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July 31 Criss Angel's 'escape' revealedHello everyone!
I was surfing the 'net and found something that interested me about Criss Angel.
I must warn you if you believe in his "magic" stop reading the entry.
I'm not kidding, there are spoilers. If you don't want to know, stop reading.
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Ready?
Are you sure?
Okay, here we go ~
Example of greed and stupidityHello everyone!
I was surfing the 'net and found a story that made me mad since we bank with Washington Mutual and Bank of America. You must have known that you couldn't afford a house with a job that doesn't pay well and you didn't even have money for a down payment. I will not be bailing you out and thank god our neighbors can afford their homes so our home value isn't as bad as the rest of the country. Wall Street and the bankers who caused this should be made to pay this nonsense back to the rest of us who did it right.
Friday, July 25, 2008
$625,000 house on a street wrecked by subprime loans?Prices are plunging on Santa Ana's Camile St. But a few troubling exceptions are emerging.By JOHN GITTELSOHN
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
NEW LIFE: In January, Mario and Paula Gomez paid $625,000 for this house on 920 Camile St. Last October, the house sold at auction for $304,500, little more than half what a buyer using 100-percent sub prime financing paid in 2006.The price of a troubled property on a blighted street double between October and January. ROSE PALMISANO It seems like a rare bright spot in a dark real estate market. A year ago, the house at 920 W. Camile St. in Santa Ana was bank-owned, deserted and tagged with gang graffiti, a symbol of how the subprime lending bonanza had blighted a city block. In October, the house sold at auction for $304,500, little more than half what a buyer using 100-percent subprime financing paid in 2006. Today, 920 W. Camile has been renovated, repainted and floored with faux marble. It resold in January for $625,000, according to county records – a $125,000 down payment and a $500,000 mortgage from Wells Fargo Bank. The owners and residents are Mario and Paula Gomez, both garment workers at St. John Knits in Irvine and parents of three sons. The Gomezes also own 922 W. Camile, a home they bought in a 1998 foreclosure sale for $109,600. They are now landlords, and have staked their financial faith and future on Camile Street. "We wanted a place with three bedrooms," Mario Gomez, 48, said in Spanish. But why would the price of a troubled property on a blighted street double between October and January? At a time when America's biggest financial institutions are reporting billions of dollars in losses from bad bets on risky mortgages, why would a blue-chip bank like Wells Fargo extend so much credit on a street where comparable homes are selling for $300,000? "It suggests to me that not all the problems have been wrung out of the mortgage market today," said Paul Leonard, director of the Center for Responsible Lending in Oakland, a watchdog group. "You would expect an institution like that to have systems in place to look out for those kinds of deals." In November, Wells Fargo issued a $289,275 mortgage for 920 W. Camile to an investor who had purchased the home at a foreclosure auction. In January, after the house was spruced up, Wells Fargo issued a $500,000 mortgage to the new owners, the Gomezes. A Wells Fargo spokesman, Jason Menke, declined to comment on the Camile Street loans, citing privacy issues. But Menke said the bank has stiffened its standards in response to today's economic and credit climate. "Wells Fargo makes all mortgage lending decisions based on a combination of proven risk predictors such as loan-to-value, debt-to-income, credit scores and other factors related to the borrower's financial situation, the type of loan requested and the property type," Menke said in a statement. "While this impacts some consumers' access to certain products, it supports our practice of responsibly lending in a manner that is good for our customers and our investors over the longer term."Debt a drug of choice A year ago, an Orange County Register investigation concluded that this block of Camile Street had one of the highest rates of subprime mortgages in the nation. Headlined "Street of Broken Dreams," the investigation showed what happened after borrowers racked up 79 mortgages worth $19million on 17 properties between 2002 and 2007. Records showed those mortgages came from now-shuttered subprime lenders, such as Ameriquest Mortgage Co.,New Century Financial and Fremont Investment &Loan. These unconventional loans featured numerous time bombs that exploded in the faces of investors and borrowers: No-document mortgages – known in the industry as "liar loans" – on which buyers stated their income without offering proof. One hundred percent financing. Prepayment penalties. Adjustable rate mortgages with introductory teaser rates that ballooned beyond affordability. The easy money fueled a tripling of home prices through the first half of the decade. The bubble popped in 2007 when Wall Street discovered that the subprime mortgages were rife with bad debt, a virus that has since infected the entire financial system. Twelve months and at least 13 mortgage transactions later, real estate prices on West Camile have continued to collapse – and yet loans for half a million dollars are still being written. More recently, the money has come from more conventional lenders: Bank of America, Wachovia Corp., Washington Mutual and Wells Fargo. A year ago, Angelita Albarran, owner of 919 W. Camile, said people on her street were endrogados – Spanish slang for "addicted" – to debt. Now the garden where she nursed jasmine and roses has gone to weeds. Albarran has vanished and could not be reached for this story. In April, the bank repossessed her house, because she was unable to pay or refinance the $600,000 subprime loan. It's now on the market for $295,000. The bungalow at 937, which was purchased by another person for $591,000 in early 2006, foreclosed in October. This month, it was listed as "sale pending" with a price of $314,900. The house at 1033 sold at auction in June for $270,000, less than half its value in a late 2006 refinance deal. Ray Braun took his house at 1011 W. Camile off the market after steadily dropping the asking price from $560,000 to $425,000. "I'm afraid I still don't know where the bottom is," Braun said. A renter pays him $1,600 a month to live in the house – $200 less than Braun's mortgage payments. Jose Ramos, a real estate agent who lives at 1052 W. Camile, said he wants to unload his second home at 1042 W. Camile in a "short sale," because he can't make money on rent and can't sell it for more than the $417,000 loan he arranged in November. "I tried a loan modification, but they didn't agree," Ramos said. Ramos got his mortgage from IndyMac Bank, which was taken over by federal regulators this month. Rafael Zambrano, owner of 930 W. Camile since 1988, is a rare optimist. He used his accumulated equity to take out a $334,000 second mortgage with Wachovia last September, money he used to buy a retirement home in Arizona. "A lot of people are losing their house because they take the money to buy a new car or go on a vacation," said Zambrano, a father of four and owner of a restaurant in Orange. "My plan is different. I wait till one house is almost finished paying off and I get equity and buy another."'No money, no problem' Zambrano built up his equity over 20 years. That's what makes the Gomezes' house such a red flag. How could a property in such a distressed neighborhood, at a time of tight credit and falling real estate prices, double in value in a few months? People involved in the transaction denied personal wrongdoing while raising questions about the conduct of others in the chain that stretches through the seller, appraiser, broker, escrow officer, banker and buyer. Orange County property records show that on Oct. 29, Jose Castro bought 920 W. Camile from the Bank of New York, which took title to the home after it was foreclosed last year. On Nov. 16, Wells Fargo lent Castro $289,275 for the property. On Dec. 3, Castro transferred title of the house to Asset Disposition Venture Capital LLC, a West Covina company managed by Sergio Praslin, who signed documents on behalf of the company. Praslin did not return calls requesting comment that were left on his answering machine daily for the past two weeks. On Jan. 15, Praslin signed the deed selling the property to the Gomezes. Mario Gomez said he was surprised when it came time to sign the papers. "They lied to us," he said of the sellers. "They said the house was really $500,000, but when I bought it, the papers said $625,000." Gomez said someone else – he's not sure exactly who – paid the $125,000 down payment. Documents examined by the Register, including papers in the Gomezes' loan packet, did not show who paid the down payment. Emily Ralles, who served as escrow officer in the sale of 920, said she didn't know or care who paid the down payment – as long as the check was good and the parties agreed to the terms of the deal. "It sounds to me like the seller helped out," she said. "If someone gave them $125,000, what's the problem? That's a beautiful thing, if you ask me." For the seller, the advantage of paying the down payment was getting Wells Fargo to cover the $500,000 mortgage – as much or more than the house would fetch on the open market. Wells Fargo spokeswoman Julie Green Rommel declined to comment on the Gomezes' loan, citing privacy concerns. She said a homebuyer is free to receive assistance with a down payment as long as it is fully disclosed. "In many instances, borrowers are able to use gifts from family members or friends for a portion of their down payment, provided the amount and source of the gifts are documented," she said. "I didn't pay any money down," Gomez said. "The man who sold it to me said, 'No money, no problem.' And later he told me I would get $30,000 for buying the house." From an envelope containing his loan papers, Gomez produced a two-page document titled "Addendum to contract" signed by Praslin. The memo, mostly handwritten, said that if the purchase went through, Praslin would pay Gomez $30,000, cover the first three mortgage payments and throw in a 52-inch LCD television. Gomez said he never got the TV. But with the other incentives and without the down payment, the cost of the home would have been closer to $460,000. And Gomez effectively got it with 100 percent financing, something almost unheard of in today's market. Rather than worry about the total price, the Gomezes said they focused on the monthly payments – $2,760 and fixed for 10 years – which seemed manageable. "As long as we keep our jobs, we will be OK," Paula Gomez said in Spanish. But the Gomezes said the broker, P.J. Sanchez, led them to believe the payments covered taxes and insurance, which add about $7,000 a year. Natives of Guatemala, the Gomezes said Sanchez spoke Spanish when they first met, but pretended to know only English when they later called to ask about the extra cost of insurance and taxes. Sanchez, who brokered the Gomezes' mortgage for Covina-based Four Corners, said he spoke enough Spanish "to get the point across." Sanchez said he never heard any complaint from the Gomezes. "There's a lot of buyers' remorse now because prices are falling," Sanchez said. Sanchez said he couldn't recall the details of the sale, but "there were incentives." Sanchez said the mortgage was fully documented and approved by the bank. All he did was put the papers together for approval. He had nothing to do with the terms of the sale. "It was sold at market value, a sale by owner without an agent," Sanchez said. "Whatever agreement the buyer and seller made, it was between them." Sanchez said it was ultimately up to Wells Fargo to approve the terms of the transaction. "The lender's not going to finance it unless there are comparable homes," Sanchez said. Corinne Villalobos of Whittier provided the presale $625,000 appraisal for 920 W. Camile. Like Sanchez, she had no knowledge of the terms of the sale. But she cited four homes within a mile of 920 W. Camile that had sold in the $600,000 range.
