Friday, September 21, 2007
Print Story: 'God' apparently responds to lawsuit on Yahoo! News
Print Story: 'God' apparently responds to lawsuit on Yahoo! News
'God' apparently responds to lawsuit
By NATE JENKINS, Associated Press WriterThu Sep 20, 11:18 PM ET
A legislator who filed a lawsuit against God has gotten something he might not have expected: a response. One of two court filings from "God" came Wednesday under otherworldly circumstances, according to John Friend, clerk of the Douglas County District Court in Omaha.
"This one miraculously appeared on the counter. It just all of a sudden was here — poof!" Friend said.
State Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha sued God last week, seeking a permanent injunction against the Almighty for making terroristic threats, inspiring fear and causing "widespread death, destruction and terrorization of millions upon millions of the Earth's inhabitants."
Chambers, a self-proclaimed agnostic who often criticizes Christians, said his filing was triggered by a federal lawsuit he considers frivolous. He said he's trying to makes the point that anybody can sue anybody.
Not so, says "God." His response argues that the defendant is immune from some earthly laws and the court lacks jurisdiction.
It adds that blaming God for human oppression and suffering misses an important point.
"I created man and woman with free will and next to the promise of immortal life, free will is my greatest gift to you," according to the response, as read by Friend.
There was no contact information on the filing, although St. Michael the Archangel is listed as a witness, Friend said.
A second response from "God" disputing Chambers' allegations lists a phone number for a Corpus Christi law office. A message left for that office was not immediately returned Thursday.
Attempts to reach Chambers by phone and at his Capitol office Thursday were unsuccessful.
'God' apparently responds to lawsuit
By NATE JENKINS, Associated Press WriterThu Sep 20, 11:18 PM ET
A legislator who filed a lawsuit against God has gotten something he might not have expected: a response. One of two court filings from "God" came Wednesday under otherworldly circumstances, according to John Friend, clerk of the Douglas County District Court in Omaha.
"This one miraculously appeared on the counter. It just all of a sudden was here — poof!" Friend said.
State Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha sued God last week, seeking a permanent injunction against the Almighty for making terroristic threats, inspiring fear and causing "widespread death, destruction and terrorization of millions upon millions of the Earth's inhabitants."
Chambers, a self-proclaimed agnostic who often criticizes Christians, said his filing was triggered by a federal lawsuit he considers frivolous. He said he's trying to makes the point that anybody can sue anybody.
Not so, says "God." His response argues that the defendant is immune from some earthly laws and the court lacks jurisdiction.
It adds that blaming God for human oppression and suffering misses an important point.
"I created man and woman with free will and next to the promise of immortal life, free will is my greatest gift to you," according to the response, as read by Friend.
There was no contact information on the filing, although St. Michael the Archangel is listed as a witness, Friend said.
A second response from "God" disputing Chambers' allegations lists a phone number for a Corpus Christi law office. A message left for that office was not immediately returned Thursday.
Attempts to reach Chambers by phone and at his Capitol office Thursday were unsuccessful.
San Jose Mercury News - Lunchbox warning: Health officials say toss them
San Jose Mercury News - Lunchbox warning: Health officials say toss them
When will we start testing BEFORE the money is spent to ship this crap here????
Lunchbox warning: Health officials say toss them
UNSAFE LEVEL OF LEAD FOUND IN GIVEAWAYS
By Steven HarmonMediaNews Sacramento Bureau
SACRAMENTO - The state's public health department asked parents Thursday to toss certain Chinese-made lunchboxes potentially containing dangerous levels of lead - the same ones it distributed in a campaign to promote healthy eating.
The department distributed more than 350,000 of the canvas lunchboxes, only to find out that at least three that were tested in a batch of 56,000 contained "significant" levels of lead.
"It certainly is unfortunate that an item we're using to promote healthy behavior is discovered to be in itself a health hazard," said Mark Horton, the director of the Department of Public Health. "We will be reassessing our policy on the distribution of our promotional products."
Horton said he was using an "abundance of caution" in asking parents to discard all 350,000 lunchboxes.
But he didn't make the announcement to discard the lunchboxes until nearly two months after he was first notified in July by the Sacramento County Public Health Department that it found lead in the lunchboxes through a swab test.
