Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Select your timezone:
After a grueling 8-week treatment of radiation to treat his throat cancer, 66-year-old Michael Douglas was ready to take a much deserved break at Disney World with his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones and their two kids Dylan and Carys.
Douglas, who has remained positive throughout his treatment, has been dealing with the rough stages of chemo which have made it very difficult for him to eat. According to People Magazine, the chemotherapy treatment he has been receiving has made it painful for him to swallow but Douglas refused to have a feeding tube and has been eating on his own. Now that his treatment is over, he was put on a special diet which will help him gain strength and hopefully regain over 30 lbs. of weight that he has lost.
On a lighter note, Douglas and his family packed up the family and headed over to Florida to spend some quality time with the family. Douglas’s representative stated that they “are very happy and thankful the way things are going this Thanksgiving.”
The couple is hopeful that Douglas will triumph over the disease and doctors claim that the type of treatment he is receiving has a high chance of recovery. His wife Catherine told People that “if there’s anything that Michael has it’s strength.”
Douglas, who has remained positive throughout his treatment, has been dealing with the rough stages of chemo which have made it very difficult for him to eat. According to People Magazine, the chemotherapy treatment he has been receiving has made it painful for him to swallow but Douglas refused to have a feeding tube and has been eating on his own. Now that his treatment is over, he was put on a special diet which will help him gain strength and hopefully regain over 30 lbs. of weight that he has lost.
On a lighter note, Douglas and his family packed up the family and headed over to Florida to spend some quality time with the family. Douglas’s representative stated that they “are very happy and thankful the way things are going this Thanksgiving.”
The couple is hopeful that Douglas will triumph over the disease and doctors claim that the type of treatment he is receiving has a high chance of recovery. His wife Catherine told People that “if there’s anything that Michael has it’s strength.”
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
SINGAPORE: Police said 85 people were arrested in an operation which ended early Friday morning.
They were arrested for a host of criminal offences including illegal gambling activities, gang-related activities, vice-related activities, peddling contraband cigarettes, as well as immigration and gaming offences.
The operation also uncovered workers working without valid work permits.
The multi-agency effort involved officers from the Singapore Police Force, the Central Narcotics Bureau, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority and the Singapore Customs.
Various locations in Geylang and Marine Parade were raided.
Investigations against those arrested are ongoing.
They were arrested for a host of criminal offences including illegal gambling activities, gang-related activities, vice-related activities, peddling contraband cigarettes, as well as immigration and gaming offences.
The operation also uncovered workers working without valid work permits.
The multi-agency effort involved officers from the Singapore Police Force, the Central Narcotics Bureau, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority and the Singapore Customs.
Various locations in Geylang and Marine Parade were raided.
Investigations against those arrested are ongoing.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
SINGAPORE : Police have busted an illegal gambling den at an industrial unit at Defu Lane where they arrested 10 men and two women, aged between 37 and 52 years old.
Police said in Saturday's four-hour operation, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division seized 15 modified computers, five modified jackpot machines and cash amounting to about $650 from the unit.
Police said one of the suspects, a 40-year-old man, had assisted to manage the place while the remaining suspects were believed to be patrons of the gambling den.
Police added that any person who games in a common gaming house shall be guilty of an offence under Section 7 of the Common Gaming Houses Act, and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.
Any person found guilty of an offence of assisting in the management of a place to be used as a common gaming house under Section 4(1)(c) of the Common Gaming Houses Act, shall be liable on conviction to a fine of not less than $5,000 and not more than $50,000 and shall also be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years.
Police said in Saturday's four-hour operation, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division seized 15 modified computers, five modified jackpot machines and cash amounting to about $650 from the unit.
Police said one of the suspects, a 40-year-old man, had assisted to manage the place while the remaining suspects were believed to be patrons of the gambling den.
Police added that any person who games in a common gaming house shall be guilty of an offence under Section 7 of the Common Gaming Houses Act, and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.
Any person found guilty of an offence of assisting in the management of a place to be used as a common gaming house under Section 4(1)(c) of the Common Gaming Houses Act, shall be liable on conviction to a fine of not less than $5,000 and not more than $50,000 and shall also be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
After band members of Guns N’Roses, Slash and Axl Rose, parted ways back in the 90’s there just seemed to be no hope for these guys to kiss and make up. Their ongoing feud has created such a rift between the two that ex-lead singer Axl Rose has sued creators of Guitar Hero III:Legends of Rock for a whopping $20 million for including images of his ex band member Slash during the “Welcome To The Jungle” sequence.
The Hollywood Reporter gave the lowdown on the lawsuit filed by Axl Rose and his company Black Frog Music. Axl claims that Activision, the creators of the Guitar Hero III, promised Axl that any images of Slash would not be included or of his band Velvet Revolver. Keep in mind that this game was released back in 2007.
The Hollywood Reporter released this statement which was part of the complaint made by Axl, "[Activision] began spinning a web of lies and deception to conceal its true intentions to not only feature Slash and VR prominently in GH III but also promote the game by emphasizing and reinforcing an association between Slash and Guns N' Roses and the band's song 'Welcome to the Jungle," the complaint states.
It also seems that they used the “Sweet Child O Mine” song for promoting the game which was another breach of contract. So basically, it comes down to Axl accusing Activision of lying to him about the inclusion of Slash and the use of an unauthorized song. If Axl gets his way, then he could pocket a cool $20 million but my question is why did this guy decide to sue 3 years after the release of the game. Sounds like he’s looking for a little hype.
The Hollywood Reporter gave the lowdown on the lawsuit filed by Axl Rose and his company Black Frog Music. Axl claims that Activision, the creators of the Guitar Hero III, promised Axl that any images of Slash would not be included or of his band Velvet Revolver. Keep in mind that this game was released back in 2007.
The Hollywood Reporter released this statement which was part of the complaint made by Axl, "[Activision] began spinning a web of lies and deception to conceal its true intentions to not only feature Slash and VR prominently in GH III but also promote the game by emphasizing and reinforcing an association between Slash and Guns N' Roses and the band's song 'Welcome to the Jungle," the complaint states.
