Paris Hilton: Knife- Wielding Man Tries To Break Into Hilton's Home

Police At Paris Hilton's Home Arrest Man (Photo from Paris Hilton)

Just about 43 minutes ago, Model, Actress, and Socialite Paris Hilton got on Twitter to share a tweet that a knife-wielding man broke into her home, with her there. Paris tweeted:

So Scary, just got woken up to a guy trying to break into my house holding 2 big knifes. Cops are here arresting h http://twitpic.com/2hrfnm
43 minutes ago via Twitpic

According to TMZ.com, which contacted law enforcement officials, Paris Hilton said that the man, who's in his 40s, was banging on her windows at 6:30 AM PDT, but never got into her house.

Paris saw the man on her security cameras and called the police, who arrived and arrested him. Hilton was told he was "armed and dangerous" and that she was lucky he did not enter her home.

TMZ.com reports that Paris did not know the man at all. It's a fair bet he was some kind of stalker. This kind of person is becoming disturbingly all too common in the news.

Stay tuned.

Old Spice Man Wins Outstanding Commercial

Old Spice Zennie

On the same day that this blogger created the video Old Spice Man, Thanks For Making Shirtless Brothers Cool, Old Spice Man won "Outstanding Commercial" at the 2010 Creative Arts Emmy Awards.

The commercial beat out a number of entries including a Snickers ad featuring Betty White.

The Old Spice Man ad series has attracted 29 million views on YouTube online, and is the feature of an SF AMA conversation panel Wednesday in San Francisco. Click here for more information.

The Old Spice Man Commercial and concept was created by Wieden + Kennedy in Portland, Oregon.

Avatar Special Edition; 67 Percent Polled Say They Will Not See It

Cover via Amazon

It is too early for an Avatar re-release? If a recent and current poll is any indication, the answer is "yes."

According to Deadline.com, an unscientific poll of front page readers indicates that a surprising 67 percent will not see Avatar: Special Edition.

While the problem with the poll is it's lack of numerical reporting - one can't tell how many were polled and it could easily be gamed by its design - the results are still is a reflection of how the public feels about an early release, even in Hollywood, which reads Deadline.com.
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Deadline.com is the website of long-time movie business columnist Nikke Finke. The site really gained traction with her insider accounts of various Hollywood scandals. It has become the go-to online publication for news about the business of hollywood.

Egg Recall : Were Iowa Farms Targets Of Bioterrorism?

The massive egg recall, now into its first full week, involves an estimated 550 million eggs but from just two Iowa Farms, The Wright Egg Company and Hillandale Farms.

According to ABC News, the salmonella bacteria contamination has now sickened 2,000 people, up from just 1,000 people a few days ago. But just how did this happen?

There's still no official answer to that question. The effected eggs were transported and sold under the following major brands: Lucerne, Mountain Dairy, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Albertson, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, James Farms, Glenview, Mountain Dairy, Ralph's, Boomsma's, Lund, Dutch Farms, Kemps and Pacific Coast. That's a very significant portion of the total market of egg retailers.

Given that regulators can't spot a reason for the contamination, the fact that it seems two very key egg farms were impacted, and the resultant giant spread of the contamination, it's only reasonable to speculate if it could have been the work of bioterrorists?

To date, that question has not been widely introduced or discussed at all in the media. And while it may seem far-fetched to some, this blogger discovered a 2004 online document entitled SALMONELLOSIS: Bioterrorism Agent Profiles for Health Care Workers and by the Arizona Department of Health Services.

In it, the section focuses on how the bacteria Salmonella could come to be in the food supply, states that the mortality rate is "slow to moderate," and states that "In a terrorist attack, salmonellosis would most likely occur due to intentional contaminationof food or water supplies."

The document comes under the heading "Bioterrorism & Epidemic Preparedness & Response" on this web page of the Arizona DHS called "Bureau of Epidemiology & Disease Control."

The Arizona DHS defines Bioterrorism as...

Bioterrorism is the deliberate release of viruses, bacteria or other germs (agents) to cause illness or death in people, animals or plants. These agents are typically found in nature, but can be altered to enhance their morbidity rate, resistant to medicines and virulence.

Biological agents can be spread through the air or water or in food. Terrorists may use biological agents because they can be difficult to detect and have incubation periods of several hours to several days.

Salmonellosis is called a "Category B Disease" where it is "moderately easy to disseminate, results in moderate morbidity rates and low mortality rates, and require specific enhancements of CDC's diagnostic capacity and enhanced disease surveillance."

Why Is The Media Avoiding Bioterrorism Talk?

To date, the causes of The Egg Recall have focused allegations that a man named Austin "Jack" DeCoster, the owner of The Wright County Egg company, was a frequent violator of heath and safety regulations. But the problem is the egg recall impacts not one, but two farms. Jack DeCoster only owns one of them.