"There's no way prices on these houses reflect the market," said Leonard of the Center for Responsible Lending.Distressed sales were the rule In West Camile Street's 92703 ZIP code, the median home sale price in the first six months of this year was $328,000, down 41 percent from a year ago, according to DataQuick Information Services. The county average was $500,000, down 20 percent. In 92703, short sales and foreclosures accounted for 86 percent of the 83 homes sold from April to June of this year, according to Steven Thomas of RE/MAX Real Estate Services in Aliso Viejo. Foreclosures accounted for 20 percent to 25 percent of homes sold across Orange County during that period. Villalobos said she excluded distressed property sales in her appraisal of 920 W. Camile, because they are not comparable to traditional sales. Most foreclosed homes fetch a lower price because they are bought with cash rather than financed over time. Also, foreclosed homes are typically in bad shape compared to conventional sales. "It might look weird on paper, but there's a logical explanation for it," she said. "I have to justify the information and the bank has to approve it. It's really on them." Wells Fargo allows appraisers to consider distressed sales as part of property value calculations, but has no problem with appraisers who exclude them. In fact, said Green Rommel, the Wells Fargo spokeswoman, appraisals should never be based exclusively on foreclosed properties. "The final value should be representative of value between a ready buyer and seller in a normal market with the property exposed to normal marketing times," she said. Ted Faravelli, managing director of the California Association of Real Estate Appraisers, said his profession is as much art as science. He said appraisers might not be accurate, but they need to be credible. And, given today's market, paying $625,000 for a home on Santa Ana's Camile Street sounds incredible. "It doesn't pass the smell test," he said. Things you may not knowHello everyone!
I needed to find something else to share that wasn't horrible and was pleased to find this. I knew most of this but not all of the facts.
In his mixed-media installation "The Land of a Million Cereals," Ryan Alexiev demonstrates how cereal is capitalism is consumerism is choice is illusion. The sheer variety is equal parts ridiculous and beautiful. It's art. With this in mind, we asked him to pour us 11 bowls of cereal. Sit down, grab a spoon and enjoy:
1. "The world's biggest cereal eaters are Ireland, England and America. The average American consumes 160 bowls per year." 2. "Each year, Americans buy 2.7 billion packages of cereal. If laid end to end, the empty boxes would stretch to the moon and back." 3. "It's the third most popular product sold at supermarkets behind carbonated beverages and milk." 4. "Edward Bernays asserted in 1954 that the crunch in the most successful cereals gave consumers an outlet for their hostile and aggressive feelings. Bernays is considered the inventor of public relations." 5. "Granula was the first ready-to-eat cold breakfast cereal, invented in 1863. The twice-cooked cereal was so hard it had to soak overnight in milk." 6. "Kellogg was obsessed with constipation and wrote a book, 'Constipation: How to Fight It.' He enjoyed a daily enema." 7. "Kellogg was a Seventh-Day Adventist and follower of the religious-health crusader Sylvester Graham (the Graham of Graham cracker fame). Kellogg believed eating meat led to masturbation." 8. "Charles Post was admitted for a nervous breakdown into Kellogg's Battle Creek Sanitarium. Rumor has it that he stole the recipe for the peculiar flakes being cooked up." 9. "Post earned the nickname 'the grandfather of American advertising.' He produced the first national advertising campaigns during a time when most everything was local." 10. "For a solid staple, I've grown to admire Grape-Nuts. For a sugary crack fix, you can't beat Cap'n Crunch." 11. "The Land of a Million Cereals" ends Saturday at Mission 17. Gallery hours are 1-6 p.m. Wed.-Sat. and by appointment. 2111 Mission St., Suite 401, San Francisco. (415) 861-3144.
The Land Of A Million Cereals at Mission 17Sun Jun 22, 2008 at 11:38:16 AM
By Catherine McCulloch “Milk and cereal, milk and cereal, milk and cereal, milk and cereal...” Artist Ryan Alexiev’s allegory of consumerism gets a little soggy at his new exhibit at the gallery Mission 17. On the other hand, I left the exhibit with cheerios on the brain. Alexiev, a San Francisco local, explores the history and social implications of cereal consumption through his art. The didactic nature of his work makes this exhibit feel like a lesson on mass consumerism with an emphasis on advertising. Alexiev creatively uses different forms of media to get his message across, and some of his work is borderline genius. It’s one of those exhibits you walk through and wonder if the artist might be just a tad insane.
Though the subject matter of the exhibit is rather serious, Alexiev approaches it with a sense of humor. A key example of this is his video installation titled "The Wizard of O’s Revisited." It's a Wizard of Oz parody featuring Kellogg as Glenda the good witch. In this video Alexiev battles Franken Berry, the symbolic ruler of sugar cereal and mass consumption. Frankenberry plots to destroy the world with his new invention, “the golden spoon,” a mechanical device that force-feeds the consumer with cereal. Raised by Bulgarian immigrants, Alexiev uses his heritage as a counter example to what he sees as American consumerism. In the United States, cereal is the most popular breakfast food. There are approximately 400 different kinds of cereal on the market. Alexiev believes that having this many choices gives people the false sense of free will and individualism. Cereal, in Alexiev's head, has become such a staple food item in the US that it has affected the way people think. Instead of asking someone if they eat cereal it is more reasonable to ask them what type of cereal they eat. Furthermore, the type of cereal you eat apparently says something about who you are.
Even if you don’t buy into the concept behind Alexiev’s work, the art itself is a feast for the eyes. A portrait of Larry King was one of the first pieces in the exhibit to attract my attention. The "Larry King Sh-O’s" was constructed out of breakfast cereal on wood, then varnished. The realism of this piece is impressive, to say the least. It contains a headline that reads: "UFOs: Real or Fake, Controversial Debate over Existence of UFOS, Claims of Alien Abductions." Along the bottom of the portrait are tv tickers that say things like: "Spears Back in Rehab, US Judges Reject Appeal by Guantanamo Bay Detainee." All of this is written in cereal!
The most eye popping installation is the "Land of a Million Cereals," a Cereal Monolith. This massive reconstructed box of cereal is a collage made of the front panels of cereal boxes. The collage creates an optical picture of the front of the trix cereal box on one side of the monolith and a man’s face on the other side. A glass case in the center of the room contains a real human skull covered with Cheerios painted gold. The piece is titled, "For the Love of God." A little creepy, no? But what I can’t get out of my head is the You tube video, "Milk and Cereal, that Alexiev downloaded and displays in the gallery. The video features the song “Milk and Cereal” by G Love and Special Sauce. It's a video montage of different groups of people dancing and miming the words to the song. Here’s a taste of some of the lyrics: “Milk and Cereal Milk and Cereal…Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs…Trix are for kids Trix are for kids...” The clip is a sad indicator how completely we have swallowed the ad campaigns of the cereal market.
