This article is by Emily Feimster for Netscape. I think the passing of the celebrities listed mark "signposts" for generational change. For example, I grew up with Bob Keeshan, who was known as Captain Kangeroo in the morning. Now, I can't think of a modern equivalent. Kids have such a wide range of choices on TV, and certainly more than was presented to me in the 60s. Plus, as a kid, shows like his help you form an understanding of the culture.
Then, there was Isabel Stanford of the Jeffersons. I think I saw every one of those shows. But they also gave the first American pop-culture real view of a modern, successful black couple.
Well, here's Emily's post, below.
With the end of 2004 in sight, we must bid farewell to some of our most beloved celebrities who passed on during the year. Though some deaths came too soon, many of these legendary entertainers were lucky enough to enjoy a long, full life.
The death of "Superman" actor, Christopher Reeve, 52, came as quite a shock to fans who had watched his progress since being paralyzed in an equestrian accident in 1995. The tireless advocate for spinal cord research went into cardiac arrest at his home after developing a serious systemic infection during treatment for a pressure wound. The computer-animated movie, "Yankee Irving," being made by Reeve at the time of his death, will be completed, producer Morris Berger has vowed, and released in 2006.
Movie star, governor, president - there wasn't much that Ronald Reagan did not do in his lifetime. The 93-year-old had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease for the last 10 years which caused him to live his post-presidency in quiet isolation. In June, he died of pneumonia, surrounded by his children and wife Nancy. Thousands lined the streets to pay tribute to "The Great Communicator" as his body was transported for a memorial service in Washington D.C.
One of the greatest actors of all time, Marlon Brando, 80, died in July from pulmonary fibrosis, a condition that involves scarring of the lungs. Over the course of his long career, including legendary performances in "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "The Godfather," the intensely private actor was just as famous for his off-screen antics involving his eccentric behavior and sometimes outlandish salary demands.
However, it was the 82-year-old comedian Rodney Dangerfield who didn't get the respect he deserved until he died of heart disease in October.
Hollywood was dealt the loss of another legendary actor, Janet Leigh, 77, whose infamous shower slaying in Hitchcock's film "Psycho," sealed her place in movie history. She died of vasculitis, an inflammation of the blood vessels. The one-time wife of Tony Curtis is survived by her actress daughters Kelly and Jamie Lee Curtis.
American music lost an icon in June with the passing of Ray Charles, who immortalized such songs as "Hit the Road Jack" and "Georgia on My Mind." His life continues on with the recent biopic, "Ray," in which actor Jamie Foxx delivers a performance that's expected to receive an Oscar nomination.
Another great music man, Ramones guitarist Johnny Ramone, died of prostate cancer at the age of 55.
We said goodbye to legendary women including Isabel Sanford, 86, who most notably moved into a deluxe apartment in the sky as Louise Jefferson on the TV series, "The Jeffersons," "King Kong's" Fay Wray who died in August at age 96, and chef Julia Child, who became an early star on PBS and popularized French cooking in America. She died of kidney failure in July at the age of 91.
This year didn't come without its share of mystery deaths as well. Rapper ODB, whose death in a Manhattan recording studio Nov. 13 - at age 35 -- sent shock waves through the hip-hop community, died accidentally of the combined effects of cocaine and a prescription painkiller, ruled the medical examiner. The Super Freaky Rick James, 56, who had dealt with drug addictions in the past, died of a heart attack in August. The actor best known as Murphy Brown's house painter, Robert Pastorelli, died at age 49 of drug-related causes in the same house of his girlfriend's mysterious shooting death five years prior. Spalding Gray's death was ruled a suicide by drowning. The 62-year-old actor/writer had disappeared on January 10, and likely died the same day, though his body wasn't found for nearly two months.
Fans of "The First Wives Club" were shocked when finding out that its author, Olivia Goldsmith, 54, had died of a heart attack during cosmetic surgery. Another writer, Arthur Hailey, best known for "Airport," died of a stroke at age 84 in November.
In 2004 we saw the loss of Tony Randall, 84, who became a first-time father when he was 77. The actor was best known as Felix on the TV series "The Odd Couple."
The 76-year-old Alan King, who had been a staple of the comedy scene since the 50s, died in May of lung cancer. He was the host of the legendary New York Friars Club's celebrity roasts.
Jack Paar, who is often credited with inventing the present-day late-night talk show when he took over as host of "The Tonight Show" in 1957 - died at age 85 in January. Critics often maintained that no talk-show host ever commanded the intelligence, sophistication and edge that Paar brought to an interview. He quit the show in 1962 and was succeeded by Johnny Carson.
Legendary composer Jerry Goldsmith, whose long career included some of the most famous themes of the last 50 years, died in his sleep at age 75 after a long battle with cancer. He had been nominated for 17 Academy Awards, winning his sole Oscar for "The Omen." Also, musician Jan Berry, 62, of "Jan & Dean" died in March of complications from a seizure.
In October, former ABC newsman Pierre Salinger, 79, died of a heart attack in France. He had also been press secretary to John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson and briefly served as a U.S. senator from California.
America lost a great soap star, Anna Lee, at the age of 90. She starred as Lila Quartermaine on "General Hospital" and "Port Charles." Earlier in her career, she had been paralyzed from the waist down in a car accident and acted in a wheelchair for more than two decades. She died of pneumonia in May - just a week before she was to have received a daytime Emmy award for "lifetime achievement."
We also said farewell to: Bob Keeshan, 76, (A.K.A Captain Kangaroo); "The Real World" co-creator Mary-Ellis Bunim, 57; "Sounder's" Paul Winfield, 62; "Diary of a Mad Housewife's" Carrie Snodgress, 57; MTV's first VJ, J. J. Jackson, 62; "Masterpiece Theatre's" Alistair Cooke, 95; '40's and '50's dancer/actress Ann Miller, 81; "Dallas" actor Howard Keel, 85; filmmaker Russ Meyer, 82; cosmetic queen Estee Lauder, 96; legendary character actor Sir Peter Ustinov, 82; Tony winner John Randolph, 88; "The Jackie Gleason Show" choreographer June Taylor, 86; "Hawaii Five-O" actor, Zulu, 66; singer/actor Carl Anderson, 58; "Walker, Texas Ranger's" Noble Willingham, 73; filmmaker Brian Gibson, 59.
And Mercedes McCambridge, the actress known for voicing the demon in "The Exorcist" and winning a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for "All the King's Men," died in March at age 85.
Sunday, January 02, 2005
2004 Top Ten Scandals From YAHOO!
Yahoo presents the top scandals of 2004, and you can see the list below, and if you click here > list. The Kobe Bryant Case is number ten and the Janet Jackson "boob" problem is number one. In my opinion, the Martha Stewart Case should be ranked a bit lower than number three.
What say you? (Oh, if you want to make a comment, just press the "comment" link below.)
The List
10) KOBE CASE CLOSED - Arrested and charged with rape in July of 2003 for allegedly forcing himself on a 19-year-old hotel clerk while in Colorado, L.A. Lakers star KOBE BRYANT's preliminary hearings became a media circus. If convicted of one count of sexual assault, he could have faced a maximum sentence of life in prison and a fine of up to $750,000. But the charges against Kobe were dropped in September when the accuser told the prosecution she would no longer participate in the case. Speculation as to why included the fact that her name had been released to the public and a ruling that her sexual behavior before and after the incident could be admissible in court. In response to the dismissal, Kobe issued a statement apologizing to the victim, yet maintained his innocence: "Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did. After months of reviewing discovery, listening to her attorney, and even her testimony in person, I now understand how she feels that she did not consent to this encounter." A civil suit against Bryant is still pending, and the young woman is expected to testify in that case.
9) NICKY HILTON'S VEGAS WEDDING - A party weekend in Vegas in August turned to marriage for PARIS' li'l sis, NICKY, now 21, when she married old flame TODD ANDREW MEISTER, 33, at a Vegas wedding chapel. The Hilton sisters were in town for a Stuff magazine party at the Palms Casino Resort where they were joined by Todd and Paris' "Simple Life" co-star, NICOLE RICHIE, for dinner late Saturday night. Dinner led to an after-party at the Palms' Little Buddha and, then, apparently to matrimony, as Paris and pal BIJOU PHILLIPS reportedly joined the couple at the impromptu, early morning ceremony just a few hours later. The ET Insider was in the limo, inside their hotel room and at Caesars Palace just hours before the wedding with Nicky, Paris, Bijou, TARA REID, KIMBERLY STEWART and "That 70's Show"'s DANNY MASTERSON. We caught up with the newlyweds after they flew back to L.A. on Sunday, and, although tired from the journey, they looked very much in love. "We are very, very happy," they commented. Later, KATHY and RICK HILTON told ET they were delighted with the marriage, announcing, "Todd exudes a great warmth and personality. He is a longtime friend of the family and is loved by all of us. He is a Harvard graduate and a successful businessman and Kathy and I welcome him to our family. Kathy would have loved to plan a formal wedding, yet Nicky opted for a small quiet ceremony." Alas, three months later, the couple reportedly had the marriage annulled and remain on good terms.
