Monday, March 30, 2009

Advent International

Advent International announced today that they have signed a definitive agreement whereby Advent International will acquire a 51% interest in Fifth Third's processing business through the establishment of a joint venture that values the new company at approximately $2.35 billion before valuation adjustments by either party. Fifth Third will retain the remaining 49 percent interest in the new company, Fifth Third Processing Solutions, LLC.
Pursuant to the agreement, Fifth Third Bank (OH), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bancorp, will contribute the assets and operations of Fifth Third's merchant acquiring and financial institutions processing businesses to a new limited liability company ("LLC"). The LLC's capitalization prior to the purchase of this interest will include senior secured notes payable to subsidiaries of Fifth Third in the amount of $1.25 billion.
Advent will pay Fifth Third $561 million in cash for a 51 percent ownership interest in the equity of the LLC and for certain put rights. Additionally, Fifth Third will receive warrants in the new company exercisable in certain circumstances. Fifth Third estimates the valuation adjustments related to these warrants, the put rights, and minority interest discounts may reduce its implied valuation of the business by an estimated $50 million. The agreement is subject to certain potential purchase price adjustments.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Jefferson County Public Schools

Jefferson County Public Schools, courtesy of the state legislature's decision to phase out CATS testing. State testing in arts and humanities, as well as vocational studies and practical living, has been eliminated. Students will still compile writing portfolios, but the state won't hold schools accountable for the results. And schools likely won't receive an academic index score that would measure whether they are making progress toward academic proficiency.

Bell said Jefferson County will continue tracking how well schools are doing in key subjects such as math and reading. One thousand high school students from the United States and Brazil will descend on Clemson University's Littlejohn Coliseum March 26-28 as part of the sixth annual FIRST Robotics Competition Palmetto Regional. It is a highly competitive and action-packed contest, described as a rock concert and sporting event for the mind rolled into one.
Forty-three teams and robots will take the field to compete in a game called “Lunacy” that aims to launch as many moon rocks as possible into opposing robots within a specified amount of time. High-speed collisions are predicted to be common. The teams received the same kit of parts and had six weeks to design and assemble their robots, which can be no heavier than 120 pounds.

Kim Kardashian Complex Magazine

Kim Kardashian Complex Magazine posted the before and after shots on her Web site. Kim Kardashian's aware she has cellulite, thank you very much. And she's happy to show it to fans. The curvy "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" star proudly posted a pre-Photoshopped photo on her Web site from her sexy Complex magazine shoot next to a more polished version.
Bloggers gleefully poked fun at the before shot after it was accidentally featured on Complex.com for several hours. The mag eventually yanked the picture in favor of a Photoshopped version, which cropped inches off the reality star's legs, whittled her waist and brightened her skin. The photo has since been removed.
Kim Kardashian shares double cover duty on the new issue of Complex along with pasty robot man Kanye West. However, when the mag went to put the images of Kim K. up on their website, they first released an un-Photoshopped version only to replace it later with a retouched version. However, she makes sure to note that she no longer requires fancy retouching. "At the same time as this Complex shoot, I was gearing up for my fitness DVD and you should see my thighs now!!! Haha!"

Alan Rosenberg

Alan Rosenberg is the SAG president, Marg the CSI star Marg Helgenberger has filed for divorce from Alan Rosenberg. Helgenberger cited irreconcilable differences. The divorce was filed yesterday, reveals press late today. The couple have been married since 1989 and have one son. She’s 50, he’s 58. Rosenberg is still battling over a new SAG labor contract for actors with Hollywood producers.
"CSI" star Marg Helgenberger has filed for divorce from her husband Alan Rosenberg, the former "L.A. Law" star now better known as the president of the Screen Actors Guild, the Associated Press reports. For his sake, let's hope he can negotiate a divorce better than union contract talks. News of the split came at the end of last year, but now she's made it official. She cites irreconcilable differences in her petition.
One of the actress' pals told the National Enquirer last year that "Marg hasn't been happy for a long time, and as 50 approached she finally told Alan she wanted to start the second half of her life alone." They've been married for nearly 20 years and have a son. No comment by either to the divorce. The two’s split had been reported here by LALATE several weeks back.

Valerie Bertinelli in a bikini

Valerie Bertinelli in a bikini is the latest cover of People magazine. So, what do you think, Valerie Bertinelli in a bikini – hot or overexposed? Sure, Valerie Bertinelli’s weight loss of about 50 pounds is a big deal, but how hard could it be to lose weight on Jenny Craig? Do not get me wrong; clearly, Valerie Bertinelli in a bikini looks superb for any age – given the fact that she is 48, she looks unbelievably great.

During the last three weeks that Bertinelli refers to as the bikini “homestretch” she trimmed her caloric intake to 1,200 from 1,700 and gave up her regular “splurge” of Champaign. She said, “It was crunch time – like getting ready for your class reunion.” She now says she’s in the best shape of her life. Bertinelli was ready for a challenge. She told People, “I thought, if I’m so afraid of a bikini, there’s something wrong. And so I had to get back into one.”
Valerie is best known for her role a Barbara on the long-running television series, One Day at a Time. She has also starred in Sydney and Touched by an Angel. Bertinelli was married to Eddie Van Halen and they have a son, Wolfgang. They divorced in 2007. Many of us find ourselves all in the same predicament: Spring is fastly approaching and we desperately want to drop that extra weight around our waist ... but not desperate enough to quit the lattes during the day and Mexican feasts in the evenings.

White House Easter Egg Roll 2009

The White House Easter Egg Roll 2009 tickets just went on sale. Easter Egg Roll tickets were announced by LALATE earlier this week and how excited is everyone? People were on LALATE.com reading this story this morning at 12:01 am! Major bunny excitement “The White House will open the South Lawn to children age ten and under, along with their families, to enjoy sports, cooking classes, live musical performances, storytelling and the traditional Easter egg roll.”
The White House Easter Egg Roll will be held on April 13, 2009, and for the first time, tickets are available online. Tickets will be available online for the annual White House Easter Egg Roll beginning Thursday, March 26, 2009. In previous years the only way to obtain tickets for the event was standing in a very long line at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. the weekend before the event.
The White House Easter Egg Roll dates back to 1878 and is an event designed to encourage children and their families to come outdoors and celebrate the start of the spring season. This year’s theme, ‘Let’s go play’, encourages America’s youth to lead healthy and active lives. The White House will open the South Lawn to children age ten and under, along with their families, to enjoy sports, cooking classes, live musical performances, storytelling and, of course, the traditional Easter egg roll.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Amalia Tabata Pereira

Amalia Tabata Pereira, the wife of Pittsburgh Pirate prospect Jose Tabata. She is a suspect in a baby kidnapping in Plant City, Florida. Read the rest of the story below. Amalia Tabata Pereira, who is 43 years old, married Jose Tabata, 20, in January 2008. Tabata is a top outfielder prospect for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates currently train in Bradenton, Florida.
At 3:00 PM Monday afternoon, 2-month-old Sandra Cruz-Francisco was removed from her mother, Rosa Sirilo-Francisco, by a woman named “Janet”. Sirilo-Francisco had taken Sandra to the Plant City Health Department for a checkup. “Janet” claimed that she was an immigration official and that officers were already at Sirilo-Francisco’s home to deport her and baby Sandra’s father back to Mexico.
It is believed that “Janet” and Amalia Tabata Pereira are one in the same. It has been learned that Tabata Pereira has several aliases that she goes by and has a criminal record. It is unclear how baby Sandra was found. Arrested Tuesday was Amalia Tabata Pereira, 43, of Bradenton, who was charged with false imprisonment, interference with child custody and impersonating a social service worker.

