Phil Spector Sentenced to 19 Years

One time, he was a hot music producer,once married to a hottie- the former Veronica Yvette Bennett- until he reported used her as a punching bag. And he was credited for creating the "Wall of sound" production technique. He co-wrote the hit "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" for The Righteous Brothers; and produced the soundtrack to the late George Harrison's Concert For Bangladesh, and the Beatles' final album as a group, "Let It Be".

But now, Mr. Spector can add one more thing to his resume: murder convict. April 13, in his re- trial on murder, he was found guilty of second degree murder, and using a firearm in the commission of a crime, in the death of actress Lana Clarkson. Clarkson was found dead at Spector's home on February 3, 2003. She was 40. The first trial ended in a mistrial.

Today, he was sentenced to 19 years in prison- 15 years to life for second-degree murder, and four for personal use of a gun. He's also been ordered to pay more than $16,800 in funeral expenses, and more than $9,700 to a state victim's assistance fund. Mr. Spector is 69, and will likely die in prison unless he has his conviction overturned. The family of Lana Clarkson may consider a civil lawsuit against Spector.

This puts a very sad end to what has been a storied- and by many accounts, controversial- career. Spector has been known to be bizarre- which isn't all that unusual when you're dealing with many Hollywood figures. His love of guns often times got him in trouble, but- no pun intended- the fatal bullet of justice had struck him down.

O.J. Simpson. Robert Blake. And now Phil Spector. Well-moneyed figures in the "Hall of Shame". Pretty fucked up, isn't it?

(C) 2009, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

And I Thought Octomom Was Nuts!

This must be the year of Jerry Springer and Maury Povich (wait...isn't Springer cancelled in a lot of Nielsen TV markets?...). Those two jokers are probably already having a field day with Octomom Nadya Suleman having eight children- in addition to the six she already had. Those fertility treatments sure does wonders, don't they?

Now comes a story from the Knoxville area about a father who has- you ready for this?- 21 children, by at least eleven women. And this pussy's not even 30 yet. Desmond Hatchett is a constant figure in Knox County Juvenile Child Support Court- last Friday, he was in court 11 times- 11!- because he apparently owes support on 15 of those kids!

Ai-yi-yi-yi-yi-fucking YI!

Let's do the math, Darren...so, I have 21 kids...11 moms, so I'm thinking on average that each mother has...oh, about two and half kids. Now let's make this more fun. Now radio host Tom Leykis would often times mention that 18 years time 12 months equals 216 monthly installments (after all, 18 X 12 = 216. If you want to get even better, 21 x 12 = 252...). Now, let's say that he owes each woman $67.50 (that's the amount one mother says he owes per month for her two kids) So given Mr. Hatchett's situation, let's ring up the totals:

$67.50 X 21= $1417.50 for all 21 kids- per month! Annually that comes out to $17,010 (or $1417.50 X 12). Over an 18 year- or said 216 monthly installment- period, you're talking a total of $206,180. Finally, when you divide that by 21, comes out to about $9,818 per child. Hardly enough support funds considering the cost of living- let alone raising one kid- these days.

Perhaps Mr. Hatchett should consider begging Mr. Trump or Ms. Winfrey for the funds...yeah, right! I doubt seriously that the Donald would be foolish enough to bring 21 kids into the world. After all, it's bad enough that he had to pay Ivanka child support when they divorced. So having said this, might I suggest Mr. Hatchett get a court-ordered vasectomy. (Hurts my nards even saying that)..

(C) 2009 by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

First Tropical Depression Forms Off Atlantic

It's not even June yet, and already, we have a depression forming off the mid-Atlantic coast.

Tropical Depression One is about 310 miles/502 kilometers south of Providence, Rhode Island, and according to forecasters, this storm is not expected to hit landfall. If it reaches tropical storm status, this one will be a girl named Ana.

The hurricane season begins Monday, and a near-normal season is expected, with:

• 9- 14 named storms;
• 4-7 of those storms being hurricanes; and 
• 1- 3 of those hurricanes becoming major

El Nino could play a factor, however, so this near-normal season could change to an above or below average season.