When asked why he didn't notify the public earlier, Horton insisted proper steps were taken.
"The kind of material we were dealing with required sophisticated testing to determine if there was lead" and if it was a dangerous level, he said. "It took several weeks to conduct the testing."
He said the department stopped ordering and distributing the lunchboxes back in July and notified agencies that had received them
"It wasn't until we got more confirmation tests," Horton said, "that we decided to take more aggressive action."
The lunchboxes were imported from China by Los Angeles-based T-A Creations, whose vice president, Andrew Halim, said its initial testing - of only the bag's lining - found no lead before they were sold to a second company, You Name It Promotions of Oakland, which sold them to the state.
The lunchboxes were given out at health fairs and other events to mainly low-income parents and carried a logo saying "eat fruits and vegetables and be active."
Consumer advocates said it's widely known that vinyl and canvas lunchboxes contain lead, and that an agency charged with protecting children's health should have been more vigilant.
"It's their mission to prevent illness in children," said Manju Kulkarni, staff attorney for the National Health Law, which works with the California Health Consumer Alliance, "but, instead, they're potentially poisoning them by distributing these lunch bags."
When will we start testing BEFORE the money is spent to ship this crap here????
Lunchbox warning: Health officials say toss them
UNSAFE LEVEL OF LEAD FOUND IN GIVEAWAYS
By Steven HarmonMediaNews Sacramento Bureau
SACRAMENTO - The state's public health department asked parents Thursday to toss certain Chinese-made lunchboxes potentially containing dangerous levels of lead - the same ones it distributed in a campaign to promote healthy eating.
The department distributed more than 350,000 of the canvas lunchboxes, only to find out that at least three that were tested in a batch of 56,000 contained "significant" levels of lead.
"It certainly is unfortunate that an item we're using to promote healthy behavior is discovered to be in itself a health hazard," said Mark Horton, the director of the Department of Public Health. "We will be reassessing our policy on the distribution of our promotional products."
Horton said he was using an "abundance of caution" in asking parents to discard all 350,000 lunchboxes.
But he didn't make the announcement to discard the lunchboxes until nearly two months after he was first notified in July by the Sacramento County Public Health Department that it found lead in the lunchboxes through a swab test.
When asked why he didn't notify the public earlier, Horton insisted proper steps were taken.
"The kind of material we were dealing with required sophisticated testing to determine if there was lead" and if it was a dangerous level, he said. "It took several weeks to conduct the testing."
He said the department stopped ordering and distributing the lunchboxes back in July and notified agencies that had received them
"It wasn't until we got more confirmation tests," Horton said, "that we decided to take more aggressive action."
The lunchboxes were imported from China by Los Angeles-based T-A Creations, whose vice president, Andrew Halim, said its initial testing - of only the bag's lining - found no lead before they were sold to a second company, You Name It Promotions of Oakland, which sold them to the state.
The lunchboxes were given out at health fairs and other events to mainly low-income parents and carried a logo saying "eat fruits and vegetables and be active."
Consumer advocates said it's widely known that vinyl and canvas lunchboxes contain lead, and that an agency charged with protecting children's health should have been more vigilant.
"It's their mission to prevent illness in children," said Manju Kulkarni, staff attorney for the National Health Law, which works with the California Health Consumer Alliance, "but, instead, they're potentially poisoning them by distributing these lunch bags."
The Associated Press: Woman With Fake Bomb Arrested at Airport
The Associated Press: Woman With Fake Bomb Arrested at Airport
Woman With Fake Bomb Arrested at Airport
By GLEN JOHNSON – 51 minutes ago
BOSTON (AP) — An MIT student with a fake bomb strapped to her chest was arrested at gunpoint Friday at Logan International Airport, officials said.
Star Simpson, 19, had a computer circuit board, wiring and a putty that later turned out to be Play-Doh in plain view over a black hooded sweat shirt she was wearing, said State Police Maj. Scott Pare, the commanding officer at the airport.
Pare said authorities had not determined a motive. Simpson was charged with disturbing the peace and possessing a hoax device, and was to be arraigned in East Boston District Court later in the day.
"She's extremely lucky she followed the instructions or deadly force would have been used," Pare told The Associated Press. "And she's lucky to be in a cell as opposed to the morgue."