8) J.LO'S JUNE WEDDING - The runaway bride gave everyone the slip with a surprise wedding to old flame/freshly divorced Latin crooner MARC ANTHONY in June. About 40 guests watched as the couple exchanged vows under a flower-covered bridal arch in Jennifer's Beverly Hills backyard. In full wedding regalia, including a full-length, champagne VERA WANG gown and white umbrella, Jennifer walked down a rose-petal-strewn aisle, sparkling from head to toe with diamonds in her hair, diamond earrings, a necklace and bracelet, while Anthony sported diamond cufflinks. When contacted by ET, Lopez's spokesperson would neither confirm nor deny that the couple had indeed tied the knot. After the wedding, the happy pair skipped an immediate honeymoon as Jennifer was working on her latest film, 'Monster-in-Law,' and Anthony was busy promoting his new album. This was the third wedding for Ms. Lopez, who was famously engaged to BEN AFFLECK last year before abruptly calling off those planned nuptials. She and Marc first dated in 1999 and rumors that they were back together began again when the twosome were spotted dining together after the Golden Globe® Awards, just five days after her very public split from Ben -- and only weeks after Anthony's ex wife DAYANARA TORRES filed for divorce from their 3-1/2-year marriage.
7) JERI RYAN'S SEX SCANDAL - Embarrassing and lurid details from "Star Trek: Voyager" star JERI RYAN's split with Illinois Republican and U.S. Senate candidate JACK RYAN became public in June. In court papers originally filed in 1999, Jeri made allegations that she was pressured by her ex-husband to engage in intimate acts with him at "sex clubs" while others watched, including a New York nightspot described as a "bizarre club with cages, whips and other apparatus hanging from the ceiling." After the news broke, Jeri's ex-husband held a press conference promising to stay in the Senate race and addressed the allegations, saying, "I really try to live my life to the highest standards," he said. "But I know, like all of us, I fail sometimes." Still, the scandal took its toll, and Ryan dropped his bid for an Illinois U.S. senate seat, stating that instead of debating the issues, it was "a brutal, scorched-earth campaign." Jeri and Jack wed in 1991 and were married for eight years. Just before the papers went public, the "Voyager" actress made no mention of the five-year-old claims and said of her former husband, "Jack is a good man, a loving father, and he shares a strong bond with our son. I wish him all the best."
6) BILL O'REILLY SEX SCANDAL - The man usually associated with firing tough questions at others, FOX News Channel's BILL O'REILLY came under fire himself this fall. The 55-year-old host of "The O'Reilly Factor" was sued for sexual harassment by 33-year-old ANDREA MACKRIS, a producer for the show. Mackris claimed that O'Reilly repeatedly tried to engage her in inappropriate conversation, "forced" her to have phone sex and generally created a "virulently hostile work environment." The suit followed one filed against her by O'Reilly, who claimed she tried to extort $60 million from him by threatening to go public with the allegations. But before the case could truly catch fire, the opponents agreed to settle and drop their high-profile lawsuits against each other. A statement released by O'Reilly's attorney said, "The Parties regret that this matter has caused tremendous pain, and they have agreed to settle. All cases and claims have been withdrawn and all Parties have agreed that there was no wrongdoing whatsoever by Mr. O'Reilly, Ms. Mackris or Ms. Mackris' counsel, Benedict P. Morelli & Associates ... Out of respect for their families and privacy, all Parties and their representatives have agreed that all information relating to the cases shall remain confidential."
5) BRITNEY'S SURPRISE WEDDING - On the weekend of September 18, ET broke the news that BRITNEY SPEARS tied the knot with her dancer fiancé KEVIN FEDERLINE in a surprise ceremony in Studio City, CA. While the media's attention was on the following day's Emmy® Awards, the newly brunette bride wore a white, strapless MONIQUE LHUILLIER dress and Kevin donned a black tuxedo and fedora as the two exchanged vows during a non-denominational ceremony. Twenty to 30 guests, including Britney's mother and sister, were on-hand for the event, which took place around midnight in a white tent erected in the backyard of a private home. All attendants were shuttled to the house from a hotel about 20 miles away, and were required to sign confidentiality agreements. Afterwards, everyone dined on a feast of chicken fingers, ribs and Waldorf salad while music played from a boom box. The smiling couple later had to clear up rumors about the legitimacy of their marriage, telling People magazine that they had signed their marriage license, but just simply had not filed the paperwork before the wedding. Britney told People, "I know we're not completely legal until we file the license, which we'll do next week, but in a real sense, a spiritual sense, we're married."
4) MARY-KATE ENTERS TREATMENT - In June, "Full House" twin and merchandising entrepreneur MARY-KATE OLSEN checked into a treatment center just shy of her 18th birthday to "seek professional help for a health related issue." A few months before, ET reported there were worries over Mary-Kate's alarmingly low weight. Mary-Kate's shrinking frame became a concern for observers when she and sister ASHLEY went public to promote their new movie, 'New York Minute,' receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and graduate high school. The Olsens have acknowledged that being a teen fashion icon is a stressful role to maintain, especially with millions of young girls looking up to them, and many believe the pressure to be perfect under the spotlight became too much of a burden for Mary-Kate. Despite reports of a family intervention, a spokesperson said the star voluntarily checked herself in for treatment as a proactive way of dealing with the issue before her freshman year with her sister at New York University. Six weeks later, Mary-Kate was discharged and her spokesperson said, "She is feeling very well and is looking forward to rejoining her family and friends and preparing for her freshman year at New York University." Mary-Kate is now reportedly receiving follow-up counseling and reportedly has an "eating coach."
3) MARTHA GOES TO JAIL - After she was found guilty in March on charges stemming from her controversial 2001 sale of ImClone stock, domestic diva MARTHA STEWART decided to start her sentence early, rather than wait for her appeal. On October 8, as the world watched, Martha turned herself in to the Alderson, WV, federal prison, a.k.a. "Camp Cupcake," to begin five months of prison time for her obstruction of justice conviction. Just like all new inmates, she was reportedly photographed, fingerprinted, strip-searched and placed in a cottage with 60 other women who must share two showers and two sinks. Before turning herself in, Martha sent a message to her fans via her Web site, saying, "While I am away, my updates here will be less frequent, if not altogether impossible. But please know this change is only an unfortunate reflection of my current circumstances, and in no way diminishes my commitment to my life's work or to the friends, colleagues, customers and supporters who make it possible." When Martha's five months in prison are up in February, she will head back home to Connecticut for five months of house arrest.
2) MICHAEL JACKSON'S WOES - The self-proclaimed King of Pop cannot be sleeping well. Last year, he was the center of controversy several times, from the infamous "baby-dangling incident" to his life-shattering arrest on suspicion of child molestation, leading to formal charges: seven counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14 and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent to a child to commit the alleged molestation. In January of this year, with his family unified behind him, Jackson pleaded "not guilty" to the charges filed by Santa Barbara County District Attorney TOM SNEDDON. The courthouse was mobbed by the media and fans alike who came to support Jackson in a "Caravan of Love." As the year progressed, Jackson battled a number of unrelated lawsuits, several claims of more sexual abuse and alleged, lurid details surrounding a 1993 investigation of child molestation which never resulted in charges. To top it off, Jackson erupted into a war of words with controversial rapper EMINEM, whose "Just Lose It" video parodies the pop star's foibles and features a scene with little boys bouncing around on his bed. Jackson is currently free on $3 million bail, with his trial set to begin in January.
1) "BOOBGATE" BOOKEND - JANET JACKSON's now infamous overexposure at January's Super Bowl caused a rippling wave of consequences for everyone involved -- and even some who had no part in the shocking halftime show incident. During the halftime show, a duet with JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE culminated in his ripping off the breastplate of her costume -- exposing her right mammary (and sun-ray nipple ornament) to the nation and giving birth to the term "wardrobe malfunction." Janet later apologized in a videotaped statement saying: "My decision to change the Super Bowl performance was actually made after the final rehearsal. MTV, CBS and the NFL had no knowledge of this whatsoever. Unfortunately the whole thing went wrong in the end. I am sorry if I offended anyone, that was truly not my intention." But the networks felt serious repercussions, with the FCC coming down hard on "indecency in the media" and CBS airing the subsequent Grammy® Awards with a video delay. The ripple effect is still being felt, with HOWARD STERN announcing he's moving his syndicated radio show to the un-regulated Sirius Satellite Radio and with many network affiliates pre-empting the Veteran's Day airing of an un-cut version of 'Saving Private Ryan' on ABC.
In November, TARA REID made a red-carpet entrance she'd probably prefer to erase, bringing back memories of Janet's debacle. The actress was posing proudly on the red carpet at SEAN "P. DIDDY" COMBS's 35th birthday bash in New York when her gown strap slipped off her left shoulder, exposing her breast for the flash bulbs. Although she had clearly been struggling with the strap before the slip, she appeared shocked when her publicist covered her up and pointed out that she was fully exposed for several excruciating seconds. Reid pleaded with members of the press not to publicize the photo, to no avail. Although the slip-up was not televised to the nation -- and the FCC did not get involved -- Tara's exposure provided a convenient bookend to Janet's January "wardrobe malfunction."
What say you? (Oh, if you want to make a comment, just press the "comment" link below.)
