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2006/12/07
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Since the seizure of the online poker rooms in April another organization seems to be taking the lead in the advocacy of online gambling in the United States. Surprisingly it is the American Gaming Association (AGA), which is the association of the land gambling trade.
It began with an article written by Frank Fahrenkopf, chief executive of AGA, in The Hill last week. The Hill is a political publication in Washington DC. The sum and substance of the article was, "Americans like to gamble online. Millions of Americans bet billions of dollars a year at offshore foreign websites and have demonstrated that they will do so even if their government tells them it is illegal." Fahrenkopf supported the indictment of the three poker room for illegal financial activities, but added that mere law enforcement cannot be the solution. He pointed out that the players wagering at the three indicted online gambling sites are now finding other online gambling avenues, and it is quite possible that these sites are less safe from the players' perspective.
Therefore Fahrenkopf advocated the creation of a safe, regulated online gaming experience. This can be done by suitably amending the UIGEA and ironing out the perceived vagueness. At the same time Congress can create thousands of new jobs almost immediately and raise at least $20 billion in new tax revenues over the next decade. U.S.-licensed gaming companies will provide safe, honest and responsible sites.
On the day following the release of the above article Fahrenkopf, joined three other land gambling chiefs in a press conference in Washington DC. The galaxy of gambling heads gave a joint call for online gambling legalization. They noted that the instruments and technology to meet all precautionary requirements was now available. And because there was a significant demand among the American population for online gambling, federal government legalization was the only realistic course to follow. In order to pursue this course a series of meetings have been planned in the near future with senior political figures. Another initiative planned by AGA is drafting its own bill for the legalization of online gambling. This will allow for independent state regulation with federal oversight.
AGA has also released a new white paper titled Online Gambling Five Years After UIGEA. The paper has been authored by legal counsel David O. Stewart. It provides an in-depth look at the global and USA online gambling markets, current regulatory models and legalization proposals in the United States. One of the points of emphasis is that online gambling is legalized and regulated in 85 countries. Therefore the Congress can consider a wide range of alternatives before taking a decision.
It began with an article written by Frank Fahrenkopf, chief executive of AGA, in The Hill last week. The Hill is a political publication in Washington DC. The sum and substance of the article was, "Americans like to gamble online. Millions of Americans bet billions of dollars a year at offshore foreign websites and have demonstrated that they will do so even if their government tells them it is illegal." Fahrenkopf supported the indictment of the three poker room for illegal financial activities, but added that mere law enforcement cannot be the solution. He pointed out that the players wagering at the three indicted online gambling sites are now finding other online gambling avenues, and it is quite possible that these sites are less safe from the players' perspective.
Therefore Fahrenkopf advocated the creation of a safe, regulated online gaming experience. This can be done by suitably amending the UIGEA and ironing out the perceived vagueness. At the same time Congress can create thousands of new jobs almost immediately and raise at least $20 billion in new tax revenues over the next decade. U.S.-licensed gaming companies will provide safe, honest and responsible sites.
On the day following the release of the above article Fahrenkopf, joined three other land gambling chiefs in a press conference in Washington DC. The galaxy of gambling heads gave a joint call for online gambling legalization. They noted that the instruments and technology to meet all precautionary requirements was now available. And because there was a significant demand among the American population for online gambling, federal government legalization was the only realistic course to follow. In order to pursue this course a series of meetings have been planned in the near future with senior political figures. Another initiative planned by AGA is drafting its own bill for the legalization of online gambling. This will allow for independent state regulation with federal oversight.
AGA has also released a new white paper titled Online Gambling Five Years After UIGEA. The paper has been authored by legal counsel David O. Stewart. It provides an in-depth look at the global and USA online gambling markets, current regulatory models and legalization proposals in the United States. One of the points of emphasis is that online gambling is legalized and regulated in 85 countries. Therefore the Congress can consider a wide range of alternatives before taking a decision.
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2006/12/07
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29893
Academy Award winning actor Robert De Niro is reportedly in talks to star in the HBO remake of Diane Henrique’s book about the life of shamed financial Ponzi schemer, Bernie Madoff, entitled The Wizard Of Lies: Bernie Madoff And The Death Of Trust. The book debuted at No. 10 this weekend on The New York Times bestseller list and HBO just optioned the book.
Madoff, who is currently serving a 150-year prison sentence for his Wall Street firm Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC., which stole approximately 65 billion from investors, which included celebrity victims like Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick, Steven Spielberg and John Malkovich.
Madoff was caught when he confessed to his sons, Andrew and Mark Madoff, who blew the whistle on him to authorities. Tragically, on the two-year anniversary of his father's arrest, 46-year-old Mark was found in his Manhattan apartment hanging by a dog leash. He is survived by his wife Stephanie and his two children.
Meanwhile, Bloomberg reports that a play entitled, Imagining Madoff, is opening in Washington this summer at Theater J. In Hollywood.
Deadline reports that De Niro may be the perfect choice to play Madoff, since he was the victim of freud himself back in 2009 when Lawrence Salander, a prominent art gallery owner, was charged with ripping off high-profile clients, including De Niro, out of $88 million on high-priced art deals throughout a 15-year period.
Madoff, who is currently serving a 150-year prison sentence for his Wall Street firm Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC., which stole approximately 65 billion from investors, which included celebrity victims like Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick, Steven Spielberg and John Malkovich.
Madoff was caught when he confessed to his sons, Andrew and Mark Madoff, who blew the whistle on him to authorities. Tragically, on the two-year anniversary of his father's arrest, 46-year-old Mark was found in his Manhattan apartment hanging by a dog leash. He is survived by his wife Stephanie and his two children.
Meanwhile, Bloomberg reports that a play entitled, Imagining Madoff, is opening in Washington this summer at Theater J. In Hollywood.