What is this world coming to?Hello everyone!
I don't know what this world is coming to but this is the worst thing I've ever heard from Canada. It was just posted about an hour ago.
I must warn you that this entry is not for children; this is very graphic and horrible.
Police don't know what prompted vicious bus attackUpdated Thu. Jul. 31 2008 4:05 PM ET CTV.ca News Staff
Officers speak with witnesses outside of a Greyhound bus where a gruesome murder took place during a trip from Edmonton to Winnipeg late Wednesday, July 30, 2008. Police in Winnipeg said Thursday they do not know what triggered a vicious attack on a Greyhound bus the night before that led to the beheading of a passenger.
Witnesses say a man was stabbed to death and then decapitated in what appears to be a random act of violence on board the bus that was en route to Winnipeg late Wednesday.
At a news conference Thursday afternoon, RCMP Staff Sgt. Steve Colwell said a 40-year-old suspect is in custody and police were preparing to interview him. No charges have been laid.
Colwell would not confirm passenger reports that a man repeatedly stabbed his seat-mate before beheading him.
He said passengers had already left the bus when officers arrived at the scene near Portage la Prairie, Man. He added that police apprehended the suspect when he tried to escape the bus by jumping out a window.
Colwell said the actions of the passengers and driver may have prevented any other attacks from occurring.
"It's not something that happens regularly on a bus," said Colwell. "You're sitting there enjoying your trip and then all of a sudden somebody gets stabbed. I imagine it would be pretty traumatic ... the way they acted was extraordinary."
"They were very brave. They reacted swiftly, calmly in exiting the bus and as a result nobody else was injured."
Shocked witnesses said the victim, described as between the ages of 18 to 20, was sleeping with his head against the window when the attack occurred.
Garnet Caton, who was sitting in front of the victim, heard the commotion and turned around thinking he was going to witness a fight.
Caton told CTV News that once he realized what was going on he screamed: "Stop the bus, somebody's getting stabbed, everyone get the hell off." The bus driver pulled over on a section of the east-bound Trans-Canada Highway -- about 15 kilometres west of Portage la Prairie, Man -- and many of the 37 passengers began to flee the bus.
Caton gathered a small group of people to go back and help the victim, said CTV's Murray Oliver in Winnipeg.
"They returned to the back of the bus to find that the person who was stabbing the person in the neck had now sawed off the head of (the victim)."
The man, with the head in one hand and the butcher knife in the other, then tried to attack the other passengers, said Oliver.
The group was able to exit the bus and slammed the door behind them.
The man then stabbed the door with his knife but was unable to break through and get off the bus. Eventually, he attempted to start up the bus to drive away but the operator had hit a switch, disabling the vehicle.
Oliver said a truck driver then arrived at the scene and handed out wrenches and crowbars to several men. The small group gathered around the door to the bus and prevented the man from exiting until police arrived.
RCMP eventually arrested the man after a standoff lasting several hours, said Oliver.
Witnesses said the suspect was tall, large and wearing sunglasses, even though it was dark.
Abby Wambaugh, media relations spokeswoman for Greyhound, said the company is now working with Transport Canada to review bus security.
She called the situation tragic but said travelling by bus is still "the safest mode of transportation in the country."
Wambaugh also said Greyhound is fully co-operating with the RCMP investigation.
Passengers will be escorted to Winnipeg once they are interviewed by RCMP, said Wambaugh.
Once there, Greyhound will provide counselling for any passengers who want the service, she said.
Meanwhile, Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day said Thursday he was shocked when he heard about the incident.
He said it was "probably one-of-a-kind in Canadian history."
The minister said he's not entertaining any notion of registering knives as dangerous weapons given that millions of kitchen knives alone are sold annually. And this one makes me sick to my stomachHello everyone!
I then found this story that made me sick to my stomach. I have been watching this news about her and even heard the calls from jail between the mother of this precious child and someone else. When I heard the phone calls, I knew the mother knew more than she was telling. This must be it.
Prosecutors Believe Caylee Anthony Could Be DeadWednesday July 23, 2008
 Because a cadaver dog alerted on the smell of human decomposition in the trunk of her car, prosecutors believe a missing 2-year-old is dead and her mother is a person of interest in her homicide. Those facts came to light in a bail hearing for Casey Anthony, 22, in an Orlando courtroom.
Circuit Court Judge Stan Strickland set bond at $500,000 for the young mother, saying the law did not allow him to hold her without bail on the charges with which she has been charged. The $500,000 bond was higher than normal for the charges of child neglect, making false official statements and obstructing a criminal investigation -- two misdemeanors and a class-three felony. But prosecutors argued that she be held without bail. "Not a bit of useful information has been provided by Ms. Anthony as to the whereabouts of her daughter," Judge Strickland said. "And I would add that the truth and Ms. Anthony are strangers." During the hearing, Sheriff's deputies testified that a cadaver dog alerted to the smell of human remains in Casey Anthony's car and in the Anthony's yard. They found a stain, some dirt and what may be some of Caylee's hair in the trunk of the car. A Person of Interest "The risk of her flight if she is released on some low bond increases exponentially, especially now that she's heard this additional evidence and that she is their person of interest," said assistant state attorney Linda Drane-Burdick. Meanwhile, Anthony's defense attorney Jose Baez argued that her bail should be set in the $10,000 range, given the charges she currently faces. He said the family cannot afford a high bond. "This is not a capital case, and if it were they certainly would file it, if they had evidence to," Baez said. "There is circumstantial evidence of a possible homicide, I will give them that. But circumstantial evidence has not made them confident enough to charge her with any specific homicide or kidnapping, or any capital offense." Investigators said they were still searching for the missing 2-year-old, hoping to find her alive. Caylee's family insists that the child is still alive and Casey knows who has the youngster. Here is another story that has more background ~
Tues., July. 22, 2008 ORLANDO, Fla. - The mother of a missing 2-year-old is a person of interest in a case that is beginning to look like a homicide, prosecutors said Tuesday. Sheriff's deputies said they still hope to find the girl alive. Casey Anthony, 22, is charged only with child neglect and lying to investigators. Circuit Court Judge Stan Strickland set her bond at $500,000 Tuesday, saying the law did not allow him to hold her without bail. He set the unusually high amount after hearing about evidence of human decomposition allegedly found in Anthony's yard and car. Her daughter, Caylee Marie Anthony, has been missing since mid-June. "Not a bit of useful information has been provided by Ms. Anthony as to the whereabouts of her daughter," Strickland said. "And I would add that the truth and Ms. Anthony are strangers." Anthony is charged with child neglect, making false official statements and obstructing a criminal investigation. Authorities say she did not report the girl missing until last week, and only then at her own mother's insistence. Sheriff's deputies said Anthony's car smelled of decomposition, and a cadaver-trained German shepherd noted a smell of human remains in the car and her yard. They said they found a stain, dirt and what seemed to be Caylee's hair in Anthony's trunk. A search of the yard turned up no body. "The risk of her flight if she is released on some low bond increases exponentially, especially now that she's heard this additional evidence and that she is their person of interest," said assistant state attorney Linda Drane-Burdick. Still searching for child Defense attorney Jose Baez requested bond around $10,000. He said Anthony's family can't pay a high bond and she has the right to freedom while facing lesser charges. "This is not a capital case, and if it were they certainly would file it, if they had evidence to," Baez said. "There is circumstantial evidence of a possible homicide, I will give them that. But circumstantial evidence has not made them confident enough to charge her with any specific homicide or kidnapping, or any capital offense." Anthony's parents became concerned after her car was towed from a check-cashing business where it had been parked for days. She and the child lived with her parents, and she told them she worked as an event planner at an area theme park. Investigators say Anthony was unemployed, and a purported babysitter seems to never have existed. The mother and child hadn't been home in the month before investigators were notified that Caylee was missing. Investigators believe the girl's father is dead. 'We love you' "I know Casey as a person," she said. "I know what she is for a mother and I know there's only one or two reasons why Casey would be withholding something about Caylee. I believe that it's something that someone is holding over her and threatening her in some way." Casey Anthony's face filled with tears at the hearing, watching her parents at the witness stand and again after Strickland set bail. "Casey, we love you!" yelled Cindy Anthony as the courtroom cleared. Her daughter nodded and sobbed before being led away in chains.