The List
10) KOBE CASE CLOSED - Arrested and charged with rape in July of 2003 for allegedly forcing himself on a 19-year-old hotel clerk while in Colorado, L.A. Lakers star KOBE BRYANT's preliminary hearings became a media circus. If convicted of one count of sexual assault, he could have faced a maximum sentence of life in prison and a fine of up to $750,000. But the charges against Kobe were dropped in September when the accuser told the prosecution she would no longer participate in the case. Speculation as to why included the fact that her name had been released to the public and a ruling that her sexual behavior before and after the incident could be admissible in court. In response to the dismissal, Kobe issued a statement apologizing to the victim, yet maintained his innocence: "Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did. After months of reviewing discovery, listening to her attorney, and even her testimony in person, I now understand how she feels that she did not consent to this encounter." A civil suit against Bryant is still pending, and the young woman is expected to testify in that case.
9) NICKY HILTON'S VEGAS WEDDING - A party weekend in Vegas in August turned to marriage for PARIS' li'l sis, NICKY, now 21, when she married old flame TODD ANDREW MEISTER, 33, at a Vegas wedding chapel. The Hilton sisters were in town for a Stuff magazine party at the Palms Casino Resort where they were joined by Todd and Paris' "Simple Life" co-star, NICOLE RICHIE, for dinner late Saturday night. Dinner led to an after-party at the Palms' Little Buddha and, then, apparently to matrimony, as Paris and pal BIJOU PHILLIPS reportedly joined the couple at the impromptu, early morning ceremony just a few hours later. The ET Insider was in the limo, inside their hotel room and at Caesars Palace just hours before the wedding with Nicky, Paris, Bijou, TARA REID, KIMBERLY STEWART and "That 70's Show"'s DANNY MASTERSON. We caught up with the newlyweds after they flew back to L.A. on Sunday, and, although tired from the journey, they looked very much in love. "We are very, very happy," they commented. Later, KATHY and RICK HILTON told ET they were delighted with the marriage, announcing, "Todd exudes a great warmth and personality. He is a longtime friend of the family and is loved by all of us. He is a Harvard graduate and a successful businessman and Kathy and I welcome him to our family. Kathy would have loved to plan a formal wedding, yet Nicky opted for a small quiet ceremony." Alas, three months later, the couple reportedly had the marriage annulled and remain on good terms.
8) J.LO'S JUNE WEDDING - The runaway bride gave everyone the slip with a surprise wedding to old flame/freshly divorced Latin crooner MARC ANTHONY in June. About 40 guests watched as the couple exchanged vows under a flower-covered bridal arch in Jennifer's Beverly Hills backyard. In full wedding regalia, including a full-length, champagne VERA WANG gown and white umbrella, Jennifer walked down a rose-petal-strewn aisle, sparkling from head to toe with diamonds in her hair, diamond earrings, a necklace and bracelet, while Anthony sported diamond cufflinks. When contacted by ET, Lopez's spokesperson would neither confirm nor deny that the couple had indeed tied the knot. After the wedding, the happy pair skipped an immediate honeymoon as Jennifer was working on her latest film, 'Monster-in-Law,' and Anthony was busy promoting his new album. This was the third wedding for Ms. Lopez, who was famously engaged to BEN AFFLECK last year before abruptly calling off those planned nuptials. She and Marc first dated in 1999 and rumors that they were back together began again when the twosome were spotted dining together after the Golden Globe® Awards, just five days after her very public split from Ben -- and only weeks after Anthony's ex wife DAYANARA TORRES filed for divorce from their 3-1/2-year marriage.
7) JERI RYAN'S SEX SCANDAL - Embarrassing and lurid details from "Star Trek: Voyager" star JERI RYAN's split with Illinois Republican and U.S. Senate candidate JACK RYAN became public in June. In court papers originally filed in 1999, Jeri made allegations that she was pressured by her ex-husband to engage in intimate acts with him at "sex clubs" while others watched, including a New York nightspot described as a "bizarre club with cages, whips and other apparatus hanging from the ceiling." After the news broke, Jeri's ex-husband held a press conference promising to stay in the Senate race and addressed the allegations, saying, "I really try to live my life to the highest standards," he said. "But I know, like all of us, I fail sometimes." Still, the scandal took its toll, and Ryan dropped his bid for an Illinois U.S. senate seat, stating that instead of debating the issues, it was "a brutal, scorched-earth campaign." Jeri and Jack wed in 1991 and were married for eight years. Just before the papers went public, the "Voyager" actress made no mention of the five-year-old claims and said of her former husband, "Jack is a good man, a loving father, and he shares a strong bond with our son. I wish him all the best."
6) BILL O'REILLY SEX SCANDAL - The man usually associated with firing tough questions at others, FOX News Channel's BILL O'REILLY came under fire himself this fall. The 55-year-old host of "The O'Reilly Factor" was sued for sexual harassment by 33-year-old ANDREA MACKRIS, a producer for the show. Mackris claimed that O'Reilly repeatedly tried to engage her in inappropriate conversation, "forced" her to have phone sex and generally created a "virulently hostile work environment." The suit followed one filed against her by O'Reilly, who claimed she tried to extort $60 million from him by threatening to go public with the allegations. But before the case could truly catch fire, the opponents agreed to settle and drop their high-profile lawsuits against each other. A statement released by O'Reilly's attorney said, "The Parties regret that this matter has caused tremendous pain, and they have agreed to settle. All cases and claims have been withdrawn and all Parties have agreed that there was no wrongdoing whatsoever by Mr. O'Reilly, Ms. Mackris or Ms. Mackris' counsel, Benedict P. Morelli & Associates ... Out of respect for their families and privacy, all Parties and their representatives have agreed that all information relating to the cases shall remain confidential."
5) BRITNEY'S SURPRISE WEDDING - On the weekend of September 18, ET broke the news that BRITNEY SPEARS tied the knot with her dancer fiancé KEVIN FEDERLINE in a surprise ceremony in Studio City, CA. While the media's attention was on the following day's Emmy® Awards, the newly brunette bride wore a white, strapless MONIQUE LHUILLIER dress and Kevin donned a black tuxedo and fedora as the two exchanged vows during a non-denominational ceremony. Twenty to 30 guests, including Britney's mother and sister, were on-hand for the event, which took place around midnight in a white tent erected in the backyard of a private home. All attendants were shuttled to the house from a hotel about 20 miles away, and were required to sign confidentiality agreements. Afterwards, everyone dined on a feast of chicken fingers, ribs and Waldorf salad while music played from a boom box. The smiling couple later had to clear up rumors about the legitimacy of their marriage, telling People magazine that they had signed their marriage license, but just simply had not filed the paperwork before the wedding. Britney told People, "I know we're not completely legal until we file the license, which we'll do next week, but in a real sense, a spiritual sense, we're married."
4) MARY-KATE ENTERS TREATMENT - In June, "Full House" twin and merchandising entrepreneur MARY-KATE OLSEN checked into a treatment center just shy of her 18th birthday to "seek professional help for a health related issue." A few months before, ET reported there were worries over Mary-Kate's alarmingly low weight. Mary-Kate's shrinking frame became a concern for observers when she and sister ASHLEY went public to promote their new movie, 'New York Minute,' receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and graduate high school. The Olsens have acknowledged that being a teen fashion icon is a stressful role to maintain, especially with millions of young girls looking up to them, and many believe the pressure to be perfect under the spotlight became too much of a burden for Mary-Kate. Despite reports of a family intervention, a spokesperson said the star voluntarily checked herself in for treatment as a proactive way of dealing with the issue before her freshman year with her sister at New York University. Six weeks later, Mary-Kate was discharged and her spokesperson said, "She is feeling very well and is looking forward to rejoining her family and friends and preparing for her freshman year at New York University." Mary-Kate is now reportedly receiving follow-up counseling and reportedly has an "eating coach."
3) MARTHA GOES TO JAIL - After she was found guilty in March on charges stemming from her controversial 2001 sale of ImClone stock, domestic diva MARTHA STEWART decided to start her sentence early, rather than wait for her appeal. On October 8, as the world watched, Martha turned herself in to the Alderson, WV, federal prison, a.k.a. "Camp Cupcake," to begin five months of prison time for her obstruction of justice conviction. Just like all new inmates, she was reportedly photographed, fingerprinted, strip-searched and placed in a cottage with 60 other women who must share two showers and two sinks. Before turning herself in, Martha sent a message to her fans via her Web site, saying, "While I am away, my updates here will be less frequent, if not altogether impossible. But please know this change is only an unfortunate reflection of my current circumstances, and in no way diminishes my commitment to my life's work or to the friends, colleagues, customers and supporters who make it possible." When Martha's five months in prison are up in February, she will head back home to Connecticut for five months of house arrest.
2) MICHAEL JACKSON'S WOES - The self-proclaimed King of Pop cannot be sleeping well. Last year, he was the center of controversy several times, from the infamous "baby-dangling incident" to his life-shattering arrest on suspicion of child molestation, leading to formal charges: seven counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14 and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent to a child to commit the alleged molestation. In January of this year, with his family unified behind him, Jackson pleaded "not guilty" to the charges filed by Santa Barbara County District Attorney TOM SNEDDON. The courthouse was mobbed by the media and fans alike who came to support Jackson in a "Caravan of Love." As the year progressed, Jackson battled a number of unrelated lawsuits, several claims of more sexual abuse and alleged, lurid details surrounding a 1993 investigation of child molestation which never resulted in charges. To top it off, Jackson erupted into a war of words with controversial rapper EMINEM, whose "Just Lose It" video parodies the pop star's foibles and features a scene with little boys bouncing around on his bed. Jackson is currently free on $3 million bail, with his trial set to begin in January.
