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Friday, May 28, 2010
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Like A Flash Of Green At Sunset
How rare and wonderful is that flash of a moment when we realize we have discovered a friend.
-William Rostler
-William Rostler
Incredible finish in NBA playoff game
Incredible: An unlikely Laker beats the Suns on a play that will go down in Los Angeles playoff lore.
Artest’s miracle shot leads Lakers past Suns: LOS ANGELES (AP)—A path through the lane suddenly opened up before Ron Artest(notes). Kobe Bryant’s(notes) missed 3-pointer dropped right into his hands, and Artest’s awkward layup banked neatly through the net as the buzzer sounded on Game 5 of the Western Conference finals. What a pretty finish to an ugly game for the Lakers’ veteran troublemaker, who has struggled to find his role throughout his first season with the defending champions—and what a strange, thrilling way for Artest to carve out his own spot in the Lakers’ playoff lore. Artest banked home the winning shot after grabbing the biggest offensive rebound of his career, nudging the Lakers past the Phoenix Suns 103-101 on Thursday night to take a 3-2 series lead. Bryant had 30 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists for the Lakers, but the improbable hero of Game 5 is the only new player on their roster. Bryant and Artest wrapped each other in a bear hug after Artest homed in on Bryant’s miss and threw up a hideous shot that somehow went in. “It means a lot for him,” Bryant said. “I think for him emotionally, it’s a big boost. … Once I released the ball, I saw Ron sneaking in. I was just hoping that he got it off in time.” Artest’s basket completed a 2-for-9 shooting night redeemed by one supremely heady offensive rebound. Moments earlier, Jason Richardson(notes) banked in a straightaway 3-pointer with 3.5 seconds left to tie it for the Suns. “I wasn’t playing my game from the beginning,” Artest said. “In the second half, I was finding my way a little bit, made some good passes and good steals and got some rebounds. So I guess that aggressive play can carry over into that last possession.” Game 6 is Saturday night in Phoenix, where the Lakers can clinch the chance to play for their 16th championship. Phoenix clawed back from an 18-point deficit in the second half with a superb game by Steve Nash(notes), who had 29 points and 11 assists. After Richardson’s accidental tying bank shot, the Lakers went to Bryant, whose miss went straight to Artest. “I thought Kobe got fouled on the shot, so I figured it was going to be short,” Artest said. “And it was a little short.” Lakers coach Phil Jackson wasn’t even sure why he had Artest in the game after the veteran forward missed consecutive open shots earlier in the final minute. “He has an uncanny knack of doing things, and sometimes it just works out,” Jackson said. “He just has a knack for being around crucial plays.” Lamar Odom(notes) had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, who led 101-96 with 90 seconds to play before Nash hit another jumper and Artest missed twice, the home crowd yelling in frustration with each open brick. “His whole methods since we were small is, ‘I’m going to outwork you,”’ said Odom, who played AAU ball with Artest in their New York youth. “‘I’m going to bang you until you don’t want no more. His stubbornness is the reason why he took that 3, because he just missed one. That’s part of his game, that’s why he’s a great player, and that’s why he’s a great defender. It’s just something you have to live with.” Led by Nash’s stirring second-half effort, the Suns hacked away at Los Angeles’ lead throughout the fourth quarter. Phoenix trimmed its deficit to 95-94 when Nash converted a three-point play and then fed Amare Stoudemire for a layup that barely beat the shot clock with 2:52 left. “Everything is OK,” Nash said. “We can’t knock a great effort. Maybe we deserved this game, maybe we didn’t. They held home court. We’ll go back and do the same, and we’ll come back here for Game 7.” Stoudemire scored 19 points for the Suns, who had three looks at a 3-point shot in the final seconds. Nash and Richardson both missed, but Richardson then missed so badly that he banked it in from a long step behind the line. “We just didn’t quite finish the game,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. “I have no complaints. They played great. We hung in. We did a great job against Kobe on the last shot, just didn’t come up with the rebound. To me, it’s a great effort by us, and they know we’re not going to go away.” The Lakers already won on a last-second layup earlier in the postseason, when Pau Gasol(notes) sent home the Oklahoma City Thunder with an offensive rebound and a score in Game 6 of the first round. Derek Fisher(notes) scored 22 points and Gasol had 21 points and nine rebounds for the Lakers, who rebounded from consecutive losses in Phoenix with their best defensive performance of the series, forcing 15 turnovers and holding Phoenix to mediocre shooting—yet the Suns still came agonizingly close to handing Los Angeles its first home loss of the postseason. The Lakers improved to 8-0 at Staples Center, where they’ll play Game 7 on Monday night if the Suns hold serve in a series featuring five wins for the home team. After dominating Game 4 while Phoenix evened the series, the Suns’ bench outscored the Lakers just 31-24 in Game 5, while Los Angeles reasserted its size advantage against the Suns’ zone defense with a 49-40 rebounding edge. The Lakers surged to a 16-point lead in the first half with a 21-4 run led by Bryant, who hit three consecutive 3-pointers in less than a minute. Gentry vomited into a trash can while sitting on the bench in the first half after apparently eating something that disagreed with him. Gentry, who reportedly received intravenous fluids at halftime, also didn’t care for the officiating, earning a technical foul midway through the Lakers’ big run. Los Angeles jumped ahead 74-56 in the third quarter, but Phoenix made a 16-4 rally including a four-point play by Jared Dudley(notes) to trim the lead to six points heading into the fourth.
NOTES: The Lakers have won Game 5 the last nine straight times they’ve reached it in a playoff series, including last season’s title clincher over Orlando. Los Angeles also is the only team that hasn’t trailed in a series this spring. … Nash was a 91 percent free throw shooter in the playoffs (61 for 67) before missing two in the first quarter of Game 5. … Lakers G Sasha Vujacic’s(notes) 3-pointer in the fourth quarter was his first since April 13.
Artest’s miracle shot leads Lakers past Suns: LOS ANGELES (AP)—A path through the lane suddenly opened up before Ron Artest(notes). Kobe Bryant’s(notes) missed 3-pointer dropped right into his hands, and Artest’s awkward layup banked neatly through the net as the buzzer sounded on Game 5 of the Western Conference finals. What a pretty finish to an ugly game for the Lakers’ veteran troublemaker, who has struggled to find his role throughout his first season with the defending champions—and what a strange, thrilling way for Artest to carve out his own spot in the Lakers’ playoff lore. Artest banked home the winning shot after grabbing the biggest offensive rebound of his career, nudging the Lakers past the Phoenix Suns 103-101 on Thursday night to take a 3-2 series lead. Bryant had 30 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists for the Lakers, but the improbable hero of Game 5 is the only new player on their roster. Bryant and Artest wrapped each other in a bear hug after Artest homed in on Bryant’s miss and threw up a hideous shot that somehow went in. “It means a lot for him,” Bryant said. “I think for him emotionally, it’s a big boost. … Once I released the ball, I saw Ron sneaking in. I was just hoping that he got it off in time.” Artest’s basket completed a 2-for-9 shooting night redeemed by one supremely heady offensive rebound. Moments earlier, Jason Richardson(notes) banked in a straightaway 3-pointer with 3.5 seconds left to tie it for the Suns. “I wasn’t playing my game from the beginning,” Artest said. “In the second half, I was finding my way a little bit, made some good passes and good steals and got some rebounds. So I guess that aggressive play can carry over into that last possession.” Game 6 is Saturday night in Phoenix, where the Lakers can clinch the chance to play for their 16th championship. Phoenix clawed back from an 18-point deficit in the second half with a superb game by Steve Nash(notes), who had 29 points and 11 assists. After Richardson’s accidental tying bank shot, the Lakers went to Bryant, whose miss went straight to Artest. “I thought Kobe got fouled on the shot, so I figured it was going to be short,” Artest said. “And it was a little short.” Lakers coach Phil Jackson wasn’t even sure why he had Artest in the game after the veteran forward missed consecutive open shots earlier in the final minute. “He has an uncanny knack of doing things, and sometimes it just works out,” Jackson said. “He just has a knack for being around crucial plays.” Lamar Odom(notes) had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, who led 101-96 with 90 seconds to play before Nash hit another jumper and Artest missed twice, the home crowd yelling in frustration with each open brick. “His whole methods since we were small is, ‘I’m going to outwork you,”’ said Odom, who played AAU ball with Artest in their New York youth. “‘I’m going to bang you until you don’t want no more. His stubbornness is the reason why he took that 3, because he just missed one. That’s part of his game, that’s why he’s a great player, and that’s why he’s a great defender. It’s just something you have to live with.” Led by Nash’s stirring second-half effort, the Suns hacked away at Los Angeles’ lead throughout the fourth quarter. Phoenix trimmed its deficit to 95-94 when Nash converted a three-point play and then fed Amare Stoudemire for a layup that barely beat the shot clock with 2:52 left. “Everything is OK,” Nash said. “We can’t knock a great effort. Maybe we deserved this game, maybe we didn’t. They held home court. We’ll go back and do the same, and we’ll come back here for Game 7.” Stoudemire scored 19 points for the Suns, who had three looks at a 3-point shot in the final seconds. Nash and Richardson both missed, but Richardson then missed so badly that he banked it in from a long step behind the line. “We just didn’t quite finish the game,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. “I have no complaints. They played great. We hung in. We did a great job against Kobe on the last shot, just didn’t come up with the rebound. To me, it’s a great effort by us, and they know we’re not going to go away.” The Lakers already won on a last-second layup earlier in the postseason, when Pau Gasol(notes) sent home the Oklahoma City Thunder with an offensive rebound and a score in Game 6 of the first round. Derek Fisher(notes) scored 22 points and Gasol had 21 points and nine rebounds for the Lakers, who rebounded from consecutive losses in Phoenix with their best defensive performance of the series, forcing 15 turnovers and holding Phoenix to mediocre shooting—yet the Suns still came agonizingly close to handing Los Angeles its first home loss of the postseason. The Lakers improved to 8-0 at Staples Center, where they’ll play Game 7 on Monday night if the Suns hold serve in a series featuring five wins for the home team. After dominating Game 4 while Phoenix evened the series, the Suns’ bench outscored the Lakers just 31-24 in Game 5, while Los Angeles reasserted its size advantage against the Suns’ zone defense with a 49-40 rebounding edge. The Lakers surged to a 16-point lead in the first half with a 21-4 run led by Bryant, who hit three consecutive 3-pointers in less than a minute. Gentry vomited into a trash can while sitting on the bench in the first half after apparently eating something that disagreed with him. Gentry, who reportedly received intravenous fluids at halftime, also didn’t care for the officiating, earning a technical foul midway through the Lakers’ big run. Los Angeles jumped ahead 74-56 in the third quarter, but Phoenix made a 16-4 rally including a four-point play by Jared Dudley(notes) to trim the lead to six points heading into the fourth.
NOTES: The Lakers have won Game 5 the last nine straight times they’ve reached it in a playoff series, including last season’s title clincher over Orlando. Los Angeles also is the only team that hasn’t trailed in a series this spring. … Nash was a 91 percent free throw shooter in the playoffs (61 for 67) before missing two in the first quarter of Game 5. … Lakers G Sasha Vujacic’s(notes) 3-pointer in the fourth quarter was his first since April 13.
Stallone Adviser's Massive Fraud
NYC adviser to celebrities is charged with fraud: NEW YORK— Prosecutors charged a financial adviser who has worked for Wesley Snipes, Sylvester Stallone and Martin Scorsese with stealing $30 million from clients and accused a former city council president of lying about his own finances during the probe. Kenneth Starr, 66, was ordered held without bail on charges of wire fraud, investment adviser fraud and money laundering after a prosecutor said Starr hid behind coats in a closet at his home when agents came to arrest him, forcing them to yank him out by the collar. Also arrested in the probe was former New York City Council President Andrew Stein, 65, who was charged with making false statements in a filing with the Internal Revenue Service and making false statements to a federal officer. U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said at a news conference that Starr stole money in a Ponzi-like scheme from January 2008 through April after gaining the trust of wealthy and influential clients and sometimes controlling their finances. "He made it a point to seem like it was a very exclusive thing, creating a mystique about what it means to be a client of Mr. Starr," Bharara said. There's no indication Snipes, Scorsese or Stallone were victims. An IRS criminal complaint said cheated clients included a former hedge fund manager and well-known philanthropist, an actress who was a longtime friend of Starr's, a former talent agency executive and his wife, an heiress and a prominent jeweler with a flagship Manhattan store. They were not identified by name. The jeweler learned some of his money was invested with a company owned in part by a retired prominent basketball player in Georgia, IRS agent Robert Beranger said in a complaint. Close associates who benefited from Starr's schemes included his son, a former national official of a major political party, Stein and a partner at a prominent national law firm, Beranger said. However, Stein was not charged in connection with Starr's alleged fraud, Bharara said. Starr's lawyer, Josh Klein, told U.S. Magistrate Judge Debra C. Freeman that his client's $7.6 million Manhattan apartment was not bought with investors' money. The five-bedroom, 6 1/2-bath apartment includes a 32-foot granite lap pool and a 1,500 square-foot garden. Klein said Starr did not know who was banging on his door when agents arrived. "Knocking consisted of people smashing or very loudly banging. He's petrified. He hid in the closet and put some clothes over his head," Klein said, though he added that Starr cooperated fully after his arrest. At one point, Starr insisted on speaking, saying: "I've always been an extremely law-abiding person. ... I would never flee. ... I believe in the law. ... There would be no reason for me to go anywhere. There is no place for me to go." Assistant U.S. Attorney William J. Harrington successfully argued that Starr's behavior was that of a man who would flee, especially since millions of dollars are missing and federal sentencing guidelines would call for 25 years in prison if he is convicted. "As the investigation goes on, it's very likely we'll identify additional victims," Harrington said. At another bail hearing before Judge John Koeltl late Thursday, Starr was again ordered detained, though Koeltl said he believes a bail package could be arranged in the future. Stein's lawyer, Andrew Maloney, portrayed his client as extremely cooperative with investigators at his initial court appearance, where he was freed on $250,000 bail. "Mr. Stein may have been a victim as much as anyone else," Maloney said. Outside court, Stein spoke confidently that "it will be cleared up." In court, Harrington said Stein's assets were "in shambles," with large debts owed to the IRS and no real source of income, even as he continues "spending a great deal of money beyond his means." If convicted, Stein faces up to eight years in prison. Starr, an attorney, is head of New York-based Starr and Co. and Starr Investment Advisors LLC, which federal regulators said has accounts exceeding $700 million. Stein was a state assemblyman from 1969 through 1977, borough president of Manhattan from 1978 through 1985 and president of the New York City Council from 1986 through 1993. Beranger said Stein had failed to pay $2.1 million in taxes between 2003 and 2009 for millions of dollars he was paid for working as a consultant for various investment companies. Beranger said Stein used some of the proceeds of Starr's investment fraud to rent a luxury property in the posh Long Island community of Bridgehampton. The home, which cost $150,000 for the summer of 2008 alone, was rented by Stein each summer from 2007 through 2009, he said. Starr testified in 2008 that he warned Snipes that he could get into trouble if he didn't pay his taxes. Snipes, the star of the "Blade" movies, was convicted in Florida of three counts of failing to file tax returns. He was cleared on fraud and conspiracy charges. Starr also once advised Stallone. Stallone later sued him, saying Starr advised him to keep his investment in Planet Hollywood restaurants even though Starr told others the chain was headed for bankruptcy. The suit was eventually settled. Scorsese publicist Leslee Dart said Scorsese had not been a client of Starr's for some time. She declined to say when he was a client.
