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Thursday, February 08, 2007
Anna Nicole Smith, 1967-2007
cyberjae/YouTube/CNN
I'm shocked to learn that model and actress Anna Nicole Smith has died.
She collapsed at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Attempts to revive her by CPR had failed. She was taken to Memorial Regional Hospital where she was pronounced dead, a bit after 2:00PM Eastern Time (11:00AM Pacific Time). Her death happened just months after her 20-year-old son Daniel died in the hospital room on September 10, 2006- just three days after she gave birth to daugter Daniellynn Hope Smith.
The woman born Vicki Lynn Marshall on November 28, 1967 (about four months after the birth of this blogger) modeled for Guess? jeans. She had her own TV series on E! Entertainment Television (The Anna Nicole Show), strugged with weight problems; was a Playmate of the Year by Playboy; and was married thrice- she was 17 when she gave birth to Daniel, and then there's that well-publicized (to death, it seemed) marriage to oil billionaire J. Howard Marshall (no relation to Smith's birth name or family), which lasted 13 months until Marshall's death in 1995. Smith was 26, Marshall, 89. After Marshall's death, Smith and E. Pierece Marshall- Howard marshall's son- sqauared off in legal proceedings. She lost the two proceedings. (E. Pierce Marshall died last June at 67). She married her personal attorney Howard K. Stern (no relation to the shock jock) weeks after her daughter's birth and son's death.
(however, with no proof of a marriage license, the ceremony- and marriage- is not legally binding).
When Daniellynn was born, two men- Stern mentioned that the two were in love for some time. However, Larry Birkhead, entertainment photojournalist, begged to differ. Both claimed to be Daniellynn's father. However, Bahamian birth records show that Stern is the father.
Details are still developing on this tragic, sudden death of this international superstar.
Copyright 2007, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
All (Straight) Married Couples MUST Have Children- Or Else!
An initiative in Washington State would require able-bodied married heterosexual couples to have children within three years, or else, it's subject to annulment.
Initiative 957 was filed by Washington Defense of Marriage Alliance, a group that seeks equal marital rights for same sex couples. It has been accepted by Sashington Secretary of state Sam Reid.
It needs 224,880 valid signatures to get onto the November 2007 ballot. The group wants 280,000 in case a number of the signatures are invalid. If this makes the ballot, voters will decide whetherable-bodied married couples will be required to procreate (you know, have children) or no.
Now, don't get me wrong. I defend same sex marriage, and I believe that same sex couples have the right to marry, just as opposite sex couples currently can do. But this initiative, I-957, is the wrong way of going about the matter. Requiring a heterosexual married couple to conceive a child within a frame of time is at worst draconian. To put it bluntly, it is selfish, and will further hurt the support for same sex marriage. I would much prefer that they, the same sex couples, use the 'power-of-attorney' method for benefits; hospital visitation; adoption, etc.
But please, don't force heterosexual couples to have a child they may not be ready for. After all, there is no time table on when the couple will be ready to conceive.
For more information, go to http://www.wa-doma.org/Default.aspx . For the story from KGW-TV, Portland, Oregon, just click on the title.
Copyright 2007, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.
Initiative 957 was filed by Washington Defense of Marriage Alliance, a group that seeks equal marital rights for same sex couples. It has been accepted by Sashington Secretary of state Sam Reid.
It needs 224,880 valid signatures to get onto the November 2007 ballot. The group wants 280,000 in case a number of the signatures are invalid. If this makes the ballot, voters will decide whetherable-bodied married couples will be required to procreate (you know, have children) or no.
Now, don't get me wrong. I defend same sex marriage, and I believe that same sex couples have the right to marry, just as opposite sex couples currently can do. But this initiative, I-957, is the wrong way of going about the matter. Requiring a heterosexual married couple to conceive a child within a frame of time is at worst draconian. To put it bluntly, it is selfish, and will further hurt the support for same sex marriage. I would much prefer that they, the same sex couples, use the 'power-of-attorney' method for benefits; hospital visitation; adoption, etc.
But please, don't force heterosexual couples to have a child they may not be ready for. After all, there is no time table on when the couple will be ready to conceive.
For more information, go to http://www.wa-doma.org/Default.aspx . For the story from KGW-TV, Portland, Oregon, just click on the title.
Copyright 2007, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Monday, February 05, 2007
Requiem for Jody Lance Keener; Paris Utters the 'N' and 'F'-Bombs
Sometimes people can be so damn stupid. I'll talk about two of them. One you don't know, but he deserves to be picked on nonetheless. The other, a well known socialite who is an heiress to an upscale hotel chain.
JODY KEENER: HE'S ONLY MEAN WHEN HE DRINKS
I have a friend here in Portland, Oregon by the name of Jody Lance Keener. He's a couple years younger than myself, but in some respects, may be mistaken for being slightly older. The reason so is because he constantly drinks to excess. Two incidents over the last year may have sealed his fate- or rather, one particular incident which I'll touch base on in a moment.