1) "BOOBGATE" BOOKEND - JANET JACKSON's now infamous overexposure at January's Super Bowl caused a rippling wave of consequences for everyone involved -- and even some who had no part in the shocking halftime show incident. During the halftime show, a duet with JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE culminated in his ripping off the breastplate of her costume -- exposing her right mammary (and sun-ray nipple ornament) to the nation and giving birth to the term "wardrobe malfunction." Janet later apologized in a videotaped statement saying: "My decision to change the Super Bowl performance was actually made after the final rehearsal. MTV, CBS and the NFL had no knowledge of this whatsoever. Unfortunately the whole thing went wrong in the end. I am sorry if I offended anyone, that was truly not my intention." But the networks felt serious repercussions, with the FCC coming down hard on "indecency in the media" and CBS airing the subsequent Grammy® Awards with a video delay. The ripple effect is still being felt, with HOWARD STERN announcing he's moving his syndicated radio show to the un-regulated Sirius Satellite Radio and with many network affiliates pre-empting the Veteran's Day airing of an un-cut version of 'Saving Private Ryan' on ABC.
In November, TARA REID made a red-carpet entrance she'd probably prefer to erase, bringing back memories of Janet's debacle. The actress was posing proudly on the red carpet at SEAN "P. DIDDY" COMBS's 35th birthday bash in New York when her gown strap slipped off her left shoulder, exposing her breast for the flash bulbs. Although she had clearly been struggling with the strap before the slip, she appeared shocked when her publicist covered her up and pointed out that she was fully exposed for several excruciating seconds. Reid pleaded with members of the press not to publicize the photo, to no avail. Although the slip-up was not televised to the nation -- and the FCC did not get involved -- Tara's exposure provided a convenient bookend to Janet's January "wardrobe malfunction."
BCS Still Needs To Be Fixed
I really don't care if my school Cal (Master of City Planning grad) lost to Texas Tech , the The Bowl Championship System (BCS) still needs to be fixed.
Fox bought the BCS contract through 2007. After that, the format should be changed.
Check out an alternative proposal I present at the SBS website. Just go to http://www.bcsproblem.com
Let me know what you think.
Fox bought the BCS contract through 2007. After that, the format should be changed.
Check out an alternative proposal I present at the SBS website. Just go to http://www.bcsproblem.com
Let me know what you think.
2004 News Review By CNN
CNN has a review of the top news stories of 2004. Surprisingly, the writer didn't include the Tsunami disaster. Here's the list, and the link (http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=\Nation\archive\200412\NAT20041231a.html )
Read it and let me know what you think.
The List
September 9, 2004: CBS Air Guard Documents Suspected Might Be Fake
(CNSNews.com) - In a report that cut across media, politics and culture, this exclusive Cybercast News Service analysis of the 32-year-old documents used by the CBS News program '60 Minutes' to disparage President Bush's service in the Texas Air National Guard was the article that began the unraveling of one of the year's most explosive stories with ramifications that are still reverberating. Full Story
October 4, 2004: Saddam's WMD and Terror Ties Exposed (CNSNews.com) - Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and ties to terrorism were the motivating factors in the decision to make war against Saddam Hussein. The absence of direct evidence of this fueled anti-war and anti-US sentiment worldwide, until Cybercast News Service obtained, authenticated and published confiscated Iraqi documents showing efforts by Saddam Hussein's regime to work with al Qaeda to target Americans and the presence of mustard gas and anthrax in Iraq.~~ Full Story
May 11, 2004: Decapitation As Propaganda
(CNSNews.com) - Nick Berg was in Iraq to help rebuild the country, but the 26-year-old contractor from Philadelphia ended up butchered on-camera by terrorists aligned with Osama bin Laden disciple Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. This beheading of a bound, un-armed civilian marked a grisly twist on the propaganda front in the war in Iraq.~~ Full commentary
Election '04-November 3, 2004: The Election Night Roller Coaster
Boston (CNSNews.com) - Exit poll data on November 2 suggested John Kerry was coasting to victory, but as President George Bush edged closer to 270 electoral votes, Kerry's supporters openly wept and consoled each other in an Election Night celebration that changed from jubilation to bitterness in a matter of hours.~~ Full Story
Election '04-March 18, 2004: Kerry's Anti-War Past Resurfaces Amid Controversy
(CNSNews.com) - A Vietnam War historian and supporter of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry told Cybercast News Service that Kerry lied about key events related to his anti-war activities in 1971, and redacted FBI files obtained by Cybercast News Service backed-up the historian's position.~~ Full Story
Election '04-March 24, 2004: Kerry Still Backpedaling on 1971 Anti-War Meetings (CNSNews.com) - Five days after Cybercast News Service reported that Democrat John Kerry had attended a 1971 anti-war meeting at which the possible assassination of U.S. senators was discussed, the presidential hopeful was still backpedaling on statements regarding his whereabouts during that meeting.~~ Full Story
Election '04-April 22, 2004: Kerry's Own Words Haunt Early Campaign
(CNSNews.com) - While John Kerry's past involvement in Vietnam Veterans Against the War was certainly no secret, some of his past comments about the Vietnam War were long forgotten, including his November 1971 remarks to a Bethany College student newspaper. Forgotten, that is, until Cybercast News Service obtained a copy of the original article.~~ Full Story
Election '04-May 3, 2004: Enter the Swift Boat Vets
(CNSNews.com) - Even before Swift Boat Veterans for Truth formally announced the formation of their organization, Cybercast News Service was there, reporting on the early goings-on of the group that had what pundits came to call the biggest independent impact on the 2004 election.~~ Full Story
Election '04-May 4, 2004: Former Navy Commanders Call Kerry 'Loose Cannon' in Vietnam Washington (CNSNews.com) - John Kerry made his Vietnam-era Navy service the centerpiece of his presidential campaign, prompting a group of veterans to characterize him as a 'loose cannon' and demand that Kerry authorize the release of his full military record, something the candidate has to this day refused to to.~~ Full Story
Election '04-September 16, 2004: Navy Contradicts Kerry on Military Records (CNSNews.com) - Republicans managed to tag John Kerry as a flip-flopper during the presidential campaign, and those efforts were reinforced by Kerry when the Navy contradicted his claims of having released all of his military records.~~ Full Story
Election '04-June 4, 2004: FBI Files Show Kerry Met With Communists More Than Once (CNSNews.com) - John Kerry's campaign inconsistencies weren't confined to his Navy service or anti-war activities, particularly when FBI files revealed that Kerry attended more than one meeting with North Vietnamese communists in Paris in the early 1970s after having admitted to only a single meeting.~~ Full Story
Election '04-June 28, 2004: Politics by the Numbers
(CNSNews.com) - A new political number was ushered in during 2004 - 527, the generic name assigned to those groups that spent tens of millions of dollars on political ads, most of them attacking President Bush in ways previously unseen on television.~~ Full Story
Election '04-September 2, 2004: Feminists Compare Bush's 2000 Election to 'Savage Rape'
New York (CNSNews.com) - The Republican Convention provided an unfettered opportunity for liberals to attack President Bush, with feminist poet Molly Birnbaum going so far as to tell a crowd in New York's Central Park, "Imagine a way to erase that night four years ago when (President Bush) savagely raped every pandemic woman over and over with each vote (he) got, a thrust with each state (he) stole."~~ Full Story
Election '04-October 26, 2004: Bush Blamed for Florida Hurricanes
(CNSNews.com) - During the final days of the campaign, liberals became so desperate they bought billboards in Florida accusing President Bush of being responsible for the spate of hurricanes to hit the state in 2004.~~ Full Story
Election '04-June 1, 2004: When Bush-Bashers Collide (CNSNews.com) - Left-wing filmmaker Michael Moore and former White House counter-terrorism czar Richard Clarke both did their part to disparage and distort the president's record on terrorism and the war against Saddam Hussein. But this Cybercast News Service report on the contradictions in both Moore's and Clarke's versions of the truth was one of the most read articles of the entire year.~~ Full Story
Election '04-June 28, 2004: Michael Moore Backspins Key Premise of Anti-Bush Film
Boston (CNSNews.com) - It didn't take long for the Cybercast News Service report on the factual discrepancies in Michael Moore's filmmaking to gain a little traction - with Moore himself.~~ Full Story
January 14, 2004: Thousands of Pilots Won't Fly Armed, Blame TSA (CNSNews.com) - Almost two and a half years after the 9/11 attacks on the United States, the question of defense firearms in the cockpits of commercial jetliners was subject to both scrutiny and controversy, as demonstrated by this exclusive Cybercast News Service report on charges the federal agency responsible for providing security for US airlines was simply going through motions and intentionally sabotaging a congressionally-mandated program to train and certify pilots who volunteer to carry guns in the cockpit.~~ Full Story
January 28, 2004: Stossel Rips Network for Hostility to Conservatives
Washington (CNSNews.com) - Liberal media bias didn't abate in 2004, but it was brought into somewhat sharper relief when ABC News correspondent John Stossel observed that most establishment journalists, including those at his network, are leftists who view conservatives as "selfish and cruel" for embracing capitalism.~~ Full Story