What took so long?
Hello everyone!
When I read this story, my first thought was why didn't someone report her missing sooner, like her kids for example?
Police: Body found in Ala. freezer was mother of 8
Wednesday, July 30, 2008 By GARRY MITCHELL, Associated Press Writer
MOBILE, Ala. — Police believe a body found in a small-time evangelist's home freezer is his wife and a mother of eight, and arrested him on a murder charge as he preached at a south Alabama church. Anthony Hopkins, 37, was being held in the Mobile County jail Wednesday awaiting a bond hearing and appointment of an attorney.
Police said no one reported 36-year-old Arletha Hopkins missing, even though she hadn't been heard from in three years. The body was discovered covered in a freezer in a utility room during a police search of the home in Mobile after a relative of the preacher contacted police. Mobile Police Chief Phillip Garrett said Hopkins was arrested Monday night at at a revival in Jackson, a town in rural Clarke County where he has roots. The pastor of Inspirational Tabernacle Church of God in Christ, Beverly Jackson, told reporters that Hopkins told her he was a single parent because his wife had died in childbirth. Police awaited results of forensic tests to determine the cause of death, but Garrett said authorities believe it is Hopkins' wife. The freezer was moved to a forensics lab. Garrett said Anthony Hopkins, the father of six of the eight children, has been charged with rape and sodomy in a separate case involving the female relative and could face more charges related to another relative. Mobile County District Attorney John Tyson Jr. said the children who lived with Hopkins who ranged in age from 3 to 19 have been taken into protective custody by the Department of Human Resources. Garrett said the Hopkins children were home-schooled. He said Hopkins "kept to himself," and apparently moved from place to place. Neighbors called him "Rev." because he attended church so often, loading the children into a van. Police said he preached at various churches and did not appear to be affiliated with a particular denomination. At the church in Jackson, Hopkins was delivering a message about forgiveness that drew encouraging "amens" from the congregation. Clarke County Sheriff's Chief Investigator Sgt. Ron Baggett said he listened through the church door before assisting in the arrest about 10 p.m. Monday. About 25 people were in the congregation at the time.
Follow up story from another newspaper ~
A small-time evangelist was arrested while he was preaching a revival at an Alabama church after police found the body of a woman in a freezer in his home. Authorities believe the body is that of Arletha Hopkins, the mother of eight children, who has been missing since 2004. Arrested was Anthony Hopkins 37, at a small church in rural Jackson, Alabama. According to court documents, Anthony Hopkins had been having a sexual relationship with one of his daughters for more than eight years. On Nov. 4, 2004, Arletha Hopkins caught her husband sexually abusing the daughter in a bathroom at their home. More Charges Pending According to the daughter's statement to police, an argument ensued between her parents and the next morning Anthony Hopkins asked her to help him hide her mother's body in the freezer in a utility room in the home. Mobile Police Chief Phillip Garrett said Hopkins has been charged with rape and sodomy of one daughter and could face more charges related to another. Hopkins is the father of six of the eight children in the home. All off the children, ages 3 to 19, are now in the custody of the Alabama Department of Human Resources. This is pretty coolHello everyone!
I was surfing the 'net this morning and found a cool story to share.
Golden retriever adopts tiger cubs at Kansas zoo
Published - Jul 30 2008 05:05PM PDT
 Isabella, a golden retriever at the Safari Zoological Park, east of Caney, Kan.
nurses three white tiger cubs she adopted after they were abandoned by their mother at the park.
The cubs were born on Sunday.
(AP Photo/The Daily Reporter, Rob Morgan)
A dog at a southeast Kansas zoo has adopted three tiger cubs abandoned by their mother. Safari Zoological Park owner Tom Harvey said the tiger cubs were born Sunday, but the mother had problems with them. A day later, the mother stopped caring for them. Harvey said the cubs were wandering around, trying to find their birth mother, who wouldn't pay attention to them. That's when the cubs were put in the care of a golden retriever, Harvey said. Harvey said it's unusual for dogs to care for tiger cubs, but it does happen. He said he has seen reports of pigs nursing cubs in China, and he actually got the golden retriever after his wife saw television accounts of dogs caring for tiger cubs. Puppies take about the same amount of time as tiger cubs to develop, and Harvey said the adoptive mother just recently weaned her own puppies. "The timing couldn't have been any better," he said. The mother doesn't know the difference, Harvey said. He said the adopted mother licks, cleans and feeds the cubs. The Safari Zoological Park is a licensed facility open since 1989 and specializes in endangered species. It has leopards, lions, cougars, baboons, ring-tailed lemurs, bears and other animals. It currently has seven white tigers and two orange tigers. Because white tigers are inbred from the first specimen found more than a half-century ago, they are not as genetically stable as orange tigers. The zoo's previous litter of white tiger cubs was born April 23, although one of the three has since gone to a private zoo near Oklahoma City. July 30 No drinking please!Hello everyone!
I don't know where everyone is but when you stop by, leave me a comment please.
I must warn you, no drinking you may spray the computer screen!
Got a letter from Grandma the other day. She writes...
The other day I went up to a local Christian bookstore Boy, I'm glad I did! I was stopped at a red light at a busy intersection
I found that LOTS of people love Jesus! the guy behind me started honking like crazy, What an exuberant cheerleader he was for Jesus!
There must have been a man from Florida back there
A couple of the people were so caught up Praise the Lord for such wonderful folks!
Grandma
Hallelujah and Amen "Hallelujah!"
And the only way to make the donkey stop, is to say, "Amen!"
The man was pleased with his purchase and immediately got on the animal to try out the preacher's instructions.
"This is great!" said the man. With a The man traveled for a long time through some mountains. Soon he was heading towards a cliff. He could not remember the word to make the donkey stop.
"Stop," said the man. "Halt!" he cried. The donkey just kept going.
"Oh, no...
'Bible...Church!...Please Stop!!," shouted the man. The donkey just began to trot faster. He was getting closer and closer to the cliff edge.
Finally, in desperation, the man said a prayer... The donkey came to an abrupt stop just one step from the edge of the cliff.
"HALLELUJAH!", shouted the man.
Would you buy one now?Hello everyone!
I was surfing the 'net and found a business story from MSN that intrigued me; would this work for you? Beloved and I would consider it.
Buy a gas guzzler, get a gas-sipper free
Call it a desperation move or marketing genius. A Florida car dealer is offering a free energy-efficient car when customers buy a big truck or SUV. BOGO in the showroom seems to be working. Dealer Jack Holcomb at New Smyrna Chevrolet in New Smyrna Beach said he's generating interest in his previously shunned gas-guzzling inventory. (And, as you'll note by reading the comments section below, it's not a unique idea. Readers are reporting similar promotions across the country.) We already knew that this is a great time to buy if you really need a big vehicle, because a lot fewer people want one -- or can afford the gas for one -- and the prices have dropped. Meanwhile, the auto industry -- better late than never -- has switched its priorities from making trucks and SUVs to more fuel-efficient sedans. Here's a factlet for you: The sale of Hummers dropped 60% in May, according to Wired.com. "The SUV as a lifestyle choice, as a personal statement, is dead," industry analyst Aaron Bragman told Wired. So, what's an enterprising car dealer to do? Make lemonade out of ... um, leftover inventory. Dealers aren't giving away cars: The catch is that you'll pay sticker for the SUV, or that the thrown-in car is a short-term lease, or that you'll have to finance through the manufacturer. With rebates and manufacturer-to-dealer incentives totaling as much as $9,000 on some 2008 Dodge trucks (and nearly that much on many, many other models), it's not much of a stretch for dealers to dig a little deeper and throw in something like a $10,000 Chevy Aveo, just to move the metal and avoid the inventory costs. This reminds us of the California developer's limited-time offer of a free townhouse to anyone who bought one of his San Diego-area McMansions. It's not the first time car dealers have advertised freebies, such as the Missouri dealer who provided a free handgun or gas card with the purchase of a vehicle. (Most people took the gun.) The offer of a free car has come and gone over the years, but seems to be catching on again. We've read that at least several Nissan dealerships, with the help of Nissan Corp., have a deal similar to Holcomb's. Cfnews13.com said this about the Chevrolet dealer:
Do you remember these?Hello everyone!
I don't usually want to get too personal, but this story made me smile. We lost our last drive in a long time ago but they were a lot of fun. Do you remember these?