Phil Spector

Phil Spector is expected to begin deliberations after hearing closing arguments from the prosecution and defense. The music producer, 69, is charged with second-degree murder stemming from the shooting death of actress Lana Clarkson at his home in 2003. His first trial ended in 2007 with a deadlocked jury. On Tuesday, Spector's attorney, Doron Weinberg, told the jury Clarkson killed herself, and presented 14 points of forensic evidence as proof, reports the Associated Press. The day before a prosecutor told the jury Spector was a "demonic maniac."
Everyone is wondering: "Did Phil Spector really kill Lana Clarkson?" Not according to the music producer’s attorney, who on Tuesday argued that forensic evidence proves that B-list Hollywood actress Clarkson killed herself at Spector’s Los Angeles mansion in 2003. Spector, 69, has been charged with murdering Clarkson just hours after they met, and the resulting trial was full of downright weirdness. A jury in 2007 couldn’t reach a unanimous verdict on his guilt, so a new trial was called.
But prosecutors are painting the legendary producer — who has worked with music legends like The Beatles and Cher — as a "demonic maniac" who is "very dangerous" around women, particularly when he drinks. "This case is about a man who has had a history of playing Russian roulette with the lives of women," Deputy District Attorney Truc Do told the jury. "Five women got the empty chamber. Lana got the sixth bullet. "

Lana Clarkson

Clarkson was shot to death Feb. 3, 2003 in the home of music producer Phil Spector in Alhambra, California near Los Angeles. Closing arguments begin March 23, 2009 in Los Angeles, in the retrial of record producer Phil Spector, who is charged with murder in the February 2003 shooting death of Clarkson at his home.
Forensic evidence in music producer Phil Spector's murder retrial proves he is not guilty of the shooting death of a Hollywood actress six years ago, his lawyer told the jury on Tuesday. Making his closing arguments after a five-month long retrial, defense attorney Doron Weinberg said the dead woman, Lana Clarkson, shot herself in her mouth and there were no traces of Spector's DNA anywhere on the gun.
"The forensic evidence shows that Phillip Spector is innocent," he said, listing 14 pieces of scientific evidence used by the defense in the trial. Spector's lawyers have argued that Clarkson was depressed over her faltering career as a B-movie actress. Spector's first trial ended in September 2007 when the jury deadlocked 10-2 in favor of convicting him. California law requires a unanimous verdict to convict or acquit, resulting in the new trial.

Valerie Bertinelli

Valerie Bertinelli, People Magazine cover. The 48-year-old looks absolutely stunning. 43 year-old mother and former supermodel Crawford in a glorious photo for wearing nothing but shaving cream? Let’s just say it’s a picture worth a thousand words for for Allure Magazine’s ‘anti-aging’ edition! Rare glimpse of Kim Kardashian before and after Photoshop for Complex magazine cover.
Angelina Jolie on the set of her new movie ‘Salt’ is reportedly is on a liquid detox diet to shed shed 21 lb in 21 days, raising concern. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Octo-mom Nadya Suleman fired her nannies, Angels in Waiting USA. Now they have made three complaints to Child Protective Services about her.
Valerie Bertinelli People magazine cover has got everyone talking. The 48-year-old lost 40 pounds with the Jenny Craig diet plan and declares she is in the best shape of her life. She’s kept the weight off for more than a year. An inspiration to any woman 18 or over. Valerie Bertinelli is best known for her role as Bonnie Franklin’s daughter, Barbara Cooper Royer, on the TV sitcom ‘One Day at a Time.

Jake DeSantis

Jake DeSantis, an executive vice president of the American International Group's financial products unit, to Edward M. Liddy, the chief executive of A.I.G. I am proud of everything I have done for the commodity and equity divisions of A.I.G.-F.P. I was in no way involved in — or responsible for — the credit default swap transactions that have hamstrung A.I.G. Nor were more than a handful of the 400 current employees of A.I.G.-F.P.
The New York Times has a copy today of one of AIGs greedy EVPs - Jake DeSantis' - resignation letter. It is the same drivel that we have heard every day for the past 3 years. DeSantis' letter is a dichotomy of crap. He is leaving AIG because "we in the financial products unit have been betrayed by A.I.G. and are being unfairly persecuted by elected officials." Good - he's one less employee that will need to be fired.
He goes on to spew, "I will now leave the company and donate my entire post-tax retention payment to those suffering from the global economic downturn." Adding, "I take this action after 11 years of dedicated, honorable service to A.I.G....I can no longer justify spending 10, 12, 14 hours a day away from my family for the benefit of those who have let me down."

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Matt Lauer Accident

Matt Lauer Accident as having that deer-in-the-headlights look about him, but it seems the Today show host could have used some radar on the weekend bike trails. The Today host was a no-show on today's show. Lauer, NBC News reports, "was laid up with an injured shoulder after a mishap while bicycling on Long Island. Lauer "was riding his bike over the weekend and he had a run-in with a deer," co-host Meredith Vieira explained today.
His shoulder was hurt -- badly enough to require surgery -- Vieira said, but his sense of humor was intact: "He joked in an email that he thought "the deer was hired by the competition." "I'd hire the deer -- but just to graze him," Vieira quipped to Weekend Today anchor Lester Holt, who filled in for Lauer on the set today.
The deer leapt in front of Lauer, who hit his brakes, which threw him off the bike and onto his shoulder. "Lauer, 51, is an avid cyclist who has ridden a bike on Today on a number of occasions, most recently around the Olympic velodrome in Beijing,'' NBC reports. "He also rode a bike last year in the Netherlands during his annual 'Where in the World is Matt Lauer?' globe-girdling trip.''

