DRUNK LAWYER NEARLY LOSES HER ARM CLIMBING DOWN TRASH CHUTE TRYING TO GET INTO HER APARTMENT

Boy, was she trashed!

A completely hammered Manhattan lawyer who got locked out of her Chelsea apartment yesterday nearly lost her arm when she jumped down the garbage chute to get back inside.

The hare-brained bid began when attorney Maggie Baumer came home from a long night on the town at around 6 a.m., only to find herself stuck without the keys to her first-floor apartment on West 21st Street.

A source in the building said the buzzed Baumer had given her keys to a friend.

Instead of calling the pal, Baumer rang every bell until someone let her into the building, according to her super.

DON’T TRY THIS: Maggie Baumer (inset) was severely injured when she went down this trash chute, which was taped shut yesterday
.

But she got a little too creative with her plan to get into the apartment.

Baumer figured that sliding down the trash chute would get her to the building’s basement. From there, sources said, she planned to go through the cellar and enter the building’s garden, where she would be able to open a window in her own apartment and climb inside.

She entered the chute with her hands in front of her — and her arm got caught in the compactor, triggering a motion detector, authorities said.

A piston crushed her arm, cutting almost all the way through, according to an FDNY source. “It was barely hanging,” the source said.

At least 17 firefighters responded to the grisly scene, shutting off the power and giving her morphine to cope with the pain, authorities said.

It took about an hour to pull her out, authorities added. She was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where she underwent surgery.

Baumer has lived in the building for four years. She is a Tufts grad who works as a lawyer for Goldstein and Lee.

SHAUNIE O'NEAL GIVES THE BOOT TO 4 CAST MEMBERS OF L.A. BASKETBALL WIVES

“Basketball Wives: L.A.” axed four of its six cast members — and we've learned the catalyst was when Gloria Govan shut producers out of her nuptials to L.A. Lakers star Matt Barnes.

Sources connected to the show tell us the producers are getting rid of Gloria, Laura Govan, Malaysia Pargo and Brooke Bailey because the wives, especially Gloria, weren’t allowing “all of their reality to be filmed.”

We’re told the breaking point came when Gloria (who is known for her feisty ways) jetted off to Vegas to marry Barnes — and didn’t even let the show know about it. Our sources say the producers felt extremely disrespected by her actions and made the decision to clean house.

Draya Michele and Jackie Christie will be the only returning members.

5'5" MAN TRIES TO JUMP OVER MOVING CAR BUT IT GOES ALL WRONG

[VIDEO] Z-RO "THIS AIN'T LIVING"

(VIDEO) MEEK MILL FEAT. KIRKO BANGZ "YOUNG & GETTING IT"

MEEK MILL & MACHINE GUN KELLY PERFORM ON THE "DREAMS & NIGHTMARES TOUR"

SUNDAY MORNING FOOD: BOB MARLEY-REDEMPTION SONG (ACOUSTIC)

(OFFICIAL MOVIE TRAILER)THE MAN WITH THE IRON FISTS 2012

MAN AWAKENED WHEN ANGRY GIRLFRIEND BITES INTO HIS SCROTUM AFTER FALLING ASLEEP ON THEIR AGRUMENT

Linda Mendez appears in Central Judicial Processing court on Friday, Oct. 26, 2012. She was charged with aggravated assault and domestic violence after police say she bit her boyfriend's scrotum after an argument.

A Jersey City man who went to sleep after an argument with his girlfriend was awakened late Thursday night when she bit his scrotum, tearing right through the skin, authorities said.

Linda Mendez, 40, was charged early this morning with aggravated assault and domestic violence, over the objection of her boyfriend, who told police he did not want to press charges. 

The mother of three appeared in court yesterday and her bail was set at $35,000 with a 10 percent cash option.

The 46-year-old victim told police that the two argued at 11:30 Thursday, and to avoid the argument he went to sleep, reports said. 

Minutes later Mendez woke him by biting his neck and his scrotum, causing bleeding, police said.

Mendez complained of pain in her left hand and was treated at the Jersey City Medical Center and released for incarceration, police said.

Mendez was also charged on three open warrants, two for light rail fare-jumping violations and the other for a city ordinance violation.

'SILENCE IN THE HOUSE OF GOD' EXPOSE TO UNCOVER THE VATICAN'S SECRETS ON SEX ABUSE SCANDALS AND COVER-UPS

Alex Gibney

Alex Gibney — the Oscar-winning documentarian who has trained his lens on Eliot Spitzer, Lance Armstrong, Julian Assange and Enron — has found his most controversial topic yet with the Oscar-buzzed exposé “Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God,” which traces a sex-abuse scandal from a Milwaukee Catholic church to the Vatican.

