Densuke Watermelon Sells for $6,100

A black Japanese watermelon was auctioned for $6,100 Friday, making it possibly the most expensive watermelon ever sold.

“This is the highest price on record for a Densuke watermelon, and that probably means it’s the highest of any watermelon in Japanese history,” said a spokesman for the Tohma Agriculture Cooperative in Hokkaido.

The 17-pound melon was one of only 65 from the first harvest this season. Watermelons are often given as gifts in Japan as they are considered a “luxury item.” Very few are grown in the country.

The Densuke is only grown on the northern island of Hokkaido.

[Source: TransWorldNews]

Injuries, Brawl Mar Red Sox Sweep of Rays

With their starting time pushed up an hour so fans could watch the beginning of the Celtics [team stats]-Lakers NBA Finals, the Red Sox [team stats] did a fantastic job last night of keeping the spotlight on themselves for as long as possible in a regular-season backyard barnburner.

A flurry of bad blood - a heated argument between Manny Ramirez [stats] and Kevin Youkilis [stats], plus a real brawl between Coco Crisp [stats] and a bunch of Rays - and bad-luck episodes - injuries to Jacoby Ellsbury [stats] and Ramirez - easily overshadowed the actual baseball game, which the Red Sox won, 7-1, completing a sweep of the Rays and extending their lead in the AL East to 1 games.

The benches-clearing, punches-flying fight in the second wound up with Crisp, Jonny Gomes and James Shields getting ejected after Crisp charged the mound when Shields hit him with a pitch.

Considering that Crisp was still steaming about stolen-base etiquette from the night before, some trouble could have been expected. But televised replays showing Ramirez apparently taking a swing at Youkilis before the two were separated just before the fifth inning started caught everyone by surprise.

Details of the dispute remain under wraps for now, but the team chalked it up as just one of those things that happen in a very unordinary game.

“We had a lot of testosterone going tonight,” said manager Terry Francona. “It was kind of a hectic night. Sometimes those things happen. It wasn’t really a big deal, it happens - we’ll get by that one.”

Captain Jason Varitek [stats] said the team will keep the incident in house. Second baseman Dustin Pedroia [stats] made it sound as if it was not going to linger.

“We are around each other a lot - we love each other,” Pedroia said. “We’re a team, we’ll be all right.”

Ramirez had a five-RBI night, with his three-run home run in the first inning setting a tone for the game’s outcome. However, he had to leave the game after his seventh-inning at-bat, as his right hamstring gave him trouble in the batter’s box.

Before Ramirez’ exit, however, Ellsbury hurt his right hand sliding for a sinking line drive in center field in the fourth inning. The team was cautiously optimistic that he would survive the incident without an extended sick leave, calling it a strained wrist.

Red Sox starter Jon Lester [stats] stayed away from most of the on-field nastiness, although a couple of wayward pitches (one behind the back of Willy Aybar in the sixth, the other an up-and-in one to Cliff Floyd in the seventh) caught the attention of the Rays. Lester went 6 innings, allowing just the one run and no walks, with five strikeouts and eight hits.

“He did a great job, he attacked the strike zone as usual,” said Pedroia, who called the series sweep “huge - now we’re in first place. It’s a big series win for us.”

Crisp’s face was a melange of scratches and bruises afterward. He said the Rays took some “cheap shots” and pulled his hair while he was at the bottom of a pigpile, which started when catcher Dioner Navarro tackled him. Shields admitted after the game that he hit Crisp on purpose, and he also mentioned that he had lost respect for Crisp’s professionalism.

The eruption was perhaps inevitable, but all the other sideshows managed to make the entire evening too action-packed to dissect and analyze with an economy of words.

What happened in the end, though, was that the Red Sox won, sweeping the Rays in emotion-charged fashion.

“Yeah, probably so,” said Crisp, answering a question about whether these teams are officially in a rivalry.

Definitely so.

[Source: By Michael Silverman, BostonHerald]

Google Earth Disney: Planning Tool or Trip Replacement?

The folks at Google Earth have just created an incredible 3-D model of the entire Disney World resort area. You can walk down the virtual streets and click on any building to see what's inside.

Disney bills it as the world's best trip planning device. People can get the feel for the area's layout to schedule their time and they can make reservations at all the hotels and restaurants right through the interface.

That said, with the price of both air fare and gas rising so fast, I think parents with gullible children should consider "taking their kids to Disney World" by sitting them down in front of a monitor.

Even folks who have no interest in Disney world should have a look. Google and Microsoft are both moving quickly to map the entire world in this level of detail and more. As screens get larger and graphics keep improving, virtual visits may start to seem a lot like actual travel.

One warning: the application is so rich that it will hog your Internet connection, your CPU and your RAM.

[Source: DallasNews.com]

Chris Herren | Former NBA Player Herren Facing Drug Charge

FALL RIVER, Mass.—Former NBA player Chris Herren faces drug charges after Fall River police found him slumped over the steering wheel of his running car after it hit a utility pole.

Sgt. Thomas Mauretti says an officer responding to the crash Wednesday saw a hypodermic needle and a small blue bag that he recognized as packaging for heroin in the car. The officer believed the 32-year-old Herren had overdosed.

Herren was transported to Charlton Memorial Hospital, where he was listed in good condition Friday morning.

He has been summonsed to court to face charges of driving under the influence of drugs, possession of a class A drug and reckless operation. No court date has been set.

It was not immediately clear if Herren had a lawyer.

Herren, who played for the Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics from 1999 to 2001, has faced drug charges before.

[Source: Boston.com | Image Source: ViewImages.com]

'Bachelor' Jesse Palmer and Jessica Bowlin Announce Breakup

Better make that "0 for 5." The Bachelor's woeful romance record took another loss today when fifth series bachelor (and rumored to soon be ex-Giants quarterback) Jesse Palmer confirmed to the syndicated Extra entertainment news program that he and Jessica Bowlin, the woman he selected during the program's May finale, have decided to "mutually end their relationship."

In a statement released exclusively to Extra (which is quickly becoming the Bachelor breakup announcement vehicle of choice, no doubt due to the common corporate ownership that both programs share) Jesse said, "Jessica and I shared an incredible romantic journey on the show that began with a friendship that remains strong today. We simply realized that, individually, our next steps take us in different directions."

Added Jessica, "With too much distance and too little time these were not ideal circumstances in which to start a relationship. Jesse is a great guy and has a wonderful family. Who knows what the future holds?" Jesse said he will continue to focus on his football career while Jessica said she is concentrating on finishing law school.

During the course of his Bachelor installment, Jesse whittled his field of 25 eligible ladies down to two. Ultimately, the NFL New York Giants back-up quarterback made his final pass to Jessica, a 22-year-old California law student. Though he didn’t propose, Jesse asked Jessica to "chase all your dreams" with him by her side. He then presented her with a one-way, first class ticket to New York City. After the show’s finale, Jessica opted not to relocate and the couple has since been trying to make a long-distance relationship work.

Jesse and Jessica's break-up announcement follows in the footsteps of every other previous Bachelor couple. In a particularly busy Bachelor breakup holiday season, both fourth edition couple Bob Guiney and Estella Gardinier and third edition couple Andrew Firestone and Jen Schefft also appeared on Extra (separately) to formally announce their own breakups (although Bob and Estella's demise had been widely reported prior to their appearance.) The three failed couples join the show's first and second season couples of Alex Michael and Amanda Marsh and Aaron Buerge and Helene Eksterowicz in having failed to develop a lasting romantic relationship on the ABC reality show (and perhaps that's why, if the most recent season's ratings are any indication, the program's popularity appears to be on the wane.)

It's a good thing Bachelor producer Mike Fleiss isn't a football coach, because if he was, his show's pathetic 0-5 record would have fans calling for his head. In his defense however, Fleiss does appear to have made one "off the field" successful match-up -- the recently announced engagement of Bob Guiney and actress Rebecca Budig, who hosted several of The Bachelor's specials.

Meanwhile, both of the franchise's Bachelorette couples remain together -- although while original bachelorette Trista Rehn and Ryan Sutter married in a ceremony televised on ABC last fall, rumors have begun to circulate as to the fate of second edition couple Meredith Phillips and Ian McKee, with reports of at least one loud restaurant argument having been made it to the gossip columns.

[Source: Reality TV World]

Ryan Phillippe & Abbie Cornish Go Public

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

He's not exactly shouting it from the rooftops, but Ryan Phillippe finally seems comfortable publicly acknowledging his relationship with Abbie Cornish.

In a first-time display, the actor stepped out with his Stop Loss costar yesterday for an awards ceremony in Beverly Hills, followed by an intimate night of jazz in Hollywood.

Ryan, 33, has been linked with the 25-year-old actress since 2006, when they shot the Iraq drama. Despite rampant reports of on-set romance, he's denied that it's the reason he split with wife Reese Witherspoon.

Phillippe accompanied Cornish to the Avalon Hotel, where she was honored as a breakthrough talent by Australians in Film (AiF).

Following Abbie's kudos, she and Ryan hit Hennessy Jazz Night at Teddy’s in the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

"They were very close all night," a source tells E! of the couple, who sat together and took in the live band alongside Danny Masterson and Balthazar Getty.

[Source: E! Online]

Krispy Kreme Offers Freebies on National Donut Day

FREE DONUTS! Krispy Kreme is giving away FREE donuts in honor of National Donut Day! If you're looking for the cops today, now you know where to find them. I'm sure there is no significant history behind National Donut Day, but who wants to pass up a free Krispy Kreme. Keep in mind, the average donut price is much less than a dollar. Don't spend more than that on gas driving around looking for a Krispy Kreme, but by all means if you pass one on your way home stop and grab a free donut! Happy Friday. (June 6th only!)

[Source: Socialite Report]

"Fear Itself" Is A Mixed Bag

You may have thought that horror anthology shows a la "The Twilight Zone" and "The Outer Limits" were a relic of the past, but that just shows you don't work at NBC. This Thursday, the cunningly titled "Fear Itself" will premiere at 10pm for the start of its 13-episode run. Each episode will be an island unto itself, with different directors, different actors and unrelated stories. Think of it like 13 very short indie horror movies, with all the good and bad that implies.

In an interview on Monday, producer Keith Addis was quick to note that the show had no overarching theme: "There was no conversation about creating a thematic throughline, we really went to the filmmakers and encouraged them to find and develop the stories that they were the most excited about telling."

Addis also made sure to point out that the show should not be seen as a clone of "The Twilight Zone," except maybe a little. "One of the cool things about an anthology is that every one of these films is completely separate and unique from all the others. And that's something we enjoy the most about this form. Some of the episodes have more of a Twilight Zone feel and dwell in the realm of psychological thrillers. Others are at the very opposite end of the spectrum of the genre and are much more down the center, down the bull’s eye of what the genre offers most frequently."

I had an opportunity to look at a screener for the first three episodes of "Fear Itself" and you can see what I thought of them after the jump.

The first episode, "The Sacrifice" reads like a low-budget horror movie cut to half the time. Starring "Friday Night Lights" actor Jesse Plemons, the story follows a group of friends who end up trapped in a creepy fort with a couple of pretty blondes. Take away a bit of the gore - not that there's much to begin with - and this could pretty much be an episode of "Are You Afraid of the Dark," a by-the-numbers horror story that packs no surprises, even in its "twist" ending. The acting is overwrought, but that can be excused in horror, and the three girls manage to bring some subtle creepiness to the first half of the story. About the best thing that can be said is that for television, the production values are pretty good. There are no rubber fright masks to be found, and the dark, atmospheric set amplifies what little tension exists.

"Spooked," starring fascinating weirdo and Hey It's That Guy, Eric Roberts, is better than "The Sacrifice." Indeed, the episodes seem to get successively better, which makes you wonder why they chose the premiere that they did. Surely a weak episode should be thrown away 4 or 5 episodes in, right? "Spooked" feels a lot like an episode of the re-imagined '80s edition of "The Twilight Zone," which isn't a bad thing by far. The story of an ex-cop tormented by the sins of his past seems like classic Zone material, and the direction has a surreal tone to it. It's not great TV, but it's diverting, and what it lacks in originality it makes up for in commitment. "Spooked" is probably the least overtly scary of the three episodes, it really is more like a vaguely creepy morality tale in the style of "The Twilight Zone."

"Eureka" fans will be pleased to see Colin Ferguson as the star of "The Family Man," a body-swapping horror story that also definitely owes its roots to classic horror TV. There's some pretty grim violence in this episode - nothing on a "Sopranos" level, but we do get plenty of blood. Ferguson is surprisingly good as a bad guy, playing an unhinged killer in the body of a suburban dad with relish. The episode also has a genuinely creepy dream sequence that stuck with me after the episode had ended. The twist on the end of the episode is no more surprising than the twist in "The Sacrifice," but this one is all the creepier for its inevitability. If you miss the first couple of episodes, I don't think you'll be suffering too much, but "The Family Man" is worth TiVoing at least.

