Anthony Weiner likely wanted to set a good example for folks during his time in office. But we doubt this is what he had in mind, Joe Stangni, a Louisiana Councilman, has been caught in a Twitter scandal after The New Orleans Times-Picayune published a photo he sent of himself in his underwear to a town employee. Explained the politician after this picture leaked: “I had an inappropriate but consensual relationship with an adult female and we exchanged improper electronic communications which ended in 2009. I did not use any government computer or city issued equipment to send or receive these communications.” Following the guidelines of Famous Person Apology 101, Stangi invoked a Higher Power in his statement, adding: “I asked for God’s mercy and forgiveness. I apologized to my wife and family and asked for their forgiveness as well. My actions and bad judgment had nothing to do with my duties and responsibilities as a public official. They were private acts, but I take full responsibility for my irresponsible behavior. This matter has been a painful experience for my family and I pray that everyone will allow our family to continue to heal. I am sorry.” The most embarrassing part of all this? At least Weiner had something to show off .
Allah, take the wheel and drive the children far from this madness! An eight-year-old Afghan girl was killed when insurgents detonated a bomb in a bag which they had given her to take to police nearby, the interior ministry said Sunday. The incident happened in the southern province of Uruzgan on Saturday, the ministry said in a statement. “The enemies of peace and stability committed another unforgivable and shameful crime — an explosive-laden bag was handed to her and she was told to take it to police,” the statement said. “The child, pure-hearted and in good faith, took the bag and moved towards the police vehicle. As she got close to the police vehicle, the enemy detonated the bomb by remote control, killing the innocent child,” the statement added. No police or other civilians were killed, it added. The ministry did not specify which insurgent group was responsible but the Taliban are the main militant group waging a near-decade-long insurgency against the Western-backed Kabul administration. The attack happened on the same day 38 people were killed by a suicide car bombing at a hospital in Logar province, south of the capital Kabul. Maybe there really is a reason for us to be in Afghanistan after all. Source
The saga of Anthony Weiner and his stable of online friends continues to grow more ridiculous by the moment. Here’s the latest: Ginger Lee, a porn star who says the Congressman coached her through the scandal as it broke, has hired attention-loving attorney Gloria Allred to represent her against a series of mysterious threats. Protecting her client from whatever may be released in the future, Allred told TMZ this morning: “Ms. Lee has asked me to issue this statement, because an individual has threatened her with a release of another statement which purports to be from her, but which she has not authorized. “Ginger would like it to be known that she has not authorized any person, except me, her attorney, to issue statements on her behalf. Any unauthorized statement may contain inaccuracies and should be viewed with suspicion and not published.” In other words: some dude is about to reveal explosive information about Lee and she’s trying to stay ahead of it. More news on this odd story as it breaks. [Photo: WENN.com]
Sources say the English singer lacked ‘spark’ for American version of the show. By Gil Kaufman Cheryl Cole Photo: Getty Cheryl Cole is officially out. After weeks of reports that the British pop star and reality show judge had been ousted from the upcoming U.S. version of Simon Cowell’s singing competition “The X Factor,” the show’s producers confirmed the split on Monday (June 6). According to The Hollywood Reporter, the statement also confirmed that Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger — originally set to be the show’s co-host — will replace the Girls Aloud star, who was also reportedly dropped from the British version of “X Factor.” “Nicole Scherzinger will be replacing Cheryl Cole on the judging panel of ‘The X Factor,’ ” read the statement. “Nicole will join Simon Cowell, L.A. Reid and Paula Abdul on their search across America to find the next global superstar or group to win the life-changing $5 million dollar recording deal. Nicole has previously joined Simon Cowell as a guest judge on ‘The X Factor’ for the U.K. version of the show in 2010. Steve Jones will act as sole host of ‘The X Factor.’ ” The statement offered no explanation for why Cole was dumped from the panel or how the production will deal with footage that was already shot for two audition episodes at the recent Los Angeles tryouts. An unnamed source told the Reporter that Cole was let go because she did not have good chemistry with the other judges, Abdul in particular. “There was no spark,” the source said. “It was nobody’s fault. It just didn’t work.” A spokesperson for the show could not be reached for comment at press time to confirm another Reporter story, which claimed that Cole was still going to be paid the $1.5 million she was owed under her contract. The statement ended almost two weeks of drama over the judging panel of Cowell’s show, a heavily hyped return to American television for the former lead “American Idol” judge. Unlike other new singing competition programs, such as NBC’s hit “The Voice,” and, arguably, “Idol,” the panel for “X Factor” is light on pop-star talent. Those shows have both succeeded by putting an interesting mix of veteran and contemporary singing stars on their panels and highlighting the chemistry between them. A source told Reuters that Cole was not dumped, as rumored, due to her strong Northern English accent, or as an elaborate PR stunt to hype the show, but because she simply lacked the right personality onscreen. “She wasn’t herself. After four days of filming, she wasn’t what the producers had expected,” an unnamed source told the news service. The next round of auditions for the show will take place in New Jersey on Wednesday. In an interview with The Associated Press on Monday, Cowell denied that the lack of chemistry with Abdul was the issues and lamented that the ugly split may have caused a rift in his relationship with Cole. “I hate seeing her hurt. She’s one of — I hope — she’s one of my closest friends, and this was a decision we made which we thought would be beneficial to her, funny enough,” said Cowell, who has long championed Cole and praised her work on the British version of “X Factor.” “She was good on the American show,” Cowell said. “I personally thought she was missing her family and friends. She just looked a little bit, I wouldn’t say uncomfortable, but just not as happy as I’ve seen her on previous shows.”