The movie was banned by the Venice and Rome film festivals this year, and Gibney says of its rejection: “I was disappointed. The Vatican exerts a very strong influence in Italy. There is a palpable sense of fear there. This film takes on the Vatican’s complicity [in covering it up].”

The HBO film, in theaters Nov. 16, follows the story of Father Lawrence Murphy at the St. John’s School for the Deaf in Wisconsin, who molested 200 of the school’s pupils for 24 years until 1974. He was never disciplined, even after his actions were brought to the attention of the Vatican. Instead, he was moved to other schools.

“The direct connection of the Vatican to this sheds light on the way they’ve shoved this stuff under the carpet,” says Gibney, who discovered a similar scandal involving deaf students in Verona, Italy, while making the film.

“Who knew an ‘anomalous’ story about a priest abusing 200 deaf children in Milwaukee would be a testament to the predatory nature of this problem? We found a worldwide pattern.”

Five students are interviewed in the film, and as they use sign language to explain their ordeals, their words are voiced by actors Ethan Hawke, John Slattery,Chris Cooper and Jamey Sheridan.

Gibney continued: “We play with the idea of silence in this film. How could this predatory behavior exist with people so helpless?

“With the priests in Italy . . . there is very little sympathy for victims,” Gibney said. “Instead, there’s this resentment that people would attack the Church. What else is in this huge cache of documents in the secret Vatican archives that has been compiled for centuries?”

DEADLY SLANG BY GANGS OF NEW YORK FROM A TO Z

The crab got a biscuit and is drinking the bumble bee’s milk.

Translation: a Crip gang member has a gun and is looking to kill a Latin King rival.

New York gangs aren’t just a frightening menace driving up crime in the city. They operate in a shadowy underworld with their own signs, signals and terminology.

But a forthcoming book by gang expert Lou Savelli pulls back the veil, revealing thousands of insider terms for everything that makes up gangster life: guns, drugs, money and murder.

“Gangs have their own language to represent who they are and to show their camaraderie,” says Savelli, a leading consultant who founded the NYPD’s gang unit and is now deputy director of the nonprofit East Coast Gang Investigators Association.

“The slang they develop helps protect them from law enforcement. They also don’t want other criminals ripping them off.”

Savelli says the emergence of small youth crews and the rising power of outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMGs) pose significant threats.

“There’s more sex-trafficking and prostitution from last year,” he said.

He noted that a federal gang-intelligence report on Oct. 12 noted that 48 percent of the crime nationwide is committed by gangs.

No wonder Police Commissioner Ray Kelly recently called for doubling the size of the NYPD’s gang unit.

Some of the 5,000-plus words and phrases in Savelli’s book, “Gang Related: Signs, Signals and Slang of Modern Gangs and Organized Crime” — a work in progress intended both for cops and general readers — have already made it into everyday use: bling, chilling and po-po, for example.

Others, like bumble bee, a name the Latin Kings got in the 1990s when they wore puffy goose-down jackets in black and gold, are limited to the criminal community.

Here, an A to Z guide of some of the terms Savelli highlights:

Adidas: “All Day I Destroy a Slob.” This from the Crips, a gang of about 3,200 in New York who have taken to wearing T-shirts from the sports apparel company instead of identifying themselves with their signature blue hats and bandanas. The phrase is a boast aimed at their main rivals, the Bloods, a gang of 7,000 whom they derisively call “slobs.”

Biscuit: A gun. “Ya gotta biscuit?” is used by street and motorcycle gangs. Other terms for gun: gat, nine (for the 9-mm handgun), puppy (among Jamaicans) and pump (for shotgun).

Crab: The Bloods’ term for Crips. “It’s a way to disrespect them,” says Savelli. Crab is the sexually transmitted variety.

Drinking milk: A Crip term for targeting or killing a rival, stolen from the Bloods in the 1990s, when jailed Blood members devised a way to disrespect others in prison -- by stealing food off their tray or drinking their milk. It’s now used widely by various gangs.

Elbow: Used by drug dealers to describe a pound (that is, “lb.”) of drugs.

Fat Boris: A term among Russians organized-crime members for a scammer who will pose as an attractive woman online, seducing his target into accepting delivery on jewelry or other luxury good and sending the item to Europe. This allows the thief to hide his involvement in buying expensive merchandise with a stolen credit card.