(C) 2009 by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

Cop indicted on sex, extortion charges | Cincinnati Enquirer | Cincinnati.Com

Cop indicted on sex, extortion charges | Cincinnati Enquirer | Cincinnati.Com

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One question you could ask is why, if this is the case, did he force the boy's mother to perform a blow job on him? Was he feeling horny that night? Whether she was MILFy or not, that's neither here nor there. The fact is given the report, which you can read by clicking above to the link, is there anything else we need to know about officer Steele? Yes, he has an exemplary record, but he could also have a few traits- sociopath, even- that the people of Cincinnati need to know about. I'm not saying that Mr. Steele is a sadistic, or even a sociopath asshole here, but the way I read into this, this could be a good cop gone bad. Look at the charges: rape; sexual battery; intimidation; and extortion. Very serious charges, and if officer Steele is indeed found guilty of the ten counts against him, he must serve the full 70 years in Lucasville (where one of Ohio's maximum security prisons is located).

(C) 2009 by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

Judge Sonia Sotomayor Nominated for US Supreme Court

President Obama has nominated Sonia Sotomayor, who is a federal judge for the Second Circuit court of Appeals, for Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. If confirmed, she will be the first Hispanic person on the country's highest court. here is what President Obama said about Judge Sotomayor:

BarackObamadotcom/YouTube

Not surprisingly, a lot of conservatives aren't happy about this. Although many Republicans on Capitol Hill are playing "wait-and-see", the pill-popping, cigar smoking bloat Rush Limbaugh, calls her a racist for comments she made in a speech at University of California, Berkeley in 2001, in which she stated, "...a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experience would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life."

Still pissed that the Democrats hold all three branches of government, eh, Rush? Perhaps he would've been better off overdosing on OxyContin- but then he'd be a martyr. Damned if he's here, damned if he's not.

On the hot button topic of abortion, Charmaine Yoest of the group American United for Life, calls the President's choice of Sotomayor as a "radical pick that divides America."

Sotomayor, if confirmed, will replace retiring Justice David Souter.

(C) 2009 by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

California Prop 8 Upheld

In a decision of 6 to 1, the California Supreme Court had upheld the voter-approved Proposition 8, which prohibits same sex marriage. The Chief Justice, Ron George stated that an argument filed by gay rights activists doesn't affect the state constitution's equal protection clause to a dramatic degree that the Legislature needed to first approve.

The 18,000 same sex couples who married before the law took affect will be considered married, so there is a small victory. But that's not enough, as LGBT activists will not rest until same sex marriage is fully recognized. So, this evening, they're going to shout loud and clear that "enough is enough" when it comes to denying marital rights. Personally, as insipid as this measure is, the voters of California have spoken. However, The LGBT community must continue the fight for full recognition of their rights- and this includes the right to marry. 36,000 of their fellow community members enjoy that right. Now it's time for the rest to enjoy this right. so I stand with the protesters, and look for the day where everyone can be married, without regard to sexual orientation.

I still remain upset at the mainly out-of-state anti-LGBT rights activists who decided to meddle into California's business, particularly the Mormons (Latter Day Saints), who just couldn't stay in Utah (yes, I know, there are Mormons in California, too, but the LDS is based mainly in Utah...) and mind their own affairs. Perhaps it's time to ban the LDS from the planet, but then, what's to stop them from wanting to ban every goddamned thing else? My point is that just as the LDS and their minions have a right to worship how they see fit, and live however they like, the LGBT community deserves to have full marital rights and the fight must continue until the issue of same sex marriage becomes a non-issue. I liken this to the civil rights- and, more largely related, Stonewall- movements. This, the fortieth anniversary year of the latter movement, is just a continuing part of the unfolding drama.

There could be a ballot measure in 2010 or 2012 to overturn Prop 8.

(C) 2009 by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

Another crazy ass test

Recently, my stupid ass copy of WinJournal decided to stop playing well with the two blog services- Blogger being one of them- which, as you may imagine, does not bode well with me.

So, I'm trying out Zoundry's Raven software. I've already tested it on my other main site, The DWA Musings, on WordPress. It works great (now, if my friend Ceej stops trying to hog the spotlight...). I'll see how this goes.

(C) 2009, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

Alabama Police Beat Unconscious Driver

Five Alabama police officer lost their badges after they beat a man who led them on a car chase through the streets and highways of Birmingham.



January 23, 2008, Anthony Warren, 38, led Birmingham Police through a 22-minute, multi-highway chase. According to reports, a Birmingham police officer was questioning Warren about possible drug activity. Warren began to flee, beginning the chase. Eventually, he crashed on a shoulder. As his SUV crashed, Warren was thrown from the vehicle and was unconscious. Five officers then beat and kicked Warren, leaving him with a skull fracture and a severe concussion. Now Warren has filed a suit against the officers, who were terminated from the force, and the city of Birmingham. Warren, meantime, is serving a 20 year sentence for first degree assault for striking an officer with his van.