Power Couple's Court Victory
NY court dismisses suit against Brady, Bundchen: NEW YORK— A judge has dismissed a lawsuit by two photographers who said they were shot at by bodyguards of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen. The April 2009 incident occurred during a party in Costa Rica celebrating the celebrity couple's marriage two months earlier. Photographers Yuri Cortez and Rolando Aviles and the news agency Agence France Presse charged in the lawsuit that the guards shot at the photographers and narrowly missed their heads. The lawsuit originally was filed in federal court in New York and then in Manhattan state Supreme Court. Bundchen owned a Manhattan apartment before her marriage, but Justice Judith Gische said in her ruling that the model had sold the apartment by the time the lawsuit was filed in November 2009. The judge's ruling was made public Tuesday. The judge said neither Brady nor Bundchen lives in New York and the lawsuit against them does not belong in the state. She said the matter "would be better adjudicated in Costa Rica." Attorney John Gleason, representing the photographers and AFP, said the plaintiffs were studying the decision to see if there are grounds to appeal to a higher court. Gleason said the plaintiffs chose not to sue in Costa Rica because the courts are too slow there. "I was told it often takes 10 years for a civil case to be concluded," he said. Brady has won three Super Bowls with the Patriots, and Forbes magazine says Bundchen is the highest-paid model in the world. The couple have said their main residence is in Massachusetts, where they are raising their infant son, Benjamin. An attorney for Brady and Bundchen did not immediately respond to a telephone message seeking comment Wednesday.
Air Force's Sex Scandal
Air Force chief in Ohio facing sex allegations: DAYTON, Ohio— Four female airmen described their flirty relationships with a chief master sergeant Thursday, a day after another testified that she repeatedly told him "no" just before he had sex with her in his office at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The Air Force hearing is looking into allegations that William Gurney, while he was the top-ranking enlisted man at the Air Force Materiel Command, sexually harassed nine female subordinates. The women who took the stand Thursday said they flirted with the 27-year veteran through sexy text messages. Several witnesses have said Gurney sent nude and seminude images of himself and asked for revealing photos of female airmen. But the most serious accusation so far came Wednesday when one of Gurney's female subordinates said he had sex with her against her will. She said she didn't fight back because she was stunned and feared his power and influence. "I was just afraid. He's a powerful man," the female master sergeant testified. Both the woman and Gurney are married. Gurney's attorney said the woman only recently said she had sex against her will, after making earlier sworn statements that didn't mention that allegation. Maj. Gwendolyn Beitz, who is leading Gurney's defense, repeatedly asked the woman whether Gurney had used any threat, force or restraint as they had sex. She responded that he hadn't. She said the encounter last year began when she stopped by his office at lunchtime and they began kissing, which they had also done in earlier meetings. He took off his shirt and began taking off her blouse, she said. "I just kept telling him no," she said, then testified she wasn't sure how her clothes were removed or how she wound up having sex with Gurney against a table. "I didn't want to have sex with him," the woman said. The Associated Press is not naming the woman. Beitz said the woman never characterized the sex as unwanted until she faced telling her husband she could be demoted for having an extramarital affair. Prosecutors said at the hearing's opening that they would present testimony about more allegations that could lead to new charges, including sexual assault. Allegations involving a 10th female airman were dropped before the hearing, without public explanation. The hearing before a military judge in a base courtroom will help decide whether the charges will go forward. It's expected to last through Friday. The charges being heard by Chief Regional Military Judge Col. Michael O'Sullivan include extramarital relations, inappropriate touching, sending sexually oriented text messages and trying to influence duty assignments. The judge will file a report on his findings and make a recommendation, expected to come in several weeks. Gurney hasn't commented publicly on the charges. He was assigned to a desk job last November. He could face court-martial proceedings, administrative punishment or see the charges dropped. Gurney transferred to Wright-Patterson in 2008 from Hill Air Force Base in Utah, where he was command chief of the Ogden Air Logistics Center and 75th Air Base Wing. Pentagon officials, under pressure from Congress, have taken steps in recent years such as increasing awareness and training to try to improve responses by the military services to sexual abuse.
Former child TV star hospitalized
Former child star hospitalized: Gary Coleman, who starred in the '80s sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes," is in critical condition after a fall.
Gary Coleman Reportedly In Critical Condition After Fall: Former "Diff'rent Strokes" star Gary Coleman is currently hospitalized in Utah in critical condition. The actor's brother-in-law told TMZ, which first reported the story, that Coleman fell and suffered a head injury. A source told TMZ that he was admitted to the hospital yesterday after being transported from his Utah home at approximately 12:50 PM. Access spoke on Thursday with a source close to Todd Bridges, Coleman's "Diff'rent Strokes" co-star, who confirmed the story and said that Coleman's wife told the source that Coleman fell and had to be resuscitated. Coleman's wife thought they had lost him, and the situation is currently still very touch and go. Coleman's manager told E! Online, "We're just getting bits and pieces right now, so there's really nothing to report. If there's anything to announce, we'll let you know." As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, in February, Coleman pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor criminal mischief charge related to a domestic violence incident with wife Shannon Price from April 2009. He was ordered to complete a domestic violence course and pay a $595 fine.
Gary Coleman Reportedly In Critical Condition After Fall: Former "Diff'rent Strokes" star Gary Coleman is currently hospitalized in Utah in critical condition. The actor's brother-in-law told TMZ, which first reported the story, that Coleman fell and suffered a head injury. A source told TMZ that he was admitted to the hospital yesterday after being transported from his Utah home at approximately 12:50 PM. Access spoke on Thursday with a source close to Todd Bridges, Coleman's "Diff'rent Strokes" co-star, who confirmed the story and said that Coleman's wife told the source that Coleman fell and had to be resuscitated. Coleman's wife thought they had lost him, and the situation is currently still very touch and go. Coleman's manager told E! Online, "We're just getting bits and pieces right now, so there's really nothing to report. If there's anything to announce, we'll let you know." As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, in February, Coleman pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor criminal mischief charge related to a domestic violence incident with wife Shannon Price from April 2009. He was ordered to complete a domestic violence course and pay a $595 fine.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Memorial Day & Dynamic City Unlimited = WWW.DCUNY.COM
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Sometimes You Have To Roll The Dice
Lady Luck generally woos those who earnestly, enthusiastically, unremittingly woo her.
-B.C. Forbes
-B.C. Forbes
America Gets Its Newest 'Idol'
How DeWyze won 'American Idol': Simon Cowell was granted his final wish on "American Idol." Lee DeWyze, the bashful paint sales clerk championed early by the biting British judge on the Fox singing contest, was crowned "Idol" on Wednesday over single mother Crystal Bowersox. His victory was based on votes cast after Tuesday's performances, which drew more acclaim from the judges for Bowersox, though DeWyze was Cowell's favorite from the outset. DeWyze knew it, too. Back during Hollywood Week, the show's rapid-fire post-audition phase, he took note of Cowell tapping along as he crooned The Fray's "You Found Me." It became clearer after his rendition of Snow Patrol's "Chasing Cars" during the first round of the semifinals that Cowell was pushing for the throaty underdog from Mount Prospect, Ill. "I fought for you to be here," he told DeWyze. "I still believe in you." Such affirmations helped the unassuming rocker to overcome his shortcomings, namely a lack of self-confidence, to take down Bowersox, arguably the ninth season's most powerful singer. Despite his innate shyness, DeWyze solidified himself as a contender early in the finals with deft takes on The Box Tops' "The Letter" and the Rolling Stones' "Beast of Burden." "You are growing faster than anybody on this stage," Kara DioGuardi told him. Indeed, DeWyze was always on the ascent, powering through walking pneumonia for the Cornelius Brothers' "Treat Her Like a Lady," and making everyone take notice when he unexpectedly dueted with a bagpipe player on The Beatles' "Hey Jude." The sheepish vocalist struggled more at conversing with Ryan Seacrest and maneuvering through the group routines than singing. The panel wasn't just satisfied with DeWyze's raspy tone. Panelists demanded to see the scruffy, 24-year-old singer smile. He finally flashed them a goofy grin and started to hit a stride after Elvis Presley's "A Little Less Conversation." Meanwhile, Bowersox began to fumble when tasked with out-of-her-element genres. Still, her spot on the finale always seemed certain. When the dreadlocked 24-year-old musician first belted out "Piece of My Heart" at her audition, Bowersox felt like a folksy singer who could appeal to the masses. She possibly peaked early in the semifinals with unapologetically flawless versions of Alanis Morissette's "Hand in My Pocket" and Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Long As I Can See the Light." "We need you here," Ellen DeGeneres declared at that point. However, DeWyze managed to swirl flavors from the previous two "Idol" champs _ Kris Allen's boyishly reserved stage presence and David Cook's rocker-next-door musical stylings _ to create a palette pleasing to the biggest bloc of "Idol" voters, namely the howlers looking for their next heartthrob who made certain DeyWyze never appeared as low vote getter. Besting top seed Bowersox may have made DeWyze's win taste sweeter, but don't call it an upset. Several online outfits predicted he would take home the top prize: the "Idol" title and a record contract. DialIdol.com, which tracks busy signals on the separate phone lines dedicated to each contestant, correctly projected DeWyze as the winner Wednesday morning. "This isn't about, 'Oh, I want to be the next big thing,' and then be gone," he said backstage after winning. "I want to do this for a long time, and that's really important to me _ stay true to myself, and just make good music." DeWyze's future success, as with all "Idol" winners before him, will be determined by record sales, not viewer votes. With his rock-infused singer-songwriter leanings, DeWyze has the potential, like eighth season winner Allen, to be eclipsed by a more daring runner-up or, in the case of fifth season fourth-place finisher Chris Daughtry, to rock out on his own.
Famed Mystery Gets New Look
31-year-old case of missing NYC boy under review: NEW YORK— Six-year-old Etan Patz vanished on May 25, 1979. One of the most extensive missing-child searches was mounted to find him, but two decades later, the boy was officially declared dead. No one has ever been arrested. Now, the Manhattan district attorney's office will take a fresh look at the evidence collected against the prime suspect, a convicted child molester serving 20 years in prison in Pennsylvania. By looking into the cold case, Cyrus R. Vance Jr. will be making good on a campaign promise. A spokeswoman for Vance said Wednesday she could not comment further on an open investigation. Etan Patz (pronounced AY'-tahn payts) vanished while walking from his lower Manhattan home to a bus stop two blocks away. His disappearance spawned the national movement to publicize the cases of missing children. His photo was the first put on a milk carton, and his case turned May 25 into National Missing Children's Day. The longtime former district attorney, Robert Morgenthau, said repeatedly he didn't have enough evidence to charge anyone. But Etan's father, Stan Patz, said that while there is little forensic evidence, he believes there is enough to convene a grand jury and get an indictment. "All we have been asking for is the district attorney to take a good look at the information," Patz said. "I realize this is not like `CSI.' That's why it's been a tough case all along. But there is enough evidence that a competent attorney can use to prosecute." Jose Ramos, who had dated Etan's baby sitter, has been the prime suspect all along, according to the boy's family. Ramos allegedly admitted to Pennsylvania authorities that he tried to molest Etan on the day of the child's disappearance but has denied harming him. It was unclear Wednesday if Ramos has an attorney, and Ramos was unreachable at the prison. After Etan's disappearance, his parents kept the same number and stayed in the same SoHo apartment, in case he returned. But in 2001, after waiting 22 years, they obtained a court order declaring the boy dead. In 2004, a Manhattan judge ruled Ramos was responsible for the boy's disappearance and presumed death, after the inmate ignored orders to answer deposition questions for a lawyer for the boy's parents. He was later ordered to pay $2 million to Etan's family. Ramos is to be released in 2012 after a 20-year sentence for sexually abusing an 8-year-old boy, bringing a certain urgency to the case, which was never officially closed, the boy's father said. At least one FBI agent and a New York Police Department liaison is assigned to the case. Patz is hopeful a fresh pair of eyes will yield some results. "He (Vance) says he's willing to do that, and the fact he's willing to say it in public is very encouraging," Patz said.
Tennis Match Played In Dark
Controversial call forces tennis in the dark: Though experts say it is unlikely, they consider scenarios that could result in combat.
Darkness! French Open match played in near blackout conditions: Look closely at the picture above. If you squint closely you can see No. 13 seed Gael Monfils of France standing in the foreground while serving to Italy's Fabio Fognini. Squint even closer and you might be able to find the ball Monfils was tossing into the air. It was after 9:50 p.m. Wednesday in France and the pair were playing the fifth set of a bizarre second-round match at the French Open. A few minutes later, after Monfils saved three match points, play was suspended for darkness. The ball had barely been visible for the previous two games. Sound crazy enough yet? That's only the beginning. Here's a look at the five most ridiculous moments from the Gael Monfils-Fabio Fognini match:
1. A tournament referee evidently halted the match and then reconsidered when pressed by Monfils. With darkness enveloping the court at Philippe Chatrier, rules official Stefan Fransson looked set to halt the match at 4-4. It made perfect sense. The match was square, it was almost too dark to see and every other match at Roland Garros had been stopped.
