The Spectacle Of Matrimony

By Banzay on 20:31

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There have been reams of speculation about just how private Chelsea Clinton wants her marriage to Marc Mezvinsky to be this weekend in Rhinebeck, N.Y.

Private, semi-private, really not private at all — but feigning a desire for privacy. When you have to invite several hundred people to please the relatives or the company or Congress before you've invited even one friend from grade school, your wedding has about as much intimacy as Times Square on New Year's Eve.

Almost six years ago, getting married for the first time, I realized that I would have to invite 175 of my husband's beloved Irish-American relatives to our nuptials before I had even one friend or relative of my own on the guest list. These people were all dearly welcome, but we just couldn't afford a 300-person wedding and, to be honest, didn't want one. I just didn't want to look out at a sea of humanity on my wedding day.

Our solution was to go across the sea, then, to Ireland — where we both had friends and family — marry there, and invite everyone. About 100 die-hards made it to the ceremony. We celebrated all night long, with the bartender and the musicians slumped over glasses of Guinness come morning.

But that won't work for Chelsea and Marc. Irish bookies at Paddy Power are taking bets on everything from who will be the first to cry at the ceremony to the length of Bill Clinton's speech. Bill is also "tipped for tears" as the first to cry. It's all meant to be amusing, of course, but I find it depressing. For us, Ireland was a sanctuary. But we aren't celebrities.

Weddings are increasingly notable for their amazing lack of intimacy, their evolution into industry. Especially for celebrities, they've evolved into must-haves and appointment-list mega-spectacles. I'd be surprised if some part of Chelsea Clinton doesn't want to just kick over the traces, start again and elope on horseback with her bridegroom.

I’m sure she'll have — I hope they'll both have — a great day, a day that's more than a blur, but I know we'll all be expecting the pictures, if not a bite of the cake. Perhaps we should all have two weddings — one for the public, friends and family, and posterity. And the other — some ceremony under a tree, nobody there but a faun playing a flute. No pictures, just us, Orpheus and Eurydice.

The Spectacle Of Matrimony

By Banzay on 20:31

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Filed Under: ,


There have been reams of speculation about just how private Chelsea Clinton wants her marriage to Marc Mezvinsky to be this weekend in Rhinebeck, N.Y.

Private, semi-private, really not private at all — but feigning a desire for privacy. When you have to invite several hundred people to please the relatives or the company or Congress before you've invited even one friend from grade school, your wedding has about as much intimacy as Times Square on New Year's Eve.

Almost six years ago, getting married for the first time, I realized that I would have to invite 175 of my husband's beloved Irish-American relatives to our nuptials before I had even one friend or relative of my own on the guest list. These people were all dearly welcome, but we just couldn't afford a 300-person wedding and, to be honest, didn't want one. I just didn't want to look out at a sea of humanity on my wedding day.

Our solution was to go across the sea, then, to Ireland — where we both had friends and family — marry there, and invite everyone. About 100 die-hards made it to the ceremony. We celebrated all night long, with the bartender and the musicians slumped over glasses of Guinness come morning.

But that won't work for Chelsea and Marc. Irish bookies at Paddy Power are taking bets on everything from who will be the first to cry at the ceremony to the length of Bill Clinton's speech. Bill is also "tipped for tears" as the first to cry. It's all meant to be amusing, of course, but I find it depressing. For us, Ireland was a sanctuary. But we aren't celebrities.

Weddings are increasingly notable for their amazing lack of intimacy, their evolution into industry. Especially for celebrities, they've evolved into must-haves and appointment-list mega-spectacles. I'd be surprised if some part of Chelsea Clinton doesn't want to just kick over the traces, start again and elope on horseback with her bridegroom.

I’m sure she'll have — I hope they'll both have — a great day, a day that's more than a blur, but I know we'll all be expecting the pictures, if not a bite of the cake. Perhaps we should all have two weddings — one for the public, friends and family, and posterity. And the other — some ceremony under a tree, nobody there but a faun playing a flute. No pictures, just us, Orpheus and Eurydice.

Nationals trade Cristian Guzman to Rangers

By Banzay on 19:56

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Infielder Cristian Guzman, a member of the Nationals since baseball returned to Washington, has been traded to the Texas Rangers, according to a baseball source close to Guzman. Guzman was saddened by the move because he enjoyed Washington, but agreed to the trade. Guzman had to accept because he has 10-and-5 rights.

It is not yet known how much of the salary the Nationals will pick or what other players were involved in the trade. Guzman is in the final year of a two-year, $16 million contract that pays him $8 million this season. The Rangers are currently in bankruptcy, which could complicate matters.

Guzman changed from starting shortstop to utility infielder this spring when Ian Desmond won the starting job. Guzman dutifully accepted a lesser role and became a fixture at second base, surpassing Adam Kennedy with hot hitting early in the season. Guzman is hitting .282 with a .327 on-base percentage and a .361 slugging percentage with two home runs.

Guzman has played in 550 games for the Nationals, second only to Ryan Zimmerman.

Update, 5:55 p.m.: The Nationals will receive Class AA right-handed starters Ryan Tatusko (25) and Tanner Roark (23) from the Rangers in exchange for Cristian Guzman.

Nationals trade Cristian Guzman to Rangers

By Banzay on 19:56

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Infielder Cristian Guzman, a member of the Nationals since baseball returned to Washington, has been traded to the Texas Rangers, according to a baseball source close to Guzman. Guzman was saddened by the move because he enjoyed Washington, but agreed to the trade. Guzman had to accept because he has 10-and-5 rights.

It is not yet known how much of the salary the Nationals will pick or what other players were involved in the trade. Guzman is in the final year of a two-year, $16 million contract that pays him $8 million this season. The Rangers are currently in bankruptcy, which could complicate matters.

Guzman changed from starting shortstop to utility infielder this spring when Ian Desmond won the starting job. Guzman dutifully accepted a lesser role and became a fixture at second base, surpassing Adam Kennedy with hot hitting early in the season. Guzman is hitting .282 with a .327 on-base percentage and a .361 slugging percentage with two home runs.

Guzman has played in 550 games for the Nationals, second only to Ryan Zimmerman.

Update, 5:55 p.m.: The Nationals will receive Class AA right-handed starters Ryan Tatusko (25) and Tanner Roark (23) from the Rangers in exchange for Cristian Guzman.

Kara DioGuardi Reportedly Out At 'American Idol'

By Banzay on 06:15

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The revolving door on the "American Idol" judges' table may be starting to spin out of control. On the heels of Thursday's shocking news that Ellen DeGeneres would be leaving "Idol" after just one year on the panel, TMZ reported later in the day that two-season veteran Kara DioGuardi had been fired from the show.

While a spokesperson for "Idol" could not be reached for comment at press time, TMZ reported that after two seasons with a four-judge look, which some critics said bogged the show down and took precious time away from the contestants, "Idol" will return to a three-judge look for the upcoming 10th season, which will kick off in January. DioGuardi struggled to find a groove in her first year on "Idol" and faced criticism from fans and critics, but appeared to have settled into a comfort zone last season and stepped up with more coherent and helpful advice for the contestants.

Unlike DeGeneres and remaining judge Randy Jackson, DioGuardi reportedly had a year-to-year deal, so it's assumed that her option for a third year was not picked up. The DioGuardi news came amid further unconfirmed reports that one-time "Idol" mentor Jennifer Lopez would be joining the show as a judge. TMZ also claimed that Lopez would take her seat alongside Jackson and another newcomer to the "Idol" table, Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler.

Reps for Lopez and Tyler could not be reached for comment. Fox is widely expected to announce the makeup of the new "Idol" judges' panel on Monday at the Television Critics Association event.

Lopez and Tyler are just the latest names to surface in connection with the vacancies on the "Idol" panel in the wake of the departure of original lead judge Simon Cowell at the end of season nine and DeGeneres' unexpected bail-out. Among the other musicians reportedly in the mix are Justin Timberlake and Elton John (whose reps both denied they were considering the move), Harry Connick Jr., Chris Isaak and, most unlikely, loquacious grunge godmother Courtney Love.

A spokesperson for "Idol" has offered no comment on all the casting rumors to date. The nearly wholesale panel shakeup could also be tied to the reported return of former executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, who is rumored to be looking to clean house after what he has described as a pair of lackluster seasons.

Do you think Lopez and Tyler would make good "Idol" judges? Leave your comments below.

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

Kara DioGuardi Reportedly Out At 'American Idol'

By Banzay on 06:15

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The revolving door on the "American Idol" judges' table may be starting to spin out of control. On the heels of Thursday's shocking news that Ellen DeGeneres would be leaving "Idol" after just one year on the panel, TMZ reported later in the day that two-season veteran Kara DioGuardi had been fired from the show.