An inherent problem with anthology shows is that it's hard to predict quality from week to week. Addis and co-producer Andrew Deane seem to tout that as a good thing. Addis brushed aside concerns that an anthology show might be uneven, saying, "If you liked one of the episodes, there’s a really good chance you will like others. And frankly, if one wasn't for you, there’s still a really good chance that others will be." I'm not sure how it works both ways, but you have to admire their enthusiasm. So I can't tell you that you'll enjoy "Fear Itself," but on the other hand, I can't tell you that you won't either.

[Source: MeeVee]

Lakers Celtics Game 1

Pierce leads Celtics past Lakers 98-88 in Game 1

By TOM WITHERS

Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce (34) is carried from the court by teammates Brian Scalabrine, back left, and Tony Allen, right, after an injury in the third quarter during Game 1 of the NBA basketball finals against the Los Angeles Lakers in Boston, Thursday, June 5, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

BOSTON (AP) — Big moments have defined the Lakers-Celtics blood feud, and in their first get together in 21 years, a kid from Los Angeles gave Boston one to remember.

Paul Pierce, who used to sneak into Lakers games as a youngster, came bounding out of the tunnel from the locker room after leaving with an injured knee and led the Celtics to a tense 98-88 victory over Los Angeles on Thursday night in Game 1 of these tradition-soaked finals.

Pierce's dramatic return after being carried from the court and then wheeled down a hallway for treatment will be added to the annals of Celtics-Lakers lore, taking a spot alongside Magic Johnson's baby sky hook and Kevin McHale's clothesline of Kurt Rambis.

Kevin Garnett scored 24 points, Pierce finished with 22 — 11 after getting hurt — and Ray Allen, the third member of Boston's Big Three, added 19 for the Celtics, who are chasing a 17th NBA championship. The trio was making its first finals appearance, and for a short time it appeared only two of them would finish their long-awaited debut.

In the third quarter, Pierce was deep in the lane when teammate Kendrick Perkins crashed into him from behind, crumpling Boston's No. 34 to the court. The 10-year veteran, who last summer thought his days with Boston might be nearing an end, had to be carried from the court in extreme pain and was taken to Boston's locker room in a wheelchair.

"When I came down I thought I felt a pop, I thought I tore it," Pierce said.

The sight of Pierce leaving drew gasps from some Celtics fans and coach Doc Rivers' heart sunk.

"I thought the worst," Rivers said. "When they carried him off, I just though it was the knee."

However, everyone's worries were soothed just moments later when Pierce returned to Boston's bench and checked back in with 5:04 remaining. As Pierce jogged onto the court with a black elastic wrap on his knee, Garnett clinched a fist and screamed, "Yes!"

Soon, more than 18,000 others were screaming as Pierce made two 3-pointers in just 22 seconds to give the Celtics a 75-71 lead.

"When I got in the back I could put some weight on it," Pierce said. "I knew I needed to be out there for my team."

Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 24 points, but the regular-season MVP was just 9-of-26 from the field as the league's top defensive team kept close tabs on him. Bryant had numerous shots rattle out and spent most of his 42 minutes in the game searching for a rhythm.

Derek Fisher and Pau Gasol had 15 points apiece and Lamar Odom added 14 for the Lakers, who had won the first two games of their previous three series this postseason. Los Angeles will try to even the series in Game 2 on Sunday night.

This is the 11th meeting in the finals between the Celtics and Lakers, and the first one since 1987 has been treated like the return of a lost friend by basketball fans aching for the days when Magic Johnson and Larry Bird went sneaker to sneaker.

Game 1 lived up to the hype as both teams challenged every shot, sprawling for loose balls and intensely defending their baskets. Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, Jerry West and the rest of the greats who made the rivalry special would have been proud.

With their crowd breaking into the familiar "Beat L.A." chants from the outset, the Celtics led 77-73 after three quarters and quickly pushed their lead to eight in the fourth following a 3-pointer by James Posey. Fisher and Sasha Vujacic scored to get the Lakers within 86-82, but Pierce countered with a jumper and made two free throws to put Boston up 90-82.

The Lakers again got within six, but Garnett, who missed nine shots in a row, followed up a miss with a ferocious dunk to crown Boston's win.

Unable to find his shooting touch in the first half, Bryant decided to focus on his defense. After 16-year veteran Sam Cassell came off Boston's bench and scored six quick points at the start of the second quarter, Lakers coach Phil Jackson switched Bryant onto the 38-year-old with the aching back and one of the few Celtics who knows his way around the finals.

Although their superstar wasn't doing his usual thing, the Lakers stayed close, and when Pierce had to sit down after picking up his third foul with 5:14 left, Los Angeles went on a 14-6 run — Gasol and Odom scored four points apiece — to open a 51-46 halftime lead.

Surprisingly, it was Fisher, not Bryant, who led Los Angeles with 13 points and Gasol had 12.

Despite their collective lack of finals experience, the Celtics didn't display any nervousness early. Strangely, it was Bryant who appeared to have some jitters, starting 1-for-7 from the field and not getting any clean looks at the basket.

Allen's 3-pointer from the right wing gave the Celtics a 19-14 lead, but the Lakers got a basket from Jordan Farmar, a 3 by Vujacic and Bryan't second bucket to pull within 23-21 after one quarter.

As the clock ticked down toward tipoff, Celtics fans, some who weren't even alive the last time the NBA's two marquee franchises clashed, scooped up T-shirts and bought other finals souvenirs marking the fierce rivalry's rebirth.

On a section of Union Street, adjacent to historic Faneuil Hall and not far from statues of patriot Sameul Adams and hoops patriarch Red Auerbach, Bostonians young and old warmed up their voices with chants of "Let's Go Celtics" and lubricated their throats before walking en masse toward the new "Gah-den," which had never hosted an event of this magnitude.

Notes:@ Jackson isn't a fan of the 9 p.m. tipoff. "I don't enjoy it at all," he said. "I think it takes guys out of their rhythm and out of their lifestyle. I know (the NBA) is trying to reach both audiences on the coasts, but there's another way to do that." ... Fueled by five players from outside the U.S. on the Lakers' roster, the series has drawn a record 280 international media members from 35 countries and territories. The finals are being televised to 205 countries. When the teams met in the 1987 finals, the games were televised to 28 countries. ... This is the Lakers' 29th finals appearance with the first six coming when the franchise was in Minneapolis. ... Among the celebrities in attendance were actor Bruce Willis and New England Patriots stars Randy Moss and Tedy Bruschi.

[Source: Associated Press]

Paloma Jimenez - Vin Diesel a Big Daddy

Bob Marshak/Universal Studios/ZUMAPress.com

Vin Diesel has been stocking up on pacifiers.

The Chronicles of Riddick star and his model girlfriend, Paloma Jimenez, welcomed a baby girl April 2, Diesel's rep tells People. This is the couple's first child.

Up next for Diesel, 40, is next summer's threequel, Fast and Furious, in which he's reprising his role as street racer Dominic Toretto, and the futuristic sci-fi thriller Babylon A.D., which is due in theaters Aug. 29.

[Source: E! Online]

New iphone Release

WWDC 2008: iPhones, 10.6, and a new .Mac?

Posted by Tom Krazit

Workers hang Apple's logo outside Moscone Center, where the Worldwide Developers Conference kicks off Monday.

(Credit: James Martin/CNET News.com)

Expect to hear new details about the future of Apple's Mac OS X and Web business next week at the Worldwide Developers Conference--and we think there might be a new iPhone, too.

On Monday, Apple CEO Steve Jobs will take the stage at the Moscone West Convention Center in San Francisco to address a gathering of Apple's developers and the media. This year's WWDC is sold out to the development community, who will be hearing formal presentations by Apple on both Mac and iPhone development during the week's sessions and meetings.

Anyone with even a passing interest in consumer electronics is probably aware that Apple is expected to unveil the next generation of the iPhone in the near future. The older version has been sold out for weeks as we approach the anniversary of the first model's debut, and anticipation of a model that can connect to 3G cellular networks has been building almost since that date last year.

One of the primary drawbacks of the first iteration of the iPhone has been its reliance on the slower EDGE network outside of Wi-Fi hot spots, which can make downloading a Web page an exercise in patience. Upgrading to a faster connection should encourage people to do more Web browsing outside of Wi-Fi connections and could open up a whole new class of applications that need a faster pipe to work effectively.

Apple is also expected to include GPS technology inside the latest version, another development that could pique the software development community's interest in the iPhone. Location-aware services are available on several phones that use GPS technology, and the iPhone developers could soon be ready to join the party.

Will the new iPhone be available immediately following Jobs' keynote? It's not clear. There have been conflicting reports, but Brian Tong of CNET TV is hearing from his sources that Apple Retail employees have not yet been told whether they'll need to report early on Monday for a special training session, which the company has done in the past before major announcements.

While the iPhone gets all the attention as the new kid on the block, WWDC is always, in large part, about the Mac. Apple chose a picture of two Golden Gate bridges branching off in different directions to illustrate its WWDC invitation, and while the iPhone branch might account for the sold-out conference, the Mac branch is the bread and butter of this conference.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog reported on Wednesday that Apple would be providing developers with an early version of Mac OS X 10.6 during the conference. It's unclear whether that means Apple is ready to start demonstrating features from that release, but the report said the new version is expected to focus on "stability and security."

Apple released Leopard, Mac OS X 10.5, last October after a delay needed to make sure the iPhone arrived on time. At the time, Jobs told The New York Times that he wants Apple to stick to an operating-system deployment cycle of 12 to 18 months.

TUAW's report says Apple could be eyeing a Macworld 2009 release for Mac OS X 10.6, which would certainly nestle within that time frame. Microsoft recently said it wants to get the next version of Windows out by the end of 2009.

Another interesting part of that report is the notion that 10.6 will be an Intel-only release. Users of older Macs running PowerPC chips were able to upgrade to Leopard, but the report suggests that Apple will drop PowerPC support with the next release.

Apple will likely spend a healthy portion of Jobs' keynote discussing Mac OS X, but it remains to be seen how much of a peek we'll get at the next version. One question on the minds of many Apple users: after which big cat will Apple choose to name the next release?

Ars Technica's Infinite Loop reported Wednesday that "Snow Leopard" was the name slated for the next version, which sounds like it could be somewhat confusing, given the fact that the current version is called Leopard. In a poll on TUAW's site, "Cougar" was in the lead, trailed by "Lynx" and "LOLcat," the last of which we can probably eliminate.

The third leg of the WWDC presentation could involve Apple's .Mac service. There have been a number of recent signs that Apple is rethinking its presence on the Internet, with new domain names being snapped up by the company and code strings in the iPhone SDK suggesting that a new name is on tap.

One interesting thing to watch for concerning any new version of .Mac is how much of the service Apple keeps in-house, as opposed to bringing a Web-savvy partner like Google into the mix. The .Mac service is a good idea, but it isn't widely used among Mac users due to issues with its stability, feature list, and price tag.

Any or all of those objections could change, if Apple transfers the back end of the service to a huge Internet services provider like Google, and uses the service to bring Macs and iPhones together in interesting ways.

As usual, Apple is very tight-lipped about what may or may not be arriving during this year's WWDC. The latest iPhone may or may not be ready for an actual release on the first day of the show, but expect the topic to be the highlight of the day's announcements.

We'll have a live blog up and running during the keynote, which is expected to run from about 10 a.m. PT on Monday to about 11:30 a.m., so make sure to come back and read about what's actually rolled out, as it happens.

[Source: CNET]

Red Sox Brawl

Rays, Red Sox involved in brawl

PA SportsTicker

Published: Friday, June 06, 2008

The Tampa Bay Rays and the Boston Red Sox were involved in a brawl in the second inning of their contest on Thursday.

With Boston ahead, 3-1, in the bottom of the second, Tampa Bay starter James Shields threw a pitch that hit the thigh of Red Sox center fielder Coco Crisp, who hesitated before charging the mound, resulting in a melee between the teams.

Once Crisp reached the mound, Shields threw a wild punch that missed Boston's outfielder, who retaliated with a glancing blow to the shoulder of the Rays' pitcher.

As both dugouts emptied, Tampa Bay catcher Dioner Navarro grabbed Crisp and pulled him down near the pitching rubber. With Navarro on top of Crisp, Rays designated hitter Jonny Gomes jumped on the both players, delivering blows to the side of Crisp.

While Shields was also on the ground near the mound in a scrum of players from both teams, Crisp was being pummeled by a group of Rays players, including left fielder Carl Crawford, who came in from his position to deliver several head blows to his fellow outfielder.

Shields, Crisp and Gomes were ejected by the umpiring crew, while suspensions for multiple players on both sides could occur once Major League Baseball reviews the television replays.

The brawl seemed to result from a hard slide Crisp delivered to Tampa Bay second baseman Akinori Iwamura in Wednesday's 5-1 victory for Boston.

In the eighth inning of that contest, Crisp attempted to steal second base and sent a forearm into Iwamura. When Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon was on the mound during a pitching change in the eighth, he and Crisp began noticeably exchanging words, causing a scene near the home dugout.

Earlier in that game on another attempted steal, Crisp injured his thumb when Rays shortstop Jason Bartlett used his knee to block the base while trying to catch the throw down from Navarro. Crisp was safe on the play, but his injured digit had to be wrapped up after the game.