Lana Clarkson

Actress Lana Clarkson, shot to death in a chair in Spector's foyer in 2003, "just happened to be the sixth woman who got the bullet," Do said. In a two-hour closing argument supplemented by an elaborate audiovisual presentation, Do portrayed the legendary music producer as a spoiled and sadistic celebrity who tormented women with impunity because he resided in an elite "world where money and fame buys you the VIP treatment."
"Behind the VIP was a very dangerous man, a man who believed that all women . . . deserve a bullet in their head," she said. Spector, 69, stared expressionless at the defense table as he has for much of the last five months of testimony. His attorney repeatedly objected to what he said were impermissible attacks on the producer's character. At the conclusion of the prosecutor's summation, lawyer Doron Weinberg asked for a mistrial. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler denied the request.
Jurors must decide whether Spector acted criminally in the shooting of Clarkson, 40. His defense contends that she was depressed over career setbacks and financial problems and shot herself. Prosecutors argue that Spector pulled a gun on her, as he allegedly had done to other female guests, when he was drunk and she expressed a desire to curtail a romantic evening.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Sylvia Plath

Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes has committed suicide in the United States. The Times of London says in Monday editions that Nicholas Hughes hanged himself at his home in Alaska. The 47-year-old was not married and had no children of his own. The newspaper says his sister, Frieda, confirmed his death. Ted Hughes' publisher in London, Faber and Faber, says she has arrived in Alaska.
The death adds another chapter to the family's tragic history. Plath committed suicide in 1963, shortly after her turbulent relationship with Ted Hughes ended. Her son had just turned 1 year old. Ted Hughes had left her for another woman, and spent years battling feminists who blamed him for her death.
This is all very sad to pass along, but news is out that Nicolas Hughes, the son of poets Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes, killed himself in Alaska, according to the Times of London. He was 47 years old and was a professor at the University of Alaska at Fairbanks. Hughes hanged himself on March 16, 46 years after his mother, Plath, gassed herself to death. Hughes' father died in 1998.

Alaska Volcano Eruption

The Alaska Volcano Eruption have issued a warning and has elevated the aviation color code to RED. Geophysicist John Power indicates the volcano has erupted four times late Sunday and early Monday. He said, “This is a fairly large eruption, close to the larger cities in Alaska.” USGS Hazard report available here. Eruption is imminent with significant emission of volcanic ash into the atmosphere likely OR eruption is underway or suspected with significant emission of volcanic ash into the atmosphere.
Steam plumes have reached a height to 50,000 feet. Ash cloud warnings have been issued for Talkeetna, Willow and other Susitna Valley communities. Mud flows are possible on the Drift and Crescent Rivers. Mt. Redoubt, part of the Aleutian Range in the Chigmit Mountains west of Cook Inlet, is not far from Wasilla, home of Alaska governor Sarah Palin.
Officials from the AVO have been warning since January that the volcano could erupt at anytime. The last eruption event, nearly 20 years ago, occurred in the winter of 1989-1990. That event spewed ash 45,000 feet into the atmosphere, nearly taking down a KLM Royal Dutch airliner, Boeing 747 that got caught up in the ash plume. Earlier eruptions were reported in 1902 and 1966.

Napa Valley Register

Napa Valley Register, reported on its Web site late Sunday that a family of five from St. Helena, Calif., including three preschoolers, was among the victims. The Butte airport is among about 7,000 small airports around the country that have no radar coverage. A pilot approaching the airport would normally switch to a radio frequency used by aircraft coming in and out of Butte to find out if there were any other aircraft in the area. Then the pilot would use visual flight rules and follow the procedures for landing at that airport.
Steve Guidoni, of Butte, was driving by with his wife when he saw the crash. "It just went straight into the ground. I went over there to try to help. I thought maybe I would pull someone out of the fire." Guidoni said he saw luggage and seat cushions lying around, but no bodies. He said the biggest piece of the plane was the size of a kitchen table. "You wouldn't even know a plane was there," he said. Nick Dipasquale, 19, was working at a gas station across the street. "I heard a loud bang," he said. "It sounded like someone ran into the building."
NTSB investigator Kristi Dunks would not say if there had been a distress call from the pilot. It was partly cloudy, visibility was 10 miles and wind was blowing from the northwest around 10 mph at the time of the crash, according to the National Weather Service. It was the worst plane crash in America since a commuter plane last month fell on a house in a suburb of Buffalo, N.Y., killing all 49 passengers and a man in the home. Before the Buffalo crash there hadn't been an accident involving a commercial airliner in the U.S. in which there were fatalities in more than two years.

Mount Redoubt

Mount Redoubt volcano erupted four times overnight, sending an ash plume more than 9 miles into the air in the volcano's first emission in nearly 20 years. Residents in the state's largest city was spared from falling ash, though fine gray dust was falling Monday morning on small communities north of Anchorage.
Ash from Alaska's volcanos is like a rock fragment with jagged edges and has been used as an industrial abrasive. It can injure skin, eyes and breathing passages. The young, the elderly and people with respiratory problems are especially susceptible to ash-related health problems. Alaska Airlines on Monday canceled 19 flights in and out of the Anchorage international airport because of the ash.
Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage told only essential personnel to report to work. The Air Force says 60 planes, including fighter jets, cargo aircraft and a 747 commercial plane, were being sheltered. The first eruption, in a sparsely area across Cook Inlet from the Kenai Peninsula, occurred at 10:38 p.m. Sunday and the fourth happened at 1:39 a.m. Monday, according to the Alaska Volcano Observatory.

Matt Lauer

Matt Lauer was a no-show this morning after getting into a bicycle accident over the weekend. The unfortunate collision involved Matt and a deer. It is not clear if Matt actually hit the deer or if he swerved to miss colliding with it but in any case, he suffered a dislocated shoulder from the incident. What do you think? Is is appropriate for Meredith to joke at Matt’s expense? Lauer is expected to return to the show tomorrow morning.
Co-host Meredith Viera had a little fun at Matt’s expense this morning, telling viewers that she “thinks the deer was hired by the competition” and then went on to say that actually she hired the ‘hit’ but reports that she gave the deer strict orders to just graze him. We first reported that Lauer was on a motorcycle - which really did seem out of character for the TV host. Upon further investigation we discovered that he was on a bicycle.
A flip off his bicycle took "Today" show co-host Matt Lauer off the air Monday. Lauer was riding his bicycle this weekend when a deer jumped into his path. He flipped over the bike's handlebars and was slightly hurt, NBC said. His broadcast partner, Meredith Vieira, joked on the air that Lauer thinks the deer was hired by the competition. "Matt's banged up with a displaced shoulder, it popped out," she said. "So hopefully he'll be on the mend soon."

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Bill Burr

Bill Burr aka Billy Burr is an American stand-up comedian, boro June 10, 1968 in Canton, Massachussetts. He performs over thre hundred shows anually, had two movies released in 2006 cmll, fanfiction.net, isas step2, pinoychannel.tv, Villlano Va His Program calendar shows that he is very busy starting from March 26, 2009 and ending on November 08, 2009. His Event Calendar could be seen from this link.

Bill Burr is an American comedian or a comedian from the North American Union, depending on when you read this. He grew up outside of Boston, Massachusetts and did fairly poorly in school, despite the fact that he applied himself. Having first gained notoriety for his reoccurring role on the second season of Chappelle’s Show
Burr has gone on to become a regular performer on the Late Show with David Letterman and to have his very own HBO Half Hour Special. Bill’s most recent project was an hour-long comedy special entitled: “Why Do I Do This?” that aired on Comedy Central, and is now available in stores and on this web site. When in New York, Burr always performs on the Opie and Anthony Radio Show and eats at Ray’s Famous Pizza. Bill also co-hosts his own XM radio show, “Uninformed”, with fellow comedian Joe DeRosa.

