Sunday, August 15, 2010

Craigslist Killer Philip Markoff found dead by Nikky Raney

Philip Markoff, 24, was a former medical student at Boston University accused of being the "Craigslist Killer." He killed himself in his jail cell at Nashua Street Jail according to authorities.
Photo taken from Telegraph

Suffolk County Sheriff's office spokesman Steven Tompkins told The Boston Globe that Markoff was pronounced dead at 10:17 am on Sunday, August 15, 2010.

He was awaiting trial for the shooting of Julissa Brisman, 25, on April 14, 2009. Brisman was a masseuse from New York who traveled to Boston after advertising her services on Craigslist. Markoff is said to have shot her three times with a handgun and one of the bullets pierced her heart.

Markoff was also charged with attacking two other women that he met through Craigslist.

Markoff had been placed on suicide watch and place din a special cell with camera surveillance due to marks found on his neck that were thought to have been done by his shoelaces in an attempt to hang himself.
Image courtesy of CBS
All the evidence gathered so far indicates that Markoff took his own life, but there is still much investigation according to Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis and county District Attorney Daniel F. Conley.

"The family of Julissa Brisman is shocked and dismayed by the news of Phillip Markoff's suicide," according to a statement released by Djuna Perkins, the family's Boston-based lawyer.

In most cases suicides are not publicly discussed or written about - this situation proves to be very controversial and must be touched on delicately. Deepest sympathies go out to his family as well as the family of Brisman.

True Blood - True Fabulously by Suzannah B. Troy


Tonight was possibly the best True Blood since the first season or maybe the best one yet.

I have to qualify that with my name for all the blood and violence -- True Bloodiness -   it is truly the best soap opera on HBO.  I really am so grossed out I can't stand the blood but I can't turn the channel.

This season has the best actors...Alan Ball has infused this season with new talent including whom ever has transfused the story....

"Why would we seek equal rights?  We are not equal."   I won't give the comment context but for anyone who watched the episode tonight knows to what I am referring and yikes to the words that come after...

We are on the verge of learning what Suki really is!  I am excited to learn but some how I think the writers will make us wait.

I don't want to say too much about tonight in case you haven't seen it yet but it was great!!!!!!

Craigslist Killer Philip Markoff kills himself



Philip Markoff killed himself in prison today and his victim Julissa Brisman's family is reeling from the news.  Markoff's "self-murdered" on what would have been his one year anniversary to finance Megan McAllister if he had married her.

Markoff committed suicide and it was gruesome.  I read some where a prison guard thought his higher education in medicine and understanding of anatomy  gave him an edge over other prisoners but he sliced himself up --  I heard two different reports -- one he slit his wrists and the other there were wounds to his legs but the bottom line was his suffocated himself with a bag over his head and there was also a lot of blood.

As a woman that has a blog called "Misogynist NYC" I have a different take on this gruesome "self murder" than other reports you read.

I can't imagine how the family of his victims felt when they were given the news but today perhaps they felt some relief or justice that he actually murdered himself.

On my Misogynist blog I talk about the hostility and violence is directed at girls and women.

We are warned to be careful of strangers as children and getting together with men has it's risks but his fiance, Megan McAllister thought she knew him and she was clearly wrong so do you really know people?  How are murderous people able to hide their dark sides or are there red flags that people are missing.

By the way I read The New York Post every day and the reporting on corruption in NYC politics and State and City government is tops but the newspaper has to be the most misogynist paper in New York.
The header for the report on Markoff, "Masseuse murderer dead in jail".  If there is a way The New York Post can demean and degrade a woman dead or alive the paper will do it.

Julissa Brisman was a beautiful young woman and she did not deserve to die this way.  I have license in massaged therapy and I worked very hard to get it.  I have massage babies to people with AIDS and even given gentle massage therapy to people dying so.  In NYC we insist on the title "massage therapist".  Of course The New York Post want to sexualize and sleaze it up and maybe even subtle put the blame of her own death on her.

The New York Daily News reports Markoff robbed escorts believing they would not report him to the police but Brisman fought back so he killed her.  Even now this story seems unbelievable.  I am sure some screen writer is busily writing a script right now to pitch.  I would not want to watch a movie on this horror story but it is a cautionary tale.