While a spokesperson for "Idol" could not be reached for comment at press time, TMZ reported that after two seasons with a four-judge look, which some critics said bogged the show down and took precious time away from the contestants, "Idol" will return to a three-judge look for the upcoming 10th season, which will kick off in January. DioGuardi struggled to find a groove in her first year on "Idol" and faced criticism from fans and critics, but appeared to have settled into a comfort zone last season and stepped up with more coherent and helpful advice for the contestants.

Unlike DeGeneres and remaining judge Randy Jackson, DioGuardi reportedly had a year-to-year deal, so it's assumed that her option for a third year was not picked up. The DioGuardi news came amid further unconfirmed reports that one-time "Idol" mentor Jennifer Lopez would be joining the show as a judge. TMZ also claimed that Lopez would take her seat alongside Jackson and another newcomer to the "Idol" table, Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler.

Reps for Lopez and Tyler could not be reached for comment. Fox is widely expected to announce the makeup of the new "Idol" judges' panel on Monday at the Television Critics Association event.

Lopez and Tyler are just the latest names to surface in connection with the vacancies on the "Idol" panel in the wake of the departure of original lead judge Simon Cowell at the end of season nine and DeGeneres' unexpected bail-out. Among the other musicians reportedly in the mix are Justin Timberlake and Elton John (whose reps both denied they were considering the move), Harry Connick Jr., Chris Isaak and, most unlikely, loquacious grunge godmother Courtney Love.

A spokesperson for "Idol" has offered no comment on all the casting rumors to date. The nearly wholesale panel shakeup could also be tied to the reported return of former executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, who is rumored to be looking to clean house after what he has described as a pair of lackluster seasons.

Do you think Lopez and Tyler would make good "Idol" judges? Leave your comments below.

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

Bullets: Is Hulk Hogan Dead?

By Banzay on 19:22

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Is Hulk Hogan dead? That seems to be the big, buzzy question. The answer: No, of course not. If he were, it would be all over Eric Cohen's Pro Wrestling site, which remains to be the first stop you should make for all of your pro wrestling news/commentary/bios/etc. Some things that that are true though:

This weekend is the Hip-Hop 4 HIV concert. Bun B, Paul Wall, Z-Ro, Plies and more will be in concert. And tickets are free, so long as you get tested for HIV beforehand. More information here.
In light of the approaching school year, KPRC will be hosting an anti-bully boot camp at the Children's Museum August 12th through the 14th. More on that later.
Also, the Children's Museum is hosting photo contest on their Facebook page. The winner gets a free membership for their family.

Bullets: Is Hulk Hogan Dead?

By Banzay on 19:22

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Is Hulk Hogan dead? That seems to be the big, buzzy question. The answer: No, of course not. If he were, it would be all over Eric Cohen's Pro Wrestling site, which remains to be the first stop you should make for all of your pro wrestling news/commentary/bios/etc. Some things that that are true though:

This weekend is the Hip-Hop 4 HIV concert. Bun B, Paul Wall, Z-Ro, Plies and more will be in concert. And tickets are free, so long as you get tested for HIV beforehand. More information here.
In light of the approaching school year, KPRC will be hosting an anti-bully boot camp at the Children's Museum August 12th through the 14th. More on that later.
Also, the Children's Museum is hosting photo contest on their Facebook page. The winner gets a free membership for their family.

Janet Jackson,Newest Face of Blackglama Fur

By Banzay on 07:31

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Summer may be in full swing but it's never too early to start thinking about purchasing your next mink for the winter! Music icon and actress, Janet Jackson is the newest celebrity to be featured in the Blackglama fur label ads.
Jackson has joined an elite group of legendary Hollywood figures that have been photographed,wrapped in the famous brand of furs. Blackglama fur has become known for its naturally rich,dark brand of minks. The brand has also built its reputation on designing quality-elegant, luxurious mink products. Blackglama's product line extends to leather bags,fragrance, eyewear, and fur acessories.Blackglama has also become equally popular and well known for featuring iconic figures in its ads throughout the decades.
The list of stars to pose in the ads ,over the years include: Bette Davis, Audrey Hepburn, Ray Charles, Sophia Loren, Marlene Dietrich, Elizabeth Taylor, Diana Ross, Lauren Bacall, Lena Horne, Liza Minelli, Judy Garland, Faye Dunaway, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell and many more. With each famous face that's featured in each ad,the slogan reads:"What becomes a Legend most?"
Blackgama's CEO, Joe Morelli shared in a press release why the fur label chose Jackson for this year's "legend" ad campaign and what image she represents . Morelli says, "Janet is an icon in the world of music and entertainment, a true legend. She represents everything that this storied campaign embodies. Janet is to entertainment what Blackglama is to luxury."
However, not everyone was excited about Jackson's new fur ad. The animal rights organization, PETA expressed great distaste for Jackson's involvement with the Blackglama. PETA views the new ad as a betrayal by Jackson to the anti- fur beliefs PETA upholds. They further deemed her endorsement as "desperate".
Despite the criticism, Jackson expressed great honor in being chosen as one of the legendary faces to be featured in Blackglama's historically famous fur ads. The significance in posing for the ad goes beyond the fur for Jackson.
"What makes a legend, to me, is someone who has made a major mark on the world that lasts forever. Not just with their art, but for example, Elizabeth Taylor is a legendary actor, but [there is] also her humanitarian efforts, working with AIDS and AIDS research," she says. "That, to me, is what really makes someone a legend. I have too much to accomplish to consider myself a legend."
Blackglama's advertising agency, Laspata DeCaro was the creative force behind the fur campaign and Rocco Laspata was the photographer. Jackson flew to New York shoot the ad after performing on the American Idol finale. Janet Jackson's Blackgama fur ads hits national print outlets this September . Catch the ads in publications such as Vogue,Vanity Fair,The New York Times, Harper's Bazaar and more. Blackglama furs are sold at select stores. For more information on the Blackglama's famous brand of furs,visit http://www.blackglama.com/ .
To view behind the scenes of the photo shoot visit, Janet Jackson's official website. You can also view some of the other previous iconic faces to grace the Blackglama ads in the slideshow provided below. *Slideshow photo credit:Google image search*

Janet Jackson,Newest Face of Blackglama Fur

By Banzay on 07:31

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Summer may be in full swing but it's never too early to start thinking about purchasing your next mink for the winter! Music icon and actress, Janet Jackson is the newest celebrity to be featured in the Blackglama fur label ads.
Jackson has joined an elite group of legendary Hollywood figures that have been photographed,wrapped in the famous brand of furs. Blackglama fur has become known for its naturally rich,dark brand of minks. The brand has also built its reputation on designing quality-elegant, luxurious mink products. Blackglama's product line extends to leather bags,fragrance, eyewear, and fur acessories.Blackglama has also become equally popular and well known for featuring iconic figures in its ads throughout the decades.
The list of stars to pose in the ads ,over the years include: Bette Davis, Audrey Hepburn, Ray Charles, Sophia Loren, Marlene Dietrich, Elizabeth Taylor, Diana Ross, Lauren Bacall, Lena Horne, Liza Minelli, Judy Garland, Faye Dunaway, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell and many more. With each famous face that's featured in each ad,the slogan reads:"What becomes a Legend most?"
Blackgama's CEO, Joe Morelli shared in a press release why the fur label chose Jackson for this year's "legend" ad campaign and what image she represents . Morelli says, "Janet is an icon in the world of music and entertainment, a true legend. She represents everything that this storied campaign embodies. Janet is to entertainment what Blackglama is to luxury."
However, not everyone was excited about Jackson's new fur ad. The animal rights organization, PETA expressed great distaste for Jackson's involvement with the Blackglama. PETA views the new ad as a betrayal by Jackson to the anti- fur beliefs PETA upholds. They further deemed her endorsement as "desperate".
Despite the criticism, Jackson expressed great honor in being chosen as one of the legendary faces to be featured in Blackglama's historically famous fur ads. The significance in posing for the ad goes beyond the fur for Jackson.
"What makes a legend, to me, is someone who has made a major mark on the world that lasts forever. Not just with their art, but for example, Elizabeth Taylor is a legendary actor, but [there is] also her humanitarian efforts, working with AIDS and AIDS research," she says. "That, to me, is what really makes someone a legend. I have too much to accomplish to consider myself a legend."
Blackglama's advertising agency, Laspata DeCaro was the creative force behind the fur campaign and Rocco Laspata was the photographer. Jackson flew to New York shoot the ad after performing on the American Idol finale. Janet Jackson's Blackgama fur ads hits national print outlets this September . Catch the ads in publications such as Vogue,Vanity Fair,The New York Times, Harper's Bazaar and more. Blackglama furs are sold at select stores. For more information on the Blackglama's famous brand of furs,visit http://www.blackglama.com/ .
To view behind the scenes of the photo shoot visit, Janet Jackson's official website. You can also view some of the other previous iconic faces to grace the Blackglama ads in the slideshow provided below. *Slideshow photo credit:Google image search*

Bye Bye Jhonny Peralta

By Banzay on 19:53

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Today is a day that all Tribe fans have long been hoping for, but thought would never come. Jhonny Peralta is no longer a Cleveland Indian. Peralta was just traded to the Detroit Tigers.