It also seems that they used the “Sweet Child O Mine” song for promoting the game which was another breach of contract. So basically, it comes down to Axl accusing Activision of lying to him about the inclusion of Slash and the use of an unauthorized song. If Axl gets his way, then he could pocket a cool $20 million but my question is why did this guy decide to sue 3 years after the release of the game. Sounds like he’s looking for a little hype.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
If you were of the opinion that Willie Nelson may have smoked a doobie or two in his lifetime, well my friend, you'd be right.
The country crooning sensation and High Time magazine coverboy was busted yesterday morning after a Border Patrol checkpoint pulled over his tour bus in Sierra Blanca, Texas. Nelson was enroute from California to Austin when he was stopped. The tour bus doors opened and hilariously, officers immediately detected marijuana smoke. Nelson, a board member of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Law, along with two others in his entourage, was booked into the Hudspeth County Jail on a $2,500 bond.
This isn't the first arrest for the 77-year-old singer-songwriter, activist, actor and poet who still actively tours. Nelson has tussled with the law over his staunch marijuana use before. Back in 2006, Nelson was fined and put on six months probation after being found with marijuana and mushrooms (the magic kind).
Nelson also had a brush with the law back in the 1990s, when the IRS seized most of his assets, claiming he owed $32 million in unpaid taxes. Nelson quickly discovered that his accountants had not been paying his taxes for years. To repay his debts, Nelson released "The IRS Tapes: Who'll Buy My Memories?" as a double album, while also auctioning many of his assets. He sued and settled with his accounting firm, Price Waterhouse, for an undisclosed amount.
The country crooning sensation and High Time magazine coverboy was busted yesterday morning after a Border Patrol checkpoint pulled over his tour bus in Sierra Blanca, Texas. Nelson was enroute from California to Austin when he was stopped. The tour bus doors opened and hilariously, officers immediately detected marijuana smoke. Nelson, a board member of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Law, along with two others in his entourage, was booked into the Hudspeth County Jail on a $2,500 bond.
This isn't the first arrest for the 77-year-old singer-songwriter, activist, actor and poet who still actively tours. Nelson has tussled with the law over his staunch marijuana use before. Back in 2006, Nelson was fined and put on six months probation after being found with marijuana and mushrooms (the magic kind).
Nelson also had a brush with the law back in the 1990s, when the IRS seized most of his assets, claiming he owed $32 million in unpaid taxes. Nelson quickly discovered that his accountants had not been paying his taxes for years. To repay his debts, Nelson released "The IRS Tapes: Who'll Buy My Memories?" as a double album, while also auctioning many of his assets. He sued and settled with his accounting firm, Price Waterhouse, for an undisclosed amount.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Internationally the online gambling industry has come a long way in convincing governments everywhere that operators are solid legitimate firms that want to follow the set rules for ethical conduct.
Every once and while a government doesn’t feel that the online gambling operators deserve a fair shake and try to ban their access to the gaming public within their borders. Such is the case in Cyprus, where the government has drawn up the legislation which will ban all forms of online gambling except sports wagering and have sent it off to the European Commission for review.
Cyprus has attempted to use the same logic that Portugal has used to get the European Commission to allow a ban on online gambling there. The Attorney General for Cyprus Petros Clerides, stated his reasons for the proposed ban on roulette, slot machines, and poker, "We need to convince the European Commission that the ban is in the public interest and that it adheres to the principle of proportionality." Adding that the European case law supports the proposed ban by Cyprus, explaining the European Court of Justice decision was in favour of Portugal.
Clerides, also said that the bill allows for online sports betting online and licenses for retail outlets. Additionally, the bill outlines a proposed regulatory body, entitled the ‘Gaming Board’, to whom licensees will be obliged to pay a tax based on turnover, rather than profits. No cash bets will be accepted in order to control the sports betting businesses. Only credit cards and e accounts will be the accepted form for transactions which the Cyprus government claims will be easily monitored in order for proper taxation to occur. Banks will also provide a positively secure way for players to deposit and receive funds.
Ionas Nicolaou, a government spokesperson also commented that there are over 600 online casinos operating in Cyprus legally because there is currently no legislation to cover the activity. It is estimated that millions of Euros are wagered in Cyprus every year.
Every once and while a government doesn’t feel that the online gambling operators deserve a fair shake and try to ban their access to the gaming public within their borders. Such is the case in Cyprus, where the government has drawn up the legislation which will ban all forms of online gambling except sports wagering and have sent it off to the European Commission for review.
Cyprus has attempted to use the same logic that Portugal has used to get the European Commission to allow a ban on online gambling there. The Attorney General for Cyprus Petros Clerides, stated his reasons for the proposed ban on roulette, slot machines, and poker, "We need to convince the European Commission that the ban is in the public interest and that it adheres to the principle of proportionality." Adding that the European case law supports the proposed ban by Cyprus, explaining the European Court of Justice decision was in favour of Portugal.
Clerides, also said that the bill allows for online sports betting online and licenses for retail outlets. Additionally, the bill outlines a proposed regulatory body, entitled the ‘Gaming Board’, to whom licensees will be obliged to pay a tax based on turnover, rather than profits. No cash bets will be accepted in order to control the sports betting businesses. Only credit cards and e accounts will be the accepted form for transactions which the Cyprus government claims will be easily monitored in order for proper taxation to occur. Banks will also provide a positively secure way for players to deposit and receive funds.
Ionas Nicolaou, a government spokesperson also commented that there are over 600 online casinos operating in Cyprus legally because there is currently no legislation to cover the activity. It is estimated that millions of Euros are wagered in Cyprus every year.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
This is contrary to the fact that in 2009 the Polish government declared online gambling illegal. The reason was that people spent 50 % more on online gambling than in regular casino’s. For this reason online gambling had to be banned.
Gambling abroad
There’s only one problem. The Polish government can’t refuse gambling sites from other countries.
Attempts to banish these sites cause intense criticism. So Polish gambling sites are still legal, as long as they’re registered in a other country.
Gambling law
This will not be the end. In December will be voted for a new law. This law allows to arrest online gamblers. And this law also makes it possible to refuse any gambling sites who are operating in Poland.
Gambling abroad
There’s only one problem. The Polish government can’t refuse gambling sites from other countries.
Attempts to banish these sites cause intense criticism. So Polish gambling sites are still legal, as long as they’re registered in a other country.
