California female imprisoned with trashcan with limbs

A California female was imprisoned Sunday afternoon when she was caught allegedly pushing a huge trash can with dismembered human body parts. Police booked her on suspicion of murder and say she is still not cooperating.

Found in broad daylight

The container was being pushed by 51 year old Carmen Montenegro in San Bernardino, California. She was found at 2:30 in the afternoon pushing it. Law enforcement was tipped off by reports from several residents in the area who had either seen or smelled the trash can’s gruesome contents.

Reporters spoke with Ontario Law enforcement Detective Jeff Crittendon who said “Officers stopped her leaving the location and in the trash can we found human remains.”

Just one man killed

Police currently thinks that one man was killed and the parts all belonged to him. The cause of death is unknown still. According to Crittendon, “I can’t comment on the condition of the body because I am not sure of the exact extent of the injuries. I do know that it was dismembered. It appears to be a homicide.” Crittendon further said that Montenegro “had evidence on her that seemed to be consistent that she was involved with disposal of the body.”

Finding a hold in her lawn

The detective also said that they believe Montenegro disinterred the remains from her previous residence. The arrest was close to her home. It was only about 200 yards away. After the arrest, police investigated the property and found a hole which had been dug in the lawn.

Home not regularly lived in

Local residents report that the home was owned by either Montenegro’s cousin or her mother, and that Montenegro herself had lived in the home on and off for the past 15 years.

Continuing investigation

The victim’s identity is still unknown although police are working on it. The investigators may have found body fluids in the home Monday while they were checking out the property.

Right now, Montenegro is still not cooperating with police and investigators while staying in Rancho Cucamonga, California.

Information from

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/43223519/ns/us_news-weird_news/

NY Daily News

nydailynews.com/news/national/2011/05/31/2011-05-31_california_woman_spotted_pushing_trashcan_of_human_body_parts_down_the_street_ar.html

Huffington Post

weirdnews.aol.com/2011/05/31/carmen-montenegro-dismemb_n_869203.html#s284153&title=Dumb_Crime_Masterminds

Staying away from popular indications of contractor scams

If you are going to employ a contractor, it’s essential for you and your cash that you employ someone that you can trust. With due diligence, you can keep away from some of the most popular forms of contractor scams in the wild west.

Get personal references to call

While it is not uncommon for private contractors to show up for a client meeting with three personal references, it’s worth it to ask them for one more. A fourth reference should be from somebody who had a problem with the work. They’ll have called the contractor back to fix the problem. This is the best way to determine how a contractor really works. It will help you know the contractor’s values.

Get a backup in the conference with you

Typically, contractors are honest with you. It is still better to be safe than sorry. Make sure you have someone with you when you meet the contractor so they think someone else will live there if you’re living alone. Your friend will eventually leave and so will the contractor. Lock the doors and windows after they leave.

Use Better Business Bureau resources

Not everybody will go the extra mile and go to your local Better Business Bureau to check the contractor’s record. If you need home remodeling after a natural disaster, it is especially important that you look at BBBs in surrounding states.

Bonded status and license need to be verified

Contractor’s permit, operating permits and bonds (surety, performance, and workers’ comp) must be verified before hiring any contractor. Verifying the contractor can be done through the secretary of state’s office. Do this in the state where the license came from. Make sure the local authorities have not had any problems with that contractor in the past.

Make sure you talk to an insurance agent in the house remodeling business to discover out what you want for a contractor bond, states Phae Howard. Howard is from the National Center for the Prevention of Home Improvement Fraud currently.

Insurance problems

Speaking of insurance, one thing a customer should know for certain before hiring a contractor is whether the contractor’s insurance is in impact. Stolen equipment is a fact of life, and also you want your contractor to be prepared.

Another essential note concerning insurance involves contractors asking you for your insurer’s contact information, than contacting them for you. Don’t do it. Cullins warns the scam can hurt. Personal insurance information needs to be protected. Contractors do not need it.

Supplies purchased by contractor

Contractors should not be asking you for money for supplies. That is an unprofessional one. Sometimes you will have to buy. Do not give the contractor money directly then. Meet them at the supply store, purchase what is needed and make sure the materials will be delivered to the site the day they’re needed.

Getting the place inspected

After the permits were pulled, have an inspector check the project. You can use the inspector after the project also. This is a safe thing to do.

Every detail in the contract counts

Sometimes you’ll want to avoid signing the contract with a contractor at first. Make sure all details are clear. Have a lawyer review the contract before you sign it if anything is unclear.