[Source: National Post]

The Princess Bride Game Musical Duo Announced

A kissing press release

Digital entertainment studio Worldwide Biggies today announced that Grammy Award-winner Steve Horowitz, best known for his work on Morgan Spurlock's Super Size Me, is serving as audio director and lead composer on the upcoming The Princess Bride Game, with Chris Burke, the 8-bit musician and creator of Halo machinima talkshow, This Spartan Life, providing the sound effects. The Princess Bride Game will go on sale as a digital purchase at the official game Web site and other major game portals on June 11. The game comes with a MSRP of $19.95, and is available for Mac OS X / Windows 2000, XP and Vista.

[Source: Gamershell.com]

'American Idol' creator Nigel Lythgoe disses President Bush

"American Idol" creator Nigel Lythgoe didn't want President Bush to appear on the "Idol Gives Back" show.

Lythgoe has told OK! magazine that during the planning for the second annual "Idol Gives Back" fundraising special, which aired in April, America’s biggest TV show had a serious spat with the White House.

He said that the show’s producers were so disappointed with Bush’s efforts to combat the poverty that the show was trying to relieve that they were simply embarrassed to have him on their show.

But Nigel says they relented under pressure from the Prez's peeps, and allowed him to speak during the star-studded broadcast.

"The President is always saying 'I want to be on [Gives Back]," said the Brit. "We didn't ask the President this year to say anything because we are all a bit embarrassed about him, and the office insisted that, because the [primary] candidates were on it, the President would like to come on and say 'thank you.' "

What do you think? Do you think they should have let Bush speak on the show?

[Source: L.A. Times]

“Sex” sold, but will “Swingtown”? Reviews are in.

That old advertising axiom, “sex sells,” certainly held true for the film “Sex and the City,” which debuted at No. 1 in U.S. movie theaters last weekend with $56 million in ticket sales and has since added about another $12 million.

But a new “sex sells” question mark will be raised Thursday night when the CBS broadcast network debuts ”Swingtown,” about suburban sexual adventurism in the 1970s, complete with orgies, drug use and a touch of nostalgia.

The show has caused speculation over whether a broadcast network can truly do justice to the idea of a lifestyle with multiple sex partners because broadcasters face far greater restrictions than cable networks over the amount of sexual and other adult content in programs.

So far, a few critics are weighing in and several have expressed doubt.

The New York Times said: “Just because an era is amusingly kitsch does not mean it is ripe for dramatic exploration.” The paper noted that cable TV show “Mad Men,” a similar sort of program set in the 1960s that has been a hit with critics, ”plays with all the familiar cues of the period — the music, clothes and raffish ambiance — to frame a mystery that holds viewers’ attention.” “Swingtown,” it said, “has ’70s mystique, but not much mystery.”

The Boston Globe writes that “the older-skewing CBS is almost as far as you can get from HBO … And so while “Swingtown” is racy by network standards, and includes not just sexual situations but all kinds of drug use, it still doesn’t have the freedom to get into the nitty-gritty of a subject that is nothing if not nitty-gritty.”

“For all the industry chatter, the new CBS drama might as well be called ‘That ’70s Sex Show,’” the Los Angeles Times wrote in its review. “A network daring to tread in the R-rated territory previously left to the cable stations — imagine!”

USA Today says: “The show itself, sad to say, is not done well enough to work. But it’s not dull, and it’s worth watching if only to try to figure out what CBS could have been thinking.”

But critics are not the final word; audiences are. Tonight at 10 p.m. est, CBS will begin to find out if it’s risky experiment in the world of swinging 1970s sex will, in fact, sell on network TV in the 2000s.

[Source: Reuters]

Currentcodes.com | Never Pay Retail Again

As Americans aim to curtail their spending, more retailers are cutting deals to reel in customers.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Times are tough. The economy is weakening, consumer confidence is at a low and Americans are struggling just to buy basics like gas and groceries. So when it comes to getting goods that fall beyond the bare necessities, shoppers are getting smarter.

Not only has scouring the Web for the best possible price become standard protocol before buying a big-ticket item, but more consumers are employing creative strategies for scoring hot deals on everything from stereos to sweat pants.

Comparison shopping, haggling and swapping discount codes are all becoming mainstream marks of savvy shoppers. And retailers are playing along.

Coupon craze

Swapping online coupons or discount codes is one quick way to score a reduced price. Often simply applying the right coupon or promotion code during the online payment process can mean a savings of 10% to 30% or at least free shipping.

"People are feeling a bit of squeeze and are looking for ways to save money without cutting back their spending," said Barry Boone, owner of currentcodes.com and naughtycodes.com.

Web sites like currentcodes.com list discount codes for a number of online retailers from Amazon to Zappos. If you find a code to an online store you're shopping at, just copy it and paste it into the "promotional code" box in the checkout area of the retailer's Web site.

Printable coupons, which can be used in stores, are also readily found online at various Web sites and blogs like printable-coupons.blogspot.com and wow-coupons.com.

And sellers are taking note, offering more coupons more often as the coupon sharing sites surge in popularity.

According to a recent survey conducted by retailmenot.com, 63% of respondents said they would not make a purchase if there was no deal attached. The coupon site expects 4 million visitors in May, up 260% from a year ago, according to co-founder Bevan Clark.

Clark says the savings shouldn't end there. He urges online shoppers to check a comparison service like pricegrabber before making a purchase, and then go to a coupon sharing site "to really stack on the savings," and lastly, watch for any future price drops with a price protection service like priceprotectr.com. Many retailers will refund the difference if the price of a product is reduced within two weeks after the purchase is made.

That's what he calls a "Triad of Shopping Awesomeness."

Hidden discounts

Awesome deals can be found inside brick-and-mortar stores as well. Whether it is expressly stated or for those in the know, boutiques and big box stores alike are often willing to price match or offer a discount to reel in those that are ready to buy.

Circuit City and Sears not only have price matching policies, but they will undercut a lower advertised price by taking off an extra 10% of the difference. Plus, if customers catch a lower advertised price from another local store within 30 days of the purchase, the chains will refund 100% of the difference.

Even luxury retailers are willing to do what it takes to compete. A sales manager at Montmartre, a high-end clothier in New York City, said that even though it's not written in the store policy, they will match lower prices from other retailers on request and also give a 10% discount to their "VIP" customers, which include those that shop at the store regularly or have reached a certain spending threshold. Not a bad deal for a $400 dress or pair of $190 designer jeans.

In light of the current economic conditions, the store recently added more clients to the VIP list, the manager said, hoping to boost sales.

Haggling

Even outright haggling - once restricted to flea markets and car dealerships - has become acceptable in the mass retail marketplace.

Most store policies on bargaining are informal, but shoppers with the nerve to ask about flexible pricing may just save some serious cash.

A good place to start is to ask to speak with a manager. Often a sales associate will defer to the store manager, who has more leeway to cut deals. Open the discussion by asking if the listed price is the best possible deal.

Electronics retailer P.C. Richards is willing to negotiate on everything from air conditioners to HDTVs. With a little prodding, a sales manager agreed to take 10% off the retail price of a Garmin Nuvi 200W GPS System, which comes to about $30.

Slightly imperfect merchandise

There is more flexibility to haggle on products that have been on display and show some wear, such as shoes or sports equipment. A garment displayed on a mannequin or an item in a store window might come with a discount if it's missing original labels or packaging.

Electronics sold "out of the box" are also a source of great bargains, and usually have little more wear than a few fingerprints. Though they are generally missing instructions, these can often be easily downloaded online.

A manager at Best Buy said he would knock 10% off the price of a product if the box had been opened - even if it was in perfect working order.

At PC Richards, a manager slashed the price of the display model on a navigational system by 50% - not bad by bargain hunting standards.

{Source: CNNMoney]

Boy’s Death Highlights A Hidden Danger: Dry Drowning

10-year-old died more than an hour after getting out of swimming pool

The tragic death of a South Carolina 10-year-old more than an hour after he had gone swimming has focused a spotlight on the little-known phenomenon called “dry drowning” — and warning signs that every parent should be aware of.

“I’ve never known a child could walk around, talk, speak and their lungs be filled with water,” Cassandra Jackson told NBC News in a story broadcast Thursday on TODAY.

On Sunday, Jackson had taken her son, Johnny, to a pool near their home in Goose Creek, S.C. It was the first time he’d ever gone swimming — and, tragically, it would be his last.

At some point during his swim, Johnny got some water in his lungs. He didn’t show any immediate signs of respiratory distress, but the boy had an accident in the pool and soiled himself. Still, Johnny, his sister and their mother walked home together.

“We physically walked home. He walked with me,” Jackson said, still trying to understand how her son could have died. “I bathed him, and he told me that he was sleepy.”

Spongy material

Later, she went into his room to check on him. “I walked over to the bed, and his face was literally covered with this spongy white material,” she said. “And I screamed.”

A family friend, Christine Meekins, was visiting and went to see what was wrong. “I pulled his arm and said, ‘Johnny! Johnny!’ ” Meekins told NBC. “There was no response. I opened one of his eyes and I just knew inside my heart that it was something really bad.”

Johnny was rushed to a local hospital, but it was too late. Johnny had drowned, long after he got out of the swimming pool.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, some 3,600 people drowned in 2005, the most recent year for which there are statistics. Some 10 to 15 percent of those deaths was classified as “dry drowning,” which can occur up to 24 hours after a small amount of water gets into the lungs. In children, that can happen during a bath.

Dr. Daniel Rauch, a pediatrician from New York University Langone Medical Center, told TODAY’s Meredith Vieira that there are warning signs that every parent should be aware of. Johnny Jackson exhibited some of them, but unless a parent knows what to look for, they are easily overlooked or misinterpreted.

The three important signs, he said, are difficulty breathing, extreme tiredness and changes in behavior. All are the result of reduced oxygen flow to the brain.

Johnny had two of those signs — he was very tired when he got home, and he had had the accident in the pool. But like most parents, Cassandra Jackson had no idea this could be related to water in his lungs.

Delayed reaction

Rauch said that the phenomenon of dry drowning is not completely understood. But medical researchers say that in some people, a small amount of inhaled water can have a delayed-reaction effect.

“It can take a while for the process to occur and to set in and cause difficulties,” Rauch said. “Because it is a lung process, difficulty breathing is the first sign that you would be worried about.”

The second sign is extreme fatigue, which isn’t always easy to spot. “It’s very difficult to tell when your child is abnormally tired versus normal tired after a hot day and running around in the pool,” Rauch said. “The job of the lungs is to get oxygen into the blood and your brain needs oxygen to keep working, so when your brain isn’t getting oxygen, it can start doing funny things. One of them is becoming excessively tired, losing consciousness and the inability to be aroused appropriately.”

Finally, there are changes in behavior, Rauch said — another tough call when dealing with very small children, whose moods and behavior can change from one minute to the next.

“Another response of the brain to not getting oxygen is to do different things,” Rauch explained, saying parents should be concerned “if your child’s abnormally cranky, abnormally combative — any dramatic change from their normal pattern.”

He admitted, “It is very difficult to pick this up sometimes.” But spotting the warning signs and getting a suspected victim to an emergency room can save a life, he added.

Victims of dry drowning are treated by having a breathing tube inserted so that oxygen can be supplied under pressure to the lungs. “Then we just wait for the lung to heal itself,” he said.

But for Cassandra Jackson, it’s knowledge gained too late. She and Meekins sat in her home, looking at pictures of the bright and happy son who was no more.

“He was very loving, full of life,” the grieving mother said. “That was my little man.”

[Source: MSNBC]

Andrew Firestone Loves Sharing Passion For Wines

Andrew Firestone, famed for his appearance on the popular ABC television show “The Bachelor,” shares his passion for wine and all it has to offer in this DVD, Wine Ways, An Introduction to the Culture of Wine.

Growing up on a vineyard, Andrew Firestone has developed a unique insight into the world of wine. In Wine Ways, he shares his perspective through an educational and informative journey. Andrew takes us through the history of wine, agriculture, and winemaking, ending with the enjoyment and celebration of wine.

Notable interviews include Andrew Murray, a celebrated California winemaker, and Brooks Firestone, Andrew’s father and wine pioneer of the now acclaimed Santa Ynez valley of California.

With the picturesque Santa Barbara County as its backdrop, Wine Ways makes the seemingly exclusive world of wine accessible. Andrew Firestone takes a lighthearted approach to what he believes is something to be shared and enjoyed by everyone, and not just a select few.

Andrew Firestone in his own words

Growing up on the family vineyard, I’ve come to know and appreciate wine in a unique way. I’ve also noticed that wine culture can be intimidating and sometimes even pretentious. Given this disconnect between reality and perception I wanted to demystify the wine experience so that more people could enjoy all it has to offer. With this in mind, I set out to produce a film called Wine Ways! Creating a film around my true passion has been both enjoyable and rewarding. What began as an idea to introduce people to the culture of wine has become something greater, something that captures the collective wisdom of a few iconic individuals from the entertainment business and the food and wine industry. With their support and commitment, the making of Wine Ways became a reality.

In 2005, I helped to launch Confidential, a hip, loft-style lounge-restaurant situated right in the heart of San Diego’s Historic Gaslamp Quarter. The restaurant features an award-winning upscale bar menu, specializing in eclectic global fusion small plate cuisine, cutting-edge cocktails and, naturally, great wines from boutique wineries throughout the world.