Gambling law
This will not be the end. In December will be voted for a new law. This law allows to arrest online gamblers. And this law also makes it possible to refuse any gambling sites who are operating in Poland.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
The case in Kentucky that made national news back in September 2008 where it was announced that 141 domain names for gambling sites were being seized without due process by this Commonwealth state is back in the news. Kentucky has a problem with online gambling websites and operators because it detracts from their Horse Racing livelihood by allowing residents to wager on casino games and not just horse racing. Even though Kentucky says it’s illegal to have any online gambling sites in their state, they themselves allow sites like “TwinSpires.com which accepts horse racing bets to run, and they also run a Kentucky Lottery site that offers a second chance game to residents.
But Kentucky lawmakers have a huge problem with any other gaming sites operating in their state, hence the alleged seizure of these 141 domain names, which includes big names like, Party Gaming, Poker Stars, Full Tilt Poker and many more. The newest development is from attorneys in the case’s decision to separate these sites into groups. To make it easier to identify ownership, the Commonwealth has requested this grouping. Starting with the first sites seized which includes, playersonly.com, sports interaction.com, mysportsbook.com, sportsbook.com and linesmaker.com. Any owner/operator who lays claim to these sites have 30 days to file a motion to intervene.
The new court date of December 6, 2010 is set and even though these sites have been given 30 days notice, the date still stands. If by chance the state of Kentucky actually wins this case, it would mean that the sites in question would lose their domains, and not just in the US but worldwide and this has made some sites including Full Tilt Poker to seek a court order protecting its domain. In other news, Full Tilt Poker, Party Gaming and the software giant Microgaming have been included in another court case in Kentucky were the state is trying to recoup lost money for its residents from gambling on these sites. Stay tuned for more information coming out of this ‘ground breaking” legal battle.
But Kentucky lawmakers have a huge problem with any other gaming sites operating in their state, hence the alleged seizure of these 141 domain names, which includes big names like, Party Gaming, Poker Stars, Full Tilt Poker and many more. The newest development is from attorneys in the case’s decision to separate these sites into groups. To make it easier to identify ownership, the Commonwealth has requested this grouping. Starting with the first sites seized which includes, playersonly.com, sports interaction.com, mysportsbook.com, sportsbook.com and linesmaker.com. Any owner/operator who lays claim to these sites have 30 days to file a motion to intervene.
The new court date of December 6, 2010 is set and even though these sites have been given 30 days notice, the date still stands. If by chance the state of Kentucky actually wins this case, it would mean that the sites in question would lose their domains, and not just in the US but worldwide and this has made some sites including Full Tilt Poker to seek a court order protecting its domain. In other news, Full Tilt Poker, Party Gaming and the software giant Microgaming have been included in another court case in Kentucky were the state is trying to recoup lost money for its residents from gambling on these sites. Stay tuned for more information coming out of this ‘ground breaking” legal battle.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Actor slash comedian Dane Cook is making a move on the very recently single Eva Longoria.
Cook took to his Twitter to ask out the Desperate Housewives actress, writing, "Is it too soon to ask @EvaLongoria if she's ready to date? I'd like to take her to dinner, a divorce and then a movie."
Longoria recently filed for divorce from her NBA star husband Tony Parker, after she found hundreds of text messages from the wife of Parker's teammate former San Antonio Spur Brent Barry.
Erin Barry, who filed for divorce from Brent, was reportedly sexting with Parker. For his part, Tony admitted to the sexting, but claimed he never got physical with Barry. New reports are circulating that Eva, who once considered Erin a close friend, confronted her to ask if she ever got physical with her husband.
A source said, “She had to find out for herself if Tony had betrayed her with one of her own friends.” Reportedly, she tracked Erin down and had it out with her in a parking lot at the airport.
The source added, “Eva wanted to look into Erin’s eyes to ask her if she had been sleeping with Tony.”
Come to think of it, perhaps Eva and Dane Cook would make a good couple, as the pair have both recently been betrayed by a loved one. Cook's half-brother, Darryl McCauley, who was his business manager for over a decade, will spend the next five to six years behind bars for stealing millions from Cook's business accounts starting in 2004. McCauley was sentenced yesterday after pleading guilty to 27 counts of larceny over $250, three counts of forgery, embezzlement among other charges.
Cook took to his Twitter to ask out the Desperate Housewives actress, writing, "Is it too soon to ask @EvaLongoria if she's ready to date? I'd like to take her to dinner, a divorce and then a movie."
Longoria recently filed for divorce from her NBA star husband Tony Parker, after she found hundreds of text messages from the wife of Parker's teammate former San Antonio Spur Brent Barry.
Erin Barry, who filed for divorce from Brent, was reportedly sexting with Parker. For his part, Tony admitted to the sexting, but claimed he never got physical with Barry. New reports are circulating that Eva, who once considered Erin a close friend, confronted her to ask if she ever got physical with her husband.
A source said, “She had to find out for herself if Tony had betrayed her with one of her own friends.” Reportedly, she tracked Erin down and had it out with her in a parking lot at the airport.
The source added, “Eva wanted to look into Erin’s eyes to ask her if she had been sleeping with Tony.”
Come to think of it, perhaps Eva and Dane Cook would make a good couple, as the pair have both recently been betrayed by a loved one. Cook's half-brother, Darryl McCauley, who was his business manager for over a decade, will spend the next five to six years behind bars for stealing millions from Cook's business accounts starting in 2004. McCauley was sentenced yesterday after pleading guilty to 27 counts of larceny over $250, three counts of forgery, embezzlement among other charges.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
HONG KONG — Macau casino tycoon Stanley Ho paid 330,000 US dollars for two white truffles at a weekend auction, a report said Monday, matching the record price he paid for one of the prized fungi three years ago.
The billionaire made his winning bid through representatives at the event held at his own Grand Lisboa hotel in the Asian gambling hub, the fourth straight year he has won the truffle auction, the Standard newspaper reported.
Ho's winning bid bought him a giant truffle from Italy's central Tuscany region that weighed about 900 grams (two pounds) and a smaller one of about 400 grams, the report said.
The auction in Macau, a former Portuguese colony returned to China in 1999, also saw bidders vie for the delicacy from Rome and London via satellite link, it said.
Ho paid a record 330,000 US dollars in 2007 for a single truffle that weighed almost 1.5 kilograms.
