This happened Monday morning and I'm sure, or I hope, that President Obama did not know that his people took his plane to do a "photo-op" over New York City. The NY Daily News says that the photo-op cost us $329,000 and included the prez's 747 and some F16s. NY mayor Bloomberg was pissed. It is unknown how many cases of constipation were cured in lower Manhattan.
Look at this picture. If necessary, click on it for a larger version. It's Mel Gibson at a recent movie premiere with his girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva. Oksana is a Russian-born singer who just happens to be signed to his Icon Records record label. The reason that I post this is because I think that they look incredibly stupid together. She looks like Octomom. At 39, she's been married twice, then had a son with boyfriend Timothy Dalton. Rumor is that she's got Mel's bun in the oven! It's a shame that a guy like Mel is not able to purchase "dignity." But, it doesn't matter...his soon-to-be ex-wife will get most of the money, anyway. I wonder if she'll get the record company?
Tomorrow night's Presidential news conference will be carried on three of the four major U.S. TV networks, but not on Fox. Fox says that the reason for this is not political...it's MONEY, HONEY! Fox airs their new drama, "Lie To Me." (Interesting title to be running opposite a political news conference.) The show will have commercials, the news conference will not. There is, of course, an advantage in airing the only entertainment show during the news conference. Ad revenue is based on ratings. An increasing audience for your show means that your commercial rates will also increase. Who knows? People might actually like the show and choose to watch it again! By the way, Fox News Channel and Fox Business Channel will carry the Obama show, tomorrow.
Do you thing that it may be a good idea for the President to allow for a few two minute breaks in his news conference? He'd say, "Yes,I'll answer that question right after these important messages...."
It's the American way!
Pontiac is dead! Pontiac was 83 years old. Personally, if you must kill off a division of General Motors, why not Saturn? They have no unique products. They have been given incentives on their cars while other GM divisions have had to wait more than a year to offer the same incentives to the public. You would expect that this has helped Saturn....not so. You can chalk this up to another bad GM decision. More bad decisions will be announced on Monday.
Mrs. General Tom & I were enjoying dinner at a locally owned, non franchise, restaurant on Saturday night. Saw an old friend. He wanted to know if the US government was going to take over GM. Yeah! We'd call it "Government Motors." "From the prople who brought you Fanny Mae, Freddy Mac, Social Security & the largest national debt in world history." Yeah, this is a good idea! Forget about free enterprise, let the government "take over" a private corporation! Thomas Jefferson would be so proud!
I'd rather see the whole corporation disolve.
This week we turn our attention to 25 year old Lauren Pope. She's a British actress and model who was once spotted in a nightclub dancing with Prince Harry. She was thought to be his (gasp!) girlfriend. Lauren likes to date jocks - mostly English football (soccer) players. Click the picture for the full effect!
Have a nice weekend!
The pirate suspect arrested in the hijacking of the Maersk Alabama was all smiles on arriving in New York City late Monday, escorted by law enforcement officers. I post this because usually the scum in these types of pictures are not smiling. Perhaps the remainder of his life in an American jail is an improvement...for him.
I'm watching CNN this morning and they have a story about the FAA releasing data about birds colliding with jet engines. They showed some file footage of the flight that landed in the Hudson River and I see that one of the rescue boats was named "Yogi Berra!"
Checking further, I see that the Yogi Berra is a New Jersey Waterways Ferry Boat. It was Captain Vincent LuCante who guided theYogi Berra to the aid of the passengers on Flight 1549 in less than four minutes. 24 people were saved!
Just a little bit of information that you'll probably never find anywhere else....
Yesterday's game would have been hard to watch. Indians beat the Yankees 22-4 at the new Yankee Stadium. Yanks are 1 & 2 in the most expensive sports complex ever built! Now, sure, I know that 3 games do not comprise a scientific sample. Yesterday's showing shattered several records. How could this happen? Well I may have the answer. Not only do I (possibly) have the answer, but I had it as early as last May! Click here to see the post! In the meantime, I wonder how the Yankees poor playing will affect their ability to fill the expensive seats at the new palace?
Helio Castroneves, his sister and his attorney caught a break during the past week. They were all found not guilty of U.S. income tax evasion. At question was $2.3 million over 5 years in unpaid taxes. Helio could have gotten up to 6 years in jail. Apparently, it is fashionable to forgive millionaire jocks with sloppy (or arrogant) financial dealings. To deter Castroneves and others from doing this kind of thing, we should collect the tax, make him do the time and then deport him so he can be a big fish in some other pond.
Oh, but wait! He was found "not guilty!" Never mind.
