dogs. Patients with muscular dystrophy, or paraplegics with enough spinal cord left intact to allow for a transplant, could in theory achieve full use of a donor body. As long as they have the $13 million Canavero estimates a full head transplant would cost.

Bitcoin IPO launched by Winklevoss twins - UPI.com

 

In an effort to legitimize the trendy Bitcoin digital currency, the Winklevoss twins of Facebook fame have filed paperwork for an initial public offering of a new exchange-traded fund tracking the price of bitcoins. In April of this year, Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss revealed that they owned about $10 million worth of Bitcoins, or about 1 percent of all the Bitcoin wealth in existence. At the time, Bitcoins were in the middle of a sickening crash, tumbling from an all-time peak of $266 per bitcoin to $105 in the course of one trading day. The price has continued slowly downward, recently valued at about $90. Unlike other currencies, Bitcoins are not issued by a bank or other centralized authority. Since 2009, people have been able to generate or "mine" Bitcoins by participating in the global computer network that supports them. The ETF would let traders and investors in on Bitcoins -- without having to go through online currency exchanges, which are notoriously difficult to access. The currency remains anonymous, unregulated and untaxed. The Bitcoin ETF, however, has fees and taxes. Despite an 18-page outline of the "risk factors" involved in buying an ETF tracking Bitcoins, and numerous articles enumerating the risks, the Winklevoss twins think people will want to let them take a cut on bitcoin investment transactions. At any time, Bitcoins -- which are just digital -- could be erased from existence, through computer error or hackers. At any time, governments could decide to regulate, tax, or even ban the currency, which happens to be useful to money launderers. And, as with any ETF, there is the risk the fund won't match the value of its underlying assets. Some think the Winklevoss IPO will legitimize the digital currency, but critics argue ETF investors will have to take on all the risks of Bitcoin without any of the benefits of being untaxed and anonymous.

Murder Witness's Blinking Goes to Trial

Murder Witness's Blinking Goes to Trial: ABCNEWS.COM - Gregory Chandler's eye blinks will be used as evidence against the man charged with his death.

Robert Pattinson dating Riley Keough? | YOU

 

The Water For Elephants actor ‒ who recently called time on his relationship with actress Kristen Stewart ‒ was spotted with Elvis Presley’s granddaughter at his Los Feliz, Los Angeles, home over the weekend. Riley (24) ‒ who was previously engaged to Alex Pettyfer ‒ worked with Kristen on 2010′s The Runaways. It was recently revealed Robert is writing songs to help get over his split from Kristen but isn’t planning to make them public. A source said, “Rob’s always had half a mind on his music, but when his film career and relationship with Kristen both took off at the same time, something else had to give. “He’s really enjoyed picking up his guitar again properly and it has given him something to focus on during the break-up. Everyone’s saying that he’s really talented, but he’s adamant we’ll only be seeing him in films for the time being.” The pair split for a second time after Kristen got back in touch with Snow White and the Huntsman director Rupert Sanders, whom she confessed to having an affair with last year behind Robert’s back. Robert’s musical efforts have previously seen him record two tracks for the original Twilight soundtrack, Never Think and Let Me Sign. He has also previously said he originally wanted to be a musician rather than an actor. He said, “I love the piano. I never really had any aspirations to be an actor when I was young. I wanted to play the piano in a bar, to be the old dude with a whiskey glass.” -Bang Showbiz

Orioles Trade Jake Arrieta, Pedro Strop To Cubs, Who Shipped Carlos Marmol To Dodgers

Orioles Trade Jake Arrieta, Pedro Strop To Cubs, Who Shipped Carlos Marmol To Dodgers

OAKLAND, Calif. — Down and all but out before the All-Star break, the Chicago Cubs are starting to make moves for the future. The team traded starting pitcher Scott Feldman to the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday and former All-Star reliever Carlos Marmol to the Los Angeles Dodgers. In exchange for Marmol, the Cubs received veteran reliever Matt Guerrier. They got right-handers Jake Arrieta and Pedro Strop as well as two international signing bonus slots from the Orioles for Feldman and catcher Steve Clevenger. "I don't want to say it's tough. You know it's got a chance of happening," Chicago manager Dale Sveum said about a potential payroll purge before his club opened a three-game series in Oakland. The Cubs (35-45) entered Tuesday 15 1/2 games behind first-place Pittsburgh in the NL Central. And with the latest trades, seemingly ready to ride out another lost season on the North Side. Feldman had been scheduled to start against the Athletics on Tuesday night. Instead, the Cubs called up lefty Chris Rusin from Triple-A Iowa to take his place. Feldman left Texas to sign a $6 million, one-year contract with the Cubs last winter and went 7-6 with a 3.46 ERA in 15 starts for them. He is 46-50 with a 4.66 ERA in 219 major league games over nine seasons. The Cubs designated Marmol for assignment last week after he went 2-4 with two saves and a 5.86 ERA in 31 appearances, striking out 32 while walking 21. An All-Star as a setup man in 2008, Marmol's best year as a closer was 2010, when he had 38 saves in 43 chances along with 138 strikeouts and 52 walks. But fans had begun booing him and management was eager to cut a deal with the Dodgers, who also acquired an international signing bonus slot. Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said team scouts are high on the international class and the additional dollars will allow them to be more aggressive. Asked what type of message the club sent by parting ways with two noteworthy players, Sveum said nobody on his team should be surprised or upset at this point.