The tycoon's bid came about two weeks after a Hong Kong-based wine critic paid 105,000 euros (139,000 US dollars) for a giant white truffle at an auction near the northern Italian town of Alba.
The billionaire made his winning bid through representatives at the event held at his own Grand Lisboa hotel in the Asian gambling hub, the fourth straight year he has won the truffle auction, the Standard newspaper reported.
Ho's winning bid bought him a giant truffle from Italy's central Tuscany region that weighed about 900 grams (two pounds) and a smaller one of about 400 grams, the report said.
The auction in Macau, a former Portuguese colony returned to China in 1999, also saw bidders vie for the delicacy from Rome and London via satellite link, it said.
Ho paid a record 330,000 US dollars in 2007 for a single truffle that weighed almost 1.5 kilograms.
The tycoon's bid came about two weeks after a Hong Kong-based wine critic paid 105,000 euros (139,000 US dollars) for a giant white truffle at an auction near the northern Italian town of Alba.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
A pair of Italian nationals who have been acting as gambling cheats for decades, were finally caught and sentenced in UK court.
Franesco Baioni and Frank Camilleri used fake IDs and other documents to hit casinos around the world, including China, Australia and the United States.
They were eventually caught after CCTV picked up the gambling cheats using false identities and carrying out reconnaissance in a number of top London casinos.
The two were charged and sentenced in a Southwark Crown Court this week.
Baioni was given a twelve month suspended sentence for being in possession of articles and documents and the intent to commit fraud.
His partner in crime, Camilleri, received a nine month suspended sentence for similar charges.
They were also given an 18 month curfew to stay in their places of residence between 11 at night to 6 in the morning. They have also been barred from setting foot in a UK Gambling Commission regulated casino for the duration of their suspended sentences.
Speaking about the arrest, a detective said: "Two most prominent members of this organized criminal network have been brought to justice."
The chairman for the International Association for Casino Security, David Livmore, added that the gambling cheats have been known on the international circuit for at least two decades.
"Casinos, particularly in the UK, are no longer an easy target for these criminals," he added.
Franesco Baioni and Frank Camilleri used fake IDs and other documents to hit casinos around the world, including China, Australia and the United States.
They were eventually caught after CCTV picked up the gambling cheats using false identities and carrying out reconnaissance in a number of top London casinos.
The two were charged and sentenced in a Southwark Crown Court this week.
Baioni was given a twelve month suspended sentence for being in possession of articles and documents and the intent to commit fraud.
His partner in crime, Camilleri, received a nine month suspended sentence for similar charges.
They were also given an 18 month curfew to stay in their places of residence between 11 at night to 6 in the morning. They have also been barred from setting foot in a UK Gambling Commission regulated casino for the duration of their suspended sentences.
Speaking about the arrest, a detective said: "Two most prominent members of this organized criminal network have been brought to justice."
The chairman for the International Association for Casino Security, David Livmore, added that the gambling cheats have been known on the international circuit for at least two decades.
"Casinos, particularly in the UK, are no longer an easy target for these criminals," he added.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Cyprus is hoping to ban online gambling by the end of the year.
Land based casinos are already outlawed on the island, meaning that residents wishing to gamble tend to do so online, with around €2.5 billion wagered annually.
Cyprus joined the EU in 1994 and became compliant with its gambling laws in 2007, meaning that any ban would be in breach of the EU law that doesn’t allow restrictions on the exchange of services between member countries. However, Portugal challenged this law in the European Court of Justice in 1999 and won, meaning that they were permitted to impose their own online gambling ban.
Police spokesman Michalis Katsounotos said that links to crime was the main reason behind the proposed ban: “The police have repeatedly underlined – publicly in fact – that online gambling is the originating cause of many crimes – whether these involve loan sharking, or threats, or blackmail or even taking people hostage illegally. We have pointed out these dangers in various memos that have been submitted to the relevant authorities.”
If the ban does go through, poker and other casino games will be outlawed, though sports betting will still be allowed.
Land based casinos are already outlawed on the island, meaning that residents wishing to gamble tend to do so online, with around €2.5 billion wagered annually.
Cyprus joined the EU in 1994 and became compliant with its gambling laws in 2007, meaning that any ban would be in breach of the EU law that doesn’t allow restrictions on the exchange of services between member countries. However, Portugal challenged this law in the European Court of Justice in 1999 and won, meaning that they were permitted to impose their own online gambling ban.
Police spokesman Michalis Katsounotos said that links to crime was the main reason behind the proposed ban: “The police have repeatedly underlined – publicly in fact – that online gambling is the originating cause of many crimes – whether these involve loan sharking, or threats, or blackmail or even taking people hostage illegally. We have pointed out these dangers in various memos that have been submitted to the relevant authorities.”
If the ban does go through, poker and other casino games will be outlawed, though sports betting will still be allowed.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Online advertising firm Media Corp has announced that it will be placing the gambling.com domain name up for auction so that it can look at buying other things.
The sought-after web address could help drive millions of people to a gambling site that wins the auction, showing how valuable a succinct and relevant domain name can be to a business.
Online Media Corp has also been selling other gambling-related domain names in the past, including casino.co.uk for £3.62 million and gambling.com is expected to sell for around $10 million (£6.42 million), reports onlinepoker.net.
Justin Drummond, the group's chief executive officer, told the news provider that the funds will give the company the opportunity to look at other initiatives in the market.
"Whilst the Group has significant cash reserves, we have recently seen a number of exciting acquisition opportunities in the online gambling and online advertising space," he said.
"The successful sale of gambling.com will give the Group significant financial resources to pursue these acquisition opportunities."
Last week it was announced that the i.co domain name extension would be going up for auction and businesses looking to further market their brand are expected to be placing bids.
The sought-after web address could help drive millions of people to a gambling site that wins the auction, showing how valuable a succinct and relevant domain name can be to a business.
Online Media Corp has also been selling other gambling-related domain names in the past, including casino.co.uk for £3.62 million and gambling.com is expected to sell for around $10 million (£6.42 million), reports onlinepoker.net.
Justin Drummond, the group's chief executive officer, told the news provider that the funds will give the company the opportunity to look at other initiatives in the market.
