BuzzSugar

Polygamous Sect Leader Warren Jeffs Gets Life For "Marrying" a Dozen Child Brides

Annie Scudder — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 11:10:03 PDT

If the affable stars of Sister Wives make polygamy seem appealing, Warren Jeffs makes it look like a nightmare. Last week a jury convicted the 55-year-old leader and self-proclaimed prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and today Jeffs was sentenced to life in prison for aggravated sexual assault with a child and 20 years for sexual assault of a child. In total, Warren Jeffs had 78 wives, including 12 whom he married before they turned 16. The youngest was 12.

Back when Jeffs was arrested in 2008 and authorities seized more than 400 children from the polygamous compound, the public became fascinated with the sect. The "children of the cult" got a People cover story, in which they discussed their exposure to mysterious modern marvels like TV and baseball while in custody. In 2009, Oprah infiltrated Jeffs's former compound and got a lesson in polygamous hair secrets, specifically how to master the Snooki-esque poof. When she asked about underage marriage, answers ranged from "absolutely not" to "not really."

Since then, polygamy has continued to hold a secure place in pop culture. HBO's Big Love inspired guided polygamy tours, and Kody Brown and his four wives, the family portrayed on TLC's Sister Wives, have turned plural married into a civil rights cause, suing Utah's governor alleging that by "criminalizing religious-based plural families and intimate relationships under the criminal bigamy law, Utah officials prosecute private conduct between consenting adults." Whether or not you think polygamy should be decriminalized, you can see the distinction between Brown and Jeffs: consenting adults vs. underage brides.

Front Page: Iran Fires Missiles, Polygamy Leader Hospitalized, Darfur Peacekeepers Attacked

CitizenSugar — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:59:24 PDT

Iran Fires Missiles:
Iran has test-fired nine missiles today, including one capable of reaching Israel. The tests coincide with escalating negotiations over Iran's nuclear program as well as US and UK warships conducting naval maneuvers in the Persian Gulf. The tests make this quote from yesterday stand out. A senior Iranian official said yesterday that Iran would respond to any military attack by striking Israel and America’s vital interests around the globe. He said, “In case that they commit such foolishness, Tel Aviv and the US fleet in the Persian Gulf would be the first targets to burst into flames receiving Iran’s crushing response.”

Polygamy Leader Hospitalized:
Polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs has been taken from jail to a Las Vegas hospital for an unknown medical problem. President of the now well-know FLDS sect, Jeffs was sent to prison after a conviction by a Utah jury last year on two counts of first-degree felony rape as an accomplice. His health has been in jeopardy while in prison because of a self-imposed fast as well as attempted suicide combined with throwing himself against the walls and banging his head.
Darfur Peacekeepers Attacked:
Six members of the joint peace mission between the United Nations and African Union in Sudan's Darfur region have been killed in an attack. A convoy of 40 armoured vehicles ambushed the peace force while on patrol in North Darfur. Reports say that about 17 peacekeepers are still missing. The UN-AU mission struggles against the violence with only 9,000 of the planned 26,000 troops. It's unclear at this point who was behind this attack. Since the conflict began in Darfur five years ago, the UN estimates that 300,000 people have died and another two million have fled their homes.

Source

Katherine Heigl to Take On Carolyn Jessop's Polygamy Story

BuzzSugar — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:31:10 PDT

Carolyn Jessop's memoir Escape will be adapted for the big screen, with Katherine Heigl attached to star and produce, Variety reports. Jessop, whose testimony helped convict polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs, "was born into the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints sect. At 18 she married a man 32 years her senior; at 35, she fled with her eight children."

Another memoir focusing on this same Warren Jeffs case was also recently acquired by a movie studio, Elissa Wall's Stolen Innocence. Apparently this particular case is becoming a favorite headline for filmmakers to rip.

Do you think Heigl will do well with this weighty drama?

Source and source

Announcing the 2012 Grammy Award Nominations

Rose Curiel — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 07:51:21 PST

For the second year in a row, the Recording Academy has given a hip-hop artist the most Grammy nominations. Last year, it was rapper Eminem with eight, and this year, Kanye West leads the nominees with seven chances at the golden gramophone, including a song of the year nod for "All of the Lights." West is also nominated twice in the rap album of the year category for his collaboration with Jay-Z on Watch the Throne and his own album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Brit crooner Adele wasn't far behind Kanye, picking up six nominations for her album 21, as well as a shot at song of the year with "Rolling in the Deep."

Bruno Mars also did well, racking up six nominations (that's down one from last year for those keeping track), while newcomers like Nicki Minaj and dubstep artist Skrillex are up for the best new artist category. See what other artists have a chance of walking away with a Grammy during the February 12 award show when you read more