Teen Who Killed Four People Got Off On Probation Because He's Rich

A 16-year-old boy who drunkenly killed four people got probation this week because the judge — with no apparent irony — agreed with the boy's defense that he was a victim of "affluenza," whose parents taught him wealth and privilege shield consequences. The teen had faced up to twenty years in prison.

Sixteen-year-old Ethan Couch admitted to four counts of manslaughter after he and seven other boys stole alcohol from Walmart, piled into his car and struck and killed four pedestrianswhile going 70 miles per hour in a 40 zone. One of his passengers remains in the hospital with severe brain damage, and nine other bystanders were also injured.

Couch's BAC was a .24 and he also had Valium in his system. According to reports, he was belligerent at the scene, at one point saying, "I'm outta here." Prosecutors were hoping to get up to 20 years.

Couch's defense was that he was a victim of his parents' wealth and privilege; in that he never had to face consequences, which an expert summarized prior to sentencing.

He said Couch got whatever he wanted. As an example, Miller said Couch's parents gave no punishment after police ticketed the then-15-year-old when he was found in a parked pickup with a passed out, undressed 14-year-old girl.

Miller also pointed out that Couch was allowed to drive at 13. He said the teen was emotionally flat and needed years of therapy. At the time of the fatal wreck, Couch had a blood alcohol content of .24, said Tarrant County Sheriff Dee Anderson. It is illegal for a minor to drive with any amount of alcohol in his or her system.

The victims' families sort of agree with the reasoning, in that they too feel that Couch's privilege helped him avoid consequences.

Couch is now being sent to a $500,000-a-year counseling center. There are apparently five civil wrongful death suits pending against him totaling tens of millions of dollars.

Sean Cotton Christmas Seasonal Concert

Sean Cotton is appearing at Sutherland Hall in Huntsville, Ontario for an intimate Christmas Concert -Wednesday December 10th at 7:30 pm.

In a short interview, Sean had this to say about his Christmas seasonal concert...
"The songs are a collection of songs that I've written over the past 18 years that only feel
relevant one or two times a year, each written to serve a different purpose for me creatively. It turns out that each one represents the challenges of winter in different ways. It is interesting to put them all together and see the common thread and message between them, especially for songs written about different things from over such a long period of time."

"There will be songs for families looking for some real perspective to share with their kids about why we celebrate this time of year, couples looking to celebrate their bond through these cold months, single people looking for a voice during this time of year and a little bit of a surprise for the ones young enough to believe in Santa and still think they can get away with being naughty. Mmmmwahahahha! "

$10 for adults and $5 for kids. It is at Sutherland Hall with a 7:30pm show time. 

You can buy tickets at the door, Cripple Creek Music, Treasures and Trophies

Jamie Clarke has joined Tree Ring Records

Jamie Clarke is Canadian singer/songwriter currently based in Muskoka, Ontario. He currently fronts the band “Myrle” and co-fronts the band “Lewis & Clarke”. He is a lyrically driven songwriter, who attacks his guitar with confidence. His unique voice sets him apart from others, with its baritone rasp, often compared to an early Tom Waits or “Bruce Springstein with a new set of spark plugs”

He is currently supporting the release of his first full length album, produced by fellow musician Shannon Lyon. www.shannonlyonmusic.com

“Like Dylan, Earle and all the great troubadours that came before him, Jamie’s songs are steeped in true emotion and will stand the test of time.” SL
Lewis & Clarke are preparing for their release of their first Album “Rock and Roll is Broken” with Tree Ring Records.

Jamie has been writing, performing and recording music for over 15 years. He has lived, performed and traveled Canada for well over a decade. His songs are inspired by loss, hope with the backdrop of a country he has gotten to know and love intimately.

You can get his disc here: http://www.indie-pool.com/order/cart.asp?showCompany=1

Visit his website here: www.myrle.ca

Man Commits Suicide in Mall After Girlfriend Refuses to Stop Shopping

A man who was fed up with his girlfriend's incessant Christmas shopping responded to her request for one more look around a mall shoe store by leaping seven floors to his death.

The 38-year-old, identified as Tao Hsiao, had been shopping with his girlfriend at the Golden Eagle International Shopping Center in Xuzhou, China, when she asked to check out one last shoe store.

SEXPAND

Having been inside the mall for five hours, Tao had reached his limit, and reportedly insisted that they leave immediately.

"He told her she already had enough shoes, more shoes that she could wear in a lifetime and it was pointless buying any more," an eyewitness was quoted as saying. "She started shouting at him accusing him of being a skinflint and of spoiling Christmas, it was a really heated argument."

Surveillance footage shows Tao angrily hurling the shopping bags and jumping over the railing onto the cosmetics section below.

A spokesman for the shopping center says no one below was injured in December 7 incident, and that the man died instantly upon impact.

"This is a tragic incident, but this time of year can be very stressful for many people," the spokesman said.

South Carolina sheriff refuses to lower flag for Mandela

Rick Clark, the elected Sheriff of Pickens County South Carolina announced on Facebook Friday that he will not comply with President Obama's request to lower the flag outside his office to honor former South African President Nelson Mandela, saying that though "Mandela did great things for his country and was a brave man", "he was not an AMERICAN!!!"

In interviews, Clark has said that he would have made the same decision, if he had been in office when President Bush asked for flags to be lowered for Pope John Paul. Pickens County officials have said that Clark can do as he wishes with the flag in front of his office, but other county flags will remain at half-staff.

Woman Stuck to Home Depot Toilet After Prankster Puts Glue on Seat

Police in Georgia are investigating a cruel prank at a Home Depot bathroom that resulted in a customer becoming glued to a toilet seat. Illyanna De La Keur, 40, of Banks County, was apparently unaware that Loctite glue had been smeared on the toilet seats inside the store's ladies room before she sat down. Attempting to lift herself off, De La Keur noticed that she had become stuck to the seat and was unable to move without ripping her skin. The stay-at-home mom says it took up to 25 minutes for someone to come to her aid. Emergency workers were called in to remove De La Keur from the seat, a process which took over an hour and was "really embarrassing," according to De La Keur.

She was subsequently transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. De La Keur told WSB-TV she felt her extraction was mismanaged, and should not have taken place inside the store, but rather in a hospital. "The bathroom is unsanitary," she said. "There were people in there. There were men in there. Everybody was sticking their head in. And here I am with somebody rubbing WD-40 on me and pulling me loose from the seat." De La Keur says she is still recovering injuries she sustained during the November 27 incident and finds it extremely difficult to walk. Authorities, meanwhile, are still searching for the culprit. An open bottle of Loctite GO2 glue was discovered in a "brown paper sack" on the bathroom floor by store manager Mary Dean. According to Dean, two other toilets seat were also covered in "what appeared to be some kind of glue."