"Whilst the Group has significant cash reserves, we have recently seen a number of exciting acquisition opportunities in the online gambling and online advertising space," he said.
"The successful sale of gambling.com will give the Group significant financial resources to pursue these acquisition opportunities."
Last week it was announced that the i.co domain name extension would be going up for auction and businesses looking to further market their brand are expected to be placing bids.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Known for slapstick delivered with a deadpan schtick in movies like Airplane! as well as the Naked Gun franchise, Leslie Nielsen has sadly passed away at the age of 84. Nielsen succumbed to complications from pneumonia at a hospital near his home in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on Sunday surrounded by family including his fourth wife, Barbaree, as well as friends. Nielsen has two daughters, Thea and Maura.
Hailed by film critic Roger Ebert as "the Olivier of spoofs," Nielsen was born in Regina in the province of Saskatchewan in Canada in 1926. When he was 17, Nielsen escaped a difficult home life by enlisting in the Royal Canadian Air Force and was trained as an aerial gunner during the latter part of World War II, but was too young to be sent overseas.
He briefly worked as a disc jockey at a radio station in Canada before receiving a scholarship for the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York, saying, "I couldn't refuse, but I must say when you come from the land of the snow goose, the moose and wool to New York, you're bringing every ton of hayseed and country bumpkin that you packed. As long as I didn't open my mouth, I felt a certain security. But I always thought I was going to be unmasked: 'OK, pack your stuff.' 'Well, what's the matter?' 'We've discovered you have no talent; we're shipping you back to Canada.'"
Nielsen began his career mostly in TV on such series as Rawhide, Gunsmoke, and The Fugitive, and moved onto films like The Poseidon Adventure. Although his career spanned 30 years, Nielsen didn't become a household name until the 1980 hit, Airplane!
"Surely you can't be serious," an airline passenger said to Nielsen in Airplane!
"I am serious. And don't call me Shirley," Nielsen famously replied.
Nielsen then gained public adoration for his portrayal of Det. Frank Drebin in The Naked Gun franchise, a cop drama spoof co-starring George Kennedy, O.J. Simpson and Priscilla Presley.
“We are sadden by the passing of beloved actor Leslie Nielsen, probably best remembered as Lt. Frank Drebin in The Naked Gun series of pictures, but who enjoyed a more than 60-year career in motion pictures and television," said a statement from Nielsen's family released through his rep.
Hailed by film critic Roger Ebert as "the Olivier of spoofs," Nielsen was born in Regina in the province of Saskatchewan in Canada in 1926. When he was 17, Nielsen escaped a difficult home life by enlisting in the Royal Canadian Air Force and was trained as an aerial gunner during the latter part of World War II, but was too young to be sent overseas.
He briefly worked as a disc jockey at a radio station in Canada before receiving a scholarship for the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York, saying, "I couldn't refuse, but I must say when you come from the land of the snow goose, the moose and wool to New York, you're bringing every ton of hayseed and country bumpkin that you packed. As long as I didn't open my mouth, I felt a certain security. But I always thought I was going to be unmasked: 'OK, pack your stuff.' 'Well, what's the matter?' 'We've discovered you have no talent; we're shipping you back to Canada.'"
Nielsen began his career mostly in TV on such series as Rawhide, Gunsmoke, and The Fugitive, and moved onto films like The Poseidon Adventure. Although his career spanned 30 years, Nielsen didn't become a household name until the 1980 hit, Airplane!
"Surely you can't be serious," an airline passenger said to Nielsen in Airplane!
"I am serious. And don't call me Shirley," Nielsen famously replied.
Nielsen then gained public adoration for his portrayal of Det. Frank Drebin in The Naked Gun franchise, a cop drama spoof co-starring George Kennedy, O.J. Simpson and Priscilla Presley.
“We are sadden by the passing of beloved actor Leslie Nielsen, probably best remembered as Lt. Frank Drebin in The Naked Gun series of pictures, but who enjoyed a more than 60-year career in motion pictures and television," said a statement from Nielsen's family released through his rep.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
It's been more than 17 years since RCMP tactical officers armed with assault rifles burst into the White Bear Reserve's Bear Claw casino in the wee hours.
This was likely the low point in the jurisdictional fight between the Saskatchewan government and First Nations people over gambling. Many question whether all the scars have ever completely heeled over this ugly incident.
That said, what's also clear is that out of that 4 a.m., March, 22, 1993 raid, when both regular and camouflaged police seized 100 slot machines, card tables, financial records and between $70,000 and $125,000, came the resolve both locally from the White Bear band and the First Nations community as a whole to create the structure for the province's gaming industry. From this very difficult birth and sometimes very difficult growing-up process has come a formidable First Nations gaming industry in which First Nations leadership has clearly earned trust and respect. The later thought crosses one's mind after a small advertisement popped up in the classifieds of Saturday's Saskatoon StarPhoenix, in which the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) served notice that it was releasing a "request for information on the products offered by suppliers that could assist SIGA in conducting research on Internet gambling."
Court fights over jurisdiction eventually led to the two province-run casinos in Regina and Moose Jaw that send 25 per cent of their profits to the First Nations community and to SIGA's six First Nations casinos (including the Bear Claw that opened with a new building on Nov. 12, 1996 with the blessing of the government).
SIGA today employees 2,000 people (the vast majority of whom are First Nations people) and is one of the province's 50 biggest companies with $200 million in revenue and $60 million in profits. And to hear Gaming Minister Ken Cheveldayoff tell reporters Monday that SIGA is a well-run and highly professional organization says even more about how far things have come in these 17-plus years.
After all, it has been a journey with considerable difficulty and controversy.
SIGA's early days were plagued with tales of inappropriate spending by its then CEO Dutch Lerat -- tales of loosely spent cash and unaccountable trips on the Concorde to Europe and Australia -- that almost capsized First Nations gambling in this province. And what's followed is jurisdictional squabble after jurisdictional squabble over everything from appropriate revenue sharing (the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) wants to retain 100 per cent of the profits from its own casinos) to compliance with the province's ban on indoor smoking.
That we've reached the point of last Saturday's advertisement, where the province now entrusts SIGA to do the initial leg work on the potentially lucrative Internet gaming market says much.
The idea of developing online gambling sites and a partnership with the province was first broached last August by FSIN Grand Chief Guy Lonechild.