As the Sales and Marketing Director of Firestone Family Estates, I work closely with my brother Adam to ensure the continued success of the family business. Now in its third generation, leveraging years of experience and the benefits of technology, Firestone Family Estates is producing some of California’s best estate wines.

So, again, I would like to thank you for visiting my website. I also want to extend my gratitude for all the kind letters and thoughts that I have received over the past year. Your support and interest are greatly appreciated. I look forward to staying in touch.

Cheers!
Andrew Firestone

[Source: Huliq | Image Source: SignOnSanDiego]

Allegations Against Political Fundraiser Tony Rezko

A summary of major allegations in the 24-count federal fraud indictment against Chicago political fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko, who was accused of using his clout with Gov. Rod Blagojevich to appoint people to state boards that approve hospital construction projects and decide who could invest assets of a $40 billion teacher pension fund.

The appointees allegedly were willing to take orders from fellow board member and political fixer Stuart P. Levine.

KICKBACK SCHEME: Scheming with Levine to get a $1.5 million kickback from contractor Jacob Kiferbaum in exchange for approval from the Rezko-controlled Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board to build a hospital in the McHenry County suburb of Crystal Lake northwest of Chicago.

MONEY LAUNDERING: Arranging for money manager Sheldon Pekin to split a $375,000 fee and pass through $250,000 to Joseph Aramanda, a Rezko associate in a pizza restaurant business. The fee was for getting an allocation from the pension fund for investment firm Glencoe Capital LLC.

SHAKEDOWN OPERATION: Enlisting politically connected Chicago attorney Joseph Cari to pressure the McLean, Va., based private equity company JER Partners LLC to sign a contract to pay $800,000 to a consultant the firm had never heard of in exchange for an allocation for investment from the pension fund. The firm refused to pay and received its allocation anyway.

EXTORTION ATTEMPT: Plotting to squeeze Hollywood producer Thomas Rosenberg for a $1.5 million donation to Blagojevich's campaign fund or, alternatively, a $2 million bribe in exchange for a $200 million pension fund allocation for his private equity firm of Capri Capital LLC. Rosenberg threatened to blow the whistle and was never asked for money. Capri got its allocation anyway.

PAY TO PLAY: Scheming to get finders fees from investment firms LLR Partners Inc., Stockwell Capital LLC, Investors Mortgage Holdings Inc. and Sterling Partners LLC in exchange for pension fund allocations. The fees would be split and passed to Levine and Rezko through various middlemen. None of the proposed allocations got as far as final approval and the so-called finders fees were never paid.

[Source: Chicago Tribune]

Obama Taps 3 for Veep Search

WASHINGTON (AP) — Barack Obama named a three-person team including Caroline Kennedy to lead his search for a running mate Wednesday while expressing confidence that the Democratic Party would soon unify after a bruising battle for the presidential nomination.

"I'm very confident of how we're going to be able to bring the party together," Obama said after a brief conversation with Hillary Rodham Clinton, his vanquished rival.

Campaign officials said Kennedy, who is the daughter of the late President John F. Kennedy, as well as former Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder and longtime Washington insider Jim Johnson have already begun compiling information on potential running mates. They disclosed no names.

Obama clinched the Democratic nomination on Tuesday, taking a major step toward his goal of becoming the first black president. While Clinton has yet to concede defeat, she and associates have been maneuvering for the past 24 hours to gain her a place on the ticket.

Bob Johnson, the founder of the Black Entertainment Network, was among them, and said he was doing so with her blessing.

Johnson said he had written the Congressional Black Caucus asking its members to urge Obama to place Clinton on the ticket.

Clinton "didn't direct me to do it but she certainly knows what I'm doing," said Johnson, who angered Obama's aides earlier in the race when he obliquely referred to Obama's confessed drug use as a young man.

Democrats began closing ranks quickly.

Two senators swung behind Obama after remaining neutral throughout his long nominating battle with Clinton, as did Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., a member of the House leadership with close ties to both senators.

"We have a nominee of our party," said Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa. Sen. Ken Salazar of Colorado also announced his endorsement.

Former Vice President Walter Mondale, who had been a Clinton supporter, announced he was backing Obama.

It hardly mattered in terms of delegate math — after months of struggle, Obama had more than enough to prevail at the party convention in Denver in August.

But Mondale, Harkin, Salazar and others poised to endorse Obama later in the day were also sending a message to Clinton that her race is over, whether she will admit it or not.

Obama began his public day with an appearance before the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, where he pledged support for Israel and accused Republican rival John McCain of backing a "plan for staying, not a plan for victory" in Iraq.

Earlier, McCain freshened the criticism he directed at Obama on Tuesday night.

"I think he has exercised very bad judgment on national security issues and others," he said in a television interview.

The disclosure about the three-person veep vetting team was an unambiguous signal that Obama is turning his full attention to the general election campaign.

Kennedy's name came as a surprise, although she endorsed Obama at a critical time in the campaign last winter, saying he could be an inspirational leader like her father. She also campaigned for Obama.

Holder is a former federal prosecutor and District of Columbia Superior Court judge who held the No. 2 job at the Justice Department under President Clinton.

Johnson is widely known among Democrats for having helped previous candidates, including John Kerry four years ago, sift through vice presidential possibilities. He is a former chief executive officer for the mortgage lender Fannie Mae.

Obama and Clinton ran into each other backstage at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee meeting, which they addressed separately Wednesday morning.

"I just spoke to her today, and we're going to be having a conversation in coming weeks, and I'm very confident how unified the Democratic party's going to be to win in November," Obama told reporters as he left the Senate.

Asked if Clinton indicated she planned to concede, Obama replied: "It wasn't a detailed conversation."

He dismissed a question about her refusal to concede after the final two primaries Tuesday night by saying she was "understandably focused on her supporters."

Clinton visited her campaign headquarters in suburban Virginia, where she thanked staff for their work. Aides said she was also phoning superdelegates and supporters, and planned to host an 89th birthday celebration at her Washington home for her mother, Dorothy Rodham.

{Source: by NEDRA PICKLER, AP]

Sarah Jessica Parker Premiere Dress Worn by Lauren Santo Domingo

Sarah Jessica Parker admits that it is “disappointing” that the dress she wore to the New York premiere of ‘Sex And The City’ was worn the week before by heiress Lauren Santo Domingo.

The floor-length metallic gown was designed by Olivier Theyskens, who told Parker that the Nina Ricci dress had only been worn in photo shoots. Twenty-two days before the Sex And The City premiere, Domingo wore the gown sat the New York Met’s Costume Gala. She was accompanied by Theyskens.

Even before Domingo had the dress, it was worn by troubled star Lindsay Lohan.

Parker insists that she still loves the dress despite it being worn before. “Look, my affection for the dress hasn’t changed. But what they did was so short-sighted. It’s just unethical and disappointing that they would allow the dress to be worn again,” Parker says. “(The designer) didn’t say, Well, actually I just escorted Lauren down the red carpet at the Met. I just wish it had been handled differently and they had been straight about it.”

[Source: TransWorldNews | Image Source: ChicagoTribune]

McCain Should Pick Sarah Palin for VP

Who? When?

Republicans including, I imagine, Sen. McCain himself are asking these questions about his selection of a vice presidential candidate.

Ideally, a presidential candidate wants a running mate who will help him or her win the election, and (maybe) to govern afterwards. But most will settle for a veep who isn't a drag on the ticket, as Dan Quayle was for the first President Bush.

Traditionally, a presidential nominee has chosen a running mate to balance the ticket geographically, or to appease a faction of the party. The most successful example of this was when John F. Kennedy picked Lyndon Johnson, though neither liked the other, and LBJ joined the ticket only because he thought Kennedy would lose.

Bill Clinton broke with this tradition when he chose another young (purported) moderate from a neighboring southern state. By picking Al Gore, he hoped to reinforce his campaign theme of generational change.

Which way will Sen. McCain go? The potential running mates most often discussed have downsides nearly as great as their upsides. Gov. Tim Pawlenty helps only in Minnesota, and not enough, according to current polls, to make a difference there. Sen. McCain's friend Sen. Joe Lieberman would bring in some moderate Democrats, but could further antagonize conservatives already suspicious of Sen. McCain. Gov. Romney would have little appeal to working class whites unhappy with Sen. Obama, and evangelicals fret about that Mormon thing. A Huckabee nomination would irritate economic and foreign policy conservatives as much as it would please evangelicals.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is a rising star. But he's only 36, and he's been governor for less than a year. There is one potential running mate who has virtually no down side. Those conservatives who've heard of her were delighted to learn that McCain advance man Arthur Culvahouse was in Alaska recently, because they surmised he could only be there to discuss the vice presidential nomination with Gov. Sarah Palin.

At 44, Sarah Louise Heath Palin is both the youngest and the first female governor in Alaska's relatively brief history as a state. She's also the most popular governor in America, with an approval rating that has bounced around 90 percent.

This is due partly to her personal qualities. When she was leading her underdog Wasilla high school basketball team to the state championship in 1982, her teammates called her "Sarah Barracuda" because of her fierce competitiveness.

Two years later, when she won the "Miss Wasilla" beauty pageant, she was also voted "Miss Congeniality" by the other contestants.

Sarah Barracuda. Miss Congeniality. Fire and nice. A happily married mother of five who is still drop dead gorgeous. And smart to boot.

But it's mostly because she's been a crackerjack governor, a strong fiscal conservative and a ferocious fighter of corruption, especially in her own party.

Ms. Palin touches other conservative bases, some of which Sen. McCain has been accused of rounding. Track, her eldest son, enlisted in the Army last Sept. 11. She's a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association who hunts, fishes and runs marathons. A regular churchgoer, she's staunchly pro-life.

Kimberley Strassel of the Wall Street Journal said Sen. McCain should run against a corrupt, do-nothing Congress, a la Harry Truman. If he should choose to do so, Gov. Palin would make an excellent partner "The landscape is littered with the bodies of those who have crossed Sarah," pollster Dave Dittman told the Weekly Standard's Fred Barnes.

Sen. Barack Obama's support has plunged recently among white women. Many Hillary Clinton supporters accuse him -- I think unfairly -- of being sexist. Having Sarah Palin on the ticket could help Sen. McCain appeal to these disgruntled Democrats.

Running mates usually aren't named until the convention. But if Sen. McCain should name Gov. Palin earlier, it would give America more time to get to know this extraordinary woman. And because she's at least a dozen feature stories waiting to be written, she could help him dominate the news between now and the conventions.

Another reason for selecting Sarah Palin early would be to force Barack Obama to make a mistake. He'd have to rule out choosing someone like Virginia Sen. Jim Webb as his running mate, for fear of exacerbating charges of sexism. And if he chose a woman other than Hillary, the impression Democrats are wimpy would be intensified.

[Source: by Jack Kelly, Yahoo! | Image Source: idreamalaskadventures.com]

Ed McMahon’s Home Near Foreclosure

The 85-year-old is close to losing his home.

Nearly everyone in the United States has been affected by the poor economy, including Ed McMahon.

The 85-year-old former Star Search host is reportedly behind on his mortgage payment, and fighting to avoid foreclosure on his multimillion dollar Beverly Hills home.

McMahon was $644,000 behind on the mortgage payments for his $4.8 million home, according to The Associated Press, until Countrywide Financial Corp. filed a default on the home Feb. 28.

The main source of income for McMahon in recent years has been as a spokesman for different products, including the American Family Publishers’ sweepstakes. But he has been unable to perform these duties (and, in turn, make money) after he broke his neck 18 months ago, said his spokesman, Howard Bragman.

“There are plenty of people affected by the weak economy, bad housing market or bad health,” Bragman told the AP.

McMahon has reportedly had useful conversations with the lender in the attempt to resolve the situation and stay in his house, but his future is still up in the air.

[Source: by E. Van Dril, CelebrityCafe.com]

Elliott to Drive Old Spice “Prelude to the Dream” at Eldora Speedway

HARRISBURG, N.C. -- The Wood Brothers Racing no. 21 Sprint Cup Series driver, Bill Elliott, will step back to grassroots racing and join other high profile racers in the Old Spice “Prelude to the Dream” at Eldora Speedway on Wednesday, June 4th.

This will be Bill's third year participating in the event and all proceeds will go toward the Victory Junction Gang Camp. He will pilot the no. 9 Ray Cook Racing machine carrying the "Bill Elliott 50" logo on the hood and he will sport the Wood Brothers Racing U.S. Air Force fire suit.

The Bill Elliott 50 will be held on October 25th at Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, GA in which the proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society.

Bill Elliott commented on how he's looking forward to running at the Eldora Speedway again in hopes that he will make it to the feature this year after being involved in a major wreck on the last lap of the heat race that turned his race car on its roof. He said, "I'm excited about running on a dirt track again and I hope I make it to the main feature this time, It's going to be a lot of fun; I'm really looking forward to it."

The "Prelude to the Dream" will broadcast live and commercial free on HBO Pay Per View where fans can watch Bill along with other NASCAR greats such as Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon and many others as they compete with late model stock cars on the half-mile clay surfaced oval.