Citations

Bankrate

bankrate.com/finance/personal-finance/10-ways-to-avoid-contractor-scams.aspx?ic_id=tsThumb2

BBB

bbb.org/

NCPHIF

ncphif.org/

Beware A/C scams

youtube.com/watch?v=87qYI6NUQ9o

Hochul (D) wins chair from GOP in special House election

Tuesday’s special House election in N.Y.’s 26th Congressional District showed Democrat Kathy Hochul taking the seat from the GOP. Hochul won just barely, beating her Republican challenger Jane Corwin 47 percent to 43 percent. Jack Davis, once a Democrat but now a member of the Tea Party, earned 9 percent of the votes.

Not happy about changes made for Medicare

The primary issues Hochul addressed in her campaign were the changes in Medicare proposed by House Budget Committee Chairman Ryan. Hochul vehemently opposed the changes. There was a debate with Ryan’s budget plan supporter Corwin last week where Hochul said: “I will fight any plan that tries to decimate Medicare. That is something people in this district feel passionately about, and I do as well.”

A comment was given by Rep. Steve Israel of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. He said: “Even in one of the most Republican districts, seniors and independent voters rejected the Republican plan to end Medicare.”

House liked the Medicare changes

There were 15 democrats and 4 republicans that voted against Ryan’s Medicare plan on April 15. It was passed by the House still. Individuals younger than 55 would be able to take advantage of the changes which would allow federally subsidizes premiums for those younger than 55.

How Obama feels about the win

On Tues, Obama made a statement praising the Hochul win. “Kathy has shown, through her victory and throughout her career, that she will fight for the families and companies in western New York, and I look forward to working with her when she gets to Washington.”

Medicare decisions for Republicans

Eric Cantor is the House Republican leader. He disputed claims that victory was even based on the Medicare issue. “This race is about the fact that it’s a three-way race,” Cantor said to reporters.

Sex scandal causes somebody to lose their job

A chair was lost when Republican Rep. Chris Less had a sex scandal. Hochul will not take that seat in his place. Lee had nothing left to do but step down in February. There were shirtless photos of him shown publicly after he sent them to a woman he met on Craigslist.

Even more vacancies

Later this year, there will be two more special House elections held. One, to be held in July, will be to replace California Democrat Jane Harman. In Sept, a political election will be held in Nevada to replace Republican Dean Heller. Heller has been appointed to the Senate to fill the chair vacated by John Ensign.

Articles cited

Huffington Post

huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/24/new-york-special-election_n_866074.html

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/43161820/ns/politics-capitol_hill

Chicago Tribune

chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-pn-ryan-special-election-20110525,0,3908152.story

Tim Pawlenty states completely no to ethanol subsidies

The Daily Caller reports that new presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty told Corn Belt Iowans Monday that ethanol subsidies must cease. The previous Minnesota governor’s “Time for Truth” strategy has pulled no stops, claiming that “bailouts, handouts and carve-outs” cannot co-exist with such a huge federal deficit. Intellectual Takeout explains that ethanol fuel supporters cling to the renewable fuel argument, but enough criticisms of ethanol are there to warrant exploration of whether there should be government subsidies for it in the first place.

America and corn

Growing corn remains an indelible stroke on the United States agrarian canvas. It is so essential that it has been sung about. “The Boy Who Would not How Corn” is a song that talks about it:

“Why do you come for me to wed?
Can’t even make your own corn grain.
Single I am and will remain;
A lazy man I won’t maintain.”

Business takes over

Corn is more than just something culture has brought to America now. It is something the automotive industry has been more interested in with ethanol as a renewable resource since fuel efficiency has become so significant. Political lobbies like the National Corn Growers Association have given ethanol fuel production its full support.

Pawlenty is just one of many that do not support the subsidy. He doesn’t think it is worth it. There have already been shortages in corn creating a price surge because grains have been used to produce alternative fuels to gasoline. Cheap grain is more valuable as food than fuel, argues Pawlenty. He helped Minnesota manage its fiscal challenges while reducing ethanol subsidies, and he believes he can do the same for the U.S.

“I’m here today to tell Iowans the truth about federal energy subsidies,” said Pawlenty during his presidential candidacy announcement. “(That includes) federal subsidies for ethanol… (They must) be phased out gradually. We need to do it fairly. But we need to do it.”

