Saturday, March 31, 2007
Who is...
Who is...
I am planning a new series of posts, called "Who is...". They will be short bios about people who are making news. Some of the people may be people you know, and some may be people that you don't know. A list of names that comes to mind right now is Paris Hilton, Brandon Davis, Graydon Carter, Anna Wintour and others as the ideas come to me. If you are a reader of my blog have any that you would like me to cover in this section please leave a comment with that persons name. The bio will cover, who they are, what makes them famous, and what they are doing now.
Some people think I have an obsession with Paris Hilton, and that really isn't true, anymore. She is interesting to me, and I am looking forward to detailing a little about her life when it comes time to do her entry. My first post is going to be about someone else though. It took a lot of thought for me to know who was the first person to put this together for, and the choice is Kim Kardashian. She is a friend of Paris Hilton's. In fact there are a number of people who will be covered that are friends of Miss Hilton, and as such I may wait to do the Hilton entry until later in the series.
Kimberly Noel Kardashian is the socialite daughter of Robert Kardashian. Her father is best known for being one of the lawyers in the dream team of lawyers that defended OJ Simpson in his murder trial. She has a large number of siblings, three full siblings, two half siblings and five step siblings with step father Bruce Jenner. According to Wikipedia she is of Armenian decent through her father Robert Kardashian.
Her sister, Kourtney, has been on the reality show, "filthy Rich: Cattle Drive" and currently owns a childrens clothing store in Calabasa, California. While she has been in a musical video for "Fall Out Boy", like her friend Paris Hilton, she may come to be more well known for her porn tape with her boy friend at the time, Ray J. She has filed legal motions to block the distribution of the tape, but as many stars have found more and more once it is out of the box, it can't be controlled.
Her father passed away from esophageal cancer Sept 30th, 2003. While there were times when things were strained between Mr. Kardashian and Mr. Simpson after the trial, OJ said that Robert, who had been a long-time friend, was there for him when he needed him.
While she is best known for her connection with Paris Hitlon, she has had a number of relationships with other celebrities. She was rumour to have dated Nick Lachey, and was married to R&B producer Damon Thomas for four years, according to askmen.com, from 2000 to 2004.
Friday, March 30, 2007
LINKS
.
THE ONION
GAWKER
WE SMIRCH
Howard K. Wins a Big One (TMZ.com)
MICHAEL JACKSON HOSPITALIZED WITH PNEUMONIA IN LAS VEGAS ... (Roger Friedman/Fox News)
MICHAEL JACKSON HOSPITALIZED WITH PNEUMONIA IN LAS VEGAS ... (Roger Friedman/Fox News)
With five private jets, Travolta still lectures on global warming (Daily Mail)
Ashlee Simpson Gives John & Jessica a Thumbs Up (Marisa Wong/People.com)
Ashlee Simpson Gives John & Jessica a Thumbs Up (Marisa Wong/People.com)
Britney and K-Fed Settle Up (TMZ.com)
Britney & Kevin Reach Divorce Settlement (Frank Swertlow/People.com)
Britney & Kevin Reach Divorce Settlement (Frank Swertlow/People.com)
THE SUPERFICIAL
DEFAMER
GOSSIP OR TRUTH
JOSSIP
INTO GOSSIP
I DON'T LIKE YOU IN THAT WAY
ABC NEWS
BBC
FOX NEWS
Albuquerque Police Use Runaway Bride Ad for Recruitment
Michael Jackson Hospitalized With Pneumonia in Las Vegas
Michael Jackson Hospitalized With Pneumonia in Las Vegas
GOOGLE
Microsoft Tests Powerful New Mobile Browser - TrustedReviews
Bono Becomes British Knight -- But Don't Call Him 'Sir' - Spiegel Online
Bono Becomes British Knight -- But Don't Call Him 'Sir' - Spiegel Online
CNN
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR
USA TODAY
Military to use bomb-sniffing robots
British Marine apologizes on Iranian TV for alleged trespassing
British Marine apologizes on Iranian TV for alleged trespassing
MSNBC
SALON
MARKET WATCH
THE STREET
FOOL.COM
CNN MONEY
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Rebecca Riley Case
The Department of Social Services is working to repair a lack of medical knowledge in the wake of Rebecca Riley's death. Rebecca Riley was found dead in her parents bedroom, dead from an over dose is a prescription medication. The DSS is now working to address what it sees as a critical need for unbiased medical expertise for the children it serves. It is unknown if such steps would have saved Rebecca, but any doctor should have been aware that she was in a poor condition. The state was left to trust the word of the four-year-old girls doctor that the medication that would kill her was needed.