Tribe fans are now feeling like a little kid waking up on Christmas, or a teenager on their last day of school. In Cleveland, the summer wind feels sweeter, and the water taste better. Umm scratch the water, this calls for a celebration, so crack open the beer or Champagne.

2010 was the last year on Peralta's contract with the Indians, and there was no way the team was going to pick up the seven million dollar club option for 2011.

There was very little trade market for Jhonny Peralta this summer. That is until Brandon Inge of the Tigers was hit by a pitch, and fractured his left hand on June 19th.

Inge, Magglio Ordonez, and Carlos Guillen are all on the DL, putting Detroit in a desperate situation. The injuries forced the Tigers to make the trade for Peralta, and send Left-handed starter Giovanni Soto to the Tribe.

The 28 year old Peralta is hitting only .246 with 7 homers, and 43 RBIs this season.
Soto is listed at 6'3", is 19 years old, and is 6-6 with a 2.61 ERA in 82 2/3 innings for the Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps in 2010. He will report to Class A Lake County for the Indian’s organization.

So why is Jhonny Peralta so disliked by Cleveland fans? I can not remember a Tribe player that has been so disliked or who has brought so much frustration as Peralta.

After all, he actually is a very nice person, has never been in any off-field trouble, and has been on the team a long time. But of course the answer to the question is his poor performance on the field.

In 2005, his first season as a full time player, Peralta had a breakout year. But since then, he has greatly underachieved, and has not been able to produce for the team.

Things looked promising after the 2005 season for Peralta. He finished that season with a .292 batting average, 35 Doubles, 24 Home Runs and 78 RBI’s. Very good numbers for an infielder in his first full season. Sadly, 2005 was the best season of his career.

Since that point, his strike outs have increased and his production has gotten worse or stayed flat. From 2006 to 2009 he averaged a .264 Batting Average, 33 doubles, 17 Home Runs and 78 RBI’s. Peralta had a miserable 2009 as he hit .254 with only 11 homers, and is having a similar run this season.

Throughout his career Peralta has been in the top 10 of batters to hit into double plays.

Another frustrating point about Peralta is that he has never been a clutch hitter. A lot of his offense comes with nobody on base, or when it doesn’t count.

Also he is a notoriously slow starter—he does not start hitting until June or July. And to say that he is a streaky hitter, would be the understatement of the year.

Peralta’s personality and style of play also makes him an easy target for criticism. It always looks like he is in slow motion and not hustling. This may just be an illusion, but it is a constant complaint from most fans.

Also, he is a very quite guy and does not get worked up or show emotion when he is struggling. This also irritates hard working Cleveland fans who are so desperate for a winner. Some of the criticism in these two areas may not be totally justified, but that is all part of being a professional athlete these days.

Any expectations for Peralta to produce have been gone for several years now. Personally, I do not like to highly criticize Tribe players or to give up on them, but I think Peralta brought that out of all Indians fans.

So enjoy this night everyone!

Bye Bye Jhonny Peralta

By Banzay on 19:53

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Today is a day that all Tribe fans have long been hoping for, but thought would never come. Jhonny Peralta is no longer a Cleveland Indian. Peralta was just traded to the Detroit Tigers.

Tribe fans are now feeling like a little kid waking up on Christmas, or a teenager on their last day of school. In Cleveland, the summer wind feels sweeter, and the water taste better. Umm scratch the water, this calls for a celebration, so crack open the beer or Champagne.

2010 was the last year on Peralta's contract with the Indians, and there was no way the team was going to pick up the seven million dollar club option for 2011.

There was very little trade market for Jhonny Peralta this summer. That is until Brandon Inge of the Tigers was hit by a pitch, and fractured his left hand on June 19th.

Inge, Magglio Ordonez, and Carlos Guillen are all on the DL, putting Detroit in a desperate situation. The injuries forced the Tigers to make the trade for Peralta, and send Left-handed starter Giovanni Soto to the Tribe.

The 28 year old Peralta is hitting only .246 with 7 homers, and 43 RBIs this season.
Soto is listed at 6'3", is 19 years old, and is 6-6 with a 2.61 ERA in 82 2/3 innings for the Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps in 2010. He will report to Class A Lake County for the Indian’s organization.

So why is Jhonny Peralta so disliked by Cleveland fans? I can not remember a Tribe player that has been so disliked or who has brought so much frustration as Peralta.

After all, he actually is a very nice person, has never been in any off-field trouble, and has been on the team a long time. But of course the answer to the question is his poor performance on the field.

In 2005, his first season as a full time player, Peralta had a breakout year. But since then, he has greatly underachieved, and has not been able to produce for the team.

Things looked promising after the 2005 season for Peralta. He finished that season with a .292 batting average, 35 Doubles, 24 Home Runs and 78 RBI’s. Very good numbers for an infielder in his first full season. Sadly, 2005 was the best season of his career.

Since that point, his strike outs have increased and his production has gotten worse or stayed flat. From 2006 to 2009 he averaged a .264 Batting Average, 33 doubles, 17 Home Runs and 78 RBI’s. Peralta had a miserable 2009 as he hit .254 with only 11 homers, and is having a similar run this season.

Throughout his career Peralta has been in the top 10 of batters to hit into double plays.

Another frustrating point about Peralta is that he has never been a clutch hitter. A lot of his offense comes with nobody on base, or when it doesn’t count.

Also he is a notoriously slow starter—he does not start hitting until June or July. And to say that he is a streaky hitter, would be the understatement of the year.

Peralta’s personality and style of play also makes him an easy target for criticism. It always looks like he is in slow motion and not hustling. This may just be an illusion, but it is a constant complaint from most fans.

Also, he is a very quite guy and does not get worked up or show emotion when he is struggling. This also irritates hard working Cleveland fans who are so desperate for a winner. Some of the criticism in these two areas may not be totally justified, but that is all part of being a professional athlete these days.

Any expectations for Peralta to produce have been gone for several years now. Personally, I do not like to highly criticize Tribe players or to give up on them, but I think Peralta brought that out of all Indians fans.

So enjoy this night everyone!

Russian Beautician Under House-Arrest On Spy Charges In US

By Banzay on 08:39

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Russian Beautician Under House-Arrest On Spy Charges In US

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The wounds never healed for Jack Tatum or Darryl Stingley

By Banzay on 19:23

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Jack Tatum died Tuesday at 61. That can't be said without adding this:
Darryl Stingley died three years ago at 55.

Tatum spent his last years with parts of both legs taken by diabetes. That can't be said without adding this:
Stingley spent his last three decades in a wheelchair.

Tatum's life was forever changed on Aug. 12, 1978. That can't be said without adding this:

Stingley's life was turned into a nightmare.

THE HUDDLE: Jack Tatum dies at 61
It has always been hard to mention one scarred man without adding the other.

Stingley will always be the New England receiver who ended up paralyzed in a wheelchair.

Tatum will always be the Oakland defensive back whose tackle put him there.

And here is one of the saddest things of all:

They never spoke after that terrible intersection of fates. They never reconciled.

There was never a postscript to ease any of the anguish. They were never able to look each other in the eye, and at least try to make some sense of one of the NFL's true tragedies.

They never will.

Even now, the replay is hard to watch, hinting of something ominous. You see Stingley in a white Patriots uniform cutting across the middle, reaching out for a pass, slightly off balance on his right leg. Tatum is there for the Raiders, taking aim at Stingley with one of those helmet-on-helmet tackles that earned him his feared nickname, The Assassin.

Even though it was only an exhibition game, Stingley was an opposing receiver, and in Tatum's world, that made him an enemy. Stingley never had a chance.

That lunge on his right leg was the final step of his life. There was nothing illegal about the tackle under the rules of 1978. No flag was thrown, no fine was assessed. It was the kind of hit that fans craved, and networks showed on the highlights.

Only. .. Stingley wasn't moving.

The NFL got a hard lesson that day on where the violence of its game — the violence that had won it such speedy favor on television — might lead.

New rules would come later banning such hits as the one Tatum made that day. The game would become safer. But it was too late to help Darryl Stingley

They were supposed to get together once, for a joint television interview in 1996. But Stingley found out Tatum would be pushing his new book, apparently didn't want to be part of a promotional effort, and pulled out.

Looking through various reported quotes from the two men and their camps through the years, there always seemed a chasm of misunderstanding, or mistrust, or hard feelings.

Stingley was said to be hurt that Tatum never came by after the incident.

Tatum was quoted as saying he tried, but was kept away by the Stingley family.

Stingley was reportedly upset he never heard an apology.

Tatum was quoted as saying he felt bad about what had happened, but had not done anything illegal to apologize for. The league and the fans and the media had honored him for being a hard tackler. Had everyone forgotten that?

