The creator of Silent Bob wasn't so silent after a scuffle with Southwest Airlines this weekend. Hollywood director and actor Kevin Smith was kicked off a Southwest flight because he was 'too fat' for the seat.
Smith was scheduled on a flight from Oakland to Burbank, California on Saturday. According to reports, Smith had purchased two seats for his original flight but at the last minute he went standby on flight with only one seat left. The end result was no flying at all. Smith took to his Twitter account to replay the incident.
"I broke no regulation, offered no 'safety risk' (what, was I gonna roll on a fellow passenger?)" he Tweeted. "I saw someone bigger than me on THAT flight! But I wasn't about to throw a fellow Fatty under the plane as I'm being profiled. But he & I made eye contact, & he was like 'Please don't tell...'"
Airlines have specific rules about obese flyers - many of which require a flyer to purchase two seats if they can't comfortably fit into one seat. Since Smith couldn't fit into the one seat, he was asked to leave the flight.
"If a customer cannot comfortably lower the armrest and infringes on a portion of another seat, a customer seated adjacent would be very uncomfortable and a timely exit from the aircraft in the event of an emergency might be compromised if we allow a cramped, restricted seating arrangement," Southwest said in a statement.
Southwest Airlines apologized to Smith for the inconvenience and offered him a $100 voucher for a future Southwest flight. Smith did not accept the voucher, and we're pretty sure this isn't over...
After landing in Burbank, Smith wrote on his Twitter account, "Don't worry: wall of the plane was opened & I was airlifted out while Richard Simmons supervised."
Monday, February 15, 2010
Nato 'regrets' civilian deaths
Nato has expressed its "deep regret" over the loss of civilian lives in its offensive against the Taliban in the town of Marjah in southern Afghanistan.
Despite the deaths of 12 civilians, officials appeared pleased with the Marjah campaign's progress, with Afghan officials saying on Monday that almost total control of the area had been wrested from the Taliban.
"Marjah has been almost cleared and our forces are in control," General Mohammad Zahir Azimi, the Afghan defence ministry spokesman, said.
"There are some small-scale, sporadic firefights. We are mostly busy with clearing the area of IEDs [Improvised Explosive Devices]. The operation is nearing its end."
General Aminullah Patiani, the senior Afghan commander in the operation, echoed that "all of the areas of Marjah and Nad Ali have been taken by combined forces".
'Regrettable' deaths
James Bays, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Kabul, said: "Much of Marjah is safe enough for dignitaries to visit. Forces have set up a cordon of three kilometres around the town and they are trying to extend that cordon."
Read More....
Despite the deaths of 12 civilians, officials appeared pleased with the Marjah campaign's progress, with Afghan officials saying on Monday that almost total control of the area had been wrested from the Taliban.
"Marjah has been almost cleared and our forces are in control," General Mohammad Zahir Azimi, the Afghan defence ministry spokesman, said.
"There are some small-scale, sporadic firefights. We are mostly busy with clearing the area of IEDs [Improvised Explosive Devices]. The operation is nearing its end."
General Aminullah Patiani, the senior Afghan commander in the operation, echoed that "all of the areas of Marjah and Nad Ali have been taken by combined forces".
'Regrettable' deaths
James Bays, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Kabul, said: "Much of Marjah is safe enough for dignitaries to visit. Forces have set up a cordon of three kilometres around the town and they are trying to extend that cordon."
Read More....
Jamie Mcmurray Wins Daytona 500
Jamie McMurray is an American race car driver. He won “Dayton 500” title. He pulled out 42 other NASCAR sprint drivers to achieve this. This race has been done for more than two hours of time.
Jamie McMurray’s heart sank when he saw Dale Earnhardt Jr. lurking in his rearview mirror. Among all the guys bearing down, he thought he needs to be one who seems bound to win the Daytona 500.
But McMurray has still to compete with Earnhardt Sr., who wins Daytone 12-times.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. managed to get into second place in the race. After defeating him by 119 seconds, McMurray comes out from car and ran to the race in the infield grass and dropped on his knees in a tear-soaked celebration.
She told that, “The way I felt I can’t put them in words and I’m trying to be genuine and as sincere as I can and should not sound banal: as a kid growing up, this is what you dream of, of being able to win the Daytona 500.”
Jamie McMurray’s heart sank when he saw Dale Earnhardt Jr. lurking in his rearview mirror. Among all the guys bearing down, he thought he needs to be one who seems bound to win the Daytona 500.