February 2, 2004: Feds Investigate Breast-Baring Super Bowl Show (CNSNews.com) - We're not sure which was weirder - pop singer Janet Jackson's now-infamous 'wardrobe malfunction' during the Super Bowl or the decision to initiate a federal investigation into how fellow performer Justin Timberlake managed to expose Jackson's breast on live television.~~ Full Story
February 26, 2004: Howard Stern Dumped by Clear Channel
(CNSNews.com) - Shock jock Howard Stern was not a beneficiary of the crack-down on broadcast indecency triggered by the Janet Jackson Super Bowl incident. Before the end of the month, Stern's show was axed by radio leviathan Clear Channel after spending nearly an hour during one program talking about "explicit sexual activities between Rick Solomon and Paris Hilton."~~ Full Story
May 27, 2004: Liberals Want Limbaugh Booted Off Military Radio (CNSNews.com) - Howard Stern wasn't the only radio personality under fire in 2004. A liberal group that monitors media called on Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to remove radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh from the American Forces Radio and Television Services, claiming his hour-long broadcast to almost one million U.S. troops in more than 175 countries was "abhorrent," and arguing that Rumsfeld needed to "protect our troops from these reckless and dangerous messages."~~ Full Story
April 7, 2004: Kennedy Dodges Questions on 'Memogate' Probe Capitol Hill (CNSNews.com) - President Bush faced Senate filibusters on a number of his judicial nominees in 2004 and will likely face similar hurdles in 2006. But when it was learned there may have been an orchestrated plan by Democrats to delay review of the president's nominees - and that a pair of former Ted Kennedy aides were under scrutiny in the 'Memogate' investigation - the senior senator from Massachusetts appeared flummoxed when asked about it by Cybercast News Service .~~ Full Story
June 30, 2004: Protestors Call Jesse Jackson 'Worst Nightmare' for Black Community Chicago (CNSNews.com) - While Jesse Jackson's 33rd annual Rainbow/PUSH Coalition Conference was going on in Chicago, African-American religious and community leaders gathered outside the conference to protest Jackson for being the black community's "worst nightmare," calling him "an immoral person," with a "history of being on the wrong side of history."~~ Full Story
July 1, 2004: Jackson Claims 'Negroes Can Drive Cars Fast' Chicago (CNSNews.com) - One day after being denounced as the Black community's "worst nightmare," Cybercast News Service published this exclusive report on how Jesse Jackson took to the podium of his Rainbow/PUSH conference and said there ought to be more African-American NASCAR drivers because "negroes can drive cars fast."~~ Full Story
July 2, 2004: Bill Cosby Says Stop Blaming 'The White Man' Chicago (CNSNews.com) - Comedian Bill Cosby injected himself into the race relations debate in a major way in 2004, pleading with blacks to stop blaming the "white man" for their problems.~~ Full Story
December 17, 2004: Oh, Kyoto? Never Mind
Buenos Aires, Argentina (CNSNews.com) - After relentless attacks on the United States for opposing the Kyoto Protocol, liberal environmental groups eventually conceded in 2004 that the international treaty would have no impact on what they believe to be the impending catastrophe of global warming. Problem is, they went all the way to Argentina to make the admission, which would have gone virtually unnoticed had it not been for Cybercast News Service .~~ Full Story
Read it and let me know what you think.
The List
September 9, 2004: CBS Air Guard Documents Suspected Might Be Fake
(CNSNews.com) - In a report that cut across media, politics and culture, this exclusive Cybercast News Service analysis of the 32-year-old documents used by the CBS News program '60 Minutes' to disparage President Bush's service in the Texas Air National Guard was the article that began the unraveling of one of the year's most explosive stories with ramifications that are still reverberating. Full Story
October 4, 2004: Saddam's WMD and Terror Ties Exposed (CNSNews.com) - Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and ties to terrorism were the motivating factors in the decision to make war against Saddam Hussein. The absence of direct evidence of this fueled anti-war and anti-US sentiment worldwide, until Cybercast News Service obtained, authenticated and published confiscated Iraqi documents showing efforts by Saddam Hussein's regime to work with al Qaeda to target Americans and the presence of mustard gas and anthrax in Iraq.~~ Full Story
May 11, 2004: Decapitation As Propaganda
(CNSNews.com) - Nick Berg was in Iraq to help rebuild the country, but the 26-year-old contractor from Philadelphia ended up butchered on-camera by terrorists aligned with Osama bin Laden disciple Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. This beheading of a bound, un-armed civilian marked a grisly twist on the propaganda front in the war in Iraq.~~ Full commentary
Election '04-November 3, 2004: The Election Night Roller Coaster
Boston (CNSNews.com) - Exit poll data on November 2 suggested John Kerry was coasting to victory, but as President George Bush edged closer to 270 electoral votes, Kerry's supporters openly wept and consoled each other in an Election Night celebration that changed from jubilation to bitterness in a matter of hours.~~ Full Story
Election '04-March 18, 2004: Kerry's Anti-War Past Resurfaces Amid Controversy
(CNSNews.com) - A Vietnam War historian and supporter of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry told Cybercast News Service that Kerry lied about key events related to his anti-war activities in 1971, and redacted FBI files obtained by Cybercast News Service backed-up the historian's position.~~ Full Story
Election '04-March 24, 2004: Kerry Still Backpedaling on 1971 Anti-War Meetings (CNSNews.com) - Five days after Cybercast News Service reported that Democrat John Kerry had attended a 1971 anti-war meeting at which the possible assassination of U.S. senators was discussed, the presidential hopeful was still backpedaling on statements regarding his whereabouts during that meeting.~~ Full Story
Election '04-April 22, 2004: Kerry's Own Words Haunt Early Campaign
(CNSNews.com) - While John Kerry's past involvement in Vietnam Veterans Against the War was certainly no secret, some of his past comments about the Vietnam War were long forgotten, including his November 1971 remarks to a Bethany College student newspaper. Forgotten, that is, until Cybercast News Service obtained a copy of the original article.~~ Full Story
Election '04-May 3, 2004: Enter the Swift Boat Vets
(CNSNews.com) - Even before Swift Boat Veterans for Truth formally announced the formation of their organization, Cybercast News Service was there, reporting on the early goings-on of the group that had what pundits came to call the biggest independent impact on the 2004 election.~~ Full Story
Election '04-May 4, 2004: Former Navy Commanders Call Kerry 'Loose Cannon' in Vietnam Washington (CNSNews.com) - John Kerry made his Vietnam-era Navy service the centerpiece of his presidential campaign, prompting a group of veterans to characterize him as a 'loose cannon' and demand that Kerry authorize the release of his full military record, something the candidate has to this day refused to to.~~ Full Story
Election '04-September 16, 2004: Navy Contradicts Kerry on Military Records (CNSNews.com) - Republicans managed to tag John Kerry as a flip-flopper during the presidential campaign, and those efforts were reinforced by Kerry when the Navy contradicted his claims of having released all of his military records.~~ Full Story
Election '04-June 4, 2004: FBI Files Show Kerry Met With Communists More Than Once (CNSNews.com) - John Kerry's campaign inconsistencies weren't confined to his Navy service or anti-war activities, particularly when FBI files revealed that Kerry attended more than one meeting with North Vietnamese communists in Paris in the early 1970s after having admitted to only a single meeting.~~ Full Story
Election '04-June 28, 2004: Politics by the Numbers
(CNSNews.com) - A new political number was ushered in during 2004 - 527, the generic name assigned to those groups that spent tens of millions of dollars on political ads, most of them attacking President Bush in ways previously unseen on television.~~ Full Story
Election '04-September 2, 2004: Feminists Compare Bush's 2000 Election to 'Savage Rape'
New York (CNSNews.com) - The Republican Convention provided an unfettered opportunity for liberals to attack President Bush, with feminist poet Molly Birnbaum going so far as to tell a crowd in New York's Central Park, "Imagine a way to erase that night four years ago when (President Bush) savagely raped every pandemic woman over and over with each vote (he) got, a thrust with each state (he) stole."~~ Full Story
Election '04-October 26, 2004: Bush Blamed for Florida Hurricanes
(CNSNews.com) - During the final days of the campaign, liberals became so desperate they bought billboards in Florida accusing President Bush of being responsible for the spate of hurricanes to hit the state in 2004.~~ Full Story
Election '04-June 1, 2004: When Bush-Bashers Collide (CNSNews.com) - Left-wing filmmaker Michael Moore and former White House counter-terrorism czar Richard Clarke both did their part to disparage and distort the president's record on terrorism and the war against Saddam Hussein. But this Cybercast News Service report on the contradictions in both Moore's and Clarke's versions of the truth was one of the most read articles of the entire year.~~ Full Story
Election '04-June 28, 2004: Michael Moore Backspins Key Premise of Anti-Bush Film
Boston (CNSNews.com) - It didn't take long for the Cybercast News Service report on the factual discrepancies in Michael Moore's filmmaking to gain a little traction - with Moore himself.~~ Full Story
January 14, 2004: Thousands of Pilots Won't Fly Armed, Blame TSA (CNSNews.com) - Almost two and a half years after the 9/11 attacks on the United States, the question of defense firearms in the cockpits of commercial jetliners was subject to both scrutiny and controversy, as demonstrated by this exclusive Cybercast News Service report on charges the federal agency responsible for providing security for US airlines was simply going through motions and intentionally sabotaging a congressionally-mandated program to train and certify pilots who volunteer to carry guns in the cockpit.~~ Full Story