One listing for Hillandale Farms, as listed online, is headquartered in Pennsylvania and by Gary R Bethel, Orland R Bethel, and Steve Vendemia in 2004. A search for Hillandale Farms Of Iowa at 2128 McCloud Ave. New Hampton, Iowa 50659 641-394-4116, does not return a corporate website. This is the only website for Hillandale Farms at http://www.hillandalefarms.com. The media has not listed the name of the owner of Hillandale Farms.

The website reads:

Hillandale Farms is one of the nations leading supplier of shell eggs. With production facilities in the northeast, midwest and southeast, Hillandale Farms supplies retailers and distributors throughout the eastern half of the United States.

So, we can assume that Hillandale Farms is headquatered in Pennsylvania because this website page lists Gary Bethel as the company president, and is in the same design as the other site related to the Iowa location. It reads:

Hillandale Farms remains a family run business. Company president, Gary Bethel, continues to reinforce the core competencies that has enabled the company to grow:

For some reason, someone has an interest in putting out a lot of bad information about Jack DeCoster, and the media, as was the case with The Huffington Post using Associated Press material, has taken the bait hook, line, and sinker. And avoiding any look at Hillandale Farms in the process.

But suppose it's a cover to cause the media to avoid talk of Bioterrorism? There's no question that DeCoster would be the perfect fall person here.

But the reality is there may be more farm owners who have the same issues, it's just that it really looks like someone at some PR firm somewhere was hired to crank out information on DeCoster. Information the Associated Press is distributing without question.

That's fishy.

Stay tuned for more.

Cincinnati Bengals Defense Preview

Image via Wikipedia

Note - This was originally posted at NFL Business Blog, part of the Zennie62 Blog Network.

NFL 2010 CINCINNATI BENGALS PREVIEW - DEFENSE

By Draftnik and Don Stokes contributing writer Southeastern Ohio region-Football Reporters Online

COACHING

Other than the Head football coach I normally do not point out any individual members of a coaching staff of any team that I cover but I believe a special mention should be made to Bengals Defensive Coordinator Mike Zimmer. “Zim” as he is affectingly called by his defensive players became extremely popular from both the visibility of the “HBO Hard Knocks” show and also the sudden passing of his wife in October 2009. The Bengal team defense closed their ranks and played as a cohesive unit for the remainder of the season. This defensive turnaround was completed with no real impact lineman, linebackers or secondary players in their system (No All-pro or pro bowlers from this group). Cincinnati’s defense rose from ranked 19th in the NFL in 2008 to number 6th during the 2009 campaign. In 2010 the Bengals will employ a 4-3 defense (with a 4-4 sprinkle), so they must get maximum effort from their down linemen, which at times was a concern in 2009.

DEFENSIVE LINE

On the Defensive Line starting from the Left side is 7 year vet 6’3 280 Robert Geathers. He started 15 games in 2009 and registered 3.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. The Bengals could use a 7 to 8 sack season from Robert to balance the QB pressure from the left. On the right side a big return to form will be 6’5 275 Antwan Odom who was injured and lost for the year during game 6 with an Achilles tear. Odom was having a fantastic start in 2009 but his unfortunately his season ended in October. Despite the injury Antwan still led all Cincinnati players with 8 sacks (A Bengal record 5 in one game against GB during the season 2nd game) A clean bill of health from Odom should bring double digit sacks from both DE’s. The Defensive End backups are 6’4 292 Jonathan Fanene who had 6 sacks in 2009 from the Left defensive side. On the right side is 4 year vet 6’3 280 Frostee Rucker. He played in 12 games and contributed with 1.5 sacks. Also seeking to contribute is 2010 2nd round pick 6’6 270 Carlos Dunlap a physical specimen from Florida. The Defensive Tackles starters are solid run stoppers who are both similar in size and strength. From the left is 6’3 320 Damota Peko (23 tackles) and the right is 6’3 315 Tank Johnson (29 tackles and 2 sacks). The DT backups are 6’3 308 Orein Harris, 6’1 293 Geno Atkins, 6’2 325 Pat Simms who led the linemen with 34 tackles in ‘09 and 6’2 297 Clinton McDonald.