Before Miley Cyrus embarks on her Gypsy Heart Tour on April 27, she has a message for fans and followers: “My family is good.” The singer made this statement to The Associated Press, clearing up months of rumors and controversy, most of it centered on her parents’ split, subsequent reconciliation and the scandalous comments her father made in between. Heading to South America in a couple weeks, Cyrus said “you have to make sure everyone is happy before you start traveling.” And it sounds like they are. But is there a problem between Miley and her U.S. fans? Asked why she isn’t playing any concerts in the States, the artist made an interesting comment: “I just think right now America has gotten to a place where I don’t know if they want me to tour or not. I just want to go to the places where I am getting the most love, and Australia and South America have done that for me.” Ouch. Is Miley breaking up with her American fan base? Or has it already split with her?
Cindy & Craig Corrie: March 16, 2011 Statement to Gaza from Johan Genberg on Vimeo . Heart to heart. Broadcasting platform : Vimeo Source : The Left Coaster Discovery Date : 16/03/2011 17:52 Number of articles : 2
SMH at this dude trying to get those NFL checks back crackin after leaving his wife for that lil Becky went all wrong: Tiki Barber has taken a giant step to return to football , but it won’t be for the Giants. Barber, who stopped playing for the Giants after the 2006 season, filed papers Tuesday with the NFL to come out of retirement. “After seeing how much fun (twin brother) Ronde is still having, it reignited my fire and I’m looking forward to the challenge of seeing if I can get back to the level of where I was,” Barber told FOXSports.com. The Giants said in a statement that they would relinquish Barber’s rights as soon as they are able, according to ProFootballTalk.com. “We wish Tiki nothing but the best, and when we are able to make the transaction, we will release him from our reserve/retired list,” the statement read. The NFL is negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement and no roster moves can be made until a deal is in place. Good luck with that one, Tiki. Source
Designer fired by Christian Dior for making anti-Semitic comments. By Eric Ditzian Natalie Portman Photo: Matt Carr/Getty Images A day after Natalie Portman avoided answering a reporter’s question about allegedly anti-Semitic remarks made by Christian Dior designer John Galliano, the newly minted Oscar winner released a statement condemning him. During a post-Oscar press conference on Sunday, a question about Galliano’s comments was cut off before Portman, who appears in ads for Miss Dior Cherie perfume, could answer. But after video surfaced the next day of Galliano expressing an admiration for Adolf Hitler, the 29-year-old actress announced late Monday that she would have not associate herself with the designer. “I am deeply shocked and disgusted by the video of John Galliano’s comments that surfaced today,” she said in the statement. “In light of this video, and as an individual who is proud to be Jewish, I will not be associated with Mr. Galliano in any way.” The video in question, obtained by Britain’s The Sun, reportedly shows Galliano at a bar in Paris in October. He appears intoxicated as he speaks to unseen patrons at a nearby table. “I love Hitler,” Galliano says. “Your mother, your forefathers would be f—ing gassed and f—ing dead.” Dior originally suspended Galliano for other, allegedly anti-Semitic remarks made during an argument at a bar in Paris last week. The designer was arrested and charged with assault and making anti-Semitic comments. On Tuesday, Dior officially fired Galliano, according to Women’s Wear Daily. “I condemn most firmly the statements made by John Galliano which are a total contradiction with the essential values that have always been defended by the House of Christian Dior,” Dior president Sidney Toledano said in a statement announcing the action. “I hope at the very least, these terrible comments remind us to reflect and act upon combating these still-existing prejudices that are the opposite of all that is beautiful,” Portman added in her statement.
Designer fired by Christian Dior for making anti-Semitic comments. By Eric Ditzian Natalie Portman Photo: Matt Carr/Getty Images A day after Natalie Portman avoided answering a reporter’s question about allegedly anti-Semitic remarks made by Christian Dior designer John Galliano, the newly minted Oscar winner released a statement condemning him. During a post-Oscar press conference on Sunday, a question about Galliano’s comments was cut off before Portman, who appears in ads for Miss Dior Cherie perfume, could answer. But after video surfaced the next day of Galliano expressing an admiration for Adolf Hitler, the 29-year-old actress announced late Monday that she would have not associate herself with the designer. “I am deeply shocked and disgusted by the video of John Galliano’s comments that surfaced today,” she said in the statement. “In light of this video, and as an individual who is proud to be Jewish, I will not be associated with Mr. Galliano in any way.” The video in question, obtained by Britain’s The Sun, reportedly shows Galliano at a bar in Paris in October. He appears intoxicated as he speaks to unseen patrons at a nearby table. “I love Hitler,” Galliano says. “Your mother, your forefathers would be f—ing gassed and f—ing dead.” Dior originally suspended Galliano for other, allegedly anti-Semitic remarks made during an argument at a bar in Paris last week. The designer was arrested and charged with assault and making anti-Semitic comments. On Tuesday, Dior officially fired Galliano, according to Women’s Wear Daily. “I condemn most firmly the statements made by John Galliano which are a total contradiction with the essential values that have always been defended by the House of Christian Dior,” Dior president Sidney Toledano said in a statement announcing the action. “I hope at the very least, these terrible comments remind us to reflect and act upon combating these still-existing prejudices that are the opposite of all that is beautiful,” Portman added in her statement.