January 28, 2004: Stossel Rips Network for Hostility to Conservatives
Washington (CNSNews.com) - Liberal media bias didn't abate in 2004, but it was brought into somewhat sharper relief when ABC News correspondent John Stossel observed that most establishment journalists, including those at his network, are leftists who view conservatives as "selfish and cruel" for embracing capitalism.~~ Full Story
February 2, 2004: Feds Investigate Breast-Baring Super Bowl Show (CNSNews.com) - We're not sure which was weirder - pop singer Janet Jackson's now-infamous 'wardrobe malfunction' during the Super Bowl or the decision to initiate a federal investigation into how fellow performer Justin Timberlake managed to expose Jackson's breast on live television.~~ Full Story
February 26, 2004: Howard Stern Dumped by Clear Channel
(CNSNews.com) - Shock jock Howard Stern was not a beneficiary of the crack-down on broadcast indecency triggered by the Janet Jackson Super Bowl incident. Before the end of the month, Stern's show was axed by radio leviathan Clear Channel after spending nearly an hour during one program talking about "explicit sexual activities between Rick Solomon and Paris Hilton."~~ Full Story
May 27, 2004: Liberals Want Limbaugh Booted Off Military Radio (CNSNews.com) - Howard Stern wasn't the only radio personality under fire in 2004. A liberal group that monitors media called on Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to remove radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh from the American Forces Radio and Television Services, claiming his hour-long broadcast to almost one million U.S. troops in more than 175 countries was "abhorrent," and arguing that Rumsfeld needed to "protect our troops from these reckless and dangerous messages."~~ Full Story
April 7, 2004: Kennedy Dodges Questions on 'Memogate' Probe Capitol Hill (CNSNews.com) - President Bush faced Senate filibusters on a number of his judicial nominees in 2004 and will likely face similar hurdles in 2006. But when it was learned there may have been an orchestrated plan by Democrats to delay review of the president's nominees - and that a pair of former Ted Kennedy aides were under scrutiny in the 'Memogate' investigation - the senior senator from Massachusetts appeared flummoxed when asked about it by Cybercast News Service .~~ Full Story
June 30, 2004: Protestors Call Jesse Jackson 'Worst Nightmare' for Black Community Chicago (CNSNews.com) - While Jesse Jackson's 33rd annual Rainbow/PUSH Coalition Conference was going on in Chicago, African-American religious and community leaders gathered outside the conference to protest Jackson for being the black community's "worst nightmare," calling him "an immoral person," with a "history of being on the wrong side of history."~~ Full Story
July 1, 2004: Jackson Claims 'Negroes Can Drive Cars Fast' Chicago (CNSNews.com) - One day after being denounced as the Black community's "worst nightmare," Cybercast News Service published this exclusive report on how Jesse Jackson took to the podium of his Rainbow/PUSH conference and said there ought to be more African-American NASCAR drivers because "negroes can drive cars fast."~~ Full Story
July 2, 2004: Bill Cosby Says Stop Blaming 'The White Man' Chicago (CNSNews.com) - Comedian Bill Cosby injected himself into the race relations debate in a major way in 2004, pleading with blacks to stop blaming the "white man" for their problems.~~ Full Story
December 17, 2004: Oh, Kyoto? Never Mind
Buenos Aires, Argentina (CNSNews.com) - After relentless attacks on the United States for opposing the Kyoto Protocol, liberal environmental groups eventually conceded in 2004 that the international treaty would have no impact on what they believe to be the impending catastrophe of global warming. Problem is, they went all the way to Argentina to make the admission, which would have gone virtually unnoticed had it not been for Cybercast News Service .~~ Full Story
HAPPY NEW YEAR
NYE, was fun. I met a lot of people in San Francisco, played Poker for the first time, didn't "hook" up because I wasn't looking to get "hooked up." All in all, a good time. I'll probably write more on it later.
Friday, December 31, 2004
Flying Home From Home on New Year's Eve
As I write this, it’s New Year's Eve, and I'm on United flight 135 from Chicago to San Francisco. After what seems an eternity of travel on Airbus A319's, I’m finally on a real widebody, the Boeing 777.
I have to explain that an A319 is a narrow body tube of an airplane made by Airbus Industries of the European Union. I think it was developed to challenge the Boeing 757, because United used to fly them on a number of routes; now I see A319s. Delta has the 757s.
Whatever the case, the Boeing 777 is a real nice plane. I’m also glad to be off the 737-500 from Atlanta to Chicago. The plane was fine, but there was this African dude sitting next to me who seemed to think it was ok for him to 1) constantly look at me, even as he was pretending to sleep (I’m not kidding), 2) almost place his head on my shoulder to sleep, and 3) move his legs into my space. I finally had to ask him to stop and give me some space. I got up and spent most of the flight talking to the attendants at the rear of the cabin. I started the conversation by telling them about a Wall Street Journal article I saw regarding United Airlines pensions. We had a great talk. I’ll get back to the subject of aircraft in a bit. Right now, I want to tell you about my trip.
I was visiting my Mom and Stepfather for the third time in a little over two-and-a-half months. The reasons are the fall of the holidays, my Stepfather’s battle with cancer, and my Mom and Stepdad's need for help and company.
About two years ago, now, they sold their home in the hills of Oakland, California and moved to a large six-bedroom home on six acres outside of Atlanta, Georgia. They left Oakland because they wanted to have enough money to be appropriately retired. My Godmother lives about five minutes away from them and moved their from Chicago about seven years ago, I think. Anyway, my folks went down to visit them several times. My stepfather fell in love with the area, and convinced my Mom that they should move down there.
From the start I had mixed feelings about their decision. My feelings centered around the fact that I like to have family close by. I don't care what you call it, it's important to me. Look, I'm an only child. And like most only children, I’m close to my folks. In fact, I don’t know of an only child that's not close to their family.
So, moves like the one they made hit me harder than it would a person with sisters and brothers. It took me a full year to get over it. What helped me do so was (1) the establishment of my company, Sports Business Simulations, and (2) the realization that they had to do what made them happy.
I must offer that my Stepfather’s family: his brother and my stepfather’s daughters, don't make me feel as if I have family in California. They don't call even to say hello. By contrast, I have made an effort to contact them once in a while. I visited my Stepfather’s brother when I learned from my Mother that he was in the hospital after a heart attack (which he got while watching the Tom Cruise movie "The Last Samurai"). And I called my Stepfather's daughter's husband Ralph to tell them simply to check in with him more often than they do.
But, I've yet to get a call from them. I even ran into my Stepfather’s brother, Ben and his wife Charlene, and their friends at a place called The Alley and not far from where I live. The Alley's a cool place in Oakland, known for about 10,000 business cards posted on the walls and for Rod Dibble, who plays the piano there and has since 1963. People can go and sing their favorite song, as long as its a show tune or Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, Cab Calloway, Bobby Derin, or almost any theater tune between, oh, 1936 and 1971.
Anyway, I saw them there, went over to say hi, and then went back to sing. Still, even though I’ve presented them with my business card twice, they’ve never called me.
See, the way I look at it, there’s more of them than me. So, if they want me into their fold, they have to invite me. It’s that simple. I don't ask to be in a social group if I don't get an invitation. I don't like crashing parties. And if the people are supposed to be family, I should not have to.
Well, they don't call, so I don't feel welcome to call them. But the something else they don't do much of if at all, is visit my folks in Georgia. This is what upsets me. There's no good excuse for such behavior. In the case of Ben, my Stepfather, Chester, is his brother, so he should have his rear end down there. Chester seems to think that they don't want to come down their because Ben's black and Charlene's white, and my folks are in Georgia, which is The South. And the South's racist.
Well, that was my stereotype, too. But I have to admit that it's a less-than-accurate view. I think blacks and white get along better in Georgia than in the Bay Area. In Georgia it’s very common to see black and white parents and children shopping or just doing about anything. I remember seeing two girls, one black and the other white, but dressed exactly the same, as if they were going to some kind of school play. The mother was walking right behind them.
That’s something you don't see a lot of in the San Francisco Bay Area. I think it's more common in some Bay Area suburbs, but not much. Part of it is that African Americans are only about 10 percent of the population or less by some estimates. Remember, that includes kids. So the adult population is about five percent of that for the whole Bay Area . Not a lot.
That’s not true for the Atlanta metro area. I don't know the exact percentage, but it's vastly more than in the Bay Area. It's common to see local commercials by and featuring blacks. I think KGO Radio Show Talk Guy Ronn Owens is wrong about Atlanta. He said it's more racist than the Bay Area. Well, it's not. It’s common to see black and white couples, there. I'm not saying it's as faux carefree as the Bay Area, but it's a lot closer than I would have expected. Ben and Charlene should come and visit my folks.