Deadline reports that De Niro may be the perfect choice to play Madoff, since he was the victim of freud himself back in 2009 when Lawrence Salander, a prominent art gallery owner, was charged with ripping off high-profile clients, including De Niro, out of $88 million on high-priced art deals throughout a 15-year period.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Manne wrote:
In the summer of 2000, John Gregory was an Ontario Provincial Police detective, respected for his undercover work investigating illegal gambling. That was before he was fired. It seems the 29-year veteran had stolen $16,000 from the force, money he used to support the gambling habit he'd developed. The father of six had already burned through more than $100,000 of family savings.
Around the same time, 66-yearold Pearl Byrd, a longtime supervisor with a solid employment history in Connecticut's Department of Social Sevices, was convicted of embezzling more than $187,000 from her employer -money she poured into the slots at her local casino.
This spring in Ottawa, Father Joe LeClair, the charismatic pastor of Blessed Sacrament parish, voluntarily resigned after an investigation raised questions about the source of his gambling money. Le-Clair, who'd received more than $137,000 in credit card cash advances at the Casino du Lac-Leamy in 2009 and 2010, confessed to saddened parishioners that he did indeed have a significant gambling problem.
Anybody see a thread? I mean, apart from the shared problem that upended these three lives?
Here it is: like countless others in our brave new world of legalized gambling, all three were otherwise conscientious citizens who became unlikely addicts after a degree of exposure to gambling. Some fateful number of casino visits created the monster in Byrd and LeClair, while repeated job-related exposure did it for the undercover cop.
Did they know better? Undoubtedly. Yet it's easy to imagine them saying, "Just one more hit (or hand, or roll of the dice). I'll make it all back."
That's the magic thinking of addiction, the kind of disordered thought that pits the giddy power of irrational hope against human nature's capacity for common sense -and wins. No "harm prevention" strategy in the world is a match for it. In the case of slot machines, it's abetted by electronic wizardry that goes straight to the brain, scrambling normal patterns and pumping up the desire to bet just one more time, again and again.
In a society where gambling opportunities are either governmentsanctioned or government-run, exposure is difficult to avoid. From promotions for the next mega-lottery to glitzy come-ons for the exciting glamour of the nearest casino, the allure of "gaming" (as the sanitized version now has it) is ubiquitous.
And exposure to gambling, in all its brightly-lit mainstream appeal, is breeding more and more problems.
Seriously, can you picture any of those people -the detective, the office supervisor, the priest -slinking down alleyways looking for a little backroom action? Of course not.
There are more gamblers now -and more resulting tragedies -because there are more easy opportunities to gamble. It's no accident that Nevada, where legal gambling has been king for 80 years now, has the highest pathological gambling rate in the United States. (At six per cent of the adult population, it's roughly double both the U.S. and Canada's.)
Which should raise concerns about the likely expansion at Ottawa's Rideau Carleton Raceway. Currently restricted to racing and slots, the facility is set to add table games next fall if the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission approves. The recent enthusiasm from provincial and municipal players suggests a go-ahead is in the works.
It seems that Ontario and Ottawa are losing gambling revenues to Quebec and Gatineau, which is unacceptable. Provincial coffers will not be denied, no matter how many tales of loss, woe and tragedy end up as sidebar casualties.
Yes, everyone knows that gambling is profoundly stupid, a foolproof way to lighten your wallet.
But it is also a willing suspension of the rational. Flashing lights, jangling noise and crazy hope trump what the head knows, every time.
Nor is it selective. The most unlikely people -detectives, supervisors, priests -are testament to that.
Everyone who gambles is, over time, a loser, though certainly not everyone who gambles is an addict. Problem gamblers are a small percentage of the overall population. But they are a growing minority, both in numbers and in the negative impact of their personal and collateral damage. And they're growing because gambling availability is growing.
The conclusion is inescapable. Anyone who operates and expands gambling facilities is complicit in the increasing tragedies occasioned by gambling. That includes our government.
But because government is so vast and amorphous, countless bureaucratic layers and accountabilities overlapping one another, no individual ever has to take responsibility for decisions that destroy lives and wreak incalculable social damage. Too bad.
So Rideau Carleton will no doubt expand. And once again it will be a win-win situation, for both province and municipality. But it will be a losing proposition for everyone else. That includes those unsuspecting first-timers lured down Albion Road with the promise of uncomplicated fun. Because such fun can turn out to be very complicated indeed.
Wow, the writer definitely disapproves of gambling.
Hopefully, this was in the editorial section. Life is full of risk.
Hopefully, this was in the editorial section. Life is full of risk.
Join:
2008/12/11
Messages:
117
Manne wrote:
Academy Award winning actor Robert De Niro is reportedly in talks to star in the HBO remake of Diane Henrique’s book about the life of shamed financial Ponzi schemer, Bernie Madoff, entitled The Wizard Of Lies: Bernie Madoff And The Death Of Trust. The book debuted at No. 10 this weekend on The New York Times bestseller list and HBO just optioned the book.
Madoff, who is currently serving a 150-year prison sentence for his Wall Street firm Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC., which stole approximately 65 billion from investors, which included celebrity victims like Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick, Steven Spielberg and John Malkovich.
Madoff was caught when he confessed to his sons, Andrew and Mark Madoff, who blew the whistle on him to authorities. Tragically, on the two-year anniversary of his father's arrest, 46-year-old Mark was found in his Manhattan apartment hanging by a dog leash. He is survived by his wife Stephanie and his two children.
Meanwhile, Bloomberg reports that a play entitled, Imagining Madoff, is opening in Washington this summer at Theater J. In Hollywood.
Deadline reports that De Niro may be the perfect choice to play Madoff, since he was the victim of freud himself back in 2009 when Lawrence Salander, a prominent art gallery owner, was charged with ripping off high-profile clients, including De Niro, out of $88 million on high-priced art deals throughout a 15-year period.