Last summer, Jody was hospitalized for liver problems, I think (I'll have to ask him again). He almost died. And it probably would have been better had he met his maker than to have done what I'll talk about next.
Last November or December, Jody was drunk- as usual. Now, he may growl a bit, get a little boisterous, but usually not harm anyone physically.
This particular night was different.
Now to set up this story, I must mention this place called the Julia West House. JWH is an outreach arm of the First Presbyterian Church here in Portland, and is the home of Operation: Daywatch and Operation: Nightwatch. Both offer hospitality for the homeless and poor, and operates about six days a week (Daywatch Monday- Wednesday, and Friday; and Nightwatch on Thursday- Saturday). Nightwatch also does monthly outings to places around Oregon and Southwest Washington. Until this incident, Jody would hang with myself and others, and would benefit from the services both Daywatch and Nightwatch would offer. A woman by the name of Sarah* is the director of Nightwatch, and she's a very spiritual woman- she doesn't watch TV, hardly keeps up with current events. In other words, her own private Mayberry, if you will.
But one night- a Friday, in fact- last November or December (I forgot exactly when), Jody was drunk- again, as usual. Jody got out of control- as he's apt to do sometimes- and from that point, things got very ugly.
Sarah tried to get Jody under control, even him ordered to leave.
Jody struck Sarah in the face, then ran out of JWH to Southwest 13th.
About two weeks later, he was arrested and charged.
Recently, he pled no contest to assault in the fourth degree, a Class A misdemeanor (reference: http://www.leg/state.or.us/99orlaws/sess1000.dir/1073ses.html ). Jody's facing a year in lockup, but Sarah may ask for more. I don't know.
Jody's sentencing is next Monday at the Multnomah County Courthouse or the Multnomah County Justice Center. I may attend the hearing. If so, I'll give you the closing details on Jody.
PARIS, PARIS, PARIS! SHE'S ONLY RACIST AND HOMOPHOBIC WHEN SHE DRINKS: Paris Hilton. What hasn't that bitch done? Parties like there's no tomorrow; doesn't wear underwear (why am I not around when she's sans underwear? Damn!). Drives drunk. She probably ate her chihuahua Tinkerbell in one of her all night benders (I pray for little Bit Bit).
Well, true believers, while acts of jackassery from Paris may not be so unusual, the following may keep the African-American and gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender communities away from the Hilton family of Hotels for quite awhile.
On the Black America Web and Eurweb websites, there exists a story on Ms. Hilton- and her slightly saner younger sisiter Nicky- attending a house party. The incident was videotaped by a partygoer. In the tape, both sisters allegedly called a male dancer a "faggot". Then, about 3 minutes into this video, Paris approaches the camera and says "We're like two niggers," as she laughs. Obviously, that'll do wonders for that recently rekindled friendship with Nicole Ritchie.
Then at about 3:55 (three minutes, fifty-five seconds), she vents about a run-in with a woman at a party. She refers the woman as a "fuckin' hoodlum, broke, poor bitch from, like, Compton..."
Click on the title for the full story. (Note: the video was removed from YouTube due to terms of use violation).
Sure, we must forgive both parties for their actions, but both must realize that they are accountable for their actions. Jody Keener says he doesn't remember that night when he struck Sarah- and it's very possible that he blacked out when he struck her. And when people who are chemically dependent are blacked out, they oftentimes don't remember what happened. Still, it's no excuse what he did last fall. As for Paris, she's young, sure, and her partying habits have been known for sometime. I can't exactly let her off the hook for uttering racist and homophobic language, but considering her crazy little shenanigans, none of us should be even surprised. After all, she'll likely apologize, say that she was drunk, and go into rehab- only to go on her next bender next weekend.
What would we expect from a bratty, helium-voiced upscale hotel heiress?
*not her real name. The name has been given an alias to protect the identity of the woman.
Copyright 2007, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.
JODY KEENER: HE'S ONLY MEAN WHEN HE DRINKS
I have a friend here in Portland, Oregon by the name of Jody Lance Keener. He's a couple years younger than myself, but in some respects, may be mistaken for being slightly older. The reason so is because he constantly drinks to excess. Two incidents over the last year may have sealed his fate- or rather, one particular incident which I'll touch base on in a moment.
Last summer, Jody was hospitalized for liver problems, I think (I'll have to ask him again). He almost died. And it probably would have been better had he met his maker than to have done what I'll talk about next.
Last November or December, Jody was drunk- as usual. Now, he may growl a bit, get a little boisterous, but usually not harm anyone physically.
This particular night was different.
Now to set up this story, I must mention this place called the Julia West House. JWH is an outreach arm of the First Presbyterian Church here in Portland, and is the home of Operation: Daywatch and Operation: Nightwatch. Both offer hospitality for the homeless and poor, and operates about six days a week (Daywatch Monday- Wednesday, and Friday; and Nightwatch on Thursday- Saturday). Nightwatch also does monthly outings to places around Oregon and Southwest Washington. Until this incident, Jody would hang with myself and others, and would benefit from the services both Daywatch and Nightwatch would offer. A woman by the name of Sarah* is the director of Nightwatch, and she's a very spiritual woman- she doesn't watch TV, hardly keeps up with current events. In other words, her own private Mayberry, if you will.