Drive-in theaters still a main attraction after 75 years
BY LIZ DOUP | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Here's a shout-out to the drive-in, an American icon forever linked to sexy moves, salty popcorn and starry nights. Families with kids. Teenagers. Couples on dates. And — with prices a fraction of indoor theaters — anyone looking for a bargain. An easy and economical night outAn hour before showtime, cars are pulling into Lake Worth's drive-in. It's Friday night and regulars are grabbing their favorite spots, front and center. "It looked like fun," said Blake Donnelly, of Hollywood, who chose a drive-in party to celebrate his 12th birthday, complete with sprinkle-topped cupcakes his mother baked. "Especially 'cause it's at nighttime." A disappearing American traditionToday's tradition started 75 years ago when a New Jersey man named Richard Hollingshead Jr. placed a Kodak projector on the hood of the family's car and nailed a screen to a tree. In 1933, he opened the first commercial drive-in in Camden, N.J.But it took post-World War II prosperity and a car in most middle-class garages to turn the drive-in into a thriving business and a cultural icon.
For those of you who have never seen one or want to remember again, here is a clip of one. Or you can try this one.
Another company will file BKHello everyone!
I was surfing the 'net and found a business story that made me sad, I like shopping here.
 SAN FRANCISCO, July 28 (Reuters) - Department store chain Mervyn's LLC will file for bankruptcy protection in the next few days barring a last-minute cash infusion, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday on its website, citing people familiar with the situation. Privately owned Mervyn's did not immediately return a call seeking comment. The lower-cost chain, which Target Corp (TGT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) sold in 2004 to a private investment group that included Sun Capital Partners, Cerberus Capital Management, Lubert-Adler and Klaff Realty LP, operates some 175 stores in seven states. Mervyn's, which relies heavily on promotions and discounts on its clothing and home goods, has struggled of late due in large part to its exposure to the California and Arizona markets, where the housing market is still in turmoil. Department stores as a sector have suffered during the U.S. economic downturn, as consumers cut back on trips to the mall and instead turn to discounters such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research), where they can buy food, clothing, home supplies and gasoline at superstores. "You can't look at the numbers and not understand that retailers at every level are facing stress right now," said Bruce Bennett, a corporate reorganization attorney at Hennigan, Bennett & Dorman, who is not involved with Mervyn's. "The lending community is much more cautious than it's been in years." If Mervyn's needs to borrow more money because of current trends in its business, it will be less successful than in previous years due to the stresses on its lenders, Bennett said. Department stores from J.C. Penney Co Inc (JCP.N: Quote, Profile, Research) to Bon-Ton Stores Inc (BONT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) have seen same-store sales declines in recent months, with analysts noting that chains that cater to middle-income consumers are hurting the most. The housing slump, together with escalating food and gasoline costs and tightening credit has put pressure on U.S. consumers, who have pulled back on spending on all but the most essential items. The Journal reported previously that vendors have been holding back orders for Mervyn's just as the critical back-to-school season begins for the department store chain. The paper reported that Mervyn's private-equity buyers would not lose much from a liquidation of the Hayward, California-based chain due to the way the deal was structured. Trendy apparel retailer Steve & Barry's LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this month, coming on the heels of home goods retailer Linens 'n Things, which filed for protection in May. Another stupid lawsuitHello everyone!
I cannot believe how people sue for things that they did on their own.
Arelia Margarita Taveras is a gambling addict, she spent her whole money in casinos and now is owning them like a million dollars! Why? She blames it on the casinos. And not only that, she is suing for $20 million.
I’ve seen this happen to some relatives of mine, they get caught up in gambling and end up losing a lot of money. Ms. Taveras had a good job, she made $500,00 dollars working as a lawyer, an her life was destroyed because of this addiction. She was one lawyer who represented victims’ families in the WTC attacks, and also appeared as a TV commentator also called one of the “21 New Yorkers to Watch in the 21st Century” by the Daily News in 2000. It all began with a simple trip to Atlantic City. The trip was meant for relaxation, but it turned into a nightmare.
“They knew I was going for days without eating or sleeping. I would pass out at the tables. They had a duty of care to me. Nobody in their right mind would gamble for four or five straight days without sleeping,” Taveras was given many “rights”, like permission to bring her dog to the blackjack table, clearly the casino was encouraging her to spend and spend more. I know of many casinos that do this, and this should be an illegal practice. However some lawyers think Taveras case is hard to prove: “How are you supposed to know whether this was a woman who was just having a good time, or had money and was just lonely, as opposed to someone who couldn’t control themselves?” Since that trip Taveras life has gone downwards, she used $100,000 of clients escrow money to cover her losses, charged with forgery and grand larceny at the DA’s office , lost her apartment and parent’s home and now is working at a call center. She says “It’s like crack, only gambling is worse than crack because it’s mental. It creeps up on you, the impulse. It’s a sickness.” So, what do you think? I think is bad for the casinos to do this, but it is also the responsibility of each person to get some control of what they are doing. No one forced Ms. Taveras to go and bet enormous amounts right?
From the NY Post March 9, 2008 A crooked Queens lawyer who bottomed out at the blackjack tables to the tune of $1 million is trying to recoup her losses and then some with a $20 million lawsuit blaming seven casinos for her downward spiral. Arelia Margarita Taveras, 37 - who represented victims' families in both the World Trade Center attacks and the Flight 587 crash in the Rockaways - said her gambling problem was so out of control she once spent five straight days at Resorts Casino tables in Atlantic City subsisting on complimentary candy bars and orange juice. The Corona native and Cardozo Law School graduate was a regular at several gaming palaces - even keeping her dog by her side and brushing her teeth with disposable wipes so she wouldn't lose her seat. "I would pass out at the tables. They had a duty of care to me," Taveras told The Post yesterday. "Nobody in their right mind would gamble for four or five straight days without sleeping." "They [the casinos] knew I was going for days without eating or sleeping." Not only did she lose nearly $1 million, her bad habits cost her the license to practice law, her apartment and her parents' home. On top of that, she faces a laundry list of criminal charges filed by the Queens DA - including grand larceny and forgery - for bilking four clients out of $99,142. "We're trying to work it out so I can pay restitution," she said. Taveras, who now lives in Minnesota, owes the IRS $58,000 and said she has contemplated suicide. It's a shocking fall for the ambitious lawyer. She had represented WTC families in 400-client practice that earned $500,000 a year. And she made a name for herself representing the families of victims of American Airlines Flight 587, which crashed just after takeoff from Kennedy Airport in 2001, killing 265 people. She then appeared on TV and radio to discuss legal issues, wrote a guidebook for women dealing in the court system with deadbeat dads, titled "The Gangsta Girls' Guide To Child Support," and was a regular contributor to Hispanic-culture Web sites. But the stress of her high-flying career led her looking for ways to blow off steam - and she found it in the casinos of Atlantic City and occasionally Las Vegas. In September 2003 she started going regularly to the New Jersey gambling mecca to unwind. She said she also gambled at other casinos but spent most of her time - and money - at Resorts, dropping $850,000 there in two years. During one five-day gambling jag there in June 2005, Taveras says she existed on nothing but orange juice and Snickers bars that staff gave her. A month later, according to her suit, Taveras was playing seven blackjack hands at a time so she could have the entire table to herself, and was losing $5,000 per hour. In addition to Resorts, her lawsuit in US District Court in New Jersey names five other casinos in Atlantic City, including two owned by Donald Trump, as well as the MGM in Las Vegas. The casinos did not return calls for comment. Taveras insists it was obvious she was a gambling addict, and they should have stepped in on her behalf. Paul O'Gara, an a lawyer specializing in Atlantic City gambling issues, said it will be difficult for Taveras to prove the casinos knew she had a problem but ignored it. "How are you supposed to know whether this was a woman who was just having a good time, or had money and was just lonely, as opposed to someone who couldn't control themselves?" he said. A couple of funnies for youHello everyone!
I was surfing the 'net and found a couple of funnies to share.
Please don't be drinking anything; you may spray the computer screen!
 An exhausted looking blonde dragged himself in to the doctor's office. "Doctor, there are dogs all over my neighborhood. They bark all day and all night, and I can't get a wink of sleep."