That should be a good flick - De Niro/HBO has to be a winning combo. As for the true story, I'm not sold on the fact that Madoff's sons are the reason he's behind bars. It was just a matter of time before the truth was to come out, that Bernard Madoff was operating a ponzi scheme. But here's where the truth stings - to be brutally honest, most of yesterday's big 'corporations', and many of today's as well, are similar to ponzi schemes. The idea is that the person or people at the top get filthy rich. If you have one of the corporate jobs, you rise up the revolving ladder of game players and get paid, whether or not the company turns a hefty profit. If you're just an investor - well, good luck getting your money back.
Join:
2008/04/01
Messages:
55
The Bligh Government is leading the way on responsible gambling measures and is supportive of measures that will reduce harm to problem gamblers and their families.
Mr Lucas said the Queensland Government has supported the voluntary pokies pre-commitment model, following today's Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Select Council on Gambling Reform meeting, but acknowledges that any changes to law need to take into account the impact on industry, the community and gamblers alike.
"Voluntary pre-commitment is a step in the right direction - our own trials have shown positive results for the player and the club - but it's not a silver bullet that will cure problem gambling," Mr Lucas said.
"Mandating card-based gambling would have a major impact on the economy, the gaming industry, and Queensland jobs at a time when we're just getting back on our feet," Mr Lucas said.
"And we're particularly concerned about the financial effect this may have on smaller clubs.
"People assume that poker machines are a cash cow for clubs, but clubs with 30 or less machines account for only eight per cent of gambling tax revenue, showing that all venues are not alike.
"There are 108 clubs in Queensland that have an average daily metered win of less than $15.
"Imposing mandatory or even rapid voluntary pre-commitment on these clubs would send them broke and not do one thing about eliminating problem gambling."
Mr Lucas said the Bligh Government strongly supports the Commonwealth Government's proposal to reduce and control the promotion of live odds during sports coverage.
"The promotion of live odds during football matches has gotten out of control, with commentators encouraging people to bet in the course of the game," he said.
"Because adult content rules don't apply to sporting events, children are exposed to this which creates even more problems.
"I strongly support the Gillard Government's proposal to consult with industry and take firm action on the promotion of live odds during sports coverage."
Mr Lucas said the Commonwealth had also indicated that they would undertake a thorough review of their internet gambling laws, as home based internet gambling so often goes undetected and unnoticed.
"If it's good enough to take an interest in poker machines at venues where you can see the machines, see the people playing them and monitor their behaviour, surely it's even more important for the Commonwealth to use their powers to deal with the unseen and often murky world of internet gambling," he said.
Mr Lucas said the COAG Select Council on Gambling Reform also discussed the use of warning messages on electronic gaming machines and had agreed to a trial of this as a harm minimisation measure.
"Personally I very strongly believe that providing messages to gamblers while they're playing on a machine warning them of risky behaviour is an important way of enforcing the consequences," he said.
"Because Queensland leads the way with its two-way monitoring system, we will work with the Commonwealth Government to trial warning messages on gaming machines."
Mr Lucas said the Queensland Government had made headway in addressing problem gambling over the past few years, resulting in a drop in the gambling prevalence rate.
"Queensland's gambling prevalence rates have dropped to 0.37 per cent, down from 0.83 per cent in 2001, following a strong gambling reform agenda which included mandatory staff training in Responsible Service of Gambling, caps on gaming machines and a State-wide shut down on pokies before 10am," he said.
"In addition, Queensland has more than 40 venues who have voluntarily adopted pre-commitment technology, following our own card-based gaming trials in 2005 and 2008.
"The Queensland Government looks forward to working alongside the other State and Territory governments to devise solutions to address problem gambling and the risks of gambling-related harm, in partnership with the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Select Council on Gambling Reform."
Mr Lucas said the Queensland Government has supported the voluntary pokies pre-commitment model, following today's Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Select Council on Gambling Reform meeting, but acknowledges that any changes to law need to take into account the impact on industry, the community and gamblers alike.
"Voluntary pre-commitment is a step in the right direction - our own trials have shown positive results for the player and the club - but it's not a silver bullet that will cure problem gambling," Mr Lucas said.
"Mandating card-based gambling would have a major impact on the economy, the gaming industry, and Queensland jobs at a time when we're just getting back on our feet," Mr Lucas said.
"And we're particularly concerned about the financial effect this may have on smaller clubs.
"People assume that poker machines are a cash cow for clubs, but clubs with 30 or less machines account for only eight per cent of gambling tax revenue, showing that all venues are not alike.
"There are 108 clubs in Queensland that have an average daily metered win of less than $15.
"Imposing mandatory or even rapid voluntary pre-commitment on these clubs would send them broke and not do one thing about eliminating problem gambling."
Mr Lucas said the Bligh Government strongly supports the Commonwealth Government's proposal to reduce and control the promotion of live odds during sports coverage.
"The promotion of live odds during football matches has gotten out of control, with commentators encouraging people to bet in the course of the game," he said.
"Because adult content rules don't apply to sporting events, children are exposed to this which creates even more problems.
"I strongly support the Gillard Government's proposal to consult with industry and take firm action on the promotion of live odds during sports coverage."
Mr Lucas said the Commonwealth had also indicated that they would undertake a thorough review of their internet gambling laws, as home based internet gambling so often goes undetected and unnoticed.
"If it's good enough to take an interest in poker machines at venues where you can see the machines, see the people playing them and monitor their behaviour, surely it's even more important for the Commonwealth to use their powers to deal with the unseen and often murky world of internet gambling," he said.
Mr Lucas said the COAG Select Council on Gambling Reform also discussed the use of warning messages on electronic gaming machines and had agreed to a trial of this as a harm minimisation measure.