If he had not been caught and kudos to the police and investigative work that got him behind bars than perhaps he would have continued his successful facade as finance and married McAllister only to murder her down the road.  He successfully hid his true nature from his fiance so although we are warned to be careful of strangers -- you have to be judicious of people you know -- or should I say people you think you know.


Next Food Network Star TV Show features Rachael Ray

Tonights' 9 pm ET presentation of the Next Food Network Star - yet another food-oriented reality TV show - features pop-cooking star and FMH Magazine 100 Sexiest Women Selection Rachael Ray.

In case you didn't know..



The logo of Food Network.Image via Wikipedia

And while some will tune in just to see the sex-symbol of food and cooking, others will watch just to see what the Next Food Network Star Season Six finale produces in a winner. The show, hosted by chef Bobby Flay and Food Network diva Giada De Laurentis, was produced the most watched show in Food Network history in 2008. But how's it doing in 2010?

Last Sunday, The Next Food Network Star was one of the top-10 most popular shows on cable, behind Wild Child at number one, and The Glades, and others. But it beat Mad Men, which drew 2.2 million viewers versus 3.549 million viewers for Next Food Network Star.

Will YouTube help?

Next Food Network Star, as of this writing, is the top trend on Google Trends and has a large video presence on the YouTube front page.

Will that and Rachel Ray make the difference and push it to number one? We shall see.
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Oakland Mayor's Race: League of Women Voters, Sierra Club said to discriminate

Terrance Candell's wife is really upset 
The Oakland Mayor's Race has thirteen candidates: Tim Brown, Terrance Candell, Arnold Fields, Sharika Gregory, Greg Harland, Marcie Hodge, Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan, Don Macleay, Niki Okuk, Don Macleay, Councilmember Jean Quan, Joe Tuman, and Larry Lionel Young Jr.

As of this writing, the next two announced forums will only have three of the 13 candidates able to present their case to be the next Mayor of Oakland. The Sierra Club and The Oakland League of Women Voters forums have some unique, clubby, and frankly discriminatory methods of excluding what it sees as "lesser" candidates running for Mayor of Oakland.

Reportedly, from conversations with a number of candidates, the League of Women Voters wants each candidate to have donations from over 400 donors, or 427. What that has to do with being a great mayoral election candidate, I have no idea.

In the case of The Sierra Club, they're reportedly taking the same approach.

All of this has Dyan Candell, the wife of Oakland Mayor's Race candidate Terrance Candell, in a rage. Mr. Candell sent the email below this morning, and to a number of people, including this blogger.

Here it is:

Discrimination in Oakland to Keep US Out!

I received a message on my cell phone from a relative stating that a man called her to inform her that Oakland citizens voted in Rank Choice Voting in 2006 and that she now has three choices for Mayor in the City of Oakland. He mentioned Don Perata, Jean Quan, and Rebecca Kaplan in that order. The caller who was probably paid by one of them did not mention anyone else and so she did not let on that she knew that there were more, one namely, Terence Candell. She told him that he did not have any right calling people with uninformed information, and that he should do more research before calling anyone else.

Many would state that this is “politics as usual” and let it go.

How long are people going to shrug off “politics as usual” or other unfair practices that affect them? Why did people fight and struggle so hard to get to this point, where all people would have equal rights, to just settle for “politics as usual” and springboard back to not having any rights and eventually no right to vote at all. What if we were back to having a 3/5 vote for African American men and no opportunity of voting for any women at all.

Will society go back to the idea that all women should be barefoot and pregnant with dinner ready by six pm and the house spotless? Will society believe that a woman should be seen and not heard? Will society ever stop discriminating?

I was appalled by the hypocrisy of the League of Women Voters, when they methodically created strict rules for their Oakland mayoral endorsement forum on Thursday, September 23, 2010, that only allow those who have held an elected position and of course have lots of money the opportunity to speak before their forum. Mind you, this is something new.

Another group, The Sierra Club, an environmental group, decided that they would adopt the very same policy to exclude certain Oakland mayoral candidates, as well. Go figure!