The Tony Stewart owned Eldora Speedway hosts an action packed evening of short track dirt racing that allows the drivers to get back to a dirt track where motorsports originated and attempt to catch the prized trophy and winner’s pride.

Racing events include hot laps, qualifying, heat races and the 30 lap features will all begin at 7pm EDT on HBO. For more information on how to order and see the event please visit www.hbo.com.

[Source: WhoWon]

Clinton Defends Obama’s Israel Position at AIPAC

It almost sounded like a concession. Hillary Clinton told a conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in Washington today that support for the state of Israel is one of the proudest planks in the Democratic platform — and that Obama would continue that tradition.

“My support for Israel does not come recently or lightly. I know it is right in my head, in my heart and in my gut. And that is exactly the commitment we need in our next president - a Democratic president,” she said. “I know Senator Obama understands what is at stake here.”

“It has been an honor to contest these primaries with him. It is an honor to call him my friend, and let me be very clear — I know that Senator Obama will be a good friend to Israel,” she said.

Obama, who spoke before Clinton at the conference, has had his support for Israel questioned after several seemingly pro-Palestinian comments, including that no one has suffered more than the Palestinians in the conflict with Israel.

“I know that Senator Obama shares my view, that the next president must be ready to say to the world America’s position is unchanging, our resolve unyielding our stance nonnegotiable. The United States stands with Israel, now and forever,” Clinton continued.

As the crowd applauded, the New York Senator stood, jaw clenched, looking out over the audience. Her face seemed to say even more than her words — hinting that she’s reconciling herself to the fact that Obama will be the Democratic nominee.

Another clue: while she talked about what the next president needs to do to strengthen the Israeli-American relationship, she never once said what she would do in the White House or that she would be that next president.

[Source: by Aaron Bruns, FOX News]

KidZui, The Internet for Kids, Is Now Free to Families Everywhere

SAN DIEGO, CA -- 06/04/08 -- KidZui, The Internet for Kids, is available to all families free-of-charge at www.KidZui.com, effective today. Designed for kids age 3-12, this revolutionary new browser and online service offers access to more than 600,000 kid-friendly websites, videos, and pictures reviewed by trained parents and teachers.

"After seeing the overwhelmingly positive response in the two months since launch, we decided to make the flagship product free for everyone," said Cliff Boro, chairman and chief executive officer of KidZui. "Now even more kids can benefit from the power and promise of the Internet in a fun and engaging, family-friendly way."

The new free version of KidZui has all the features that KidZui users have come to love: a fun, intuitive, easy-to-use kids' browser, tons of kid-friendly content, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing the content on KidZui has been pre-screened by filters and then reviewed by trained and compensated parents and teachers to make sure it is kid-appropriate. Built from the ground up for kids, KidZui encourages and rewards curiosity, discovery and learning.

"With KidZui in our home, we look forward to our children exploring the Internet," said Robyn Jackson, a San Diego resident and mother of three kids aged 2, 5 and 8. "KidZui is a great way to give my kids some freedom on the Web, without having to worry about what they might see. I have already been telling all my friends about it, and now that it's free, I'm sure everyone will be signing up their kids."

KidZui will also offer a premium membership with fun extras for kids that enable more self-expression and personalization. For example, they will have more tags to rate content and share their thoughts with friends, cooler accessories for their Zuis (online avatars), and a broader array of backgrounds and themes to decorate their pages.

The premium membership also offers even more value for parents -- enhanced reporting through email updates and more detailed online activity reports. With the premium version, parents gain deeper insight into their kids' evolving online interests. Premium memberships are $4.95 per month or $49.95 per year, and are available to anyone who wishes to upgrade from the fully functioning free product.

About KidZui

KidZui, The Internet for Kids, is a revolutionary new free browser and online service that lets kids aged 3 to 12 enjoy the power and promise of the Internet in a fun, safe and engaging way. KidZui features more than half a million Web sites, videos and pictures categorized by topic and reviewed for age-appropriateness according to strict editorial guidelines. Built from the ground up for kids, KidZui encourages and rewards curiosity and learning, and keeps parents in touch with their kids' online activities. KidZui is funded by Maveron, Emergence Capital Partners and First Round Capital. KidZui is available at www.kidzui.com.

[Source: earthtimes.org]

150 mpg car - AFS Trinity’s XH-150 mpg Hybrid water ran car!

BELLEVUE, Wash. – With gas prices at their highest ever, Detroit automakers are being forced to consider new electric technology.

They may need to look no further than in King County, where a company has developed a plug-in Hybrid system it claims can deliver 150 miles per gallon.

"I think it's actually the future of our economy and our livelihood," said Gov. Chris Gregoire.
Related Content

Bellevue-based AFS Trinity Corporation, which developed this technology in the XH-150, says it has solved the battery dilemma. Batteries don't last long when asked to provide sudden bursts of power, but this one uses a specially designed capacitor to store the battery power and pack the punch.

"So by doing that, you never put the battery under stress and that makes it last a long time," said AFS Trinity CEO Edward W. Furia.

It's a lot of technical stuff developed by the biggest gang of techno-geeks you can imagine.

"We got guys from Honeywell, from NASA, Martin Marietta, from Lockheed," said Furia.

The process was a hit before it was ever built. It makes sense to engineers on paper, and when the car's electric and combustible engines are combined, it takes off.

But for some reason the 40 mile battery, the 150 mile-per-gallon equivalent and the combined 370 horsepower just won't fly with Detroit. Furia says the U.S. automaker engineers like it, but the big brass is slow to accept it.

"They run companies that are like aircraft carriers and an aircraft carrier does not turn on a dime. It takes hours and it takes miles," said Furia.

"But the marketplace and the kind of exciting technology we're seeing in Bellevue is exactly what America needs," said Dino Rossi, Republican candidate for governor.

AFS Trinity says the high cost of gas and sagging auto sales may finally convince auto makers to start producing the plug-in hybrid.

[Source: King5.com]

Senator James Marzilli Arrested on Assault Charges

Massachusetts Democratic Senator James Marzilli was arrested Tuesday afternoon for allegedly assaulting a woman. He was charged with attempting to commit a crime, simple assault and battery, and resisting arrest.

The 50-year-old allegedly approached a woman who was sitting on a park bench. He made an “inappropriate comment” before allegedly attempting to touch her in a sexual way. The woman resisted Marzilli and called police.

When police approached the senator, he reportedly gave them a false name and ran from officers. He was arrested and taken to jail. Marzilli was released on $1,500 bail.

Marzilli’s lawyer, Terrence Kennedy, says his client “completely and totally denies” the “ridiculous” allegations.

This is not the first time that Marzilli has been accused to assaulting a woman. Last April, a woman accused him of indecent assault. Marzilli was never charged in the case because of insufficient evidence.

[Source: TransWorldNews]

Cecil Suwal - Bronx woman pleads guilty to running Emperors Club VIP

A young woman pleaded guilty yesterday to charges that she ran an international prostitution ring that authorities say set up a sexual liaison between former Gov. Eliot Spitzer and a call girl.

Cecil Suwal, 23, of the Bronx, admitted to U.S. District Judge Barbara Jones in Manhattan that for more than three years she took part in the conspiracy to run the Emperors Club VIP and launder the sex business' money. Suwal remains free on bail until she is sentenced in September. She faces up to 27 months in prison.

According to a two-count federal criminal information, Suwal ran the Emperors Club Web site, helped hire prostitutes and arranged dates for the women. Some clients paid as much as $50,000 for extended dates with the prostitutes, said investigators.

Court records and law enforcement sources have previously indicated that Spitzer met at the Mayflower Hotel with an Emperors Club prostitute on Feb. 13 in Washington, D.C. One of the acts in the conspiracy charge against Suwal referred to travel by a prostitute from New York to Washington on that date, although Spitzer's name is not mentioned in the court papers.

While some sources had speculated that Suwal was cooperating with investigators, her plea agreement didn't mention any requirement that she help the continuing probe. Her defense attorney, Alberto Ebanks, didn't return a telephone call for comment.

The criminal information also charged Suwal with opening up bank accounts used to launder Emperors Club proceeds. Suwal was accused of using the accounts to pay more than $400,000 to prostitutes in the United States and Europe.

[Source: newsday.com]

Tomato Recall - State warns of salmonella outbreak involving uncooked tomatoes; recall likely

At least nine states, including Arizona, are reporting an outbreak of salmonella infections involving uncooked tomatoes.

So far the Yavapai County Health Department has not reported any cases in Yavapai County, but that could change at any time, said Michael Murphy, spokesman for the Arizona Department of Health Services.

"There are numerous suspect cases," Murphy said.

So far a strain called Salmonella St. Paul has sickened five people from Maricopa, Pima, Apache and Coconino counties and sent one person to the hospital. No one has died, Murphy said.

The outbreak began in late April in Texas and New Mexico and then spread to Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Utah and Arizona.

So far the St. Paul strain of salmonella has infected at least 70 people nationwide and hospitalized at least 17.

Until inspectors can find the source of the outbreak, the state has a simple recommendation: "Don't eat tomatoes," state public information officer Janey Pearl said.

She recommends that people wash them or cook them really well.

Once the Food and Drug Administration identifies the specific grower of the tainted tomatoes, officials likely will issue a tomato recall, said Kenneth Komatsu, state epidemiologist for the Arizona Department of Health Services.

"The Food and Drug Administration is tracing back from individual food histories to find the distributors, the growers and how they were contaminated," Komatsu explained. "The FDA typically works with the stores, distributor and grower to conduct voluntary recalls."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Arizona state health officials also are recommending people take the following steps:

• Do not eat raw Roma or red round tomatoes other than those sold attached to the vine or grown at home, especially if you are at increased risk of infection - this group includes infants, elderly people and those with impaired immune systems.

• Avoid buying bruised or damaged tomatoes and discard any that appear spoiled.

• Thoroughly wash all tomatoes under cool, running water.

• Refrigerate within two hours cut, peeled or cooked tomatoes, otherwise discard.

• Separate raw tomatoes from raw meats, seafood and other raw produce.

• Wash cutting boards, dishes, utensils and counter tops with hot water and soap when switching among food types.

• Cook tomatoes at 145 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 15 seconds to kill salmonella.

• Wash hands often, especially after going to the restroom, before preparing or serving food, and after changing a diaper.

Most people infected with salmonella develop diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps within 12 to 72 hours. The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most people recover without treatment. Some people may need hospitalization because of severe diarrhea.

Salmonella may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and then to other body sites, and can cause death. In severe cases, antibiotic treatment may be necessary.

For more information visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/salmonella/saintpaul.

Contact the reporter at tshultz@prescottaz.com

[Source: The Daily Courier]

Lawmakers: Clinton Says She's Ready to be Obama's VP

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. Hillary Clinton on Tuesday told New York lawmakers she is open to being the running mate of Sen. Barack Obama, her rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, two of the lawmakers told CNN.

Sen. Hillary Clinton trails Obama by 159 delegates and is 201 delegates shy of capturing the nomination.

Rep. Charles Rangel, a senior member of the New York Democratic delegation, also told CNN, "I have reason to believe she is open to the [vice president] slot."

One of the sources added that former President Clinton has been privately pushing for a couple of weeks for his wife to be No. 2 on the ticket.

On Monday night, a close friend and adviser of the former first lady told CNN Clinton will say tonight "that she will do whatever it takes" to put a Democrat in the White House. Barack Obama insiders saw that as an indication she would accept an offer to be his running mate if asked.

"In her speech [Tuesday] night, she will convey the message that first and foremost she is committed to Democrats winning in November and will do whatever she's asked to do," the Clinton adviser said.

"She will do whatever it takes to bring the party together to win and whatever is asked of her to make sure the Republicans are defeated," the adviser added.

Even though she discussed being Obama's running mate, her campaign chairman earlier in the day said Clinton was "absolutely not" prepared to concede the race after the polls close tonight in Montana and South Dakota, the final two contests on the primary calendar.

Terry McAuliffe rejected as "100 percent" incorrect an Associated Press report that Clinton is preparing to acknowledge Obama has the delegates to win the nomination Tuesday night as the five-month Democratic primary process comes to a close.

Obama "doesn't have the numbers today, and until someone has the numbers the race goes on," McAuliffe told CNN.

Clinton continues to fight Obama in the Democratic primary season. Some 61 contests over five months will end Tuesday as Montana and South Dakota hold primaries.

Only 31 pledged delegates are at stake in those two contests.

Obama on Tuesday had 2,083 delegates, just 35 delegates shy of the 2,118 needed to clinch the nomination, after a number of superdelegates announced their support for the senator from Illinois.

Former President Jimmy Carter and Rep. James Clyburn, the No. 3 Democrat in the House and the highest ranking African-American in Congress, were two of the most prominent superdelegate endorsements that Obama picked up.

"I came to that decision because I do believe that he has elevated this campaign," Clyburn said. "He has energized our constituents. He is redrawing an electoral map for Democrats."

There are not enough pledged delegates at stake in Montana and South Dakota to put Obama over the top, but a rush of endorsements by the remaining undeclared "superdelegates" could allow him to claim victory when he takes the stage in Minnesota Tuesday evening.