Ghetto star: A top street drug dealer, usually in a housing project. Term likely started with Harlem drug lord Nicky Barnes. “Fifty Cent was also a ghetto star,” notes Savelli.

Hotel: Used as a dismissive term for jail by the Israeli Mafia, whose ultra tough, heroin-dealing members have been locked up in many prisons across the globe. “It’s just a place where they’re going to stay for a while,” Savelli says.

Inca: a top leader in the Latin Kings, who have about 3,000 members in New York, predominantly Puerto Ricans concentrated in Brooklyn and The Bronx. There are believed to be five Incas in the city.

Jumped in: An initiation beating. Beatings have fallen out of favor with some gangs but are still used by Bloods, Crips and Mexican crews. “You can cover up but you can’t fight back,” Savelli says. Survive it and you’re in.

Kite: A jailhouse letter in the shape of a miniature kite. “They actually can ‘fly’ from cell to cell,” explains Savelli. “They look like kites on strings. It’s amazing. And the note is written in such small letters that they can write volumes. It’s a way to place your order for drugs or to get someone shanked.”

Lampin’: A term for hanging out under a street-light, usually where drugs are sold. “That’s what kids do — that’s their turf, their territory,” says Savelli. Dates back to the 1960s.

Mug: An Albanian gangster. Originated with Jimmy Cagney films, which referred to prison photos as mug shots. Overseas gangsters get many terms from Hollywood. “Jamaicans call themselves posses because of the spaghetti westerns of the 1970s,” says Savelli.

Nickel: Five years in prison, a badge of honor and commonly used among gangs. “Average drug dealers do six months to two years, so if you’re in for five, there’s a chance you did a murder or a major drug case,” says Savelli.

On point: Getting ready to fight. It’s a generic term but used most commonly by Bloods and Crips. “They’ll say, ‘Be on point,’ Savelli notes. “It also means to get your gun ready.”

Picasso: Both a noun and a verb, it refers to the slicing up of one’s face in prison. “You’ll hear people say, ‘He’s so good with a knife, he’ll do a Picasso on you,’ ” says Savelli. The mark of a serious slashing is also called a “buck fifty.” That means at least 150 stitches.

Queen: a female member of the Latin Kings.

Rack: To steal. “Rack up” means to shoplift.

Stack: Refers to both gang hand signals and speaking only by using them. “Some of these gangs can do the whole alphabet in their own signs or using American sign language,” says Savelli. “They could have a whole conversation without saying a word.”

Terror Dome: Attica prison. A gathering place for hard-core killers, murderers, rapists and major drug dealers. Name comes from its violence and history of riots in 1960s and ’70s.

Uryt: To kill or bury in Russian. “It actually means to bury a body — ‘Bury this guy,’ ” says Savelli. Russian gangsters, notoriously ruthless, do fewer murders today than in the past as they concentrate on ID theft and financial scams.

Ventana: A lookout among Mexican and Latin King gangs. It’s the Spanish word for window.

Wanksta: A wannabe gangster, a pretender. Word is a cross between wanker and gangster.

Xap Sam: A type of poker favored by Chinese gangsters. Played in the back of crime-controlled nail salons and massage parlors in Chinatown and Sunset Park, centers for prostitution and illegal gambling.

Yubitsume: Punishment in the Yakuza Japanese mob in which a pinkie is chopped off. The Yakuza in New York maintain a low profile but are actively engaged in extortion and prostitution. It’s one of the biggest gangs worldwide, with some 200,000 members.

Zoomer: A street gang term for someone who sells fake drugs to unsuspecting druggies. Gang members don’t like zoomers because they are bad for business and bring unwanted heat from law-enforcement.

NEIMAN MARCUS EDITION MCLAREN 12C SPIDER: ONLY 12 MADE AND SOLD OUT FOR $354,000 IN TWO HOURS

Neiman Marcus Edition McLaren 12C Spider goes for a cool $354,000

 They're called "fantasy gifts" but 12 hot sports cars are going to be reality gifts for those who snapped them up from Neiman Marcus for the holidays.

The Neiman Marcus Edition McLaren 12C Spider goes for a cool $354,000. There were only 12 made for the sales -- and all were snapped up earlier this week in a mere two hours.

Wretched excess? Sure. Good for the economy? Terrific, if you're a Brit because they are made in the U.K. Probably won't do much for the U.S.