The league of Women Voters Social Policy from their website states that they will "Secure equal rights and equal opportunity for all. Promote social and economic justice and the health and safety of all Americans." They also state: "That every citizen should be protected in the right to vote; that every person should have access to free public education which provides equal opportunity for all; and that no person or group should suffer legal, economic, or administrative discrimination."

The Sierra Club strongly believes that in order "To save our planet, we must change the world -Priorities must change: People must learn to live in ways that preserve and protect our precious resources. Policies must change: Our institutions must abandon practices that recklessly endanger the environment.

Values must change: Progress must be measured by its long-term value to living systems and creatures rather than its short-term value to special interests or the economy. To achieve this vision, people across the nation and around the world must speak out with a powerful voice that cannot be ignored. Aggressive grassroots action on an unprecedented scale is essential to protect our environment and our species. There is no other choice. It will require leadership that is visionary, experienced, and strong.”

What if a candidate other than their selected few wins? Will they hold a special meeting with the new mayor to discover their vision or viewpoints on the environment at that time? How stupid!

How ironic that these two organizations/foundations are based on promoting human rights, education, change, and equal opportunity in one breath and are violating human rights and the right of humans to be fully informed and given opportunity in another. They refuse to hear ideas of other citizens outside of their bourgeois, elitist political arena, snubbing the ones they deem “not economically viable”. That would be discrimination, exclusive, and divisive, right? That violates everything those organizations have documented as their missions and claim to believe.

Why? Money

Has anything changed? No

What will happen to Oakland? The same thing - "The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer." Crime goes up.

What does that say about the “leadership” these organizations personally invited? They want people who endorse lies, deceit, exclusivity, discrimination and elitism. If Don Perata, an Italian man, whose ancestors were once considered immigrants, not white and called derogatory names similar to black people, allowed this, if Jean Quan, a woman, who brags about her family being immigrants, who were also treated unfairly, and if Rebecca Kaplan, female, who is openly gay and whose constituency faces ongoing discrimination, stood for anything, they would disassociate themselves from this process and not allow their fellow citizens of Oakland to be discriminated against by organizations such as the League of Women Voters qand the Sierra Club for their own political gain.

To Don Perata, Jean Quan and Rebecca Kaplan: STAND FOR SOMETHING! Stand for something and do not attend the League of Women Voters or The Sierra Club Forums, unless they allow every candidate free and equal participation.

If you do not, you do not stand for equality, human rights, the right of every citizen to run for office or the right of the public to be fully informed.

In this city, it is politics as usual when 2000 churches exist and people are scared to come to our city. It is politics as usual when we as labeled one of the most dangerous cities in the nation by our own media institutions. It is politics as usual when one group of people live on one side of the freeway and have their streets developed and another group of people who live on the other side and is completely ignored, other than to have vultures "land grab," gentrify and take their homes block by block. That’s what’s happening in Oakland. They want US out!

It is politics as usual to have untrained police officers on the loose with deadly weapons, deadly intentions and deadly results - murdering a mother’s child. It is politics as usual to idolize those who put money in your pockets, and your pastors’ pockets and allow the victimization of the poor to continue.

It is politics as usual to seriously look at someone as your leader, who recycles our tax dollars by way of consultant fees: "I pay you consultant fees; you give me the money back." Or people who held positions, and could have made a difference or noise about issues concerning the negative effects on the citizens of this city, and did not. They do not have real plans for the city.

Terence Candell is a man who will stand up and speak out for the citizens of Oakland, ALL citizens. If you want a person who is only interested in their own personal gain, you have three choices above.

If you want someone who will work for the citizens in the City of Oakland and not special interest groups, such as the elitist League of Women Voters and the elitist Sierra Club, then Vote for Terence Candell on all three lines for a definite change in Oakland, for ALL citizens.

Until then, this blatant discrimination must end. Please join us in fighting discrimination and divisiveness in our city.

They plan to continue with politics as usual!

Do you honestly like politics as usual?

Contact the League of Women Voters and the Sierra Club and tell them "Hell No!"

It's clear The League of Women Voters and The Sierra Club are taking the wrong approach, but I'm starting to think their impact will be minimal. The way to blunt what they're trying to do is to have a real forum that gives each candidate in the Oakland Mayor's Race a platform.

Stay tuned.

