Source: ABC News

The next time you fly, be thankful Pythias Brown and the 380 other TSA officers who have have been caught stealing from passengers between 2003 and 2012 are no longer on the job. Though the agency says the nearly 400 officers who have been fired ”represent less than one-half of one percent of officers that have been employed” by TSA, I doubt that is much comfort to victims of Brown, who admitted to stealing $800,000 worth of items from luggage and security checkpoints over a period of four years. Not to mention, that figure isn’t reflective of all the people who haven’t been caught.

Brown, who was recently released from prison after he was caught trying to sell a camera from the luggage of a CNN producer on eBay— but neglected to remove all the networks’ identifying stickers (should’ve stuck to his day job) — spoke to ABC News about how easy it was to steal. The former TSA officer at Newark Liberty International said:

 ”It was very commonplace, very. It was very convenient to steal. It became so easy, I got complacent,” he said.

According to ABC, Brown was assigned to screen luggage behind the ticket counters and often worked alone. He was even informed when overhead surveillance cameras weren’t working.

“It was so easy. I walked right out of the checkpoint with a Nintendo Wii in my hand. Nobody said a word.”

Soon, he stepped his game up, so to speak, and learned how to read X-ray scans to pick out the most expensive things to steal.

“I could tell whether it was cameras or laptops or portable cameras or whatever kind of electronic was in the bag,” Brown said. “It was like being on drugs, it was.  “I was like, ‘What am I doing?’ but the next day I was right back at it.”

At the time of his arrest, Brown had around 80 cameras, video games, and computers for sale on his personal page on eBay. Perhaps he views his interview with ABC as some sort of atonement, saying he’s only speaking out now to warn passengers. He even added a tip that the supposed TSA-proof locks sold for luggage don’t work because TSA employees know how to pick them without anyone knowing.

Of course, hearing all of these details makes it seem as though everyone working in airport security is corrupt, but Brown claims most people are honest, it’s just the low pay and poor morale among employees that tempts them to steal. According to Brown:

“They didn’t think it was okay, but they did it and said, ‘I don’t care. They ain’t paying me. They’re treating me wrong.’ But then when people started seeing they could profit off of it, then it became massive.”

Has anything ever been missing from your checked luggage after a flight?

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Source: Necole Bitchie

TMZ proves they are the masters of insider tips once again because Evelyn did in fact sit down with ABC’s Amy Robach to discuss her troubled relationship with Chad Johnson and we’ve got a preview of the special right here.

From the snippet of the exclusive posted below and the transcript highlights posted on NecoleBitchie.com, this interview is everything we expected: a whole lot of tears, a whole lot of finger-pointing, a whole lot of PR. Evelyn says that she hasn’t spoken to Chad since the incident which occurred August 11, and goes into detail about what happened the night he head-butted her, what led up to that altercation, and why she decided to file for divorce. The special airs tonight at 11:30 on ABC, but for now check out these highlights:

What she wants to hear from Chad
I would like for him to tell me that he got help and that he is working on himself, whenever I talk to my sister or my girlfriend, I always say I want the best for him. I really do! And he is a good guy who made a bad choice. He loves football, he is very driven, a great dad. He made a bad choice that destroyed his life and I hate that I’m connected to that, I do, but it was his choice. It wasn’t mine.

It would have to take sometime [for us to speak again]. I love him very much and I think that us being away from each other is the right thing. So when is he going to say sorry? [...] It’s the hardest thing in the world to walk away from someone that you really love/ But you have to walk away because I have to protect myself.

On the events leading up to the head-butting incident
And then the next thing I know, he grabbed me by here [pointing to her head] and he head-butted me. I felt blood coming down my face… and I looked at him and I said, ‘You just head-butted me?’ And it just — everything just felt if it was in slow motion.

He was gone to me, like, it wasn’t him. He got out of the car, really, really quick and ran into the house, and I said to myself, ‘I need to get out of here.