But McMurray has still to compete with Earnhardt Sr., who wins Daytone 12-times.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. managed to get into second place in the race. After defeating him by 119 seconds, McMurray comes out from car and ran to the race in the infield grass and dropped on his knees in a tear-soaked celebration.
She told that, “The way I felt I can’t put them in words and I’m trying to be genuine and as sincere as I can and should not sound banal: as a kid growing up, this is what you dream of, of being able to win the Daytona 500.”
Show & Tell: Entertainment News
Romance tops box office
The star-studded Valentine's Day wooed audiences with a $52.4 million opening, easily taking the No. 1 spot for the weekend, according to studio estimates yesterday.
"To have a movie titled Valentine's Day on Valentine's weekend was a no-brainer that absolutely worked," said box-office analyst Paul Dergarabedian of Hollywood.com.
Warner Bros. expects the love story to reach the $60 million range after totals for today are included -- and thus break the Presidents Day weekend record of $52 million, set by Ghost Rider in 2007.
In fourth place, Avatar -- the biggest modern blockbuster -- raised its domestic total to $659.6 million and its worldwide haul to $2.35 billion.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through yesterday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com:
1. Valentine's Day, $52.4 million
2. Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, $31.1 million
3. The Wolfman, $30.6 million
4. Avatar, $22 million
5. Dear John, $15.3 million
The star-studded Valentine's Day wooed audiences with a $52.4 million opening, easily taking the No. 1 spot for the weekend, according to studio estimates yesterday.
"To have a movie titled Valentine's Day on Valentine's weekend was a no-brainer that absolutely worked," said box-office analyst Paul Dergarabedian of Hollywood.com.
Warner Bros. expects the love story to reach the $60 million range after totals for today are included -- and thus break the Presidents Day weekend record of $52 million, set by Ghost Rider in 2007.
In fourth place, Avatar -- the biggest modern blockbuster -- raised its domestic total to $659.6 million and its worldwide haul to $2.35 billion.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through yesterday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com:
1. Valentine's Day, $52.4 million
2. Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, $31.1 million
3. The Wolfman, $30.6 million
4. Avatar, $22 million
5. Dear John, $15.3 million
Record crowd sees East edge West in All-Star game
ARLINGTON, Texas — The largest crowd ever to watch a basketball game roared from all corners of Cowboys Stadium, and the two superstars on the court smiled widely.
Nope, not Dwyane Wade and LeBron James.
Try Jerry Jones and Mark Cuban.
They partnered to create a basketball spectacle that had never been seen before, one that ended with the Eastern Conference's 141-139 victory over the West on Sunday night in the All-Star game.
"It's an historical event," Wade said. "It's going to be in our minds and our hearts and thoughts for a long time. Dallas and the MVP. Jerry Jones and Mark Cuban really put on a fabulous event."
The crowd of 108,713, packed with the usual celebrities the NBA All-Star game always attracts, watched Dallas native Chris Bosh make the winning free throws with 5 seconds left. The West had a chance to win it, but Carmelo Anthony's 3-point attempt came up short.
"To be in front of 108,000 fans, that was actually what it was, that was not a false number. You could look up in the stands, and there was not a seat open," James said. "To be part of history is something that you always wish and dream for."
The largest cheer of the night came after the third quarter, when Mavericks owner Cuban and Cowboys owner Jones came onto the court to announce the record basketball crowd, which was also the largest in the $1.2 billion building's short history.
Read More....
Nope, not Dwyane Wade and LeBron James.
Try Jerry Jones and Mark Cuban.
They partnered to create a basketball spectacle that had never been seen before, one that ended with the Eastern Conference's 141-139 victory over the West on Sunday night in the All-Star game.
"It's an historical event," Wade said. "It's going to be in our minds and our hearts and thoughts for a long time. Dallas and the MVP. Jerry Jones and Mark Cuban really put on a fabulous event."
The crowd of 108,713, packed with the usual celebrities the NBA All-Star game always attracts, watched Dallas native Chris Bosh make the winning free throws with 5 seconds left. The West had a chance to win it, but Carmelo Anthony's 3-point attempt came up short.
"To be in front of 108,000 fans, that was actually what it was, that was not a false number. You could look up in the stands, and there was not a seat open," James said. "To be part of history is something that you always wish and dream for."