Tila Tequila, Juggalos and The Insane Clown Posse - what?

The attack on Reality TV Show Star Tila Tequila during her performance at The Gathering of The Juggalos annual festival and during the wee hours of Saturday morning, revealed a World previously unknown to mainstream America. What's a Juggalos, and what is the The Insane Clown Posse?

First, a video recap of how the attack on Tila Tequila, where bricks and excrement were thrown at her and she was allegedly harassed off stage, was planned:



Juggalos or Juggalo - what is it or who are they?

According to Wikipedia, a "Juggalo" is "a name given to fans of Insane Clown Posse or any other Psychopathic Records hip hop group. Juggalos have developed their own idioms, slang, and characteristics." In other words, it's part of a smart business strategy of naming fans of a music group, in this case, the Insane Clown Posse. The Insane Clown Posse is group of rappers who wear masks and who produced the Gathering of Juggalos.

The name started when Joseph Bruce of The Insane Clown Posse called a crowd of patrons Juggalos at a performance of their song "The Juggla." The term caught on, and the group started to use it to describe fans and other musicians they worked with from time to time. The message of the fans seems to be one of aggression.

The Gathering of The Juggalos started in 2000

The Gathering of The Juggalos, or "Juggalo Woodstock" was started in 2000 and is a four-day event that features "concerts, wrestling, games, contests, autograph sessions, and seminars with artists."

According to Wikipedia, Juggalos are a gang

You can't make up this explanation, so I'm going to just paste this as its written in Wikipedia and link to that. It's worth reading in light of what happened to Tila Tequila:


Authorities have classified Juggalos as a gang in Utah,[20] Arizona,[4] Monroe County, Pennsylvania[21][22] and Modesto, California.[23] Juggalos have denied any connection to gang activity.[4]
There have been numerous incidents of fans committing violent acts, though there is no independent evidence linking music with violence or crime.[24] Some students[which?] are prohibited from wearing Insane Clown Posse paraphernalia while at school.[25] In Waterbury, Connecticut, several high school students were sent home for wearing Psychopathic Records clothing.[26] The following week, they were given approval to continue wearing the clothing, stipulating that juggalos work to ease tensions with other students.[27]
As the public face of the Juggalo subculture, Psychopathic Records and Insane Clown Posse have repeatedly denounced violence within the fandom. Many of the crimes, including murders, have been labeled by Alex Abiss (former CEO of Psychopathic Records) as being just crazy individuals finding an excuse for their actions.[28]
However at the 2010 Gathering of the Juggalos Tila Tequila was attacked by a crowd of Juggalo's at once who she claims were trying to kill her. The singer was left with several small cuts and scrapes on her face and body.[29]


Whatever the case, it's clear The Gathering of The Juggalos has reached mainstream view in light of the attack on Tila. But what needs more explanation are the "murders" that have happened at The Gathering of The Juggalos. Why? And What has been done about this?

Stay tuned.

Mental health of Californians- Find out what factors put you at risk. By Dr. Christina Villarreal



Researchers from UCLA have determined that 4.9 million people in California believe they need help for a mental or emotional health problem. So why are so many of us suffering without getting the treatment we need? Part of the problem may be stigma. It’s hard for many Californians to acknowledge they need help — to their family, friends or their doctor. The goal and challenge for policymakers and mental health care providers is to both target appropriate services to those in need, and to reduce people's fear of seeking help.

“There’s a lot of need, but also a lot of obstacles connecting those in need to the services that can help them,” stated David Grant, Ph.D., lead author and director of the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS).“The recession has created even more stress for people,” he acknowledged. As a result, this study “is probably an underestimate of the true level of mental health need in California right now.

Researchers from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research also determined that approximately one in 25, or more than 1 million, reported symptoms associated with serious psychological distress (SPD), which includes the most serious kinds of diagnosable mental health disorders. Of those adults with either “perceived need” or SPD, only one in three reported visiting a mental health professional for treatment, a factor potentially attributable to fear of stigmatization, as well as lack of insurance coverage, the researchers said. The study draws on data from the 2005 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), which is administered by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.

What factors put you, or others you know at risk?