LINEBACKERS

In 2009 The Bengal Linebacker play was what would be best described as steady but not spectacular. On the left side 6’2 255 Ray Maualuga who will play the “SAM” (strong side) must continue his growth as an impact NFL linebacker. Maualuga, who had 59 tackles from the LLB position, started 15 games in 2009. Ray had his season cut short in week 15 snapping his fibula. The Bengals were expecting a bit more big plays from their 2009 3rd round pick who was 2009 NFL Defensive Rookie of the year MLB Houston Texans Brian Cushing teammate at USC. MLB was manned by the veteran 6’1 236 Dhani Jones who led the team in tackles (113) and had a career high 3.5 sacks in 2009. The now 10 vet has played with 4 different teams over his career appears to found a home and has now become a solid defender for Cincinnati. At RLB former 1st rounder 6’2 232 Keith Rivers is the incumbent starter. The former USC alum after missing 9 games in 08 played 13 games in 2009 and recorded 72 tackles. The Linebacker backups are 6’5 240 Brandon Johnson who had 58 tackles in 2009. 6’7 268 Michael Johnson, 6’0 236 Abdul Hodge, 6’2 240 Vincent Rey, 6’2 252 Dan Skuta and 6’2 243 Rashad Jeanty.

SECONDARY

With a former All-pro and some possible future ones, other than the wide outs this is the deepest position on the team. Cincinnati’s DB picked 16 passes in ‘09. At the SS position the starter is the former All-pro 6’0 222 Roy Williams. Williams has battled forearm and back injuries the past 2 seasons. He has played but 7 of 32 games since his last pro bowl season in 2007. A return to form by Williams would really give the Bengals a shot in the arm (no pun intended) in the secondary in 2010. At FS is NFL journeyman 5’11 202 Chris Crocker who in 2009 had 38 tackles and 2 INT.

The real Bengal strength is the CB’s. The cornerback tandem of 5’11 195 Leon Hall and 5’11 190 Jonathan Joseph who had similar numbers in 2009 and is considered two of the league’s best. On the right side Hall, who normally drew the toughest assignment against the opponent’s top receiver had 24 pass defended 71 tackles and 6 INT. The left corner is the steady Joseph with 20 pass defended, 69 tackles and 6 INT. Pressure from the pass rush will really make both shine brighter in 2010. A trip to the Pro Bowl in Hawaii awaits both in the near future. The backups are also solid with the return to the NFL of 5’10 188 LCB Adam (Pac man) Jones. Once considered a bright and up and coming star with fantastic talent, Jones (who will also help with the return game) has missed numerous games and an entire season because of suspensions. If Jones can stay clear of these past transgressions the Bengals will get a solid contributor on defense.

If Roy Williams continues his recent injury woes then ball hawk S 6’0 210 Gibril Wilson can take over. Wilson who had 93 tackles for the Dolphins in ’09 and with 13 NFL INT makes Wilson a nice insurance policy. Another backup is last season’s SS starter6’2 224 Chinedum Ndukwe. He had 89 tackles in ’09 starting 12 games. The rest in the defensive backfield are 6’1 193 Morgan Trent, 4th year pro 6’0 197 David Jones, 3rd yr pro 6’3 222 Kyries Herbert, 5’11 202 Rico Murray. Special team ace 5’11 200 Tom Nelson, and rookies 6’2 210 Jeromy Miles, 3rd round pick 6’0 Brandon Ghee and 6’0 184 Johnny Sears rounds out the secondary.

KICK RETURN/PUNTING

The Bengal Punting duties should be taken care of for many years to come. 2009 rookie P Kevin Huber with a 43.2 yard average and 36.3 net is as good as they come in the tough AFC North with the cold windy December months to come. The PR position is in good hands with both Quan Cosby (47 ret 470 yd 11.9 avg) and Adam Jones (4 lifetime punt returns). At KR Bernard Scott (16 ret 504 yds 31.5 avg 1 TD) and Andre Caldwell (29 ret 18.6 avg) who handled kickoffs in ‘09 are the incumbents.

FORECAST

With their recent additions (Owens, Pac man, Bryant etc.) the Bengals are making a strong push for a trip to SB XLV at Dallas. Unfortunately Cincinnati will not sneak up on anyone as they did last season. On their 2010 schedule the Bengals play 6 playoff teams from 2009 (Ravens, Jets, Saints, Colts, Patriots and Chargers) plus the annual 2 game challenge from the Steelers will make it tough. This should test whether Cincinnati is a serious contender or pretender. With the situation Pittsburgh must content with (QB Roethlisberger’s pending 6 game regular season suspension) this should help Cincinnati get off to a good start within the AFC North. A repeat 10-6 record from 2009 is attainable but it will be a reach. This would be enough to bring Marvin Lewis back for 2011 season and beyond. A 6-10 record will surely sign Lewis his walking papers for good.

Jimena Navarrete is Miss Universe 2010; Miss USA Rima Fakih still hot

22-year old Jimena Navarrete is Miss Universe 2010 and represents Mexico. And this blogger has to say, is a real looker, with killer great cheekbones, and lips.