Matthew Robinson

Matthew Robinson in an outdoor ceremony at the Church Estates Vineyards in Malibu on Saturday. The nuptials were attended by 150 guests, with the ‘Unwritten’ singer wearing a Vera Wang strapless gown with a veil. People Magazine reports the pop songstress wed California businessman Matthew Robinson in a 30-minute outdoor ceremony overlooking the Pacific Ocean on Saturday.
About 150 guests watched Bedingfield walk down the aisle in a Vera Wang dress beside the chateau at the Church Estates Vineyards. Bedingfield's albums include "Unwritten," "N.B." and "Pocketful of Sunshine." About 150 guests are expected to watch British singer Natasha Bedingfield walk down the aisle and marry California businessman Matthew Robinson Saturday at the Church Estates Vineyards in Malibu.
A source close to the British singer, 27, confirms, "She's getting married Saturday in L.A." According to reports, Bedingfield will tie the knot in a wedding dress by Vera Wang. The pair became engaged on Sept. 7, and an ecstatic Bedingfield revealed the happy news the next day, telling PEOPLE at a Calvin Klein 40th anniversary party, "I am so excited. It happened in New York. And I want to share it with the world. ... I'm the luckiest girl in the world."

Maine Maple Sunday

Maine Maple Sunday is this weekend in the far northestern corner of the country. In celebration of spring, maple producers throughout Maine open the doors of their sugarhouses and allow the public to follow along as gallons of maple sap are slowly transformed into rich, golden syrup. A full list of particpating maple sugar houses can be found at Get Real, Get Maine!, the state's department of agriculture website.
Maple sap is collected from stands of sugar maple trees in buckets after the trees have been tapped. Many farmers begin tapping sugar maples in mid-February, where fluxtuating daytime and evening temperatures restrict sap flow to the warmer hours of the day. It can take several days to collect enough sap to make a gallon of premium maple syrup. With the arrival of spring and the budding of the maple trees, chemical changes take place within the tree, making the sap less than ideal for maple syrup production.
Mainers will be pouring syrup on their pancakes and ice cream when the state's sugarhouses open to the public for Maine Maple Sunday. Dozens of maple syrup producers across Maine will open their doors to welcome people to view the syrup-making process and taste a sample or two. Maine last year was the No. 3 syrup producer in the country, behind Vermont and New York. Most sugarhouses offer free tastings and a demonstration on how syrup is produced. Many also offer sleigh or wagon rides, live music and other attractions.

Lovelle Mixon

Lovelle Mixon, 26, was pulled over by two motorcycle officers in Oakland, California Saturday afternoon for a routine traffic stop at 1:08 p.m. Mixon, driving a 1995 Buick, who police later discovered was wanted on a no-bail warrant for violating parole on an assault with a deadly weapon charge, opened fire on Sgt. Mark Dunakin, 40, who died of his injuries and Sgt. John Hege, 41, who is reported to be in grave condition at Highland Hospital.
Mixon then fled into a nearly multi-unit apartment complex. SWAT officers stormed the building and exchanged gunfire with the assailant, who was brandishing an assault rifle. Mixon killed Sgt. Ervin Romans, 43, and Sgt. Daniel Sakai, 35, and slightly wounded an unidentified officer, who was treated for a minor bullet graze to the head and released from an area hospital.
The suspect, Lovelle Mixon, was killed in the gun battle. He had an extensive criminal history, according to police officials who held a news conference Saturday afternoon (see video below). The suspect was identified as Oakland resident Lovelle Mixon, 26. He was on parole for assault with a deadly weapon, police said. He had a no-bail warrant for his arrest on charges of violating parole. He had previous convictions in Alameda County for grand theft and possession of marijuana.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Ken Kennedy

Ken Kennedy was on Sky Sports News in the UK, promoting WrestleMania, his movie Behind Enemy Lines: Columbia, the next WWE tour of the UK, Steve Austin and more. Kennedy will be working with the UK Charity Beat Bullying. The New York Post discusses an autobiography that Hulk Hogan is reportedly writing. One of the main things teased is, "a fallout with World Wrestling Entertainment Chairman Vince McMahon." You can check out the full article at NYPost.com.
n Jim Ross' latest blog, he states that at the March 30th edition of WWE Raw, they will tape matches for the April 3rd edition of WWE Smackdown. This ends the thought that WWE would be running a live Smackdown on the 3rd. On Wednesday, Father Kennedy filed an application to restrain the archbishop and the Corporation of Trustees of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese from removing him as church administrator.
In his Supreme Court of Queensland application he is seeking the withdrawal of the canon law decree of removal from office, made by Archbishop Bathersby on February 19. Father Kennedy's application also called for an order that the Archbishop and the Archdiocese be required to deal with Fr Kennedy's employment in accordance with "the method of proceeding in administrative recourse and in the removal and transfer of pastors".

Shamrock Marathon

Shamrock Marathon runners don't miss out on the festivities On Saturday, March 21, and Sunday, March 22, the 37th annual Shamrock Marathon and 8K Run will kick-off at 8 a.m. Saturday with the 8K run. The Operation Smile Final Mile will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday. Last year, students raised nearly $50,000, which helped provide surgeries for as many as 208 children around the world.
For the serious runners, Sunday, March 22, is the big day. The Half Marathon will kick-off at 7 a.m. and the Full Marathon will begin at 8 a.m. Sunday at the Oceanfront. Be sure to stick around after the races for free concerts by Snackbar Jones and Border Line Crazy. Health-nuts and runners should also scope out the Shamrock Sports & Fitness Expo from 1 to 9 p.m. Friday and 10 to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Virginia Beach Convention Center.
Portions of the Oceanfront will be closed to traffic beginning early Saturday morning for the Shamrock Marathon events this weekend. On Saturday, Atlantic Avenue, between 30th and 34th streets will be closed from 5:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and between 2nd to 42nd streets from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. for the 8K race, which begins at 8 a.m. On Sunday, the Shamrock ½ Marathon begins at 6:55 a.m. and the Shamrock Marathon begins at 8 a.m.