Women at risk
Women were nearly twice as likely as men (22.7 percent vs. 14.3 percent) to say they needed help for a mental or emotional health problem (“perceived need”), such as feeling sad, anxious or nervous.

Working-age adults at risk
The prevalence of perceived need was twice as high for adults under 65 as for those 65 and older (20.2 percent vs. 9.2 percent).

Income a significant factor

The poorest adults — those living below 100 percent of the federal poverty level — were much more likely to report symptoms associated with SPD than those with incomes that were even just slightly higher. The poorest were more than five times as likely to report SPD as those living at or above 300 percent of the federal poverty level.

Distress pervasive regardless of race or ethnicity
Although racial and ethnic disparities in mental health were found in the study, those differences diminished when adjusted for income. These findings suggest that mental health status is more closely related to socioeconomic status than ethnicity or place of birth.

Insurance coverage improves access to services
Adults with health insurance coverage were almost twice as likely to have received mental health services during the previous 12 months as adults without health insurance.

Stigma, cultural factors may impede access to services
Men, adults aged 65 or older, and Latino and Asian immigrant groups were far less likely to seek help with a mental health professional than other groups. The authors note that these findings suggest that stigma and cultural factors may pose a significant barrier to care.

So how do Californians compare to the rest of the country with regards to our mental health? California ranks at # 15th on overall occurrence of depression compared to other American states, according to the study "Ranking the States: An Analysis of Depression Across the States", which was researched and written by Mental Health America and Thomson Healthcare. It looks at data from 2002-2006 and was conducted from July to November 2007. The report compares depression levels and suicide rates in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and uses the information to highlight solutions to improve states' mental health status.

Composed by Dr. Christina Villarreal, Clinical Psychologist in Oakland, CA


Sources: UCLA, NMHA

San Francisco Events: Help Is On The Way 16 benefit show is today

The annual San Francisco entertainment must-see event of events is today at 7 PM at the San Francisco Herbst Theater at 401 Van Ness Avenue called Help Is On The Way 16 (get there at 6 PM). It is a presentation of REAF, the Richmond Ermet Aids Foundation of San Francisco (REAF.org), which has produced the show for 16 years and all to raise money for AIDS research.

Readers of this space know I've been a proponent of REAF's work and of this very cool annual event. Here'a video about this evening's show:



As stated before, Leanne Borghesi, Carol Channing, Davis Gaines, La Toya London, Carole Cook, James Darren, Paula West, Bruce Vilanch, Kimberley Locke, and Melissa Manchester headline the performers at this great San Francisco event as of this writing.

Got no plans? Or if you've got them, change them. Check out the show; you will not be disappointed.

Mike Bloomberg NYU "Inside Lobby Work" dirty deals by Suzannah B. Troy




Read the article which exposes two part times commissioner for mayor Bloomberg for being full time and lobbyists.    Joseph Goldstien writes:  

"Landmarks Preservation Commissioner Margery Perlmutter is on New York University's payroll to lobby for the school's large-scale expansion -- which first needs a green light from Perlmutter's commission, according to lobbying records."
and

"Perlmutter and two of her colleagues at the Bryan Cave lobby firm have been paid more than $42,000 by NYU to lobby the Landmarks Commission and seven other agencies for approval to build in the heart of Greenwich Village. Among its plans is a 385-foot skyscraper."


The conflict of interest committees is the biggest joke in town and by the way king Mike appoints the people who refuse to do their job. 


I have had words with Mike Bloomberg twice in my life and both at city hall.  The 2nd time was caught on YouTube, "Mayor Mike Bloomberg gives Suzannah B. Troy the thumbs up as she yells "Oust the king!" City Hall".  The first time I did not know how corrupt he was and so committed to NYU's expansion at the expense of the community  along with Amanda the peoples Burden, his socialite mega-millionaire city planner.  I asked mayor Bloomberg to come visit the E. Village, Lower East Side and Bowery and he said he did and last time he mentioned how much he supports NYU and he said the people nearly lynched him.  NYU rents a pink building on the Bowery next to the homeless shelter and has signs asking them to not loiter in front of their dorm.  Visit 120 East 12th Street and see the facade of St. Ann's from 1847 like an albatross reminding views NYU has ruthlessly torn down our historic buildings as NYU mega dormed the East Village to death.  Thank you to The New York Post for exposing so much corruption but when is there going to be a trial?  See my 2 new YouTubes Mike Boomberg trial? and Christine Quinn for mayor Mike's mini me.  If you want Mike Bloomberg for a 4th term vote for Christine Quinn.  She takes huge kick backs aka campaign donations from developers.