Superdelegates are the approximate 825 Democratic governors, members of Congress, and party officials who each get to vote in the delegate nominating process. Around 200 of them have yet to endorse either Obama or Clinton.

In a bit of symbolism, Obama will spend Tuesday night at a rally at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the same arena which will house the 2008 Republican National Convention in September. Clinton will spend the night at an campaign event in New York City.

Obama is looking more and more toward a likely general election matchup with John McCain, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee. And while not taking anything for granted, it appears he's starting to look at Clinton as less of a rival and more as an important ally who can help him win in November.

"We're getting very close to the number that will, that will give us the nomination and if we've hit that number on Tuesday night, then we will. We will announce that and I think even if we don't, this is the end of the primary season, and I think it's very important for us to focus on the clear contrast that's going to exist between Democrats and Republicans in this election," Obama said this weekend while campaigning in South Dakota.

"Sen. Clinton is an outstanding public servant, she has worked tirelessly on this campaign, she has been a great senator for the state of New York and she is going to be a great asset when we go into November to make sure that we defeat the Republicans," Obama said on the campaign trail Sunday in South Dakota, adding Monday in Michigan that "she and I will be working together."

Clinton's road to capturing the nomination is much longer and more difficult. She trails Obama by 166 delegates and is 201 delegates shy of capturing the nomination. Her main shot at winning now appears to depend on a mass wave of superdelegate support, which seems unlikely. See what's next for Clinton »

Clinton's been making the case for weeks now that she's ahead in the popular vote in the primaries and caucuses to date. Much of this argument hinges on how Michigan's disputed primary is counted. If Obama is awarded no votes, since his name wasn't on the ballot, Clinton leads by 194,000 in the popular vote count. If Obama is awarded the 40 percent who voted uncommitted in the primary, he's ahead of Clinton by 45,000 votes in the overall count. Video Watch Clinton outline her optimism »

"The Clinton campaign is making every effort to convince superdelegates she is the best qualified and most electable Democrat to take on John McCain in November. The problem for Clinton is that it seems a little bit too late for her argument to stick even if these superdelegates did embrace her assertion that she is the leader in the popular vote," said Mark Preston, CNN political editor.
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CNN senior political correspondent Candy Crowley reported that "only a handful of people at the inner core of the Clinton campaign knows what she's thinking about doing when Tuesday's dust settles, adding that "those who have been with her since nearly the beginning are saying she will not push this into the convention. As one close Clinton supporter put it, she's acutely aware of her place in the party. She will not ruin the party."

Clinton scored a large victory Sunday in Puerto Rico's primary. It could be a different story in Montana, where Obama is ahead in the most recent polls. Obama campaigned in the state late last week, before stumping over the weekend in South Dakota. Clinton spent Monday in South Dakota. A new poll out Monday in that state puts Clinton up by double digits. But regardless of the results, Tuesday night is much more about the big picture than about who won which primary.

[Source: CNN]

Gina Gershon Denies Affair with Bill Clinton

Gay and lesbian icon Gina Gershon is smokin' mad about a new Vanity Fair article alleging her friendship with former President Bill Clinton might have gone to the next level... and her lawyers are letting the magazine know she's not going to take it lying down.

The article implies Clinton has engaged in a series of extramarital affairs with high-profile women. The feature notes rumors of questionable relationships between Hillary Clinton’s husband and Gershon and billionaire heiress Belinda Stronach, among others.

In a letter written to Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter, penned by Lynda B. Goldman, councel for Gershon representing the Los Angeles based firm Lavely & Singer, Gershon vehemently denied allegations made by journalist Todd S. Purdum in the article "The Comeback Id".

Purdum claims Clinton’s “episodic friendship” with billionaire auto-parts heiress and Canadian Parliement member Belinda Stronah has long served as fuel for tabloid rumors. More recently, “high-end Hollywood dinner-party gossip” has linked the former president to actress Gina Gershon. In addition, Purdum says there has been talk of several other ‘female friends’ Clinton has been rumored to be associating with.

The letter from Gershon's rep in response to the article reads, in part: "My client has the utmost admiration and respect for both the President and Senator [Hillary] Clinton, and she is extremely offended by the false and defamatory inference that she engaged in an adulterous relationship with the President."

In a 2,476 word memo released on Sunday, Bill Clinton’s office vehemently attacked the Vanity Fair article’s commentary on his private relationships, his business connections and his health status.

The memo, provided by Clinton aide Jay Carson, called the Vanity Fair article “a tawdry, anonymous quote-filled attack piece,” which “repeates many past attacks on [Clinton], ignores much prior positive coverage, includes numerous errors, and ultimately breaks no new ground. It is, in short, journalism of personal destruction at its worst.”

The memo also stated that Vanity Fair has a “long history of libel and a loose relationship with the facts” and blasted the publication for the “obvious conflict of interest” caused by allowing Todd Purdum to author the piece on Clinton.

According to Clinton’s office, Purdum is married to fromer White House Press Secretary Dee Dee Myers, which is a conflict “that would likely not be contemplated at more reputable publications.”

In a more personal response to the Vanity Fair article, Clinton called writer Todd Purdum a "scumbag," "sleazy" and said "he's a real slimy guy."

"[Purdum's] one of the guys that propagated all those lies about Whitewater for Kenneth Starr," Clinton said, according to the Huffington Post. "He's just a dishonest guy, can't help it."

Hillary Clinton's campaign office apologized on Tuesday for her husband's remarks about the Vanity Fair article author, saying the former president's language was "inappropriate".

[Source: Gaywired]

Abir Sabri | The Last Egyptian Belly Dancer

Rich Saudis are transforming Cairo's entertainment scene.

Abir Sabri, celebrated for her alabaster skin, ebony hair, pouting lips and full figure, used to star in racy Egyptian TV shows and movies. Then, at the peak of her career a few years ago, she disappeared—at least her face did. She began performing on Saudi-owned religious TV channels, with her face covered, chanting verses from the Qur'an. Conservative Saudi Arabian financiers promised her plenty of work, she says, as long as she cleaned up her act. "It's the Wahhabi investors," she says, referring to the strict form of Sunni Islam prevalent in Saudi Arabia. "Before, they invested in terrorism—and now they put their money in culture and the arts."

Egyptians deplore what they call the Saudization of their culture. Egypt has long dominated the performing arts from Morocco to Iraq, but now petrodollar-flush Saudi investors are buying up the contracts of singers and actors, reshaping the TV and film industries and setting a media agenda rooted more in strict Saudi values than in those of freewheeling Egypt. "As far as I'm concerned, this is the biggest problem in the Middle East right now," says mobile-phone billionaire Naquib Sawiris. "Egypt was always very liberal, very secular and very modern. Now ..." He gestures from the window of his 26th-floor Cairo office: "I'm looking at my country, and it's not my country any longer. I feel like an alien here."

At the Grand Hyatt Cairo, a mile upstream along the Nile, the five-star hotel's Saudi owner banned alcohol as of May 1 and ostentatiously ordered its $1.4 million inventory of booze flushed down the drains. "A hotel in Egypt without alcohol is like a beach without a sea," says Aly Mourad, chairman of Studio Masr, the country's oldest film outfit. He says Saudis—who don't even have movie theaters in their own country—now finance 95 percent of the films made in Egypt. "They say, here, you can have our money, but there are just a few little conditions." More than a few, actually; the 35 Rules, as moviemakers call them, go far beyond predictable bans against on-screen hugging, kissing or drinking. Even to show an empty bed is forbidden, lest it hint that someone might do something on it. Saudi-owned satellite channels are buying up Egyptian film libraries, heavily censoring some old movies while keeping others off the air entirely.

Some Egyptians say the new prudishness isn't entirely the Saudis' fault. "Films are becoming more conservative because the whole society is becoming more conservative," says filmmaker Marianne Khoury, who says Saudi cash has been a lifeline to the 80-year-old industry. From a peak of more than 100 films yearly in the 1960s and '70s, Egyptian studios' output plunged to only a half dozen a year in the '90s. Thanks to Saudi investors, it's now about 40. "If they stopped, there would be no Egyptian films," says Khoury.

At least a few Egyptians say Saudi Arabia is the country that's ultimately going to change. "Egypt will be back to what it used to be," predicts the single-named Dina, one of Egypt's few remaining native-born belly dancers. And it was a Saudi production company that financed a 2006 drama that frankly discusses homosexuality, "The Yacoubian Building." Sawiris has launched a popular satellite-TV channel of his own, showing uncensored American movies. He's determined to win—but he's only one billionaire, and Saudi Arabia is swarming with them.

With Gameela Ismail in Cairo

[Source: Newsweek]

Amanda Lucas | Daughter of George Lucas in Auckland bout

The Force is strong with Amanda Lucas daughter of legendary Hollywood filmmaker George Lucas who made her mixed martial arts debut in Auckland on Saturday.

Amanda, who featured in three of her father's Star Wars blockbusters, slipped unnoticed into New Zealand last Sunday with a US all-female fight team.

The Americans took on an Australasian side in the Princesses of Pain event at the Auckland Boxing Association Stadium. Amanda, 27, was pitted against Kiwi kickboxer Nicole Kavanagh in the 73kg MMA contest.

Footage of the bout should end up on a reality TV show planned around the formation of a women's international fight league.

Current affairs show 20/20 also covered the event.

Princesses of Pain promoter Belinda Dunne said Amanda's arrival created a buzz among martial artists but the billionaire's daughter had fitted straight in.

She's even staying at the same central Auckland backpackers' lodge as her team-mates, despite being accompanied by her American bodybuilder fiancee.

"She's staying in a hostel with six other girls. Eating the same food. She has not once been a prima donna about it," Belinda told Sunday News.

"Within her team-mates, none of them really give a crap (about her links to fame).

"Amanda is an amazing person within herself.

"Being in New Zealand has been good for her. She's been here since Sunday and no one's taken any notice.

"It's great for her first fight. It's been about her and not about who she is."

Amanda was a hip-hop teacher in San Francisco but had years of martial arts training including kickboxing, Muay Thai and Brazilian ju-jitsu, Belinda said.

She trained at the city's Fairtex Gym, which featured Muay Thai world champion Yodsaenklai Fairtex who fought in the KO World Series event in Auckland in February.

"(Amanda's) got the heart of a fighter.

"She's got some skills in every area. She does the tough yards and she doesn't give up," Belinda said.

She deserved her stage name Amanda "Powerhouse" Lucas.

"She's got a lot of strength in her punch."

Amanda has also made an impact on the big screen, appearing in the most recent Star Wars trilogy.

She was dancer Diva Funquita and the voice of Trade Federation battleship communications officer Tey How in Episode I The Phantom Menace, Outlander Club patron Adnama (Amanda spelled backwards) in Episode II Attack of the Clones, and Senator Terr Taneel in Episode III Revenge of the Sith.

Dad George Lucas' Hollywood blockbusters include both Stars Wars trilogies, the Indiana Jones series and American Graffiti.

Last night's Princesses of Pain featured 10 bouts. An Asian team is planned for the women's international fight league.

[Source: Stuff.co.nz]

Chevy Volt | GM Closes 4 North American Plants In Shift From Trucks Toward Cars

DETROIT: Responding to a consumer shift toward more fuel-efficient vehicles, General Motors said Tuesday that it would stop making pickup trucks and big sport utility vehicles at four North American assembly plants and would consider selling its Hummer brand.

The moves, announced Tuesday by the company chairman and chief executive, Rick Wagoner, will slash 500,000 units from the automaker's overall production, and pave the way for increased investment in smaller cars and passenger vehicles.

Wagoner said that rising gasoline prices had forced a "structural shift" by U.S. consumers away from truck-based vehicles built by GM.

"These prices are changing consumer behavior and changing it rapidly," Wagoner said at a briefing before GM's annual meeting in Wilmington, Delaware. "We don't believe it's a spike or a temporary shift; we believe it is, by and large, permanent."

In what he called difficult decisions, Wagoner said that GM would close plants in Janesville, Wisconsin; Moraine, Ohio; Oshawa, Ontario; and Toluca, Mexico, by or before 2010.

The actions follow previous moves to cut shifts at two truck plants in Michigan.

Wagoner said it was unlikely that the plants would reopen at any point with new products, but declined to provide details about relocating workers to other facilities.

Detroit automakers have been hit hard by rising fuel costs, which have significantly curtailed demand for pickups and full-size sport utility vehicles like the Chevrolet Tahoe. The shift toward smaller and lighter vehicles with better mileage is a problem for the companies, because they offer fewer such models than Asian carmakers like Toyota and Honda.

GM was expected to slash its truck production after similar moves were announced by the Ford, which recently eliminated a shift at each of four truck plants in Michigan, Wisconsin and Ontario, and extended the summer shutdown at several truck plants to reduce inventories. The company also announced last week that it would build its new subcompact car, the Fiesta, at a Mexican factory that assembles full-size pickup trucks.

While GM's production cuts were deeper than anticipated by industry analysts, the decision on the Hummer brand underscored the challenge GM was facing.

Once considered a brand with global market potential, the Hummer has become a symbol of the decline of the large, gas-guzzling sport utility vehicle.

Wagoner said that GM's directors had approved a "strategic review" of Hummer that could include "a partial or complete sale of the brand."

