the FAT wall

Netflix has become the savior of home entertainment for many, but recently Netflix has been in talks with major studios about delaying new release movies by a month or more. Why? The major studios are willing to drop the price of the DVDs it sells to Netflix with the understanding that all new release movies wouldn't be accessible to its customers for up to a full month after release date—presumably in hopes that more people would buy their stupid DVDs. It would cut Netflix's costs by almost half, but there's no word yet on if that savings would be passed on to its loyal customers.

Authorities say man stole car to face theft charge

(AP) – 1 day ago

VALLEJO, Calif. — The California Highway Patrol say a man stole a car to make a court appearance on a previous auto theft charge.

Patrol investigator Chris Linehan says he arrested Samuel Botchvaroff Tuesday as he sat inside a stolen 2000 Range Rover at the Vallejo courthouse. The 24-year-old Botchvaroff had just left his arraignment on auto theft charges stemming from an Oct. 31 arrest.

Linehan said the Range Rover's LoJack system helped him locate the vehicle, which had been stolen from Oakland earlier Tuesday morning.

Authorities say Botchvaroff told officers his car had been impounded, and he had no other way to get to his arraignment.

He was booked into Solano County Jail on suspicion of auto theft and possession of stolen property.

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Ever since I first saw the breathalyzer costume a few years ago, I knew it was only a matter of time before some frat boy was busted for drunk driving wearing one. That day has arrived.

According to a police report, 18-year-old James N. P. Miller, of Cincinnati, was seen driving the wrong way out of the entrance to a one-way street at East Park Place in Oxford.

Officers executed a traffic stop and found that Miller was wearing a breathalyzer costume [I assume they laughed their asses off]. After investigation, police said, Miller was found to be operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

Inside his car, officers allegedly found an open container of Bud Light in the center console.

Officers also found what was left of a case of Bud Light in the passenger side front seat and in the trunk.

The legal limit in Ohio is .08 BAC—Miller tested at .158. He was cited for operating a vehicle while intoxicated (among other violations) and released to his girlfriend. Hopefully, she realizes that there isn't much of a future being with the "blow here" breathalyzer mug shot guy.

We've seen a lot of half-assed Halloween costumes in our lives, but none as pitiful as this pair of drunken thieves who tried to disguise themselves by drawing on their faces with black permanent marker.

Matthew McNelly, 23, and Joey Miller, 20, were apprehended last Friday after allegedly trying to break into an apartment in Carroll, Iowa. Cops were tipped off by a witness, who told them the duo had taken off in a white car.

When officers pulled over a car matching the description a few blocks away, they found the suspects inside, their faces scribbled haphazardly with marker.

We applaud their resourcefulness (have you seen the prices of ski masks lately?), but we think they could have been a lot more creative with their Sharpie designs. How about a handlebar mustache and a Zorro mask? An eye patch and freckles?

Got any better ideas for marker disguises? Let's hear 'em.

James Norwood was hired on at Old Mill Toyota in Omaha, Nebraska in 2000, eventually working his way up to parts and service director. At the same time, Norwood reportedly sold over $548,000 in goods as a hard-working eBay business owner, praised by customers for being dedicated and a fast shipper. Norwood sounds a lot like a man living the American dream, except prosecutors in Omaha allege that the entrepreneur has been stealing parts from his day job to sell on eBay.

The Omaha World-Herald reports that Norwood has officially been charged with theft, a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Old Mill Toyota became suspicious of Norwood's actions when a co-worker allegedly witnessed him creating fictitious parts tickets using other employees' names and then later canceling them so the body shops weren't charged. Prosecutors also claim that Norwood would help his co-workers unload the parts truck, creating a separate pile of items that were intended for auction.

Authorities later seized Norwood's home and work computers and discovered the former parts and service director's blossoming eBay business. Among the stolen items Norwood's allegedly sold online were 798 bed extenders, 375 skid plates and 363 roof racks; parts that fetched $226,000. While authorities say Norwood's eNay operation netted $548,000 in sales since 2000, it appears he is only being charged with the theft of $282,500 in merchandise reportedly stolen from Old Mill Toyota after he became the dealership's parts and service director.