"Personally I very strongly believe that providing messages to gamblers while they're playing on a machine warning them of risky behaviour is an important way of enforcing the consequences," he said.
"Because Queensland leads the way with its two-way monitoring system, we will work with the Commonwealth Government to trial warning messages on gaming machines."
Mr Lucas said the Queensland Government had made headway in addressing problem gambling over the past few years, resulting in a drop in the gambling prevalence rate.
"Queensland's gambling prevalence rates have dropped to 0.37 per cent, down from 0.83 per cent in 2001, following a strong gambling reform agenda which included mandatory staff training in Responsible Service of Gambling, caps on gaming machines and a State-wide shut down on pokies before 10am," he said.
"In addition, Queensland has more than 40 venues who have voluntarily adopted pre-commitment technology, following our own card-based gaming trials in 2005 and 2008.
"The Queensland Government looks forward to working alongside the other State and Territory governments to devise solutions to address problem gambling and the risks of gambling-related harm, in partnership with the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Select Council on Gambling Reform."
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2006/12/07
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29893
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and Texan beauty queen Candice Crawford got married yesterday in a ceremony with 600+guests in a Dallas, Texas mansion in front of friends, family and many-a-celebrity.
Candice and Tony met shortly after his much publicized split from singer Jessica Simpson in July of 2009 who he broke up with days before her birthday. Despite having split from a 2-year relationship, Tony didn’t hesitate to move on and immediately began dating the 24-year-old beauty queen, TV reporter and sister of Gossip Girl star, Chase Crawford.
After a year and a half of dating, Tony proposed to Candice in December of last year, cementing their relationship which marked the beginning of their new life together as Cowboy and beauty queen.
It was a big affair which took place in a white tent on the grounds of a historic Dallas mansion where the happy couple was joined by family and many of Tony’s colleagues including Troy Aikman, Roger Staubach, Dez Bryant, Miles Austin and Jerry Jones, claims the Daily Mail.
According to sources, the vibe of the wedding was fairly relaxed and included a Jazz band and a buffet which included pizza and ribs. It was the ultimate southern affair plus Dolce & Gabbana tuxes, Badgley Mischka gowns and lots of Dallas Cowboys.
Candice and Tony met shortly after his much publicized split from singer Jessica Simpson in July of 2009 who he broke up with days before her birthday. Despite having split from a 2-year relationship, Tony didn’t hesitate to move on and immediately began dating the 24-year-old beauty queen, TV reporter and sister of Gossip Girl star, Chase Crawford.
After a year and a half of dating, Tony proposed to Candice in December of last year, cementing their relationship which marked the beginning of their new life together as Cowboy and beauty queen.
It was a big affair which took place in a white tent on the grounds of a historic Dallas mansion where the happy couple was joined by family and many of Tony’s colleagues including Troy Aikman, Roger Staubach, Dez Bryant, Miles Austin and Jerry Jones, claims the Daily Mail.
According to sources, the vibe of the wedding was fairly relaxed and included a Jazz band and a buffet which included pizza and ribs. It was the ultimate southern affair plus Dolce & Gabbana tuxes, Badgley Mischka gowns and lots of Dallas Cowboys.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Hopes for five new casinos in Illinois are back up, after a snag in a bill which failed a committee earlier this week was worked out. The plan would allow a city-owned casino in Chicago, plus casinos in Park City, the south suburbs, Rockford, and Danville. Illinois horse tracks, including the one at the state fairgrounds, would be allowed to install slot machines. Chicago's two airports could also get slot machines, and the ten existing licensed casinos would be allowed to increase the number of gambling positions they have.
The problem which brought down the bill earlier was a "labor peace agreement" involving Arlington International and representatives of some of its employees. The bills sponsor, State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie), says that's been resolved.
Tom Swoik, executive director of the Illinois Casino Gaming Association, says his constituents remain against the idea. The casino revenues are down as is.
SB 744 has passed the House Executive Committee.
The problem which brought down the bill earlier was a "labor peace agreement" involving Arlington International and representatives of some of its employees. The bills sponsor, State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie), says that's been resolved.
Tom Swoik, executive director of the Illinois Casino Gaming Association, says his constituents remain against the idea. The casino revenues are down as is.
SB 744 has passed the House Executive Committee.
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2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
The Illinois House bucked recent history Monday by approving a major expansion of legalized gambling.
The House voted 65-50 to approve five new casinos _ including a land-based gambling house in Chicago _ and slot machines at horse-racing tracks.
The measure now goes to the Senate. Gov. Pat Quinn has frowned on the idea as "top heavy," a failing that has doomed attempts in the last decade to allow wagering to expand.
But Democratic Rep. Lou Lang of Skokie said even with such a large expansion, Illinois would move from 25th to 20th in terms of states that offer the most gambling.
"So this idea that it's too dense, too big, too heavy, the facts belie that," Lang said. "This is about jobs, economic development, and having money to do the things we need to do."
The new casinos in Chicago and on riverboats in Rockford, Danville, Park City north of Chicago, and a not-yet-chosen site in south suburban Chicago would be required to pay large upfront fees to set up shop. So would racetracks, including the Illinois State Fairgrounds, which could install slot machines.
Those fees would total $1.5 billion, Lang said, and could help pay down overdue bills of $6 billion or more. Ongoing fees from the casinos and racetracks would generate at least $500 million annually to go toward education and state-sponsored construction.
With the Senate on Sunday rejecting Quinn's idea to borrow money to pay the bills, "this is the only bill in the Illinois General Assembly that will help us bring down that debt," Lang said.
The Illinois Senate has approved similar expansion plans in the past, only to have them fail in the House. But it's not clear whether the Senate will take up this plan when the spring legislative session is scheduled to end Tuesday.
The bill is SB744
The House voted 65-50 to approve five new casinos _ including a land-based gambling house in Chicago _ and slot machines at horse-racing tracks.