"We have yet further study to do," Lonechild said at the time, adding that it was one of the first issues discussed between him and Premier Brad Wall. "But you can bet we'd be looking at that opportunity."
On Monday, Cheveldayoff confirmed that while SIGA is going ahead with the initial research on its own, the province is working in partnership with SIGA.
Cheveldayoff described online gaming as a billion-dollar industry in Canada with $30- to $40-million occurring in Saskatchewan. The next step is to find out how much of that money (online betting, poker, etc.) can be captured by those working within this province, the minister said.
Somewhat puzzling, however, is that Cheveldayoff said that there has so far been no discussion with SIGA on a revenue-sharing formula. The minister danced around questions of why this hasn't been discussed or why the already developed 25-per-cent revenue-sharing precedent wasn't the minimum that his Saskatchewan Party government would be demanding.
Perhaps there are still growing pains in this relationship. Or perhaps the government has learned much about diplomacy since that pre-dawn raid.
Whatever the case, though, it is clear this difficult relationship has come a long, long way since that 1993 pre-dawn raid.
- Mandryk is the political columnist for the Leader-Post.
This was likely the low point in the jurisdictional fight between the Saskatchewan government and First Nations people over gambling. Many question whether all the scars have ever completely heeled over this ugly incident.
That said, what's also clear is that out of that 4 a.m., March, 22, 1993 raid, when both regular and camouflaged police seized 100 slot machines, card tables, financial records and between $70,000 and $125,000, came the resolve both locally from the White Bear band and the First Nations community as a whole to create the structure for the province's gaming industry. From this very difficult birth and sometimes very difficult growing-up process has come a formidable First Nations gaming industry in which First Nations leadership has clearly earned trust and respect. The later thought crosses one's mind after a small advertisement popped up in the classifieds of Saturday's Saskatoon StarPhoenix, in which the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) served notice that it was releasing a "request for information on the products offered by suppliers that could assist SIGA in conducting research on Internet gambling."
Court fights over jurisdiction eventually led to the two province-run casinos in Regina and Moose Jaw that send 25 per cent of their profits to the First Nations community and to SIGA's six First Nations casinos (including the Bear Claw that opened with a new building on Nov. 12, 1996 with the blessing of the government).
SIGA today employees 2,000 people (the vast majority of whom are First Nations people) and is one of the province's 50 biggest companies with $200 million in revenue and $60 million in profits. And to hear Gaming Minister Ken Cheveldayoff tell reporters Monday that SIGA is a well-run and highly professional organization says even more about how far things have come in these 17-plus years.
After all, it has been a journey with considerable difficulty and controversy.
SIGA's early days were plagued with tales of inappropriate spending by its then CEO Dutch Lerat -- tales of loosely spent cash and unaccountable trips on the Concorde to Europe and Australia -- that almost capsized First Nations gambling in this province. And what's followed is jurisdictional squabble after jurisdictional squabble over everything from appropriate revenue sharing (the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) wants to retain 100 per cent of the profits from its own casinos) to compliance with the province's ban on indoor smoking.
That we've reached the point of last Saturday's advertisement, where the province now entrusts SIGA to do the initial leg work on the potentially lucrative Internet gaming market says much.
The idea of developing online gambling sites and a partnership with the province was first broached last August by FSIN Grand Chief Guy Lonechild.
"We have yet further study to do," Lonechild said at the time, adding that it was one of the first issues discussed between him and Premier Brad Wall. "But you can bet we'd be looking at that opportunity."
On Monday, Cheveldayoff confirmed that while SIGA is going ahead with the initial research on its own, the province is working in partnership with SIGA.
Cheveldayoff described online gaming as a billion-dollar industry in Canada with $30- to $40-million occurring in Saskatchewan. The next step is to find out how much of that money (online betting, poker, etc.) can be captured by those working within this province, the minister said.
Somewhat puzzling, however, is that Cheveldayoff said that there has so far been no discussion with SIGA on a revenue-sharing formula. The minister danced around questions of why this hasn't been discussed or why the already developed 25-per-cent revenue-sharing precedent wasn't the minimum that his Saskatchewan Party government would be demanding.
Perhaps there are still growing pains in this relationship. Or perhaps the government has learned much about diplomacy since that pre-dawn raid.
Whatever the case, though, it is clear this difficult relationship has come a long, long way since that 1993 pre-dawn raid.
- Mandryk is the political columnist for the Leader-Post.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
The federal government is determined to go ahead with its gambling reforms and will legislate if it doesn't get the backing of the states, a gambling studies conference on the Gold Coast has been told.
Families Minister Jenny Macklin doesn't think the change of government in Victoria will make it harder to achieve reforms to reduce problem gambling.
"I think there is a real understanding in Victoria about the importance of gambling reform," she told reporters at the National Association for Gambling Studies conference at Jupiters Hotel and Casino on Wednesday.
Advertisement: Story continues below
"I'm very pleased to see some of the remarks made by Mr (Ted) Baillieu before the election about the importance of dealing with problem gambling and I look forward to working with the new Victorian government to implement these reforms."
However, the minister made it clear her resolve was firm even if an agreement can't be reached with the states.
"It's very important that we recognise that in Australia gambling regulation is done by the states and territories so my objective is certainly to do everything I can to get an agreement ... if that's not possible we have indicated that the Commonwealth will seek to legislate," she said.
Ms Macklin told the conference the government will introduce a pre-commitment system where gamblers buy a card worth whatever they want to set as a limit, or alternatively decide to set no limit.
"Making that choice makes you think about it, and just in the process of taking some time to think about the limit you will set for yourself is very important.
"We know that gambling destroys lives, it destroys families' lives, so we are determined to introduce a full system of pre-commitment."
Families Minister Jenny Macklin doesn't think the change of government in Victoria will make it harder to achieve reforms to reduce problem gambling.
"I think there is a real understanding in Victoria about the importance of gambling reform," she told reporters at the National Association for Gambling Studies conference at Jupiters Hotel and Casino on Wednesday.
Advertisement: Story continues below
"I'm very pleased to see some of the remarks made by Mr (Ted) Baillieu before the election about the importance of dealing with problem gambling and I look forward to working with the new Victorian government to implement these reforms."
However, the minister made it clear her resolve was firm even if an agreement can't be reached with the states.