Simpson is a Massachusetts Institute of Technology sophomore from Hawaii, officials said. A spokeswoman for MIT had no immediate comment.
She was arrested about 8 a.m. outside Terminal C, home to United Airlines, Jet Blue and other carriers.
A Massachusetts Port Authority staffer manning an information booth in the terminal became suspicious when Simpson — wearing the device — approached to ask about an incoming flight, Pare said. Simpson then walked outside, and the information booth attendant notified a nearby trooper.
The trooper, joined by others with submachine guns, confronted her at a traffic island in front of the terminal.
Pare said Simpson took a subway to the airport, but he was not sure if she had the device on at that time.
"She was allegedly picking somebody up," said Pare.
The major praised the booth attendant but said the incident is a reminder of the terrorism threat confronting the civil aviation system. Two of the four passenger jets hijacked on Sept. 11, 2001, took off from Logan.
"In this day and age, the threat continues to be there," said Pare. "She certainly jeopardized her own safety by bringing this to the airport, as well as the safety of everybody around her."
Woman With Fake Bomb Arrested at Airport
By GLEN JOHNSON – 51 minutes ago
BOSTON (AP) — An MIT student with a fake bomb strapped to her chest was arrested at gunpoint Friday at Logan International Airport, officials said.
Star Simpson, 19, had a computer circuit board, wiring and a putty that later turned out to be Play-Doh in plain view over a black hooded sweat shirt she was wearing, said State Police Maj. Scott Pare, the commanding officer at the airport.
Pare said authorities had not determined a motive. Simpson was charged with disturbing the peace and possessing a hoax device, and was to be arraigned in East Boston District Court later in the day.
"She's extremely lucky she followed the instructions or deadly force would have been used," Pare told The Associated Press. "And she's lucky to be in a cell as opposed to the morgue."
Simpson is a Massachusetts Institute of Technology sophomore from Hawaii, officials said. A spokeswoman for MIT had no immediate comment.
She was arrested about 8 a.m. outside Terminal C, home to United Airlines, Jet Blue and other carriers.
A Massachusetts Port Authority staffer manning an information booth in the terminal became suspicious when Simpson — wearing the device — approached to ask about an incoming flight, Pare said. Simpson then walked outside, and the information booth attendant notified a nearby trooper.
The trooper, joined by others with submachine guns, confronted her at a traffic island in front of the terminal.
Pare said Simpson took a subway to the airport, but he was not sure if she had the device on at that time.
"She was allegedly picking somebody up," said Pare.
The major praised the booth attendant but said the incident is a reminder of the terrorism threat confronting the civil aviation system. Two of the four passenger jets hijacked on Sept. 11, 2001, took off from Logan.
"In this day and age, the threat continues to be there," said Pare. "She certainly jeopardized her own safety by bringing this to the airport, as well as the safety of everybody around her."
Monday, September 17, 2007
Craig's arrest makes bathroom tourist attraction
Craig's arrest makes bathroom tourist attraction
Tourists are flocking to see the bathroom in the Minneapolis airport where U.S. Sen. Larry Craig was arrest in a sex sting, making the stall a "tourist attraction," media reported Sunday.
"It's become a tourist attraction," said Karen Evans, who staffs the information counter at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
She said some even take pictures.
Craig was arrested in the second stall from the right Aug. 27 for lewd conduct during a police sting. The Idaho Republican pleaded guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct.
Craig has since said his guilty plea was a mistake. His request to withdraw the guilty plea will be heard Sept. 26, just four days before he has said he will step down from his Senate seat.
Evans said she had been asked directions to the new tourist attraction four times just 15 minutes into her shift on Friday.
Newsstand worker Abdalla Said said he gets the question daily. Other merchants in the airport also said they get frequent requests for directions to the bathroom.
"People have been going inside, taking pictures of the stall, taking pictures outside the bathroom door -- man, it's been crazy," said Royal Zino, grandson of a shoeshine shop owner in the airport.
"We had to just stop and check out the bathroom," said Sally Westby, who stopped at the airport restroom with her husband, who had already been there once, en route to Guatemala.
Tourists are flocking to see the bathroom in the Minneapolis airport where U.S. Sen. Larry Craig was arrest in a sex sting, making the stall a "tourist attraction," media reported Sunday.