Christine Quinn is no Jane Jacobs who fought for the people.  Christine Quinn has sold her soul and the people of New York to developers like Mike Bloomberg but he did more buying than selling.


Note:  New Yorkers are calling me and stopping me in the street asking me what is happening with the NY City Council Slush found scandals?  I bring all this up because reading this article in The New York Post and also being asked questions about slushy city council members as well as city council members stealing tax payer money the question is are any high ranking city officials going to jail any time soon?


Thanks to True New from Change for sending me this article from The New York Post.

Tila Tequila attack at Gathering of Juggalos was planned






Tila Tequila said that she was attacked at a concert called the Gathering of Juggalos late Friday night and into the wee hours of Saturday morning.

While Tila Tequila has engaged in what turned out to be false claims that she was the victim of domestic abuse or harm from another one of her so-called multiple personalities, this time she's telling the truth.

Moreover, the attack that Tila Tequila suffered at the Gathering of Juggalos concert - an annual festival of indy music and alternative or "underground" life that's best described as a rough version of Burning Man - was planned.

According to tweets by Nathan Rabin from AVClub.com and a blog called Juggalo Holocaust, there were informal yet openly communicated plans to harm or harass Tila Tequila in some way.

Tila Tequila was to perform at Gathering of Juggalos

In some comments and blogs, people asked why Tila Tequila was even at the 11th annual Gathering of Juggalos concert in Cave-In-Rock, Illinois? The event, called "The official Psychopathic Records and ICP annual fan gathering event," had Tila Tequila as one of its name concert acts according to the website poster and "Sugar Slam" who mentioned this in the promotional video for the event.

On Nathan Rabin's Twitter account @nathanrabin, he issued the following tweet that apparently was before Tila Tequila went on stage as part of what was called "Ladies Night:"



Contemplating ditching Green for Tila Tequila. Word is she'll be met with critical brickbats. And actual bricks perhap.
about 16 hours ago via txt


In other words, there was at least a chance that someone planned to harm her using a brick.

Nathan Rabin continued on Twitter with a series of tweets that give a good idea of what happened:

Tila Tequila took off her top in a desperate bid to win back the crowd. It did not work.
about 16 hours ago via txt

After a half naked, clearly lip-synching Tequila was so inundated with projectiles that she ran offstage they shut ladies night down.
about 16 hours ago via web from Harrisburg, IL

Then again, I left at 5 AM like a pussy so I don't entirely know whether Li'l Kim managed to perform before a sea of enraged Juggalos or not
about 16 hours ago via web from Harrisburg, IL

"A sea of enraged Juggalos," indicates something really went wrong. And according to the blog
Juggalo Holocaust Tila was warned that there were plans to harm her in some way via commentary from her own blog. Here's some of what was posted at the blog:

Rage "I'm waiting around for a blogger to post about the juggalos throwing pee-filled balloons at this bitch."

ITS ICP NOT IKP "you better watch your head..YOU WILL BE BOOED OFF STAGE JUST DO EVERYONE A FAVOR AND STAY HOME!"

jdubb "im throwing rotten hot dogs at you that are gonna be sitting in a warm cooler filled with hot water out in the sun untill that friday… they have also been in my fridge for over a year... i fucking hate you and i will teach you not to come back to the gathering."

And unless you have doubts that some of the people who go to the Gathering of Juggalos throw stuff, take a look at what happened to wrestler Tracey Smothers, who had a Confederate Flag jacket on and was stupid enough to wave a Confederate Flag after a wresting match:



It's one thing to say Tila Tequila should not have gone, but apparently she was a named act that was to be paid for her work. Some claim that Tila is making up the blood stains in the photo, but from the online accounts of what happened and the harm some threatened to do to Tila Tequila if she came to the Gathering of Juggalos, that's not the case.

Tila Tequila was attacked at the Gathering of Juggalos.