Meanwhile more questions are being raised to the authenticity of the young girls illness. One professional has pointed out that the very nature of the living situation it appears Rebecca was living in could have caused behaviors that were similar to a mental illness. The family was unemployed and according to those who were in touch with the family before the girls death, she lead a very chaotic life. Rebecca who was diagnosed with ADHD has many asking if such a child can really be tested and treated for medical conditions of this nature, and if when they are they should be given adult medication, which Rebecca was.
Environment: Well, the environment impacts behavior. If the parents have a chaotic home environment where discipline is inconsistent, expectations are unclear, and negative emotions run high, then the kid has a better chance of showing a variety of behaviors and emotions that could come across (rightly or wrongly) as some sort of mental disorder. If these same symptoms are not expressed at school, then maybe the controlled environment, positive peer interactions, relationship with the teacher, teacher's strong classroom management skills or whatever are helping Junior keep a lid on the problem behaviors at school. So if the kid can keep it together at school but not at home, is this the kid's problem or the parent's problem?
Source
In a separate case, Michael Riley is facing charges that he sexually molested a step-daughter in 2005, when she was 13. The child is the daughter of Carolyn Riley from another relationship, and had been adopted when she was a toddler, by another family, but was still visiting her mother on weekends. It is claimed that the incident took place during one of these visits. Riley is expected to go to trial and face those charges sometime in May. His first encounter with the law was in 1998 when he was charged with assault and battery.
The parents have plead not guilty for the charges related to the death of Rebecca but are being held in jail pending a trial, the are being held without bail. The parents place the blame on the child's psychiatrist that they claim prescribed the wrong dose of medication. New speculation around the case, is questioning if the parents had been drugging Rebecca in an attempt to gain more money from the government, by claiming that she had a disability. The parents do not stand alone, family members have come forward claiming that both parents loved the child. In my honest opinion I doubt that this is a case of intentional homicide, and more a case of negligent homicide.
I feel like I lack a sense of perspective in this story, and I have found a well written opinion, that should be read to understand why the mothers actions may be understandable, not excusable - understandable.
It will be easy for the public to find Caroline Riley guilty for the death of her daughter. She will be blamed for marrying a violent man, for having kids with him, for having once taken up with someone who turned out to be a sex offender, for having a child with that guy, for not leaving Michael Riley, for letting Riley move back in, for forgiving him one too many times. People figure if anybody should know what’s what, Caroline’s mother should, when in fact, as battered women will and do, Caroline obviously protected her husband (and herself and her kids) and didn’t tell the truth about him, even to her mom. People will read the facts as I’ve outlined them and will conclude differently than I have, will see the oversize shoes and “inappropriate” clothes as part and parcel of the abuse which caused Rebecca’s death. It will be easier for people to blame Caroline for marrying Michael than it will be to blame Michael for his violence and battering. It will be easier to agree with the grandmothers that the rape charges “weren’t true,” than to believe that they were.I hope to be able to stay on this story as it unfolds and bring the story to you. The thing to remember is that a child lost their life here, and she didn't have to. What could have been done and what should have been done should be the questions we are asking here. The parents hold blame, and that is for the courts to decide, if it is shown that they are criminally guilty, they will serve their time. Rebecca will never come back to life, but understanding what went wrong in her case may enable the saving of other children.
Source
The Spin Zone...
Circuit City has a bold new plan for saving money as it faces loses. While some companies can relocate jobs to other countries, retailers cannot do this for sales clerks. Circuit City on the other hand is trying to bring out-sourcing benefits to its stores across the country. It is doing that by laying off 3,400 of its highest paid cashiers and replacing them with lower paid workers. As someone who has worked a great deal in the guest service industry in a variety of ways, and my readers who have done so may agree, this is a bad idea. In the new market, the thing that is going to make your business stand out from the rest more than anything else is top level customer service. Wal-Mart and K-Mart are doing a great job of cornering the market on sales based on income, by which I mean that those who are looking for low prices are likely to head to one of these well known chains. In order to put your brand into someones mind, and to encourage customer traffic, the image of the brand is becoming more and more important. The best way to polish a brand that is weak, is to bring in a level of customer service that attracts customers. As a shopper I have been to Circuit City, and I have been to Best Buy, when I went to Circuit City I got little help when I was attempting to purchase a lap-top. When I went to Best Buy, I got a great deal of help in selecting the camera that was best for me. What Circuit City has done in laying off its high paid workers, and replace them with lower paid workers, is to take workers that have experience, developed skill and training in customer service, with workers that will provide lower quality service. The electronic industry is an industry that is very reliant on customer service, when I go to buy a lap-top, or a camera, there is a lot of information that is confusing to me (and I know a good deal), when a customer is confused they are less likely to buy. With high quality customer service helping customers to understand the products that they are searching for, and what was best for them, they are more likely to buy something and feel good about doing it. According to MSNBC, my experience could be justified in the fact that Best Buy is the number one seller, and Circuit City is number two.