"It's become a tourist attraction," said Karen Evans, who staffs the information counter at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
She said some even take pictures.
Craig was arrested in the second stall from the right Aug. 27 for lewd conduct during a police sting. The Idaho Republican pleaded guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct.
Craig has since said his guilty plea was a mistake. His request to withdraw the guilty plea will be heard Sept. 26, just four days before he has said he will step down from his Senate seat.
Evans said she had been asked directions to the new tourist attraction four times just 15 minutes into her shift on Friday.
Newsstand worker Abdalla Said said he gets the question daily. Other merchants in the airport also said they get frequent requests for directions to the bathroom.
"People have been going inside, taking pictures of the stall, taking pictures outside the bathroom door -- man, it's been crazy," said Royal Zino, grandson of a shoeshine shop owner in the airport.
"We had to just stop and check out the bathroom," said Sally Westby, who stopped at the airport restroom with her husband, who had already been there once, en route to Guatemala.
The Associated Press: O.J. Simpson Held Without Bail in Vegas
The Associated Press: O.J. Simpson Held Without Bail in Vegas
He is such an ASS
O.J. Simpson Held Without Bail in Vegas
By RYAN NAKASHIMA – 45 minutes ago
LAS VEGAS (AP) — An apparent audiotape of O.J. Simpson's standoff with men he accused of stealing his memorabilia begins with the ex-NFL star demanding, "Don't let nobody out of here."
"Think you can steal my s--- and sell it?," the voice identified as Simpson's said.
Simpson was arrested Sunday and booked on charges connected with what police described as a robbery at a Las Vegas hotel. In the audiotape released Monday by the celebrity news Web site TMZ.com, a man believed to be Simpson is heard shouting questions while other men yell orders to the people in the room.
The recording was made by Thomas Riccio, co-owner of the auction house Universal Rarities, according to TMZ. Simpson has said Riccio called him several weeks ago to tell him collectors were selling some of his items.
Riccio did not immediately return a call for comment Monday, but he told TMZ he believed Simpson was planning to confront Alfred Beardsley, who was allegedly planning to auction off the memorabilia.
Another collector in the hotel room, Bruce Fromong, said the meeting was set up as if the men were customers, but when they arrived, it was clear something else was going on.
"The door burst open and they came in almost commando style, O.J. Simpson and some of his people, I guess you would call it, with guns drawn," Fromong told ABC's "Good Morning America" Monday. "O.J. at that time was saying, 'I want my stuff. I want my stuff.'
"The thing in my mind as soon as I saw him, I'm thinking, 'O.J., how can you be this dumb? You're in enough trouble.'"
Fromong said Simpson later left him a voice mail message telling him some of Fromong's things were "mixed up" with his and asking how he could give them back.
"It's like a bad dream," Beardsley said. "I'm sad that O.J. is in custody."
Simpson has said he was accompanied by men he met at a wedding cocktail party, and that they took the collectibles.
It was merely a confrontation with no guns, Simpson said. He said autographed sports collectibles, his Hall of Fame certificate, a photograph with former FBI director J. Edgar Hoover and video from his first wedding were all his, and that they were stolen from him and were about to be fenced by unethical collectors.
The items likely belonged to Simpson at one point, Fromang said, "but these were things that belonged to him a long time ago."
Police said they weren't sure who now owned the memorabilia.
"Whether or not the property belonged to Mr. Simpson or not is still in debate," Lt. Clint Nichols said Sunday. "Having said that, the manner in which this property was taken, we have a responsibility to look into that, irregardless of who the property belonged to."
After being whisked away in handcuffs, Simpson was booked Sunday night on two counts of robbery with a deadly weapon, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, and conspiracy to commit a crime and burglary with a firearm, police said.
The district attorney said he expected Simpson to ultimately be charged with seven felonies and one gross misdemeanor. If convicted, Simpson could face up to 30 years in prison on each robbery count.
A judge ordered Simpson held without bail, and a court date was set for Thursday.
Simpson attorney Yale Galanter said Monday he hoped to get Simpson released before then.
"Mr. Simpson is not guilty of these charges," Galanter said. He declined to say whether he had met with police and prosecutors.
"We believe it is an extremely defensible case based on conflicting witness statements, flip-flopping by witnesses and witnesses making deals with the government to flip," Galanter said Sunday.