The largest cheer of the night came after the third quarter, when Mavericks owner Cuban and Cowboys owner Jones came onto the court to announce the record basketball crowd, which was also the largest in the $1.2 billion building's short history.
Read More....
Hooded Hooded Men Open Fire In California Church; 2 Wounded
A group of men opened fire at people attending Sunday service in a church in northern California, injuring two people.
According to local reports, three men wearing hooded shirts entered the New Gethsemane Church of God in Christ in Richmond about 12:30 pm. One of the suspects began shooting, wounding a 14-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man.
The two victims are expected to recover from their injuries. The suspects were believed to have targeted churchgoers in the area where the victims were seated.
Richmond police are still seeking information from witnesses to help in capturing the suspects.
According to local reports, three men wearing hooded shirts entered the New Gethsemane Church of God in Christ in Richmond about 12:30 pm. One of the suspects began shooting, wounding a 14-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man.
The two victims are expected to recover from their injuries. The suspects were believed to have targeted churchgoers in the area where the victims were seated.
Richmond police are still seeking information from witnesses to help in capturing the suspects.
Clinton Seeks Saudi Support on Curbing Iranian Nuclear Program
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meets Saudi leaders Monday as she continues a brief tour of the Gulf region focusing on ways to curb Iran's nuclear program. Clinton says it is time for Tehran to be held to account for what she says is its pursuit of nuclear weapons.
Clinton will meet Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah at his winter desert encampment outside of Riyadh, and also confer with Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal in a drive to shore up Gulf Arab support for new Iran sanctions.
The United States has been quietly helping build defenses, including the provision of Patriot anti-missile systems, for Gulf allies concerned about Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
Yet the same countries are apprehensive about an early sanctions confrontation with Tehran. Clinton said in Doha she welcomes meaningful engagement with Iran but in her words, "we don't want to be engaging while they are building a bomb."
"Iran leaves the international community little choice but to impose greater costs for its provocative steps," Clinton said. "Together we are encouraging Iran to reconsider its dangerous policy decisions, and we are now working actively with our regional and international partners in the context of our dual-track approach to prepare and implement new measures to convince Iran to change its course."
Clinton appeared at a forum on U.S.-Islamic relations in Doha with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani.
He stressed the need for political stability in the tense Gulf region and suggested there is still time for dialogue with Iran, including direct outreach to Tehran by the Obama administration.
"We heard today the Secretary say they are willing to talk to the Iranians and they send many messages to Iran," Al-Thani said. "And I believe we cannot talk through messengers in my opinion. I think this problem has to be taken up with the Iranians directly and try to see if we have a deal or we don't have a deal on this."
Clinton acknowledged Arab disappointment that U.S. efforts to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks have not yielded a breakthrough.
In the face of complaints from audience members, she also asked for patience by residents of Arab states targeted for tougher screening for U.S. air travel following the abortive effort to blow up a plane near Detroit on December 25.
Clinton will meet Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah at his winter desert encampment outside of Riyadh, and also confer with Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal in a drive to shore up Gulf Arab support for new Iran sanctions.
The United States has been quietly helping build defenses, including the provision of Patriot anti-missile systems, for Gulf allies concerned about Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
Yet the same countries are apprehensive about an early sanctions confrontation with Tehran. Clinton said in Doha she welcomes meaningful engagement with Iran but in her words, "we don't want to be engaging while they are building a bomb."
"Iran leaves the international community little choice but to impose greater costs for its provocative steps," Clinton said. "Together we are encouraging Iran to reconsider its dangerous policy decisions, and we are now working actively with our regional and international partners in the context of our dual-track approach to prepare and implement new measures to convince Iran to change its course."
Clinton appeared at a forum on U.S.-Islamic relations in Doha with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani.
He stressed the need for political stability in the tense Gulf region and suggested there is still time for dialogue with Iran, including direct outreach to Tehran by the Obama administration.
"We heard today the Secretary say they are willing to talk to the Iranians and they send many messages to Iran," Al-Thani said. "And I believe we cannot talk through messengers in my opinion. I think this problem has to be taken up with the Iranians directly and try to see if we have a deal or we don't have a deal on this."
Clinton acknowledged Arab disappointment that U.S. efforts to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks have not yielded a breakthrough.
In the face of complaints from audience members, she also asked for patience by residents of Arab states targeted for tougher screening for U.S. air travel following the abortive effort to blow up a plane near Detroit on December 25.
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