On the decision to file for divorce
I said to myself, ‘I’m never going to go through that again, ever. I don’t think any woman should ever have to feel like that or be fearful of her husband.

I was a very good fiancé and wife to Chad. I did everything I could to make his life better. The person on ‘Basketball Wives’ is not the person at home. I don’t think he would marry me if I was.”

Will you watch tonight?

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Source: thetopofthemorning.tumblr.com

From BlackVoices.com

Robin Roberts updated her fans on Friday about the latest round of her fight with bone marrow disease.

The “Good Morning America” host, who announced in June that she had contracted a rare disease called MDS, had to take the day off to accompany her sister Sally-Ann to the doctor. Sally-Ann is going to be Roberts’ bone marrow donor, having been called a “perfect match.”

Check out Robin’s reaction to the news and the testing she and her sister went through on BlackVoices.com.

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Source: thecubiclechick.com

Robin Roberts is a survivor. Five years ago, The ABC News morning anchor battled breast cancer and became a symbol of hope for many women in her situation, but now the 51-year-old has a new health challenge to take on: MDS.

Myelodysplastic syndrome, or MDS, is a rare blood disease that turns into another form of cancer, acute myelogenous leukemia, in about a third of patients, and can also lead to low blood counts and other complications. This morning, ABC News President Ben Sherwood sent out a note to the staff about Robin’s condition in which he wrote:

“We love Robin, the heart and soul of ABC News, and we’ll stand arm in arm with her as she fights this new battle. She is the captain of our GMA team; she has been the keystone of our recent victories; and she will lead the program for many years to come.”

In his note he also included an inspiring e-mail he received from Robin about her outlook on her newest battle:

Ben

 # # #

Here we go again…

As many of you know, 5 years ago I beat breast cancer.  I’ve always been a fighter, and with all of your prayers and support, a winner.

Sometimes the treatment for cancer can cause other serious medical problems. Today, I want to let you know that I’ve been diagnosed with MDS or myelodysplastic syndrome.  It’s a disease of the blood and bone marrow and was once known as preleukemia.

My doctors tell me I’m going to beat this — and I know it’s true.

If you Google MDS, you may find some scary stuff, including statistics that my doctors insist don’t apply to me.  They say I’m younger and fitter than most people who confront this disease and will be cured.

Today, I will start what is known as pre-treatment — chemotherapy in advance of a bone marrow transplant later this year. Bone marrow donors are scarce and particularly for African-American women.  I am very fortunate to have a sister who is an excellent match, and this greatly improves my chances for a cure.  As you know from my recent interview with Mark Zuckerberg, organ donation is vitally important. Many people don’t realize they can be bone marrow donors.  I encourage everyone to sign up on a donor registry like bethematch.org.

I received my MDS diagnosis on the very day that Good Morning America finally beat the Today Show for the first time in 16 years.  Talk about your highs and lows!  Then a few weeks ago, during a rather unpleasant procedure to extract bone marrow for testing, I received word that I would interview President Obama the next day. The combination of landing the biggest interview of my career and having a drill in my back reminds me that God only gives us what we can handle and that it helps to have a good sense of humor when we run smack into the absurdity of life.

Bottom line: I’ve been living with this diagnosis for awhile and will continue to anchor GMA.  I love what I do and the people with whom I do it.  Along with my faith, family and friends, all of you at ABC News give me the motivation and energy to face this challenge.

Going forward, it’s business as usual at GMA, which means I’ll be right here every day with George, Sam, Josh and Lara.  When I miss a day here or there, I’m fortunate that some very talented friends at ABC News will fill-in.  When I undergo the transplant later this year, I’ll miss a chunk of time.

When I faced breast cancer, your prayers and good wishes sustained me, gave me such hope and played a major role in my recovery.  In facing this new challenge, I ask humbly for more of your prayers and love – as I will keep you in my mine and update you regularly on my condition.

