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2020’s Weirdest Crime Stories

11 Monday Jan 2021

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2020, Weird Crime

By Carlos Gamino

There’s no doubt that 2020 has been the strangest year that any of us has experienced – criminals included. Check out the weirdest crime stories that hit the news in 2020 (and cross your fingers for 2021).

The Weirdest Crime Stories From 2020

Some of these weird crime stories come from our own backyard – and some are halfway across the world. Regardless of location, we hope you enjoy shaking your head at them like we did.

Tree Theft Has Authorities… Stumped

In Madison, someone stole a rare pine tree from the University of Wisconsin Arboretum – and it wasn’t small, so authorities are trying to figure out how the pine-pickers got it out unnoticed. The tree, a 25-foot Algonquin Pillar Swiss Mountain Pine, was chopped down sometime between November 5 and November 9, and whomever did it is still on the loose. Authorities suspect that someone is using the tree as part of a holiday display somewhere nearby.

Fake Death Claim Comes to Life

A New York man wanted to avoid being sentenced for two felonies (who wouldn’t?), so he faked his own death and tried to submit a false death certificate to authorities. It looks like he avoided English class in high school, too – the man’s undoing was that he spelled “registry” as “Regsitry.” The typo caught someone’s eye and now he’s facing additional charges.

It’s Okay to Go to a Liquor Store in a Mask – But Not This One

A man took masking up to the extreme by donning a hollowed-out watermelon and strolling into a liquor store to shoplift in Virginia this year. Even worse, he posted a TikTok video that connected the melon to his – well, melon – and authorities who saw the shoplifting on CCTV had an easy time putting two and two together.

What Are Your Favorite Weird Crime Stories From This Year?

I’d love to hear your weird crime stories from 2020, so please share them with me on Facebook or Twitter!

Carlos Gamino

SpaceX Has Sent Its Second Crew of Astronauts to the ISS

14 Monday Dec 2020

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Current Events, Elon Musk, International Space Station, Space, Space News, SpaceX

By Carlos Gamino

Elon Musk’s SpaceX program successfully launched four astronauts into space in mid-November, marking the second time the private company has served as a shuttle for NASA. The Falcon rocket took off from Kennedy Space Center with three American astronauts and one Japanese astronaut, each ready to man the International Space Station. The crew is definitely diverse and includes the first Black astronaut on a long-term space station mission, Navy Commander Victor Glover and physicist Shannon Walker.

The capsule the astronauts traveled in, called Resilience, reached orbit in just nine minutes. After the short trip, the astronauts plan to remain aboard the ISS until spring 2021.

Commander Mike Hopkins told the crew, right before liftoff, “By working together through these difficult times, you’ve inspired the nation, the world, and in no small part the name of this incredible vehicle, Resilience.”

The crew, who had been quarantined with their families since October to prevent the spread of coronavirus in space, took several precautions – as did everyone involved in the launch. SpaceX’s founder, Elon Musk, tweeted that he likely had a mild case of coronavirus immediately prior to the launch. NASA’s policy at Kennedy Space Center requires anyone who tests positive to quarantine in isolation until it’s safe for them to return to work.

NASA hopes there will be several crew rotations in partnership with SpaceX in the future.

What Do You Think?

Do you keep up with the ISS and crewmembers aboard it? Have you ever looked for it in the night sky or seen a livestream from it? I’d love to hear what you have to say about the International Space Station, SpaceX or even Elon Musk, so share your thoughts with me on Facebook or Twitter.

Carlos Gamino

Scientists Find Possible Signs of Life on Venus

15 Thursday Oct 2020

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News, Science, Venus

Scientists Find Possible Signs of Life on Venus - Carlos GaminoBy Carlos Gamino

Scientists have long been searching for evidence of life on other planets – not necessarily as an escape plan for us, but to prove once and for all that we’re not alone in the vast universe.

And they may have found it.