Over all, GM will reduce its North American production to 3.7 million vehicles from 4.2 million. The moves should add $1 billion in cost cuts to the $5 billion it hopes to save by 2011.

Besides cutting production of trucks and sport utility vehicles, GM will place a bigger bet on its passenger cars and lighter-weight crossover vehicles.

Wagoner said GM would add third shifts to its plants in Lordstown, Ohio, and Orion Township, Michigan, to increase their output of Chevrolet and Pontiac cars.

He said the GM board had also approved next-generation versions of two small Chevrolet passenger cars, as well as a new fuel-efficient, 1.4-liter turbocharged engine.

The automaker also set a firm schedule for production of the extended-range, electric-powered Chevrolet Volt. Wagoner said the Volt, which is powered by batteries augmented by a small gasoline engine, will be available for sale no later than the end of 2010.

"In other words, the Chevy Volt is a go," he said. "We believe this is the biggest step yet in our industry's move away from our historic, virtually complete, reliance on petroleum to power vehicles."

"From the start of our North American turnaround plan in 2005, I've said that our goal is not just to return GM to profitability, but to structure GM globally for sustained profitability and growth," Wagoner said in a statement.

"Since the first of this year, however, U.S. economic and market conditions have become significantly more difficult," he said. "Higher gasoline prices are changing consumer behavior, and they are significantly affecting the U.S. auto industry sales mix."

GM shares rose 35 cents, or 2.1 percent, to $17.79 in afternoon trading.

The announcement Tuesday came after GM said that 19,000 hourly workers - a quarter of a unionized work force that already has been drastically pared down - had accepted buyouts.

[Source: International Herald Tribune]

Brigitte Bardot | Pas Encore, Brigitte! French Actress Convicted for Anti-Muslim Rants

In “And God Created Woman,” the 1956 film that launched French actress Brigitte Bardot to stardom, Bardot portrays a precocious teenage orphan who turns small-town life on its head. Fifty years later, the real-life Bardot is still antagonizing French society — and paying for it.

Earlier today, reports the AP, a Paris court convicted Bardot of provoking discrimination and racial hatred for writing that Muslims are destroying France. She was fined $23,325 and ordered to pay $1,555 in damages to MRAP, a French anti-racism group.

MRAP filed a suit last year over a letter Bardot, 73, sent to then-Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy. In the letter to Sarkozy, now France’s president, Bardot said France is “tired of being led by the nose by this population that is destroying us, destroying our country by imposing its acts.” Bardot, an animal rights activist, was reportedly referring to the Muslim feast of Aid el-Kebir, celebrated by slaughtering sheep.

French anti-racism laws prevent inciting hatred and discrimination on racial or religious or racial grounds. Bardot had been convicted four times previously for inciting racial hatred.

Bardot’s lawyer, Francois-Xavier Kelidjian, said he would talk to her about the possibility of an appeal. “She is tired of this type of proceedings,” he said. “She has the impression that people want to silence her. She will not be silenced in her defense of animal rights.”

French prosecutors are tired, too. This will be the fifth time Bardot has been fined for inciting racial hatred since 1997. Last month, prosecutor Anne de Fontette told the court she was seeking a tougher sentence than usual, adding: “I am a little tired of prosecuting Mrs. Bardot.”

[Source: WSJ | Image Source: Getty Images]

Hypermiler | Beat High Gas Prices By Hypermiling

The average price for a gallon of a gas in the U.S. has reached $3.60 and continues to rise. Forced to pay outrageous prices at the pump, some motorists are turning to radical driving techniques to increase the mileage they get out of each tank of gas.

Called "hypermiling," the method can double a vehicle’s gas mileage and will work on even the biggest gas-guzzlers out there.

Some of the tips to improve your gas mileage are well known, such as pumping up your tires to its maximum rating on their sidewalls, changing your air filter at least once a year and not driving above the speed limit.

However, others are more radical and controversial, including the practice of drafting behind other vehicles on the highway to reduce aerodynamic drag, and turning off your engine when coasting downhill.

[Source: MyFox Phoenix]

Clinton Denies Plans to Concede Tonight

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and former president Bill Clinton react to supporters during a rally in Sioux Falls, S.D., June 2, 2008. (Associated Press)

By Anne E. Kornblut

NEW YORK -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's denied a news report that she plans to concede the Democratic nomination to Sen. Barack Obama tonight amid confusion about the timing of what appears a likely withdrawal or suspension of her candidacy sometime this week.

The Associated Press, quoting sources, said Clinton planned to acknowledge tonight at her rally here in New York that Obama has the necessary delegates to secure the nomination. But shortly after the story was published, the campaign issued a statement saying: "The AP story is incorrect. Senator Clinton will not concede the nomination this evening."

The AP report caught many Clinton staffers by surprise. One said they were operating on the assumption that she would not concede tonight and were working on her prepared remarks as they were trying to knock down the report that she was ready to give up now.

But her advisers, in private conversations with senior Democrats and Democratic aides, have indicated that she recognizes the likelihood that Obama will secure the nomination tonight or tomorrow with the support of additional superdelegates and that she is prepared to yield to that reality.

Clinton aides have said she is still determined not to be forced out on someone else's timing and wants to take time on Wednesday to assess and make the necessary calls to supporters and advisers before conceding. That would put a suspension or withdrawal no earlier than Wednesday.

Another Clinton adviser acknowledged that a possible concession "is a work in progress" and that the discussions are tightly held within the campaign, involving only a few trusted advisers. They include campaign manager Maggie Williams, chief of staff Cheryl Mills and few others, according to campaign officials.

Clinton will speak tonight after the polls close in Montana and South Dakota.

Obama is expected to pick up more superdelegates today, including a group of officials from Montana after the polls close there. But other uncommitted senators have been urged to wait until Wednesday to announce their support for Obama out of deference to Clinton.

[Source: WashingtonPost.com]

Tilda Swinton and Sandro Kopp's Complicated Love Affair

Tilda Swinton took Sandro Kopp to the Oscars and the Baftas in February

The actress's other partner John Byrne has a girlfriend

Tuesday, 3 June 2008

Tilda Swinton's love life is even more unconventional than first thought.

The actress, 47, lives in the Scottish Highlands with playwright John Byrne, 68, father of her twins Xavier and Honor, 10.

But she travels the world with German-born toyboy Sandro Kopp, 29, who went to the Oscars with her in February.

Now it has emerged John also has a lover – he has dated theatrical lighting designer Jeanine Davies, 42, for the past 2 years.

'It's all very relaxed and very amicable,' John says. 'We have not hidden away and Jeanine is very much part of my life.

'Tilda has Sandro, and the arrangement works very well.

'There is so much love there, I wish I could explain it.'

John insists he and The Chronicles Of Narnia star Tilda remain a couple.

'Tilda and I are still together, which I know will confuse people. But the dynamic of every relationship is different,' he tells the Daily Mail.

'Jeanine has met my children as well as Tilda. I wouldn't say we all socialised together but she has met Sandro and we have all been under one roof together.'

[Source: nowmagazine.com]

Kelsey Grammer Heart Attack

Kelsey Grammer has suffered a heart attack.

The 'Frasier' actor had a mild heart attack on Saturday morning (31.05.08) and was rushed to hospital in Hawaii where he is now recovering.

A representative for the star said: "Grammer experienced symptoms Saturday morning after paddle boarding with his wife Camille at their Hawaiian home. He was immediately taken to a hospital where it was determined that he had a mild heart attack."

Grammer, 53, is "resting comfortably" in hospital, and is expected to be released sometime this week.

Although Grammer does not have a history of heart trouble, he has battled alcoholism and drug addiction.

He was treated for drink problems at a rehabilitation centre in 1990, but became addicted to cocaine shortly after he was released.

He said: "The minute I got out I went home and did a lot of cocaine. It took me to the place where I felt like I was at the edge. And I liked living there. I probably would have died if I hadn't stopped."

[Source: boston.com]

Hyundai Genesis - Compare to Mercedes E-Class, Infiniti M, and Lexus GS

What is it? Hyundai's production version of its first rear-wheel drive luxury sedan is about to hit showrooms. The Genesis will have a choice of three powertrains: a 3.3-liter V6, a 3.8-liter V6, and a new 4.6-liter V8. Starting at under $30,000, the Hyundai hopes the Genesis will be strong competitor to $60,000 premium sedans such as the Mercedes E-Class, Infiniti M, and Lexus GS.

Hyundai will offer a host of safety features on the Genesis including standard stability control, eight airbags, electronic active head restraints, and adaptive cruise control, which adjusts the vehicle speed to maintain distance from the vehicle ahead.

What is new or notable? Hyundai claims the V8, dubbed the Tau, will produce 368 hp on regular fuel. With the Tau matched with a six-speed automatic transmission, Hyundai says it will propel the Genesis from 0-60 mph in less than six seconds.

CR's Take: The Genesis is the beginning of an ambitious plan by Hyundai that reminds us of the first Lexus LS, which shocked the world in 1989. Too bad Hyundai chose not to display its logo on the nose of its flagship sedan. Our brief, early experience with the car indicates that they have nothing to be ashamed of.

When will it be available? Summer 2008.

[Consumerreports.org]

Gina Gerson - Bill Clinton Fires Back at Vanity Fair Probe

Former president Bill Clinton's office yesterday sharply attacked an article on the former president in this month's Vanity Fair magazine, calling it "a tawdry, anonymous quote-filled attack piece" and "journalism of personal destruction at its worst" in a long-memo that detailed its faults.

The article, written by former New York Times White House correspondent Todd Purdum, included former advisers slamming Clinton for bringing negative attention to his wife's candidacy and surrounding himself with friends who former aides thought could tarnish the ex-president's reputation. Many of these former aides, most of whom were not quoted by name, also attacked Doug Band, Clinton's right-hand man since he left office, for not managing Clinton's carefully.

While Hillary Clinton's campaign did not provide a direct response to the piece, her aides are known to coordinate closely with her husband's office, which released the memo. The 2400-word rebuttal not only slammed Purdum for his use of unnamed sources in much of the piece, but detailed the work of Clinton's nonprofit foundation on HIV/AIDS prevention and other issues, calling the Clinton Foundation "a leading global nongovernmental organization."

Excerpts from the Clinton memo follow:

TO: Interested Parties
FROM: Office of President Clinton
RE: Vanity Fair Article on President Clinton
DATE: June 1, 2008

A tawdry, anonymous quote-filled attack piece, published in this month's Vanity Fair magazine regarding former President Bill Clinton repeats many past attacks on him, ignores much prior positive coverage, includes numerous errors, and ultimately breaks no new ground. It is, in short, journalism of personal destruction at its worst.

Any balanced account of President Clinton's post-presidency - which other publications have referred to as one of "a great philanthropist;" the face of "the power of philanthropy" and "a major force in fighting the pandemic [HIV/AIDS]" - would recognize that the lion's share of his work is his multi-million dollar charitable foundation, which works in almost 50 countries around the world. [The Economist, 9/23/06; Fortune Magazine, 9/7/06; The Wall Street Journal, 1/14/04] Vanity Fair, however, has chosen to publish thousands of words on former President Clinton, but to devote only a single paragraph to his enormous charitable accomplishments.

The piece also takes gratuitous and baseless shots at President Clinton's longtime Counselor, Doug Band, a key architect of the post-presidency, in sections that are rife with mistakes and which, in particularly galling taste, go as far as to criticize Band's wife, who started, and is the CEO of a multi-million dollar global company. The article even criticizes his wedding. The critiques of Band are baseless, and President Clinton has credited Band with being the originator of CGI and has noted that "I couldn't have done half of what I have done in my post-presidency without him."

The author, Todd Purdum, acknowledges speaking to over 50 people (almost all of them anonymous Washington insiders) before contacting President Clinton's office about his piece. Though he researched the piece for several months, his first contact with President Clinton's office was several weeks before he closed the story. Most revealing is one simple fact: President Clinton has helped save the lives of more than 1,300,000 people in his post-presidency, and Vanity Fair couldn't find time to talk to even one of them for comment....

This piece was written by Todd Purdum, who is married to Dee Dee Myers, former White House Press Secretary. Purdum's disclosure of this in the piece does not, as Vanity Fair apparently concluded, remove the obvious conflict of interest. It's a conflict that would likely not be contemplated at more reputable publications, especially considering that, as a result of this relationship, at least one source's anonymity was revealed to others.

[Source: Washington Post]

Tatum O'Neal released after NYC drug arrest

NEW YORK (AP) — Tatum O'Neal, who has publicly battled drug addiction, was released without bail Monday after her cocaine-possession arrest in downtown Manhattan.

The Oscar-winning actress, 44, looked tired but said nothing as she was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court on a misdemeanor charge of possession of a controlled substance. She entered no plea.

Afterward, her lawyer whisked her into a waiting car. She is due back in court July 28.

O'Neal, daughter of Ryan O'Neal, won an Academy Award for best supporting actress for 1973's "Paper Moon," becoming the youngest person ever to win an Oscar.

The former child star struggled for years with drug abuse and publicly feuded with both her father and her former husband, John McEnroe. In recent years she has rebuilt her acting career, playing the hard-drinking Maggie Gavin in the FX channel's "Rescue Me." The show is now in production for its fifth and sixth seasons.