Fuel efficiency connection to ethanol

When comparing ethanol to traditional gasoline, it has 34 percent less energy potential per unit of volume, several scientists explain. As a result, ethanol only automobile engines use as much as 50 percent more fuel than a standard gas motor.

The failure to set up a solid connection between ethanol fuel and greater miles per gallon brings ethanol’s viability into question. It may not be possible to add ethanol fuel to the mix considering the idea that Keith Crain and others have that national MGP standards need to go up.

Citations

Auto News

autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110523/OEM01/305239986/1137

The Daily Caller

dailycaller.com/2011/05/23/pawlenty-announces-2012-run-under-banner-of-truth-tells-iowans-that-ethanol-subsidies-must-be-phased-out/

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol_fuel

Intellectual Takeout

intellectualtakeout.org/library/agriculture/ethanol-renewable-energy

National Corn Growers Association

ncga.com/

Tim Pawlenty

timpawlenty.com/

Tim Pawlenty, et al, on ethanol subsidies

youtube.com/watch?v=V5y6E2TQTw0

Acting sexy outlawed in Utah with law

Laws that control intercourse are difficult for many people to even consider. This is also true in Utah. According to the AP, two Utah escort services have submitted a federal lawsuit against the state since the broadly phrased solicitation ordinances not only ban prostitution, but make acting sexy illegal.

Implied offerings of sex are now banned in Utah

According to Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank, Utah adopted its currently worded anti-prostitution laws in order to assist undercover agents working stings within the sex trade. In order to prove they are not police, prostitutes ask officers to “expose or touch themselves” sometimes. This won’t be an issue anymore if it is against Utah state law. Any “lewd” or “suggestive” nonverbal act isn’t illegal with the amendments to Utah’s sex laws on top of straight out asking for money from sex.

Burbank told the media that officers will not target non-prostitutes, but will simply weed out illegal behavior within the sex trade, particularly when it involves the under-aged.

“Officers were being put in a position that we’re not going to allow, so we took a different direction,” he told the AP.

Is it a crime to be sexy?

The escort service will be represented by attorney Andrew McCullough in the lawsuit. He is worried that some of the other businesses with sexual components will be in legal trouble. Escort services and strip club dancers who traditionally express their sexuality or “act sexy” as parts of the job aren’t necessarily soliciting sexual contact, argues McCullough.

“Most girls who touch their breasts are not telling you they’re open for sex,” the attorney said.

Acting sexy isn’t really good at home, either

A Massachusetts bill is considering making intercourse illegal between many people. If they are in the divorce process, it would be illegal to do this within home. The idea is to protect children and slow domestic violence, according to Wrentham, Mass., Selectman Robert Leclair. This would make it illegal for any sexual relationship within the home to take place until the divorce is final while also robbing parents of their rights, some say.

The amount a spouse would have to pay another would be capped while stopping the lifetime alimony payment practice though if the bill did pass.

And how about bestiality?

Bestiality would have been banned in Florida with Senate Bill 344 too. In 2009, Sen. Nan Rich of Sunrise, Fla., introduced the bill. He thinks it is an essential one to have. However, some critics maintain that SB 344 is another bill that suffers from overly broad verbiage. The word “animals” in the phrase “sex with animals” could too include human beings, argues Escapist Magazine – so SB 344 would arguably ban human sexual intercourse, diminishing the state’s tax base substantially.

Citations

Associated Press

wapo.st/jgXAOq

Escapist Magazine

escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/528.283827-Florida-outlaws-sex

Mother Jones

motherjones.com/mojo/2011/05/annals-big-government-florida-ban-bestiality-baggy-pants

My Fox Boston

bit.ly/m50Qb6

David Archuleta’s dad Jeff could not resist the sexy (allegedly)

youtube.com/watch?v=xm6R-V3tL8g

Precious metals businesses facing CFTC investigation

Three separate precious metals investing businesses are being investigated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. American Precious Metals, LLC is the latest business to be shut down in this review of precious metal investments. Gold, silver, palladium, and other precious metals were sold, fraudulently, as investments by these businesses.

Case against American Precious Metals LLC

The American Precious Metals LLC business is situated in Florida. It is in Lake Worth, Fla., to be exact. The business used telemarketers to call and pressure customers into purchasing gold, silver, platinum and palladium investments. With a huge down payment, the business would store physical metals and finance the purchase for the customer. In exchange, the company promised several hundred percent returns on the customer’s investment. The business gave people short-term loans for investment in very special metals. Still, these metals did not really exist. The company also never registered with the Federal Trade Commission or CFTC as an investment business. Regulation on precious metal was not followed by the company. It also violated the Telemarketing and consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act. Now the company doesn’t have access to its assets. They were all frozen.