In September, a group of researchers published a study in Nature Astronomy that explained the discovery of trace gases in Venus’s atmosphere and how it could indicate that there’s life on the planet. More specifically, in the planet’s hyperacidic gas clouds. (Venus’s surface is dusty and hot – temperatures can reach up to 880 degrees F, so it’s unlikely that anything living could survive there.)

Venus’s atmosphere contains phosphine gas, which is typically associated with biological processes. Researchers tried – and continue trying – to connect the gas to non-biological processes, but so far, they’re coming up short.

“We did our very best to show what else would be causing phosphine in the abundance we found on Venus. And we found nothing. We found nothing close,” said MIT molecular astrophysicist Clara Sousa-Silva, who co-authored the study.

The gas molecule is, at least on Earth, a byproduct of bacteria and industrial processes. Here, it’s detectable in rice paddies, landfills and meth labs (so it should go without saying that we definitely don’t recommend taking your science set out to test for it).

This could drive a shift in focus from Mars, which scientists have been exploring as a potential place for exploration, and back to the second rock from the sun. Currently, NASA is thinking about a couple of low-cost robotic missions to Venus that haven’t yet been approved.

What Do You Think?

Are you excited about scientists finding potential signs of life on Venus? Do you think it’s a better idea to explore Venus than Mars? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so please share them on my Twitter feed or on Facebook page!

Carlos Gamino

Court Orders Indonesians to Dig Graves for Refusal to Wear Masks

19 Saturday Sep 2020

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Indonesia, Mask Penalties, Masks

8 Indonesians Ordered to Dig Graves for Refusal to Wear Masks - Carlos GaminoBy Carlos Gamino

A district leader in Cerne, East Java, ordered eight people to dig the graves of coronavirus victims in September. The move, designed as punishment for those who refuse to wear masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, has drawn international applause.

The district leader, identified as Suyono, chose to impose the punishment because the area is suffering from a lack of gravediggers.

“There are only three available gravediggers at the moment, so I thought I might as well put these people to work with them,” Suyono said. “Hopefully, this can create a deterrent effect against violations,” he said.

It’s important to note that the people sentenced to grave-digging didn’t actually bury the bodies; they were only sentenced to dig. However, Suyono maintains that it’s a just punishment. The number of COVID-19 cases are increasing in Indonesia and in many other parts of the world – including the United States, where some experts are saying that the number of fatalities could top 400,000 by the end of 2020.

Other countries, like South Korea, have imposed hefty fines for refusal to mask up. Even in the U.S., some cities and counties are imposing fines as punishment for not wearing a mask, which has been proven to slow or prevent the spread of the potentially deadly virus.

What Do You Think?

Do you think digging graves for coronavirus victims is a fitting punishment for refusing to wear a mask in public? Do you wear a mask in public? What do you believe is a fair punishment – or should there even be a punishment – for those who refuse? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so please share them on my Twitter feed or on Facebook!

Carlos Gamino

3 Amazing, People-Free Places to Go This Spring Near Milwaukee

29 Monday Jun 2020

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3 Places to Check Out This Spring in Milwaukee - Carlos GaminoBy Attorney Carlos Gamino

Up for an adventure? There are plenty of things to see right here in Milwaukee, including the Bronze Fonz, St. Joan of Arc Chapel and the North Point Water Tower – but if you venture outside the city, that’s where the real adventures begin.

3 Amazing, People-Free Places to Go This Spring Near Milwaukee

Check out these great adventures within a short drive from Milwaukee – they’re all places you can go to escape from the city:

  1. Nasbro Ghost Town
  2. Fast Fiberglass Mold Graveyard
  3. Holy Hill

Here’s a closer look at each.

#1. Nasbro Ghost Town

You won’t encounter a soul on a visit to Nasbro (see what we did there?). This ghost town was a milling hub from the 1920s to the 1970s, and while there are only a few traces of the dozen homes that once stood on the land, you’ll see five stone lime kilns. The ghost town is located 3 miles west of Lomira on the west side of County Road Y (north of Knowles). It’s definitely worth exploring – and you might find some artifacts along the old train tracks. Check it out here.