Love and blessings,

Robin

Not many women could be that positive the morning of pre-treatment but it’s very comforting to know that Robin’s sister is a match for donation and that she’s well supported by family, friends, and her coworkers to battle this disease. This is also a bittersweet opportunity to shed light on the issue of bone marrow donation among African American women, which I’m sure she will do. I’m definitely hoping Robin pulls through strongly and becomes an MDS survivor as well.

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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Source: hellobeautiful.com

Who needs to sweat at the local gym and lose the hard way when you can insert a tube into your body, lose your appetite for more than a week, and lose about 10-20 pounds in 10 days!?

If you really think the latter is a better option, shame on you.

But that’s what some women are doing to help get them in tip-top shape for their big day. It’s known as the K-E Diet. The ultimate in crash dieting, brides-to-be insert a tube through their nose, which runs to the stomach. According to ABC News, they’re fed a constant slow drip of the protein and fat they need, mixed with water that has no carbohydrates, and tops around 800 calories a day. During this feeding, body fat is burned off through a process called “ketosis,” which can still leave your muscles in good shape.

Dr. Oliver Di Pietro, a Florida-based doctor, seems to think the diet is a great and effective way to lose weight, even if it does sound…over-the-top as hell.

“It is a hunger-free, effective way of dieting,” Di Pietro said. “Within a few hours and your hunger and appetite go away completely, so patients are actually not hungry at all for the whole 10 days. That’s what is so amazing about this diet.”

Yeah, “amazing.” That’s the word I was thinking of (no, actually, I was going for crazy.) No need for hospitalization during the process, you just carry the bag around with you and keep the tube in your nose non-stop for 10 days. Aside from some possible uncomfortable constipation and generally bad breath, Dr. Di Pietro says the diet is good to go if you don’t have the time to devote to a strict workout regimen. Except if you have kidney issues, of course. If you do, you should stay far away from the diet.

I understand the want to fit in the gown of your dreams, but I hope women like this put just as much effort into their marriages as they do trying to fit in a dress they’re going to wear for one day.  This whole wedding culture is getting a tad bit insane. I mean, Dr. Di Pietro actually charges $1,500 for this 10-day weight loss plan. Just think what money like that could be used for, but instead it’s being used to help you drastically lose weight to feel good for one day. Is it ever really that serious?

Would you ever consider trying the K-E Diet? Why or why not?

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Source: davidwygant.com

A struggling waitress and mother from Minnesota received the tip of a lifetime a while back when she opened a box with $12,000 in it. While she was trying to do the right thing and decided to contact the police about the money, that’s a decision she now regrets. Here’s the deal-io according to our friends at ABC News:

One day while working at the Fryn’ Pan in Moorhead, Minn., Stacy Knutson found a small box on the table of a customer who was leaving. When she tried to hurry up and return in to the customer, the woman told her to keep it. So she did. And when she opened it, she was surprised to find $12,000 worth of cash in it, wrapped in bundles and with rubber bands. This is what Knutson said in the lawsuit: “Even though I desperately needed the money as my husband and I have five children, I feel I did the right thing by calling the Moorhead Police.”

When she did, Moorhead Police took the money and told her that if it wasn’t claimed within 60 days, it was all hers.

But after 60 days passed, they asked her to wait 90 days.

Then 90 days passed. Still no money.

In the end, the police kept the money and said they would offer Knutson a $1,000 reward as a replacement for turning it in. Why? Despite what you’re thinking (that they played her), the local police say that the money had the smell of marijuana on it, and therefore, they needed to open up a drug investigation on it.

But people working the day Knutson found the money don’t believe that mess, and made their opinions known in an affidavit. It wasn’t drug money, because they know drugs when they smell ‘em:

“I know the smell of marijuana,” said Nickolas Fronning, a line cook at the Fryn’ Pan. “I can also assure you that there was no smell of marijuana on the bills or coming from the box.”

Her lawyer says that he and his client believe someone from her local church, who knew of her money woes found a way to give her the large “tip.” With her large family, Knutson had been working at the Fryn’ Pan for 18 years to help make ends meet.