On the other hand there is a company that is making what I think it a good choice, and a choice long in coming. The Post Office is now selling what are labeled "forever" stamps. These stamps, that will go on sale April 14th, will sell for 41 cents. The stamps will be good forever, even if the price of stamps goes up. What the hope is that it will prompt sales of stamps, since it removes the concern that stamps purchased today may not be enough postage to mail a letter on a later date. In the past, as stamp prices have increased it meant the purchase of new stamps, or the purchase of one and two cent stamps and putting them on the letter with the lower value stamp.
McDonalds has taken a number of steps recently to reach out to a market of consumers more concerned about the health of the food that they eat. Now with its new product it is taking aim at a market on the other end of the dietary scale, aiming at those who seem less concerned about the amount of fat and red meat that they eat. The newest product that it is putting out is bigger than its quarter pounder, at a third of a pound. The Angus Third Pounder, will be the largest burger that it has ever served. McDonalds is actually following the crowd on this, Carl's JR, and Burger King, already have similar product that is doing well for those companies.
On the other hand there is a company that is making what I think it a good choice, and a choice long in coming. The Post Office is now selling what are labeled "forever" stamps. These stamps, that will go on sale April 14th, will sell for 41 cents. The stamps will be good forever, even if the price of stamps goes up. What the hope is that it will prompt sales of stamps, since it removes the concern that stamps purchased today may not be enough postage to mail a letter on a later date. In the past, as stamp prices have increased it meant the purchase of new stamps, or the purchase of one and two cent stamps and putting them on the letter with the lower value stamp.
McDonalds has taken a number of steps recently to reach out to a market of consumers more concerned about the health of the food that they eat. Now with its new product it is taking aim at a market on the other end of the dietary scale, aiming at those who seem less concerned about the amount of fat and red meat that they eat. The newest product that it is putting out is bigger than its quarter pounder, at a third of a pound. The Angus Third Pounder, will be the largest burger that it has ever served. McDonalds is actually following the crowd on this, Carl's JR, and Burger King, already have similar product that is doing well for those companies.
LINKS
.
FOX NEWS
Family of Molested Girl Leaves Church After Helping Attacker
Castro Blasts U.S. Biofuel Plans in Article
FOX 411: Did Too Much Caffeine Kill Anna Nicole Smith?
Bono Knighted by British Empire
Qwest, AT&T, Verizon Win $48 Billion Gov't Telecom Contract
Missing Washington Kids Spotted at Montana McDonald's
Sorority Accused of Expelling Ugly Members Sues DePauw
Woman Visiting Husband in South Korea Makes 911 Call to Ill.
Wynonna Judd Seeks Divorce After Husband Arrested
ABC NEWS
EXCLUSIVE: Rudy Giuliani 'Couldn't Have A Better Adviser' Than Wife Judith
Saudi King Criticizes Arab Divisiveness
Witnesses: Bombs Dropped in Mogadishu
J.Lo Promotes New Album in the Bronx
Last Female WWI Vet Dies at 109
CNN
Intel plans stronger chips, no added power use
MySpace gets date with Eisner
GDP growth revised up
T.J. Maxx owner: 46M card numbers stolen
Why CEOs love Rwanda
Toyota offers $1,000 incentive on Tundra
Nasdaq turns negative for '07
Sirius TV in the backseat of Chrysler cars
AT&T, Verizon, Qwest win major telecom contract
Oil sends stocks lower
Who might win from global warming