But after a brief discussion with the chair umpire and Monfils (Fognini initially stood near the baseline), Fransson determined that the players would play two more games. Then: chaos. Fognini refused to play, the French fans jeered and, six minutes after Fransson stepped onto the court, play had yet to resume. It was too dark when the discussion began. Six minutes later conditions were unplayable.
2. Fognini received a point penalty for delay of game before serving at 4-4. The delay was initially caused by Fransson's indecision but it was elongated by Fognini's defiance. Buoyed by his coach who was making a "don't play" gesture, Fognini stalled in an attempt to make Fransson reconsider. (At least that's our guess. None of this really makes any sense.) This riled up the partisan French crowd even more, which in turn gave Fognini another reason not to line up to serve. After what seemed like an eternity, the chair umpire finally gave Fognini a point penalty, which made him begin his serve down 0-15.
3. The match only went so long because Monfils choked away a two-set lead. Note to all you junior players out there: There's no need to force drop shots when you have a comfortable lead. Monfils inexplicably kept trying to run Fognini to the net while up two sets despite the fact that most of the drop shots had one of two outcomes: Fognini either got to it or Monfils hit an unforced error. The Italian is known as a player who folds when he gets down in matches. Giving him hope was the biggest mistake Monfils made all day. (Well, until he asked for the match to be prolonged.)
4. Fognini then choked away three match points after the chaos while Monfils was cramping. The Italian won his serve to go up 5-4 and then went up 40-15 on Monfils' serve. Monfils could barely move due to cramping and hobbled around the court. On his serve he stayed flat-footed and looked as if he was serving a volleyball in middle school gym class instead of in a Grand Slam tennis match. He was lucky nobody could see well enough to do anything but try to get the ball in play because if Fognini had run him even a little, it was doubtful he'd have been able to get to anything. Despite his ailments, Monfils prevailed on his serve due to three Fognini unforced errors on match points.
5. Sunset in Paris was at 9:40 p.m. on Wednesday evening. The match was halted at 9:56 p.m. local time. Patrick McEnroe, Pam Shriver and Darren Cahill said it was the darkest conditions they had ever seen at a professional tennis match. It was so dark outside that the Shot Spot technology wasn't working because there were no shadows with which to gauge the positioning of the ball.
Darkness! French Open match played in near blackout conditions: Look closely at the picture above. If you squint closely you can see No. 13 seed Gael Monfils of France standing in the foreground while serving to Italy's Fabio Fognini. Squint even closer and you might be able to find the ball Monfils was tossing into the air. It was after 9:50 p.m. Wednesday in France and the pair were playing the fifth set of a bizarre second-round match at the French Open. A few minutes later, after Monfils saved three match points, play was suspended for darkness. The ball had barely been visible for the previous two games. Sound crazy enough yet? That's only the beginning. Here's a look at the five most ridiculous moments from the Gael Monfils-Fabio Fognini match:
1. A tournament referee evidently halted the match and then reconsidered when pressed by Monfils. With darkness enveloping the court at Philippe Chatrier, rules official Stefan Fransson looked set to halt the match at 4-4. It made perfect sense. The match was square, it was almost too dark to see and every other match at Roland Garros had been stopped.
But after a brief discussion with the chair umpire and Monfils (Fognini initially stood near the baseline), Fransson determined that the players would play two more games. Then: chaos. Fognini refused to play, the French fans jeered and, six minutes after Fransson stepped onto the court, play had yet to resume. It was too dark when the discussion began. Six minutes later conditions were unplayable.
2. Fognini received a point penalty for delay of game before serving at 4-4. The delay was initially caused by Fransson's indecision but it was elongated by Fognini's defiance. Buoyed by his coach who was making a "don't play" gesture, Fognini stalled in an attempt to make Fransson reconsider. (At least that's our guess. None of this really makes any sense.) This riled up the partisan French crowd even more, which in turn gave Fognini another reason not to line up to serve. After what seemed like an eternity, the chair umpire finally gave Fognini a point penalty, which made him begin his serve down 0-15.
3. The match only went so long because Monfils choked away a two-set lead. Note to all you junior players out there: There's no need to force drop shots when you have a comfortable lead. Monfils inexplicably kept trying to run Fognini to the net while up two sets despite the fact that most of the drop shots had one of two outcomes: Fognini either got to it or Monfils hit an unforced error. The Italian is known as a player who folds when he gets down in matches. Giving him hope was the biggest mistake Monfils made all day. (Well, until he asked for the match to be prolonged.)
4. Fognini then choked away three match points after the chaos while Monfils was cramping. The Italian won his serve to go up 5-4 and then went up 40-15 on Monfils' serve. Monfils could barely move due to cramping and hobbled around the court. On his serve he stayed flat-footed and looked as if he was serving a volleyball in middle school gym class instead of in a Grand Slam tennis match. He was lucky nobody could see well enough to do anything but try to get the ball in play because if Fognini had run him even a little, it was doubtful he'd have been able to get to anything. Despite his ailments, Monfils prevailed on his serve due to three Fognini unforced errors on match points.
5. Sunset in Paris was at 9:40 p.m. on Wednesday evening. The match was halted at 9:56 p.m. local time. Patrick McEnroe, Pam Shriver and Darren Cahill said it was the darkest conditions they had ever seen at a professional tennis match. It was so dark outside that the Shot Spot technology wasn't working because there were no shadows with which to gauge the positioning of the ball.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
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You will not only find a great deal but, you will say to yourself that you literally stole the deal; Dynamic City Unlimited “The Mall that never closes!” Offering free Delivery right to your home! Some restrictions apply.
Runnin’ With Reggie
Good day to my fellow readers/followers…yesterday I was filled with a heavy heart as I had to bury a family member who meant so much to me and others of my family. But, I must say that he lived a good and prosperous life! So, I give these short words ‘In Loving Memory’ to an uncle who was very close too my heart. Even though it was a passing, it also was a moving on; a moving on to a brighter future for him (as he goes Home to the Creator), and for his remaining family that he leaves behind (as we go forth to finish what he has not).
Faith Gives You Hope
Faith is the bird that feels the light And sings when the dawn is still dark.
-Rabindranath Tagore
-Rabindranath Tagore
Super Cold Super Bowl?
A snowball's chance: NJ picked for 2014 Super Bowl: IRVING, Texas— February. Gray skies. Snowflakes. Brrrrrrrr. Well, grab your boots and plow the snow. The Super Bowl is coming to the Meadowlands. In New Jersey? In the dead of winter? "We'll all pray that it doesn't snow that day," Arizona Cardinals president Michael Bidwill said. NFL owners voted Tuesday to put the 2014 Super Bowl in the new $1.6 billion Meadowlands Stadium that this season will become home to the New York Jets and Giants. It's the first time the league has gone to a cold weather site that doesn't have a dome; until now, those places couldn't even bid on the big game. So, why the risk? "Let's face it," Giants co-owner John Mara said, "there's only one New York City." "We promise the greatest game in the greatest venue in the greatest city," added another co-owner, Steve Tisch. "Now we've got to deliver." Mother Nature may have a lot to say about that. The coldest kickoff temperature in Super Bowl history was 39 degrees, and that would be considered a warm February day in East Rutherford, N.J. Average February temperatures there are 24 to 40 degrees, with several inches of rain, according to the bid documents. Remember, the game kicks off after the sun goes down in the Eastern time zone, so temperatures would be dropping throughout the night. "Everyone knows it's risky," said Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, whose bid was eliminated in the second round. It might end up being another Ice Bowl, Fog Bowl, Freezer Bowl or something else worthy of a frigid nickname. That's not what the bidders had in mind when they adopted the slogan, "Make Some History," but for all the inconvenience to those in the stadium, it might look great on TV. The extended version of Bart Starr's game-winning sneak in the Ice Bowl in 1967 opens with Cowboys defenders scraping their cleats into the ice to try getting some traction. Teeth chatter just watching the replay of Tom Brady's fumble that was ruled an incompletion in the snow-filled Tuck Rule game. In Brett Favre's final game with the Packers, he ends a chilly playoff game by throwing an interception, then runs off with steam coming out of his mouth; it was against the Giants, too. "People talk about the weather, but, you know, this is football, not beach volleyball," New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg told the NFL Network. The NFL has required an average temperature of 50 degrees or a dome for a team to even bid on hosting the Super Bowl, but the league bent the rule to let New York bid. It's billed as a one-time exception, but just a few years ago, the NHL experimented with an outdoor game on New Year's Day, and it came off so perfectly that teams now fight to host what's become the annual Winter Classic. Maybe this will work out that well, too. "I think it will turn out to be a great event," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said. The weather worries could even add to the hype. In addition to predicting which teams will make it, fans can guess how nasty it might be. "We've played some (frigid, wet December) games there and I know firsthand that the fans had great experiences even though it was in inclement weather," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. Players are split on the decision. In the Pittsburgh Steelers' locker room, quarterback Byron Leftwich said the weather doesn't matter "because it's the Super Bowl ... and you're not going to let 15 degrees change anything." But linebacker James Farrior countered, "I play enough games in the cold." Giants and Jets players are thrilled. "There's something special about this city, man," Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis said following a rally in Times Square. "We should've done this years ago," said Giants defensive end Justin Tuck, who also was part of that celebration. The 50-degree rule was created for the comfort and convenience of fans and players. Anyone who has ever planned an outdoor event can appreciate how much of a relief it is to not worry about the weather. Neutral conditions, like those in a dome, also are supposed to help the caliber of play. It also makes it more comfy for all the practices, parties and other events during the week leading up to the game. It's been at least 57 degrees for every Super Bowl since 1975, when it was 46. That's why Florida and California have been such frequent hosts. "In the back of everybody's mind, people want to be in South Florida that time of year," Ross said. Tuesday's vote had been widely considered a formality, but it didn't play out that way. Even after Miami was eliminated, it took two more rounds of voting for New York to get the nod over Tampa. "New York knows how to put on an event," Ross said, putting aside his weather warnings. "It's not like you lost to some small town that doesn't know how to put on big events." Players are split on the decision. In the Pittsburgh Steelers' locker room, quarterback Byron Leftwich said the weather doesn't matter "because it's the Super Bowl ... and you're not going to let 15 degrees change anything." But linebacker James Farrior countered, "I play enough games in the cold." Giants and Jets players are thrilled. "There's something special about this city, man," Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis said following a rally in Times Square. "We should've done this years ago," said Giants defensive end Justin Tuck, who also was part of that celebration. The 50-degree rule was created for the comfort and convenience of fans and players. Anyone who has ever planned an outdoor event can appreciate how much of a relief it is to not worry about the weather. Neutral conditions, like those in a dome, also are supposed to help the caliber of play. It also makes it more comfy for all the practices, parties and other events during the week leading up to the game. It's been at least 57 degrees for every Super Bowl since 1975, when it was 46. That's why Florida and California have been such frequent hosts. "In the back of everybody's mind, people want to be in South Florida that time of year," Ross said. Tuesday's vote had been widely considered a formality, but it didn't play out that way. Even after Miami was eliminated, it took two more rounds of voting for New York to get the nod over Tampa. "New York knows how to put on an event," Ross said, putting aside his weather warnings. "It's not like you lost to some small town that doesn't know how to put on big events." Being just outside the Big Apple means lots of glitz and spectacle, Buildup will include everything from a float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade to parties at internationally renowned destinations. There will be game-day shots of the Manhattan skyline in the distance, and thousands watching on the jumbo-screen TVs in Times Square. The flip side is that security will become a bigger issue, perhaps among the most expensive pieces of the budget. An expected economic impact of $550 million would help offset some of the cost. Planners are already making the most of the weather. They're plotting to give out hand warmers and heated seat cushions _ and will be selling plenty more NFL-branded merchandise to help fight off the elements. They'll also have hundreds of folks ready to shovel away snow, and anything else necessary to make the experience more than bearable. The team owners were asked where they would sit _ indoors or out? "Probably both," Jets owner Woody Johnson said. Mara laughed and said, "I like that." Other cities have built big, expensive stadiums and would love to have the weather rule waived for them. Odds are, the NFL will wait and see how this foray into the great outdoors in winter goes. Then the league might OK another bid _ like for Washington, saying the nation's capital deserves the nation's most popular event _ but it would take a year or two to figure out the logistics. And votes are taken four years out, so it might be until 2019 or 2020 before it happens again. The upcoming Super Bowl, in February 2011, will be at Cowboys Stadium, followed by Indianapolis' new stadium in 2012 and a 2013 return to the Superdome for the first time since Hurricane Katrina ripped off part of the roof. The 2014 game will be held Feb. 2nd, 9th or 16th, depending on how that season's schedule is set up. That leads to one more question: Anybody have a 1,300-day forecast?
NBA Player’s Massive Debt
NBA player can't pay massive debt: Eddy Curry is having trouble with a huge loan that came with an eye-popping interest rate.
Eddy Curry makes a lot, spends a lot and owes a lot of money: Eddy Curry(notes) made a shade over $10 million this year as a member of the New York Knicks. Normally, I'd have said "playing for the New York Knicks," but that's a bit of an overstatement as Curry saw time in only seven games this season. Somehow, that's an improvement as the big guy appeared in just three contests the previous year. Baby steps, you guys. Despite that enormous salary — and the fact that Curry has made more than $57 million in his nine-year career — the former No. 4 draft pick is seriously in debt. As the Associated Press reports, Curry defaulted on a $575,000 loan with an 85 percent interest rate, which can only happen in Nevada, and has been ordered to pay back $1.2 million to Allstar Capital Inc., the world's most ironic loan service. However, Curry argues that he shouldn't have to pay off that debt, because he's spending too much money in other places. According to reports filed in the suit Curry's outgoing payments include:
• $30,000 a month for "household expenses."
• $17,000 a month to various relatives including his parents, sister and father-in-law.
• More than $1,000 a month for cable and satellite television.
• $207,000 a month in garnished wages that haven't been elaborated upon, but adds up to almost $2.5 million that Eddy Curry never sees over the course of a year.
• $350,000 to Juwan Howard(notes). (What?)