You can find supporters of Stingley charging that Tatum never showed remorse, and indeed cherished being The Assassin to the final game of his career.

You can find supporters of Tatum saying he was deeply troubled by what had happened.

Stingley had three children and started an organization to help troubled youths in Chicago. He died of complications from his injury.

Tatum had three children and started an organization in Ohio to raise funds for diabetes research. He died of an apparent heart attack.

When news came in 2003 of Tatum losing part of his leg, Stingley told The Boston Globe: "Maybe the natural reaction is to think he got what was coming to him, but I don't accept human nature as our real nature. Human nature teaches us to hate, God teaches us to love."

When Stingley died, Tatum released a statement, "Darryl will be forever remembered for his strength and courage. My heart and prayers go out to his family."

Too bad they could never say such things to one another. They stayed distant men, but they are destined to be forever connected.

The wounds never healed for Jack Tatum or Darryl Stingley

By Banzay on 19:23

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Jack Tatum died Tuesday at 61. That can't be said without adding this:
Darryl Stingley died three years ago at 55.

Tatum spent his last years with parts of both legs taken by diabetes. That can't be said without adding this:
Stingley spent his last three decades in a wheelchair.

Tatum's life was forever changed on Aug. 12, 1978. That can't be said without adding this:

Stingley's life was turned into a nightmare.

THE HUDDLE: Jack Tatum dies at 61
It has always been hard to mention one scarred man without adding the other.

Stingley will always be the New England receiver who ended up paralyzed in a wheelchair.

Tatum will always be the Oakland defensive back whose tackle put him there.

And here is one of the saddest things of all:

They never spoke after that terrible intersection of fates. They never reconciled.

There was never a postscript to ease any of the anguish. They were never able to look each other in the eye, and at least try to make some sense of one of the NFL's true tragedies.

They never will.

Even now, the replay is hard to watch, hinting of something ominous. You see Stingley in a white Patriots uniform cutting across the middle, reaching out for a pass, slightly off balance on his right leg. Tatum is there for the Raiders, taking aim at Stingley with one of those helmet-on-helmet tackles that earned him his feared nickname, The Assassin.

Even though it was only an exhibition game, Stingley was an opposing receiver, and in Tatum's world, that made him an enemy. Stingley never had a chance.

That lunge on his right leg was the final step of his life. There was nothing illegal about the tackle under the rules of 1978. No flag was thrown, no fine was assessed. It was the kind of hit that fans craved, and networks showed on the highlights.

Only. .. Stingley wasn't moving.

The NFL got a hard lesson that day on where the violence of its game — the violence that had won it such speedy favor on television — might lead.

New rules would come later banning such hits as the one Tatum made that day. The game would become safer. But it was too late to help Darryl Stingley

They were supposed to get together once, for a joint television interview in 1996. But Stingley found out Tatum would be pushing his new book, apparently didn't want to be part of a promotional effort, and pulled out.

Looking through various reported quotes from the two men and their camps through the years, there always seemed a chasm of misunderstanding, or mistrust, or hard feelings.

Stingley was said to be hurt that Tatum never came by after the incident.

Tatum was quoted as saying he tried, but was kept away by the Stingley family.

Stingley was reportedly upset he never heard an apology.

Tatum was quoted as saying he felt bad about what had happened, but had not done anything illegal to apologize for. The league and the fans and the media had honored him for being a hard tackler. Had everyone forgotten that?

You can find supporters of Stingley charging that Tatum never showed remorse, and indeed cherished being The Assassin to the final game of his career.

You can find supporters of Tatum saying he was deeply troubled by what had happened.

Stingley had three children and started an organization to help troubled youths in Chicago. He died of complications from his injury.

Tatum had three children and started an organization in Ohio to raise funds for diabetes research. He died of an apparent heart attack.

When news came in 2003 of Tatum losing part of his leg, Stingley told The Boston Globe: "Maybe the natural reaction is to think he got what was coming to him, but I don't accept human nature as our real nature. Human nature teaches us to hate, God teaches us to love."

When Stingley died, Tatum released a statement, "Darryl will be forever remembered for his strength and courage. My heart and prayers go out to his family."

Too bad they could never say such things to one another. They stayed distant men, but they are destined to be forever connected.

Experts: Ansel Adams photos found at garage sale worth $200 million

By Banzay on 05:35

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Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- Rick Norsigian's hobby of picking through piles of unwanted items at garage sales in search of antiques has paid off for the Fresno, California, painter.
Two small boxes he bought 10 years ago for $45 -- negotiated down from $70 -- are now estimated to be worth at least $200 million, according to a Beverly Hills art appraiser.
Those boxes contained 65 glass negatives created by famed nature photographer Ansel Adams in the early period of his career. Experts believed the negatives were destroyed in a 1937 darkroom fire that destroyed 5,000 plates.
"It truly is a missing link of Ansel Adams and history and his career," said David W. Streets, the appraiser and art dealer who is hosting an unveiling of the photographs at his Beverly Hills, California, gallery Tuesday.
The photographs apparently were taken between 1919 and the early 1930s, well before Adams -- who is known as the father of American photography -- became nationally recognized in the 1940s, Streets said.
"This is going to show the world the evolution of his eye, of his talent, of his skill, his gift, but also his legacy," Streets said. "And it's a portion that we thought had been destroyed in the studio fire."
How these 6.5 x 8.5 inch glass plate negatives of famous Yosemite landscapes and San Francisco landmarks -- some of them with fire damage -- made their way from Adams collection 70 years ago to a Southern California garage sale in 2000 can only be guessed.
The person who sold them to Norsigian at the garage sale told him he bought them in the 1940s at a warehouse salvage in Los Angeles.
Photography expert Patrick Alt, who helped confirm the authenticity of the negatives, suspects Adams carried them to use in a photography class he was teaching in Pasadena, California, in the early 1940s.
"It is my belief that he brought these negatives with him for teaching purposes and to show students how to not let their negatives be engulfed in a fire," Alt said. "I think this clearly explains the range of work in these negatives, from very early pictorialist boat pictures, to images not as successful, to images of the highest level of his work during this time period."
Alt said it is impossible to know why Adams would store them in Pasadena and never reclaim them.
The plates were individually wrapped in newspaper inside deteriorating manila envelopes. Notations on each envelope appeared to have been made by Virginia Adams, the photographer's wife, according to handwriting experts Michael Nattenberg and Marcel Matley. They compared them to samples provided by the Adams' grandson.
While most of the negatives appear never to have been printed, several are nearly identical to well-known Adams prints, the experts said.
Meteorologist George Wright studied clouds and snow cover in a Norsigian negative to conclude that it was taken at about the same time as a known Adams photo of a Yosemite tree.
In addition to Yosemite -- the California wilderness that Adams helped conserve -- the negatives depict California's Carmel Mission, views of a rocky point in Carmel, San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf, a sailing yacht at sea and an image of sand dunes.
"The fact that these locations were well-known to Adams, and visited by him, further supports the proposition that all of the images in the collection were most probably created by Adams," said art expert Robert Moeller.
Moeller said that after six months of study, he concluded "with a high degree of probability, that the images under consideration were produced by Ansel Adams.
Silver tarnishing on the negatives also helped date the plates to around the 1920s, Alt said.
"I have sent people to prison for the rest of their lives for far less evidence than I have seen in this case," said evidence and burden of proof expert Manny Medrano, who was hired by Norsigian to help authenticate them. "In my view, those photographs were done by Ansel Adams."
Norsigian, who has spent the last decade trying to prove the worth of his discovery, is now ready to cash in -- by selling original prints of the photographs to museums and collectors.
"I have estimated that his $45 investment easily could be worth up to $200 million," Streets said.