Even though I'm happy that I’m headed back to my home in Oakland, I already miss my folks. I love them and I love my Mom so much. I think I completely understand her now. She wants things – everything – to be perfect and gets upset when perfection is not achieved. Yes, I know perfection is hard to reach, and that's the point. I think she's starting to relax to that fact, but she's always going to be a perfectionist. Plus, she’s 70 so she’s not going to change at this point.
I know my real Dad will never be perfect, but he too could call at least once. The last time I physically saw him was 1999, and it was about 18 years then. I called him after the Chicago Cubs one the National League Central Division title in 2003. We kept up with each other – for a solid week. Then he stopped returning my phone calls.
Why? Beats me. I think he thinks I'm very much a product of my mother. He said that my mother put me up to not calling as much as I should. But that's crap. The simple fact is that he didn't call enough. Remember the rule: I’ve got to be invited. Mom says that I'm too sensitive, and she's right, but I can't help it much. Being sensitive is just being aware of masked feelings communicated by others. Hey, I'm wrong at times, but I'm correct more often.
In fact, I tried to call him while on a short layover at O'Hare. I didn't have his number plugged into my cell, so I called 411. I did this two weeks ago and left a message. I heard a unfamiliar woman's voice on the answering machine. It started "This is the Abraham residence.." I figured Dad had a new lady in his life. I just didn’t know who. Anyway, this time I called from the airport, I got a recording that his phone number is “not listed at the person’s request.” Or words to that effect. Call me sensitive, but something’s wrong.
Is this an example of how families are disconnected in today’s America? Let me know. People talk about this, so I wonder.
So, I’m flying back to Oakland for New Year’s Eve. I'm going out somewhere. My lady friend is going to be with her sister, who's suffering a losing battle with cancer. So, maybe I’ll just go to The Alley and sing. Or, maybe I should have stayed in Atlanta. Come what may, I'm looking forward to the New Year.
I have to explain that an A319 is a narrow body tube of an airplane made by Airbus Industries of the European Union. I think it was developed to challenge the Boeing 757, because United used to fly them on a number of routes; now I see A319s. Delta has the 757s.
Whatever the case, the Boeing 777 is a real nice plane. I’m also glad to be off the 737-500 from Atlanta to Chicago. The plane was fine, but there was this African dude sitting next to me who seemed to think it was ok for him to 1) constantly look at me, even as he was pretending to sleep (I’m not kidding), 2) almost place his head on my shoulder to sleep, and 3) move his legs into my space. I finally had to ask him to stop and give me some space. I got up and spent most of the flight talking to the attendants at the rear of the cabin. I started the conversation by telling them about a Wall Street Journal article I saw regarding United Airlines pensions. We had a great talk. I’ll get back to the subject of aircraft in a bit. Right now, I want to tell you about my trip.
I was visiting my Mom and Stepfather for the third time in a little over two-and-a-half months. The reasons are the fall of the holidays, my Stepfather’s battle with cancer, and my Mom and Stepdad's need for help and company.
About two years ago, now, they sold their home in the hills of Oakland, California and moved to a large six-bedroom home on six acres outside of Atlanta, Georgia. They left Oakland because they wanted to have enough money to be appropriately retired. My Godmother lives about five minutes away from them and moved their from Chicago about seven years ago, I think. Anyway, my folks went down to visit them several times. My stepfather fell in love with the area, and convinced my Mom that they should move down there.
From the start I had mixed feelings about their decision. My feelings centered around the fact that I like to have family close by. I don't care what you call it, it's important to me. Look, I'm an only child. And like most only children, I’m close to my folks. In fact, I don’t know of an only child that's not close to their family.
So, moves like the one they made hit me harder than it would a person with sisters and brothers. It took me a full year to get over it. What helped me do so was (1) the establishment of my company, Sports Business Simulations, and (2) the realization that they had to do what made them happy.
I must offer that my Stepfather’s family: his brother and my stepfather’s daughters, don't make me feel as if I have family in California. They don't call even to say hello. By contrast, I have made an effort to contact them once in a while. I visited my Stepfather’s brother when I learned from my Mother that he was in the hospital after a heart attack (which he got while watching the Tom Cruise movie "The Last Samurai"). And I called my Stepfather's daughter's husband Ralph to tell them simply to check in with him more often than they do.
But, I've yet to get a call from them. I even ran into my Stepfather’s brother, Ben and his wife Charlene, and their friends at a place called The Alley and not far from where I live. The Alley's a cool place in Oakland, known for about 10,000 business cards posted on the walls and for Rod Dibble, who plays the piano there and has since 1963. People can go and sing their favorite song, as long as its a show tune or Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, Cab Calloway, Bobby Derin, or almost any theater tune between, oh, 1936 and 1971.
Anyway, I saw them there, went over to say hi, and then went back to sing. Still, even though I’ve presented them with my business card twice, they’ve never called me.
See, the way I look at it, there’s more of them than me. So, if they want me into their fold, they have to invite me. It’s that simple. I don't ask to be in a social group if I don't get an invitation. I don't like crashing parties. And if the people are supposed to be family, I should not have to.
Well, they don't call, so I don't feel welcome to call them. But the something else they don't do much of if at all, is visit my folks in Georgia. This is what upsets me. There's no good excuse for such behavior. In the case of Ben, my Stepfather, Chester, is his brother, so he should have his rear end down there. Chester seems to think that they don't want to come down their because Ben's black and Charlene's white, and my folks are in Georgia, which is The South. And the South's racist.
Well, that was my stereotype, too. But I have to admit that it's a less-than-accurate view. I think blacks and white get along better in Georgia than in the Bay Area. In Georgia it’s very common to see black and white parents and children shopping or just doing about anything. I remember seeing two girls, one black and the other white, but dressed exactly the same, as if they were going to some kind of school play. The mother was walking right behind them.
That’s something you don't see a lot of in the San Francisco Bay Area. I think it's more common in some Bay Area suburbs, but not much. Part of it is that African Americans are only about 10 percent of the population or less by some estimates. Remember, that includes kids. So the adult population is about five percent of that for the whole Bay Area . Not a lot.
That’s not true for the Atlanta metro area. I don't know the exact percentage, but it's vastly more than in the Bay Area. It's common to see local commercials by and featuring blacks. I think KGO Radio Show Talk Guy Ronn Owens is wrong about Atlanta. He said it's more racist than the Bay Area. Well, it's not. It’s common to see black and white couples, there. I'm not saying it's as faux carefree as the Bay Area, but it's a lot closer than I would have expected. Ben and Charlene should come and visit my folks.
Even though I'm happy that I’m headed back to my home in Oakland, I already miss my folks. I love them and I love my Mom so much. I think I completely understand her now. She wants things – everything – to be perfect and gets upset when perfection is not achieved. Yes, I know perfection is hard to reach, and that's the point. I think she's starting to relax to that fact, but she's always going to be a perfectionist. Plus, she’s 70 so she’s not going to change at this point.
I know my real Dad will never be perfect, but he too could call at least once. The last time I physically saw him was 1999, and it was about 18 years then. I called him after the Chicago Cubs one the National League Central Division title in 2003. We kept up with each other – for a solid week. Then he stopped returning my phone calls.
Why? Beats me. I think he thinks I'm very much a product of my mother. He said that my mother put me up to not calling as much as I should. But that's crap. The simple fact is that he didn't call enough. Remember the rule: I’ve got to be invited. Mom says that I'm too sensitive, and she's right, but I can't help it much. Being sensitive is just being aware of masked feelings communicated by others. Hey, I'm wrong at times, but I'm correct more often.
In fact, I tried to call him while on a short layover at O'Hare. I didn't have his number plugged into my cell, so I called 411. I did this two weeks ago and left a message. I heard a unfamiliar woman's voice on the answering machine. It started "This is the Abraham residence.." I figured Dad had a new lady in his life. I just didn’t know who. Anyway, this time I called from the airport, I got a recording that his phone number is “not listed at the person’s request.” Or words to that effect. Call me sensitive, but something’s wrong.
Is this an example of how families are disconnected in today’s America? Let me know. People talk about this, so I wonder.
So, I’m flying back to Oakland for New Year’s Eve. I'm going out somewhere. My lady friend is going to be with her sister, who's suffering a losing battle with cancer. So, maybe I’ll just go to The Alley and sing. Or, maybe I should have stayed in Atlanta. Come what may, I'm looking forward to the New Year.
Thursday, December 30, 2004
A New Sports Business Simulations Front Page
Hey folks. SBS has a new front page! Visit http://www.sbs-world.com
and if you've got tickets to sell, go to http://www.sbstickets.com
The price you pay for visiting my blog; an occasional corporate plug!
and if you've got tickets to sell, go to http://www.sbstickets.com
The price you pay for visiting my blog; an occasional corporate plug!
MoveOn's Call For More US Aide to Tsunami Area
For those of you who want to get involved via The Internet, there's a rising swell of compaints regarding the President's initial offer of $15 million. Even though it was increased to $35 million, the call is for more money. Damage estimates are well into the billions. My personal feeling is that the one best fiscal solution will be something like a Global Marshall Plan.