Curry also owns: 12 cars, three of which — a Rolls Royce convertible and two Land Rovers — may be taken by Allstar Capital, though Curry's lawyer says that they have reached "a mutually satisfactory resolution of the matter." Maybe Curry gets one of the Land Rovers and can drive the Rolls to important events? Seems fair to me. Furthermore, Curry is still involved in that creepy sexual harrassment lawsuit from January of last year. Oh, and he's fighting with lawyers who he says mismanaged his money, leading to the foreclosure of his $3.7 million home near Chicago. Not to mention Curry's son's mother was murdered in January of 2009. Saying it's been a rough 16 months for the former Chicago standout is selling things a little short, I'd say. On the bright side, Curry holds a player option of $11.2 million on his contract for next season. Pretty safe bet that he takes the Knicks up on that, even if he never sees a cent of it.
Eddy Curry makes a lot, spends a lot and owes a lot of money: Eddy Curry(notes) made a shade over $10 million this year as a member of the New York Knicks. Normally, I'd have said "playing for the New York Knicks," but that's a bit of an overstatement as Curry saw time in only seven games this season. Somehow, that's an improvement as the big guy appeared in just three contests the previous year. Baby steps, you guys. Despite that enormous salary — and the fact that Curry has made more than $57 million in his nine-year career — the former No. 4 draft pick is seriously in debt. As the Associated Press reports, Curry defaulted on a $575,000 loan with an 85 percent interest rate, which can only happen in Nevada, and has been ordered to pay back $1.2 million to Allstar Capital Inc., the world's most ironic loan service. However, Curry argues that he shouldn't have to pay off that debt, because he's spending too much money in other places. According to reports filed in the suit Curry's outgoing payments include:
• $30,000 a month for "household expenses."
• $17,000 a month to various relatives including his parents, sister and father-in-law.
• More than $1,000 a month for cable and satellite television.
• $207,000 a month in garnished wages that haven't been elaborated upon, but adds up to almost $2.5 million that Eddy Curry never sees over the course of a year.
• $350,000 to Juwan Howard(notes). (What?)
Curry also owns: 12 cars, three of which — a Rolls Royce convertible and two Land Rovers — may be taken by Allstar Capital, though Curry's lawyer says that they have reached "a mutually satisfactory resolution of the matter." Maybe Curry gets one of the Land Rovers and can drive the Rolls to important events? Seems fair to me. Furthermore, Curry is still involved in that creepy sexual harrassment lawsuit from January of last year. Oh, and he's fighting with lawyers who he says mismanaged his money, leading to the foreclosure of his $3.7 million home near Chicago. Not to mention Curry's son's mother was murdered in January of 2009. Saying it's been a rough 16 months for the former Chicago standout is selling things a little short, I'd say. On the bright side, Curry holds a player option of $11.2 million on his contract for next season. Pretty safe bet that he takes the Knicks up on that, even if he never sees a cent of it.
Meaning Of Wealth By Region
The meaning of wealth around the world: A survey of 2,000 millionaires around the globe reveals fascinating differences.
The Meaning of Wealth Translated Around the World: We like to think the reasons for seeking wealth are universal. Humans, by nature, like to be comfortable, like to have power and like to have the choices and freedoms offered by lots of stuff and money. Yet it turns out there are some regional variations in the meaning of wealth around the world. The new Barclay’s Wealth Insights study, released this morning from Barclay’s Wealth and Ledbury Research, finds that the emerging-market rich view wealth very differently from the older-money Europeans and the slightly less nouveaux Americans.The study surveyed 2,000 people from 20 countries with investible assets of $1.5 million or more. They shared some common themes: a vast majority of rich people from all regions agreed that wealth enables them to buy the best products and that wealth gives them freedom of choice in their life. Most also agreed that wealth is a reward for hard work. But the differences are more interesting:
1. Respect: Asians and Latin Americans were more likely (49% and 47%) to say that wealth "allows me to get respect from friends and family." Only 28% of Europeans and 38% of Americans said respect was a byproduct of wealth.
2. Charity: About three-quarters of respondents in the U.S. and Latin America said wealth enabled them to give to charity. That compares with 57% in Europe and 66% in Asia.
3. Happiness: About two thirds of Europeans and Americans said wealth made them happy. But it had a greater happiness affect in emerging markets, with 76% of Asians and Latin Americans saying wealth made them happy.
4. Role Models: Less than half of Americans and Europeans say the wealthy "set an important example to others to be successful." That compares with 71% of Latin Americans and 61% of Asians.
5. Spending: Wealthy Europeans are far more likely to spend their dough on travel and interior decorating. Latin Americans seem to put the highest spending priority on education, while the U.S. surges above the rest in philanthropy (which the report counts as spending).
We can read several things into the differences: Most obviously, the U.S. has a more formalized and tax-favorable system of philanthropy than the rest of the world. (It is too sweeping to say Americans are the most "generous.") What is more, the global financial crisis may have tarnished the image of the wealthy -- even among the wealthy. And finally, the longer a country has wealth, the less it craves the attention and respect wealth brings.
The Meaning of Wealth Translated Around the World: We like to think the reasons for seeking wealth are universal. Humans, by nature, like to be comfortable, like to have power and like to have the choices and freedoms offered by lots of stuff and money. Yet it turns out there are some regional variations in the meaning of wealth around the world. The new Barclay’s Wealth Insights study, released this morning from Barclay’s Wealth and Ledbury Research, finds that the emerging-market rich view wealth very differently from the older-money Europeans and the slightly less nouveaux Americans.The study surveyed 2,000 people from 20 countries with investible assets of $1.5 million or more. They shared some common themes: a vast majority of rich people from all regions agreed that wealth enables them to buy the best products and that wealth gives them freedom of choice in their life. Most also agreed that wealth is a reward for hard work. But the differences are more interesting:
1. Respect: Asians and Latin Americans were more likely (49% and 47%) to say that wealth "allows me to get respect from friends and family." Only 28% of Europeans and 38% of Americans said respect was a byproduct of wealth.
2. Charity: About three-quarters of respondents in the U.S. and Latin America said wealth enabled them to give to charity. That compares with 57% in Europe and 66% in Asia.
3. Happiness: About two thirds of Europeans and Americans said wealth made them happy. But it had a greater happiness affect in emerging markets, with 76% of Asians and Latin Americans saying wealth made them happy.
4. Role Models: Less than half of Americans and Europeans say the wealthy "set an important example to others to be successful." That compares with 71% of Latin Americans and 61% of Asians.
5. Spending: Wealthy Europeans are far more likely to spend their dough on travel and interior decorating. Latin Americans seem to put the highest spending priority on education, while the U.S. surges above the rest in philanthropy (which the report counts as spending).
We can read several things into the differences: Most obviously, the U.S. has a more formalized and tax-favorable system of philanthropy than the rest of the world. (It is too sweeping to say Americans are the most "generous.") What is more, the global financial crisis may have tarnished the image of the wealthy -- even among the wealthy. And finally, the longer a country has wealth, the less it craves the attention and respect wealth brings.
Obama’s Clash With GOP
Obama's GOP gesture turns testy: The president gets an earful during an 80-minute meeting with top Republicans.
Obama gets an earful in clash with GOP senators: WASHINGTON – If President Barack Obama thought having a private lunch with Republican senators would ease partisan tensions in Congress, he grabbed the wrong recipe. The president walked into a remarkably contentious 80-minute session Tuesday in which GOP senators accused him of duplicity, audacity and unbending partisanship. Lawmakers said the testy exchange left legislative logjams intact, and one GOP leader said nothing is likely to change before the November elections. Obama's sharpest accuser was Bob Corker of Tennessee, a first-term senator who feels the administration undermined his efforts to craft a bipartisan financial regulation bill. "I told him I thought there was a degree of audacity in him even showing up today after what happened with financial regulation," Corker told reporters, with perhaps a dig at Obama's book "The Audacity of Hope." "I just wanted him to tell me how, when he wakes up in the morning, comes over to a luncheon like ours today, how does he reconcile that duplicity?" Four people who were in the room said Obama bristled and defended his administration's handling of negotiations. On the way out, Corker said, Obama approached him and both men repeated their main points. "I told him there was a tremendous disconnect from his words and the actions of his administration," Corker said. White House spokesman Bill Burton, who attended the session in the Capitol, said the exchange "was actually pretty civil." The senators applauded Obama, who had requested the luncheon, when he entered and left the room. Obama told reporters as he departed, "It was a good, frank discussion about a whole range of issues." Some Republicans were less kind. "He needs to take a Valium before he comes in and talks to Republicans," Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., told reporters. "He's pretty thin-skinned." Sen. David Vitter, R-La., said he addressed Obama, "trying to demand overdue action" on the giant oil spill damaging Gulf coast states. He said got "no specific response" except Obama's pledge to have an authoritative White House official call him within hours. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, Obama's 2008 presidential opponent, said he pressed the president on immigration issues. McCain said he told Obama "we need to secure the border first" before taking other steps. "The president didn't agree," he said. Later, McCain said his views were unchanged by Obama's decision to send an additional 1,200 National Guard troops to boost security along the U.S.-Mexico border. At the lunch, McCain said he defended his state's pending immigration law, which Obama says could lead to discrimination. It directs police, when questioning people about possible law violations, to ask about their immigration status if there is "reasonable suspicion" they're in the country illegally. At the luncheon, McCain said, "I pointed out that members of his administration who have not read the law have mischaracterized the law — a very egregious act on their part." Burton said Obama told McCain that he has read the Arizona law himself, and his concerns remain. After the luncheon, no one suggested the two parties were even a smidgen closer to resolving differences over energy, immigration and other issues that Obama has said he wants to act on this year. "We simply have a large difference of opinion that's not likely to be settled until November about taxes, spending and the debt," said Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn. Senators said the November elections — all 435 House seats, 36 Senate seats and another three dozen governors' seats are up for grabs — were not overtly mentioned. But they were an unmistakable backdrop. Republicans hope for big gains, maybe even control of the House. They are banking on voter resentment of Obama initiatives such as the new health care law, and many see little point in cooperating with Obama and Democratic lawmakers at this point. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., complained to Obama about the partisan genesis of the health care law, enacted without a single Republican vote in Congress. Administration aides repeatedly have said GOP input was welcome, but none within reason turned up. It's hard to know if Obama genuinely thought his luncheon visit would melt some of the partisan iciness. Several Republican senators and aides in the room said he seemed to be going through the motions, not making real efforts at consensus. "What's really important is not so much the symbolism of bipartisanship as it is the action of bipartisanship," Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters later. Citing the scant or zero Republican support for the health care law, financial regulation bill and last year's financial stimulus, Thune said, "What we haven't seen is sort of the matchup between the rhetoric and the actions to follow through." As the Senate wrapped up its business Tuesday, Obama was flying to California to headline a fundraiser for Sen. Barbara Boxer, one of Congress' most liberal members and a top GOP target this fall.
Obama gets an earful in clash with GOP senators: WASHINGTON – If President Barack Obama thought having a private lunch with Republican senators would ease partisan tensions in Congress, he grabbed the wrong recipe. The president walked into a remarkably contentious 80-minute session Tuesday in which GOP senators accused him of duplicity, audacity and unbending partisanship. Lawmakers said the testy exchange left legislative logjams intact, and one GOP leader said nothing is likely to change before the November elections. Obama's sharpest accuser was Bob Corker of Tennessee, a first-term senator who feels the administration undermined his efforts to craft a bipartisan financial regulation bill. "I told him I thought there was a degree of audacity in him even showing up today after what happened with financial regulation," Corker told reporters, with perhaps a dig at Obama's book "The Audacity of Hope." "I just wanted him to tell me how, when he wakes up in the morning, comes over to a luncheon like ours today, how does he reconcile that duplicity?" Four people who were in the room said Obama bristled and defended his administration's handling of negotiations. On the way out, Corker said, Obama approached him and both men repeated their main points. "I told him there was a tremendous disconnect from his words and the actions of his administration," Corker said. White House spokesman Bill Burton, who attended the session in the Capitol, said the exchange "was actually pretty civil." The senators applauded Obama, who had requested the luncheon, when he entered and left the room. Obama told reporters as he departed, "It was a good, frank discussion about a whole range of issues." Some Republicans were less kind. "He needs to take a Valium before he comes in and talks to Republicans," Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., told reporters. "He's pretty thin-skinned." Sen. David Vitter, R-La., said he addressed Obama, "trying to demand overdue action" on the giant oil spill damaging Gulf coast states. He said got "no specific response" except Obama's pledge to have an authoritative White House official call him within hours. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, Obama's 2008 presidential opponent, said he pressed the president on immigration issues. McCain said he told Obama "we need to secure the border first" before taking other steps. "The president didn't agree," he said. Later, McCain said his views were unchanged by Obama's decision to send an additional 1,200 National Guard troops to boost security along the U.S.-Mexico border. At the lunch, McCain said he defended his state's pending immigration law, which Obama says could lead to discrimination. It directs police, when questioning people about possible law violations, to ask about their immigration status if there is "reasonable suspicion" they're in the country illegally. At the luncheon, McCain said, "I pointed out that members of his administration who have not read the law have mischaracterized the law — a very egregious act on their part." Burton said Obama told McCain that he has read the Arizona law himself, and his concerns remain. After the luncheon, no one suggested the two parties were even a smidgen closer to resolving differences over energy, immigration and other issues that Obama has said he wants to act on this year. "We simply have a large difference of opinion that's not likely to be settled until November about taxes, spending and the debt," said Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn. Senators said the November elections — all 435 House seats, 36 Senate seats and another three dozen governors' seats are up for grabs — were not overtly mentioned. But they were an unmistakable backdrop. Republicans hope for big gains, maybe even control of the House. They are banking on voter resentment of Obama initiatives such as the new health care law, and many see little point in cooperating with Obama and Democratic lawmakers at this point. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., complained to Obama about the partisan genesis of the health care law, enacted without a single Republican vote in Congress. Administration aides repeatedly have said GOP input was welcome, but none within reason turned up. It's hard to know if Obama genuinely thought his luncheon visit would melt some of the partisan iciness. Several Republican senators and aides in the room said he seemed to be going through the motions, not making real efforts at consensus. "What's really important is not so much the symbolism of bipartisanship as it is the action of bipartisanship," Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters later. Citing the scant or zero Republican support for the health care law, financial regulation bill and last year's financial stimulus, Thune said, "What we haven't seen is sort of the matchup between the rhetoric and the actions to follow through." As the Senate wrapped up its business Tuesday, Obama was flying to California to headline a fundraiser for Sen. Barbara Boxer, one of Congress' most liberal members and a top GOP target this fall.
Monday, May 24, 2010
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Take Control
They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.