Maine Maple Sunday

Maine Maple Sunday Written by Staff Thursday, 20 March 2008AUGUSTA - Gov. John Baldacci kicked off the maple syrup season by tapping a tree on the Blaine House lawn. But the treat won't come cheap this year. Michael Smith from the Maine Maple Producers Association says two bad syrup-production years coupled with increased demand have depleted Maine and Canadian syrup surpluses totaling 60 million pounds. That means prices will be up. Smith predicts an increase of 20 to 30 percent.
Many syrup producers like Smith and Ed Jillson of Jillson's Farm Stand in Sabattus say they have to buy syrup to keep up with demand. Jillson says demand is so steep he "can never make enough." Nearly 7.3 million taps were sunk into trees by American syrup producers last winter, and more than three-quarters of those taps were in New England and New York. U.S. agricultural statistics show Vermont leads Maine in syrup production, followed by No. 3 New York.
Haulks Maple, Madison, Tour of sugarhouse, demonstration of syrup-making process. Sample baked goods made with maple syrup. Free recipes, free coloring books for kids. Maple syrup and maple products for sale. Call ahead on other days. Open by chance. 207-474-8047 Open: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Luce's Maine Maple Syrup, Anson, Tour saphouse, sample maple dishes, ice cream with maple syrup. Maple Syrup and maple products are available year-round at Luce's Meats in Anson. 207-696-3732 Open: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Siena College

Siena College in Loudonville NY doesn't have the bigtime ad budget that other NY universities enjoy but it's gone "bigtime" based on a bit of madness in March. Ad creation in terms of the public image a college wants to project is vital to its coffers being annually fed with eager students. For example, as a lifelong New Yorker and one who can remember its fiscal crisis back a bit, St. John's, NYU, Adelphi, Post, Baruch, CCNY etc. were virtually all "commuter" schools.
Prior to the babyboomers having babies in earnest, the colleges knew that there was a tremendous opportunity to capture market share. Ad agencies were hired, fired, mixed, and voila - the superstar, supersized campus evolved. The image became the reality, a concept not only taught in advertising 101 but from what I can vaguely recall, intro to poly sci.
Before the game, however, the partisan Buckeye crowd made plenty of noise. More than 20 minutes before tip-off, the familiar "O-H! I-O!" chant reverberated throughout the arena. The crowd was a sea of red, although some of that was from leftover Louisville fans and Dayton fans wearing their colors. Unfortunately, for the Buckeyes, Siena's Ronald Moore made a three-pointer with 3.9 seconds left in double overtime to end Ohio State's season with a 74-72 defeat in a first-round Midwest Regional game.

National Marathon

The National Marathon is scheduled for Saturday. Meanwhile, Metro will be working on the Red, Blue and Orange Line tracks, causing travel delays. Here are details about those events, and some other things related to your upcoming travels. Metro says 41 of its bus routes will be affected by the street closings and has updated its Web site to provide these details. Metrorail is opening two hours early, at 5 a.m., because of the marathon.
Heads up guys, H Street will be closed from 4th Street to 13th Street part of tomorrow morning for the National Marathon. The predicted closing hours are 7:35-9:45am. Track maintenance on the Red, Blue and Orange lines this weekend will delay travelers for 20 to 30 minutes as trains take turns on a single track around the work zones.
The National Marathon and Half Marathon start at 7 a.m. and finish at 1 p.m. RFK Stadium is the start and end point, but the runners go through two big loops across six of the District's eight wards. There will be numerous street closings while the runners pass, and there will be traffic delays. The plan does not affect parking on those streets, though you won't be able to move your car as the runners are passing. See maps and more information about street closures.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Jobless Claims

Jobless Claims, which can sometimes smooth volatility, rose 3,750 to 654,750 — the highest level in 26 years. The insured unemployment rate - the proportion of covered workers who are receiving benefits - rose by two-tenths of a percentage to 4.1 percent, also the highest in nearly 26 years A slight breath of fresh air for the labor market, as first-time applications for state unemployment benefits eased 12,000 to a seasonally-adjusted 646,000 in the week ending March 14, the Labor Department said Thursday.
“We’re going to see some ugly numbers for a number of months,” Julia Coronado, a senior economist at Barclays Capital Inc. in New York, said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. “March is going to be every bit as bad” for payroll losses as the declines in excess of 650,000 in the past three months, she said.
The largest increases in initial claims were in Indiana — where 5,603 people filed a claim in the week ending March 7 — Pennsylvania, Texas, Florida and Michigan. The largest decreases were seen in New York — where initial claims dropped by a whopping 11,218 — Connecticut, Tennessee, California and Oregon. Nonetheless, the total number of Americans on the benefits roll after drawing at least one week of aid mounted to a record 5.47 million, indicating that job openings are few and far between as companies continue to cut costs.

Emma Heming

Emma Heming shopping at the Christian Science Center in Beverly Hills, reports hipcelebrity.blogspot.com. "Citing anon sources, People mag says Die Hard action figure Bruce Willis, who turns 54 tomorrow, plans to wed his very stunning (natch) model gf, Emma Heming, who is 22 years his junior. Two decades is barely a temporal sigh in the grand, universal scheme of things.

"The super-secret wedding of Bruce Willis and Emma Heming will reportedly take place at Bruce's beach shack in the Turks & Caicos Islands, a British Caribbean paradise of 22,352 happy beach bums. Another source tells People that Bruce's ex-wife Demi Moore and her hubby, Ashton Kutcher, have already checked into a hotel near Bruce's pad. Alas, no comment from Bruce's rep," reports Philly.com
Bruce Willis and Emma Heming are reportedly planning to wed this weekend. We heard this rumor one before in October and nothing came out of it. The 53-year-old 'Die Hard' star and his 32-year-old lingerie model girlfriend have been secretly preparing for an intimate wedding on the Caribbean islands of Turks and Caicos, where the star owns a home. The couple are believed to have booked a block of luxurious ocean view rooms and private villas near Willis' home for wedding guests.

St. Joseph s day

St. Joseph’s Day, I wish to commend to you this excellent essay on the man and the day from Touchstone. The article emphasizes Joseph’s love and faithfulness in a family situation not of his choosing or of his doing, in being a father to a Boy who was really Someone else’s Son. As the essay mentions, we tend to forget St. Joseph and his day. Don’t do that. Read The Good Father and pray
O GOD, who didst call blessed Joseph to be the faithful guardian of thine only-begotten Son, and the spouse of his virgin Mother: Give us grace to follow his example in constant worship of thee and obedience to thy commands, that our homes may be sanctified by thy presence, and our children nurtured in thy fear and love; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Happy Feast Day to my fellow Canadians… to all Josephs… to the amazing Sisters of St. Joseph… to all fathers and especially to foster-fathers, step-fathers, adoptive-fathers. God picked a rather unique family arrangment into which to take flesh. Joseph is a model of making commitment to love, even when we don’t fully understand, even when it is difficult.

Marie Douglas David

Marie Douglas David, head to court Wednesday, bringing their increasingly vicious divorce out in the open. According to the Hartford Courant, the couple signed a post-nuptial agreement four years ago that would give Douglas-David $43 million when the couple divorces. They were married in 2002. David’s attorneys include retired Connecticut Appellate Court Judge Anne C. Dranginis and Dara Goings.
The 67-year-old businessman wants the court to uphold the agreement but the 36-year-old countess says the money isn’t enough to maintain her living expenses. She is seeking additional money, real estate and jewelry. Douglas-David’s attorneys include Hartford-lawyer Bruce Louden and high profile New York City divorce lawyer William Beslow whose celebrity clients have included Christie Brinkley, Tatum O’Neal and Marla Maples.
George David, United Technologies Corp president/chairman, and his estranged wife, Marie Douglas-David, are divorcing. Douglas-David is not satisfied with her $43 million post-nuptial agreement and wants to fight for more. Read the dirt here. Photo included. The rate at which teenage girls in the United States are having babies has risen for a second year in a row, government statistics show, putting one of the nation's most successful social and public health campaigns in jeopardy.