Experts: Ansel Adams photos found at garage sale worth $200 million

By Banzay on 05:35

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Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- Rick Norsigian's hobby of picking through piles of unwanted items at garage sales in search of antiques has paid off for the Fresno, California, painter.
Two small boxes he bought 10 years ago for $45 -- negotiated down from $70 -- are now estimated to be worth at least $200 million, according to a Beverly Hills art appraiser.
Those boxes contained 65 glass negatives created by famed nature photographer Ansel Adams in the early period of his career. Experts believed the negatives were destroyed in a 1937 darkroom fire that destroyed 5,000 plates.
"It truly is a missing link of Ansel Adams and history and his career," said David W. Streets, the appraiser and art dealer who is hosting an unveiling of the photographs at his Beverly Hills, California, gallery Tuesday.
The photographs apparently were taken between 1919 and the early 1930s, well before Adams -- who is known as the father of American photography -- became nationally recognized in the 1940s, Streets said.
"This is going to show the world the evolution of his eye, of his talent, of his skill, his gift, but also his legacy," Streets said. "And it's a portion that we thought had been destroyed in the studio fire."
How these 6.5 x 8.5 inch glass plate negatives of famous Yosemite landscapes and San Francisco landmarks -- some of them with fire damage -- made their way from Adams collection 70 years ago to a Southern California garage sale in 2000 can only be guessed.
The person who sold them to Norsigian at the garage sale told him he bought them in the 1940s at a warehouse salvage in Los Angeles.
Photography expert Patrick Alt, who helped confirm the authenticity of the negatives, suspects Adams carried them to use in a photography class he was teaching in Pasadena, California, in the early 1940s.
"It is my belief that he brought these negatives with him for teaching purposes and to show students how to not let their negatives be engulfed in a fire," Alt said. "I think this clearly explains the range of work in these negatives, from very early pictorialist boat pictures, to images not as successful, to images of the highest level of his work during this time period."
Alt said it is impossible to know why Adams would store them in Pasadena and never reclaim them.
The plates were individually wrapped in newspaper inside deteriorating manila envelopes. Notations on each envelope appeared to have been made by Virginia Adams, the photographer's wife, according to handwriting experts Michael Nattenberg and Marcel Matley. They compared them to samples provided by the Adams' grandson.
While most of the negatives appear never to have been printed, several are nearly identical to well-known Adams prints, the experts said.
Meteorologist George Wright studied clouds and snow cover in a Norsigian negative to conclude that it was taken at about the same time as a known Adams photo of a Yosemite tree.
In addition to Yosemite -- the California wilderness that Adams helped conserve -- the negatives depict California's Carmel Mission, views of a rocky point in Carmel, San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf, a sailing yacht at sea and an image of sand dunes.
"The fact that these locations were well-known to Adams, and visited by him, further supports the proposition that all of the images in the collection were most probably created by Adams," said art expert Robert Moeller.
Moeller said that after six months of study, he concluded "with a high degree of probability, that the images under consideration were produced by Ansel Adams.
Silver tarnishing on the negatives also helped date the plates to around the 1920s, Alt said.
"I have sent people to prison for the rest of their lives for far less evidence than I have seen in this case," said evidence and burden of proof expert Manny Medrano, who was hired by Norsigian to help authenticate them. "In my view, those photographs were done by Ansel Adams."
Norsigian, who has spent the last decade trying to prove the worth of his discovery, is now ready to cash in -- by selling original prints of the photographs to museums and collectors.
"I have estimated that his $45 investment easily could be worth up to $200 million," Streets said.

Justin Bieber Molests Fan? Bogus Rumor, People

By Banzay on 05:51

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This morning, everyone seems to be searching for "Justin Bieber Molests Fan," thanks to a nasty combination of web rumormongering and the teen sensation innocently posting a photo showing him in handcuffs.

Bieber posted a photo from the set of CSI of himself in jail jumpsuit and handcuffs on Sunday, tweeting that he was a "bad man" and how he had "such a great day" during his first TV acting gig. Little did he know that his perp walk photo would go from TV to salacious web rumor in just minutes.

Before Bieber knew it, a Twitter rumor was born, and "Justin Bieber Molests Fan" was number one on Google Trends.

Web rumors are nothing new for Bieber. Just last month, a similar hoax was spreading around claiming the 16-year-old was converting to Scientology and was also a holocaust denier. That, much like today's rumor du jour, was totally unfounded and untrue.

Justin Bieber Molests Fan? Bogus Rumor, People

By Banzay on 05:51

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This morning, everyone seems to be searching for "Justin Bieber Molests Fan," thanks to a nasty combination of web rumormongering and the teen sensation innocently posting a photo showing him in handcuffs.

Bieber posted a photo from the set of CSI of himself in jail jumpsuit and handcuffs on Sunday, tweeting that he was a "bad man" and how he had "such a great day" during his first TV acting gig. Little did he know that his perp walk photo would go from TV to salacious web rumor in just minutes.

Before Bieber knew it, a Twitter rumor was born, and "Justin Bieber Molests Fan" was number one on Google Trends.

Web rumors are nothing new for Bieber. Just last month, a similar hoax was spreading around claiming the 16-year-old was converting to Scientology and was also a holocaust denier. That, much like today's rumor du jour, was totally unfounded and untrue.

Movie reviews: Michael Clayton (2007)

By Banzay on 19:58

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Michael Clayton is working for a top lawyer firm and he does their dirty work, he is called out late a night to help with a new case but when he leaves to come home his car blows up, fortunately he was not in the car at the time. We are then taken to 4 days previous to this.

At the company where Michael works they are trying to make settlement on a case which has been going on for a few years but one of the company partners has gone slightly mad and is taking the opposite side. Michael is called in to try and talk to Arthur and get his to see sense before he ruins the whole case and brings the company down. Michael has his work cut out trying to get through to Arthur and soon find incriminating evidence that Arthur is right n what he claims. The company and lawyer firm now have to take steps to keep Arthur and Michael quiet but at what cost?
The one thing which appealed to me about this film was George Clooney, I had no other motive for wanting to watch but I have to say I was very surprised by the film and thoroughly enjoyed it. The storyline was good and the way we went back in time was very easy to follow. I enjoyed how we saw the darker side of the law business and thought it was put across in a very believable way.

George Clooney took the lead role of Michael and he was excellent. I loved his character and found it very easy to get to know and understand him. He came across as a hard man but the addition of his son was good as it showed a softer side to the character as well. He suited the role and delivered his lines with a good air of authority and made me believe what he was saying. He worked well with young Austin Williams who played his son Henry and they had a good on screen bond. The role of Arthur was played by Tom Wilkinson and he too was great. I loved how we got a good strong English actor in the role and thought he played the part to perfection. He did come across as not being fully right mentally and he did not over play this so it was very believable.

We had a lot of good supporting actors in the film and some included, Michael O’Keefe, Sydney Pollack, Tilda Swinton and Denis O’Hare, they were all quite different characters and bought so depth and diversity to the film.

There was not much action in the film but it really did not need it. The story was strong enough and I think if any would have been added with the exception of the car explosion it would have made the storyline a bit far-fetched. It was set in America and was clearly shot on location as I was not able to notice any badly added back drops or bad effects. The effects all fitted well into the film and were well produced and made. The costumes did not require much effort as the majority of the cast were wearing suits, very smart ones though and this really did make the characters look stronger and hard nosed. The music was good and helped add to the tension and drama of the storyline, it was not one which was outstanding, but suitable for the film and the places in which the tracks were used.
The DVD which I have does have a few bonus features which include:-

Commentary by Director Tony Gilbert and Editor John Gilroy

Deleted Scenes with Optional commentary by Tony Gilbert and John Gilroy.

As neither me of hubby are fans of bonus features we have not taken the time to watch these.

The running time of the film is 114 minutes and I found this to be a good length with the storyline moving at a god steady pace from start to finish. The rate for the film is a 15 as there is lots of strong violence and a few sex references. I do agree with this rate. I paid just £3 for the DVD from my local shop, because they are selling off their DVD range and I thought this was a bargain price. I would suggest that you shop around to try and find a similar offer.

This film definitely gets a strong 4/5 stars from both hubby and I. The storyline was good and I enjoyed the ending. The acting was strong from all involved and George Clooney was super and very enjoyable to watch.

Movie reviews: Michael Clayton (2007)

By Banzay on 19:58

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Filed Under: ,

Michael Clayton is working for a top lawyer firm and he does their dirty work, he is called out late a night to help with a new case but when he leaves to come home his car blows up, fortunately he was not in the car at the time. We are then taken to 4 days previous to this.

At the company where Michael works they are trying to make settlement on a case which has been going on for a few years but one of the company partners has gone slightly mad and is taking the opposite side. Michael is called in to try and talk to Arthur and get his to see sense before he ruins the whole case and brings the company down. Michael has his work cut out trying to get through to Arthur and soon find incriminating evidence that Arthur is right n what he claims. The company and lawyer firm now have to take steps to keep Arthur and Michael quiet but at what cost?
The one thing which appealed to me about this film was George Clooney, I had no other motive for wanting to watch but I have to say I was very surprised by the film and thoroughly enjoyed it. The storyline was good and the way we went back in time was very easy to follow. I enjoyed how we saw the darker side of the law business and thought it was put across in a very believable way.

George Clooney took the lead role of Michael and he was excellent. I loved his character and found it very easy to get to know and understand him. He came across as a hard man but the addition of his son was good as it showed a softer side to the character as well. He suited the role and delivered his lines with a good air of authority and made me believe what he was saying. He worked well with young Austin Williams who played his son Henry and they had a good on screen bond. The role of Arthur was played by Tom Wilkinson and he too was great. I loved how we got a good strong English actor in the role and thought he played the part to perfection. He did come across as not being fully right mentally and he did not over play this so it was very believable.

We had a lot of good supporting actors in the film and some included, Michael O’Keefe, Sydney Pollack, Tilda Swinton and Denis O’Hare, they were all quite different characters and bought so depth and diversity to the film.