"It's very important that we recognise that in Australia gambling regulation is done by the states and territories so my objective is certainly to do everything I can to get an agreement ... if that's not possible we have indicated that the Commonwealth will seek to legislate," she said.
Ms Macklin told the conference the government will introduce a pre-commitment system where gamblers buy a card worth whatever they want to set as a limit, or alternatively decide to set no limit.
"Making that choice makes you think about it, and just in the process of taking some time to think about the limit you will set for yourself is very important.
"We know that gambling destroys lives, it destroys families' lives, so we are determined to introduce a full system of pre-commitment."
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Since it was announced that Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp would be starring in The Tourist together, the media has been salivating over the prospect that the two would have a torrid affair. Yes, it would be a salacious story and Jolie has had a history of snagging her leading men in the past – married or not.
Depp recently talked to Vanity Fair and revealed what it's like being a hot leading man paired with a hot leading lady and the lengths they had to go through to stay out of the media rumor mill, discussing how he and Jolie were “having to hide, sometimes not even being able to talk to each other in public because someone will take a photograph and it will be misconstrued and turned into some other shit.”
Jolie famously broke up the relationships of Billy Bob Thornton and Laura Dern, as well as Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt.
"I didn't know much about exactly where Brad was in his personal life (during filming of the movie). But it was clear he was with his best friend, someone he loves and respects," Jolie argued to Vogue after she had successfully snagged Pitt.
As for Depp, he has been with Vanessa Paradis for over ten years and has two children with her.
In The Tourist, Depp stars as an American tourist whose flirtation with Jolie's character gets him in a bit of a mess. During a trip to Europe to help him get over a woman, Frank (Depp) meets Elise (Jolie), who, little does he know, deliberately crosses his path. Apparently, the pair get into a game of cat and mouse, according to the film's synopsis. The perfect set-up for the real life stars to get hot and heavy, no?
Depp recently talked to Vanity Fair and revealed what it's like being a hot leading man paired with a hot leading lady and the lengths they had to go through to stay out of the media rumor mill, discussing how he and Jolie were “having to hide, sometimes not even being able to talk to each other in public because someone will take a photograph and it will be misconstrued and turned into some other shit.”
Jolie famously broke up the relationships of Billy Bob Thornton and Laura Dern, as well as Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt.
"I didn't know much about exactly where Brad was in his personal life (during filming of the movie). But it was clear he was with his best friend, someone he loves and respects," Jolie argued to Vogue after she had successfully snagged Pitt.
As for Depp, he has been with Vanessa Paradis for over ten years and has two children with her.
In The Tourist, Depp stars as an American tourist whose flirtation with Jolie's character gets him in a bit of a mess. During a trip to Europe to help him get over a woman, Frank (Depp) meets Elise (Jolie), who, little does he know, deliberately crosses his path. Apparently, the pair get into a game of cat and mouse, according to the film's synopsis. The perfect set-up for the real life stars to get hot and heavy, no?
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Pop singer, Madonna, was never one to shy away from a good business deal including opening her first of many gyms called Hard Candy Fitness in Mexico City. The gym is an amazing 30,000 square feet and caters to the upscale gym bunnies who are willing to dish out $160 a month and a $830 signup fee for use of the facilities. But if you’re looking to get those ripped veiny arms she totes around then it’s a good place to start.
As many of you well know, Madonna is infamous for her dedication to fitness and as one of the toughest working 52-year olds in the business; she needs to stay in shape. Members of the gym are welcomed by images of Madonna that stretch from one end of the gym to the next followed by state of the art training equipment she picked out herself as well as an amazing yoga room which includes instructors trained in five different disciplines.
Madonna chose Mexico City because apart from it being one of her favorite cities, she wanted to use the city as a testing ground for her concept. "Our plan is to use Mexico as a place to fine-tune our brand and then expand it to other countries and, in the long term, develop a global brand that includes the United States," she told the Associated Press.
So if her chain of gyms takes off then you too can dish out loads of cash to work out Madonna style. If you’re lucky enough she just may hand pick you for one of her dance classes as she did in Mexico City. Work it!
As many of you well know, Madonna is infamous for her dedication to fitness and as one of the toughest working 52-year olds in the business; she needs to stay in shape. Members of the gym are welcomed by images of Madonna that stretch from one end of the gym to the next followed by state of the art training equipment she picked out herself as well as an amazing yoga room which includes instructors trained in five different disciplines.
Madonna chose Mexico City because apart from it being one of her favorite cities, she wanted to use the city as a testing ground for her concept. "Our plan is to use Mexico as a place to fine-tune our brand and then expand it to other countries and, in the long term, develop a global brand that includes the United States," she told the Associated Press.
So if her chain of gyms takes off then you too can dish out loads of cash to work out Madonna style. If you’re lucky enough she just may hand pick you for one of her dance classes as she did in Mexico City. Work it!
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Macau's November gambling revenue surged 42% from a year earlier to its second-highest monthly total, exceeding analysts' expectations despite falling short of the record high set just one month prior.
November revenue totaled MOP17.35 billion (US$2.2 billion), up sharply from MOP12.22 billion a year earlier but 8.1% below October's MOP18.87 billion, according to data from Macau's Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau.
Analysts said the amount came as a surprise, because market participants had expected revenue to fall back to around MOP15 billion-MOP16 billion after October's record-breaking number, J.P. Morgan analyst Kenneth Fong said in a research note.
Macau's October gambling revenue surged 50% from a year earlier, setting an all-time monthly high and exceeding analysts' expectations as patronage climbed during the week-long Chinese National Day holiday at the beginning of the month. An extra weekend in October also boosted gambling revenue that month. There were five weekends in October.
November's total was 9% above CLSA's forecast made after the first 21 days of the month. "Gaming activity picked up later in the month after the Grand Prix weekend," CLSA analyst Huei Suen Ng said in a note to clients. The Grand Prix was held in Macau Nov. 17-20. She added Macau gambling revenue for 2010 was likely to rise 56% over 2009 based on the current run rate versus the house's forecast for a 50% rise.
The November figure also exceeded Wells Fargo's original 29% year-on-year growth estimate. November's slowdown compared with the previous month was in line with the average sequential dips in November 2008 and 2009, Wells Fargo analyst Carlo Santarelli said.