-Andy Warhol
-Andy Warhol
Former Pitcher Is Found Dead
Jose Lima, former major league pitcher, dies at 37: LOS ANGELES— Jose Lima lived over the top on and off the baseball field. The free-spirited pitcher could deliver a song as well as a fastball, leaving a trail of fun and laughter known as "Lima Time" wherever he went. The All-Star right-hander who spent 13 years in the major leagues died Sunday, according to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was 37. Lima, who pitched the Dodgers to their first playoff win in 16 years in 2004, was in full cardiac arrest when paramedics arrived at his Pasadena home early Sunday morning, police said in a statement. He was pronounced dead at Huntington Memorial Hospital. The specific cause of death has not been determined, and Los Angeles County coroner's officials will perform an autopsy, the statement said. Pasadena police detectives also are investigating. "Lima was an exceptional man," said Winston Llenas, president of Aguilas Cibaenas, a winter ball team that Lima had played for in the Dominican Republic. "This is a great loss for Dominican baseball and the country." Lima posted his best season with the Houston Astros in 1999 when he was selected to the All-Star game. He went 21-10 with a 3.58 ERA in 35 starts for the NL Central champions. "It saddened me greatly to hear of Jose's passing," Astros owner Drayton McLane said. "He was truly a gifted person both on the field and off of it. He could dance, he could sing, but his best gift of all was that he was an extremely happy person. He just lit up our clubhouse with his personality, which was his greatest asset. Jose was not shortchanged in life in any way. He lived life to the fullest every day." Lima spent the majority of his career in Houston, compiling a 46-42 record from 1997-2001. He revived his career several times, bouncing between the independent league and the minors. The Dominican pitcher was 89-102 with a 5.26 ERA in 348 games in the majors, with his last appearance a four-game stint with the New York Mets in 2006. "When you faced Jose Lima, you didn't know what to expect from him," said Mariano Duncan, Dodgers first base coach and former major league infielder. "He had a good fastball, a good changeup and good breaking ball. He was a good baseball player and a good friend. Nobody enjoyed the game more than him, and we're going to miss him." Popular with fans and animated on the mound, his merengue music became a familiar fixture in the Astros clubhouse. "He was a man full of life, without apparent physical problems and with many plans and projects on the agenda," his wife, Dorca Astacio, told ESPNdeportes.com. On Friday night, Lima attended a game at Dodger Stadium, where he was introduced between innings and received an ovation from the crowd. "Horrible news. It's so sad," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. "His energy was infectious. It's a big loss. He was a showman and a hot dog, but he won games. He willed himself to do it. He always had a smile on his face." Lima went 13-5 with a 4.07 ERA in 2004 after making the Dodgers as a non-roster invitee to spring training. In the National League division series, Lima pitched a five-hit shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals in front of a sellout crowd at Dodger Stadium. It was the Dodgers' first postseason win since Game 5 of the 1988 World Series. "55,000 people screaming his last name, `Lima, Li-ma, Lima,'" said Mets infielder Alex Cora, who started at second for Los Angeles in that 2004 game. "It was amazing." Dodgers owner Frank McCourt called Lima's electric personality "unforgettable." "He had the ability to light up a room and that's exactly what he did every time I saw him," the owner said in a statement. McCourt said Lima further endeared himself to fans when he sang the national anthem and "God Bless America" at a home game in 2004. He performed with his band at the team's annual Viva Los Dodgers celebration. Lima often sang and danced at Astros functions around Houston. "He had a great flair and such enthusiasm for life," said Tal Smith, president of baseball operations for the Astros. "'Lima Time' was a special time. 'Lima Time' was whenever he was pitching, or at any event or club function or civic function that he was at. He'd get up and sing and dance, and he was very, very good. He was a real entertainer." Lima's on-field enthusiasm was sometimes misinterpreted as disrespect or arrogance by older players taught not to show their emotion. "Those kind of guys got their feathers ruffled at first," former Astros general manager Gerry Hunsicker said. "But once you got to know Jose, you knew he didn't have a harmful bone in his body. He was happy-go-lucky, he always had a smile on his face, and he seemed to wake up every day raring to go and looking to do something good in the world." Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila played against Lima last winter in the Dominican league. He recalled Lima would run over to him during warmups to say hello and wish him luck. "He was still enjoying it like if he was a kid out there," Avila said. "Anytime he pitched anywhere over there, it was like a party for him." The Dodgers said Lima had joined their player alumni group within the past month and was preparing to open a youth baseball academy this summer in Los Angeles. Former Dodgers teammate Guillermo Mota said Lima loved to spend time with fans. "He would sign autographs all the time and ask the kids, 'What time is it?' They would answer 'Lima Time!' I can see it right now," said Mota, now a San Francisco Giants reliever. Lima also pitched for Detroit and Kansas City. In 2005, when the Royals ended a 19-game losing streak, Lima broke out bottles of Dom Perignon champagne to celebrate and offered $1,000 to whoever most helped the team win the next day. Lima's younger brother, Joel, is a right-hander in the Dodgers' minor league system. Funeral arrangements were pending.
Tabloid Busts Former Royal
Duchess offered access for cash: LONDON— Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson said she was "very sorry" for her lapse of judgment after she was recorded apparently offering to sell access to her ex-husband Prince Andrew in return for 500,000 pounds ($724,000). The duchess said in a statement released Sunday that she had financial problems, but "that is no excuse for a serious lapse in judgment and I am very sorry that this has happened." "I very deeply regret the situation and the embarrassment caused," she said. The tabloid News of the World posted video on its website that appears to show Ferguson discussing payment terms. She is heard to say "500,000 pounds when you can, to me, open doors." Asked if she was referring to the prince, she said: "Yeah." The newspaper said Ferguson, 50, spoke to an undercover reporter posing as a businessman. Andrew is an international British trade ambassador. Both the newspaper and the duchess said he had no knowledge of the meeting. The report is embarrassing, but there is no suggestion Ferguson did anything illegal. Ferguson married Andrew, who is fourth in line to the throne, in 1986. They had two children, princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, before divorcing in 1996. Since then Ferguson has written children's books, made television documentaries and acted as a spokeswoman for Weight Watchers.
Cuomo Hits Campaign, Parade Trail
A day after he announced his run for governor, State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo hit the campaign trail Sunday in Manhattan. Cuomo marched in the Salute to Israel Parade along with his main Republican rival, Rick Lazio. Cuomo, who has long been criticized for not being specific about policy initiatives, also released a 200-page book detailing what he would do if elected. The book elaborates on the points he outlined in his campaign speech Saturday, such as limiting government, reform, and taxes. The book also clarifies his stances on abortion and marriage equality. Cuomo also spoke about his father while taking questions from reporters. Some argue New York was on a bit of a decline under Mario Cuomo's tenure as governor. But Andrew Cuomo says he supports his father's term as governor wholeheartedly. "My father, I believe, was an outstanding Governor of New York," Cuomo said. "I think he brought an integrity and principle to the office. He brought an honor and a dignity to the office. When I was this young lady's age growing up, state government was a source of inspiration. And young people would look at state government, and the men and women who were in state government and they were role models and heroes." Andrew Cuomo is expected to name a running mate in the coming days. He will attend the Democratic Convention, which starts Tuesday.
Drama In $1M NASCAR Race
Crash in million-dollar race sparks feud: Tempers flare when Denny Hamlin's move sends NASCAR teammate Kyle Busch crashing into the wall.
With $1 million on the line, Hamlin, Busch spar in All-Star Race: A million dollars makes a man do strange things. He'll cross lines he wouldn't otherwise cross. Sell out friends, neighbors, family. Do things he may not be proud of in the morning's light. Saturday night, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin, teammates at Joe Gibbs Racing, found themselves at the front of the pack with only a few laps to go in the Sprint All-Star Race. On the line? A one million-dollar prize to the winner. Busch had been running at the front all night; Hamlin had made a charge to the front from deep in the pack. They're two of NASCAR's best drivers, and with no points on the line, this duel was looking like it would be an instant classic. And indeed it was, but not for the racing. Hamlin blocked Busch high, and the sudden loss of air sent Busch careening into the wall: Kyle, naturally, was livid. Somebody better keep me away from Denny Hamlin after this race," he said over the radio. "All his [profane] fault. I had this race won! It was won!" As the AP's Jenna Fryer recounted, Busch then drove his car over to Hamlin's hauler, not his own, and stormed inside -- helmet and safety devices still on -- to wait for Hamlin. When Hamlin arrived, a long conversation ensued, with team owner Joe Gibbs serving as referee. After the discussion -- and oh, how sweet it would've been to listen in on this one -- Busch stepped out a side door of the hauler and avoided media, while Hamlin met the horde and gave his side of the story. "I told him my job as the leader is to do everything I can to win that race," Hamlin said. "And this race in specific is a much different beast than what a points race is. I think he understands that now, from my standpoint, that we're going to drive each other different. No doubt about it." Gibbs downplayed the feud, but noted that it happened because, well, his boys are just that darn good: "When you have good cars and good drivers, you're going to be up front and this can happen. You can get a situation where two guys are racing each other hard and both of them have a burning desire to win the race." For the record, Joey Logano, the third member of the Gibbs stable, finished third. So, yeah, they're running pretty well these days. How will this impact the rest of the season? That's a huge question, and one that probably kept Gibbs up worrying Saturday night. Hamlin and Kyle, along with Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon, are clearly the class of the Sprint Cup circuit, and they'll have other moments this year when they'll be going at each other for a chance at the checkered flag. If Kyle can keep his well-documented temper under control and keep his eye on the larger prize, this incident could be the tiniest anecdote on the way to a championship. If not, Hamlin might find this wreck will end up costing him a lot more than he'd ever expected. (Oh, as for the winner? That was none other than Kyle's brother Kurt, who in 2007 famously spun out Kyle. That incident wasn't smoothed over between the brothers until Thanksgiving. Gibbs had better hope this particular spat doesn't take that long to heal.) The big winner in all this? NASCAR. Between this new feud and the simmering Johnson-Gordon feud earlier this season, we've got the most fascinating -- from a storyline perspective -- season in years. And the fact that it's all taking place among the best drivers in the sport, well ... we're on the way to making every Sunday a must-watch race again.
With $1 million on the line, Hamlin, Busch spar in All-Star Race: A million dollars makes a man do strange things. He'll cross lines he wouldn't otherwise cross. Sell out friends, neighbors, family. Do things he may not be proud of in the morning's light. Saturday night, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin, teammates at Joe Gibbs Racing, found themselves at the front of the pack with only a few laps to go in the Sprint All-Star Race. On the line? A one million-dollar prize to the winner. Busch had been running at the front all night; Hamlin had made a charge to the front from deep in the pack. They're two of NASCAR's best drivers, and with no points on the line, this duel was looking like it would be an instant classic. And indeed it was, but not for the racing. Hamlin blocked Busch high, and the sudden loss of air sent Busch careening into the wall: Kyle, naturally, was livid. Somebody better keep me away from Denny Hamlin after this race," he said over the radio. "All his [profane] fault. I had this race won! It was won!" As the AP's Jenna Fryer recounted, Busch then drove his car over to Hamlin's hauler, not his own, and stormed inside -- helmet and safety devices still on -- to wait for Hamlin. When Hamlin arrived, a long conversation ensued, with team owner Joe Gibbs serving as referee. After the discussion -- and oh, how sweet it would've been to listen in on this one -- Busch stepped out a side door of the hauler and avoided media, while Hamlin met the horde and gave his side of the story. "I told him my job as the leader is to do everything I can to win that race," Hamlin said. "And this race in specific is a much different beast than what a points race is. I think he understands that now, from my standpoint, that we're going to drive each other different. No doubt about it." Gibbs downplayed the feud, but noted that it happened because, well, his boys are just that darn good: "When you have good cars and good drivers, you're going to be up front and this can happen. You can get a situation where two guys are racing each other hard and both of them have a burning desire to win the race." For the record, Joey Logano, the third member of the Gibbs stable, finished third. So, yeah, they're running pretty well these days. How will this impact the rest of the season? That's a huge question, and one that probably kept Gibbs up worrying Saturday night. Hamlin and Kyle, along with Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon, are clearly the class of the Sprint Cup circuit, and they'll have other moments this year when they'll be going at each other for a chance at the checkered flag. If Kyle can keep his well-documented temper under control and keep his eye on the larger prize, this incident could be the tiniest anecdote on the way to a championship. If not, Hamlin might find this wreck will end up costing him a lot more than he'd ever expected. (Oh, as for the winner? That was none other than Kyle's brother Kurt, who in 2007 famously spun out Kyle. That incident wasn't smoothed over between the brothers until Thanksgiving. Gibbs had better hope this particular spat doesn't take that long to heal.) The big winner in all this? NASCAR. Between this new feud and the simmering Johnson-Gordon feud earlier this season, we've got the most fascinating -- from a storyline perspective -- season in years. And the fact that it's all taking place among the best drivers in the sport, well ... we're on the way to making every Sunday a must-watch race again.
Friday, May 21, 2010
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Honor Your Family
Perhaps they are not stars in the sky, but rather openings where our loved ones shine down to let us know they are happy.
-Eskimo saying
-Eskimo saying
Would-Be Murderer Or Doting Husband?
Chef accused in murder plot seen as doting husband: LOS ANGELES— The former "Calorie Commando" TV chef accused of trying to hire homeless men to kill his attorney wife was completely in love with her and devoted to her, his co-author on a new cookbook said Thursday. "It's all so crazy. It just doesn't add up," said Amy Reiley, who wrote the aphrodisiac cookbook "The Love Diet" with former Food Network personality Juan-Carlos Cruz. "He was very positive about her." Cruz was arrested last week by Santa Monica police after homeless men told an officer that a man had approached them to hire them to kill his wife, Jennifer L. Campbell, 47, a trusts and taxation lawyer. The 48-year-old chef has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and solicitation of murder, and is being held on $2 million bail. Reiley told The Associated Press she has known Cruz for six years and worked on the book with him intensely for nine months. She said Cruz and Campbell were high school sweethearts who have been together for 33 years. Cruz was born in the Dominican Republic and came to the United States when he was 3, she said. The couple, who lived in a modest condominium on Los Angeles' west side, have no children. "They came to terms with that a long time ago," Reiley said. "They jokingly referred to their dogs as their kids." The author said she never detected any disharmony in the marriage. When she and Cruz worked on recipes, the couple was in constant contact with phone calls and text messages, she said. When Campbell was sick with the flu once, Cruz set his alarm to go off every two hours to make sure he called her to remind her to take her medicine. "It was really sweet," Reiley said. Reiley said Cruz's career was also moving. She and Cruz were already talking to a production company to do a TV show based on "The Love Diet," which is due to be published next month. "He was very much looking forward," Reiley said. A former pastry chef at Los Angeles' posh Hotel Bel-Air, Cruz's inadvertent weight gain led to a new career after he shed the pounds on the Discovery Health Network's "Body Challenge 3." That led to a show on the Food Network called "Calorie Commando," which focused on remaking favorite recipes in low-calorie versions. The show lasted 39 episodes and ended in 2006. Cruz then published "The Calorie Countdown Cookbook." Campbell's attorney, Blair Berk, has declined comment. Food Network said it has no current relationship with Cruz.