Friday? So Soon? Damn right, and time for the Friday Foto. Today we have a model and actress with a B.A. in Theater Arts (with honors) from Clark University. She's Padma Lakshmi. We know her for her stirring performance in the Hardees/Carl's Jr. commercial for the Western Bacon Whatever. I should point out that Padma was raised as a vegetarian. She credits the burger restaurant with changing her to a meat lover. Usually, I find the Hardees commercials to be quite disgusting - with slobs eating, well the way that slobs eat. Padma shows us how to properly eat a burger. Watch ithe :60 version - here:
Have a nice weekend!
It's the most expensive stadium - ever! The place is equipped with several bars, clubs and restaurants. Indoor batting practice is available. There's indoor parking for the players! There's also an individual laptop at each locker in the clubhouse. I'm sure that all of this will help the Yankees win ballgames!
In these tough economic times, there's money to be made, too! StubHub.com has sold more than 5,000 tickets at an average price of $400— $20 higher than the average for the final game at the old Yankee Stadium last year. It’s StubHub’s ninth best-selling event by dollar volume, trailing the old Yankee Stadium finale (No. 6) and last summer’s All-Star game at Yankee Stadium (No. 4), and the resale prices have ranged from $65 to $5,883 per ticket.
That’s quite a leap from the opening of the original Yankee Stadium on April 18, 1923, when a man was arrested for trying to scalp a $1.10 grandstand ticket for $1.25.
Who the hell runs the NBC Television Network? It must be some wacko 10 year old! It was announced, today, that former Gov. Rod Blagojevich is going to be on a summer reality series called, "I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here." The way that the courts work, around here, he'll have plenty of time to tape as many shows as we can stomach before he gets convicted. After he's convicted, it'll be "I'm A Pretty White Boy in The Pokey...Get Me Outta Here!"
I loved his music. The guy was a persistent genius ...at least he was when he was in the recording studio.
Phil Spector was convicted, today, of 2nd degree murder. Sad. He's looking at 15 or 18 years - it doesn't matter. He's 69 years old. Sentencing is May 29.
It's sad to see any couple break up, especially after 28 years and 7 kids! Mel Gibson's wife, Robyn, filed for divorce today citing irreconcilable differences.
I always thought that Mr. Gibson was a good actor. He's been having some problems with his drinking and with his mouth and probably with his zipper.
Marilyn Chambers was found dead, last night, in her northern Los Angeles County home.
We remember Chambers as the star of the 1972 film "Behind The Green Door" which was more widely distributed and attracted a more mainstream audience than the usual adult fare.
Chambers, whose given name was Marilyn Briggs, was once a model for Ivory Snow. She was among the first porn superstars when the stag films of the 1940s through 1960s gave way to the more polished adult films of the 1970s.
Cause of death has not been determined.
Some say he was our greatest President. I say that a good (or great) statesman is concerned with the present and future generations. The following quote was made in a time before we had "sound bites" and ratings - driven news coverage:
"You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away people's initiative and independence. You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves."
Abraham Lincoln
The White House pet speculation is over. The Obamas received a 6 month old Portuguese water dog pup as a gift from Senator Ted Kennedy. The adjacent picture is a file photo and is not the actual dog. The Obama girls named the dog Bo. He will have his official unveiling on Tuesday.
Not to stir things up, (would I do that?) but, I always thought that mutts made better pets
Finally, good news from the Indiana Ocean. The American Ship Captain who was being held by Somali Pirates was freed. The three captors were killed by U.S. Navy Seals in a swift gunfight operation which was approved by President Obama.
It's amazing to me that in this day and age that pirates are permitted to operate and prosper with little or no opposition from governments of civilized countries! Richard Phillips was lucky. Lucky to survive and lucky to be a citizen of a country that gives a rat's ass about this problem! We hope that the estimated 200 other hostages being held by Somali Pirates should be so lucky. Hopefully, we Americans are starting a trend.
Is it Friday already? It must be, there's a Friday Foto. Actually I stumbled upon this picture by accident. Christy Duthu is a member of the United Houma Nation in Louisiana . She was born in Houma, LA and currently resides in Baton Rouge. Christy received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in geography from Louisiana State University in 2003, and is attending LSU working on a second degree in mathematics in preparation for graduate school for meteorology. Her hobbies include tornado chasing, swimming and working out.
Have nice weekend!
David Caruso's Ex girlfriend is suing him. At first, this sounds a little strange, but she probably has a case. The two lived together for a few years and then, a couple of days after their second child was born, he splits! She says that he promised her a million dollars, a house and legal fees.
The legal department at General Tom's Blog says, pay up, David. If you weren't smart enough to kow what you were getting into, at least you're wealthy enough to buy your way out of it!