The measure now goes to the Senate. Gov. Pat Quinn has frowned on the idea as "top heavy," a failing that has doomed attempts in the last decade to allow wagering to expand.
But Democratic Rep. Lou Lang of Skokie said even with such a large expansion, Illinois would move from 25th to 20th in terms of states that offer the most gambling.
"So this idea that it's too dense, too big, too heavy, the facts belie that," Lang said. "This is about jobs, economic development, and having money to do the things we need to do."
The new casinos in Chicago and on riverboats in Rockford, Danville, Park City north of Chicago, and a not-yet-chosen site in south suburban Chicago would be required to pay large upfront fees to set up shop. So would racetracks, including the Illinois State Fairgrounds, which could install slot machines.
Those fees would total $1.5 billion, Lang said, and could help pay down overdue bills of $6 billion or more. Ongoing fees from the casinos and racetracks would generate at least $500 million annually to go toward education and state-sponsored construction.
With the Senate on Sunday rejecting Quinn's idea to borrow money to pay the bills, "this is the only bill in the Illinois General Assembly that will help us bring down that debt," Lang said.
The Illinois Senate has approved similar expansion plans in the past, only to have them fail in the House. But it's not clear whether the Senate will take up this plan when the spring legislative session is scheduled to end Tuesday.
The bill is SB744
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Conspiracy theorists can finally put rumors to rest about the possibility of rapper Tupac Shakur’s death being staged because according to PBS, the man is alive and well and enjoying the natural landscapes of New Zealand. Well, not really, but according to hackers that infiltrated the Public Broadcasting Service’s network he is.
Rapper Tupac Shakur was shot to death while in Las Vegas back in 1996 and since the killer/s were never actually found, there have been countless theories about his death including: him possibly staging his death, corrupt cops being involved in his death as well as his record producer, Suge Knight from Death Row being responsible.
So a group of hackers called Lulz Boat, who claim to hack into corporate websites apparently for kicks but also as a warning to such companies who clearly have vulnerabilities when it comes to security, most recently hacked into Sony databases releasing painfully sensitive information and claim to have many others on their list.
For some odd reason, the Public Broadcasting Service network responsible for local programming and news, was taken over by these guys who published a full write-up about Tupac and his buddy Biggie Smalls (The Notorious B.I.G.) living it up in a resort in New Zealand and released it on their site. According to the story, there was a local named David, who died recently and left a diary behind citing Tupac and Biggie’s time in NZ which was immediately sent to an address in the U.S. – outing the two rappers.
It was all a hoax but and a not so funny hacking incident for PBS which was left completely exposed with the release of way too much company information. Oh, and as for Tupac, draw your own conclusions.
Rapper Tupac Shakur was shot to death while in Las Vegas back in 1996 and since the killer/s were never actually found, there have been countless theories about his death including: him possibly staging his death, corrupt cops being involved in his death as well as his record producer, Suge Knight from Death Row being responsible.
So a group of hackers called Lulz Boat, who claim to hack into corporate websites apparently for kicks but also as a warning to such companies who clearly have vulnerabilities when it comes to security, most recently hacked into Sony databases releasing painfully sensitive information and claim to have many others on their list.
For some odd reason, the Public Broadcasting Service network responsible for local programming and news, was taken over by these guys who published a full write-up about Tupac and his buddy Biggie Smalls (The Notorious B.I.G.) living it up in a resort in New Zealand and released it on their site. According to the story, there was a local named David, who died recently and left a diary behind citing Tupac and Biggie’s time in NZ which was immediately sent to an address in the U.S. – outing the two rappers.
It was all a hoax but and a not so funny hacking incident for PBS which was left completely exposed with the release of way too much company information. Oh, and as for Tupac, draw your own conclusions.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
In case you’ve been wondering what happened to Brady Bunch star Christopher Knight – better known as middle child Peter Brady – he’s making headlines these days after breaking up with former America’s Next Top Model winner and wife Adrianne Curry. Peter Brady is pulling top models these days? Who knew.
The couple was married for five years after having met during the VH1 reality television series The Surreal Life (2005,) where old-school TV stars attempt to relive their glory days by living together in a Hollywood Hills mansion and taking part in all kinds of challenges and silly activities.
The success of their chemistry on The Surreal Life led to VH1’s next creation, My Fair Brady where Knight and Curry shared a life together in Los Angeles as a loving couple. The show ran from 2005-2008 and followed a similar formula to Jessica Simpson and husband Nick Lachey’s experience but with a little less star power.
After years of reality TV heaven, the couple broke news this week announcing the end of their five-year relationship which sounds like a good run for a couple who lived their life in the spotlight and according to People Magazine, their manager released a statement highlighting that the couple are separating due to “irreconcilable differences.”
So there you go, that makes divorce number three for 57-year-old "Peter Brady" who may or may not be giving up on the reality television scene but even if he does, the guy is a successful tech investor and businessman and has been for years. It looks like he put his Brady Bunch fame to good use!
The couple was married for five years after having met during the VH1 reality television series The Surreal Life (2005,) where old-school TV stars attempt to relive their glory days by living together in a Hollywood Hills mansion and taking part in all kinds of challenges and silly activities.
The success of their chemistry on The Surreal Life led to VH1’s next creation, My Fair Brady where Knight and Curry shared a life together in Los Angeles as a loving couple. The show ran from 2005-2008 and followed a similar formula to Jessica Simpson and husband Nick Lachey’s experience but with a little less star power.
After years of reality TV heaven, the couple broke news this week announcing the end of their five-year relationship which sounds like a good run for a couple who lived their life in the spotlight and according to People Magazine, their manager released a statement highlighting that the couple are separating due to “irreconcilable differences.”