We've written before about the McLaren 12C, but this one gets some extra fancy touches to make it Neiman worthy. The butterfly wing-like doors swoosh open at the push of a button. The upholstery has red-contrast stitching. And its oh-so-fast. With a carbon fiber body and 616-horsepower V-8 engines, the 12C flies from a stoplight to 60 miles per hour in 3.2 seconds. Fast enough for you?

You don't even need to pull to the side of the road to put down the convertible top. You can retract it at speeds up to 20 miles an hour. .

The 2013 Neiman Marcus Edition came in "Volcano Red" and included a matching McLaren luggage set. We're not sure it will fit in the tiny car, but it's nice to know you have it.

But as they say in TV infomercials, there's more!

Buyers receive a business-class trip to England for a VIP dinner with McLaren Chairman Ron Dennis and a tour of the McLaren factory. All for one low price!

YOUR 401(K) COMES ROARING BACK WITH THE HELP OF REINVESTED DIVIDENDS

Call this the Age of Anxiety. Gas costs an average $3.59. A huge storm is set to claw its way up the East Coast. And if the other guy wins the presidential election, the Republic will collapse, Yosemite will erupt, and we'll all be forced to bow to our new, deeply evil overlords.

But take a breath. Despite all the calamities, real and imagined, you can take comfort in the fact that your 401(k) plan is probably doing fairly well. You can thank financial markets, employer contributions and your own good sense for that.

The average stock mutual fund has gained 11.4% this year, and 124% since the stock market's bottom on March 9, 2009, according to Lipper. And even though the Standard & Poor's 500 has yet to match its Oct. 9, 2007, high, your 401(k) has, most likely, done exactly that.

The average defined contribution plan, which includes 401(k) plans and 403(b) plans, currently has a balance of $74,380, up from $70,970, says pension consultant Aon Hewitt.

One reason: reinvested dividends. The S&P 500 has reached a new high — barely — if reinvested dividends are included. The blue-chip index is up 0.5% from Oct. 9, 2007, through Wednesday.

But you probably did somewhat better than the index, if you invested a set amount in your fund at the end of every month — a practice called dollar-cost-averaging. Say you invest $250 a month in the Vanguard 500 index fund, which tracks the S&P 500. And, because you're utterly luckless, you make your first investment on the last trading day of September 2007, just as the worst bear market since the Great Depression is about to start. The fund trades at $140.61 that day, so you become the proud owner of 1.78 shares of the Vanguard 500 Index fund.

By the last day of March 2009, the fund's share price has shriveled to $73.44. Your $250 now buys you 3.40 shares — almost twice as many. Lucky you!

But, in fact, if you continued to invest regularly, you did fairly well, in part because of the shares you bought on the cheap. Had you invested $250 a month in the fund from Oct. 1, 2009, through the end of September this year, you'd have $19,587 in your account, according to Lipper. Your investment: $15,250.

Had your employer matched any of your investments, of course, you would have fared far better. A dollar-for-dollar match is a 100% return on your investment, and you'd be silly to pass it up under any circumstances.

But most people have done well with their 401(k) plans because most people don't put all their money into stock funds. Currently, about 47% of all mutual fund assets are in stock funds, according to the Investment Company Institute, the funds' trade group. In 2007, 54% of all fund assets were in stock funds.

Those who invested in bonds, which often rise when stocks fall, got a cushion during the last bear market. The average general U.S. bond fund has gained 32% since September 2007, Lipper says.

Those who invested in money market funds — well, it's best not to think about that. Money fund yields are lower than Satan's root cellar, and after 401(k) fees, you may well have a negative yield. Nevertheless, suppose our hapless investor put $250 a month into a 401(k) portfolio of 50% large-company stocks, 25% government bond funds, and 25% cash. He'd have $17,550 now. A portfolio of 60% stocks and 40% government bonds would be worth $18,285.

What should you be doing with your 401(k) money now?

* If you're younger than 50, the bulk of your 401(k) money should be in stocks. You're limited to what your 401(k) offers, so in most cases, that means large-company stocks. If your company offers a midcap stock fund, all the better. Midsize companies have room to grow earnings and often do better than their large-company brethren.

* Gear back on stocks as you approach retirement. You should decide when you retire — not the stock market. And, as investors have discovered, stocks are not your friends when the economy is bad and layoffs start rising. "If you're going to be drawing on your assets within the next five years, you should be more conservatively positioned," says Eric Wiegand, senior portfolio manager of the private client reserve at U.S. Bank.

* Rebalance periodically. A portfolio of stocks and bonds is remarkably self-balancing. If you want a portfolio that's 60% in stocks, rebalance if stocks grow to 70% or shrink to 50%.