Beardsley blamed the incident on Riccio, who he claims told Simpson that his property was in the room in Las Vegas.
"If they don't charge Riccio I will be very upset. That guy lied to O.J. and got him all pumped up," he said.
Simpson, 60, told the AP that he didn't call the police to help reclaim the items because he has found the police unresponsive to him ever since his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman were killed in 1994. Simpson was acquitted of murder charges but found liable in a wrongful death civil trial.
"The police, since my trouble, have not worked out for me," Simpson said.
Police said they had no information to indicate Simpson was armed during the hotel confrontation last week. Fromong also said Simpson was unarmed: "Never at any time was I ever, did I feel threatened by O.J.," he said.
Police seized two firearms believed to involved in the robbery along with sports memorabilia, mostly signed by Simpson. They also said they recovered collectible baseballs and Joe Montana cleats at private residences early Sunday after serving three search warrants.
Walter Alexander, 46, of Mesa, Ariz., was arrested Saturday night on two counts of robbery with a deadly weapon, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery and burglary with a deadly weapon. Alexander, who was described as one of Simpson's golfing buddies, was released without bail Saturday night.
Robert Dennis Rentzer, a Los Angeles lawyer representing Alexander, said he was able to arrange his client's release but wasn't familiar with the allegations.
Police are seeking four other men: Las Vegas residents Clarence Stewart, 53, and Michael McClinton, 49; Tom Scotto, of unknown age and hometown, and another man who was not identified.
Simpson, a Heisman Trophy winner and actor, lives near Miami and has been a tabloid staple since his ex-wife and Goldman were killed.
Goldman's father, Fred Goldman, welcomed the possibility that Simpson could go to prison.
"How wonderful," he told CBS's "The Early Show" Monday. "A lot of years too late, however. I would have much preferred him found guilty of Ron and Nicole's death and then put either to death or in jail then. But frankly to see him ultimately or potentially go to jail — that's great."
Simpson's arrest came just days after the Goldman family published a book that Simpson had written under the title "If I Did It" about how he would have committed the killings of his ex-wife and Goldman had he actually done it.
After a deal for Simpson to publish it fell through, a federal bankruptcy judge awarded the book's rights to the Goldman family, who retitled it "If I Did It: The Confessions of the Killer." During the weekend, the book was the hottest seller in the country, hitting No. 1 on Amazon.com.
He is such an ASS
O.J. Simpson Held Without Bail in Vegas
By RYAN NAKASHIMA – 45 minutes ago
LAS VEGAS (AP) — An apparent audiotape of O.J. Simpson's standoff with men he accused of stealing his memorabilia begins with the ex-NFL star demanding, "Don't let nobody out of here."
"Think you can steal my s--- and sell it?," the voice identified as Simpson's said.
Simpson was arrested Sunday and booked on charges connected with what police described as a robbery at a Las Vegas hotel. In the audiotape released Monday by the celebrity news Web site TMZ.com, a man believed to be Simpson is heard shouting questions while other men yell orders to the people in the room.
The recording was made by Thomas Riccio, co-owner of the auction house Universal Rarities, according to TMZ. Simpson has said Riccio called him several weeks ago to tell him collectors were selling some of his items.
Riccio did not immediately return a call for comment Monday, but he told TMZ he believed Simpson was planning to confront Alfred Beardsley, who was allegedly planning to auction off the memorabilia.
Another collector in the hotel room, Bruce Fromong, said the meeting was set up as if the men were customers, but when they arrived, it was clear something else was going on.
"The door burst open and they came in almost commando style, O.J. Simpson and some of his people, I guess you would call it, with guns drawn," Fromong told ABC's "Good Morning America" Monday. "O.J. at that time was saying, 'I want my stuff. I want my stuff.'
"The thing in my mind as soon as I saw him, I'm thinking, 'O.J., how can you be this dumb? You're in enough trouble.'"
Fromong said Simpson later left him a voice mail message telling him some of Fromong's things were "mixed up" with his and asking how he could give them back.
"It's like a bad dream," Beardsley said. "I'm sad that O.J. is in custody."
Simpson has said he was accompanied by men he met at a wedding cocktail party, and that they took the collectibles.