"I have good news for you," the doctor answered, rummaging through a drawer full of sample medications. "Here are some new sleeping pills that work like a dream. A few of these and your trouble will be over." "Great," the blonde answered, "I'll try anything. Let's give it a shot." A few weeks later the blonde returned, looking worse than ever. "Doc, your plan is no good. I'm more tired than before!" "I don't understand how that could be", said the doctor, shaking his head. "Those are the strongest pills on the market!" "That may be true," answered the blonde wearily, "but I'm still up all night chasing those dogs and when I finally catch one it's hard getting him to swallow the pill!"  Billy Bob's pregnant sister was in a terrible car accident and went into a deep coma. After being in the coma for nearly six months, she wakes up and sees that she is no longer pregnant. Frantically, she asks the doctor about her baby.
The doctor replies, "Ma'am, you had twins! A boy and a girl. The babies are fine and your brother came in and named them." The woman thinks to herself, "Oh no, not my brother... he's an idiot!" Expecting the worst, she asks the doctor, "Well, what's the girl's name?" "Denise," says the doctor. The new mother says, "Wow, that's a beautiful name! I guess I was wrong about my brother. I like Denise." Then she asks, "What's the boy's name?" "Denephew."  Someone saw a blonde eating a Tootsie Roll Pop and asked her, "So, how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll - Tootsie Pop?" Without a thought, the blonde replied, "Beats me, but it took almost the whole day just to lick through the wrapper." July 29 If you eat out, you must read thisHello everyone!
I found this interesting article that shows the real calorie content on favorite items, is one of them yours?
16 Secrets The Restaurant Industry Doesn't Want You to KnowWe scrambled behind the counters, dug under the drive-thrus, and lunged into the deep fryers to find out what's really going into your meals.By David Zinczenko, editor-in-chief of Men's Health and author of Eat This, Not That
What does the restaurant industry have to hide? A lot, apparently. A hidden force behind America's obesity epidemic is the fact that many chain restaurants-which provide one-third of all restaurant meals, according to the New York Department of Health-obfuscate the fat and calorie counts of their menu items, and fight any attempt to shed light on what, exactly, is going on between their buns and inside their taco shells. Last summer, when coauthor Matt Goulding and I began researching Eat This, Not That, we were shocked by how far restaurants were willing to go to hide their nutritional info from our prying eyes. So we conducted our own scientific testing, consulted with nutrition experts, and did some good old-fashioned snooping. In the end, we uncovered countless secrets these mega-restaurateurs had been keeping. The 16 most mind-blowing are below, but they just scratch the surface, really. Since Eat This, Not That hit bookstores in December 2007, it's become a bestseller. And, in one city anyway, the hide-the-calories game has gotten a bit tougher—a new law in New York City compels restaurants to list calorie data. (Similar legislation was first passed in 2006, but only took effect in June because it had to survive several legal challenges from—you guessed it—the restaurant industry.) But, for the most part, little has changed. So it's no wonder that . . . 1. Outback Steakhouse ... doesn't want you to know that the only nutritional information it provides is for its Tangy Tomato Dressing. When we contacted the company, a spokesperson claimed, "Ninety percent of our meals are prepared by hand ... Any analysis would be difficult to measure consistently." Yet, no fewer than 45 national restaurant chains do just that. One of our sources—calorieking.com, which has analyzed more than 55,000 foods—reported that an order of Outback's Aussie Cheese Fries has 2,900 calories, and its Ayers Rock Strip has 60 grams of fat. July 2008 Update: Because Outback has a New York City location, it's been forced to reveal nutritional info. It lists the Aussie Cheese Fries at 2,030 calories. Did the company change the recipe? Reduce the portion size? Stay tuned: We'll be investigating this further. 2. Applebee's ... doesn't want you to know that many of its "low-fat" items have more than 500 calories. In fact, its low-fat chicken quesadillas have 742 calories and 90 grams of carbohydrates per order. July 2008 Update: Since Eat This, Not That called Applebee's out, its "low-fat" menu has disappeared. The chain does have a new eight-item Weight Watchers menu, however—all with fewer than 500 calories. The most caloric dish is the Tortilla Chicken Melt appetizer, at 480 calories. Okay, that's progress. 3. IHOP ... doesn't want you to know that its Omelette Feast has 1,335 calories and 35 grams of saturated fat. By the time you finish eating this behemoth breakfast, you'll have consumed 150 percent of your daily fat requirement and 300 percent of your suggested cholesterol intake. Said IHOP's director of communications, "We do not maintain nutritional data on our menu items, so I am unable to assist you." July 2008 Update: Since Eat This, Not That hit bookstores, IHOP has discontinued the Omelette Feast. But . . . every other omelette at the New York location we snooped around in had more than 1,000 calories. The Garden Omelette contained the fewest calories (1,150), while the Big Steak Omelette had the most (1,490). 4. Red Robin ... doesn't want you to know the nutritional impact of its gourmet burgers. "A gourmet burger starts by being an honest burger," Red Robin's Web site declares. So how come they've refused to provide calorie counts on any of their foods for so many years? And while we applaud them for finally giving up the data (after being pressured by us and others), why did it take so long in the first place? A quick glimpse of the numbers themselves might hold the answer: An A.1. Peppercorn Burger has 1,440 calories and 97 grams of fat, more than you would find in 32 strips of bacon! Add onion rings to that and you've just crossed the calamitous 2,000-calorie barrier, more than most people should eat in an entire day. July 2008 Update: Want to know what's in your favorite Red Robin burger? On the company's Web site, just click on . . . "Customize Your Burger." Hmm, could it be that Red Robin really would prefer that you stay in the dark? And good luck finding "Customize Your Burger." The quickest way we found it: Click the "About Us" tab, then on "FAQ" in the menu on the left. One of the frequently asked questions is "Does Red Robin offer nutritional information for its menu items?" Within the answer is the "Customize Your Burger" hyperlink. Finally, click the menu item you want, then the Nutrition tab on the far right. Thanks, Red Robin, for your . . . transparency. 5. Hooter's ... doesn't want you to know anything about what's in its food. Although chains such as Chili's and Uno Chicago Grill divulge the hundreds of calories in their chicken wings, Hooters blames its nutritional-disclosure negligence on its expansive menu, which contains about 25 entrées: "Because of the millions of combinations available and our desire to frequently give you new menu options, it is impossible to provide accurate nutritional data," responded a PR representative. Our own investigation revealed that the chain's wing sauce (which consists primarily of butter, sweet cream, and partially hydrogenated margarine) also contains such unappetizing additives as maltodextrin, propylene glycol alginate, xanthan gum, calcium disodium EDTA, and potassium sorbate. (Not being able to tell what's natural and what's enhanced has always been a problem for us at Hooters.) July 2008 Update: Hooter's one New York location sheds light on the calories in its dishes, but the menus keep diners ingredient-ignorant. What's scarier about the wings—the horrifying ingredients we listed above, or the fact that just six Hooter's chicken wings have between 520 and 726 calories? 6. Arby's ... doesn't want you to know that the FDA has no definition of "all natural." Thus, chains like Arby's can say they serve "100 percent all-natural chicken," despite using artificial flavoring. Even worse, the "all-natural" smoothies at chains across the country may contain high-fructose corn syrup. July 2008 Update: Since Eat This, Not That hit bookstores, Arby's has stopped advertising "all-natural" chicken. The assistant manager at the Emmaus, Pennsylvania, location told our reporter that he doesn't think the chicken is all-natural anymore. We wonder if it ever was. 7. Fuddruckers ... doesn't want you to know the fat content of its 1-pound burgers. We contacted our local Fuddruckers restaurant and were told that the nutritional information was available on the chain's Web site (it's not). The corporate office later responded that providing such information would be "very extensive and timely." We're pretty sure he meant "very expensive and time-consuming." How's that for a Freudian slip? July 2008 Update: Fuddruckers is still hiding from us. It has no New York City location, and the company is mum, nutritionally, on its Web site. 8. Dunkin' Donuts ... doesn't want you to know that each of its medium-size fruit-and-yogurt smoothies packs at least 60 grams of sugar-more than seven times the sugar in a chocolate-frosted cake doughnut. The fruit purees used in the smoothies are mixed with liberal doses of sugar and/or high-fructose corn syrup. July 2008 Update: Dunkin' Donuts allows full access to all its nutrition facts and ingredients online. But the smoothies are still sugar-loaded. Only the small Reduced Calorie Berry Smoothie has fewer than 60 grams of sugar, packing a not-so-modest 41 grams. Knowledge is power: Use the Dunkin' Donuts Web site to avoid sugar bombs like these! 9. Papa John's ... doesn't want you to know that unlike rival chains such as Domino's, it has made little effort to introduce healthier options. A Papa John's representative admitted, "At this time, we have no additional regular menu items that are targeted toward eating lighter." July 2008 Update: Papa John's has finally disclosed all its nutritional information online, and has made small strides toward healthier options, such as the 100 percent whole grain wheat crust pizzas the company introduced in May. Now, if only Papa would toss a thin-crust version into the mix and stop serving sides like the mozzarella sticks, with more than 6,700 milligrams of sodium! 