The Fighter Trailer

Today we have the first official trailer for David O. Russell’s The Fighter. The drama stars Christian Bale, Mark Wahlberg and Amy Adams.

The Fighter tells the true story of Boston fighter “Irish” Micky Ward and how he was helped to the world lightweight championship by half-brother and his trainer Dicky Ecklund.
Ecklund was a journeyman fighter who sent Sugar Ray Leonard to the canvas in 1978. His career was derailed by drug addiction and a prison sentence. Upon his release, he convinced his younger brother, Ward – who had retired from boxing at 26 after losing four straight – to get back in the ring. Under Ecklund’s tutelage, Ward won the WBU Light Welterweight title and engaged in one of the greatest fight trilogies in history with Arturo Gatti.

Wahlberg plays Ward, a fighter who was losing bouts and was ready to hang up the gloves when his brother came back into his life. Ecklund turned his life around and helped his underperforming brother find the spark for a remarkable run that led to the world title.

Also stars Melissa Leo, Dendrie Taylor, Jack McGee, Jenna Lamia, and Bianca Hunter. The script was co-written by Paul Tamasy (Air Bud, Walking Across Egypt) and Eric Johnson with Scott Silver (Johns, The Mod Squad, 8 Mile).

The Fighter will arrive in cinemas on December 10th 201

Ground Zero Mosque Imam Feisal Rauf the Slumlord is a No-show in New Jersey Court

Ground Zero mosque imam Feisal Rauf is a no-show in New Jersey court
NY Post

While the Imam behind plans for a mosque near Ground Zero was jetting around the globe and advocating for his Downtown project, a pair of dilapidated apartment buildings he owns in New Jersey fell into such disrepair that cops have to stand watch in the event of a fire.
The fire watch, at taxpayer expense, was revealed during a court hearing today when Union City lawyers asked to have two buildings owned by Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf placed into receivership so that rent s could be used to fix dozens of violations, including inoperable alarms and sprinklers.
Rauf skipped today’s hearing as did his wife Daisy Khan. Their lawyer, Tomas Espinosa, said he didn’t know why the Imam didn’t come to court.

“There have been a lot of stress on these people,” Espinosa said when asked after the hearing to explain why Rauf was a no-show “The legal process will show that my client is an honorable man that has taken care of his property.”

Asked why he was confident that Rauf would prevail, Espinosa said of the Imam, “There is integrity and character,” adding, “He is a man of peace.”

But Union City officials insist Rauf is a slumlord.
Christine Vanek, a lawyer for Union City, said cops were put on fire watch rather than evict tenants from 16 apartments in one of the buildings after a Sept. 7 inspection determined there was an imminent hazard. Rauf, she said, did not respond to an order to hire a private fire patrol.

“The city immediately put a police officer there and sent a detail officer, which means we have to pay over-time,” Vanek said of putting an extra cop on duty just to watch Rauf’s building. She did not say how much it is costing Union City, and other officials did not return calls for that information.

Espinosa, however, said he was told a fire alarm contractor has been working at the building and is putting together a plan to fix the alarms and sprinklers.
But Judge Thomas Olivieri bristled when Espinosa said he had no documents to show what work was done or what might be planned and then asked the judge for more time “to come here with a total picture of what has been done.”

“The allegation here is that nothing has been done,” Olivieri said. “The city is spending taxpayer money to put a fire person, man or woman, at the building that is occupied to monitor it so that there’s not a fire that occurs.”

Olivieri then blasted Espinosa for coming to court empty-handed.

"There is no reason whatsoever, none, in the last 48 hours why your client could not have submitted something to you that hyou could have submitted to the court. this is serious. I am somewhat suprrised that I have nothing from the defense -- nothing

"And I reject that you were busy and they were busy," the judge said.

But Olivieri didn’t immediately appoint a receiver to run the building, as the city requested. Instead, he gave Espinosa a Sept. 23 court date to produce plans and evidence of Rauf’s efforts to address all the building violations, or then face loss of control over the apartment buildings.
Union City filed its lawsuit against Rauf on Monday, charging that he has refused to comply with dozens of building violations, some dating back to 1996 for two properties he owns at 2206 Central Ave.

