Rosie O and Frenchie Davis Are Right - Antonella Barba Is Getting A Pass From "Idol" On Soft-Porn Picts - Frenchie's A Big Girl...

I'm not sure that it's racist or a function of American Idol waking up to a digital media world, but they are letting contestant Antonella Barba pass without punishment for all of the racy pictures that have sprung up on the Internet.

There's not just one photo, there's a lot of them, and on YouTube , too. Moreover, either she knew about them and told American Idol or she knew about them and didn't tell American Idol. In either case, the yank job that "Idol" did to Frenchie Davis four years ago could have been done again.

It wasn't.

The View's Rosie O'Donell is right to bring up race in this story. I think some people are brainwashed to only accept images of Whites, or people of color who are lighter skinned. It's wrong, of course, but all too common. None the less, we've got to put a stop to it as a society and I think we are at least waking up to the problem.



But to be fair, there's a bit more to the Frenchie Davis story and it's obvious: she's overweight. And this fact really underscores the fact that American Idol's playing a nasty double standard. It's ok to have almost nude picts of yourself online as long as you're this thin and light-skinned woman, but if you're plus-sized and Black, American Idol's got a problem.

After all, this is the same program on which Simon Cowall told a then-unknown Jennifer Hudson she was too fat. Now that same person just got the Oscar for Best Actress for her role in Dreamgrils. I'm serious. He said that. Now, I'm sure he had the same feeling for Frenchie Davis.

But it doens't mean America agrees with him.

See, in this Long Tail world, there's room for all tastes. The bottom line is this: was Frenchie a terrific singer? The answer -- given her success -- is yes. Why not bring her back on the show?

Simon, you've had your say. Now, it's America's turn.

What's The Limit To The Growth Of Digital Media?

I ask that question because we're all focused on growth numbers, but not what may cause that growth to eventually stop. I know the basic answer is "When everyone has the knoweldge of how to use video."

Or is that the case?

Just because -- well, the question is, when does this become a mainstream activity, rather than a niche process? I don't think we're at the place where we can say it's mainstream at all. I don't see everyone running around with camcorders and iPods, like me.

Well, I don't have an IPod....

Where's the high point? Why?

Report: Online Video Streams Up 38.8% in 2006 to 24.9 Billion

This is from Digital Media World or dmwmedia.com, a great industry website.

Submitted by Mark Hefflinger on March 6, 2007 - 1:04pm.
Monterey, Calif. - Over 24.9 billion video streams were served across all entertainment and media sites in 2006, an increase of 38.8% from the previous year, according to a report from AccuStream iMedia Research.

The data includes both free and subscription services, but leaves out user-generated video delivered via progressive download.

Music videos commanded the largest share of streaming video in 2006, capturing 35.5% of total streams served, down 22% from 2005.

News video was the biggest gainer, as total streams were up 90%, and the segment's share of the total video streaming market grew 38% from 2005 to represent 23.6% of the market in 2006.

The largest streaming video networks included Yahoo, MSN and RealNetworks, while broadband extensions from traditional media firms like Disney/ABC, CBS, Viacom, Time Warner and NBC Universal also commanded significant share.

"Media and entertainment brands fully embraced broadband publishing in 2006," said AccuStream research director Paul A. Palumbo.

"They made more premium content available, that's the key, and fashioned syndication relationships with aggregators who can deliver audiences and began to populate emerging distribution platforms. Moreover, a growing base high speed users and the adoption of Flash propelled the market."

Lewis Scooter Libby Found Guilty In CIA Leak Case - Washington Post

Wow. I didn't think Libby would be found guilty, but he was. I was not paying much attention to the trial, believing that fingers would point back to the Vice President during the process.

Here's the account from the Washington Post.

Libby Found Guilty in CIA Leak Case
By Amy Goldstein and Carol D. Leonnig
Washington Post Staff Writers

Tuesday, March 6, 2007; 12:52 PM

A federal jury today convicted I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby of lying about his role in the leak of an undercover CIA officer's identity, finding the vice president's former chief of staff guilty of two counts of perjury, one count of making false statements and one count of obstruction of justice, while acquitting him of a single count of lying to the FBI.

The verdict, reached by the 11 jurors on the 10th day of deliberations, culminated the seven-week trial of the highest-ranking White House official to be indicted on criminal charges in modern times.