Charles Manson

Charles Manson is now 74 years old and has been in state prison for almost 40 years — this time around. Manson had been locked up before he moved to the Haight Ashbury section of San Francisco in 1967 or so and began collecting younger female devotees. He moved to L.A.. and began adding to his "family" — and hanging out with Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys. In August 1969, Manson sent followers squatting with him at the Spahn Ranch near Chatsworth to carry out the Sharon Tate murders in Benedict Canyon.
Charles Milles Manson (born November 12, 1934) is an American criminal who led what became known as the Manson Family, a quasi-commune that arose in California in the late 1960s.[1][2][3] He was found guilty of conspiracy to commit the Tate/LaBianca murders, which members of the group carried out at his instruction. Through the joint-responsibility rule of conspiracy,[4] he was convicted of the murders themselves.
Manson is associated with "Helter Skelter," the term he took from the Beatles song of that name and construed as an apocalyptic race war the murders were putatively intended to precipitate. This connection with rock music linked him, from the beginning of his notoriety, with pop culture, in which he became an emblem of insanity, violence, and the macabre. Ultimately, the term was used as the title of the book that prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi wrote about the Manson murders.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Lenox Hill Hospital

Lenox Hill Hospital to visit Natasha Richardson's mother, Vanessa Redgrave sometime just before 9 p.m. Richardson, a Tony-winning stage and film actress was transported to New York yesterday after suffering a brain injury during a skiing accident in Canada. Richardson, along with her husband Liam Neeson and their two sons, has a home in Manhattan as well as one in upstate New York. A reporter witnessed Neeson at her side as she was boarded on to the plane in Canada, and the NY Times reports that at that time she was "heavily wrapped in blankets with tubes around her face."
Reiterating the Post's earlier report, a source tells the Daily News that Richardson "is brain dead," adding that she had "been on life support since [Tuesday] morning." On Monday, Richardson had fallen during a private skiing lesson on a beginner trail (pictured) in Quebec. Though she appeared fine afterwards, some say she could have suffered from "talk and die syndrome", which a doctor described as when a person seems okay but is suffering from an epidural hemorrhage, where blood rapidly collects between the skull and brain. The resort released a statement saying Richardson declined to see a doctor after her fall but complained of a headache an hour later and was taken away in an ambulance.
According to People, "friends and family members gathered for a vigil in New York to be with Richardson." And E! Online has reported from unnamed sources, said to be friends of the actresses, that "her body" was flown back to New York, and "They would not put her on a plane with the air pressure changes if she had brain swelling and was still alive." The Canadian hospital said that Richardson's family was expected to release a statement today.

LeAnn Rimes

LeAnn Rimes, 26, is having an affair with her TV movie costar Eddie Cibrian, 35, reports the upcoming issue of Us Weekly. The singer-actress, who shot to stardom at age 13 for her rendition of "Blue," married backup dancer Dean Sheremet when she was 19. The pair have no children. Rimes and Cibrian costar in the upcoming Lifetime Nora Roberts' adaptation "Northern Lights," the trailer of which is below.
The new Us Weekly features pictures taken from a video security camera that show the two holding hands and kissing on a romantic dinner date at Mosun and Club M in Laguna Beach, California on March 7. Additionally, Us Weekly reports that the new couple met for a three-hour tryst at the Malibu Beach Inn on March 14. "From the moment we rehearsed, LeAnn and Eddie honestly developed a really strong bond and a warm relationship," director Mike Robe told Us prior to news of the affair.
Rimes married Sheremet seven years ago -- when she was just 19 and he was 21. Cibrian tied the knot with model Brandi Glanville in 2001; they have two sons, ages 5 and 23 months. A rep for Rimes tells Us: "We do not comment on our clients' personal lives." For more details on Rimes' shocking affair with her costar, the steps she took to save her marriage to Sheremet and why she strayed, pick up the newest issue of Us Weekly.

Joely Richardson

Joely Richardson, the younger sister of Natasha Richardson, at NYC’s Lennox Hill Hospital late Tuesday evening. Natasha has been at the facility since she arrived on a private jet from Canada on Tuesday. Our sources report seeing the "Nip/Tuck" actress accompanied by a boy in a hoodie and a girl, both appearing to be in their early teens.

Natasha began complaining of a headache an hour later and was taken to hospital. She was later transferred to the intensive care unit. A decision was made to fly her back to New York, where the couple live, so she can be with her family for what could be her final moments. "Liam is bringing her to New York to die - to spend one last day with her family," a source said.
The 45-year-old actor - the wife of Liam Neeson, daughter of Vanessa Redgrave and sister of Joely Richardson - was rushed to hospital after sustaining a serious head injury while skiing in Canada on Monday and has since been flown to New York's Lenox Hill Hospital. "It's so sad. Vanessa, her sister Lynn, everybody is gathering in New York to say goodbye," a source close to the family said.

Sun Microsystems

Sun Microsystems, the maker of Java software, a person briefed on the discussions told The New York Times on Wednesday. Shares of Sun soared 61 percent in European trading following reports that a deal could be in the works. I.B.M. is considering an all-cash deal of close to $7 billion, which would represent a substantial premium for Sun, whose market capitalization was about $3.7 billion at the close of trading Tuesday. Sun’s investors include the private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts.
The talks between I.B.M. and Sun were previously reported in The Wall Street Journal. In recent months, Sun has approached a number of large tech companies in the hopes of being acquired, The Journal said. Hewlett-Packard declined the offer, the paper said. WSJ's Digits blog writes that Big Blue's interest in Sun comes down to control of a $100 billion market, "the data center—the large computer rooms that keep businesses and the Internet running."
In a story that is just breaking this morning, the Wall Street Journal reports that IBM is in early stage talks to buy Sun Microsystems "in a combination that would bolster IBM's heft on the Internet, in software and in finance and telecommunications markets." The WSJ's sources caution that the talks could yet fall through, but, these same sources add, there is also a chance the negotiations could be wrapped up as early as this week.