#2. Fast Fiberglass Mold Graveyard

Perhaps stranger than a ghost town, this eerie graveyard isn’t home to any people – it’s home to dozens of fiberglass molds designed to make larger-than-life animals, shapes and more. You’ll find massive dogs, oversized Santas and mice bigger than both. The owners let people stroll through the collection, which is located at 14177 County Highway Q in Sparta. Check it out here.

#3. Holy Hill

Whether or not you’re in need of redemption, Holy Hill is an amazing place to visit. Just 30 miles outside of Milwaukee, the hill was deemed a place of miracles after a partially paralyzed hermit named Francois Soubio spent the night there and woke up completely cured from his ailments. The site was home to a cross and altar set up in 1676 by a Canadian pioneer, and then the property sold for $50 in 1855. After changing hands a few more times, you can now find a side chapel and church house with crutches and canes left by those who claim to have been miraculously cured by the hill. And even if you’re not into the religious aspect of Holy Hill, you’ll love the spectacular views from the top – you can see the Milwaukee skyline and acres upon acres of forest. It’s located at 1525 Carmel Road in Hubertus. Check it out here.

What Do You Think?

I’d love to hear your favorite adventures in and around Milwaukee, so please feel free to share them on my Facebook page or on my Twitter feed.

Carlos Gamino

Corporate Casualties of the Coronavirus Pandemic

01 Monday Jun 2020

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What Businesses Are Closing Because of the Coronavirus Pandemic - Carlos GaminoBy Carlos Gamino

Millions of small businesses are at risk of closing down permanently due to the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic – and millions more will shutter their doors forever if the second wave is as bad as Dr. Anthony Fauci predicts.

So which businesses have closed their doors or filed for bankruptcy due to the virus? Here’s the most recent list:

  1. JC Penney, which is the largest victim of the shutdown to date. The company filed for bankruptcy in mid-May.
  2. Crew filed bankruptcy in early May.
  3. Neiman Marcus was the first department store chain to declare bankruptcy in early May.

Forbes is maintaining a “Bankruptcy Watch List,” and as of today, that list includes:

  • Capri Holdings (Michael Kors, Versace and Jimmy Choo)
  • Dillard’s
  • Kohl’s
  • Levi Strauss
  • Macy’s
  • Nordstrom
  • Signet (Kay Jewelers, Zales, Jared and Piercing Pagoda)
  • Tapestry (Coach, Kate Spade and Stuart Weitzmann)
  • The Gap
  • L Brands (Victoria’s Secret)
  • GNC
  • Olympia Sports
  • Walgreens

The bottom line is that department stores aren’t cut out for long-term closures.

“Retail companies are not built to have their stores closed for extended periods of time, and unfortunately we need to really plan for the worst and hope for the best,” Manny Chirico, the CEO of PVH Corp., the owner of brands including Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, told CNBC this week.

Chirico expects to see 20 to 25 percent of all U.S. stores to close within the next few years. And he may be right – department stores never quite bounced back from the 2008 recession, and shoppers’ habits have changed significantly since then. The pandemic has made online shopping even more popular, which could be the kiss of death… and we may be in for another retail apocalypse.

What Do You Think?

Do you think these companies should be bailed out, or that they should file for bankruptcy protection in order to stay open? I’d love to hear how you feel about these major retailers closing down, so please feel free to share them on my Facebook page or on my Twitter feed.

Attorney Carlos Gamino

Antarctica Hits a Balmy 69 Degrees

16 Sunday Feb 2020

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Antarctica Hits a Balmy 69 Degrees - Carlos GaminoBy Carlos Gamino

An iceberg the size of Atlanta broke off a glacier in Antarctica in February, marking the middle of a month of soaring temperatures where the mercury hit 69 degrees for the first time in recorded history. The World Meteorological Association is running double-checks to verify it as a new record, and experts say things are going to become even warmer on the world’s chilliest continent.