It was merely a confrontation with no guns, Simpson said. He said autographed sports collectibles, his Hall of Fame certificate, a photograph with former FBI director J. Edgar Hoover and video from his first wedding were all his, and that they were stolen from him and were about to be fenced by unethical collectors.
The items likely belonged to Simpson at one point, Fromang said, "but these were things that belonged to him a long time ago."
Police said they weren't sure who now owned the memorabilia.
"Whether or not the property belonged to Mr. Simpson or not is still in debate," Lt. Clint Nichols said Sunday. "Having said that, the manner in which this property was taken, we have a responsibility to look into that, irregardless of who the property belonged to."
After being whisked away in handcuffs, Simpson was booked Sunday night on two counts of robbery with a deadly weapon, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, and conspiracy to commit a crime and burglary with a firearm, police said.
The district attorney said he expected Simpson to ultimately be charged with seven felonies and one gross misdemeanor. If convicted, Simpson could face up to 30 years in prison on each robbery count.
A judge ordered Simpson held without bail, and a court date was set for Thursday.
Simpson attorney Yale Galanter said Monday he hoped to get Simpson released before then.
"Mr. Simpson is not guilty of these charges," Galanter said. He declined to say whether he had met with police and prosecutors.
"We believe it is an extremely defensible case based on conflicting witness statements, flip-flopping by witnesses and witnesses making deals with the government to flip," Galanter said Sunday.
Beardsley blamed the incident on Riccio, who he claims told Simpson that his property was in the room in Las Vegas.
"If they don't charge Riccio I will be very upset. That guy lied to O.J. and got him all pumped up," he said.
Simpson, 60, told the AP that he didn't call the police to help reclaim the items because he has found the police unresponsive to him ever since his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman were killed in 1994. Simpson was acquitted of murder charges but found liable in a wrongful death civil trial.
"The police, since my trouble, have not worked out for me," Simpson said.
Police said they had no information to indicate Simpson was armed during the hotel confrontation last week. Fromong also said Simpson was unarmed: "Never at any time was I ever, did I feel threatened by O.J.," he said.
Police seized two firearms believed to involved in the robbery along with sports memorabilia, mostly signed by Simpson. They also said they recovered collectible baseballs and Joe Montana cleats at private residences early Sunday after serving three search warrants.
Walter Alexander, 46, of Mesa, Ariz., was arrested Saturday night on two counts of robbery with a deadly weapon, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery and burglary with a deadly weapon. Alexander, who was described as one of Simpson's golfing buddies, was released without bail Saturday night.
Robert Dennis Rentzer, a Los Angeles lawyer representing Alexander, said he was able to arrange his client's release but wasn't familiar with the allegations.
Police are seeking four other men: Las Vegas residents Clarence Stewart, 53, and Michael McClinton, 49; Tom Scotto, of unknown age and hometown, and another man who was not identified.
Simpson, a Heisman Trophy winner and actor, lives near Miami and has been a tabloid staple since his ex-wife and Goldman were killed.
Goldman's father, Fred Goldman, welcomed the possibility that Simpson could go to prison.
"How wonderful," he told CBS's "The Early Show" Monday. "A lot of years too late, however. I would have much preferred him found guilty of Ron and Nicole's death and then put either to death or in jail then. But frankly to see him ultimately or potentially go to jail — that's great."
Simpson's arrest came just days after the Goldman family published a book that Simpson had written under the title "If I Did It" about how he would have committed the killings of his ex-wife and Goldman had he actually done it.
After a deal for Simpson to publish it fell through, a federal bankruptcy judge awarded the book's rights to the Goldman family, who retitled it "If I Did It: The Confessions of the Killer." During the weekend, the book was the hottest seller in the country, hitting No. 1 on Amazon.com.
Friday, September 14, 2007
San Jose Mercury News - Britney 'fat'? Oops ... weight-watchers did it again
San Jose Mercury News - Britney 'fat'? Oops ... weight-watchers did it again
It was supposed to be the comeback of the year, an over-hyped, eagerly anticipated revival of a stalled career. But, after Britney Spears performed her new single "Gimme More" at Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards, she left shocked viewers asking for less.
Britney 'fat'? Oops ... weight-watchers did it again
Clad in a black sequined bikini and knee-high stiletto boots, the 25-year-old pop star wobbled around dazed, confused and poorly rehearsed. Critics universally panned the performance, but in a society that worships skin & bones, the most scathing comments were aimed at her weight.