Natasha Richardson ski accident

Natasha Richardson Ski Accident has been transferred from a Montreal hospital to Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. Right now we do not know Ms. Richardson's condition and let's hope that she fully recovers. Parents - wear that helmet and make the little ones wear one - because you may be the best skier on the mountain, but you just never know.
The fact that she may not have been wearing a helmet on a beginner slope does bother me. When I was skiing in France it was jokingly said that I must be an American because I was wearing a helmet. Unfortunately, that is very much the case throughout Europe especially among adults - I did notice children in ski schools were wearing head protection.
We now know what happened to Natasha Richardson on the ski slope when she was critically hurt yesterday, suffering a brain injury. We're told she was having a private lesson on a green slope (beginner) at a ski resort in Quebec, Canada. She fell -- we're not sure why. There was no blood and no sign of impact. Two ski patrollers came to her rescue. When they got there she was conscious -- smiling and making jokes.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Lenny Dykstra

Lenny Dykstra has been in the headlines quite a bit ever since he retired from the game of baseball. Unfortunately for the man they call Nails, all that publicity he gets is generally of the negative variety. I mean, he did start his own magazine, but then that magazine ran into some trouble when Dykstra didn't pay his business partners. Of course, Lenny's business partners aren't the only people he isn't paying apparently, as he's also been sued by pilots for not paying for a flight and his accountants.
In excerpts that will be released by GQ today, Coughlin reportedly will accuse his former boss of racist, sexist and homophobic remarks during staff meetings and telephone conversations. The piece also reportedly will detail a laundry list of allegedly unethical business practices involving nonpayment of magazine staff and possibly illegal use of their credit cards to authorize flights on luxury charter jets for Dykstra.
When asked about the impending article all Dykstra had to say was that The Players Club was stronger than ever and that the feedback from players was "nothing short of sensational." Unfortunately the only player Dykstra asked was his former teammate Darren Daulton, and it's possible that his words were misconstrued from his space ship in the future.

Liam Neeson

Liam Neeson's wife, the actress Natasha Richardson, injured herself skiing in Canada and suffered a "traumatic brain injury," reports IrishCentral.com, citing a Montreal "hospital insider." The website added that it's not clear whether Neeson, the Irish movie star, is at his wife's side. After starring in the title role in 1988's Patty Hearst, Richardson went on to leading roles in Fat Man and Little Boy, Nell and the Parent Trap, among other films.
In the U.S., Richardson has been involved with amFAR, the American Foundation for AIDS Research. IrishCentral.com is reporting that Richardson suffered a brain injury and is in critical condition at a Montreal hospital. She was gearing up to co-star with her mother in a Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music. No word on whether Neeson is by her side. Redgrave and Richardson most recently starred as mother and daughter in the film Evening, also starring Claire Danes and Toni Collette.
Liam has rushed to Natasha's side after learning of her accident. A rep for Neeson (who has been filming in Toronto), confirmed reports and said, "Liam Neeson left the Tornoto set immediately to fly to Montreal upon news of his wife's accident. "We do not have any details at this time but we hope for the best and our thoughts and prayers are with Natasha and Liam and their family."

Evacuation Day

Evacuation Day, a Suffolk County holiday that commemorates the evacuation of British troops from Boston during the Revolutionary War. The House and Senate have no formal sessions planned. There are no public hearings scheduled at the Statehouse. And Gov. Deval Patrick is planning to head to Vermont to co-host a White House forum on health care reform.
The holiday has long been fodder for critics. Occasional efforts to eliminate it have failed. Share your thoughts below and vote in our web poll on the homepage. You can also call 617-746-8300 and voice your thoughts about the holiday. March 17 is, of course, an unofficial holiday for millions of Americans. Except in Boston, that is, where March 17 an official holiday. For out-of-towners, I kid you not.
So wait, the city takes off to celebrate St. Patrick? Well, not exactly. It just so happens that March 17 marks Evacuation Day--the date in 1776 when the British troops gave up Boston and set sail for Nova Scotia after George Washington's men seized the high ground of Dorchester Heights (in present-day South Boston). No doubt, though, that many who emigrated from the Old Sod had no problem with this trinity that would make St. Patrick's Irish eyes smile: a day off, a chance to have a few pints of Guinness, and the celebration of giving the British the boot.

St. Patrick's Day worksheets

St. Patrick’s Day worksheets is widely celebrated, especially in the United States, and through the years, numerous films have been made about Irish Americans, including Little Nellie Kelly (1940), Finian’s Rainbow (1968), and Rudy (1993). Perhaps, fewer movies are made on location in Ireland. Several films made about the Irish Troubles are filmed on location, but as St. Patrick’s Day is generally regarded as a time of celebration, on the 17th of March, you may enjoy watching some comedies which show some of the beautiful scenery of Ireland.

Top of the morning to you! A truly Irish-American holiday, St. Paddy's Day was celebrated in Ireland with little more than a normal Catholic mass, until the Irish-American tourists started flocking to their ancestral home in the 1990's. Finding no corned beef and cabbage, no green beer, and no "Kiss Me, I'm Irish buttons", trips provided cultural disappointment. Until the Irish understood how to make money with the Celtic Tiger. Then Eire's economy exploded.
Now Ireland, with its ancient castles, sacred churches,rolling emerald hills and beautiful scenery is one of the most successful countries in the world. St. Patrick would be proud. Want to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with your family? Here's some idea The Quiet Man with John Wayne and Maureen O'Sullivan shows the stubborness of the Irish people and the love that is deep in their soul for Irish traditions.

Natasha Richardson

Actress Natasha Richardson, daughter of actress Vanessa Redgrave and wife of actor Liam Neeson, has been injured in a tragic ski accident in Canada, according to several reports. Richardson, who was set to co-star with her mother, Vanessa Redgrave, in a Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's "A Little Night Music," was apparently injured in a tragic ski accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury.It is not known whether Neeson is at his wife's side.
Actress Natasha Richardson was hospitalized on Monday afternoon in Montréal after suffering a serious head injury, PEOPLE has confirmed. The Tony-winning star, 45, was first brought to Centre Hospitalier Laurentien near Mont Tremblant, a famed ski area, following a skiing accident. At 5 p.m. she was transferred to Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal.
"Liam Neeson left the Toronto set immediately to fly to Montreal upon news of his wife's accident," a rep for his film Chloe said in a statement to Canadian TV. "We do not have any details at this time but we hope for the best and our thoughts and prayers are with Natasha and Liam and their family." "We know that she has had an accident but we really do not know any more details," said Kika Markham, who is married to Richardson's uncle, Corin Redgrave.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Trick Trick

Trick Trick is in a Detroit area hospital, where he is recovering from a single gunshot wound sustained during the melee, reports the Detroit Free Press. Sources close to the rapper have denied to AllHipHop.com that he was wounded by gunfire, but the paper reported police confirmed his identity. According to sources, the rapper was in the Esko Lounge in Detroit when a fight broke out around 1:30 am.
Sources told AllHipHop.com that about 10 men rushed the lounge area, where they became involved in an altercation with Jones, of Harlem New York. Shot were fired during the fracas and Trick Trick, born Christian Mathis, was struck in the thigh while an another unidentified man was hit in the arm. Trick Trick was taken to Detroit Receiving Hospital, where he is expected to fully recover.
A controversial personality, Trick Trick has worked with artists like Dr. Dre, Eminem, Kid Rock and Ice Cube, and had recently come under criticism for his comments towards the gay community. Popular Detroit rapper Trick Trick was shot in his hometown of Detroit during a show featuring New York rapper Jim Jones this morning (March 16).