Missing Girl Found Dead
Police: Body found is 12-year-old Colorado girl: GREELEY, Colo.— Police confirmed Thursday that a body found in an irrigation ditch in northern Colorado is that of a missing 12-year-old girl who was last seen walking to a friend's house for a birthday party. Greeley Police Chief Jerry Garner said the body recovered Wednesday is that of Kayleah Wilson, of Greeley, and that the coroner's office ruled the death was a homicide. He said police know the "manner and cause" of death, but he declined to provided details. No one has been arrested. The decomposed body had been in the irrigation ditch "for some time" in an area that had been searched twice, Garner said. Greeley is about 60 miles northeast of Denver. The ditch is about a half-mile from the sixth-grader's home. A worker checking the ditch after heavy rain found the body in about 3 feet of water, Sgt. Joe Tymkowych said. Wilson's March 28 disappearance spawned repeated searches by police, Greeley residents and the FBI. Authorities said they pursued more than 300 leads and knocked on the doors of about 1,000 homes. No one has been ruled out as a suspect, but investigators have nothing that points to family members, Garner said. Tymkowych said police are looking at a range of individuals who had the time and opportunity to kill Kayleah and don't have good alibis. "The investigation has really turned a corner with the discovery of this body," Tymkowych said. Authorities received additional tips on the case after the body was recovered, and police will vigorously press the investigation, he vowed. "We don't give up on cases like this," Garner said. Police met with Wilson's mother, April Wilson, before the public announcement, the chief said. "She's upset as you would expect," he said. Family friend Cindy Rogers said finding out about Kayleah "sure is devastating." "But now I'm glad that it's her because now the community can lay her to rest," Rogers said. "She can go home to where she belongs." Rogers called Kayleah "a very sweet, quiet young girl." "She loved to laugh. She had a really great personality. She's going to be missed," Rogers said. After the police news conference, a dozen or so people showed up at a makeshift memorial of flowers and teddy bears along the grassy banks of the irrigation ditch where Kayleah's body was found. About 150 people held a vigil in the same place Wednesday night. Authorities had stressed they didn't know if Kayleah Wilson had run away or was abducted and did not issue an Amber Alert, which notifies the public about a possible child abduction through text messages, phone calls, radio and television broadcasts and highway signs. Authorities said criteria for an alert include information that a child may be in danger or if a suspect has been identified. The criteria ensure that the public won't ignore alerts because they are not broadcast often. In April, as leads from the public dwindled, authorities increased the reward for information about Wilson to $20,000. Investigators also described behavior that might point to a possible abductor. They urged people to watch for someone who had missed work, had unexplained injuries or shown an unexpected or sudden interest in the case.
Superstar Linked To Drug Scandal
Redskins' Shanahan: 'Wait and see' on Moss, doctor: LEESBURG, Va.— Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan is taking a "wait and see" approach to reports that receiver Santana Moss is linked to a Canadian doctor charged with smuggling and supplying human growth hormone. Shanahan said Thursday that he will speak to Moss "at the right time" about the matter and not been contacted by the league. "Let's just wait and see before we throw him underneath the bus," Shanahan said after speaking at a local Chamber of Commerce luncheon. The Buffalo News reported that Moss has received treatment from Galea and is the unidentified Washington player mentioned in an affidavit released after Galea was charged on Tuesday. Galea's assistant said the doctor was planning to meet with the Washington player at a Washington-area hotel last September, according to the affidavit. "Just because he's been associated with a doctor doesn't mean this person's guilty," Shanahan said. Shanahan said he's talked to "a couple of people" whose names have been associated previously with Galea. "A lot of people whose names have been associated, there's no repercussions," the coach said. "So we're getting a little ahead of ourselves right now." Moss' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, did not return a message seeking comment. Moss has played five seasons with the Redskins and previous spent four years with the New York Jets. He revealed at minicamp earlier this month that he recently had arthroscopic knee surgery on his left knee to fix a problem that had been bothering him for three years. "Santana's been out for a while," Shanahan said. "He's been working extremely hard over at the facility. We understand the rules and the guide lines and they're very explicit, so hopefully we do things the right way." Moss would likely be suspended by the NFL if he is found to have taken human growth hormone or any other banned substance. "I treat it like a sprained ankle," Shanahan said. "If a player broke their ankle and they're gone for the year, they're gone for the year."
Queens Man Accused Of Burning Girlfriend's Baby Arraigned
A Queens man was arraigned Thursday on charges he intentionally poured scalding water on his girlfriend's 11-month-old daughter. Anthony Parra, 20, is charged with assault and endangering the welfare of a child. The little girl is said to be in critical condition and on a ventilator. Queens District Attorney Richard Brown says Para left the baby in a running shower Wednesday morning because she was crying, and then turned up the temperature twice. He also says Parra took hotter water from the kitchen sink and poured it on the baby. He also allegedly put cream and alcohol on the baby's burns before taking her to New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens. She is said to have suffered severe burns to more than 30 percent of her body. Parra was babysitting the little girl and her two-year-old sister while their mother was at work. According to his attorney, Parra observed his girlfriend running shower water over the baby to calm her down on previous occasions. He also says police pressured his client to admit he poured the hot water on the girl. "He made several statements and he indicated to my client that he made several statements and apparently the statement that they wrote down was what they wanted to hear, this is what he told me," said Parra's attorney, Paul Franchise. Meanwhile, Parra's neighbors in Jackson Heights say he kept to himself and were surprised when they heard the news. "This is the first time that anything like this has happened in this neighborhood, so I'm a little surprised," said one neighbor. "This little baby is defenseless and under the care, this person's baby, under his power, I mean, you just don't do that," said another. Parra's attorney says he will continue to fight for bail. His next court date is scheduled for June 7. If convicted, Parra faces up to 25 years in prison.
NFL Legends Rip Former Teams
Two NFL legends rip their former teams: Hall of Famers Thurman Thomas and Gale Sayers don't like what they see nowadays.
Grumpy Old Men: Sayers, Thomas don't think much of new Bears and Bills: The generation gap between ex- and current players is about as old as — well, the arrival of a second generation of athletes in any sport. While there's a great deal to learn from warriors past, one does run the risk of hearing, ad infinitum, about the good ol' days, when the "real" [insert sport here] players had to practice in sub-zero temperatures (even in summer!), played through amputations and death, had off-season jobs in Malaysian garment factories, and were paid only in chawin' tobacco. For the love of the game, y'see. These consarned kids today, with their billion-dollar bonuses and fancy haircuts, wouldn't know of such things. These days, you might hear such vitriol from the likes of Hall of Fame running backs Gale Sayers and Thurman Thomas. Sayers, the Chicago Bears legend whose old NFL Films highlight clips are among the best in league history, took a series of shots at the new version of his old team in an early May media blast. "Cutler hasn't done the job," Sayers said. "[Linebacker Brian] Urlacher, I don't know how good he's going to be coming back. He's 33 years old. They need a couple wide receivers, a couple defensive backs. They haven't done a good job. "If [head coach] Lovie [Smith] doesn't do it this year, I think he's gone. He had a good team the Super Bowl year. Nothing came together for him the last couple years." That doesn't sound any worse than what you'd see from any Monday Morning Quarterback on a Bears message board, but Urlacher holds Sayers to a higher standard — at least, he did to the Chicago Tribune this week: "Let me ask you a question: 'How many championships did Gale Sayers win?''' Urlacher told the Tribune. "How many playoff games did he win when he played? None. None. None. "Does it bother me? There are enough people throwing daggers at us right now, why does one of our ex-players have to jump in? There are enough experts talking (crap) about us, so why does a Bear, an all-time great, have to jump in? I just don't like that.'' Yeow. Sayers may have never made the playoffs, but it was hardly his fault — the man scored six touchdowns in a single game in his rookie season of 1965, and recovered from a gruesome knee injury to lead the NFL in rushing in 1969, back in the days when arthroscopic surgery was just a gleam in Dr. James Andrews' eye. Urlacher might want to dial it down a bit. And as one of our astute readers rememinded me, Urlacher isn't averse to bashing his own team when he isn't on the field. Then, there's the ongoing feud between current Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch(notes) and all-time former Bills running back Thurman Thomas. This one started in March, when Thomas said in a Buffalo News blog entry of Lynch that "If I was the GM (general manager), he'd be out of there." Lynch responded by taping this printed version of the blog entry in his locker and reportedly snubbing Thomas and his son when the all-timer visited the Bills' locker room. Though Lynch's off-field antics have been a source of embarrassment for the franchise, and the team has long been rumored to be desperate to trade him, I'd actually side with Lynch on this one. I have a great deal of respect for Thomas' accomplishments — far more than I do for Lynch's — but you don't make stuff like that public. If you do, you have to be prepared to accept that the subject of your public annoyance will probably blow you off.
Grumpy Old Men: Sayers, Thomas don't think much of new Bears and Bills: The generation gap between ex- and current players is about as old as — well, the arrival of a second generation of athletes in any sport. While there's a great deal to learn from warriors past, one does run the risk of hearing, ad infinitum, about the good ol' days, when the "real" [insert sport here] players had to practice in sub-zero temperatures (even in summer!), played through amputations and death, had off-season jobs in Malaysian garment factories, and were paid only in chawin' tobacco. For the love of the game, y'see. These consarned kids today, with their billion-dollar bonuses and fancy haircuts, wouldn't know of such things. These days, you might hear such vitriol from the likes of Hall of Fame running backs Gale Sayers and Thurman Thomas. Sayers, the Chicago Bears legend whose old NFL Films highlight clips are among the best in league history, took a series of shots at the new version of his old team in an early May media blast. "Cutler hasn't done the job," Sayers said. "[Linebacker Brian] Urlacher, I don't know how good he's going to be coming back. He's 33 years old. They need a couple wide receivers, a couple defensive backs. They haven't done a good job. "If [head coach] Lovie [Smith] doesn't do it this year, I think he's gone. He had a good team the Super Bowl year. Nothing came together for him the last couple years." That doesn't sound any worse than what you'd see from any Monday Morning Quarterback on a Bears message board, but Urlacher holds Sayers to a higher standard — at least, he did to the Chicago Tribune this week: "Let me ask you a question: 'How many championships did Gale Sayers win?''' Urlacher told the Tribune. "How many playoff games did he win when he played? None. None. None. "Does it bother me? There are enough people throwing daggers at us right now, why does one of our ex-players have to jump in? There are enough experts talking (crap) about us, so why does a Bear, an all-time great, have to jump in? I just don't like that.'' Yeow. Sayers may have never made the playoffs, but it was hardly his fault — the man scored six touchdowns in a single game in his rookie season of 1965, and recovered from a gruesome knee injury to lead the NFL in rushing in 1969, back in the days when arthroscopic surgery was just a gleam in Dr. James Andrews' eye. Urlacher might want to dial it down a bit. And as one of our astute readers rememinded me, Urlacher isn't averse to bashing his own team when he isn't on the field. Then, there's the ongoing feud between current Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch(notes) and all-time former Bills running back Thurman Thomas. This one started in March, when Thomas said in a Buffalo News blog entry of Lynch that "If I was the GM (general manager), he'd be out of there." Lynch responded by taping this printed version of the blog entry in his locker and reportedly snubbing Thomas and his son when the all-timer visited the Bills' locker room. Though Lynch's off-field antics have been a source of embarrassment for the franchise, and the team has long been rumored to be desperate to trade him, I'd actually side with Lynch on this one. I have a great deal of respect for Thomas' accomplishments — far more than I do for Lynch's — but you don't make stuff like that public. If you do, you have to be prepared to accept that the subject of your public annoyance will probably blow you off.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
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Do The Right Thing
Self-discipline is when your conscience tells you to do something and you don't talk back.
-W.K. Hope
-W.K. Hope
'Idol' Favorite Going Home?
DeWyze, Bowersox left to duel on 'Idol' finale: LOS ANGELES— Casey James was cut Wednesday from "American Idol," leaving Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze to duke it out in the finale of the popular Fox singing competition next week. James, the long-haired 27-year-old musician from Fort Worth, Texas, was revealed to have received the fewest viewer votes after his ho-hum performances Tuesday. "I can't believe it, man," gushed James. "I'm so thankful for the opportunity." James consistently gratified the judges throughout the contest with his bluesy stylings but never seemed to wow the panel, except the time when Kara DioGuardi asked the hunky Texan to remove his shirt during his audition. But his fate seemed sealed Tuesday when Simon Cowell compared his rendition of Eric Hutchinson's "OK, It's Alright With Me" to a salad. James' departure means either Bowersox, the earthy 24-year-old musician from Toledo, Ohio, or DeWyze, the bashful 24-year-old paint sales clerk from Mount Prospect, Ill., will be crowned "Idol" next Wednesday. DeWyze told host Ryan Seacrest that he's "never wanted to win more than I do right now," while Bowersox thanked the judges for their continued support. "Everything that you guys have said has been helpful," beamed Bowersox. The duo had long been considered to be the front-runners of the ninth season, never appearing as one of the show's bottom vote-getters. Bowersox solidified her finale spot Tuesday with Melissa Etheridge's "Come To My Window" and Paul McCartney's "Maybe I'm Amazed," while DeWyze delighted with Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Simple Man" and Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." "It's just totally different than I would ever thought it would have been," DeWyze said of the experience. The finale comes during a slump for the aging but popular Fox franchise. Seacrest revealed that more than 47 million votes were cast this week for Bowersox, DeWyze and James. At this point in the competition last year, the host announced more than 88 million votes were received for Danny Gokey, Adam Lambert and Kris Allen, who went on to win the eighth season.