Macau's gambling revenue in the January-November period rose 57% from a year earlier to MOP169.46 billion.
Among Macau's six casino license-holders, tycoon Stanley Ho's SJM Holdings Ltd. (0880.HK) continued to lead the market with a share of 32%, followed by Sands China Ltd. (1928.HK) with 15%, according to CLSA. SJM held steady from the previous month while Sands lost four percentage points. CLSA said Sands's market share loss was likely due to a poor hold rate and advised investors against placing too much emphasis on the data given the volatility of month-on-month comparisons.
Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd. (MPEL), co-chaired by James Packer and Lawrence Ho, saw its market share rise to 15% from 14% in September. Wynn Resorts Ltd. (WYNN) unit Wynn Macau Ltd. (1128.HK) saw its market share rise to 17% from 14% in the previous month, according to the report.
MGM Macau, a joint venture between Pansy Ho and MGM Resorts International (MGM), retained its fifth position with a market share of 11%, unchanged from October, and Galaxy Entertainment Ltd.'s (0027.HK) share also held steady at 10% in November, the report said.
Separately, a person familiar with the matter said Wednesday that MGM China Holdings Ltd., MGM Resorts International's joint venture, is targeting an initial public offering ahead of a listing in Hong Kong in the first quarter of 2011 at the earliest.
The final date for the offering hasn't been determined yet, the person said, but the first quarter would represent a delay from MGM China's original plan.
During MGM Resorts' second-quarter earnings conference call on Aug. 3, Chief Financial Officer Dan D'Arrigo said the company hoped to list by the end of this year.
In September, MGM China said it had filed an application to list its shares in Hong Kong.
People familiar with matter told Dow Jones Newswires earlier that BNP Paribas (BNP.FR), Bank of America-Merrill Lynch, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. (JPM) and Morgan Stanley (MS) are the bankers on the deal, which seeks to raise about US$500 million.
The listing would follow last year's Hong Kong listings of Wynn Resorts's Wynn Macau and Las Vegas Sands Corp.'s (LVS) Sands China.
November revenue totaled MOP17.35 billion (US$2.2 billion), up sharply from MOP12.22 billion a year earlier but 8.1% below October's MOP18.87 billion, according to data from Macau's Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau.
Analysts said the amount came as a surprise, because market participants had expected revenue to fall back to around MOP15 billion-MOP16 billion after October's record-breaking number, J.P. Morgan analyst Kenneth Fong said in a research note.
Macau's October gambling revenue surged 50% from a year earlier, setting an all-time monthly high and exceeding analysts' expectations as patronage climbed during the week-long Chinese National Day holiday at the beginning of the month. An extra weekend in October also boosted gambling revenue that month. There were five weekends in October.
November's total was 9% above CLSA's forecast made after the first 21 days of the month. "Gaming activity picked up later in the month after the Grand Prix weekend," CLSA analyst Huei Suen Ng said in a note to clients. The Grand Prix was held in Macau Nov. 17-20. She added Macau gambling revenue for 2010 was likely to rise 56% over 2009 based on the current run rate versus the house's forecast for a 50% rise.
The November figure also exceeded Wells Fargo's original 29% year-on-year growth estimate. November's slowdown compared with the previous month was in line with the average sequential dips in November 2008 and 2009, Wells Fargo analyst Carlo Santarelli said.
Macau's gambling revenue in the January-November period rose 57% from a year earlier to MOP169.46 billion.
Among Macau's six casino license-holders, tycoon Stanley Ho's SJM Holdings Ltd. (0880.HK) continued to lead the market with a share of 32%, followed by Sands China Ltd. (1928.HK) with 15%, according to CLSA. SJM held steady from the previous month while Sands lost four percentage points. CLSA said Sands's market share loss was likely due to a poor hold rate and advised investors against placing too much emphasis on the data given the volatility of month-on-month comparisons.
Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd. (MPEL), co-chaired by James Packer and Lawrence Ho, saw its market share rise to 15% from 14% in September. Wynn Resorts Ltd. (WYNN) unit Wynn Macau Ltd. (1128.HK) saw its market share rise to 17% from 14% in the previous month, according to the report.
MGM Macau, a joint venture between Pansy Ho and MGM Resorts International (MGM), retained its fifth position with a market share of 11%, unchanged from October, and Galaxy Entertainment Ltd.'s (0027.HK) share also held steady at 10% in November, the report said.
Separately, a person familiar with the matter said Wednesday that MGM China Holdings Ltd., MGM Resorts International's joint venture, is targeting an initial public offering ahead of a listing in Hong Kong in the first quarter of 2011 at the earliest.
The final date for the offering hasn't been determined yet, the person said, but the first quarter would represent a delay from MGM China's original plan.
During MGM Resorts' second-quarter earnings conference call on Aug. 3, Chief Financial Officer Dan D'Arrigo said the company hoped to list by the end of this year.
In September, MGM China said it had filed an application to list its shares in Hong Kong.
People familiar with matter told Dow Jones Newswires earlier that BNP Paribas (BNP.FR), Bank of America-Merrill Lynch, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. (JPM) and Morgan Stanley (MS) are the bankers on the deal, which seeks to raise about US$500 million.
The listing would follow last year's Hong Kong listings of Wynn Resorts's Wynn Macau and Las Vegas Sands Corp.'s (LVS) Sands China.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
.jpg?v=1.014689161)
.png?v=1.014689161)
It’s a tradition that some say dates back to the Truman presidency but many actually remember the turkey pardoning tradition best from President George H.W. Bush back in 1989. According to Snopes, during that year during a special holiday presentation, Mr. Bush said, “But let me assure you – and this fine tom turkey – that he will not end up on anyone’s dinner table. Not this guy. He’s been granted a presidential pardon as of right now, allowing him to live out his days on a farm not far from here.” That farm was actually the Mt. Vernon estate which was George Washington’s (the first pressie of the U.S.) home.
So today, it was Obama’s turn to save the two overfed beasts who apparently only live one year after their rescue because their corpulent state. After giving them their blessing, President Obama tells them, “All right, have a good life, man.” After he says his goodbyes, Obama will then prepare for a very special Thanksgiving meal of his own.
Will he be able to eat turkey after that whole scenario? Happy Thanksgiving everyone!