Larry The Cable Guy

Larry the Cable Guy, I can respect her making money and working, but I don’t have to enjoy it. All in all, the roast was average. Nothing special about it, nothing horrible about it. I get the sense it’ll reel in the ratings, though. As for the best roasts Comedy Central’s ever had, here they are, in order Bob Saget - Norm Macdonald’s dry wit stood out on a show which was fairly heavy with good material. This was by far the most entertaining one they’ve aired.
Denis Leary - The first, and almost the best, it was comprised mostly of Leary’s friends. A real roast would’ve been the deceased Bill Hicks talking about the act Leary took from him. But hey, that’s showbiz folks!3)Jeff Foxworthy - You have to give it up him. He’s a class act and pretty funny. His friends, not so much. Still, they didn’t dominate the show, as Patrice O’Neal and Colin Quinn, along with the roast regulars, tore down the house.
Comedy Central held another one of their non-Friars Club roasts, and it was better than the Pam Anderson one (could one be worse?), but it was ultimately forgettable. Gary Busey is utterly insane, Maureen McCormack seemed awfully random, but Jeff Foxworthy did well. Jeff Ross and Greg Giraldo also brought the hammer down, as the two roast regulars tore into everyone on the stage with sharp and biting digs.

Mr Belvedere

Mr. Belvedere is a much traveled British gentleman who comes down to the Owens household and settles there in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, PA. Finding an advertisement of a housekeeping job placed by mother Marsha (played by Ilene Graff), Mr. Belvedere replies to it and manages to bag the job.
Frank Dungan and Jeff Stein’s Mr. Belvedere (1985-1990) entertained a large audience last six seasons. Mr. Belvedere is the story of Gwen Davenport’s 1947 novel of the same name. Christopher Hewett plays the role of Mr. Belvedere in the show. But he is much discouraged by father George (played by Bob Uecker) and inspired by ultimate enrapture of children Kevin (played by Rob Stone), Heather (played by Tracy Wells) and Wesley (played by Brice Beckham).
Mr. Belvedere, never carved a niche in the weekly ratings but it was a favorite for many and performed well enough to last longer than most sitcoms and survived for 6 seasons. The Eighth Season” (unrated, $55.98), most of this week’s small-screen releases come from the vaults, including the third seasons of “Barney Miller” (unrated, $29.95) and “The Nanny” (unrated, $39.95), the 10th year of “Married With Children” (unrated, $39.95), and — to make your collection truly complete — “Mr. Belvedere.

Ron Silver

Film actor Ron Silver, best known for his excellent portrayal of Alan Dershowitz in Reversal of Fortune, died this weekend after a long bout of esophageal cancer. Silver spent the last few years arguing for a focus on national security and campaigning for GOP candidates after 9/11 changed his perspective on politics. He also became a blogger for a while at Pajamas Media.
Silver might be best known for playing legal scholar Alan Dershowitz in “Reversal of Fortune,” about the successful appeal of Claus von Bulow’s conviction for putting his socialite wife into a permanent coma. Once a self-identified lifelong Democrat, Silver was a founding member of the liberal-leaning Creative Coalition in 1989. But he made a breathtaking political transformation, going from far left to radical right after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
I had the good fortune to interview Ron in December 2007 with Duane Patterson, when he was campaigning for Rudy Giuliani. It took me a while to dig this out of the Blog Talk Radio archives, but it’s certainly worth a listen now. I knew Silver was ill when we did the interview, and even so he gave us quite a bit of time. I was very impressed with Silver’s grasp of history and politics; he was no dabbler, but as committed to that work as he was to his acting.

Gary Busey

Gary Busey was born in Goose Creek, Texas, to a Native American father and an Irish mother and was raised in Oklahoma. He graduated from college in 1963 and for a while was a professional musician. A talented drummer A blond-haired, fair-complexioned actor with a toothy grin and capable of an unsettling glint in his eyes.
On December 4, 1988, Busey was severely injured in a motorcycle accident in which he was not wearing a helmet. His skull was fractured and doctors feared he suffered permanent brain damage. Busey has spoken out as being a Christian as a result of his near-death experience. He currently lives in Malibu.
n 2008, he joined the second season of the reality show Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew Per Gary's contract and VH1's press release, he was to be part of the mentoring team and not a patient. Dr. Drew has expressed a different opinion, saying that he can help by being in group meetings with others and is not part of the staff, but part of the patients of this second season. Busey was previously addicted to cocaine, but has been clean from cocaine for 13 years.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Jill Gioia

Jill Gioia is a song writer and a lead singer of Jill Gioia Band that is getting famous everyday because of her extraordinary voice. Her band is available for variety of shows, events, celebrations, charity and social performances and others. Their performance ranges from original to a mix of classic rock, rock and roll, pop, rhythm and blues and many more.
When a traveling salesman arrives to hawk his wares in an economically depressed Italian village, the last thing he expects is to be assailed by the most beautiful single girls in town, but that is exactly what happens. The reason for it stems from the fact that all but one of the town's eligible bachelors have left to find work. The only available man left is a wealthy emigrant.
Presenting the different versions of the song sang originally by Heart.. A lot has been said on whether who sang it the best.. just enjoy the vid and see how they tried to make it their own... version. :) clips: Original music video by Heart Ramiele Malubay (AI7) bJill Gioia/b (Rockstar Supernova) Carly Smithson (AI7) Carrie Underwood (AI 4) Celine Dion.

John Malkovich

John Malkovich seems to be making an attempt to form a wider palette. And while the sight of an intentionally funny John Malkovich used to be a rare treat (think Being John Malkovich, where he gave the greatest performance of his career basically playing himself), his comic turns in Burn After Reading and The Great Buck Howard shows a new avenue for this celebrated 'serious actor'.
Malkovich and Walken still play villains on occasion. Walken scored with The Rundown and the shockingly hilarious Balls Of Fury, while Malkovich is signed to play the heavy in Jonah Hex. But none of the boogie-men of the 1980s and 1990s truly terrify audiences anymore. Maybe it's just a matter of getting older. Maybe it's just a matter of actors deciding to let the audience in on the fun while they still can (I know Walken changed agents in the early 2000s and started getting a lot pickier).
Whatever the reason, I'm eagerly awaiting the virtuous rebirth of (as Chris Rock introduced him at the 2005 Oscars) 'comedy superstar Jeremy Irons'. In Hollywood it seems, when you're a bad guy, you either die a villain (like, alas, JT Walsh), or you live long enough to see yourself become a hero and/or punchline. From appearing in the PG-rated spy comedy Johnny English (where, irony or ironies, he actually played a jewel thief) to apparently playing a virtuous preacher battling city-wide corruption in The Changeling.