So there you go, that makes divorce number three for 57-year-old "Peter Brady" who may or may not be giving up on the reality television scene but even if he does, the guy is a successful tech investor and businessman and has been for years. It looks like he put his Brady Bunch fame to good use!
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
The Nevada Senate on Monday approved a bill to lay the groundwork for Internet gambling.
The Senate voted 19-2 Monday night, sending a watered down and amended AB258 back to the Assembly.
AB258 gives the Nevada Gaming Commission until January to adopt regulations to implement Internet gambling in the state.
But the measure also specifies that online wagering won't be permitted unless allowed by the federal government.
In its original form, the bill would have prohibited state regulators from denying a license to existing online poker sites. That provision was deleted.
The Senate voted 19-2 Monday night, sending a watered down and amended AB258 back to the Assembly.
AB258 gives the Nevada Gaming Commission until January to adopt regulations to implement Internet gambling in the state.
But the measure also specifies that online wagering won't be permitted unless allowed by the federal government.
In its original form, the bill would have prohibited state regulators from denying a license to existing online poker sites. That provision was deleted.
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2006/12/07
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29893
Actor Billy Bob Thornton’s daughter, Amanda Brumfield, was found guilty of manslaughter on Friday after a fatal babysitting accident back in 2008 claimed the life of her best friend’s daughter, one-year old Olivia Garcia.
Brumfield is the 32-year-old estranged daughter of Billy Bob Thornton who to this day has no contact with the actor and is currently awaiting sentencing for manslaughter charges which is set for July of this year.
The incident took place back in 2008, when Brumfield was left in charge of the one-year-old child which according to the police suffered a three and a half inch fracture to her skull. Brumfield claims the child suffered her injuries as a result of a devastating fall from her crib as she was attempting to climb out.
The two biggest issues authorities had with Brumfield’s story was that it took over two hours for her to call for help and that it would be difficult for a baby Olivia’s age to suffer such severe injuries after falling from a crib. Brumfield claims that since the baby seemed to fine after the fall she didn’t rush to call for help right away.
In her defense, her lawyer claims that the fall might have triggered the effects of past injuries that the child may have suffered which in turn contrasted with the prosecutors argument which was convinced that Olivia’s injuries were too severe for them to have resulted from a crib fall.
As for her dad’s response to the charges, Billy Bob released the following statement which was released on behalf of his publicist, “Anytime a baby’s life is lost is an unimaginable tragedy and my heart goes out to the baby’s family and loved ones.”
Brumfield is the 32-year-old estranged daughter of Billy Bob Thornton who to this day has no contact with the actor and is currently awaiting sentencing for manslaughter charges which is set for July of this year.
The incident took place back in 2008, when Brumfield was left in charge of the one-year-old child which according to the police suffered a three and a half inch fracture to her skull. Brumfield claims the child suffered her injuries as a result of a devastating fall from her crib as she was attempting to climb out.
The two biggest issues authorities had with Brumfield’s story was that it took over two hours for her to call for help and that it would be difficult for a baby Olivia’s age to suffer such severe injuries after falling from a crib. Brumfield claims that since the baby seemed to fine after the fall she didn’t rush to call for help right away.
In her defense, her lawyer claims that the fall might have triggered the effects of past injuries that the child may have suffered which in turn contrasted with the prosecutors argument which was convinced that Olivia’s injuries were too severe for them to have resulted from a crib fall.
As for her dad’s response to the charges, Billy Bob released the following statement which was released on behalf of his publicist, “Anytime a baby’s life is lost is an unimaginable tragedy and my heart goes out to the baby’s family and loved ones.”
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2006/12/07
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Nearly 100 of the PPA’s 809,000 members, from professionals Annie Duke and Chris Moneymaker to former U.S. Sen. Al D’Amato (R-N.Y.), will lobby legislators Tuesday and Wednesday for changes to Internet gaming bills.
Read more: Is poker a game of chance or skill
Read more: Is poker a game of chance or skill
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2011/05/31
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Pansy Ho has joined the ranks of Asia’s richest businesswomen with a fortune valued at $4.2 billion. The windfall from the public listing of MGM China in Hong Kong has boosted her bank account with over $1.4 billion in cash, while her 29% stake in the Macau gambling venture is now valued at nearly $2.2 billion.
When asked about her plans for the funds Pansy said, “If the right opportunity arises, then clearly we will take some time to investigate. MGM Resorts is already doing a few projects in mainland China that we are advising and also looking into.”
Shares of MGM China had jumped as high as 6% before settling down to finish with a gain of 1.8% at 15.62 Hong Kong dollars ($2.00) on its first day of trading Friday. The public offering of MGM China, a joint venture between MGM Resorts International and Pansy, had been 20 times oversubscribed. Some of the cornerstone investors included the billionaires Kirk Kerkorian, John Paulson and Walter Kwok.
Pansy’s stake in what had been a 50-50 joint venture was reduced by the 21% of shares sold through the listing. MGM Resorts now holds 51% and the remaining 20% is held by other investors.
Pansy, 48, is the daughter of gambling tycoon Stanley Ho, 89, a longtime fixture on the Forbes Hong Kong Rich list. Although the elder Ho’s four-decade monopoly on gambling in Macau was ended in 2002, the industry is still very much a family affair. Besides Pansy’s role with MGM China, her brother Lawrence Ho is co-chairman of Melco Crown Entertainment, a joint venture with Australian billionaire James Packer.
Ho has fathered 17 children from four women widely acknowledged to be his wives. His fourth wife, Angela Leong, and Pansy were at the center of a bitter public battle earlier this year for control of Ho’s vast business empire. To settle the dispute, the bulk of his assets were reportedly divvied up amongst his family, although the details of the agreement have not been fully disclosed. Angela debuted on the Forbes World Billionaire’s list this year based on her shareholdings in Sociedade de Jogos de Macau (SJM) and properties in Hong Kong that were valued at $1.1 billion.