VIDEO | I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby's lead attorney, Theodore V. Wells Jr., addresses the media following Tuesday's verdict in the CIA leak case.
Tuesday, March 6, 2 p.m. ET
Verdict in the Libby Trial
Criminal defense attorney Jeralyn Merritt discusses the noon verdict in the perjury trial of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, former chief of staff to Vice President Cheney.
Graphic

On the Stand
A look at witnesses in the trial of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby and their conversations about Valerie Plame and her husband, former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV.
More on the Libby Trial

The perjury trial of Vice President Cheney's former chief of staff calls up high-profile witnesses.
Evidence Entered in Trial Government exhibits used in the trial in the format admitted in the court.
PHOTOS: Libby's Career Highlights
Indictment: U.S. v Libby
Q&A Transcript
Who's Blogging?
Read what bloggers are saying about this article.
The National Chronicle: America's Ultimate Newspaper
reddiggulo.us - The Most Recent Popular Stories
Slog's Journal

Full List of Blogs (29 links) »

Most Blogged About Articles
On washingtonpost.com | On the web


Save & Share Article What's This?
Digg
Google

del.icio.us
Yahoo!

Reddit
Facebook



Under federal sentencing guidlines, Libby faces a probable prison term of 1 1/2 to three years when he is sentenced by U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton June 5.

As the jury forewoman read each guilty count in a clear, solemn voice, Libby was impassive, remaining seated at the defense table, gazing straight ahead and displaying no visible emotion. His wife, Harriet Grant, sat in the front row with tears in her eyes and was was embraced by friends. Later she hugged each of Libby's lawyers.

A few minutes after the jury was dismissed, Libby appeared coatless outside the federal courthouse with his two main lawyers, Theodore V. Wells Jr. and William Jeffress Jr. Wells issued a brief statement to the crush of reporters and television crews.

"We intend to file a motion for a new trial," Wells said. "If that is denied, we will file an appeal. We believe Mr. Libby eventually will be vindicated."

" We intend to keep fighting for his innocence," he added.

Libby and his lawyers then briskly turned away and returned to the courthouse without taking questions. The trial's outcome may have been a repudiation of the strategy that Libby's attorneys chose by not calling either Libby or Vice President Cheney, his former boss, as a witness.

Libby, 56, was the only person charged in a three-year federal investigation that reached the highest echelons of the Bush White House. The central question in the probe was whether anyone in the administration illegally disclosed classified information during the late spring and early summer of 2003, when they told several journalists that an early critic of the Iraq war was married to undercover CIA officer Valerie Plame.

No one was ever charged with the leak, but the results of the investigation, led by Special Counsel Patrick J. Fitzgerald, ultimately tarnished both the administration and the Washington press corps.

The trial revolved around whether Libby deliberately lied about--or simply was too busy toremember correctly--several conversations he had about Plame with colleagues and reporters whenhe was questioned months later by FBI agents and a federal grand jury investigating the leak.

Source: Jets reach preliminary agreement to get Bears RB Jones THIS IS BIG FOR GANG GREEN-See Below

BY TOM ROCK AND BOB GLAUBER-Newsday

The Jets still have not signed any free agents during this offseason period that began Friday, but yesterday they took a huge step toward improving one of their weakest spots.

Instead of trying to keep up with the Joneses through free agency, they went out and got their own Jones.

The Jets have reached an agreement with the Bears to acquire running back Thomas Jones in a move that is contingent on his passing a physical and agreeing to a contract extension, a team source confirmed to Newsday last night. The trade could be completed today.

If the deal goes through, the Jets will receive Jones, who is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, along with the Bears' second-round pick (63rd overall) in exchange for the higher of their two second-round picks (37th overall), according to the source. The Jets acquired that pick in a deal with the Redskins and would retain their own second-round pick, 59th overall.

Jones had one year left on his contract with the Bears and was due to earn $2.75 million in 2007. If the Jets sign Jones, it likely will be for terms similar to the five-year, $25-million deal Travis Henry signed with the Broncos as an unrestricted free agent yesterday.

Jones was unhappy with the Bears when they picked Cedric Benson in the 2005 draft - he even skipped some offseason training with the team in protest before the 2006 season - but his discontent did not show up in his production. He ran for 1,210 yards and six touchdowns on 296 carries as the Bears advanced to the Super Bowl this past season and had 1,335 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 314 carries in 2005.

A first-round pick by the Cardinals in 2000, he did not begin to flourish until he arrived in Chicago and ran for 948 yards in 2004. He has averaged 4.0 yards per carry in his career.

The Jets struggled to replace injured Curtis Martin in 2006, eventually settling on a committee of backs, and averaged 108 rushing yards per game during the regular season. That ranked 20th; only the Ravens averaged fewer rushing yards and still made the playoffs.