One of the buildings has been vacant since a 2008 fire that erupted a year after fire inspectors slapped a dozen safety violations against the property. The second building as 16 families living there.

Posted by Wild Thing

Meg Whitman is the Queen of All Campaign Spending

Billionaire Michael Bloomberg spent about $108 million of his own money to stay on as Mayor of New York last year.

But believe it or not, he does not hold the record for money spent on a campaign. As of yesterday, the Queen of All Campaign Spending is Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman, who became the biggest ever U.S. campaign self-spender with a  total contribution to $119,075,806.11 to date.

Despite the record spending, Whitman, the billionaire former CEO of online auction firm eBay, is still locked in a close race with her Democratic rival, former governor (and current state Attorney General) Jerry Brown, who only began running paid advertising last week. His campaign has raised about $35 million so far, virtually all of it from outside sources.

Change You Can Chart: 2009 US Poverty Rate Highest Since 1994, 43.6 Million Americans Living Below Poverty Line

There is spin and there are facts (and even these come from the Census Bureau so take them with a ton of salt): the official poverty rate in 2009 was 14.3 percent—up from 13.2 percent in 2008. This was the second statistically significant annual increase in the poverty rate since 2004, in 2009, 43.6 million people were in poverty, a 3.8 million increase from 39.8 million in 2008—the third consecutive annual increase in the number of people in poverty. Additionally, we are stunned to learn that the uninsured rate and number of people without health insurance increased between 2008 and 2009. Perhaps the president should just go back to a permanent vacation status, and just let Wall Street add another 10-20 million to this statistic in 2010, as the US middle class continues to disappear just so it can fund the exorbitant lifestyles of some 100,000 people.

Some more finding from the report:

• The poverty rate in 2009 (14.3 percent) was the highest poverty rate since 1994 but was 8.1 percentage points lower than the poverty rate in 1959, the first year for which poverty estimates are available (Figure 4).
• The number of people in poverty in 2009 (43.6 million) is the largest number in the 51 years for which poverty estimates have been published (Figure 4).
• Between 2008 and 2009, the poverty rate increased for children under the age of 18 (from 19.0 percent to 20.7 percent) and people aged  18 to 64 (from 11.7 percent to 12.9 percent), but decreased for people aged 65 and older (from 9.7 percent to 8.9 percent) (Table 4).

Impact of the 2007 Economic Downturn
The poverty rate and the number in poverty increased by 1.9 percentage points and 6.3 million between 2007 and 2009 (Table 5). The increase in the overall poverty rate was:

• Larger than the increase in the poverty rate during the November 1973 to March 1975 recession.40
• Smaller than the increase in the poverty rates associated with the January 1980 to July 1980 and July 1981 to November 1982 combined recessions.

Between 2007 and 2009, the child poverty rate and the number in poverty increased by 2.7 percentage points and 2.1 million.

And here is how the change you can not only believe, but chart, looks like:

Full report.

Submitted by Tyler Durden 

New “Halo” Game Reach $200 Million

Halo: Reach has become the biggest game of the year in just 24 hours. During one day, the Xbox 360 game generated $200 million in sales in the U.S. and Europe, according to publisher Microsoft.

It’s “the biggest game Microsoft has ever released,” said Phil Spencer, the corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios, in a statement. “Every major installment has grown in scope and popularity, firmly cementing the ‘Halo’ franchise as one of the most popular entertainment properties in the world over the past decade.”

The game went on sale at midnight at tens of thousands of retailers worldwide early Tuesday. At $60 each, the number suggests that Microsoft sold 3.3 million units in a day. (However, some of the game bundles are more expensive).

The game is a proper exit for Bungie, which developed the Halo series since the first game launched in 2001. Bungie is moving on to a new gaming universe while Microsoft’s 343 Industries studio will take over the Halo games in the future. Bungie sure knows how to go out with a bang. Now the lifetime sales of Halo games have topped $2 billion.

