Thursday, July 9, 2009
Fans Line Up To Honor Slain Ex-NFL QB McNair
Fans lined up outside a funeral home before work Thursday to pay their respects to ex-NFL quarterback Steve McNair.
Anissa Rhodes wipes away tears as she watches a video about the career of Steve McNair at LP Field in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, July 8, 2009.
Inside the building, a closed silvery-gray casket sat next to a photograph of the former Tennessee Titans star.
A line formed around the corner and many mourners showed up wearing Tennessee Titans jerseys and T-shirts to pay their respects to a man they say was a leader of the team.
Former teammate Derrick Lewis said McNair "put the Titans on the map."
Lewis, wearing a jersey, said he and his family were devastated when they learned of McNair's death. Police have said McNair, 36, was shot four times July 4 by a girlfriend who then killed herself in a condo McNair shared with a friend.
"Myself and my family were completely shocked and some of us were crying because you almost feel like you are related," Lewis said.
Annetta Moore brought her grandson, Darrien James, 9, and granddaughter Olivia Cole, 11, to the funeral home and said she planned to take them to LP Field for another public memorial Thursday.
Moore said it wasn't uncommon to see McNair hanging out around town.
"I think he just blended right in with everybody," Moore said.
The Tennessee Titans have also opened LP Field to the public, where a video tribute to McNair is being shown and fans can write messages in a book for McNair's family.
McNair's wife, close friends and ex-teammates are expected at a memorial service Thursday night at Mount Zion Baptist Church where the family has attended since moving to Nashville in 1997.
John Ensign's parents paid $96k to his mistress
Sen. John Ensign's parents shelled out big bucks to pay off their son's mistress, the latest twist in an unfolding scandal that has upended the political career of the one-time rising GOP star.
The scandal has also touched Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), another prominent conservative, who revealed that he had confronted Ensign about the affair and urged him to end it, but says he will refuse to divulge any conversations with Ensign — even under inquiry from ethics investigators.
On Thursday, Ensign's attorney said that the senator's parents gave Doug Hampton, Cynthia Hampton and their two children gifts worth $96,000 in the form of a check. The attorney, Paul Coggins, said that each gift was limited to $12,000 and "complied with tax rules governing gifts."
The disclosure of the April 2008 payment seemed intended to head off growing questions about whether Ensign violated federal law by failing to report what Doug Hampton called a severance package worth more than $25,000 to his wife Cynthia, who left Ensign's campaign staff on April 30, 2008.
Ensign was not required to report the giving of such gifts, and on Thursday, his attorney went to lengths to point out that the payments were made and "accepted" as gifts from personal accounts rather than as a severance package for their dismissal from his staff. It's unclear whether the Hamptons view the payments as a gift or as severance, and an attorney for the couple wasn't reachable for comment.
The revelations of the payoff came as the scandal - quiet for several weeks - blossomed anew as Doug Hampton, the husband of Ensign's mistress Cynthia, told a Nevada television show this week that Ensign left his family in shambles by relentlessly pursuing his wife, even after writing a February 2008 letter purporting to break off the affair. The nine-month affair ended in August 2008 - some three months after the time both Hamptons left Ensign's staff.
The sex scandal has already cost Ensign his position as the No. 4 Republican in Senate leadership and ended any hope he had of pursuing the 2012 GOP presidential nomination.
Hampton said that Coburn and other peers were involved in talks to urge Ensign to pay Hampton for the damage he caused his family - including potentially giving him "millions" of dollars. Coburn has denied the charge.
"This was at the request of Tom Coburn and some people to try and help them manage John," Hampton said Wednesday of the talk about payments, which he said were necessary because Ensign continued to "pursue" his wife and left his family in financial shambles.
"I didn't talk to John Ensign personally at all. Our attorneys did talk. Our attorneys absolutely talked, because Senator Tom Coburn asked and was involved in these negotiations out of good will and good faith," Hampton said earlier in the broadcast.
Jon Ralston, a Las Vegas Sun columnist who interviewed Hampton, asked: "Tom Coburn, a U.S. Senator, told John Ensign, 'Listen, you've got to deal with this. Make these folks whole. Let them get out of your life. And, let's move on. Isn't that exactly what happened?"
Hampton responded: "Absolutely."
The second-part of the interview airs Thursday night.
Thursday morning, Coburn responded fiercely to Hampton, saying the former aide had misled the press and the public - and he said that any advice that he gave Ensign at the time of the affair was privileged because of his occupation as a physician and an ordained deacon.
"I'm not going to go into that - that's privileged communications. I'm never going to talk about that with anybody. . . I never will, not to a court of law, not to an Ethics Committee, not to anybody - because that is privileged communication that I will never reveal to anybody."