* Keep contributing. You may think that your towering 401(k) balance comes from your uncanny ability to manage money. Maybe it does. But it probably comes from your ability to save. The biggest single determinant of how much you'll have at retirement is how much you save.

And most people have to save more. If you have the average 401(k) balance, you're not going to be able to retire on that. Assuming you want $50,000 in income the first year of retirement, $74,380 isn't going to get you far.

Still, the nice thing about 401(k) accounts is that the money is yours: You don't have to rely on government or a pension plan to dole it out to you. And even if that rotten, no-good lying scoundrel from the other party wins the election, nothing is going to change that.

MEEK MILL SPEAKS ON LONG AWAITED DEBUT ALBUM 'DREAMS & NIGHTMARES' RELEASE DATE SET

Meek Mill's long awaited debut album 'Dreams & Nightmares release date set for 10/30/12.

His time has come: Just six months after he crashed several file-sharing sites with more than 3 million downloads of his free mixtape, Dreamchasers 2, Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill's long-anticipated debut album, Dreams and Nightmares,arrives Tuesday. He scored a top 10 urban hit over the summer with Amen, featuring Drake and Jeremih, and a second hit, the Kirko Bangz-assisted Young and Gettin It, is on its way up. The Maybach Music signee has also had several high-profile showcases, including performing with label boss Rick Ross and Mariah Carey on the NFL Kickoff concert in New York. He'll join Ross and the rest of the Maybach crew on a 30-date college tour that starts Nov. 2 in Columbus, Ohio.

A two-sided story: On Dreams and Nightmares, 25-year-old Meek (aka Robert Williams) talks about avoiding the pitfalls of urban streets, while also exalting the success he now enjoys. He gets plenty of help with guest appearances by Ross, Wale, Nas, John Legend, Mary J.Blige and Trey Songz. "A lot of the songs are about my life, my pain, and you can tell I've been through these things," says Meek, whose father was killed when he was 5. "You can feel it. The dream part is me living as an artist making money touring across the world, and nightmares touches on everything that it took for me to make it from the streets."

Making his own legend: Meek Mill's uncle, Grandmaster Nell, an old-school Philadelphia rap pioneer, encouraged his nephew at an early age to spend time in the studio and develop his raw talent. He joined the four-member rap group BloodHoundz and began putting out his own mixtapes in 2005. Over the next three years, he became a local celebrity, fueling the fire with energetic shows.

"(The Internet) is the biggest form of promotion and I could send my music out worldwide," says Meek, who has the words "motivation" and "dedication" prominently tatted on his forearms. "It's a win-lose situation because you're giving your music away for free, but I still get to do shows. I was just showcasing my music and relying on my talent to get my message around."

Taking a wrong turn: By 2008, record labels were starting to take serious interest, as his Flamers mixtapes were some of the hottest on the streets. He came close to signing with T.I'.s Grand Hustle label, but was arrested on gun charges and spent eight months in jail. He hasn't looked back since, releasing a steady stream of music (including a half-dozen mixtapes), making featured appearances with other artists and touring.

"I just work hard and stay focused," says the rapper, whose stage name stems from his middle name, Rahmeek. "I have high expectations for anything I do, and I have to stay at the top of my game."

Breaking out: He garnered critical acclaim and an expanded fan base with his 2011 DJ Drama-hosted mixtape Dreamchasers, on which he talked about his life in the 'hood and future aspirations. It helped land him on the cover of hip-hop magazine XXL's annual Freshman Class issue. The previous summer, Meek had tweeted to Ross, inviting him to collaborate on a song, Rose Red, which also featured T.I. and Vado. Ross later saw the younger rapper move the crowd at a concert and signed him to Maybach Music Group in February 2011.

Meek appeared on both of the label's Self Made compilations, scoring hits featuring Ross with Tupac Back and Ima Boss.

Prepped for success: His momentum carried over into this year, but even he was stunned by the overwhelming response to Dreamchasers 2, which was downloaded 1.5 million times within six hours of its release.

"When I woke up, I was surprised myself to see it have that many hits," says Meek, who later that month signed a management deal with Roc Nation. "Everybody had been talking about Dreamchasers 1, so it seems everybody was just waiting for Dreamchasers 2 and got it."

