Douglas Ernst

Man arrested in N.J. for attempted smuggling of F-35 data to Iran

A man was arrested Jan. 9 at Newark International Airport in New Jersey and charged with attempting to give blueprints for the F-35 fighter jet to Iran. Published January 14, 2014

‘Rubber Band Machine Gun’ fetches over 100K in pledges on Kickstarter

Who knew that worldwide demand for a Rubber Band Machine Gun was so high? Alexander Shpetniy, a design student at the National University of Lugansky, has raised over $100,000 in pledges on Kickstarter for his creation, which can dispense 672 rubber bands in just 48 seconds. Published January 14, 2014

Russia wins Sochi gold for corruption? IOC official cites $18B in embezzlement

If there was an Olympic gold medal in embezzlement, would Russia win? During a recent radio interview, A Swiss member of the International Olympic Committee said that roughly a third of the $55 billion spent on the Sochi Olympics having disappeared due to corruption. Published January 10, 2014

Hunters use drones to stalk prey

PETA has used drones to keep track of hunters. Now hunters are using drones to keep track of their prey. Published January 10, 2014

Man takes ‘selfie’ after surviving plane crash over Pacific Ocean

Ferdinand Puentes survived a plane crash in December off the coast of Hawaii. Then, while treading water in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, he had the presence of mind to chronicle his attempt to survive with a "selfie." Published January 10, 2014

Veterans make first Mars One cut: ‘A hell of a thing to tell your mother’

More than 200,000 people volunteered to be the first to walk on Mars, but only 1,000 made the first cut. Many of them have military backgrounds. Published January 10, 2014

Karzai snubs U.S.: 72 high-profile detainees will walk

Afghan President Hamid Karzai announced Thursday that 72 high-profile detainees that intelligence officials insist are a threat to American troops will be released. Published January 9, 2014

‘True vikings’ must try Iceland’s ‘whale beer’

Iceland has a new drink that is being marketed for "true vikings" — whale beer. Published January 9, 2014

Illegal immigrant caught at U.S. border hidden inside suitcase

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials stumbled upon a odd smuggling plot recently when they discovered a woman attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border — stuffed inside a suitcase. Published January 8, 2014

Former Gitmo detainee with ties to al Qaeda implicated in Benghazi attack

U.S. officials believe that former Guantanamo Bay detainee Abu Sufian bin Qumu, who was released in 2007 and sent to Libya, played a role in the Sept. 11, 2012 terror attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Published January 8, 2014

Top military brass kept from pension cuts that budget deal brings to soldiers

December's congressional budget deal will shave the pensions of many career soldiers via cost-of-adjustment changes — but top brass will be unaffected. Published January 8, 2014

San Francisco: It’s illegal to store anything other than a car in the garage

In San Francisco, storing that weed trimmer and old sports equipment in apartment or hotel garages can get you fined up to $500. In fact, it's illegal to store anything besides an automobile. Published January 8, 2014

Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates rips Obama in memoir

President Obama's leadership style is savaged in the 594-page memoir of Former Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, a man who has served every president going back to Richard Nixon, except Bill Clinton. Published January 7, 2014

Evander Holyfield gets earful for ‘choice’ gay comments

Evander Holyfield used to take hits in the ring — now he's taking them in the court of public opinion over his televised comments on gay people. Published January 7, 2014

Pentagon looks for new ways to weaponize 11K drones

A recent report by the U.S. Department of Defense highlights the Pentagon's desire to adapt roughly 11,000 drones for its needs in the Asia-Pacific region. Published January 3, 2014

Obamacare website failure: 18K West Virginians forced to re-enroll

Thousands of West Virginians who thought they had signed up for Obamacare will have to re-enroll because of glitches in the system. Published January 3, 2014

Facebook’s Zuckerberg makes $990M charitable gift; tops in 2013

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg made the largest charitable gift on public record in 2013, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy. Published January 3, 2014

Libyan army detains two Americans in Benghazi

Two Americans have been detained in Benghazi, Libya, only days after four U.S. military personnel were taken into custody and then released by the Libyan government, Reuters reported. Published January 2, 2014

Kevin Smith plans movie pitting humanity and Satan vs. giant raging Jesus

Director Kevin Smith targeted the Catholic Church in 'Dogma' and fundamentalist Christians in 'Red State.' One of his upcoming movies will apparently pit humanity and Satan vs. a giant rampaging Jesus, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Published December 31, 2013