Latest Politician In Sex Scandal
Cheating Politicians: 1. BILL CLINTON 1983-1992: In the 1992 presidential race, former television reporter Gennifer Flowers claimed they had a 12-year affair. Clinton initially denied the allegation, but later acknowledged a single sexual encounter with Flowers. Clinton also was accused of sexually harassing state worker Paula Jones. It was that investigation that ultimately revealed Clinton's relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
2. GARY HART 1987: Sen. Gary Hart of Colorado withdrew from the presidential race after this picture surfaces showing him with model Donna Rice. Hart had earlier dared the media to "follow me around" if they thought he was cheating on his wife.
3. BOB LIVINGSTON 1998: After pushing for President Clinton's impeachment, the speaker-elect acknowledged an extra-marital affair exposed by Hustler publisher Larry Flynt. The Republican resigned in 1999.
4. NEWT GINGRICH 1998: Another Republican who led the charge to impeach Bill Clinton, Gingrich admitted in 2007 that he had cheated on both his first and second wives. The second affair happened in the midst of the Lewinsky scandal and trial.
5. BILL CLINTON 1998: The President gave evasive and misleading testimony under oath and publicly denied having sexual relations with former intern Monica Lewinsky, only to be forced into a humiliating reversal. He was impeached by the House and then acquitted in a 1999 Senate trial.
6. RUDY GIULIANI 1999: The New York city mayor came under fire for the security detail costs of his trips to see Judith Nathan. In 2000, Giuliani announced a separation from his wife, Donna Hanover, without telling her in advance and moved out of Gracie Mansion to live with two gay friends. Giuliani got a divorce in 2002 and married Nathan in 2003.
7. GARY CONDIT 2001: After the disappearance of Chandra Levy, the Democratic congressman from California admitted having an affair with the government intern. Condit lost his re-election bid in 2002. Ingmar Guandique was indicted for Levy's murder in 2009.
8. PAUL PATTON 2002: A Democratic governor from Kentucky, Patton was seven years into an administration that focused on education and the economy when news broke of a sexual relationship with a western Kentucky woman who owned a nursing home. Patton, who made a tearful admission on national television, finished his term but has not sought another elected office.
9. BOB WISE 2003: The West Virginia governor, Democrat, acknowledged in 2003 that he "was not faithful" to his family and asked for forgiveness after a man accused the governor of having an affair with his estranged wife, a state employee. Wise, with a wife and two children, declined to run for a second term in 2004.
10. JAMES MCGREEVEY 2004: The Democtratic governor from New Jersey resigned after proclaiming himself "a gay American" and saying he'd had an extramarital affair with a man. In 2008, a former aide to McGreevey claimed he had a three-way affair with the governor and his wife, Dina Matos.
11. DAVID VITTER 2007: The Senator's phone number appeared in the call record of the so-called "D.C. Madam," Deborah Jeane Palfrey. A Senate ethics panel dismissed a complaint on the matter in May 2008, and Vitter remains a member of the U.S. Senate but faces a possible challenge in Louisiana from porn star Stormy Daniels in 2010.
12. LARRY CRAIG 2007: The Republican Senator from Idaho was arrested in an airport bathroom sex sting. He quietly pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and paid a fine. When the arrest became public, Craig insisted that he wasn't gay and that the officer had misconstrued his foot-tapping.
13. DAVID PATERSON 2008: One day after Paterson's inauguration as the Governor of New York, both he and his wife acknowledged having had extramarital affairs, one with a state employee.
14. ELIOT SPITZER 2008: Elected on an anti-corruption platform, Spitzer resigned after becoming embroiled in an investigation into a high-end prostitution ring. Referred to in court papers as "Client-9," Spitzer spent tens of thousands of dollars to arrange visits with prostitutes, law enforcement officials said. Prosecutors ultimately declined to file criminal charges.
15. KWAME KILPATRICK 2008: The Detroit mayor was sent to jail for perjury and obstruction of justice charges after text messages reveales an affair with his chief of staff, Christine Beatty, right.
16. JOHN EDWARDS 2008: Sen. John Edwards acknowledged publicly he'd had an affair and a child with Rielle Hunter, a rookie filmaker hired by his political action committee during the 2008 presidential campaign. His wife, Elizabeth Edwards, is terminally ill with cancer.
17 JOHN ENSIGN 2009: The Republican senator from Nevada had an affair with the wife of one of his top aides, to whom his parents paid $96,000 after departing his staff.
18. MARK SOUDER 2010: Souder, 58, an eight-term congressman and evangelical Christian resigned over an extramarital affair with a staffer with whom he made a video touting the benefits of abstinence education.
2. GARY HART 1987: Sen. Gary Hart of Colorado withdrew from the presidential race after this picture surfaces showing him with model Donna Rice. Hart had earlier dared the media to "follow me around" if they thought he was cheating on his wife.
3. BOB LIVINGSTON 1998: After pushing for President Clinton's impeachment, the speaker-elect acknowledged an extra-marital affair exposed by Hustler publisher Larry Flynt. The Republican resigned in 1999.
4. NEWT GINGRICH 1998: Another Republican who led the charge to impeach Bill Clinton, Gingrich admitted in 2007 that he had cheated on both his first and second wives. The second affair happened in the midst of the Lewinsky scandal and trial.
5. BILL CLINTON 1998: The President gave evasive and misleading testimony under oath and publicly denied having sexual relations with former intern Monica Lewinsky, only to be forced into a humiliating reversal. He was impeached by the House and then acquitted in a 1999 Senate trial.
6. RUDY GIULIANI 1999: The New York city mayor came under fire for the security detail costs of his trips to see Judith Nathan. In 2000, Giuliani announced a separation from his wife, Donna Hanover, without telling her in advance and moved out of Gracie Mansion to live with two gay friends. Giuliani got a divorce in 2002 and married Nathan in 2003.
7. GARY CONDIT 2001: After the disappearance of Chandra Levy, the Democratic congressman from California admitted having an affair with the government intern. Condit lost his re-election bid in 2002. Ingmar Guandique was indicted for Levy's murder in 2009.
8. PAUL PATTON 2002: A Democratic governor from Kentucky, Patton was seven years into an administration that focused on education and the economy when news broke of a sexual relationship with a western Kentucky woman who owned a nursing home. Patton, who made a tearful admission on national television, finished his term but has not sought another elected office.
9. BOB WISE 2003: The West Virginia governor, Democrat, acknowledged in 2003 that he "was not faithful" to his family and asked for forgiveness after a man accused the governor of having an affair with his estranged wife, a state employee. Wise, with a wife and two children, declined to run for a second term in 2004.
10. JAMES MCGREEVEY 2004: The Democtratic governor from New Jersey resigned after proclaiming himself "a gay American" and saying he'd had an extramarital affair with a man. In 2008, a former aide to McGreevey claimed he had a three-way affair with the governor and his wife, Dina Matos.
11. DAVID VITTER 2007: The Senator's phone number appeared in the call record of the so-called "D.C. Madam," Deborah Jeane Palfrey. A Senate ethics panel dismissed a complaint on the matter in May 2008, and Vitter remains a member of the U.S. Senate but faces a possible challenge in Louisiana from porn star Stormy Daniels in 2010.
12. LARRY CRAIG 2007: The Republican Senator from Idaho was arrested in an airport bathroom sex sting. He quietly pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and paid a fine. When the arrest became public, Craig insisted that he wasn't gay and that the officer had misconstrued his foot-tapping.
13. DAVID PATERSON 2008: One day after Paterson's inauguration as the Governor of New York, both he and his wife acknowledged having had extramarital affairs, one with a state employee.
14. ELIOT SPITZER 2008: Elected on an anti-corruption platform, Spitzer resigned after becoming embroiled in an investigation into a high-end prostitution ring. Referred to in court papers as "Client-9," Spitzer spent tens of thousands of dollars to arrange visits with prostitutes, law enforcement officials said. Prosecutors ultimately declined to file criminal charges.
15. KWAME KILPATRICK 2008: The Detroit mayor was sent to jail for perjury and obstruction of justice charges after text messages reveales an affair with his chief of staff, Christine Beatty, right.
16. JOHN EDWARDS 2008: Sen. John Edwards acknowledged publicly he'd had an affair and a child with Rielle Hunter, a rookie filmaker hired by his political action committee during the 2008 presidential campaign. His wife, Elizabeth Edwards, is terminally ill with cancer.
17 JOHN ENSIGN 2009: The Republican senator from Nevada had an affair with the wife of one of his top aides, to whom his parents paid $96,000 after departing his staff.
18. MARK SOUDER 2010: Souder, 58, an eight-term congressman and evangelical Christian resigned over an extramarital affair with a staffer with whom he made a video touting the benefits of abstinence education.
Security Tight At State Dinner
State dinner has it all: Beyonce, world-class chef: WASHINGTON -- For all the world-class food and entertainment, deft touches and elegance of the evening, the Obamas' second state dinner was as notable for what didn't happen as what did. As far as anyone could tell, no one crashed the party. And no other major disasters were apparent either. As the evening wore on, the smiles on the faces of White House staff seemed to get more relaxed. And even the president loosened up. "I know we just had a very formal dinner," Obama said as guests reassembled in a tent on the South Lawn for dessert and after-dinner entertainment. "But we heard that this was the place for the real party." And party they did, to the music of guitarists Rodrigo y Gabriela and then to the sounds of an artist whom Obama referred to as "somebody some of you may have heard of _ named Beyonce." And, yes, her husband Jay-Z was in the house too. Obama declared it his mission to get Mexican President Felipe Calderon and his wife, Margarita Zavala, out on the dance floor along with himself and first lady Michelle Obama. But reporters were ushered out before the after-party ever got to the dancing stage. The special eagerness to pull off a flawless evening Wednesday had its beginnings in the brouhaha that erupted after a couple of party-crashers penetrated the Obamas' first state dinner in November. The White House promised tighter security this time -- and it delivered. Among the hundreds who lined up to get in, at least one woman was turned away for lack of proper ID. Kathryne Mudge said her husband, Arturo Valenzuela, an assistant secretary of state, was supposed to bring the necessary identification. "My husband is the absent-minded professor," Mudge said. Their evening wasn't a complete loss though. The couple returned about an hour later, presumably with their IDs in order, and got in. The dinner guest list of 200 had an ample celebrity quotient, including Whoopi Goldberg, Eva Longoria Parker, George Lopez and Olympic speedskater Shani Davis. Goldberg said it felt like she was "coming home after a long drought." She'd been invited frequently during Bill Clinton's years. But not during the George W. Bush years. Lopez, a comedian, joked when asked about the security. "The guy with the glove was nice," he said. Longoria Parker talked policy, saying it was an important time to be holding such a dinner with Mexican leaders, given the hot temperatures over immigration right now. "You can't have these states doing their own punitive laws," she insisted, referring to Arizona's tough new immigration law. For all of the seasoned guests who've been to many a state dinner, there were plenty of first-timers for whom it was a pinch-me moment. Maria Vargas, from California, was one of the first to arrive, and came clutching her copy of "The Audacity of Hope." She was out to get it autographed from Obama. "Hopefully," she said. Agape Pappas, from Chicago, told reporters, "It's a dream," as she pinched her arm. The evening's fashion report was heavy on women in bright, vibrant colors and strapless or one-shouldered gowns. Mrs. Obama set the tone with a one-shoulder, shimmery, cobalt blue floor-length gown by Peter Soronen. Zavala wore a plum-colored, sleeveless gown with an Aztec-inspired blue border around the square neckline. Davis, the skater, was a little weak on his fashion status. His green tie, he said, was from Men's Wearhouse, and he guessed that was where his suit came from too. Then he checked the label and announced, "Ralph Lauren." The state dinner was a coming-out party of sorts for new White House social secretary Julianna Smoot, who sprinted off when reporters watching the guests arrive called out for her to stop and chat. Smoot's predecessor, Desiree Rogers, resigned earlier this year; she'd been criticized for her high-profile approach to the job. For their second state dinner, Mrs. Obama recruited Chicago chef Rick Bayless _ one of the couple's favorites _ to prepare the meal. The main course of Oregon wagyu beef came with a Oaxacan black mole sauce with more than 20 ingredients that takes days to come together.
Mother's Ashes Stolen During Bronx Smash And Grab
A Queens family is asking for the public's help finding the cremated remains of their mother. Police say the family of Eileen Dashiell had her body cremated after a memorial service on May 9. They say they placed her remains in a cardboard box and left them inside a green tote bag left in a rented minivan parked in front of a relative's house on Oak Terrace in Mott Haven. Dashiell's daughter woke up the next day to find the front passenger side window of the van broken and the bag with her mother's ashes gone. Several other items were also stolen.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
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Reality TV Crew Went With Cops
Attorney files 2 lawsuits in death of Detroit girl: DETROIT -- The family of a 7-year-old girl slain by a police bullet during a raid on their home filed state and federal lawsuits Tuesday against the department, claiming police knew there were children in the home but conducted the raid with guns drawn anyway. Geoffrey Fieger, the attorney for the family of Aiyana Jones, said Detroit police had no legitimate reason to throw a flash grenade into the home of Aiyana Jones early Sunday. He said police, who were looking for a murder suspect, had the home under surveillance for hours. "Certainly, they were aware children were living the home," Fieger said at a news conference at his offices in the Detroit suburb of Southfield. He said the other children were ages 3 months, 2 and 4 years. There were children's toys strewn about the family's front yard on Monday. The federal lawsuit claims police violated Aiyana Jones' constitutional rights and seeks an unspecified cash award of more than $75,000. A four-count lawsuit filed in state court seeks damages of more than $25,000. The amounts the family is seeking in both lawsuits are likely much higher. Police said officers threw a flash grenade through the first-floor window of the family's home early Sunday, and that an officer's gun discharged, killing the girl, during a confrontation inside the home with her grandmother. They later found the target of the raid, a 34-year-old man, in the apartment upstairs. Fieger said he viewed three or four minutes of video footage of the raid, and that it shows the officer fired into the home from the family's porch after lobbing a flash grenade through a window. He said police are trying to cover-up what happened. Fieger declined to say what footage he viewed, but a camera crew for the A&E reality series "The First 48" captured footage of the raid, network spokesman Dan Silberman said. The spokesman declined to comment about the case and denied a request by The Associated Press to view the footage. Aiyana's cousin, Mark Robinson, said he was walking the family's dogs when police grabbed him and threw him to the ground. "I told them, 'There are children in the house. There are children in the house,'" Robinson told reporters at the news conference Tuesday. Michigan State Police are investigating.