Alicia Silverstone Starts Breast Milk Sharing Program

Alicia Silverstone Starts Breast Milk Sharing Program - Today's News: Our Take | TVGuide.com

The Clueless star recently launched Kind Mama Milk Share, a breast milk exchange program to help out vegan parents in need. Silverstone was inspired to create the program after hearing about a friend who couldn't produce enough breast milk and had a hard time learning about the lifestyle choices of donors. Actors who dated their TV family members "A lot of women unfortunately have a similar struggle, and there's no reason why they shouldn't be able to give their babies the most amazing start in life with clean, mean, glorious breast milk," Silverstone wrote on her website The Kind Life. "And because we are a community of beautiful souls who recognize the importance of food as health, I say we help support those mamas and babies who need a hand during one of the most important times in their lives." Silverstone's website has already been flooded with support from parents. But for the program to work, any potential donor would need to be screened to ensure that the milk is clean and healthy. This isn't the first time Silverstone's parenting practices have raised eyebrows. In 2012, she stirred controversy for chewing up food and feeding it directly from her mouth to that of her then-10-month-old son, Bear Blu. "I do want to let you know that this has been going on for thousands of years — still going on all over the place — and it's natural," Silverstone said at the time. What do you think of Silverstone's program?

Umpire Brian Runge reportedly fired for drugs by MLB | Big League Stew - Yahoo! Sports

 

Unique because he was a third-generation MLB ump, Runge worked the All-Star Game in 2012 and was the plate umpire for three no-hitters, including Philip Humber's perfect game in 2012. Runge didn't work a game in 2012 after Aug. 30 because of a knee injury, though he did work spring training games this season, along with some games in Triple-A. MLB announced in June that Runge was no longer on the major league staff — but has never given a reason why.

Kris Kross was an American rap duo of the 1990s, Chris "Mac Daddy" Kelly and Chris "Daddy Mac" Smith

Kris Kross was an American rap duo of the 1990s, Chris "Mac Daddy" Kelly and Chris "Daddy Mac" Smith.

Kris Kross was an American rap duo of the 1990s, Chris "Mac Daddy" Kelly and Chris "Daddy Mac" Smith. The duo was best known for their hit 1992 song "Jump", which was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks and certified double platinum as a single. Kris Kross was also noted for their fashion style, which consisted of wearing their clothing backwards. The duo sang the "Rugrats Rap" for Nickelodeon, which was released as an extra on some Nickelodeon VHS tapes starting in 1994 and was finally released on CD on The Best of Nicktoons in 1998, and as an extra on the Rugrats: Decade in Diapers Collectors Edition DVD in 2002.

Paris Fashion Week

Paris Fashion Week: Kristen Stewart at Chanel and More Celeb Scoop | E! Online UK

K.Stew's looking très chic in France! On Tuesday's Live from E!, Ken Baker, Marc Malkin and Melanie Bromley raved over Kristen Stewart's black-and-white look for Paris Fashion Week. Although the actress has been spotted at Hooters, bars and tattoos parlors across the country, this is the first major appearance the Twilight star has made since her breakup with longtime BF and costar Robert Pattinson. The panelists added their insights to rumors of Pattinson dating Riley Keough, who is a mutual friend of the former couple and costarred with Stewart in The Runaways. Sources insist, however, that the 27-year-old is enjoying the single life. PHOTOS: Take a look back at Robsten's relationship While Stewart is in Paris, Pattinson was spotted last night for Beyoncé's second concert at the L.A. Staples Center. Marc, who also attended the celebrity-packed show, dished his deets on Chris Evans' rendition of Queen B's dance moves, Lea Michele's night out with her girlfriends, and how cute Naya Rivera was with her not-so-big BF Big Sean. In other Paris Fashion Week news, the panelists discussed Jourdan Dunn being dropped from Dior show because her boobs are too big. "If she doesn't have a shot," Ken adds with a chuckle, "Kate Upton, you're never going to do Paris Fashion Week."  Other celebs in Paris include Jennifer Lawrence and Rihanna, who is currently on her Diamonds World Tour. The two bumped into each other while dining out and took this cute pic posted on the singer's Instagram and Twitter pages. PHOTOS: See what other stars are in Paris for Fashion Week Also on today's show, watch Johnny Depp kiss Jimmy Kimmel—three times! During his Jimmy Kimmel Live appearance to promote his new movie The Lone Ranger, the actor kissed the talk-show host on the cheek followed by a smooch on the lips! "I've lost my train of thought," Kimmel responded, only to be given another kiss. Be sure to check us out every day at 12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT! And don't forget to follow us on Twitter @LiveFromE and hit us with your questions using the #LiveFromE hashtag. PHOTOS: Check out these photos from The Lone Ranger