The mysterious death of honeybees
Students log off of MySpace for Lent
Prince's girlfriend makes press complaint
MSNBC
The dirty secret about clean cars
Woman abandoned 3 newborns
Castro condemns U.S. biofuel plans
Iran: U.K. sailor wants troops out of Iraq
Bombs reportedly hit Mogadishu
Blog: Iraq, a nation of widows
USA TODAY
Iran halts female sailor's release as Britain seeks U.N. condemnation
Senate OKs Iraq troop withdrawal bill
Return of ancient golden wreath fires Greek hopes for Parthenon Marbles
Putin calls for space industry boost
Witnesses: Bombs dropped in Somalia
Arabs to Israel: Trade land for peace
Detainee denies money ties to 9/11 hijackers
Bush to award black pilots top civilian medal
Japan's quake survivors give $200K to N.O. kids
GOOGLE
Children Found, Father Arrested In Amber Alert - KPTV.com
Did Global Warming Trigger Rise Of Mammals? - Life Style Extra
Britain pushes for international help in Iran row - Khaleej Times
Castro criticizes US over biofuel - The Kindred Times
AT&T, Verizon, Qwest Can Bid on $20 Billion Contract (Update2) - Bloomberg
Iranians now say they won't release female British sailor - USA Today
BBC
Saudi: US Iraq presence illegal
China may stop 'dragon project'
Helicopters fire on Somali market
Russia, China aim for Red Planet
Crocker is new US Iraq envoy
Net phone service rules announced
Humbled Indian team returns home
Many planets may have double suns
Bono gets honorary knighthood
Powerful tornados kill four in US
FOOL.COM
XM Wants You
A Double Take at DoubleClick
More Than Just China.com
Quick Take: Costco's CEO Makes Things Right
Citigroup May Start Shedding
Google Translates Into Revenues
THE STREET
Don't Buy the Web Widget Hype
5 Ways You're Wasting Money, Not Saving It
TheStreet.com Ratings: Stock Upgrades, Downgrades
Wet Seal's Loss Swells
Crude Heads Toward $66
MARKET WATCH
Bellwethers rise on broader strength for technology stocks
U.S. fourth-quarter economic growth revised up to 2.5% rate
Gold falls, but holds above $660 near the day's end
Treasurys fall after unexpected upward revision in GDP
Initial jobless claims hit lowest in more than two months
Sprint Nextel, Canada's BCE lead telecom sector higher
U.S. mortgage rates mostly stay put in latest week
Subprime lending woes bring some bargains in stocks
AT&T, Verizon, Qwest are big winners
Agere says Microsoft lifted VoIP technology
Intel takes aim at AMD chip architecture
Toyota adds more incentives to boost Tundra sales
Airline rally peters out with oil futures up by $2 a barrel
KOTTKE
Best short description I've read of what net neutrality is,...
Driving directions from New York City to Dublin, Ireland, courtesy...
DEFAMER
Anna Nicole Smith Round-Up: It Never Ends
THE SUPERFICIAL
Courtney Love lost some weight
WE SMIRCH
Britney's Back At The Dentist - For the second time in under a week ... (Access Hollywood)
NATIONAL ENQUIRER EXCLUSIVE: CHRIS ROCK LOVE CHILD SCANDAL - COURT PAPERS FILED (National Enquirer)
I DON'T LIKE YOU IN THAT WAY
Britney Spears is Still a Wonderful Mother
JOSSIP
quoted-halle-berry-admits-to-contemplating-suicide-shares-what-kept-her-going
INTO GOSSIP
Jennifer Garner is A Wreck Without Baby Violet
Olsen Twins Planning To Have Matching Nose Jobs
GAWKER
Matt Drudge's Perfect Storm
CELEB SOURCE
The Olsens Want Nose Jobs
FOX NEWS
Family of Molested Girl Leaves Church After Helping Attacker
Castro Blasts U.S. Biofuel Plans in Article
FOX 411: Did Too Much Caffeine Kill Anna Nicole Smith?
Bono Knighted by British Empire
Qwest, AT&T, Verizon Win $48 Billion Gov't Telecom Contract
Missing Washington Kids Spotted at Montana McDonald's
Sorority Accused of Expelling Ugly Members Sues DePauw
Woman Visiting Husband in South Korea Makes 911 Call to Ill.