There was not much action in the film but it really did not need it. The story was strong enough and I think if any would have been added with the exception of the car explosion it would have made the storyline a bit far-fetched. It was set in America and was clearly shot on location as I was not able to notice any badly added back drops or bad effects. The effects all fitted well into the film and were well produced and made. The costumes did not require much effort as the majority of the cast were wearing suits, very smart ones though and this really did make the characters look stronger and hard nosed. The music was good and helped add to the tension and drama of the storyline, it was not one which was outstanding, but suitable for the film and the places in which the tracks were used.
The DVD which I have does have a few bonus features which include:-

Commentary by Director Tony Gilbert and Editor John Gilroy

Deleted Scenes with Optional commentary by Tony Gilbert and John Gilroy.

As neither me of hubby are fans of bonus features we have not taken the time to watch these.

The running time of the film is 114 minutes and I found this to be a good length with the storyline moving at a god steady pace from start to finish. The rate for the film is a 15 as there is lots of strong violence and a few sex references. I do agree with this rate. I paid just £3 for the DVD from my local shop, because they are selling off their DVD range and I thought this was a bargain price. I would suggest that you shop around to try and find a similar offer.

This film definitely gets a strong 4/5 stars from both hubby and I. The storyline was good and I enjoyed the ending. The acting was strong from all involved and George Clooney was super and very enjoyable to watch.

Paulina Porizkova

By Banzay on 06:14

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There is a sudden hype about Paulina Porizkova who was a very hit and successful model/actress in her time. That sounds like her time were the 60s but no, she was a very successful model in the 80s and became an actress early in her career. She carried both acting and modeling professions along for a while. In the 90s she did a few movies and in 2007 she appeared in the dance show “Dancing with the Stars”.

Though she started her career in early 80s she still looked amazing in 2007. The woman surely knows how to maintain herself and she still manages to make men drool.

The sudden hype is really mysterious because there isn’t any specific news about her and neither was there any public or media appearance of the model recently, people just pretty much started Googling her. The only thing that does come to mind about this sudden interest is that people are actually looking for her pictures, well they can’t really be blamed for that because she is nothing less than ravishing hot. She has the perfect body and the perfect height for modeling.

When she was at the peak of her modeling career she looked better than most models in the international fashion market. She stands 5 feet 10 and a half inches tall which is taller than most men and her natural physical features combined with the fitness she keeps up is a deadly combination.
Paulina Porizkova is actually Czech Swedish American.

Paulina Porizkova

By Banzay on 06:14

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There is a sudden hype about Paulina Porizkova who was a very hit and successful model/actress in her time. That sounds like her time were the 60s but no, she was a very successful model in the 80s and became an actress early in her career. She carried both acting and modeling professions along for a while. In the 90s she did a few movies and in 2007 she appeared in the dance show “Dancing with the Stars”.

Though she started her career in early 80s she still looked amazing in 2007. The woman surely knows how to maintain herself and she still manages to make men drool.

The sudden hype is really mysterious because there isn’t any specific news about her and neither was there any public or media appearance of the model recently, people just pretty much started Googling her. The only thing that does come to mind about this sudden interest is that people are actually looking for her pictures, well they can’t really be blamed for that because she is nothing less than ravishing hot. She has the perfect body and the perfect height for modeling.

When she was at the peak of her modeling career she looked better than most models in the international fashion market. She stands 5 feet 10 and a half inches tall which is taller than most men and her natural physical features combined with the fitness she keeps up is a deadly combination.
Paulina Porizkova is actually Czech Swedish American.

Daniel Schorr Covered World for 60 Years

By Banzay on 18:45

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One of the longest careers in broadcast journalism came to an end Friday. Veteran reporter and commentator Daniel Schorr died in Washington. He was 93.
Schorr had covered the world for more than 60 years, spending 24 of them at CBS News, "CBS Evening News" Anchor Katie Couric reports.

(Scroll down to watch Katie Couric's remembrance of Daniel Schorr)

Edward R. Murrow recruited Schorr to work for CBS in 1953. As a correspondent in Moscow, he persuaded Nikita Khrushchev to give CBS his first television interview. Later, Schorr became a member of the storied CBS News Washington Bureau.

"He had a great way of irritating government officials because he always came up with the truth," said CBS News Chief Washington Correspondent Bob Schieffer. "He came up with these stories. People couldn't figure out how he got it."

Schorr led CBS News coverage of the Watergate scandal. When he got a hold of President Nixon's infamous enemies list, he read it cold on live TV and was stunned to hear himself say, "Number 17, Schorr, Daniel … a real media enemy."

Born in the Bronx the son or Russian immigrants, Schorr was brilliant, brash and abrasive. He clashed not only with government officials but news management and left CBS in the uproar that followed his leaking of a congressional report about questionable activities by the CIA.

In 1979, Schorr joined the fledgling CNN and in the mid-'80s moved to NPR, where he worked until his death.

In his later years, he wrote, "Stormy as it was, I wouldn't trade my career for anyone else's."

Daniel Schorr Covered World for 60 Years

By Banzay on 18:45

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One of the longest careers in broadcast journalism came to an end Friday. Veteran reporter and commentator Daniel Schorr died in Washington. He was 93.
Schorr had covered the world for more than 60 years, spending 24 of them at CBS News, "CBS Evening News" Anchor Katie Couric reports.

(Scroll down to watch Katie Couric's remembrance of Daniel Schorr)

Edward R. Murrow recruited Schorr to work for CBS in 1953. As a correspondent in Moscow, he persuaded Nikita Khrushchev to give CBS his first television interview. Later, Schorr became a member of the storied CBS News Washington Bureau.

"He had a great way of irritating government officials because he always came up with the truth," said CBS News Chief Washington Correspondent Bob Schieffer. "He came up with these stories. People couldn't figure out how he got it."

Schorr led CBS News coverage of the Watergate scandal. When he got a hold of President Nixon's infamous enemies list, he read it cold on live TV and was stunned to hear himself say, "Number 17, Schorr, Daniel … a real media enemy."

Born in the Bronx the son or Russian immigrants, Schorr was brilliant, brash and abrasive. He clashed not only with government officials but news management and left CBS in the uproar that followed his leaking of a congressional report about questionable activities by the CIA.

In 1979, Schorr joined the fledgling CNN and in the mid-'80s moved to NPR, where he worked until his death.

In his later years, he wrote, "Stormy as it was, I wouldn't trade my career for anyone else's."

Alex King on CNN’s Larry King Live

By Banzay on 07:14

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On July 21, 2010, Alex King airs on CNN’s “Larry King Live” to discuss about his life after being freed from prison and said that he wants to help young people to stop violence.

Alex king and his brother Derek King were sentenced on Nov. 26, 2001 for slaying of their father Terry King. That time Derek was only 13 years old and Alex was 12. Alex brother confessed to using a baseball bat to crush his father’s skull and Alex helped him to make murder plan.

As per some news site Derek King said after killing his father “Alex suggested that I kill dad. I murdered my dad with an aluminum baseball bat. I set the house on fire from my dad’s bedroom.” And Alex King said “I felt a little sad about it, a little bit sad, a little bit, um. . . a little relieved that we don’t have to go through it, what he put us through again. . . the abuse.” The boys sentences were short because of their ages at the time of the murder.

After seven years, in 2008 Alex released after serving in prison and Derek released from prison in 2009.

Alex King on CNN’s Larry King Live

By Banzay on 07:14

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Filed Under: ,


On July 21, 2010, Alex King airs on CNN’s “Larry King Live” to discuss about his life after being freed from prison and said that he wants to help young people to stop violence.

Alex king and his brother Derek King were sentenced on Nov. 26, 2001 for slaying of their father Terry King. That time Derek was only 13 years old and Alex was 12. Alex brother confessed to using a baseball bat to crush his father’s skull and Alex helped him to make murder plan.

As per some news site Derek King said after killing his father “Alex suggested that I kill dad. I murdered my dad with an aluminum baseball bat. I set the house on fire from my dad’s bedroom.” And Alex King said “I felt a little sad about it, a little bit sad, a little bit, um. . . a little relieved that we don’t have to go through it, what he put us through again. . . the abuse.” The boys sentences were short because of their ages at the time of the murder.

After seven years, in 2008 Alex released after serving in prison and Derek released from prison in 2009.

Christina Applegate pregnant with Martyn Lenoble's child

By Banzay on 18:28

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Christina Applegate is pregnant. The 38 year old breast cancer survivor is expecting her first child with fiancé Martyn Lenoble.
Christina Applegate, former star of 'Married with Children' is soon to be just that. Married with a child. Martyn Lenoble proposed on Valentines Day after the couple had been dating for two years. While they haven't set a wedding date they will be expecting their first child early next year. It will be the second marriage for both parties.
Martyn Lenoble is a founding member of the 90's band Porno for Pyros. Lenoble helped Christina Applegate through one of the toughest times in her life when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008.
Applegate underwent double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. "I have a small but mighty support system and Martyn has really been an incredible part of my life," Applegate told Us Weekly magazine. "Without him, I don't know if I could've gone through any of it. He came around at a time when there was a lot of loss in my life on many levels, so he's been a really incredible help."
"Christina Applegate and Martyn Lenoble will be great parents," tweeted one Clevelander. What are your thoughts on Christina Applegate's pregnancy? Leave your comments below.