In recent weeks, the Jets released Derrick Blaylock and Kevan Barlow, who once were considered capable of carrying the Jets' running game but were, by season's end, inactive due to coaching decisions.

The Jets will have second-year back Leon Washington and third-year player Cedric Houston to share the load with Thomas if the trade is completed. Washington showed game-breaking moves in his rookie season, but at 5-8, 202 pounds, there is doubt he can be an every-down running back.

Jones is listed at 5-10, 220 pounds. He'll be 29 years old when the 2007 regular season opens.

The deal would leave the Bears with Benson as their top running back. Benson injured his left knee in the first quarter of Super Bowl XLI last month and has 919 career rushing yards in his two NFL seasons.


And My Slant: People had said that the Jets were awfully quiet in not signing any big names in free agency so far. Well here is a blockbuster trade. Jones brings them a legitimate 20+ carry a game runner, which they lacked without Curtis Martin.
Ok, so he is 28 heading for 29. He still has at least 2-3 good years left infront of him barring serious injury, and the Jets have built an offensive line that will block for him. The competition is only getting stronger in the AFC east......

NY Jets Trade 2nd Rd. Pick for Bears RB Thomas Jones

Source: Jets reach preliminary agreement to get Bears RB Jones THIS IS BIG FOR GANG GREEN-See Below

BY TOM ROCK AND BOB GLAUBER-Newsday

The Jets still have not signed any free agents during this offseason period that began Friday, but yesterday they took a huge step toward improving one of their weakest spots.

Instead of trying to keep up with the Joneses through free agency, they went out and got their own Jones.

The Jets have reached an agreement with the Bears to acquire running back Thomas Jones in a move that is contingent on his passing a physical and agreeing to a contract extension, a team source confirmed to Newsday last night. The trade could be completed today.

If the deal goes through, the Jets will receive Jones, who is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, along with the Bears' second-round pick (63rd overall) in exchange for the higher of their two second-round picks (37th overall), according to the source. The Jets acquired that pick in a deal with the Redskins and would retain their own second-round pick, 59th overall.

Jones had one year left on his contract with the Bears and was due to earn $2.75 million in 2007. If the Jets sign Jones, it likely will be for terms similar to the five-year, $25-million deal Travis Henry signed with the Broncos as an unrestricted free agent yesterday.

Jones was unhappy with the Bears when they picked Cedric Benson in the 2005 draft - he even skipped some offseason training with the team in protest before the 2006 season - but his discontent did not show up in his production. He ran for 1,210 yards and six touchdowns on 296 carries as the Bears advanced to the Super Bowl this past season and had 1,335 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 314 carries in 2005.

A first-round pick by the Cardinals in 2000, he did not begin to flourish until he arrived in Chicago and ran for 948 yards in 2004. He has averaged 4.0 yards per carry in his career.

The Jets struggled to replace injured Curtis Martin in 2006, eventually settling on a committee of backs, and averaged 108 rushing yards per game during the regular season. That ranked 20th; only the Ravens averaged fewer rushing yards and still made the playoffs.

In recent weeks, the Jets released Derrick Blaylock and Kevan Barlow, who once were considered capable of carrying the Jets' running game but were, by season's end, inactive due to coaching decisions.

The Jets will have second-year back Leon Washington and third-year player Cedric Houston to share the load with Thomas if the trade is completed. Washington showed game-breaking moves in his rookie season, but at 5-8, 202 pounds, there is doubt he can be an every-down running back.

Jones is listed at 5-10, 220 pounds. He'll be 29 years old when the 2007 regular season opens.

The deal would leave the Bears with Benson as their top running back. Benson injured his left knee in the first quarter of Super Bowl XLI last month and has 919 career rushing yards in his two NFL seasons.


And My Slant: People had said that the Jets were awfully quiet in not signing any big names in free agency so far. Well here is a blockbuster trade. Jones brings them a legitimate 20+ carry a game runner, which they lacked without Curtis Martin.
Ok, so he is 28 heading for 29. He still has at least 2-3 good years left infront of him barring serious injury, and the Jets have built an offensive line that will block for him. The competition is only getting stronger in the AFC east......

Delta Zeta Cover-Up For DePauw University Actions

Rather than take back the DePauw University members they rejected, the Delta Zeta national headquaters put up
this appology on their website, followed by attempts to spin the story.

It's pretty ridiculous what they've done, but this web bit of PR is terrible.