"He is in error, and he's manipulating the situation and you are all buying it," Coburn said.
Whether Coburn's claim of patient or clerical privacy would hold up in a legal or ethics case is murky, according to several legal experts.
Coburn acknowledged being present during a February 2008 confrontation when Hampton urged Ensign to break off the affair with his wife. But he said he did not take part in pressing Ensign to write the letter to Hampton's wife, as Hampton suggested in his interview, and "categorically denied" being involved in talks about payments to Hampton.
"Dr. Coburn did everything he could to encourage Sen. Ensign to end his affair and to persuade Sen. Ensign to repair the damage he had caused to his own marriage and the Hampton's marriage," Coburn's office said in a statement Wednesday. "Had Sen. Ensign followed Dr. Coburn's advice, this episode would have ended, and been made public, long ago."
But Coburn's office did not respond to an inquiry on why he supported Ensign for chairman of the Republican Policy Committee - the No. 4 position in GOP leadership - right after the 2008 elections even though he knew of the affair. Ten years ago, Coburn criticized Bob Livingston for seeking the position of House speaker without first telling his colleagues that he had an extramarital affair.
But in the immediate cross-hairs is Ensign, who is facing calls from the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington for a Senate Ethics Committee investigation and a Justice Department criminal investigation.
Leaders of the Senate Ethics Committee said it was their policy not to discuss possible investigations. Asked if his fellow Nevadan should face an ethics inquiry, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Thursday: "I am not answering questions about John Ensign."
Melanie Sloan, head of CREW, said that even if Ensign's camp claims the cash payments were gifts, it does not mean that all parties associated with the transaction agreed that they were gifts. And even if Ensign's parents made the payments, they still must be disclosed on his financial disclosure if they were associated with the Hamptons' work on his staff, according to Sloan.
"Coming up with a new explanation today ... does not deal with your problem from yesterday," Sloan said.
Sloan said that her group is considering filing an ethics complaint against Coburn too if he declines to meet with investigators about his knowledge of the affair.
Ensign's father is a casino mogul, and the senator's lawyer said that his parents "decided to make the gifts out of concern for the well-being of long-time family friends during a difficult time."
Ensign's attorney said that none of the gifts came from campaign or official funds and were not related to his official duties, saying that he complied with all ethics laws.
"The gifts are consistent with a pattern of generosity by the Ensign family to the Hamptons and others," the lawyer said.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Michael Jackson has Mad Cow Disease
What many people always thought, was yesterday confirmed by a large team of doctors. According to doctor Thomas H Johnson (head of the team), Michael Jackson suffers from the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), widely known as the Mad Cow Disease. A few weeks ago they came to the conclusion that Jackson appeared to have all the symptoms of this severe disease and the medical team immediately took a blood proof and came to this awful conclusion.
The exact cause of BSE is not known but it is generally accepted by the scientific community that the likely cause of BSE is cannibalism, which resulted in infectious forms of a type of protein, prions, normally found in animals. In cattle with BSE, these abnormal prions initially occur in the small intestines and tonsils, and are found in central nervous tissues, such as the brain and spinal cord, and other tissues of infected animals experiencing later stages of the disease.
Some rumors, which we will not hush up at Crazy News, say that cannibalism is the real cause in this case. According to these rumors Michael Jackson ate the foremost parts of his nose. This would have caused the formation of the malicious prions, and the beginning of the Mad Cow Disease.
There is no need to panic about this severe disease. It is very rare and the FDA and other federal agencies have had preventive measures in place to reduce the U.S. consumer's risk of exposure to any BSE-contaminated meat and food products. However, if you suffer from the combination of the same symptoms as Michael Jackson, you are strongly advised to contact the medical assistance immediately. Here is a list of the major symptoms.
A very sudden change in the color of the skin. Most patients become totally pale.
Making strange movements with legs and hands.
Making weird sounds that look like a mixture of singing and crying.
Waking up next to children you never saw before in your whole life.
Standing in front of a mirror and not being able to conclude if you are a girl or a boy.
Thinking that babies love to fly from balconies.
Parts of the body, like noses, that begin to shrink suddenly.
The exact cause of BSE is not known but it is generally accepted by the scientific community that the likely cause of BSE is cannibalism, which resulted in infectious forms of a type of protein, prions, normally found in animals. In cattle with BSE, these abnormal prions initially occur in the small intestines and tonsils, and are found in central nervous tissues, such as the brain and spinal cord, and other tissues of infected animals experiencing later stages of the disease.