Prices of precious metals going up

Precious metal investment scams have become more prevalent lately. This is because there has been an increase in the precious metals price tags. There has been a huge increase in gold costs in the last year. They have gone to over $1,500 from being at $1,200. This is not just for gold. Other precious metals have also been increasing. Some of this increase is from the belief that precious metals are considered a “safe haven.” You can never go wrong investing in it. There have been many to warn against getting involved in precious metal investing. They say that it is getting close to bubble status since the costs are far above the “real” value of the metals.

Safeguarding yourself when investing

There are many troubles that can come with investing. You can get your own precious metals and store them. No matter how you choose to invest, always work with companies that have been vetted by the Better Business Bureau. Any company that can’t be verified with the Federal Trade Commission or Commodity Futures Trading Commission should not be invested in.

Articles cited

FTC

ftc.gov/os/caselist/1023212/110517americanpreciousmetalscmpt.pdf

Futures Mag

futuresmag.com/News/2011/5/Pages/CFTC-charges-Fla-firm-with-precious-metals-fraud.aspx

How the NBA mock draft 2011 will go

Basketball authorities like ESPN’s Bill Simmons and Chad Ford don’t see large things coming out of the 2011 NBA Draft, but some solid picks will be accessible. The following top 10 projections for an NBA mock drafts for 2011 start – and end in the minds of many – with Duke’s Kyrie Irving.

Cleveland Cavaliers could be picking Kyrie Irving, PG (Duke)

Kyrie Irving is really good and will be a top-15 point guard most likely, although he is not amazing. Baron Davis was never good enough for the Cavs. Irving may be just what the team needs.

Minnesota Timberwolves considering Enes Kanter, Center (Turkey) as a pick

While Kevin Love turned in a fantastic season under the boards for the Wolves, the team still has a great deal of rebuilding ahead. Keeping Love around could be hard. They may need a big male to help. It is a gamble to pick the 6-foor-11, 272 pound Kanter, some think. Others think the intimidation of the high energy rebounder will give the team an advantage.

Getting Utah Jazz Derrick Williams, SF (Arizona)

In the NBA, Williams will most likely be a small forward with his skills. This is despite the truth that as a Wildcat he was a power forward. However, if Utah throws up their hands over the remaining 2011 NBA Draft crop and decides to go for a popular pick, BYU’s Jimmer Fredette would be a PR slam dunk, if not a sound basketball decision.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Jonas Valanciunas, C (Lithuania) as a possibility

Anderson Varejao may need a big male for instance Valanciunas to help him out.

Toronto Raptors choosing Kemba Walker, PG (Connecticut)

Toronto seriously needs Kembra Walker. He could be the new point guard to help the Raptors out.

Washington Wizards might choose Kawhi Leonard, Small Forward (San Diego State)

Leonard is a fantastic athlete while very good at rebounding and could possibly be a great complement to John Wall with the Wizards. Leonard could be perfect to go with John Wall on the Wizards. He is a fantastic rebounder and athlete.

Sacramento Kings to pick Brandon Knight, Point Guard, Kentucky

Speed, defense and a good outside shot from the point in Knight would allow the Kings to use Beno Udrih as the super backup or 2nd ball-handler the offense needs to really get moving.

Possibility of Detroit Pistons picking Jordan Hamilton, Small Forward (Texas)

With Tayshaun Prince leaving as a free agent, small forward becomes priority. The ball needs to be shot and rebounded as Hamilton can do.

Charlotte Bobcats picking Jimmer Fredette, Shooting Guard (BYU)

If he’s still available, Charlotte will likely go for Fredette so that at least one player on the roster will be able to score consistently from outside. There are also good shots from Bismack Biyombo. He can be a second choice.

Milwaukee Bucks: Tristan Thompson, Power Forward (Texas)

Thompson is 6-foot-8 and 225 pounds. He is a fairly athletic man too. After the failed Yi Jianlian pick from 2007, the Bucks could be worried about going international. If they can get over it, they may just pick Biyombo.

Citations

Bleacher Report

bit.ly/kuOQ8z

Fox Sports

msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/2011-NBA-draft-lottery-winner-051711

The Sporting News

bit.ly/kYTnGq

2011 NBA Draft Lottery highlight: The final three

youtube.com/watch?v=GqWuPdf8u2o