Pansy is the eldest of five children from Ho’s second wife. She had been married for 9 years to Julian Hui, the son of shipping and property tycoon Hui Sai Fun, but they divorced in 2000. The elder Ho threatened to disinherit Pansy if she ever married her close friend Gilbert Yeung, son of Emperor Group tycoon Albert Yeung Sau Shing.
Pansy had appeared more often in Hong Kong’s gossip magazines rather than the business papers, until she became involved with Shun Tak Holdings, a property and transportation company controlled by the Ho clan. Pansy’s business acumen helped her to stand out from the rest of her siblings, leading many to conclude she would be the most likely heir to her father’s gambling empire. According to MGM China’s prospectus, she’ll retain her positions as director and shareholder of Shun Tak, STDM and SJM (indirectly).
MGM China is the second-smallest casino operator in Macau by market value out of the six licensed companies. Besides the three connected to the Ho family, the foreign contingent includes Steve Wynn’s Wynn Resorts and Sheldon Adelson’s Las Vegas Sands competing against homegrown Galaxy Entertainment Group led by the Lui Che Woo family.
Macau’s soaring revenues over the past year has driven a surge in the casino operator’s stocks. In the last 12 months, Galaxy Entertainment has jumped 370% and SJM Holdings is up some 230%, according to Thomson Reuters. It’s no wonder Pansy and her partners at MGM were willing to gamble on an IPO with investors showing so much enthusiasm for the industry’s prospects.
When asked about her plans for the funds Pansy said, “If the right opportunity arises, then clearly we will take some time to investigate. MGM Resorts is already doing a few projects in mainland China that we are advising and also looking into.”
Shares of MGM China had jumped as high as 6% before settling down to finish with a gain of 1.8% at 15.62 Hong Kong dollars ($2.00) on its first day of trading Friday. The public offering of MGM China, a joint venture between MGM Resorts International and Pansy, had been 20 times oversubscribed. Some of the cornerstone investors included the billionaires Kirk Kerkorian, John Paulson and Walter Kwok.
Pansy’s stake in what had been a 50-50 joint venture was reduced by the 21% of shares sold through the listing. MGM Resorts now holds 51% and the remaining 20% is held by other investors.
Pansy, 48, is the daughter of gambling tycoon Stanley Ho, 89, a longtime fixture on the Forbes Hong Kong Rich list. Although the elder Ho’s four-decade monopoly on gambling in Macau was ended in 2002, the industry is still very much a family affair. Besides Pansy’s role with MGM China, her brother Lawrence Ho is co-chairman of Melco Crown Entertainment, a joint venture with Australian billionaire James Packer.
Ho has fathered 17 children from four women widely acknowledged to be his wives. His fourth wife, Angela Leong, and Pansy were at the center of a bitter public battle earlier this year for control of Ho’s vast business empire. To settle the dispute, the bulk of his assets were reportedly divvied up amongst his family, although the details of the agreement have not been fully disclosed. Angela debuted on the Forbes World Billionaire’s list this year based on her shareholdings in Sociedade de Jogos de Macau (SJM) and properties in Hong Kong that were valued at $1.1 billion.
Pansy is the eldest of five children from Ho’s second wife. She had been married for 9 years to Julian Hui, the son of shipping and property tycoon Hui Sai Fun, but they divorced in 2000. The elder Ho threatened to disinherit Pansy if she ever married her close friend Gilbert Yeung, son of Emperor Group tycoon Albert Yeung Sau Shing.
Pansy had appeared more often in Hong Kong’s gossip magazines rather than the business papers, until she became involved with Shun Tak Holdings, a property and transportation company controlled by the Ho clan. Pansy’s business acumen helped her to stand out from the rest of her siblings, leading many to conclude she would be the most likely heir to her father’s gambling empire. According to MGM China’s prospectus, she’ll retain her positions as director and shareholder of Shun Tak, STDM and SJM (indirectly).
MGM China is the second-smallest casino operator in Macau by market value out of the six licensed companies. Besides the three connected to the Ho family, the foreign contingent includes Steve Wynn’s Wynn Resorts and Sheldon Adelson’s Las Vegas Sands competing against homegrown Galaxy Entertainment Group led by the Lui Che Woo family.
Macau’s soaring revenues over the past year has driven a surge in the casino operator’s stocks. In the last 12 months, Galaxy Entertainment has jumped 370% and SJM Holdings is up some 230%, according to Thomson Reuters. It’s no wonder Pansy and her partners at MGM were willing to gamble on an IPO with investors showing so much enthusiasm for the industry’s prospects.
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2006/12/07
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29893
Dr. Jack Kevorkian, the man known as "Dr. Death" who took credit for the assisted deaths of over 130 people from 1990 until 1998 and spent over eight years in prison for second-degree murder, has finally passed away.
Kevorkian, who famously said that "dying is not a crime," died at Beaumont Hospital in Michigan, where he had been hospitalized for the past two weeks because of kidney and heart problems. He was 83 years old.
Kevorkian's stance on the government was that it is a tyrannical institution: “You’ve been trained to obey it, not fight for it because the tyrant doesn’t like that,” he had said.
As Kevorkian performed assisted suicides, his life was riddled with legal issues and he was constantly on trial. The tipping point was when, in 1998, Kevorkian was the subject of a broadcast of 60 Minutes, which depicted the assisted suicide of 52-year-old Thomas Youk, who was in the final stages of ALS.
After Youk provided his consent, Kevorkian himself administered Youk a lethal injection because Youk was unable to do it himself, though all of his earlier clients had reportedly completed the process themselves. During the videotape, Kevorkian dared the authorities to try to convict him, which incited the prosecuting attorney to bring murder charges against Kevorkian, claiming he had single-handedly caused the death.