Facing controversy: The mixtape's first hit, the explicit Amen, proved his biggest to date, but he also wound up having to defend it against accusations of blasphemy. On it, Meek and Drake cheerfully thank God for all the money, sex and alcohol their rap careers have given them over a church organ-driven beat. Pastor Jomo K. Johnson, of Philadelphia's Open Air Church, called for a boycott of the song and engaged the rapper in a heated exchange on the radio. Ultimately, Meek said he meant no disrespect to anyone's religion, and there was no boycott. He says he's put the issue behind him. "I was thanking God for all the blessings he gave me," he says. "There was nothing I could really do about (the controversy) but move on."

CALIFORNIA TO VOTE ON LABELING GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS WHICH COULD SHAKE THE FOOD INDUSTRY ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Protesting Genetically Engineered Foods and labeling.

- A law on the California ballot to require labeling of genetically engineered foods could affect the entire U.S. food market. Proponents say it's about consumer choice. Critics say it brands such foods as unsafe when they aren't.

Proposition 37 would make California the first state to require disclosure labels on all foods that contain any genetically engineered ingredients except meat, milk, alcohol or foods sold in restaurants.

Because most processed foods are shipped regionally or nationally, many companies would have to label much of what they make or reformulate their products to take out genetically engineered ingredients, says Colin Carter, a professor of agricultural economics at the University of California-Davis who is studying the proposition's possible effects. "They'll just have to do it across the board."

According to industry estimates, 40% to 75% of processed foods contain some genetically engineered ingredients, which can make the product cheaper to produce.

Genetically engineered or modified organisms, often called GMOs, are ingredients that have been engineered to add genes with traits such as resistance to herbicides used to kill weeds around them or the ability for a plant to produce its own pesticide. Today 95% of U.S. sugar beets, 94% of soybeans, 90% of cotton and 88% of feed corn are genetically modified.

In September, polls showed the ballot initiative winning by a 2-to-1 margin. However, an advertising blitz against the proposition has caused support to wane. A poll by the University of Southern California and the Los Angeles Times released Thursday found that 44% of registered voters support the initiative and 42% oppose it.

The measure simply gives consumers information so they can decide whether they want to give genetically engineered foods to their families, says Stacy Malkan, media director of California Right to Know, which supports the initiative. "Consumer demand should drive what the market provides. That's just how the free market works."

Opponents counter that the labels make it seem like genetically modified ingredients are not safe. The proposition is not "simply a labeling measure," says Kathy Fairbanks, spokeswoman for the No on 37 group. She notes that Joseph Mercola, an anti-GMO activist and major funder of the proposition, called such labels "the equivalent of a skull and crossbones" in an opinion piece on the Huffington Post.

Critics say genetically engineered foods are untested and risky. They cite studies, mostly in mice and rats, that have shown possible health dangers such as higher rates of allergies and tumors. However, the World Health Organization, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the National Academy of Sciences say there is no indication they are unsafe. In June, the American Medical Association stated that "there is no scientific justification for special labeling of bioengineered foods."

The organic food industry, consumer groups, some food-safety groups and retailers such as Whole Foods, a natural-foods chain, support the proposition. It is opposed by the Biotechnology Industry Organization, the Grocery Manufacturers Association and most of the nation's largest food and beverage makers, including PepsiCo, Nestlé, Coca-Cola and General Mills.

The California initiative is important to the rest of the country because "whatever happens here tends to become the national norm," says Michael Pollan, a food writer who supports the proposition. If it passes, he says, it will change the political balance of power by showing Congress and the White House that "there are votes behind the movement to reform the food system."

"This is a no-brainer," says Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition at New York University.She doesn't think genetically engineered foods are any different or more dangerous than other foods but says consumers should have the choice. "Even if there is no scientific difference, people want to know," she says.

Attempts this year to pass mandatory labeling in Vermont and Connecticut failed. A 2002 ballot initiative in Oregon also failed. Alaska requires the labeling of all genetically engineered fish, though none have yet been approved for sale in the United States.

OKC GUARD JAMES HARDEN TRADED TO HOUSTON DUE TO SMALL MARKET REVENUE OF THE THUNDER

James Harden traded for two 1st rd picks and a 2nd rd pick.

 In professional sports, it's often about the money. And at the end of the day, the Oklahoma City Thunder didn't have the money for guard James Harden.

So late Saturday, the Thunder, who lost to the Miami Heat in five games in last season's NBA Finals, traded Harden to the Houston Rockets for guards Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb, two first-round picks and second-round pick. The Rockets received center Cole Aldrich, guard Daequan Cook and forward Lazar Hayward in the deal.

Harden, the 2011-12 sixth man of the year and a London Olympics gold medalist with Team USA, and the Thunder had been involved in talks about an extension, but the two sides could not find common ground. Instead of risk losing Harden as a restricted free agent after the 2012-13 season, the Thunder decided to make sure they got something in return.