“Somebody knew she really needed the money and she needed to be helped,” says Craig Richie. “The only thing that smells bad about this is that it’s unfair. So that’s why we’re doing something about it.”

But the police told ABC News that they are not trying to steal from her at all. Lt. Tory Jacobson says they’re actually on her side:

“The police department doesn’t have a decision on either side,” Jacobson said. “She did the right thing, we credit her with that. It’s certainly not the police department against her. We’re actually with her.”

I don’t know folks, this is a really tricky situation. Something about it does smell funny, as though she was left with dirty money. But money is money, and she found it, and it is long past the initial 90 days. So…I say just let the woman have it. However, that’s just my opinion. What about you?

Do you think this money is dirty? Or did it come from a generous person doing a good thing?

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You think it would be common knowledge to wait for a publicist’s statement when it comes to the rumors of celebrity splits that tabloids are good for producing. Guess not.

Unless you live under a rock, or were preoccupied with the news of the earthquake on the east coast, you probably heard all the rumors that Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith were separating. This report was started thanks to the tabloid In Touch Weekly, who, well at least for now, have proven themselves to be out of touch once again. The falsehood that the power couple, our fave in black Hollywood, were breaking up caught on like wildfire with many media outlets reporting the rumors based ONLY off of In Touch Weekly‘s “sources.” It even became a trending topic on Twitter. Well looks like those rumors are not true.

Not only did Will Smith’s publicist confirm that they are still together, and the marriage is “intact,” but according to ABC News, their son Trey (Will’s son from a previous marriage) even felt the need to step in to do damage control on Twitter: “No they did NOT split ! False information.” And also forget what you heard about Jada and her “Hawthorne” co-star Marc Anthony (YES, J.Lo’s ex) getting it in now, her publicist put the brakes on that rumor too: “All the rumors regarding Marc Anthony and Jada are false. Completely untrue.” Three shut downs in one day!

So there you have it. All the hoopla has been about nothing. While we can’t say whether or not their relationship will last forever, we here at MN won’t spread hype like today’s report without confirmation from the parties involved. Better late than lying! And c’mon, I’m sure their children had to read and worry about this mess today, and that’s not cool. Do better folks! But until then, let’s be happy that this power couple is still the reigning king and queen of black Hollywood.

As if you didn’t have enough to worry about in trying to make your marriage work, according to ABC News, a new study says that marriage is more satisfying for both partners when the woman is thinner than her husband. How interesting that in the study, both partners can agree that marriage works well for the both of them when one person works harder than the other…

The four year study followed 169 newlywed couples to find that men were more satisfied initially, and women more satisfied in the long run when the wife’s body mass index was lower. According to ABC News, the study was published in the July issue of Social Psychological and Personality Science. The lead author of the study, Andrea Meltzer, has an interesting theory on her findings. She says:

“One idea is that attractiveness and weight are more important to men,” she said. “That might be why we see this emerging at the beginning of the marriage for husbands, and their dissatisfaction might be affecting wives’ satisfaction over time.”

But Meltzer does understand that weight isn’t the only and biggest factor that determines marital happiness. But she does say that if you feel you’ve packed on a substantial amount of pounds and you’re worried your weight has put a dent in your relationship but your man won’t be direct with you about it, open-ended questions can go a long way. They can help you pinpoint problems and figure out what can be done to fix the problem. Whether it’s understanding and acceptance of your new size or the resolution that you need a good old fashioned trip to the gym. She also says the following about addressing womanly weight gain:

“Instead of asking, ‘Are you annoyed that I’ve put on weight?’ try, ‘How do you feel about the weight I’ve gained?’ Heitler said. “It’s better to know if the weight bothers your spouse than to not have that information.”

So do you believe that a woman’s weight alone, and not both partner’s sizes, can affect marital satisfaction in a negative way? How would you address the issue with your partner?

To read more of the study’s findings and get some advice on talking about weight gain in your relationship, check out ABC News.