Some rumors, which we will not hush up at Crazy News, say that cannibalism is the real cause in this case. According to these rumors Michael Jackson ate the foremost parts of his nose. This would have caused the formation of the malicious prions, and the beginning of the Mad Cow Disease.
There is no need to panic about this severe disease. It is very rare and the FDA and other federal agencies have had preventive measures in place to reduce the U.S. consumer's risk of exposure to any BSE-contaminated meat and food products. However, if you suffer from the combination of the same symptoms as Michael Jackson, you are strongly advised to contact the medical assistance immediately. Here is a list of the major symptoms.
A very sudden change in the color of the skin. Most patients become totally pale.
Making strange movements with legs and hands.
Making weird sounds that look like a mixture of singing and crying.
Waking up next to children you never saw before in your whole life.
Standing in front of a mirror and not being able to conclude if you are a girl or a boy.
Thinking that babies love to fly from balconies.
Parts of the body, like noses, that begin to shrink suddenly.
BET turns it up for Jackson
LOS ANGELES - The BET Awards became the official Michael Jackson TV celebration yesterday, with joyous tributes to the King of Pop from a New Edition medley of Jackson 5 songs to host Jamie Foxx's tender monologue delivered in that classic red leather zipper jacket and white glove.
"No need to be sad. We want to celebrate this black man," said Foxx, who kicked off the show with a reenactment of the choreography from Jackson's iconic "Beat It" video in front of the star-studded crowd, on its feet from the start of the show.
Joe Jackson, the singer's father, was on hand to represent the grief-stricken family. "I just wish he could be here to celebrate himself," he said. "Sadly, he's not here, so I'm here to celebrate for him."
Already an affair of major star-wattage, the night's show at the Shrine Auditorium was thrown under a white-hot spotlight in the wake of Michael Jackson's death Thursday, adding attendees and guests, doubling the number of media requests, adding an extra half-hour to the telecast and even lengthening the red carpet to accommodate all who wanted to take part.
While Jackson's incredible influence stretched across genres, races, and cultures, he had a unique place in the world of black entertainment. His influence is arguably most visible in urban music, seen in stars such as Usher who mimic his dance moves, to Ne-Yo, whose music is marked by its Jackson-isms. But that influence went beyond music: Jackson was black America's biggest star. He broke racial barriers and allowed so many other superstars to follow.
Producers of the annual awards show - which recognizes the best in music, acting, and sports - revamped the show to meet the moment. While Beyoncé and T.I. were the leading award nominees with five apiece, giving out trophies was an afterthought: Honoring Jackson became the show's main focus.
While some performed their own hits, most made sure to incorporate some of the man who influenced them in their performances. A chant of "Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson" was heard while Keri Hilson performed, and Foxx's "Blame It" incorporated some of the Jacksons' dance hit "Blame It On the Boogie."
Throughout the night, Foxx also regularly turned up in some of Jackson's signature looks, like the wide-collar black leather outfit from "Billie Jean."
New Edition, the 1980s teen sensations who were considered that generation's Jackson 5 with their own version of bubble-gum soul, ran through several of the Jackson 5's greatest hits, from "I Want You Back" to "ABC," mirroring their idols right down to the group's original choreography. Ne-Yo sang one of Jackson's most sensual songs, "Lady in my Life."
"He's the man who made it possible for me to be on the stage; I love you and I miss you," he said later.
"No need to be sad. We want to celebrate this black man," said Foxx, who kicked off the show with a reenactment of the choreography from Jackson's iconic "Beat It" video in front of the star-studded crowd, on its feet from the start of the show.
Joe Jackson, the singer's father, was on hand to represent the grief-stricken family. "I just wish he could be here to celebrate himself," he said. "Sadly, he's not here, so I'm here to celebrate for him."
Already an affair of major star-wattage, the night's show at the Shrine Auditorium was thrown under a white-hot spotlight in the wake of Michael Jackson's death Thursday, adding attendees and guests, doubling the number of media requests, adding an extra half-hour to the telecast and even lengthening the red carpet to accommodate all who wanted to take part.
While Jackson's incredible influence stretched across genres, races, and cultures, he had a unique place in the world of black entertainment. His influence is arguably most visible in urban music, seen in stars such as Usher who mimic his dance moves, to Ne-Yo, whose music is marked by its Jackson-isms. But that influence went beyond music: Jackson was black America's biggest star. He broke racial barriers and allowed so many other superstars to follow.
Producers of the annual awards show - which recognizes the best in music, acting, and sports - revamped the show to meet the moment. While Beyoncé and T.I. were the leading award nominees with five apiece, giving out trophies was an afterthought: Honoring Jackson became the show's main focus.