But for the present, there's MoveOne.Org
Visit their site's call to action at: http://www.moveon.org/tsunamirelief/
But for the present, there's MoveOne.Org
Visit their site's call to action at: http://www.moveon.org/tsunamirelief/
Tsunami Death Toll at 116,000
This is unbelievable. Let's put this number in perspective: 116,000 is more people than the population of Berkeley, CA (110,000); more people than the total attendance for 2004's Michigan v. Notre Dame game (105,000). It's larger than all rural towns. And the scary part about this, is the death toll continues to grow.
People try to place The Disaster in biblical perspective. My parents think that some of the countries are being punished for something. I still think that it's the price we pay as a Global community for the misapplication of technology. We lack a global warning system for these occurences, and it's not as if there hasn't been a good reason to have one. It's just that no one cared to push for the development of one.
Why in the heck do we have to be so stupid as a people? We seem to do "what's right" only after a crisis. And isn't it interesting that doing "what's right" involves saving the lives of many people?
Can I get an Amen?
I hope. I pray. I wish that this is the last time we permit such scenarios to develop. I'll bet there's some computer modeler / policy analysis somewhere sitting back and saying "You should have listened to me." As a person who's one of them, I can tell you that politicians in general don't listen well, and society itself is not far ahead of them.
Wake up!
People try to place The Disaster in biblical perspective. My parents think that some of the countries are being punished for something. I still think that it's the price we pay as a Global community for the misapplication of technology. We lack a global warning system for these occurences, and it's not as if there hasn't been a good reason to have one. It's just that no one cared to push for the development of one.
Why in the heck do we have to be so stupid as a people? We seem to do "what's right" only after a crisis. And isn't it interesting that doing "what's right" involves saving the lives of many people?
Can I get an Amen?
I hope. I pray. I wish that this is the last time we permit such scenarios to develop. I'll bet there's some computer modeler / policy analysis somewhere sitting back and saying "You should have listened to me." As a person who's one of them, I can tell you that politicians in general don't listen well, and society itself is not far ahead of them.
Wake up!
The Zennie (A Libation)
OK. About just over a month ago we created a libation called "The Zennie" as part of an experiemental online promotion for The Zennie Band.
I write "experimental" because if the overall strategy didn't work, I was going to analyze the heck out of it and try it again. But it worked. The band actually made about $500 that night (not subtracting the $50 Peter Van Kleef took for "door help") and someone -- actually many people -- saw the Zennie idea and actually ordered it.
Then one person, Florence, sent me a nice e-mail stating that she like the libation and the band rocked.
Folks, I did all this from Atlanta; Cafe Van Kleef is in downtown Oakland, California. Cafe Van Kleef became an Internet-famous bar because of my strategy, which I will not yet reveal.
Anyway, it's a damn good libation, which consists of equal parts of:
1. Orange Juice
2. Tequila
3. Coca Cola
4. Malibu Rum
Go to your favorite bar and ask for "The Zennie"
I write "experimental" because if the overall strategy didn't work, I was going to analyze the heck out of it and try it again. But it worked. The band actually made about $500 that night (not subtracting the $50 Peter Van Kleef took for "door help") and someone -- actually many people -- saw the Zennie idea and actually ordered it.
Then one person, Florence, sent me a nice e-mail stating that she like the libation and the band rocked.
Folks, I did all this from Atlanta; Cafe Van Kleef is in downtown Oakland, California. Cafe Van Kleef became an Internet-famous bar because of my strategy, which I will not yet reveal.
Anyway, it's a damn good libation, which consists of equal parts of:
1. Orange Juice
2. Tequila
3. Coca Cola
4. Malibu Rum
Go to your favorite bar and ask for "The Zennie"
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Jerry Orbach - A Great New Yorker
"Law and Order" star Jerry Orbach passed away today, and of the same illness my stepfather is battling: prostate cancer. A real sad loss. When I think of "New York" I think of Woody Allen, Spike Lee, Donald Trump, Joan Rivers, and Jerry Orbach, to name some New Yorkers...
Guys, make sure you get checked for this when you reach your 30s and on. It's all too common.
Guys, make sure you get checked for this when you reach your 30s and on. It's all too common.
The Disaster
The Disaster
Tuesday, December 28th 2004, for me, was a weird mix of emotions. First, I was happy just to be with my Mom and Step dad here in Fayetteville, GA. (I’m also smiling over his feeling better during his battle with cancer.) Second, I did miss Oakland and the Bay Area (and wish my folks moved back). Third, I was very sad over the massive devastation caused by the dramatic post-earthquake swelling in the Indian Ocean.
The count of lost lives seems to increase with each hour, and with no end in site. (But there’s got to be one.) Television and the Internet, and their increasingly convergent use, keep us tied to the unfolding events thousands of miles away, almost as if we were just a few feet away.
Where am I going with this? Good question. Well, my primary interest is in just plain writing out the pain I feel over this massive loss of life. The problem with the rise in the number of deaths is that – to me – every one of the lives represent someone missed by someone else. That’s what’s so sad. It’s also what makes life so special: the bond formed by just plain caring for each other.
I hope that what comes from this, is a refocus on the use of technology for our global community and not for us. It seems the recent trend is to permit us to buy better anti-depressant pills rather than better ways to keep our communities healthy and alive. The chip and the computer have met the "Me Generation" and now serve our individual needs. Today, we turn around and realize we stopped trying to place humans on other planets, let alone predict tidal waves and earthquakes.
It’s not so much that we stopped, as we slowed down. I have a friend whom I’ve known since junior high school. For some time, he was working on the Hubble Space Telescope until the funding for it was cut back. That device, thousands of miles over the earth, helped us to gain a better view of the solar system around us. It permitted us to better map the planets, and such objects as asteroids -- which do run into planets. You see where I’m going with this, right?
We have to start reapplying our technology to the betterment of our understanding of the world and space around us, rather than just to making a better bionic boob. The immediate matter at hand is using our tools to locate missing people in the disaster area. All of us can help. If someone’s reading this, and knows of news of a missing person, or has information on a person they want communicated, post that information here in the comments page for others to see and pass on. Or go to our SBS site at http://www.sbs-world.com and send me an e-mail to pass around (or start here: zennie@sportsbusinesssims.com. The point is that the Internet’s a great giant grapevine, if it’s used that way.
The other thought is that with so many Americans and others possibility over there, especially given that it’s college break, the chance is high that someone there may be connected to someone we know. For example, UC Berkeley has a large Asian immigrant student population, so the chance that people from our university are affected by the disaster is far greater than the American collegiate norm.
We’ve got to help. Someone may be seeking information now. Let’s pass it on. It may seem like a little, but really, it’s a lot.
Tuesday, December 28th 2004, for me, was a weird mix of emotions. First, I was happy just to be with my Mom and Step dad here in Fayetteville, GA. (I’m also smiling over his feeling better during his battle with cancer.) Second, I did miss Oakland and the Bay Area (and wish my folks moved back). Third, I was very sad over the massive devastation caused by the dramatic post-earthquake swelling in the Indian Ocean.
The count of lost lives seems to increase with each hour, and with no end in site. (But there’s got to be one.) Television and the Internet, and their increasingly convergent use, keep us tied to the unfolding events thousands of miles away, almost as if we were just a few feet away.
Where am I going with this? Good question. Well, my primary interest is in just plain writing out the pain I feel over this massive loss of life. The problem with the rise in the number of deaths is that – to me – every one of the lives represent someone missed by someone else. That’s what’s so sad. It’s also what makes life so special: the bond formed by just plain caring for each other.
I hope that what comes from this, is a refocus on the use of technology for our global community and not for us. It seems the recent trend is to permit us to buy better anti-depressant pills rather than better ways to keep our communities healthy and alive. The chip and the computer have met the "Me Generation" and now serve our individual needs. Today, we turn around and realize we stopped trying to place humans on other planets, let alone predict tidal waves and earthquakes.
It’s not so much that we stopped, as we slowed down. I have a friend whom I’ve known since junior high school. For some time, he was working on the Hubble Space Telescope until the funding for it was cut back. That device, thousands of miles over the earth, helped us to gain a better view of the solar system around us. It permitted us to better map the planets, and such objects as asteroids -- which do run into planets. You see where I’m going with this, right?
We have to start reapplying our technology to the betterment of our understanding of the world and space around us, rather than just to making a better bionic boob. The immediate matter at hand is using our tools to locate missing people in the disaster area. All of us can help. If someone’s reading this, and knows of news of a missing person, or has information on a person they want communicated, post that information here in the comments page for others to see and pass on. Or go to our SBS site at http://www.sbs-world.com and send me an e-mail to pass around (or start here: zennie@sportsbusinesssims.com. The point is that the Internet’s a great giant grapevine, if it’s used that way.
The other thought is that with so many Americans and others possibility over there, especially given that it’s college break, the chance is high that someone there may be connected to someone we know. For example, UC Berkeley has a large Asian immigrant student population, so the chance that people from our university are affected by the disaster is far greater than the American collegiate norm.
We’ve got to help. Someone may be seeking information now. Let’s pass it on. It may seem like a little, but really, it’s a lot.
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