The new release eclipsed the previous bestseller, Halo 3, which was released in 2007 and generated $170 million in its first 24 hours. Microsoft said that Halo: Reach sales were bigger than the three-day opening weekends of blockbuster movies such as Iron Man 2, Alice in Wonderland and Toy Story 3. I’m two-thirds of the way through the single-player campaign, which has excellent variety.

Pope Benedict's Adviser pulls out of UK visit after describing UK as third world country

A senior adviser to Pope Benedict, Cardinal Walter Kasper has pulled out of the Pope's UK visit after saying arriving at London's Heathrow airport was like landing in a "Third World" country.


Cardinal Walter Kasper

Across at the BBC News website;

The German-born cardinal was quoted as saying to the country's Focus magazine that "when you land at Heathrow you think at times you have landed in a Third World country".

The article goes on;

Vatican sources said Cardinal Kasper - who stepped down in July as the head of the department that deals with other Christian denominations - was suffering from gout and had been advised by his doctors not to travel to the UK.

The Vatican go on and said his "Third World" comment referred to the UK's multicultural society.

Hmmm, I am not sure that line helps him, it actually makes it sound even worse, possibly bordering on racism but as the Cardinal is no longer coming to the UK with the Pope, the media won't get to actually ask him what he really meant.

The Cardinal is conveniently suffering from gout, allegedly and has therefore been prevented from travelling to the UK with the Pope and his team.

What a lot of pish and yet another bloody cover up by the Catholic Church and it's Department of cover ups.

Posted by Andrew Reeves

Nas Announces “Lost Tapes Volume 2″

Nas delivered good news for his fans via Twitter last night. The Queensbridge MC plans to release a second part of his 2002 compilation album Lost Tapes. The project contained a selection of previously unreleased tracks which were recorded for the original double disc version of I Am… and Stillmatic. Nas now shed a bit of light on his announcement while talking to MTV.

I’m unloading records I want the streets to hear. Cleaning out my hard drives. Gonna do this, then start fresh. I’m dropping my solo LP before the summer of 2011. I love the energy the world has been giving me over the last two years. But now it’s time to focus on owning the streets again.

 by Petar Kujundzic

India raises rates for fifth time

High food prices have helped fuel inflation

India’s central bank has raised interest rates by more than expected as it continues to battle high inflation.

The Reserve Bank of India increased its repo rate – the rate at which it lends to banks – to 6% from 5.75%.
It raised the reverse repo rate – the rate at which it borrows from banks – to 5% from 4.5%. Economists had expected a rise to 4.75%.

It is the fifth rate hike this year as India has faced double-digit inflation, although it fell to 8.5% in August.
The fall – from 9.8% the previous month – was partly due to changes in the way it is calculated to include a wider range of consumer goods.
Under the old system, August’s inflation rate would have been 9.5%.
“Inflation remains the dominant concern,” the central bank said.

Shaq Is Accused Of Destroying Evidence!

(9/15/2010) NBA Baller Shaquille O’Neal is in the middle of yet another lawsuit involving his cheating ways. Our home girl Necolebitchie, reported  he’s being sued by his former IT guy for computer hacking, destroying evidence and planting child pornography on one of his employee’s computers to frame him. According to the allegations:

* Shaq used his law enforcement contacts  to obtain restricted information about one of his mistresses, Alexis Miller (aka rapper Mary Jane), while he was involved in a legal battle with her. The lawsuit alleges, that Shaq told his IT guy that Mary Jane had obtained a restraining order but he couldn’t remember what he had sent to her via text and email. He then asked the guy to retrieve every email and text message that he had sent to her as well as all of his phone records. After getting the information, they performed a “Defense Department type wipe of Shaq’s computer” and then threw the computer in a lake in the back of his home.

“Mary Jane” eventually filed a lawsuit against Shaq for harassment which was later settled.
Shaq also hacked into the voicemails and phone systems of Vanessa Lopez, a mistress who is currently suing him. Once the former IT guy found out about Shaq’s affair with Lopez, he reached out to her and she told him that she thought O’Neal was trying to break into her voicemail, deleting messages and changing her passwords. He found evidence that Shaq was doing so and told her about it.