The producer, Sony Pictures Television, said O'Neal has shot one episode for the upcoming season and is scheduled to appear in several more, but the studio declined to comment further.

O'Neal's lawyer, Robert Marinelli, declined to comment. Her manager and publicist didn't immediately return telephone calls after her court appearance, while her agent's office referred calls to her publicist.

Police found two bags of cocaine in her right front pants pocket when she was arrested around 7:30 p.m. Sunday on the Lower East Side, according to a court complaint. Officers saw O'Neal accept the drug from a man during a routine drug sweep, police said.

Prosecutors are recommending drug treatment for O'Neal, who detailed her dependency on heroin and cocaine in her 2004 memoir, "A Paper Life." She has since said she is sober.

[Source: Associated Press]

Bo Diddley dies

Originator of the hambone beat, an influence on generations of bands, passes away

Bo Diddley, one of the fathers of rock'n'roll, has died in Florida at the age of 79.

Diddley, whose signature "hambone" beat provided one of the original and most enduring rhythms in rock, built the foundations from which many musicians - including the British invasion bands of the 1960s - have built.

A spokeswoman for the singer confirmed that Diddley had died of heart failure. He had suffered a heart attack in August 2007, three months after suffering a stroke while touring. Doctors said the stroke affected his ability to speak, and he had returned to Florida to continue rehabilitation.

His first, eponymously titled single introduced record buyers in 1955 to his signature rhythm. The b-side, I'm a Man, with its slightly humorous take on macho pride, also became a rock standard.

Diddley's influence on modern music continued long after the initial explosion of rock'n'roll. Songs such as David Bowie's Panic In Detroit, Bruce Springsteen's She's the One and the Pretenders' Cuban Slide all wear his influence. More recently, hip hop artists such as Mos Def have namechecked him (the track Rock'n'roll claimed his influence was underestimated: "Elvis Presley ain't got no soul/Bo Diddley is rock and roll/You may dig on the Rolling Stones/But they ain't the first place the credit belongs") whereas Jack White's band the Raconteurs currently cover his track Who Do You Love.

The legendary singer and performer, was known for his homemade square guitar, dark glasses and black hat. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and was still playing live in recent years.

[Source: Guardian.co.uk]

Surgeons Remove 16 Steel Washers From Man's 'Nether Region'

The Daily Telegraph

Hazardous Hardware?

An Australian man was operated on in Hornsby Hospital in Berowra Sunday where surgeons removed 16 stainless steel washers from "down under," The Daily Telegraph reports.

Berowra Fire Rescue officers were called to alleviate the man from his awkward predicament at 3 a.m. Berowra is a suburb of northern Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia.

It was not clear how the man's situation arose.

Fire rescue officers spent more than an hour unsuccessfully attempting to remove the washers, before the man was taken into an operating room about 4.30 a.m.

Surgeons took about 90 minutes to remove the washers using fire brigade equipment.

A hospital spokesman said equipment normally used to remove rings from fingers was ineffective because of the thicker nature of the washers.

The man was in a satisfactory condition.

It is believed the only lasting damage may be to his pride.

[Source: FOXNews.com]

Wachovia CEO Pushed Out

Investor jitters are renewed as top guns at Wachovia and WaMu take the fall for bad risks and mortgage losses.

Two more big-bank executives are taking the fall for their mortgage losses. Wachovia (WB) Chief Executive Ken Thompson was pushed out as head of the nation's fourth-largest bank, and Washington Mutual (WM) said it is replacing Kerry Killinger as chairman. He remains CEO of the nation's largest savings and loan.

In its June 2 announcement, Seattle-based WaMu said independent director Stephen E. Frank will take over July 1 as chairman. The company described the move as one of several measures to strengthen corporate governance and return to profitability. But Killinger, 58, has been under mounting pressure over his bad bet on risky adjustable-rate mortgages. During the first quarter, WaMu lost more than $1.1 billion and set aside $3.5 billion to cover defaulted loans. Frank is 66 and has served on WaMu's board since 1997.

Wachovia's Thompson joins Stanley O'Neal at Merrill Lynch (MER) and Charles Prince at Citigroup (C), who both presided over huge losses from exposure to bad mortgages and were subsequently forced from their perches at the top of Wall Street institutions. The board of the Charlotte (N.C.)-based bank said it asked Thompson, 58, to retire and replaced him on an interim basis with Chairman Lanty Smith. Smith replaced Thompson as chairman last month in a move the bank said "strengthens independent leadership" at the company.

A Sign of More Bad News to Come

Wachovia shares sank 4.4% in mid-morning trading on June 2, to $22.75. WaMu fell 1.2%, to $8.91. The shakeups renewed investor jitters about the U.S. financial sector after a period of relative calm. The S&P Diversified Banks index dropped more than 2% in mid-morning trading. The unease spread to the broader stock market, with the blue-chip Dow Jones industrial average down 150 points, or more than 1%, to 12,488.

"We view Wachovia's announcement this morning to remove CEO Ken Thompson as a sign that more bad news will be forthcoming [when the company reports second-quarter results]", wrote Morgan Keegan analyst Robert Patten in a June 2 note to clients. "We would not be surprised to see some more changes among the top ranks at Wachovia over the coming months."

Smith said Monday there were no other senior management changes planned. He said Thompson's exit was precipitated by no single event, but rather a "series of previously disclosed setbacks." Wachovia posted a $393 million first-quarter loss and a 41% cut to its dividend. The longtime bank executive's credibility was damaged further when he said the bank's roughly $25 billion purchase of home lender Golden West Financial, a deal he made at the height of the nation's housing bubble in 2006, was on solid footing.

A Long and Respected Tenure

Thompson later acknowledged the timing of the deal "was not the best," and Wachovia was forced to set aside $2.8 billion earlier this year to cover losses with problem loans. Meanwhile, Wachovia's share price has tumbled from its 52-week high of $54.95.

In a conference call with reporters on June 2, Smith said, "It's been our hope and expectation that Ken would serve for several more years. We certainly wanted Ken to succeed. This is earlier than any of us wanted or chose." In a statement issued by the bank, Thompson said, "It has been an honor to serve this great company for 32 years and to lead it for the past eight years." Smith has been a director since 1987, a lead independent director since 2000, and served as chairman of Wachovia's executive committee. He is chairman and CEO of Tippet Capital, a merchant bank in Raleigh.

Early Leader in Adjustable Rates

At WaMu's annual meeting on Apr. 16, Killinger had urged shareholders to show some "faith" in the struggling thrift. But WaMu's shares have plunged 35% since the start of the year. In January, the bank reported a loss of $1.87 billion for the fourth quarter. The company cut its dividend, slashed thousands of jobs, and sought additional sources of capital. In early April, WaMu announced it was getting out of the business of home lending through independent mortgage brokers and said it had lined up a $7 billion cash infusion from private equity firm TPG.

WaMu, which has 2,500 banks nationwide, began life as a lender in Seattle in 1889. It made its first home loan, for $700, the following year. Under Killinger, WaMu made dozens of acquisitions, including such large regional lenders as New York's Dime Savings and California's Great Western Financial. The 1999 acquisition of Long Beach Mortgage made WaMu a big player in the risky business of making subprime loans to borrowers with poor credit histories.

WaMu was an early leader in the industry's push to offer adjustable-rate mortgages, in particular ones that gave borrowers the option to roll a monthly interest payment on top of the principal of the loan. Once the second-largest mortgage lender in the U.S., the company fell to sixth place overall last year as it began throttling back on mortgage loans. Killinger announced plans to focus more on credit-card lending and banking services for small businesses.

[Source: Business Week]

New Dior Phone Targets China, Russia

PARIS -- French luxury-goods company Christian Dior SA Wednesday will unveil a line of mobile phones, extending beyond its traditional fashion business to boost sales, particularly with brand-hungry consumers in new markets such as China and Russia.

The new Dior phone -- priced from €3,500, or $5,000, and up -- comes after competitors such as Prada SpA and Dolce & Gabbana have turned their fashion-branded mobile phones into significant businesses.

Dior

The basic model for Dior's new phone comes in a variety of colors.

"In the same way that we have developed our watch and jewelry lines, we want to increase sales with the phone," Dior Chief Executive Sidney Toledano said in an interview.

The phones will be made by a small French manufacturer, ModeLabs Group SA. Mr. Toledano says he expects to sell at least 10,000 of them a year at the beginning and hopes to reach annual sales of €200 million in the longer term. ModeLabs invested several million euros in research-and-development costs on the new phone, said the company's founder, Stéphane Bohbot.

That revenue target is lofty, considering Dior's overall sales last year were €787 million, but is in line with rivals. Last year, Dolce & Gabbana and its partner Motorola Inc. sold €200 million worth of the designer label's gold Razr phone.

Dior's move comes as high-end fashion houses are crossing the boundaries of traditional fashion items to boost sales. After the licensing heyday of the 1980s, which cheapened the names of many fashion houses by putting them on items ranging from lighters to toilet-seat covers, labels reeled in their branding efforts during the 1990s.

Yet in recent years, many companies have branched out again, this time with a pledge to be more selective about how they use their name.

With mobile phones, fashion brands have insisted on taking part in both design and marketing. Last year, when Italian fashion house Prada launched a phone with South Korea's LG Electronics Inc., Prada tinkered with the touch screen and preloaded content in addition to working on the phone's basic design.

Mr. Toledano said the idea of creating a Dior phone was driven by demand in new luxury markets such as China and Russia.

"What really convinced us was seeing the attention people in emerging markets pay to buying a phone, by selecting the color and design," said Mr. Toledano. In Europe and the U.S., in contrast, phones are seen as more disposable commodities, he said.

Dior's new phone -- which will work world-wide, except in Japan and Korea, where it isn't compatible with local wireless networks -- is priced higher than rival fashion phones, closer to the price range of Nokia Corp.'s premium line Vertu, which also starts in the $5,000 range. Dolce & Gabbana, Prada and Giorgio Armani SpA all have phones out that cost around $600.

In addition to all the regular features of a cellphone -- a touchscreen, a camera, ringtones -- the Dior phone offers a new gimmick: a miniature phone barely bigger than a USB key. Dior says the mini "My Dior," as it is called, is handy for women who don't want to rummage through their bags to find their phones. Instead, the mini version of the phone clips to the outside of a bag for easier access. It communicates with the main phone, so people can pick up or make calls with My Dior and use the main phone for more complicated functions.

[Source: WSJ]

Pope Announces New Display of Shroud of Turin

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Shroud of Turin, the mysterious yellowing linen which some Christians believe was Christ's burial cloth and others think is a medieval fake, will go on display again in 2010, Pope Benedict announced on Monday.

The pope, who is by tradition the owner of the cloth, said he hoped to be able to visit the Shroud in the northern Italian city where it is normally kept rolled up in an ornate silver box, "if the Lord grants me life and health".

The last time the Shroud was put on public display was for the Catholic jubilee year in 2000.

The cloth measuring 4.4 by 1.2 meters (14.5 by 3.9 feet), bears the inexplicable image -- eerily reversed like a photographic negative -- of a crucified man.

The cloth shows the back and front of a bearded man with long hair, his arms crossed on his chest, while the entire cloth is marked by what appears to be rivulets of blood from wounds in the wrists, feet and side.

It was shown only four times in the 20th century.

In 1988, carbon dating tests by laboratories in England, Switzerland and the United States indicated that the Shroud dated from between 1260 and 1390 -- implying it was a fake and could not be Christ's burial cloth.

But scientists are at a loss to explain how the image was left on the cloth. Most agree it could not have been painted or printed and some have said the 1988 tests may have been faulty and results corrupted by bacteria encrusted over the centuries.

Some have called for new tests using techniques not available in 1988.

The history of the Shroud is long and controversial.

After surfacing in the Middle East and France, it was brought by Italy's former royal family, the Savoys, to their seat in Turin in 1578.

In 1983 ex-King Umberto II bequeathed it to the late Pope John Paul, Benedict's predecessor.

The Shroud narrowly escaped destruction in 1997 when a fire ravaged the Guarini Chapel of the Turin cathedral where it is held. The cloth was saved by a fireman who risked his life.

The Catholic Church does not claim the Shroud is authentic nor that it is a matter of faith, but says it should be a powerful reminder of Christ's passion.

When he viewed the Shroud in 1998, the late Pope John Paul called on the scientific community to continue research to find adequate answers to the questions linked to the linen.

[Source: By Philip Pullella, Thomson Reuters]

Tatum O'Neil Arrested For Buying Crack

Former child star Tatum O'Neil was arrested last night in New York City for buying crack and cocaine. She must have been really desperate for drugs because she was buying it from a homeless man when the cops stopped her. Tatum has had a long history of drug problems, and even lost her children and husband, tennis star John McEnroe because of her heroin addiction.

Tatum tried the old "I'm researching a movie role" excuse, but NYPD doesn't buy that kind of crap. It also didn't help that she had two dime bags on her and a crack pipe. Looks like Tatum's off to everyone's favorite place…Cirque Lodge!

[Source: Hollyscoop.com]