Terms such as "fat," "bulging," "pudgy" and "flabby" peppered most of the post-show analysis about Spears, with many naysayers faulting her for donning an outfit they thought she wasn't fit to wear. Actually, it would be nice to know what kind of shape some of these critics are in. It's almost certain that more than a few are sporting their share of flab.
And for those who consider Spears to be overweight, a glimpse around some of the shopping malls and local cineplexes might clarify what "fat" actually is. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 60 percent of Americans need to drop major poundage; no doubt many are the same ones lobbing barbs at Spears.
But all the tongue wagging over her alleged weight gain is yet another disturbing example of the constant scrutiny women are under in a culture obsessed with thin celebrities.
Even hollow-eyed, emaciated starlets such as Nicole Richie, Victoria Beckham and Keira Knightley are subjected to endless speculation about their weight, or lack thereof. And when Mary-Kate Olsen copped to anorexia and "American Idol" contestant Katharine McPhee revealed she was bulimic, both made headlines.
Supermodel Tyra Banks, who built a career in an industry that promotes a phony image of perfection, found herself subjected to some of the very standards she helped perpetuate. After photos of an Australian beach-romping Banks surfaced earlier this year on the Internet, she was forced to fend off vicious attacks about her fuller physique.
Unfortunately, impressionable teens and young girls heavily bombarded by pop culture images of waifs with protruding clavicles, are desperate to be skinny because that's what they perceive as sexy and desirable.
It's no wonder that in the quest for the "perfect" body, so many women have a skewed view of what's normal and are plagued by eating disorders. According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Eating Disorders, seven million women are affected by an eating disorder, most by the time they're 20.
And the prevailing double standard -- in which a man's weight is rarely the subject of ridicule -- doesn't help. Had the lovable yet portly, Jack Black given a lackluster VMA opening, it's almost certain no one would've thought of calling him fat. Even comedian Jay Leno -- a man of sizable girth -- felt comfortable heaping fat jokes on Spears, knowing he himself would suffer no such scrutiny.
While the pressure to be thin is overwhelming for many women, it's refreshing to see that not all of them have succumbed to it. Confident celebrities such as America Ferrera, Queen Latifah, Kate Winslet and J-Lo are just a few of the beauties who proudly embrace their curves. And Beyonce loves hers so much that she often boasts about them and sings about voluptuous women in her song "Bootylicious."
In the end, Spears failed to live up to impossible expectations. Her erratic behavior and reckless lifestyle have long been fodder for gossip and now it's uncertain whether she can recover from a disastrous MTV opening. But one thing is clear: she deserves to be judged by her performance and not because she no longer sports the body of a 12-year-old boy.
California bans teens from using cellphones while driving
California bans teens from using cellphones while driving
A message from California to its 16- and 17-year-olds: Dnt txt n drv — thx.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a law on Thursday that will require teens to put down cellphones and other electronic devices while driving. Older drivers, not minors, will be allowed to use hands-free devices — in part because of the popularity of text-messaging among teens.
"The simple fact is that teenage drivers are more easily distracted. They are young, inexperienced and have a slower reaction time," Schwarzenegger said in a statement after he signed the legislation into law. His daughter turned 16 and began driving last year.
"We want to eliminate any extra distractions so they can focus on paying attention to the road and being good drivers," he said.
The law barring cellphone use by drivers under 18 will take effect July 1, as will the law restricting cellphone use among older drivers that the governor signed last year.
A first offence will net violators a $20 fine and repeat offenders will be given a $50 fine. Both laws include exceptions for drivers who need to make emergency calls.
The new law makes California one of 15 states, plus the District of Columbia, that ban the use of wireless communication devices for teenage drivers.
A recent American Automobile Association study found nearly 30 per cent of teen respondents said they talk on cellphones or text-message while driving. The California Highway Patrol lists cellphone use as a top cause of accidents in the state, reports the San Jose Mercury News.
A 2001 report by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found 16-year-old drivers have a crash rate three times higher than that of 17-year-olds, five times greater than 18-year-olds and almost 10 times greater than drivers ages 30 to 59.
In Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador enacted legislation in 2003 banning cellphone use while behind the wheel. Anyone defying the law risks getting hit with $400 in fines and four demerit points.
Last month, a Charlottetown city councillor called for P.E.I. to follow Newfoundland and Labrador's lead, while Quebec says it plans to introduce its no-phones-while-driving legislation this fall.
A message from California to its 16- and 17-year-olds: Dnt txt n drv — thx.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a law on Thursday that will require teens to put down cellphones and other electronic devices while driving. Older drivers, not minors, will be allowed to use hands-free devices — in part because of the popularity of text-messaging among teens.
"The simple fact is that teenage drivers are more easily distracted. They are young, inexperienced and have a slower reaction time," Schwarzenegger said in a statement after he signed the legislation into law. His daughter turned 16 and began driving last year.
"We want to eliminate any extra distractions so they can focus on paying attention to the road and being good drivers," he said.
The law barring cellphone use by drivers under 18 will take effect July 1, as will the law restricting cellphone use among older drivers that the governor signed last year.
A first offence will net violators a $20 fine and repeat offenders will be given a $50 fine. Both laws include exceptions for drivers who need to make emergency calls.
The new law makes California one of 15 states, plus the District of Columbia, that ban the use of wireless communication devices for teenage drivers.
A recent American Automobile Association study found nearly 30 per cent of teen respondents said they talk on cellphones or text-message while driving. The California Highway Patrol lists cellphone use as a top cause of accidents in the state, reports the San Jose Mercury News.
A 2001 report by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found 16-year-old drivers have a crash rate three times higher than that of 17-year-olds, five times greater than 18-year-olds and almost 10 times greater than drivers ages 30 to 59.
In Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador enacted legislation in 2003 banning cellphone use while behind the wheel. Anyone defying the law risks getting hit with $400 in fines and four demerit points.
Last month, a Charlottetown city councillor called for P.E.I. to follow Newfoundland and Labrador's lead, while Quebec says it plans to introduce its no-phones-while-driving legislation this fall.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
» Confirmation of stealth Windows Update | Hardware 2.0 | ZDNet.com
» Confirmation of stealth Windows Update | Hardware 2.0 | ZDNet.com
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September 13th, 2007
Confirmation of stealth Windows Update
Posted by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes @ 3:46 am Categories: Microsoft, Stealth Update Tags: Microsoft Windows Update, Information Technology, Update, Stealth, Microsoft Windows, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes +69
82 votes Worthwhile? I can now confirm that the stealth Windows Update that I blogged about yesterday actually exists - because I’ve detected its presence on a machine at the PC Doc HQ.
At the PC Doc HQ we have several systems set not to update. This is so that they are kept at a specific patch level for testing duties. Many of these systems are virtual machines but some are physical. When I heard about this stealth update I decided to take a look at one of these systems that don’t update automatically - and within seconds I found what I was looking for.
Which files are updated depends on the OS you are running. The updated files on Vista are:
- wuapi.dll
- wuapp.exe
- wuauclt.exe
- wuaueng.dll
- wucltux.dll
- wudriver.dll
- wups.dll
- wups2.dll
- wuwebv.dll
And on XP SP2:
- cdm.dll
- wuapi.dll
- wuauclt.exe
- wuaucpl.cpl
- wuaueng.dll
- wucltui.dll
- wups.dll
- wups2.dll
- wuweb.dll
The test system was running Windows XP SP2. Reports and rumors suggest that this update was being pushed out on or around the 24th of August so I fired up Event Viewer and scrolled down to this date … and here’s what I found:
Here’s the entry showing the update kicking off.
Update completed successfully - but not the lack of information regarding the update.
Here’s one of the updated files.
These updates without notification is a slippery slope. I just don’t like the idea of having updates foisted upon systems without being aware that they are coming in and having the option to postpone them. Why? Simple. IT’S MY PC!!! If a user chooses not to have updates installed automatically, Microsoft needs to respect this decision. Period. If this is not possible, notifications should be made after the update has been installed clearly identifying the updates, describing what it does and giving users a way to roll back the system if they want to.
Stealth updates - Right or wrong?
- Wrong (95%)
- Right (5%)
Total Votes: 3,752
Loading …Thoughts?
Adrian is a technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology. He also also runs a popular blog called The PC Doctor. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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