10. Burger King ... doesn't want you to know that its French Toast Sticks (which deliver more than 4 grams of fat per stick) share a deep fryer with the pork sausage, Chicken Tenders, Chicken Fries, Big Fish patties, hash browns, onion rings, and Cheesy Tots-and that all of those items contain harmful trans fats. But there is hope: After the company was sued by the Center for Science in the Public Interest for moving too slowly to remove trans fats from its menu, Burger King promised to phase them out by the end of 2008. July 2008 Update: Burger King still has not eliminated trans fats. A large order of hash browns has an incredible—borderline criminal, really—13 grams of trans fat. 11. Panera Bread ... doesn't want you to know that the synthetic food colorings in its pastries have been linked to irritability, restlessness, and sleep disturbances in children. And British researchers found that artificial food colorings and preservatives in the diets of 3-year-olds caused an increase in hyperactive behavior. (The same ingredients appear in fast-food items like mayonnaise, M&M Blizzards, and McDonald's shakes.) To its credit, Chipotle uses no artificial colorings or flavorings. July 2008 Update: On Panera's Web site, you can track down calories, fat, sugar, and other nutritional numbers. If you look hard enough you'll find ingredient lists, too—and note that a few items still contain artificial coloring. Disappointing. 12. Chevy's Fresh Mex ... doesn't want you to know how its tortillas stack up nutritionally. The chain says it provides "nutritional information regarding calories, fat, protein & carbohydrates for some of our most popular items"-the chicken, steak, and shrimp fajitas, for example-on its Web site. But the numbers provided don't include an essential component: the tortilla. July 2008 Update: Chevy's still doesn't disclose the calorie count of its tortillas online. When we called a New York location, a server told us he couldn't find that info on the inhouse menu, either, which would seem to be a violation of the New York law. He did direct us to the same misleading nutritional information on the company's Web site. Gee, thanks. 13. Maggiano's Little Italy ... doesn't want you to know just how many calories and carbs you're consuming in those massive pasta portions. (As the menu puts it, "Family-style service or individual entrees are available ... Whichever you choose, you'll have plenty to share or take home.") In Italy, a standard pasta serving means 4 ounces of noodles with a few tablespoons of sauce. At Maggiano's, a large order of pasta translates into 2 pounds of noodles piled high on a hubcap-size dinner plate (15-1/2 inches in diameter). A Maggiano's PR rep responded to our request for nutritional information a week later: "Sorry for the delay, I had to wait for corporate's approval. Unfortunately, they have declined to participate." July 2008 Update: With no New York City locations, Maggiano's is still hiding from us—and you. But we're still watching. 14. T.G.I. Friday's ... doesn't want you to know how little nutritional info it provides. A Friday's PR rep told us that the chain makes the data available for only its "low-fat" dishes-those coming in under 500 calories and 10 grams of fat. Ah, hello, that's three items on the entire menu. July 2008 Update: When T.G.I. Friday's was forced to comply with the New York law, we realized why it had been hiding. The menu is riddled with fat traps like the Pecan Crusted Chicken Salad, which is an outrageous 1,360 calories. 15. Baskin-Robbins ... doesn't want you to know that, unlike Jamba Juice's all-fruit smoothies, the top four ingredients in its Blue Raspberry Fruit Blast are Sierra Mist soda, water, sugar, and corn syrup. July 2008 Update: Since Eat This, Not That called the company out, Baskin Robbins discontinued the Blue Raspberry Fruit Blast. It also began listing all nutrition and ingredient information online. We call that progress. 16. Sit-down chains ... don't want you to know that their food is actually considerably worse for you than the often-maligned fast-food fare. In fact, our menu analysis of 24 national chains revealed that the average entree at a sit-down restaurant contains 867 calories, compared with 522 calories in the average fast-food entree. And that's before appetizers, sides, or desserts-selections that can easily double your total calorie intake. July 2008 Update: It's still diner beware out there. The good news is that a handful of other municipalities are considering legislation similar to New York City's. We won't be satisfied until there's complete transparency in the restaurant industry. That day will come, we're sure of it. Why? Because we won't stop snooping until it does. You can also check out Eat This, Not That on MSN Shopping.
July 28 Here we go againHello everyone!
For those of you who may care, here we go again.
Oh, babies! Rebecca Romijn, Jerry O'Connell expecting twinsBy AMY EISINGER Monday, July 28th 2008, 1:38 PM Looks like the Hollywood baby craze is far from being over.
Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O'Connell are the newest couple to announce they are expecting. A spokesman for the couple confirmed rumors that Romijn, 35, is pregnant with twins, adding that O'Connell "couldn't be happier about becoming a dad." O'Connell proposed to the model-turned-"Ugly Betty" star in 2005 after a year of dating. The two married during an intimate ceremony in Los Angeles in 2007. Earlier this month, O'Connell confessed to Us Weekly that he and the "X-Men" actress were trying to have kids. The actor, 34, also joked that trying to get pregnant had been "a lot of fun for me." Thankfully, all that hard work seems to have paid off. July 23 Beloved is finally coming home!Hello everyone!
I just wanted to let you guys know that beloved is coming home in about three hours. He was due home Monday, but you know when you make plans they don't always work out right? Anyhow, I won't be here on Spaces until Monday. Have a great day, I know I will now! July 22 She was one of my favoritesHello everyone!
I was surfing the 'net when I got home and found this story that I knew was coming someday but she left us too soon.
© Retna Ltd.
Estelle Getty 'Golden Girls' actress Estelle Getty dies at 84
July 22, 2008, 12:29 PM EST
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Estelle Getty, the diminutive actress who spent 40 years struggling for success before landing a role of a lifetime in 1985 as the sarcastic octogenarian Sophia on TV's "The Golden Girls," has died. She was 84. Getty, who suffered from advanced dementia, died at about 5:30 a.m. Tuesday at her Hollywood Boulevard home, said her son, Carl Gettleman of Santa Monica. "She was loved throughout the world in six continents, and if they loved sitcoms in Antarctica she would have been loved on seven continents," her son said. "She was one of the most talented comedic actresses who ever lived." "The Golden Girls," featuring four female retirees sharing a house in Miami, grew out of NBC programming chief Brandon Tartikoff's belief that television was ignoring its older viewers. Three of its stars had already appeared in previous series: Bea Arthur in "Maude," Betty White in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and Rue McClanahan in "Mama's Family." The last character to be cast was Sophia Petrillo, the feisty 80-something mother of Arthur's character. When she auditioned, Getty was appearing on stage in Hollywood as the carping Jewish mother in Harvey Fierstein's play "Torch Song Trilogy." In her early 60s, she flunked her "Golden Girls" test twice because it was believed she didn't look old enough to play 80. "I could understand that," she told an interviewer a year after the show debuted. "I walk fast, I move fast, I talk fast." She came prepared for the third audition, however, wearing dowdy clothes and telling an NBC makeup artist, "To you this is just a job. To me it's my entire career down the toilet unless you make me look 80." The artist did, Getty got the job and won two Emmys. It culminated a long struggle for success during which Getty worked low-paying office jobs to help support her family while she tried to make it as a stage actress. "I knew I could be seduced by success in another field, so I'd say, 'Don't promote me, please,'" she recalled. She also appeared in small parts in a handful of films and TV movies during that time, including "Tootsie," "Deadly Force" and "Victims for Victims: The Theresa Saldana Story." After her success in "The Golden Girls," other roles came her way. She played Cher's mother in "Mask," Sylvester Stallone's in "Stop or My Mom Will Shoot" and Barry Manilow's in the TV film "Copacabana." Other credits included "Mannequin" and "Stuart Little" (as the voice of Grandma Estelle). "The Golden Girls," which ran from 1985 to 1992, was an immediate hit, and Sophia, who began as a minor character, soon evolved into a major one. Audiences particularly loved the verbal zingers Getty would hurl at the other three. When McClanahan's libidinous character Blanche once complained that her life was an open book, Sophia shot back, "Your life's an open blouse." Getty had gained a knack for one-liners in her late teens when she did standup comedy at a Catskills hotel. Female comedians were rare in those days, however, and she bombed. Undeterred, she continued to pursue a career in entertainment, and while her parents were encouraging, her father also insisted that she learn office skills so she would have something to fall back on. Born Estelle Scher to Polish immigrants in New York, Getty fell in love with theater when she saw a vaudeville show at age 4. She married New York businessman Arthur Gettleman (the source of her stage name) in 1947, and they had two sons, Carl and Barry. The marriage prevailed despite her long absences on the road and in "The Golden Girls." Getty was evasive about her height, acknowledging only that she was "under 5 feet and under 100 pounds." In addition to her son Carl, Getty is survived by son Barry Gettleman, of Miami; a brother, David Scher of London; and a sister, Rosilyn Howard of Las Vegas. July 21 Update about RHello everyone!
