Old People Like Readingh Negative Stories About Young

(2010-09-02)

NEW YORK – Older people like reading negative news stories about their younger counterparts because it boosts their own self-esteem, according to a new study. German researchers said older people tend to be portrayed negatively in society. Although they are often described as wise, they are also be shown as being slow and forgetful. "Living in a youth centered culture, they may appreciate a boost in self-esteem. That's why they prefer the negative stories about younger people, who are seen as having a higher status in our society," said Dr. Silvia Knobloch-Westerwick, of Ohio State University. Knoblock-Westerwick and her co-author Matthias Hastall, of Zeppelin University in Friedrichshafen, Germany, studied 276 German adults, including 178 aged 18 to 30 and 98 between 55 and 60. Their findings are published in the Journal of Communication. All the adults in the study were shown what they were led to believe was a test version of a new online news magazine. They were also given a limited time to look over either a negative and positive version of 10 pre-selected articles. Each story was also paired with a photograph depicting someone of either the younger or the older age group. The researchers found that older people were more likely to choose to read negative articles about those younger than themselves. They also tended to show less interest in articles about older people, whether negative or positive. But younger people preferred to read positive articles about other young people. According to Knobloch-Westerwick, older people's preference for negative news about their younger counterparts can be explained by their place in society. "Everybody likes a self-esteem boost. For young people though, it's almost automatic. Youth is considered important in society," she said. After perusing the articles, the participants completed a questionnaire designed to measure levels of self-esteem. Unlike their younger counterparts, the self-esteem of older people rose after they read a negative article about younger people. Although the study was done in Germany, Knobloch-Westerwick believe nationality and the national characteristics are not important. "I believe that much the same would hold true for Americans" if a similar study were undertaken in the US," she said in an interview.

Womna find's son buried at funeral she invited him to attend

(2010-08-21)

PARIS – A French woman discovered her 42-year-old son had been buried in the same cemetery where she was attending her brother's funeral, after she had tried to invite him to the ceremony, a newspaper said Friday. The family were leaving the cemetery near Lille, Wednesday when one of them noticed a temporary wooden gravestone bearing the son's name and date of birth in an area reserved for poor people. "In two or three seconds, everybody started to scream," the man's father Elie Langlet told La Voix du Nord newspaper. "Josiane (the mother) collapsed. She buries her brother and finds her kid in a grave near him. It's unthinkable," he said. The local council confirmed the father of one, Olivier, had died on July 5 from natural causes. Josiane Vermeersch said she had tried to contact her son a few days before to invite him to his uncle's funeral, to no avail, and had thought he was ignoring her after a row. "Someone hasn't done their job," she told news channel I-Tele. "I demand explanations," Vermeersch said, adding it was unbelievable in a time of modern technology that nobody had attempted to contact the family. Citing the funeral parlor that buried the man, the newspaper said it was not uncommon for families not to be informed if there is no immediate contact address.

Bitter Lemonade Battle Resolved

(2010-08-08)

PORTLAND, Ore. – After a county inspector squeezed out a kid's lemonade business, so many Oregonians puckered up in disgust that the county chairman had to pour on a little sugar. The apology sweetened up some sour feelings and made 7-year-old Julie Murphy eligible to resume selling her Kool-Aid and water concoction for 50 cents a cup. Last week at a local arts fair, Julie and her mother were surprised when a county inspector asked to see their restaurant license. They didn't have one. The inspector told them they would face a fine of up to $500 if they didn't stop selling lemonade. Other vendors urged Julie and her mother not to leave. A second inspector arrived and the two inspectors were surrounded by a crowd of vendors supporting Julie and her mother. Ultimately, Julie and her mother packed up the stand, and as Julie left the fair she was crying. But Julie has prevailed. Jeff Cogen, chairman of Multnomah County, says the health inspectors were "just following the rule book" but they should have given the girl and her mom a break. On Thursday, he talked with Julie's mom to apologize. "A lemonade stand is a classic, iconic American kid thing to do," Cogen told The Oregonian. "I don't want to be in the business of shutting that down." And how does Julie feel about this? Her mother, Maria Fife, said she and her daughter appreciates the apology. But the sweet and sour tale of lemonade stands at the Portland art fair might not yet be over. According to the Oregonian, one vendor at the local arts fair is planning a "lemonade revolt" the next time the fair is held — later this month. Cogen says he doesn't know what he'll do if a bunch of fair vendors try selling lemonade without a license. As it turns out, lemons may present county officials with something of a pickle.

Man Jailed For Stealing Library's Tarantula

(2010-07-28)

WESTMINSTER, Md. – A Maryland man has been sentenced to 90 days in jail for stealing a spider from a public library. Carroll County Circuit Judge J. Barry Hughes sentenced 27-year-old Randy Humple of Westminster Monday. Staff at the Westminster library called police May 19 after they discovered Chili Rose, a Chilean Rose tarantula at the information desk, had disappeared. Witnesses told authorities they saw Humple with the spider and that he bragged about swiping it. Hughes also sentenced Humple to four years in prison for violating his probation in a 2007 assault case. Humple told the judge he knows he's done some stupid things and he wants to serve his sentence. The judge said that while what Humple did may have been "stupid on one level," it was also "criminal on another level."

Gibson Guitar Contest Here

(2010-07-13)

Gibson Guitar will be sponsoring a guitar giveaway contest on the hit web comedy series "Who the Hell is Dan Bruder." right here at www.myboldtv.com . The grand prize will be a Gibson SG. All you have to do is sign up on this site and wait until this fall to see if you are the winner! The prize guitar will be be given to the winner on stage at a concert to be announced. Register today.

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