Author: Darren O

A test program launched at Austin’s SXSW festival is stirring up some Texas sized controversy. Homeless Hotspots takes members of Austin’s homeless population and equips them with 4G MiFi devices. Wearing t-shirts that read “I’m (Name). I’m a 4G Hotspot,” they try and get donations from users for a wireless connection. The website for Homeless Hotspots suggests $2 for every 15 minutes. See a video interview with one of these “homeless hotspots” and read a reps’ response to the backlash this concept has received.

Lincoln Park, Michigan’s Amanda Clayton won a million dollars in the state lottery. She took it all in one lump sum and after taxes she pocketed about $500,000. Even when gubment gives she still takes a bite! All of this was good news for the 24-year-old single mother of two. On the bad news side a local news station got a tip that girl was still receiving and using $200 a month in food stamps and decided to do an actual secret hidden camera type of investigative journalism story on the lady. See the report and hear Amanda’s candid explanation as to why she didn’t see any problem with it.

One of the safest local news reports you can do for TV is the ol’ soaring gas prices staple. Adrienne Pedersen of Tampa area’s WFLA was on that predictable beat when a driver straight up slammed a taxi right behind her. That sound of screeching and metal on metal will make just about anyone jump from fear or shock but not our girl Adrienne. Watch this eye popping video as the faithful news reporter stays on task in spite of the chaos that happens behind her and catch the seasoned anchor’s clever response from the studio.

Marcela Borges, 2-months-pregnant, was held captive, her husband was bound to a a chair with his face hidden, her autistic five-year-old son was tortured and threatened with Russian roulette, she was beaten, shot, threatened with death, attempted to free her family with a kitchen knife, leaped backwards from a 2nd story window while bound by tape falling just in between two air conditioner units, survived a knife fight with an assailant, managed to flee and heard the click of a pistol as she ran to a neighbor to call police to save her family. Can someone say MOM OF THE YEAR!?! Read on for her story that is nearly beyond description.