*Shaq became furious when he found out that his “IT guy” had ratted him out to Lopez and tried to frame him by enlisting a top computer programmer to plant child pornography on his computer.

This guy has proof that Shaq has cheated on Shaunie with multiple mistresses. He also has an email exchange from Shaq and his agent which proves Shaq tried to frame him.

Wow…that is all I can say. Shaq no comment. Wait why didn’t you sign a confidentiality agreement with your IT guy? Shaq you might be over your head on this one.  What are your thoughts? – Another post by Courtney L.

NEWS: Katherine Jackson Sues AEG Over Michael Jackson’s Death

According to TMZ Katherine Jackson, mother of the late King of Pop, is suing AEG (the company who was putting on Jackson’s come back tour), claiming the contact with Michael “created a legal duty for AEG to act reasonably toward the physical well-being of Michael Jackson”. In the document, Katherine also blames the tour company for hiring Dr. Murray without a proper background check, stating “AEG did not provide a doctor who was truly looking out for Jackson’s well-being and did not provide equipment”.

The suit also blames AEG for the “emotional distress” to Michael’s son Prince because he witnessed Michael suffering and dying and that “he was put in a position as bystander to these tragic events”.

‘This Is Is’ director Kenny Ortega is named as a defendant.

As much as I would love to say ‘why can’t every just allow this man to rest in peace’, I can’t help but think that if this was my family and my mother thought that my death could have been avoided – I know, without a shadow of a doubt, she would do the very same. It’s clear Katherine is not after money – Michael’s estate is healthier than it ever has been – she and MJ’s kids are well taken care of. This is about justice and a mother’s need/right to defend her son and family.

We’ll keep you updated.

Video: Clinton: This Is a Moment That Must Be Seized

DeMint: Tea party candidates can win in November

WASHINGTON — Sen. Jim DeMint on Thursday dismissed worries by some of his fellow Republicans that tea party-backed politicians like Delaware Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell are too conservative to win in November.

"The tea party represents a broad cross-section of the American people," DeMint, R-S.C., told NBC's "Today." He said Republicans need to embrace tea party goals like limited government and balanced federal budgets.

DeMint, whose endorsement boosted O'Donnell late in her primary race, cited other tea party favorites who are doing well in polls, including Florida Senate candidate Marco Rubio and Kentucky Senate candidate Rand Paul. Both defeated better-established Republicans in primaries.

"You can't change Washington unless you change people who are here," he said. "People are ready to throw out the bums."

After O'Donnell's victory Tuesday, former George W. Bush adviser Karl Rove, who is trying to fashion GOP majorities in Congress, said of her general election prospects, "This is not a race we're going to be able to win." And her primary opponent, Rep. Mike Castle, said through a spokeswoman he does not intend to support O'Donnell.

But other Republicans, including Sarah Palin and Texas Sen. John Cornyn, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, rushed to O'Donnell's defense, and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney sent $5,000 from his political action committee for her campaign.

DeMint, who became a force in Republican primaries this spring and summer, denied having conflicts with the GOP establishment in Washington. "I like our current leadership," he said. "I want to support this leadership team. What we're trying to do now is get a group of Republicans that provide a clear contrast with the Pelosi-Obama agenda."

Karl Rove Notices GOP Base is “Nutty”; GOP Base Notices Karl Rove is a Liar

Turns out Turdblossom doesn’t care much for Teabagger Christine O’Donnell, the newly-minted Republican candidate for US Senate in Delaware.

Oh, how it warms my heart to see wingnuts fight.

Speaking on Fox News Tuesday night after O’Donnell’s victory was clear, Rove said the political newcomer does not “evince the characteristics of rectitude and sincerity and character that the voters are looking for,” adding “there’s just a lot of nutty things she’s been saying.“

Yes, plenty of nutty things – like tax cuts increase revenue, global warming and evolution are communist hoaxes, and you can cure people of teh gay.
Oh wait, that’s what every Republican thinks.

Responding directly to those comments, O’Donnell told ABC that “everything that he is saying is unfactual.”

Newsflash!
Also, “unfactual”? Do all these wingnut women just naturally sound like The Quitter or is it something they practice at home?

By: Blue Texan