The Pine Island Glacier breakage is the latest in a series of calving events, which are incidents in which large chunks of ice snap off a glacier and float into the ocean as icebergs. Since 2012, Pine Island Glacier has lost about 58 billion tons of ice per year. Warming temperatures are redefining all of Antarctica – including the way it’s shaped.

The temperatures are also threatening local animal life, including penguins. Penguin thrive on krill; it’s their primary food source. But krill depends on ice, so if things heat up too much, those penguins will starve and impact the rest of the Antarctic ecosystem, as well.

Just for reference, the mean annual temperature of the interior of the continent is –70.6 degrees F. Its coast is warmer – usually around 14 degrees F in the warmest parts – but a 55-degree difference is a really big deal, particularly in February.

As pieces continue to break away from the Pine Island Glacier and its cousin, the Thwaites Glacier, billions of tons of ice are at risk of falling into the ocean. NASA says that these two glaciers contain enough vulnerable ice between them to raise sea levels by 4 feet (sorry, Florida). Each year since 2016, Antarctica has gotten progressively warmer – as has the rest of the world – which means more ice is melting and breaking off massive glaciers. Methane trapped inside the ice then escapes, which can cause more harm and make the earth even warmer, scientists warn, so even despite our best efforts, it might be too late to turn things around.

What Do You Think?

I’d love to hear what you think about the temperatures in Antarctica and how massive icebergs are breaking off our fast-dwindling glaciers, so please feel free to share your own opinion on my Facebook page or on Twitter.

Carlos Gamino

CDC Prepares for Coronavirus to “Become a Community Virus”

16 Sunday Feb 2020

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CDC Prepares for Coronavirus to Become a Community Virus - Carlos GaminoBy Carlos Gamino

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is preparing for coronavirus to “become a community virus,” and it’s trying to prepare as best it can for widespread infection across the United States.

“Right now we’re in an aggressive containment mode,” said CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield. “This virus is probably with us beyond this season, beyond this year, and I think eventually the virus will find a foothold and we will get community-based transmission.”

There have been 15 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the U.S. so far – including one in Wisconsin – but currently, there’s no cure.

Redfield says his agency is working on a containment strategy to buy more time to develop vaccines and antiviral drugs to help save people. Part of that strategy is quarantining people who have confirmed cases and restricting travel between affected areas.

However, the World Health Organization is arguing against travel restrictions.

“We reiterate our call to all countries not to impose restrictions that unnecessarily interfere with international travel and trade. Such restrictions can have the effect of increasing fear and stigma, with little public health benefit,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Ahanom Ghebreyesus.

Redfield disagrees. “I would rather be criticized for over-protecting America than under-protecting America at this stage,” he said.

But the fact remains that people can transmit coronavirus even before they know they’re infected. In that way, it’s a lot like other viruses; it can be spread by someone who’s not yet experiencing any symptoms at all. In fact, Redfield says that the cases popping up in the U.S. only presented with a small sore throat – symptoms that could be mistaken for a whole host of other viruses, including the flu.

What Do You Think?

I’d love to hear what you think about coronavirus – and whether we’re doing enough to prevent its spread. Please feel free to share your own opinion on my Facebook page or on Twitter.

Carlos Gamino

2019’s Weirdest (and Funniest) News Stories

16 Thursday Jan 2020

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2019’s Weirdest News Stories - Carlos GaminoBy Attorney Carlos Gamino

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you know we’re big fans of strange news stories. We did a little digging in the archives and found these gems from 2019 – they’re some of the weirdest pieces we’ve ever read (and this time, we didn’t get any from FloridaMan.com, which is packed with fabulous fodder).

Trial by Combat

A Kansas man in the middle of a raging custody battle wanted to settle a series of disputes with his ex-wife in true Game of Thrones fashion. David Ostrom, the aspiring fencer, put his rapier-like wit on display when he requested that an Iowa judge allow him to sword fight his ex-wife “on the field of battle, legally.” He also asked the judge for three months to find samurai swords that were up to the task.

