Saturday, February 08, 2014

Eye-catching headlines with a little comentary thrown in

Anti-abortion groups (we'll call them pro-life when they come out against the death penalty) are boycotting Girl Scout cookies this year, because the Girl Scouts posted links to articles about "women who make a difference" and "incredible ladies of 2013" and those lists made mention of Texas State Senator Wendy Davis and the U. S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.  Apparently the organizers of "CookieCott2014" feel that mentioning those two women is promoting abortion. 

NBC has already painted over the billboard that had Jay Leno on it, on the lot where his show had been taped, less than 24 hours after his final Tonight Show episode had aired. 

The Dream is a hotel in New York City and one of its employees took to social media to complain that rapper/mogul "Diddy" left no tip on a large tab on Super Bowl Sunday.  That employee has been fired by the hotel who is afraid that it might lose all or part of the large amount of business it does with rappers.

There's one three-reel slot machine at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas that is the busiest slot machine on the property.  The "Lion's Share" has a progressive jackpot that hasn't been hit in nearly two decades.  It's more than doubled to $2.3 million.  People will sit for hours playing it, thinking that it is way overdue to hit.  Reporter's note:  A MGM executive interviewed for an article on this machine said "...we'll keep the game as long as its in good working order, until that jackpot pays out" as though they have a choice.  Nevada gaming regulations mandate they operate that machine until someone wins the progressive jackpot.

Woody Allen's response to allegations by the daughter of Mia Farrow that he molested her when Allen and Farrow were married (there was never any "formal" legal relationship between Dylan Farrow and Woody Allen, as he never married Mia Farrow) was published in the New York Times.  He makes some interesting points.  You can read his response here:  http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/09/opinion/sunday/woody-allen-speaks-out.html?hp&rref=opinion&_r=0 and I'll have more to say on this subject in a future blog.

Actor Paul Bettany has been cast in the upcoming film "The Avengers:  The Age of Ultron."  He will play "the Vision."  Reporter's note:  The foremost expert I know on Marvel Comics characters says it's good casting.  I trust his judgment.

There was some confusion at the opening ceremonies for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, when the team from Zimbabwe marched onto the field before the teams from Great Britain and Israel; when teams other than the Greek team and host team are supposed to march out alphabetically.  Turns out that the teams did march in alphabetical order, using the Cyrillic alphabet.

Alex Rodriguez has withdrawn his lawsuits trying to overturn his 162 game suspension from Major League Baseball and will sit out the 2014 season.  Reporter's note:  He has $42 million reasons to drop the suits, that's how much salary he is owed for 2015 and 2016 by the Yankees.

When asked which of his films he would watch if it was on television, director Martin Scorsese said "Goodfellas." 

TheWrap is claiming that Will Smith will not be part of the upcoming "Independence Day" sequel, due out in 2016.

The IRS audited the estate tax return filed by the Michael Jackson estate and says they undervalued what his estate was worth.  The estate return estimated his worth a little more than $7 million.  The IRS's valuation of the Jackson estate is $1.125 billion and this means the estate owes $702 million in taxes and penalties.  Reporter's note.  It boggles the mind that an attorney/tax professional valued MJ's interest in the trust that owns the rights to the Beatles song catalogue and Jackson's own songs at ZERO.

A Tennessee couple is facing murder charges in the death of their 5 year old girl on January 3, 2012.  She had taken one or two grape sodas belonging to her stepmother and the couple allegedly punished her by forcing her to drink more than two liters of water and soda in a two hour period. 

In Indiana a woman is claiming she won $28.9 million on a penny slot machine; but the casino says it was a software glitch and she didn't win anything.  Reporter's note:  There are no penny slot machines that have single jackpots that pay off at more than $25 million.  Mega Millions slot machines require paying three dollars to have a chance at the big jackpot.

A New Jersey woman is claiming her new employer's demand to remove her hijab while at work violates her religious freedom.

According to TMZ, the winner of the men's decathlon at the 1976 Summer Olympics now looks like this:


Someone paid $3,000 for one of the U. S. Team's Olympic sweaters, on EBay.  Reporter's note:  Apparently that person is involved in an ugly-ass sweater contest with a really big prize.

Amy Adams carried a bag by Valentino at the wake for the late Philip Seymour Hoffman.  The famed fashion house put out a press release of a photo of the actress carrying the bag.  Howls of outrage has caused them to issue an apology.

Once again a member of Congress has introduced legislation to exempt U. S. athletes who win medals at the Olympic Games from taxes on their winnings (they are taxed on the value of the medal and the prize money they receive from the U. S. Olympic Committee).