Christina Applegate pregnant with Martyn Lenoble's child

By Banzay on 18:28

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Christina Applegate is pregnant. The 38 year old breast cancer survivor is expecting her first child with fiancé Martyn Lenoble.
Christina Applegate, former star of 'Married with Children' is soon to be just that. Married with a child. Martyn Lenoble proposed on Valentines Day after the couple had been dating for two years. While they haven't set a wedding date they will be expecting their first child early next year. It will be the second marriage for both parties.
Martyn Lenoble is a founding member of the 90's band Porno for Pyros. Lenoble helped Christina Applegate through one of the toughest times in her life when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008.
Applegate underwent double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. "I have a small but mighty support system and Martyn has really been an incredible part of my life," Applegate told Us Weekly magazine. "Without him, I don't know if I could've gone through any of it. He came around at a time when there was a lot of loss in my life on many levels, so he's been a really incredible help."
"Christina Applegate and Martyn Lenoble will be great parents," tweeted one Clevelander. What are your thoughts on Christina Applegate's pregnancy? Leave your comments below.

Andrew Breitbart on 'Hannity': 'This Is Not About Shirley Sherrod'

By Banzay on 11:04

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This is a rush transcript from "Hannity," July 20, 2010. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

SEAN HANNITY, HOST: It was exactly one week ago when the NAACP passed a resolution condemning members of the Tea Party movement as racist. And now video has surfaced of a speaker making what appears to be racially charged remarks at an event hosted by the NAACP.

Now the woman in the video, Shirley Sherrod, abruptly resigned last night from the USDA. Now let's take a look at a longer portion of the speech. This video was just posted on the NAACP's website.
SHIRLEY SHERROD, FORMER USDA GA. STATE DIRECTOR: That the struggle is really about poor people.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. All right.

SHERROD: You know, the first time I was faced with helping a white farmer save his farm. He took a long time talking but he was trying to show me he was superior to me. I know what he was doing. But he had come to me for help.
What he didn't know, while he was taking all that time trying to show me he was superior to me, was I was trying to decide just how much help I was going to give him.

I was struggling with the fact that so many black people had lost their farmland and here I was faced with having to help a white person save their land. So I didn't give him the full force of what I could do.

I did enough so that when — so I took him to a white lawyer that we had — that had attended some of the trainings that we had provided because Chapter 12 bankruptcy had just been enacted for the family farmer.

So I figured if I take him to one of them that his own kind would take care of him. That's when it was revealed to me that the job is about poor, versus those who have. And not so much about white — it is about white and black, but it's not — you know, it opened my eyes. Because I took him to one of his own.
HANNITY: Now Sherrod claims she was taken out of context and had some harsh words for the Obama White House today saying her resignation was forced and came only after several harassing phone calls from an administration official.

But Tom Vilsack, secretary of Agriculture, is not backing down. He released another statement today saying, quote, "There is zero tolerance for discrimination at USDA and we strongly condemn any active discrimination against any person."

Now in addition we are getting word from a White House official that President Obama was briefed on the circumstances behind Sherrod's removal and that he fully supports Secretary Vilsack's decision.

As for the NAACP, now they initially released a statement in which they explicitly sided with the administration saying, quote, "According to her remarks, she mistreated a white farmer in need of assistance because of his race. We are appalled by her actions... her actions were shameful."

But now the NAACP is changing its tune and blaming all of this on — who else — Fox News. Now a statement released just a short time ago says, quote, "We have come to the conclusion we were snookered by Fox News and Tea Party activist Andrew Breitbart into believing she had harmed white farmers because of racial bias."

And they go on to say, quote, "This just shows the lengths to which extremist elements will go to discredit legitimate opposition."

However, it's important to note that the Fox News Channel did not make any mention of this story yesterday on the air until after Shirley Sherrod had already lost her job after Secretary Vilsack had already drawn his own conclusions — conclusions that the president apparently agreed with.

Joining me now with reaction is the founder of BigGovernment.com, Breitbart.com, and that was the website that first posted the video, the one and only, the infamous, Andrew Breitbart.

Welcome back.

ANDREW BREITBART, BIGGOVERNMENT.COM: Thank you, Sean.

HANNITY: All right. Serious stuff. Why don't we start at the beginning? How did you get in contact with this video and the posting? Why don't you just give us the behind-the-scene?

BREITBART: An individual in Georgia who is worried of — worried about being exposed and attacked like Joe the plumber reached out to me. And I believe — now I figured out where the e-mail was in early April of this year — to tell me about this video.

It was something that I thought was somewhat news worthy but really didn't pursue. But when I saw that the NAACP last week was going to reassert the falsehood —

HANNITY: Right.

BREITBART: The provable falsehood that the n-word was hurled by Tea Party people as part of a resolution to condemn the Tea Party.

HANNITY: Yes.

BREITBART: I thought this is outrageous because the Tea Party Federation sent a letter to the Congressional Black Caucus saying they wanted to investigate it. They do not want to talk about the exculpatory evidence that shows that the n-word did not happen.

And so I told Ben Jealous of the NAACP, you want to divide this country on race? You want to keep negatively branding the Tea Party, constantly asking, are they racist, are they racist, are they racist?

That is an act of sending a message — negative branding — to the American people and to black people that these are people to be feared.

HANNITY: All right —

BREITBART: It is a technique of propaganda.

HANNITY: Hang on. Hang on. I just want get some facts on the table and then — I want your opinion on everything else associated with it. All right, but — so you have this tape since April?

BREITBART: I didn't have the tape. I had recognition that it existed.

HANNITY: It existed. OK.

BREITBART: And the man told me about it. And he tried to send it to me and it came on a disc and it didn't show up. I said this is annoying. So when the NAACP thing happened, I found his phone number, I called him up, and he sent me to — two excerpts of the video.

HANNITY: OK. And the allegation now of the left is alright, hang on a second, even though she said — and she said she harbored these views in this tape. She described how she racially discriminated against the white farmer. That's not in dispute. That's on the video. She's not disputing that.

BREITBART: And she described the white man as the other — your kind. She describes your kind.

HANNITY: She decides that he'll get help from one of his own kind and she referred him to a white lawyer. But she also said on the tape that — admits that she didn't do everything she could for him because he's white.

Now what critics are saying is well that was edited. And what she's claiming is that that was edited, that she left out the part that she had learned from this at the end of the tape which we just heard.

BREITBART: The reason why Shirley Sherrod is the story right now, not the NAACP, is because the White House which stands by the firing or the forced resignation — harassment as she said — they made the story about Shirley. They threw her under the bus.

I have not asked that she get fired. I've not asked for an investigation into her. The whole point was to show that the — for the NAACP to spend five days on national TV saying that the Tea Party is racist without any evidence when we can prove that the central argument didn't happen and the mainstream media won't play it — for them to talk about racism they should not be throwing stones in glass houses.

And what this video shows and what the NAACP affirms in their initial rebuke is not just that Shirley Sherrod, what she said was wrong, but that the audience was laughing and applauding as she described how she maltreated the white farmer.

HANNITY: Before she gets to the end of the story which is — which she's claiming puts context. But there's a —

(CROSSTALK)

BREITBART: Did the people in the audience know that there was going to be a point of redemption?

HANNITY: No.

BREITBART: The point is that the NAACP at a dinner honoring this person is cheering on a person describing — describing a white person as the other. This is far worse than anything —

HANNITY: Let me ask you this.

BREITBART: — that has ever been alleged against the Tea Party and certainly not proved.

HANNITY: And the history of you and this Tea Party and this allegation of racism, you offered 100,000 out of pocket if there were any video or audio tapes that would prove the allegations that racial epithets were hurled at African-American congressmen and women, correct?

BREITBART: Yes. But enough about me, Sean. I'm going to get to the heart of the issue right here. Mary Francis Berry was the former chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights appointed by President Carter and Clinton. This is not a conservative, OK.

This is what she said that has to do with what's going on right now and why this is not about Shirley and Andrew, this is about the NAACP and the Congressional Black Caucus and the Democratic Party: "Tainting the Tea Party movement with the charge of racism is proving to be an effective strategy for Democrats. There's no evidence that the Tea Party adherence are any more racist than other Republicans and indeed many other Americans. But getting them to spend their time purging the ranks and having candidates distance themselves should help Democrats in November, having one's opponent rebut charges of racism is far better than discussing —

HANNITY: All right. Let me ask you this last question.

BREITBART: — joblessness." This is about politics. And this is about tarring the American people and the Tea Party Movement with the false charge of racism.