The judge denied the request, which could end in death, by saying, “Such ramifications likely outweigh those of property tax and custody issues.”

Border Patrol is Getting Crappy Signals and These Vultures Are to Blame

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection radio tower in Texas is sending out mixed signals since a horde of vultures has taken up residence, fowling things up for on-the-go agents. Apparently, the birds have been there for the past 6 years – and a rep from CBP said, “They will often defecate and vomit from their roost onto buildings below that house employees and equipment.” The scavengers usually feed on carrion, which isn’t always easy on the digestive tract, and one of their primary defense mechanisms is vomit.

Walmart Dressing Rooms: Enter at Your Own Risk

Pennsylvania police are frantically searching for suspects after someone released bedbugs in an Erie County Walmart’s dressing room. A manager found a pill bottle teeming with live bugs in a boys’ jacket for sale, and a hygiene contractor called out to examine the scene found several crawling around the men’s dressing room the next day. Rumor has it that the prosecutor is also itching for a conviction in the case.

What Are Your Favorite Weird News Stories From 2019?

What weird news stories stuck with you from last year? I’d love to hear all about them, so drop a link on my Facebook page or on Twitter.

Attorney Carlos Gamino

 

 

Stress and Your Heart: You’re More At-Risk Than You Think

16 Thursday Jan 2020

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New Study Says Burnout is Bad for Your Heart - Carlos Gamino By Carlos Gamino

A new study published in the European Journal of Preventative Cardiology says that chronic stress and exhaustion can be a key factor in arterial fibrillation, or AFib – the most common heart rhythm disorder. AFib is also the leading cause of stroke in Europe and the U.S., affecting more than 33 million people worldwide.

So if you’re feeling burned out, experts say it’s time to step back and calm down.

“We’ve known that stress can cause other types of heart disease, but this is the first study to really link exhaustion to potentially increasing your risk for a cardiac arrhythmia,” said study author Dr. Parveen Garg, an associate professor of clinical medicine at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine. “We’re drawing a link between exhaustion and atrial fibrillation which really hasn’t been described before.”

As many as 80 percent of American workers say they feel stress on the job, and more than half say they need help managing it.

The 25-year study followed almost 12,000 people who didn’t have AFib, and only people who scored highest in “vital exhaustion” were more likely to develop the condition. (Vital exhaustion is a medical term for irritability, extreme fatigue and a feeling of demoralization.)

“Vital exhaustion is associated with increased inflammation and increased activation of the body’s physiologic stress response,” Garg said. “When these two things are chronically activated that can have serious and damaging effects on the heart tissue, which could then eventually lead to the development of this arrhythmia.”

Vital exhaustion is a serious issue – and its key symptoms are feeling constantly overwhelmed, emotionally and mentally drained, demoralized and exceptionally tired, even after a full night of sleep. You might experience mental blocks, a lack of motivation, stress eating (or loss of appetite) and insomnia.

Experts suggest that you can help ease your own mental fatigue by:

  • Staying organized
  • Being realistic about the things you need to accomplish
  • Doing repetitive tasks in bulk
  • Rethink how you’re expending energy
  • Don’t ruminate or over-worry

What Do You Think?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this study, why Americans are so over-stressed and burned out, or anything else. Please feel free to share on my Facebook page or on Twitter!

Carlos Gamino

 

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Recent Posts

  • 2020’s Weirdest Crime Stories January 11, 2021
  • SpaceX Has Sent Its Second Crew of Astronauts to the ISS December 14, 2020
  • Scientists Find Possible Signs of Life on Venus October 15, 2020
  • Court Orders Indonesians to Dig Graves for Refusal to Wear Masks September 19, 2020
  • Will Wisconsin Schools Reopen During Fall 2020? August 1, 2020

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