Wynonna Judd Seeks Divorce After Husband Arrested
ABC NEWS
EXCLUSIVE: Rudy Giuliani 'Couldn't Have A Better Adviser' Than Wife Judith
Saudi King Criticizes Arab Divisiveness
Witnesses: Bombs Dropped in Mogadishu
J.Lo Promotes New Album in the Bronx
Last Female WWI Vet Dies at 109
CNN
Intel plans stronger chips, no added power use
MySpace gets date with Eisner
GDP growth revised up
T.J. Maxx owner: 46M card numbers stolen
Why CEOs love Rwanda
Toyota offers $1,000 incentive on Tundra
Nasdaq turns negative for '07
Sirius TV in the backseat of Chrysler cars
AT&T, Verizon, Qwest win major telecom contract
Oil sends stocks lower
Who might win from global warming
The mysterious death of honeybees
Students log off of MySpace for Lent
Prince's girlfriend makes press complaint
MSNBC
The dirty secret about clean cars
Woman abandoned 3 newborns
Castro condemns U.S. biofuel plans
Iran: U.K. sailor wants troops out of Iraq
Bombs reportedly hit Mogadishu
Blog: Iraq, a nation of widows
USA TODAY
Iran halts female sailor's release as Britain seeks U.N. condemnation
Senate OKs Iraq troop withdrawal bill
Return of ancient golden wreath fires Greek hopes for Parthenon Marbles
Putin calls for space industry boost
Witnesses: Bombs dropped in Somalia
Arabs to Israel: Trade land for peace
Detainee denies money ties to 9/11 hijackers
Bush to award black pilots top civilian medal
Japan's quake survivors give $200K to N.O. kids
Children Found, Father Arrested In Amber Alert - KPTV.com
Did Global Warming Trigger Rise Of Mammals? - Life Style Extra
Britain pushes for international help in Iran row - Khaleej Times
Castro criticizes US over biofuel - The Kindred Times
AT&T, Verizon, Qwest Can Bid on $20 Billion Contract (Update2) - Bloomberg
Iranians now say they won't release female British sailor - USA Today
BBC
Saudi: US Iraq presence illegal
China may stop 'dragon project'
Helicopters fire on Somali market
Russia, China aim for Red Planet
Crocker is new US Iraq envoy
Net phone service rules announced
Humbled Indian team returns home
Many planets may have double suns
Bono gets honorary knighthood
Powerful tornados kill four in US
FOOL.COM
XM Wants You
A Double Take at DoubleClick
More Than Just China.com
Quick Take: Costco's CEO Makes Things Right
Citigroup May Start Shedding
Google Translates Into Revenues
THE STREET
Don't Buy the Web Widget Hype
5 Ways You're Wasting Money, Not Saving It
TheStreet.com Ratings: Stock Upgrades, Downgrades
Wet Seal's Loss Swells
Crude Heads Toward $66
MARKET WATCH
Bellwethers rise on broader strength for technology stocks
U.S. fourth-quarter economic growth revised up to 2.5% rate
Gold falls, but holds above $660 near the day's end
Treasurys fall after unexpected upward revision in GDP
Initial jobless claims hit lowest in more than two months
Sprint Nextel, Canada's BCE lead telecom sector higher
U.S. mortgage rates mostly stay put in latest week
Subprime lending woes bring some bargains in stocks
AT&T, Verizon, Qwest are big winners
Agere says Microsoft lifted VoIP technology
Intel takes aim at AMD chip architecture
Toyota adds more incentives to boost Tundra sales
Airline rally peters out with oil futures up by $2 a barrel
KOTTKE
Best short description I've read of what net neutrality is,...
Driving directions from New York City to Dublin, Ireland, courtesy...
DEFAMER
Anna Nicole Smith Round-Up: It Never Ends
THE SUPERFICIAL
Courtney Love lost some weight
WE SMIRCH
Britney's Back At The Dentist - For the second time in under a week ... (Access Hollywood)
NATIONAL ENQUIRER EXCLUSIVE: CHRIS ROCK LOVE CHILD SCANDAL - COURT PAPERS FILED (National Enquirer)
I DON'T LIKE YOU IN THAT WAY
Britney Spears is Still a Wonderful Mother
JOSSIP
quoted-halle-berry-admits-to-contemplating-suicide-shares-what-kept-her-going
INTO GOSSIP
Jennifer Garner is A Wreck Without Baby Violet
Olsen Twins Planning To Have Matching Nose Jobs
GAWKER
Matt Drudge's Perfect Storm
CELEB SOURCE
The Olsens Want Nose Jobs
LINKS
.
THE ONION
CELEB NEWS WIRE
Jane Pratt and Drew Barrymore Totally Did It! With Each Other!
Lindsay to Dad: "I Liked You Better as a Convict"
Lindsay to Dad: "I Liked You Better as a Convict"
GOSSIP OR TRUTH
DEFAMER
INTO GOSSIP
POPSUGAR
WE SMIRCH
GAWKER
JOSSIP
THE SUPERFICIAL
I DON'T LIKE YOU IN THAT WAY
ABC NEWS
GOOGLE
FOX NEWS
BBC
USA TODAY
MSNBC
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR
CNN
THE STREET
MARKET WATCH
FOOL.COM
SALON
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