"While I never like having to send out quality players like Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb, this trade gives us a chance to make an immediate impact on the future of our franchise moving forward," Rockets owner Leslie Alexander said in a statement. "James Harden was part of Team USA's gold medal team at the London Olympics and is one of the most skilled shooting guards in the NBA. James, along with the mix of young players we already have in place such as (guard) Jeremy Lin, (forward) Chandler Parsons and (center) Omer Asik give us a very solid group of young, talented players who will form the core of our team."

The deal cuts to the heart of the plight of small- and mid-market teams such as the Thunder. Can they return all of their top players? Are they willing to have a payroll that surpasses the luxury tax and are they willing to pay the tax when they go over? The Thunder have more than $200 million tied up in salary for forward Kevin Durant, guard Russell Westbrook and forward Serge Ibaka through 2016-17.

Just before midnight ET, Durant tweeted, "Wow."

Larry Bird stepped down as president of the Indiana Pacers in part because he wasn't sure how much he would be able to spend on the Pacers' roster. Thunder general manager Sam Presti found himself in a situation where ownership was only willing to spend so much on an extension for Harden. And when Harden didn't like the offer, the Thunder made a move.

"We wanted to sign James to an extension, but at the end of the day, these situations have to work for all those involved. Our ownership group again showed their commitment to the organization with several significant offers," Presti said in a statement. "We were unable to reach a mutual agreement, and therefore executed a trade that capitalized on the opportunity to bring in a player of Kevin's caliber, a young talent like Jeremy and draft picks, which will be important to our organizational goal of a sustainable team."

The word "sustainable" is key to Presti's lexicon. He wants to make sure the Thunder have a team not only for the present, but for the future, too. Martin and Lamb address the present and future. Martin is an efficient scoring threat, and while he is not the all-around threat that Harden is, he gives the Thunder more scoring. Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, a firm believer in advanced statistics, loved Martin's game. Presti, who also appreciates advanced stats, obviously saw something in Martin's game.

"Oh my gosh!!!!!!! Feels like a damn dream!" Martin said in a text message.

NICKI MINAJ - VA VA VOOM (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

ALICIA KEYS - UNLOCK YOURSELF (AUDIO)

SATURDAY DRIVE-IN: BRUCE LEE "CHINESE CONNECTION" (KARATE KLIPS)

BLACQUE LEAD SINGER NATINA REED DEAD AFTER BEING FATALLY STRUCK BY A CAR IN GEORGIA

Two days before her birthday, Natina Reed, a member of the 90s R&B group Blaque and star of the 2000 cheerleading movie Bring It On, was fatally struck by a car in Georgia on Friday. 

She was 32. According to a statement released by the Gwinnett Police Department, the driver of the vehicle that hit Reed called 911 at 10:30 p.m. on Friday. Reed was taken to Gwinnett Medical Center and pronounced dead at 10:59 p.m.

"Preliminary information indicates that Reed was in the roadway on Lawrenceville Highway near Hamilton Road when struck," reads the statement, which adds that the driver "was determined to be not at fault and there are no charges pending."

Reed is survived by her 10-year-old son, Tren Brown, whose father is the rapper Kurupt.

Fellow Blacque members Brandi Williams and Shamari Fears-DeVoe issued a joint statement on Saturday. "We are devastated by the loss of our group member, sister and friend," reads the statement. 

"She will forever be missed and her global influence eternally felt."

On Saturday, Reed's Bring It On co-star Gabrielle Union tweeted: "#RIP #Sad #BringItOn."

N.Y. DRUG RAID NETS 640 MARIJUANA LOLLIPOPS AND 5 LBS. OF REGULAR MARIJUANA

Students at the University of Buffalo will be having a lot less fun at their Halloween parties after police confiscated a huge haul of candy containing marijuana.

Buffalo News reports that narcotics detectives discovered chocolate-flavored marijuana, hard candy containing marijuana, 640 “Jolly Lolly” marijuana lollipops and 5 pounds of regular marijuana at a Buffalo apartment.

Alexander J. Zito, 26, was arrested on felony drug charges after police raided a party he was having at his home for several university students, reports say.

Narcotics Detective Sgt. Timothy Mulhern described the students as extremely high when the raid occurred.

“One of the students was so high we thought he was going to pass out,” Mulhern said.

Zito allegedly had the candies shipped across the country to Buffalo. Buffalo News reports that business cards found at Zito's home listed him as the proprietor of a medical marijuana shop in San Diego, California.