But one night- a Friday, in fact- last November or December (I forgot exactly when), Jody was drunk- again, as usual. Jody got out of control- as he's apt to do sometimes- and from that point, things got very ugly.
Sarah tried to get Jody under control, even him ordered to leave.
Jody struck Sarah in the face, then ran out of JWH to Southwest 13th.
About two weeks later, he was arrested and charged.
Recently, he pled no contest to assault in the fourth degree, a Class A misdemeanor (reference: http://www.leg/state.or.us/99orlaws/sess1000.dir/1073ses.html ). Jody's facing a year in lockup, but Sarah may ask for more. I don't know.
Jody's sentencing is next Monday at the Multnomah County Courthouse or the Multnomah County Justice Center. I may attend the hearing. If so, I'll give you the closing details on Jody.
PARIS, PARIS, PARIS! SHE'S ONLY RACIST AND HOMOPHOBIC WHEN SHE DRINKS: Paris Hilton. What hasn't that bitch done? Parties like there's no tomorrow; doesn't wear underwear (why am I not around when she's sans underwear? Damn!). Drives drunk. She probably ate her chihuahua Tinkerbell in one of her all night benders (I pray for little Bit Bit).
Well, true believers, while acts of jackassery from Paris may not be so unusual, the following may keep the African-American and gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender communities away from the Hilton family of Hotels for quite awhile.
On the Black America Web and Eurweb websites, there exists a story on Ms. Hilton- and her slightly saner younger sisiter Nicky- attending a house party. The incident was videotaped by a partygoer. In the tape, both sisters allegedly called a male dancer a "faggot". Then, about 3 minutes into this video, Paris approaches the camera and says "We're like two niggers," as she laughs. Obviously, that'll do wonders for that recently rekindled friendship with Nicole Ritchie.
Then at about 3:55 (three minutes, fifty-five seconds), she vents about a run-in with a woman at a party. She refers the woman as a "fuckin' hoodlum, broke, poor bitch from, like, Compton..."
Click on the title for the full story. (Note: the video was removed from YouTube due to terms of use violation).
Sure, we must forgive both parties for their actions, but both must realize that they are accountable for their actions. Jody Keener says he doesn't remember that night when he struck Sarah- and it's very possible that he blacked out when he struck her. And when people who are chemically dependent are blacked out, they oftentimes don't remember what happened. Still, it's no excuse what he did last fall. As for Paris, she's young, sure, and her partying habits have been known for sometime. I can't exactly let her off the hook for uttering racist and homophobic language, but considering her crazy little shenanigans, none of us should be even surprised. After all, she'll likely apologize, say that she was drunk, and go into rehab- only to go on her next bender next weekend.
What would we expect from a bratty, helium-voiced upscale hotel heiress?
*not her real name. The name has been given an alias to protect the identity of the woman.
Copyright 2007, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.
Friday, February 02, 2007
California, No Doubt About It!
May 1, 2007.
It's au revoir, Portland, hello, Los Angeles.
The decision's been made, and I'm sticking with it. After ten years of living in Moscow on the Willamette (Stumptown; Raintown; etc), it's time for me to move on. IN advance, I want to thank everyone who have made my stay the best that it's been. Through the good times, the bad...the ugly, even, it's been one hell of a ride.
It's not a complete goodbye to Portland, but since I seek to work in the (entertainment) industry, it's a must that I move to Los Angeles.
I'm doing house hunting now- I'm looking at Santa Monica as the primary residence. By summer- definitely by my birthday (July 31)- I'll have a new home, definitely a car, SUV in the driveway, and will have taken -at least informal- filmmaking/digital filmmaking classes. How's that for a fortieth birthday present?
No doubt, the surroundings will be different, a bit faster paced. I'm preparing for this life at the speed of meteors by doing many things. I'll talk about this over the coming days and months.
Copyright 2007, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.
It's au revoir, Portland, hello, Los Angeles.
The decision's been made, and I'm sticking with it. After ten years of living in Moscow on the Willamette (Stumptown; Raintown; etc), it's time for me to move on. IN advance, I want to thank everyone who have made my stay the best that it's been. Through the good times, the bad...the ugly, even, it's been one hell of a ride.
It's not a complete goodbye to Portland, but since I seek to work in the (entertainment) industry, it's a must that I move to Los Angeles.
I'm doing house hunting now- I'm looking at Santa Monica as the primary residence. By summer- definitely by my birthday (July 31)- I'll have a new home, definitely a car, SUV in the driveway, and will have taken -at least informal- filmmaking/digital filmmaking classes. How's that for a fortieth birthday present?
No doubt, the surroundings will be different, a bit faster paced. I'm preparing for this life at the speed of meteors by doing many things. I'll talk about this over the coming days and months.
Copyright 2007, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.
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