Controversy Over Miss USA
Arab-Americans delight in Miss USA victory: NEW YORK— Donald Trump's Miss USA pageant sure knows how to make headlines. Arab-Americans rejoiced Monday over the crowning of raven-haired beauty Rima Fakih, a 24-year-old Lebanese immigrant from Michigan, calling it a victory for diversity in the United States, especially at a time when Arabs suffer from negative stereotypes in this country _ and anti-immigrant sentiment is in the news. Meanwhile, some harsh critics wondered if Trump's Miss USA organization was trying to send a message, sniping that the victory amounted to "affirmative action," or implying the first runner-up, Miss Oklahoma USA, suffered unfairly because of an answer she gave supporting Arizona's new immigration law. All this comes, of course, a year after 2009 runner-up Carrie Prejean and her views on gay marriage dominated the headlines. Suddenly it seemed like the pageant had become a battleground, albeit in bikinis and flesh-baring gowns, for the hot-button political and social issues of the day. If all that weren't enough, photos emerged of Fakih pole-dancing in skimpy shorts and a tank top in a radio show contest in 2007. The show's producers said they'd been contacted by representatives of the Miss Universe contest requesting more photographs and information. But the show also noted _ correctly _ that the photos were no more provocative than anything on the Miss USA website. In any case, Arab-Americans were elated by the victory of Fakih, who was born into a powerful Shiite family in southern Lebanon and whose family said they celebrate both the Muslim and Christian faiths. "With all the stigma that goes around _ especially after 9/11 and how people portray Muslims and Arab-Americans _ it's just a great way to knock down all those barriers," said Dewnya Bakri-Bazzi, 22, a Muslim law student from Dearborn, Mich., who uptated her Facebook status to read, "woot woot who knows maybe I can be the next Miss America?" Abed Ayoub, the legal director for the Washington-based Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee, called the win significant. "It shows our country's diversity and the opportunity it offers all citizens." He decried the negative blog postings as "disgusting." "Rima had a great event," he said. "Her religion and race was not an issue during the competition, and I hope not during the judging either. She won on beauty, elegance and eloquence." Not that Fakih and her family hadn't been prepared for negative publicity. Even before the pageant, Ayoub said, when Fakih had won her state pageant, his group had helped prepare the family. "We told the family they should expect this," Ayoub said. "We told them that some people spew hatred. But she was strong. She held her ground." Pageant officials said their records were not detailed enough to show whether Fakih was the first Arab-American, Muslim or immigrant to win the Miss USA title. The pageant started in 1952 as a local bathing suit competition in Long Beach, Calif. A winner in the 1980s may have had a Lebanese parent, Ayoub said, but having a winner of Arab descent was exceedingly rare nonetheless. The group's regional director in Dearborn, Mich., Fakih's hometown, said the victory was especially sweet given the current political climate. "We did not choose to be in the hot seat," Imad Hamad said in a telephone interview. "But the tragedy of Sept. 11 put us in the hot seat and imposed a new reality. Also, we have the background of anti-immigrant sentiment, in Arizona, and efforts by some to pass a similar law in Michigan. So this victory is a reaffirmation that America is America, the land of the brave and the land of opportunity. Rima now she can be a role model for all our young people." Some noted that Fakih had stumbled when, in a question about birth control, she called it a "controlled substance." And she nearly stumbled, quite literally, on her gown because of its long train. But she stayed upright. As for Morgan Elizabeth Woolard of Oklahoma, she was asked a question _ by actor Oscar Nunez of NBC's "The Office" _ about Arizona's new immigration law. She said she supported the law, which requires police enforcing another law to verify a person's immigration status if there's "reasonable suspicion" that the person is in the country illegally. "I'm a huge believer in states' rights. I think that's what's so wonderful about America," Woolard said. "So I think it's perfectly fine for Arizona to create that law." Conservative bloggers like Michelle Malkin suggested the question was a trap. The pageant's judges, who included skater Johnny Weir and NBA star Carmelo Anthony, were unavailable for comment Monday, as was Trump, whose office said he was too busy to speak about the pageant. Fakih was born in Srifa, a village in southern Lebanon that was heavily bombed during the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war. She moved to the United States with her family in 1993 and attended a Catholic school in New York. Her family moved to Michigan in 2003. Her sister, Rana, who moved back to Lebanon a few months ago for a new job, said she had spent the night exchanging messages with her father, Hussein, and another sister, Ruba, who were attending the competition. "It was a beautiful surprise," she said from Srifa. "It was not easy for Rima to reach this title. We're very proud as Lebanese Americans and as Lebanese that Rima reached this point despite all the pressures and stereotyping about Arabs and Lebanese. She made it. She fought and reached her goal."
Major Surprise At Draft Lottery
NBA's Lottery Winners: 1. 2010: Wizards, ???: Washington got a much-needed burst of great news when it surprisingly won the NBA draft lottery. Will the Wizards begin rebuilding with Kentucky's John Wall? Only time will tell. But maybe the Wiz can learn some lessons from prior teams who won the lottery.
2. 1985: Knicks, Patrick Ewing: In one of sports' great conspiracy theories, some still think that the NBA rigged its first draft lottery to make sure that the big-market Knicks got the top prize in Ewing.
3. 1986: Cavaliers, Brad Daugherty: The big man from North Carolina was a five-time All-Star before back trouble ended his career early.
4. 1987: Spurs, David Robinson: The Spurs patiently waited two years for 'The Admiral's' Navy commitment to end. They were rewarded with a Hall of Fame career.
5. 1988: Clippers, Danny Manning: Manning was seen as a sure-fire NBA superstar, and he might have been if not for a knee injury in his rookie season. He still went on to be a two-time All-Star.
6. 1989: Kings, Pervis Ellison: The first real bust among lottery No. 1 picks, Ellison bounced around to four teams and only three times averaged over 10 points a game in a season.
7. 1990: Nets, Derrick Coleman: One of the more frustrating players in NBA history, DC was a star in his first five seasons before laziness and weight issues turned him into a role player. He recently filed for bankruptcy.
8. 1991: Hornets, Larry Johnson: A star with the Hornets, Johnson saw his fortunes turn when he was dealt to the Knicks in 1996. Chronic back trouble led to his retirement.
9. 1992: Magic, Shaquille O'Neal: Shaq made an instant and major impact when he joined the NBA. He immediately made the Magic a winner and has gone on to win four NBA titles.
10. 1993: Magic, Chris Webber (traded to Warriors): A frntcourt of Shaq and C-Webb? It could have been, but the Magic immediately traded Webber for Penny Hardaway and three first-round picks. Webber was a five-time All-Star but also constantly battled injuries.
11. 1994: Bucks, Glenn Robinson: 'Big Dog' averaged over 20 points per game in his career but was never really a superstar, in part because he generally played on mediocre teams.
12. 1995: Warriors, Joe Smith: One of the great busts in NBA history, Smith's career started out in a promising fashion, but a trade during his third season put him on the path to mediocrity. He has suited up for an amazing 10 teams and is surprisingly still an active player.
13. 1996: 76ers, Allen Iverson: AI made an immediate splash and rocketed to superstardom, even winning the 2001 MVP, but he has always been plagued by controversy and recent personal issues have cast a shadow on his future.
14. 1997: Spurs, Tim Duncan: Lucky for the Spurs they won this lottery, because nearly everyone taken after Duncan has been a huge bust. The big man from Wake Forest is a four-time champ and two-time MVP who will one day be in the Hall of Fame.
15. 1998: Clippers, Michael Olowokandi: The poster child for NBA flops. Olowokandi averaged only 8.3 points per game in his career and became the latest in a string of bad additions by the woeful Clippers.
16. 1999: Bulls, Elton Brand: The Bulls saw Brand as the face of the post-Michael Jordan era. He did his part, averaging over 20 points per game in his two years in Chicago, but the team mysteriously traded him away.
17. 2000: Nets, Kenyon Martin: Martin has been solid if unspectacular in the NBA, but he did help take the Nets to two straight NBA Finals early in his career.
18. 2001: Wizards, Kwame Brown: Perhaps the worst NBA draft pick ever and one of the first blunders made by Michael Jordan as Wizards president. Brown's lack of talent and immaturity have made him mainly a bench-warmer throughout his career.
19. 2002: Rockets, Yao Ming: Yao made history when he was the first foreign player to go No. 1 without ever playing college ball. A seven-time All-Star, chronic injuries have kep him from developing into a superstar.
20. 2003: Cavaliers, LeBron James: Other than a lack of NBA titles and the possibility he will leave as a free agent, this pick has worked out pretty well for the Cavs.
21. 2004: Magic, Dwight Howard: Howard has progressed from a raw, unknown high schooler to a major NBA star seeking his second straight trip to the Finals.
22. 2005: Bucks, Andrew Bogut: The first Australian to ever go No. 1, Bogut was finally living up to his selection this past season before it was ended early by an ugly hand and arm injury suffered after a dunk.
23. 2006: Raptors, Andrea Bargnani: The Italian 7-footer has taken time to adapt to the NBA, but he blossomed in 2009-10, averaging 17.2 points per game.
24. 2007: Trail Blazers, Greg Oden: Will his body ever give him a break? Oden missed his first season with an injured right knee and then had this past season cut short by an injury to his other knee.
25. 2008: Bulls, Derrick Rose: One of the NBA's brightest young stars, Rose already has led Chicago to two straight playoff berths. Will he soon become teammates with LeBron James?
26. 2009: Clippers, Blake Griffin: The lastest victim of the Clippers Curse. Griffin hurt his knee shortly before the start of the season and still has yet to play in the NBA.
2. 1985: Knicks, Patrick Ewing: In one of sports' great conspiracy theories, some still think that the NBA rigged its first draft lottery to make sure that the big-market Knicks got the top prize in Ewing.
3. 1986: Cavaliers, Brad Daugherty: The big man from North Carolina was a five-time All-Star before back trouble ended his career early.
4. 1987: Spurs, David Robinson: The Spurs patiently waited two years for 'The Admiral's' Navy commitment to end. They were rewarded with a Hall of Fame career.
5. 1988: Clippers, Danny Manning: Manning was seen as a sure-fire NBA superstar, and he might have been if not for a knee injury in his rookie season. He still went on to be a two-time All-Star.
6. 1989: Kings, Pervis Ellison: The first real bust among lottery No. 1 picks, Ellison bounced around to four teams and only three times averaged over 10 points a game in a season.
7. 1990: Nets, Derrick Coleman: One of the more frustrating players in NBA history, DC was a star in his first five seasons before laziness and weight issues turned him into a role player. He recently filed for bankruptcy.
8. 1991: Hornets, Larry Johnson: A star with the Hornets, Johnson saw his fortunes turn when he was dealt to the Knicks in 1996. Chronic back trouble led to his retirement.
9. 1992: Magic, Shaquille O'Neal: Shaq made an instant and major impact when he joined the NBA. He immediately made the Magic a winner and has gone on to win four NBA titles.
10. 1993: Magic, Chris Webber (traded to Warriors): A frntcourt of Shaq and C-Webb? It could have been, but the Magic immediately traded Webber for Penny Hardaway and three first-round picks. Webber was a five-time All-Star but also constantly battled injuries.
11. 1994: Bucks, Glenn Robinson: 'Big Dog' averaged over 20 points per game in his career but was never really a superstar, in part because he generally played on mediocre teams.
12. 1995: Warriors, Joe Smith: One of the great busts in NBA history, Smith's career started out in a promising fashion, but a trade during his third season put him on the path to mediocrity. He has suited up for an amazing 10 teams and is surprisingly still an active player.
13. 1996: 76ers, Allen Iverson: AI made an immediate splash and rocketed to superstardom, even winning the 2001 MVP, but he has always been plagued by controversy and recent personal issues have cast a shadow on his future.
14. 1997: Spurs, Tim Duncan: Lucky for the Spurs they won this lottery, because nearly everyone taken after Duncan has been a huge bust. The big man from Wake Forest is a four-time champ and two-time MVP who will one day be in the Hall of Fame.
15. 1998: Clippers, Michael Olowokandi: The poster child for NBA flops. Olowokandi averaged only 8.3 points per game in his career and became the latest in a string of bad additions by the woeful Clippers.
16. 1999: Bulls, Elton Brand: The Bulls saw Brand as the face of the post-Michael Jordan era. He did his part, averaging over 20 points per game in his two years in Chicago, but the team mysteriously traded him away.
17. 2000: Nets, Kenyon Martin: Martin has been solid if unspectacular in the NBA, but he did help take the Nets to two straight NBA Finals early in his career.
18. 2001: Wizards, Kwame Brown: Perhaps the worst NBA draft pick ever and one of the first blunders made by Michael Jordan as Wizards president. Brown's lack of talent and immaturity have made him mainly a bench-warmer throughout his career.
19. 2002: Rockets, Yao Ming: Yao made history when he was the first foreign player to go No. 1 without ever playing college ball. A seven-time All-Star, chronic injuries have kep him from developing into a superstar.
20. 2003: Cavaliers, LeBron James: Other than a lack of NBA titles and the possibility he will leave as a free agent, this pick has worked out pretty well for the Cavs.
21. 2004: Magic, Dwight Howard: Howard has progressed from a raw, unknown high schooler to a major NBA star seeking his second straight trip to the Finals.
22. 2005: Bucks, Andrew Bogut: The first Australian to ever go No. 1, Bogut was finally living up to his selection this past season before it was ended early by an ugly hand and arm injury suffered after a dunk.
23. 2006: Raptors, Andrea Bargnani: The Italian 7-footer has taken time to adapt to the NBA, but he blossomed in 2009-10, averaging 17.2 points per game.
24. 2007: Trail Blazers, Greg Oden: Will his body ever give him a break? Oden missed his first season with an injured right knee and then had this past season cut short by an injury to his other knee.
25. 2008: Bulls, Derrick Rose: One of the NBA's brightest young stars, Rose already has led Chicago to two straight playoff berths. Will he soon become teammates with LeBron James?
26. 2009: Clippers, Blake Griffin: The lastest victim of the Clippers Curse. Griffin hurt his knee shortly before the start of the season and still has yet to play in the NBA.
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