"Jolly Lollies" are described online as "medicated sweet hard candies on a stick that come in a variety of flavors." 

Medical marijuana is not legal in the state of New York.

NBA ROOKIE WATCH: WHO WILL BE THE BIGGEST AND BEST NEW STAR???

Anthony Davis will make an impact on defense this season, but what will we see from him on offense?

A veteran NBA player can expect every season to be like a roller-coaster ride, full of ups and downs with drama and thrills mixed in. But NBA rookies can expect a more traumatic experience, closer probably to a "jump from space" than anything because it's going to feel like the speed of the season and the games are at a breathtaking pace.
Still, we know some rookies will rise above and immediately prove their value in this league, while others will take a little longer to do so. With the season just days away, here's what we're looking for from the rookie class:

1. Can Anthony Davis learn to score this year?

Here's what we know: Davis is going to be a force on defense for the Hornets, thanks to his shot-blocking ability and quick feet. He reminds me of Joakim Noah on this end. We also know he'll be one of his team's best rebounders with his great hands and desire to hit the boards despite being so thin (rebounding will get even easier for him as he gains strength). As we saw during his freshman season at Kentucky, he can impact games without scoring.


But as the top overall pick, that ultimately won't be good enough. So the big question is: When will he take a big step up on offense? If he can become a scoring/shooting force while dominating the paint on defense and the boards, he'll be a future MVP candidate. Right now, though, that's a big if.
Dwight Howard averaged 12 points per game on 52 percent shooting as a 19-year-old rookie. If Davis, who is also 19, can average 10-plus points per game, the Hornets should be thrilled.

2. Is Portland's Damian Lillard the next Rose/Westbrook/Irving?

Lillard

The NBA has seen some superstar point guards enter the league these past few years -- Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, Kyrie Irving -- and each of them showed much of that potential as rookies. Lillard showed that type of talent during summer league in Las Vegas.
The sixth overall pick seems headed for a long career as a starting point guard, which would mean Portland had a successful draft. But if Lillard is able to score and run his team as he did in Vegas and in some games this preseason, then the Blazers could very well end up with the top player from this draft.

3. Is Michael Kidd-Gilchrist going to be an impact player?

Kidd-Gilchrist

As the No. 2 overall pick in the draft with a few true elite talents still available (Harrison Barnes, Lillard, Bradley Beal, even Andre Drummond), MKG has a lot of pressure to play at a high level. Having Bobcats owner Michael Jordan suggest he was their "Pippen" only adds to those expectations. But there is some doubt that he is going to be that special.
MKG has been physically superior to his competition for years, but that advantage is over now. And while he might play harder than many, the league is filled with guys who are just as athletic and hustle as much as him, many of whom are stronger than him. He doesn't have to merit ROY consideration for the season to be considered a success, but earning a consistent starting position by season's end would be a great place to mark his first year.

4. Were experts right last year when Harrison Barnes was atop draft lists?

Barnes

Barnes showed off huge upside in Vegas as a hungry scorer and overall playmaker. He's also proving this preseason that he'll be a legit deep shooting threat. In addition, he has a huge defensive upside to go along with a big and athletic body for a wing player.
If he can prove to be a do-it-all forward for the Warriors (albeit in small steps this season), he will make Bobcats fans awfully restless unless MKG makes a similar impact. Barnes is just 14 months older than MKG but far more polished on the perimeter.

5. Are Andre Drummond/Jeremy Lamb better off in the D-League?

 

Lamb

Drummond

The argument for not sending a rookie to the D-League is that a rookie is better off with veterans around him, learning from them and the coaches who will be guiding him. So even if Drummond does not play, he'll learn from practice, watching games, working daily with Greg Monroe, etc.
On the other hand, nothing beats playing time for young players, who can develop reference points to learn from at future practices. And playing time helps develop basketball IQ, not to mention conditioning and an overall feel for the game. If Drummond ends up in the rotation for Detroit early on -- and he has been impressive this preseason -- there will be no debate. If he does not, this becomes a serious question because his talent, draft position and upside all create pressure for him to become a solid player, if not a star.
Lamb is in a different climate, currently playing behind Houston's leading scorer Kevin Martin and veteran Carlos Delfino. Lamb showed excellent scoring skills in Vegas, but does not look to be ready to play a complete game just yet. He would destroy the D-League as a scorer and could gain valuable experience at the details of the game. If he is not playing in Houston, expect to see him score 20 points per game in Rio Valley.