I cannot believe so much time has gone by without another update about “the ladies.” For those of you who need a reminder, please see my entry, “Update about the ladies” from April 6th.
Here is a copy of the actual email that she sent to us the day before they arrived and she called us. Thank you so much for all that info. (About Allan) Mama and I are coming on Sunday and staying until Thursday. We have been told to go to the police. We will file a Welfare Check for the elderly. We will ask for a keep the peace, which means that they will send a police officer with us to avoid trouble. I know it’s asking a lot but can you go with us to see her? She has known you a long time and we consider you family. They both spoke of you often with such high regard. Let me know if you can make it. I called her attorney, left a message. Called the accountant and they said that they only handed the girl’s taxes. (What she meant was the CPA only did “the ladies” taxes for the past five years.) Will let you know the outcome as soon as I get more info.
Aunt Jean and her daughter did come out two days after my emails and they were surprised at R’s response at Allan and his wife. They spoke to the local police department who said that unless and until R displayed anything that seemed wrong, there’s nothing they could do. They said that she’s an adult and it didn’t appear that she was being abused in any way. I ended up calling Kate (Aunt Jean’s daughter) the next morning to let her know that I wasn’t able to get off work with no real notice considering the field I’m in, so I just asked them to please give them our best and since they had made plans to come to R’s house (who lives just behind us) I asked her to give us a call when they were on their way up. When I didn’t hear from them that day, I called Kate’s cell phone and asked if anything was wrong and how was their visit. That was one of the shortest phone calls on record and whatever was discussed at Allan’s house, sure changed their minds. Kate said that she spoke for so long that her voice was giving out (it sure sounded like it) and begged off saying that she would send an email when they returned home to Texas the next day.
Well, you know that she never did call so after waiting a respectable amount of time, I sent Kate an email (actual copy to follow) to find out what happened. I will also include her response which took seven days!
Kate,
Sorry I haven’t gotten back to you. My mom has had some memory problems and we have taken her to doctor for test. Don’t know the outcome yet. We had a great visit with R. She looked great and said she did not want to return to the old house. She is very lonely without M. I met Alan’s sister and R is very affection with her also. They take very good care of her. She looked beautiful. They did not know we were coming so she wasn’t dressed up just for us. Mom talks to her when she remembers. That’s all I can tell you at this time.
Kate
Then out of nowhere last week, I received a phone call from Aunt Jean. She was really worried about R. and had learned something really upsetting that she wanted to see if it’s true, although she didn't tell me who told her this. I reminded Aunt Jean that I’m not allowed to call R. (per Allan and supposedly R but I don’t believe it) and I didn’t know anything new since I last saw R was in November. Aunt Jean insisted on telling me that she understood that R is now paralyzed on one side and in the hospital. Kate was on a ten day cruise and didn’t bring her cell phone so I sent her an email and she’s due back the end of this week.
What I do know though is that R’s cat. Miss Sophia was given away two weeks after R left since she “didn’t want it anymore” and Allan doesn’t like cats anyway. Allan fired the gardener (rightly so) about a month after R. left and actually has a better gardener although since Allan had R and M’s mail forwarded to his house, he rarely comes here anymore. The houses have not been cleaned out, the garbage and smell must really be bad since unless he did that after R left in November, things must be literally crawling on the walls. Both R and M’s cats regularly peed on the carpets and I was able to get M’s master bedroom shampooed when M had a problem, but the rest of the houses needed to be shampooed and I was trying to get M to agree to do that when she was hospitalized. Anyway, the biggest problem from the outside of the houses with no one in town having a key to the houses, is that when the sprinklers have a problem (and both do) Allan is the only person who can get into the garage where the sprinkler controls are. Since I don’t have a current phone number, there’s nothing I can do about that.
I believe from the bottom of my heart that Allan is waiting for both the real estate market to come back and for R to die so he can profit and sell both homes. I am hoping for R’s sake that when Kate gets back this week, I will be proven wrong! Stay tuned guys, when I know something, I will post okay? In the meantime, please remember R in your prayers okay? First Grissom and now thisHello everyone!
First Grissom is leaving and now the reason I stay up late especially on Monday nights is nearly gone. When Jay leaves, I will not watch any late night shows in this format. I am so angry that NBC didn't do more to keep him. We will follow Jay whomever is lucky enough to get him. Conan sucks!
© AP
Jay Leno Leno's last 'Tonight' is May 29; O'Brien in June 1
July 21, 2008, 2:18 PM EST
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Conan O'Brien will take over the "Tonight Show" next June — and what happens to deposed host Jay Leno after that is anybody's guess. Leno's last show will be Friday, May 29, and O'Brien will start the following Monday, June 1, NBC executives told a Television Critics Association meeting Monday. NBC is angling to keep Leno with the network but the late-night king has indicated he's ready to jump ship. NBC competitors, including other networks and syndicators, are eager to help him make the leap. Ben Silverman and Marc Graboff, NBC Entertainment co-chairmen, were asked about the specter of Leno being hired by ABC and overpowering O'Brien in the ratings. "We really believe in the decisions we've made with our partners, including Jay" and are standing by them, Silverman replied. Jimmy Fallon is poised to take over O'Brien's "Late Night" in March or April of 2009, after honing his approach in brief Internet shows, Silverman and Graboff said. O'Brien will wrap his "Late Night" run sometime in the first quarter of the year, with exact dates to be determined, the executives said. O'Brien reruns will fill the gap until Fallon takes over. This is so sadHello everyone!
I was surfing the 'net and found a disturbing story that made me sad that this still happens albeit not too often (thank god!) What I still don't understand is that she did something nearly as bad ten years ago. Why wasn't she put away for life then?
Woman accused of cutting out baby chargedSuspect allegedly cut open victim's womb, tried to pass off baby as her ownSun., July. 20, 2008 Andrea Curry-Demus is charged with homicide in the death of a woman whose uterus was cut open. PITTSBURGH - A woman suspected of cutting open a pregnant woman's uterus and stealing the baby has been charged with homicide, unlawful restraint and kidnapping, police said Sunday.
Andrea Curry-Demus, 38, of Wilkinsburg, is charged in the death of Kia Johnson, 18, of McKeesport. Curry-Demus is accused of taking the baby boy to a Pittsburgh hospital and claiming it was her own.
A medical examiner says the body found in a Pennsylvania apartment is that of Kia Johnson. Johnson's body was found Friday in Curry-Demus's apartment. The body was positively identified through dental records, Allegheny County Medical Examiner Karl Williams said Sunday.
Police said in court papers that video surveillance at the Allegheny County Jail from Tuesday afternoon shows Curry-Demus talking with Johnson for several minutes. The women were at the jail visiting different inmates, police said.
The clothing Johnson is seen wearing on the surveillance tape was consistent with the garments found on her body, police said.
Allegheny County Police Superintendent Charles Moffatt said the jail was the last time Johnson was seen alive. Curry-Demus had denied meeting Johnson, police said in court papers.
Curry-Demus showed up at the hospital Thursday with a newborn that still had the umbilical cord attached, police said. Tests later proved that she was not the mother.
Police said Curry-Demus then said she bought the baby for $1,000 from the baby's mother.
The baby was "apparently doing well," Williams said Saturday. The hospital would not release any information about the boy's condition.
In 1990, Curry-Demus, then known as Andrea Curry, was accused of stabbing a woman in an alleged plot to steal the woman's infant. A day after that stabbing, Curry-Demus snatched a 3-week-old baby girl from a hospital. The baby was found unharmed with Curry-Demus at her home the next day.
Curry-Demus pleaded guilty in 1991 to various charges from both incidents and got three to 10 years in prison, according to court records. She was paroled in August 1998.
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