Police Chief A.C. Roper call the officers' conduct "shameful" in a report.

Were the officers wrong in their effort to restrain Mr. Warren? Were they aware that he was already out cold? They could've killed the man, and subsequently faced murder charges. and Mr. Warren could've killed the officer as well. As far as I can tell, both the terminated officers and Mr. Warren were in the wrong. Mr. Warren would have been better off staying put and taking his medicine. The officers, because they let their emotions and frustrations get the best of them.

(C) 2009 by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

Maybe This is Why CBS Needs to Leave the Morning News Race

For those of us who watch the morning shows, you know it's a horse race between NBC's Today; ABC'S Good Morning America; and CBS's The Early Show. The former two, as many of us know, are constantly nose to nose when it comes to reaching first place. CBS, however, probably should have stuck with
Captain Kangaroo (or any children's TV equivalent), because it's constantly in the Nielsen toilet.

One of my addictions is looking at YouTube (which is, like Blogger, is owned by Google. It's also what I constantly use for video footage. Of course, I always give credit to my sources), and today, I came across this gem. Now, before I begin, it must be noted that CBS's morning news ran mainly at 7:00AM, and came on before Captain Kangaroo. It ran for one hour, until the late 1970s or early 1980s, when it was reduced to 30 minutes. Unlike Today, CBS Morning News mainly ran just hard news.

The co-anchors in this nearly 10 minute clip from 1973 are Hughes Rudd, and Sally Quinn, who quit the Washington Post to anchor the morning news.


VintageTelevision/YouTube

When I watched the clip, I wondered if I needed to reach for one of those Excedrin PM tablets (in place of the Advil I carry). This was a painful clip to watch, and is it me, or does Sally look like she's recovered from a stroke. Boy, was she nervous. Never mind she was sick, but she looked robotic, no emotion whatsoever.

At least, this clip does show that cool "Keep America Beautiful" ad campaign from 1971, with the crying Native America- and a promo for the remake of "Perry Mason" (Well, like I said, not everything was perfect at the Tiffany network).

CBS. America's Most Watched TV Network. In everything EXCEPT NEWS! Perhaps it's time for CBS to leave the news business, and just stick to entertainment.

(C)2009, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

Report On Portland Mayor Due Out Any Day

Oregon Attorney General John Kroger, a former federal prosecutor who took on two of the biggest crime syndicates- one is known as the mafia; the other named Enron- may bring down Portland's first openly gay mayor, as a report on Adams' relationship with then-legislative intern Beau Breedlove is due out anytime now.

At issue is whether Adams violated the law by having sexual relations with Breedlove when the latter was only 17, and if so, Adams could be found guilty of contributing to the delinquency of a minor between the ages of 16 and 18, a misdemeanor. This
report could play a role in the recall effort that seems to be growing.

The earliest petitions for recall can be sent out is July 1.

(C) 2009 by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

Dom DeLuise Dead at 75

Dom DeLuise, the larger than life actor; chef, and comedian who has starred in many film, TV, and stage comedies, passed on today.

Lauzi66/YouTube/NBC

For generations, DeLuise kept audiences in stitches with sketches- like the one above seen on "The Dean Martin Show", where he portrayed an inept magician; and in numerous films with Mel Brooks, such as "Blazing Saddles":
bitchykitty/YouTube/Warner Bros.

and..."History of the World, Part One":

19nessie87/YouTube/20th Century Fox

He also collaborated with longtime friend Burt Reynolds in the two "Cannonball Run" films, portraying J.J.'s buddy Captain Chaos:

NilssonJ/YouTube/20th Centruy Fox

Just as he loved doing films, he loved food even more. He was an accomplished celebrity chef- and I wouldn't at all be surprised that his cooking was the favorite at home as well. I could picture many dinnertimes at the DeLuise home- festive; very lively. And that was the man DeLuise himself, full of life, very much loved by all.

He was 75, and died peacefully in his sleep Monday night. He is survived by his wife of nearly 44 years, actress Carol Arthur; and their three sons Peter, Michael, and David.

He will definitely be missed.

Copyright (C) 2009 by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.