After a jury found him guilty of second-degree murder, during sentencing the judge said, "You were on bond to another judge when you committed this offense, you were not licensed to practice medicine when you committed this offense and you hadn't been licensed for eight years. And you had the audacity to go on national television, show the world what you did and dare the legal system to stop you. Well, sir, consider yourself stopped."
Kevorkian was released on parole on June 1, 2007, on condition that he would not offer suicide advice to any other person. Incidentally, Al Pacino took home an Emmy and a Golden Globe for portraying Kevorkian in an HBO movie last year, You Don't Know Jack.
Kevorkian, who famously said that "dying is not a crime," died at Beaumont Hospital in Michigan, where he had been hospitalized for the past two weeks because of kidney and heart problems. He was 83 years old.
Kevorkian's stance on the government was that it is a tyrannical institution: “You’ve been trained to obey it, not fight for it because the tyrant doesn’t like that,” he had said.
As Kevorkian performed assisted suicides, his life was riddled with legal issues and he was constantly on trial. The tipping point was when, in 1998, Kevorkian was the subject of a broadcast of 60 Minutes, which depicted the assisted suicide of 52-year-old Thomas Youk, who was in the final stages of ALS.
After Youk provided his consent, Kevorkian himself administered Youk a lethal injection because Youk was unable to do it himself, though all of his earlier clients had reportedly completed the process themselves. During the videotape, Kevorkian dared the authorities to try to convict him, which incited the prosecuting attorney to bring murder charges against Kevorkian, claiming he had single-handedly caused the death.
After a jury found him guilty of second-degree murder, during sentencing the judge said, "You were on bond to another judge when you committed this offense, you were not licensed to practice medicine when you committed this offense and you hadn't been licensed for eight years. And you had the audacity to go on national television, show the world what you did and dare the legal system to stop you. Well, sir, consider yourself stopped."
Kevorkian was released on parole on June 1, 2007, on condition that he would not offer suicide advice to any other person. Incidentally, Al Pacino took home an Emmy and a Golden Globe for portraying Kevorkian in an HBO movie last year, You Don't Know Jack.
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2006/12/07
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29893
Something big is going on at the website Oil Trading Academy. I think there is a secret out about Oil, that it's rigged by a computer, and they are making fortunes there.
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2011/06/04
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mr0033 wrote:
Something big is going on at the website Oil Trading Academy. I think there is a secret out about Oil, that it's rigged by a computer, and they are making fortunes there.
I can feel a spam attempt, the force is weak with you young spammer.
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2006/12/07
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Have you ever placed a sports bet online? Two Canadian men, Darren Wright & David Parchomchuk have been indicted by a grand jury from Baltimore Maryland.
Both men have retained counsel to defend the allegations. Darren Wright has hired the nationally known law firm The Law Offices of Ledger & Associates. Wright intends to defend himself against the allegations before a jury if necessary.
The laws surrounding internet gambling have gone from gray to black and back to gray due to the different U.S. jurisdictions and foreign countries involved.
Both men have retained counsel to defend the allegations. Darren Wright has hired the nationally known law firm The Law Offices of Ledger & Associates. Wright intends to defend himself against the allegations before a jury if necessary.
The laws surrounding internet gambling have gone from gray to black and back to gray due to the different U.S. jurisdictions and foreign countries involved.
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2006/12/07
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29893
If you ever had enough guts to pick up a hitchhiker and one day you decided that out of the kindness of your heart you were going to pick up a poor SOB stranded out in the rain, wouldn't it be awesome if it turned out to be Bono?
Well, that’s exactly what happened to Canadian hockey player Gilbert Brule and his girlfriend that noticed a man walking by the side of the road that kind of looked like the lead singer of U2, and as they stopped to help, they realized that it actually was.
It was a shocking discovery for the Brule and his girlfriend who according to AOL, weren’t planning on stopping at all but it was his girlfriend that made the connection and convinced him to stop. U2 is currently on their massive 360 World Tour which recently led them to Edmonton, Canada and it was during a day off of touring that Bono and his assistant traveled down to West Vancouver, where a rain storm happened to surprise them as they went for a walk.
Lucky for Bono, Brule and his girl happened to be driving by and eventually dropped them off in the nearby town of Horseshoe Bay but not before Bono had a chance to express his love for Canadian hockey as well as his gratitude to the young couple by offering them free concert tickets and backstage passes to their upcoming show.
What an awesome story he’ll have to tell. “Ok. So I picked up Bono by the side of the road and then…”
Well, that’s exactly what happened to Canadian hockey player Gilbert Brule and his girlfriend that noticed a man walking by the side of the road that kind of looked like the lead singer of U2, and as they stopped to help, they realized that it actually was.
It was a shocking discovery for the Brule and his girlfriend who according to AOL, weren’t planning on stopping at all but it was his girlfriend that made the connection and convinced him to stop. U2 is currently on their massive 360 World Tour which recently led them to Edmonton, Canada and it was during a day off of touring that Bono and his assistant traveled down to West Vancouver, where a rain storm happened to surprise them as they went for a walk.
Lucky for Bono, Brule and his girl happened to be driving by and eventually dropped them off in the nearby town of Horseshoe Bay but not before Bono had a chance to express his love for Canadian hockey as well as his gratitude to the young couple by offering them free concert tickets and backstage passes to their upcoming show.
What an awesome story he’ll have to tell. “Ok. So I picked up Bono by the side of the road and then…”
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2006/12/07
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U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson announced the decision in a court hearing Friday.
Defense attorneys had sought to have some of the charges dismissed before trial.
The judge also ruled the jury will not be sequestered for the trial. Attorneys estimate the trial will last two to three months.
Casino owner Milton McGregor, four present and former state senators, and four others are accused of buying and selling votes on pro-gambling legislation.