A free Premium Blogger theme.
“I have a bad hip…”
EllenTube
EllenTube
EllenTube
GoButler just raised $8 million in financing from Ashton Kutcher and other tech investors.
Maddie Meyer / Getty Images
Last week, retired tennis star James Blake was tackled by a plainclothes New York City police officer who mistook Blake for a suspect in a three-man credit card fraud ring. The NYPD said the individual who identified Blake as the suspect — pointing to him from eight feet away — was a courier for GoButler, an on-demand app that recently raised $8 million from Ashton Kutcher and other tech investors. A sting was set up after the virtual-assistant startup complained to the NYPD about suspicious behavior and agreed to help identify the fraudsters, who were observed during previous deliveries where the suspects used allegedly fraudulent credit cards.
The NYPD asked to "supervise a delivery" if the trio made another purchase. When the suspects ordered designer shoes via GoButler delivered to the concierge desk at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan, a team of undercover officers accompanied the courier. Blake was staying at the hotel and standing outside waiting for a car to take him to the U.S. Open when he was body-slammed by Officer James Frascatore. The NYPD claims that Blake was mistaken for one of the suspects during the sting based on a photo provided by GoButler and the courier's incorrect identification.
The NYPD released a video of the arrest, in which you can see Officer Frascatore run at Blake from off-camera. Robert Boyce, the NYPD's chief detective, told the New York Times that one of the suspects met the courier and was arrested immediately. Then the courier "pointed to Mr. Blake from eight feet away" as another member of the fraud ring, said Boyce. The second suspect was later arrested inside the hotel.
In a news conference on Thursday, Police Commissioner William Bratton apologized to Blake "on behalf of the city of New York." At the same conference, Boyce said GoButler gave the NYPD an Instagram photo from a social media account of someone who was thought to be one of the suspects. But the man in the photo, who was later revealed to be Australian designer Sean Satha, also had nothing to do with the alleged fraud. Bratton said that based on that Instagram photo, the suspect and Blake "look like twins," prompting further uproar about racial profiling.
Officer Frascatore, who was put on modified duty and is currently under investigation, is ultimately responsible for the use of force that set off the latest tide of public outrage over police brutality. However, despite comments from the NYPD that its team of officers was "relying on" the courier, GoButler released an official statement disavowing all responsibility for misidentifying Blake, along with a quasi plug for its stress-free services.
The police identified Blake as an individual who looked similar to one of the social media profiles used to purchase items via GoButler. ... While GoButler did not contribute to misidentifying James Blake, we are working to contact him to offer our network of services across the country to eliminate any stress during his future travels.
In response to questions from BuzzFeed News, spokeswoman Bianca McLaren said: "I want to reiterate that GoButler had no role in misidentifying James Blake. This was an isolated incident and the NYPD arrested two people in connection to the alleged fraud."
The suspects, Jarmaine Grey and James Short, were arraigned in criminal court on Thursday. According to the criminal complaint (below) from the Manhattan District Attorney's office, the defendants allegedly used American Express cards to fraudulently purchase Cristal champagne, an iPhone 6, three iPhones worth $2,446.42, and a Louis Vuitton bag, as well as clothing purchases from TaskRabbit and a food order to Five Guys burgers, among other items through GoButler.
Customers use the 24-hour service to text their requests to an operator (the company calls them "heroes") who then finds the outside service providers, like other delivery services, to do the job at no additional charge. The complaint says that the informant who reported the fraud was "an employee" of GoButler. The company would not say whether the courier was an employee or a contractor.
Spoiler: Marijuana will get you the worst suspensions.
Verdict: No suspension!
Verdict: No suspension!
Sania Mirza was kinda there too, you guys.
Al Bello / Getty Images
Via google.co.in
Malone in 2001.
Chris Gardner / ASSOCIATED PRESS
Moses Malone, the former star basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers who was named the NBA's most valuable player three times during his stellar career, has died aged 60, his former team said Sunday.
In a statement that did not provide details of Malone's death, the Philadelphia 76ers said the team and its supporters were mourning the "sudden loss" of the Pro Basketball Hall of Famer.
"It is difficult to express what his contributions to this organization — both as a friend and player — have meant to us, the city of Philadelphia, and his faithful fans," the statement read.
"Moses holds a special place in our hearts and will forever be remembered as a genuine icon and pillar of the most storied era in the history of Philadelphia 76ers basketball."
A key part of the 76ers' 1983 championship team, the 6-foot-10 center player became known as the "Chairman of the Boards" during his 20-season career because of his legendary rebound skills.
According to ESPN, Malone was one of just four NBA players in history to accumulate 25,000 points and 15,000 rebounds over his basketball career. The only other players to earn this scoring distinction include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, and Elvin Hayes.
Malone at his former high school in 1974
AP Photo
Born in Petersburg, Virginia, in 1955, Malone proved a dominant force on the court from a young age.
As he led his high-school team to 50 straight victories and two state championships, opponents refused to play the team unless he stayed out of free throw lane during pickup games.
At 19, he became the first player to ascend directly from his local high school team to the ABA league, joining the Utah Stars.
When the ABA folded, he was absorbed into the NBA, quickly becoming a star player and helping lead the Houston Rockets to the 1981 finals.
He was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player in 1979, 1982, and 1983.
Although best known for his team in Houston and Philadelphia, Malone also played for the Washington Bullets, Atlanta Hawks, and San Antonio Spurs during his career.
Malone playing the Boston Celtics in 1985.
Charlie Krupa / AP
He eventually retired following the 1994-95 season, having averaged 20.6 points per game and 12.2 rebounds.
"His generosity, towering personality and incomparable sense of humor will truly be missed," the 76ers said in their statement.
"We will keep his family in our thoughts and prayers and as we are once again reminded of the preciousness of life," the team said.
Houston Rockets owner Leslie Alexander also released a statement mourning Malone's death. "Moses was a true gentleman and one of the great Rockets — and greatest NBA players — of all time," Alexander said.
Other players and teams also paid tribute to Malone on Twitter:
People on Twitter are not being kind to the Chelsea manager.
Steven Naismith came on as a sub after just nine minutes, replaced the injured Besic. And it wasn't long before he found the back of the net after a superb piece of skill and a cheeky one-two.
Alex Livesey / Getty Images