Jimena Navarrete won in what was reported to be an upset, as Miss Ireland, Miss Venezuela or Miss USA was expected to win.

That's too bad, because with all of her cheeky looks, Jimena Navarrete's still not as hot or as sexy as Miss USA Rima Fakih.

Remember Rima Fakih? If not, perhaps this video will remind you:



Rima Fakih had the pole dance scandal and some really baseless and racist views to overcome after she won the crown of Miss USA. She overcame all of that to be a front runner for Miss Universe 2010.

Too bad she didn't win.

Jennifer Ammann blasts Telluride Film Festival on YouTube, Quits

Jennifer and The Telluride Gnome

Something snapped for Jennifer Ammann. After serving as production manager for the Berkeley-based Telluride Film Festival and its Galaxy Theater for 10 years, she not only abruptly quit, but made a frank YouTube video that added up to a kick in the Telluride's executive staff's pants as she went out of the door.

And all of this, just two weeks before The 2010 Telluride Film Festival's Labor Day Weekend launch.

This blogger has only heard good things about The Telluride Film Festival, and thinks positive thoughts about the people involved in it. Thus, something happened to Jennifer Ammann that, in listening to her impassioned speech on the video, may have been related to how well an organization adjusts to a poor economy, and how its staff reacts to those changes.

One thing's for sure: Jennifer Ammann was so into The Telluride Film Festival, her YouTube channel is called telluridegnome "The Gnome's Movie Outtakes," and contains 110 uploaded videos about The Telluride Gnome, which was reportedly stolen from the film festival.

While it's video number 110, uploaded August 14th 2010, that's causing all the buzz, it's interesting to go back through the video collection to learn, to a degree, what was on the mind of Jennifer Ammann. Why not? From the looks of things, video #110 was her last one on Telluride. Here's the first one she made on September 24th 2008. Called The night the Telluride Gnome was kidnapped! it looked like something a couple of drunks made after some film festival love-making:



The rest of the video concerns the "Kidnapped Telluride Gnome" and feature the voice of an unknown white guy with hairy, wrinkled hands. Jennifer Ammann appears in two of the three videos of this theme.

The video set continues and slowly we realize Mark and Jen have taken the Telluride Gnome on trips to various places, like Paris, Miami and Barcelona, and all in some quest to present their film ideas, or just act like fools:



In all of this, the theme seems to be Mark and Jen just fooling around. Take this video:



Digging around for more on The Telluride Gnome, a blog pops up in search called Mark and Jen's Telluride Gnome Productions, a photo of Jennifer Ammann with The Telluride Gnome, and two descriptions, one that reads "THE REAL BEHIND-THE-SCENES OF OUR BIG MOVIE! HERE YOU CAN FIND ALL THE OUTTAKES FROM THE MOVIE AND ALL THE DETAILS OF OUR FILM-MAKING PROCESS..." And another that says "I am the Telluride Gnome, stolen from the Telluride Film Festival by Mark Sgarzi and turned into an international star and beneficent helper to all the children of the world."

Right.

Whatever the case after two years of blogging, Mark and Jen stopped any kind of posting to the blog on February 1, 2010, and without reason.

Then the video everyone's talking about appeared:



One can see what Jennifer's talking about by one look at the Telluride Film Festival's organization. When one looks down the lists of names, a few hundred of them appear.

When you get to Jennifer's name, it's in a sea of 20 production managers. She looks like a fly in the soup, which is what she's turned out to be after the video.

The video itself is literally a cry out for a time she feels has been lost: one where the Telluride Film Festival wasn't the bureaucracy she describes it to be. "The bureaucratization of this festival has taken all the joy out of working for it," she says. "And I don't see it as a not-for-profit, independent, promoter of film art, any longer."

She goes on to say she's "a woman of principals and refuses to work for people who don't value their employees," then says the Telluride does not value its employees.

That's telling, because Jennifer then says that the production staff is the backbone of the Telluride Film Festival, but its not valued and people are "fired demoted, squeezed, or simply ignored due to cut backs and personal grudges. And now you're taking away breakfast."

Jennifer says that while Telluride execs cut out breakfast, "I'm sure you'll be flying business class."

Wow.

What I make of this, knowing a lot of people, players, and stuff, is that, first, Jennifer's film dreams were attached to the Festival. Second, Telluride Film Festival Co-Director Tom Luddy, who I personally know to be a good guy, made have caught Jennifer on a bad day. Third, whatever cut backs are being made, Jennifer Ammann may reflect an idea from some staffers that their needs have been forgotten, or just plain ignored.

If I were Tom, I'd at least make a phone call to Jennifer to make amends and try to get her back. It would turn a bad story into a good one, and give the feeling that the bureaucracy she complained about wasn't so large that directors lost touch with the staffers who make the film festival work.