While some performed their own hits, most made sure to incorporate some of the man who influenced them in their performances. A chant of "Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson" was heard while Keri Hilson performed, and Foxx's "Blame It" incorporated some of the Jacksons' dance hit "Blame It On the Boogie."
Throughout the night, Foxx also regularly turned up in some of Jackson's signature looks, like the wide-collar black leather outfit from "Billie Jean."
New Edition, the 1980s teen sensations who were considered that generation's Jackson 5 with their own version of bubble-gum soul, ran through several of the Jackson 5's greatest hits, from "I Want You Back" to "ABC," mirroring their idols right down to the group's original choreography. Ne-Yo sang one of Jackson's most sensual songs, "Lady in my Life."
"He's the man who made it possible for me to be on the stage; I love you and I miss you," he said later.
Michael Jackson's brothers visit Neverland ranch; future of property unclear
LOS ANGELES - Three of the brothers who sang and danced beside Michael Jackson in the Jackson 5 made a private visit to the pop star's Neverland Ranch, where they walked the manicured grounds and reminisced about his life.
Jackie, Jermaine and Tito Jackson were joined for lunch Saturday at the estate by billionaire investor Thomas Barrack, who previously set up a joint venture with Michael Jackson that took control of the ranch after the singer nearly lost it to foreclosure last year.
It's not known what will become of the 1,012-hectare, Santa Barbara County ranch, a major piece of the singer's debt-strapped financial empire. There have been unconfirmed reports that it could become a memorial or museum honouring Jackson's legacy in the mould of Elvis Presley's Graceland.
It's "premature to talk about the future of the property," said Owen Blicksilver, a spokesman for Colony Capital LLC, the Los Angeles-based firm where Barrack is chairman and CEO.
Barrack "feels very close to the family and wants to hear their thoughts about how best to honour Michael's memory," Blicksilver said.
The ranch in the rolling hills of central California wine country was set to be sold in March 2008 because of missed payments on a US$24.5 million loan, but Jackson managed to cut an 11th-hour deal to keep it off the auction block.
He was 29 and at the height of his popularity when he bought the ranch, naming it after the mythical land of Peter Pan, where boys never grow up.
At once a symbol of Jackson's success and excesses, Neverland became the site of a makeshift memorial after his death Thursday.
Scores of fans have streamed past the gated entrance to leave handwritten notes, photographs, balloons and flowers.
The ranch "is always going to be a memorial to Michael," said Gladys Beaty of Sacramento, who travelled to the property Sunday. "It's going to always be treasured."
Jackson fled the ranch - and the country - after his acquittal on charges that he molested a 13-year-old cancer survivor in 2003 at the estate after getting him drunk.
Jackson moved luxury cars, artwork, jewelry, costumes and other property off the ranch last year for an auction that never occurred.
Recently, renovations have been under way, including extensive landscaping.
Jackie, Jermaine and Tito Jackson were joined for lunch Saturday at the estate by billionaire investor Thomas Barrack, who previously set up a joint venture with Michael Jackson that took control of the ranch after the singer nearly lost it to foreclosure last year.
It's not known what will become of the 1,012-hectare, Santa Barbara County ranch, a major piece of the singer's debt-strapped financial empire. There have been unconfirmed reports that it could become a memorial or museum honouring Jackson's legacy in the mould of Elvis Presley's Graceland.
It's "premature to talk about the future of the property," said Owen Blicksilver, a spokesman for Colony Capital LLC, the Los Angeles-based firm where Barrack is chairman and CEO.
Barrack "feels very close to the family and wants to hear their thoughts about how best to honour Michael's memory," Blicksilver said.
The ranch in the rolling hills of central California wine country was set to be sold in March 2008 because of missed payments on a US$24.5 million loan, but Jackson managed to cut an 11th-hour deal to keep it off the auction block.
He was 29 and at the height of his popularity when he bought the ranch, naming it after the mythical land of Peter Pan, where boys never grow up.
At once a symbol of Jackson's success and excesses, Neverland became the site of a makeshift memorial after his death Thursday.
Scores of fans have streamed past the gated entrance to leave handwritten notes, photographs, balloons and flowers.
The ranch "is always going to be a memorial to Michael," said Gladys Beaty of Sacramento, who travelled to the property Sunday. "It's going to always be treasured."
Jackson fled the ranch - and the country - after his acquittal on charges that he molested a 13-year-old cancer survivor in 2003 at the estate after getting him drunk.
Jackson moved luxury cars, artwork, jewelry, costumes and other property off the ranch last year for an auction that never occurred.
Recently, renovations have been under way, including extensive landscaping.
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