HANNITY: Let me ask you a last question. How do you feel about the White House's firing of her in light of everything that we know and what we've learned? Do you think it was the right decision? And do you think, you know, what she — how do you feel in total about what she said on that tape?

Do you think it was racist? Did you want her fired?

BREITBART: I don't. I don't — I have to be honest with you. I'm agnostic on the issue because I'm invested in getting the NAACP and the Democratic Party and the Congressional Black Caucus to stop constantly calling the Tea Party racist. That's my job.

I could care less about Shirley Sherrod, to be honest with you. This is not about Shirley Sherrod.

HANNITY: All right. Breitbart, good to see you.

BREITBART: Thank you.

HANNITY: Breitbart.com. Appreciate it.

Andrew Breitbart on 'Hannity': 'This Is Not About Shirley Sherrod'

By Banzay on 11:04

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This is a rush transcript from "Hannity," July 20, 2010. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

SEAN HANNITY, HOST: It was exactly one week ago when the NAACP passed a resolution condemning members of the Tea Party movement as racist. And now video has surfaced of a speaker making what appears to be racially charged remarks at an event hosted by the NAACP.

Now the woman in the video, Shirley Sherrod, abruptly resigned last night from the USDA. Now let's take a look at a longer portion of the speech. This video was just posted on the NAACP's website.
SHIRLEY SHERROD, FORMER USDA GA. STATE DIRECTOR: That the struggle is really about poor people.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. All right.

SHERROD: You know, the first time I was faced with helping a white farmer save his farm. He took a long time talking but he was trying to show me he was superior to me. I know what he was doing. But he had come to me for help.
What he didn't know, while he was taking all that time trying to show me he was superior to me, was I was trying to decide just how much help I was going to give him.

I was struggling with the fact that so many black people had lost their farmland and here I was faced with having to help a white person save their land. So I didn't give him the full force of what I could do.

I did enough so that when — so I took him to a white lawyer that we had — that had attended some of the trainings that we had provided because Chapter 12 bankruptcy had just been enacted for the family farmer.

So I figured if I take him to one of them that his own kind would take care of him. That's when it was revealed to me that the job is about poor, versus those who have. And not so much about white — it is about white and black, but it's not — you know, it opened my eyes. Because I took him to one of his own.
HANNITY: Now Sherrod claims she was taken out of context and had some harsh words for the Obama White House today saying her resignation was forced and came only after several harassing phone calls from an administration official.

But Tom Vilsack, secretary of Agriculture, is not backing down. He released another statement today saying, quote, "There is zero tolerance for discrimination at USDA and we strongly condemn any active discrimination against any person."

Now in addition we are getting word from a White House official that President Obama was briefed on the circumstances behind Sherrod's removal and that he fully supports Secretary Vilsack's decision.

As for the NAACP, now they initially released a statement in which they explicitly sided with the administration saying, quote, "According to her remarks, she mistreated a white farmer in need of assistance because of his race. We are appalled by her actions... her actions were shameful."

But now the NAACP is changing its tune and blaming all of this on — who else — Fox News. Now a statement released just a short time ago says, quote, "We have come to the conclusion we were snookered by Fox News and Tea Party activist Andrew Breitbart into believing she had harmed white farmers because of racial bias."

And they go on to say, quote, "This just shows the lengths to which extremist elements will go to discredit legitimate opposition."

However, it's important to note that the Fox News Channel did not make any mention of this story yesterday on the air until after Shirley Sherrod had already lost her job after Secretary Vilsack had already drawn his own conclusions — conclusions that the president apparently agreed with.

Joining me now with reaction is the founder of BigGovernment.com, Breitbart.com, and that was the website that first posted the video, the one and only, the infamous, Andrew Breitbart.

Welcome back.

ANDREW BREITBART, BIGGOVERNMENT.COM: Thank you, Sean.

HANNITY: All right. Serious stuff. Why don't we start at the beginning? How did you get in contact with this video and the posting? Why don't you just give us the behind-the-scene?

BREITBART: An individual in Georgia who is worried of — worried about being exposed and attacked like Joe the plumber reached out to me. And I believe — now I figured out where the e-mail was in early April of this year — to tell me about this video.

It was something that I thought was somewhat news worthy but really didn't pursue. But when I saw that the NAACP last week was going to reassert the falsehood —

HANNITY: Right.

BREITBART: The provable falsehood that the n-word was hurled by Tea Party people as part of a resolution to condemn the Tea Party.

HANNITY: Yes.

BREITBART: I thought this is outrageous because the Tea Party Federation sent a letter to the Congressional Black Caucus saying they wanted to investigate it. They do not want to talk about the exculpatory evidence that shows that the n-word did not happen.

And so I told Ben Jealous of the NAACP, you want to divide this country on race? You want to keep negatively branding the Tea Party, constantly asking, are they racist, are they racist, are they racist?

That is an act of sending a message — negative branding — to the American people and to black people that these are people to be feared.

HANNITY: All right —

BREITBART: It is a technique of propaganda.

HANNITY: Hang on. Hang on. I just want get some facts on the table and then — I want your opinion on everything else associated with it. All right, but — so you have this tape since April?

BREITBART: I didn't have the tape. I had recognition that it existed.

HANNITY: It existed. OK.

BREITBART: And the man told me about it. And he tried to send it to me and it came on a disc and it didn't show up. I said this is annoying. So when the NAACP thing happened, I found his phone number, I called him up, and he sent me to — two excerpts of the video.

HANNITY: OK. And the allegation now of the left is alright, hang on a second, even though she said — and she said she harbored these views in this tape. She described how she racially discriminated against the white farmer. That's not in dispute. That's on the video. She's not disputing that.

BREITBART: And she described the white man as the other — your kind. She describes your kind.

HANNITY: She decides that he'll get help from one of his own kind and she referred him to a white lawyer. But she also said on the tape that — admits that she didn't do everything she could for him because he's white.

Now what critics are saying is well that was edited. And what she's claiming is that that was edited, that she left out the part that she had learned from this at the end of the tape which we just heard.

BREITBART: The reason why Shirley Sherrod is the story right now, not the NAACP, is because the White House which stands by the firing or the forced resignation — harassment as she said — they made the story about Shirley. They threw her under the bus.

I have not asked that she get fired. I've not asked for an investigation into her. The whole point was to show that the — for the NAACP to spend five days on national TV saying that the Tea Party is racist without any evidence when we can prove that the central argument didn't happen and the mainstream media won't play it — for them to talk about racism they should not be throwing stones in glass houses.

And what this video shows and what the NAACP affirms in their initial rebuke is not just that Shirley Sherrod, what she said was wrong, but that the audience was laughing and applauding as she described how she maltreated the white farmer.

HANNITY: Before she gets to the end of the story which is — which she's claiming puts context. But there's a —

(CROSSTALK)

BREITBART: Did the people in the audience know that there was going to be a point of redemption?

HANNITY: No.

BREITBART: The point is that the NAACP at a dinner honoring this person is cheering on a person describing — describing a white person as the other. This is far worse than anything —

HANNITY: Let me ask you this.

BREITBART: — that has ever been alleged against the Tea Party and certainly not proved.

HANNITY: And the history of you and this Tea Party and this allegation of racism, you offered 100,000 out of pocket if there were any video or audio tapes that would prove the allegations that racial epithets were hurled at African-American congressmen and women, correct?

BREITBART: Yes. But enough about me, Sean. I'm going to get to the heart of the issue right here. Mary Francis Berry was the former chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights appointed by President Carter and Clinton. This is not a conservative, OK.

This is what she said that has to do with what's going on right now and why this is not about Shirley and Andrew, this is about the NAACP and the Congressional Black Caucus and the Democratic Party: "Tainting the Tea Party movement with the charge of racism is proving to be an effective strategy for Democrats. There's no evidence that the Tea Party adherence are any more racist than other Republicans and indeed many other Americans. But getting them to spend their time purging the ranks and having candidates distance themselves should help Democrats in November, having one's opponent rebut charges of racism is far better than discussing —

HANNITY: All right. Let me ask you this last question.

BREITBART: — joblessness." This is about politics. And this is about tarring the American people and the Tea Party Movement with the false charge of racism.

HANNITY: Let me ask you a last question. How do you feel about the White House's firing of her in light of everything that we know and what we've learned? Do you think it was the right decision? And do you think, you know, what she — how do you feel in total about what she said on that tape?

Do you think it was racist? Did you want her fired?

BREITBART: I don't. I don't — I have to be honest with you. I'm agnostic on the issue because I'm invested in getting the NAACP and the Democratic Party and the Congressional Black Caucus to stop constantly calling the Tea Party racist. That's my job.

I could care less about Shirley Sherrod, to be honest with you. This is not about Shirley Sherrod.

HANNITY: All right. Breitbart, good to see you.

BREITBART: Thank you.

HANNITY: Breitbart.com. Appreciate it.