you said Dix

Army investigates nude photos at Fort Dix

20 hours ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Army says it's investigating allegations that eight male soldiers took pictures and video of as many as 21 female soldiers in their unit showering at Fort Dix.

The photos were allegedly taken last fall, before the 266th Military Police Company of the Virginia Army National Guard shipped out to Iraq in December.

Lt. Col. Christopher Garver said Friday the Army is conducting a criminal investigation and that no charges have been filed.

Fort Dix spokeswoman Carolee Nisbet says the allegations are disappointing. She said most soldiers who train at the New Jersey installation before being deployed "live up to the Army values."

The 266th is now serving in Basra.

wow

The 58-year-old former Marine now finds himself under attack by his Dallas homeowners association for displaying seven decals on his vehicle supporting the Marine Corps.

future leader

Aloha man calls 9-1-1 over botched fast-food order

by John Snell, The Oregonian

Wednesday May 27, 2009, 3:30 PM

Raibin Raof Osman

ALOHA - For most folks it's not a dilemma. Given a choice between "a day without sunshine" and a day without jail time, most people will skip the orange juice and stay out of jail.

But Raibin Raof Osman isn't most people. The 20-year-old Aloha man had a sleep-over at the Washington County Jail on Memorial Day after calling 9-1-1 to complain that McDonald's left out a box of orange juice from his drive-thru order.

Osman was booked Monday night on accusations of improper use of 9-1-1. He bailed out Tuesday. The offense is a Class B misdemeanor punishable in Oregon by up to six months in jail and a fine of $2,500.

wow

Debbie McLucas is one of four hospital supervisors at Kindred Hospital in Mansfield. Last week, she hung a three-by-five foot American flag in the office she shares with the other supervisors. 

When McLucas came to work Friday, her boss told her another supervisor had found her flag offensive. "I was just totally speechless. I was like, 'You're kidding me,'" McLucas said. 

McLucas' husband and sons are former military men. Her daughter is currently serving in Iraq as a combat medic. 

Stifling a cry, McLucas said, "I just wonder if all those young men and women over there are really doing this for nothing." 

McLucas said the supervisor who complained has been in the United States for 14 years and is formerly from Africa. McLucas said the supervisor took down Debbie's flag herself. 

"The flag and the pole had been placed on the floor," McLucas said. But McLucas also said hospital higher ups had told her some patients' families and visitors had also complained. 

"I was told it wouldn't matter if it was only one person," she said. "It would have to come down." 

McLucas said hospital bosses told her as far as patriotism was concerned, the flag flying outside the hospital building would have to suffice. 

Kindred Hospital Corporate Headquarters are located in Kentucky. They have yet to make a final decision on the matter. They have not returned our phone calls for comment. 

The Kindred Hospital Corporation was chosen as Fortune's most admired for 2009. McLucas hopes they'll back her patriotism. 

"I find it very frightening because if I can't display my flag, what other freedoms will I lose before all is said and done," McLucas asked

not free

"Turns out those dumb commercials, that sing 'bout credit reports for free,
Are really full of crap and charge a 15 dollar fee,
The government took notice, and just passed a brand new bill,
Which stops those lying companies from lying to you still."

red bull

About a year ago, the makers of Red Bull, the famous caffeine-loaded energy drink, decided to come out with a soda, unsurprisingly named Red Bull Cola. The shared name implied the same big kick. But could the cola's boost — supposedly "100% natural" — come from something else? Officials in Germany worry that they've found the answer — cocaine. And now they have prohibited the soda's sale in six states across the country and may recommend a nation-wide ban.

alec

MANILA, Philippines (AP) - Actor Alec Baldwin's joke about getting a Filipino mail-order bride provoked a sharp response in the Philippines, with one senator saying Monday that the "30 Rock" star faces violence if he ever visits.

Baldwin, 51, who is divorced with a teenage daughter, said in a May 12 interview on "The Late Show" with David Letterman that he would love to have more children.

The Emmy-winning actor quipped that he was "thinking about getting a Filipino mail-order bride at this point ... or a Russian one."

Baldwin has been involved in a bitter dispute with his ex-wife, Oscar-winning actress Kim Basinger, over custody of their 13-year-old daughter, Ireland.

Philippine Sen. Ramon Revilla said Monday that Baldwin's comment was "insensitive and uncalled for" and an insult to millions of Filipinos.

He called the actor is "arrogant" and said he is apparently unaware that the Philippines has a law against mail-order brides.

"Let him try to come here in the Philippines and he'll see mayhem," Revilla said, using a local idiom that implies the speaker will personally administer a beating.

The senator himself is a former action-movie star who occasionally still appears on Philippine TV.

oc

Open Mic Comedy Night. Every Thursday Night at Lucky Strike, The Block of Orange. You can win a spot on our Main show and perform with comics from BET and Comedy Central. Starts at 830pm before our main show. Please sign up in advance @ Edwinb33@aol.com

jack meoff

It's unusual for a fullback in the NFL to grab headlines, but when he's accused of masturbating outside of some random woman's home -- that usually does the trick. 

Cops arrested Corey McIntyre -- a fullback on theBuffalo Bills -- after a 59-year-old Florida woman claims back in March she heard a muscular black man with dreadlocks banging on the window ... while banging on himself. 

When cops asked if the mysterious whack job was Corey -- a muscular black man with dreadlocks who happened to be in the area at the time -- the woman said, "That's him."

But yesterday, McIntyre was arrested and booked on one misdemeanor count of exposure of sexual organs. He was released on $10,000 bail. 

cheers

John Ratzenberger has filed for a restraining order against his 45-year-old ex girlfriend -- claiming she's capable of violence because she listens to country music. 

The former "Cheers" star laid it all out in legal papers filed today in L.A. County Superior Court, saying his ex "indicated that it is common in many country western songs for women to set the cars of their former boyfriends on fire."

He continues, "That statement insinuates that she may have the capacity to perpetuate this act or similar violent conduct."

Ratz also claims he is "deeply disturbed by the harrassing and intimidating phone calls, emails and text messages."

John also accuses his ex of contacting his friends, family and business associates and making "false and defamatory statements" about him.

the office

Craig Robinson, one of the stars of "The Office," got a gold star today from the judge in his drug case. The headline -- his felony drug conviction will be dismissed.

Robinson was busted in 2008. Cops say he had meth and ecstasy in his car and coke in his system. His lawyer, Blair Berk, says he was busted for driving "while large and Black."

The judge today was impressed Robinson completed his drug ed class, so the felony charge will be dismissed next February.

$$$$

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY -- Millions of Americans on Social Security are receiving $250 checks as part of the president's stimulus plan -- including an Anne Arundel woman who died more than 40 years ago.

The woman's son, 83-year-old James Hagner, said he got the surprise when he checked his mailbox late last week.

"It shocked me and I laughed all at the same time," Hagner said. "I don't even expect to get one my own self, and I get one for my mother for 43 years ago?"

Rivers

- She's been a comedian, talk-show host and feared red carpet fashion critic. Now you can add winner of "The Celebrity Apprentice" to Joan Rivers' lengthy resume.

Donald Trump and Joan Rivers attend "The Celebrity Apprentice" season finale Sunday in New York.

After weeks of competition, the 75-year-old dynamo beat out 15 other contestants, including Dennis Rodman, Tom Green and Brian McKnight, to take the top spot in this season's edition of the reality show hosted by Donald Trump.

Rivers went up against poker champion Annie Duke in Sunday night's finale in which both women were charged with planning a VIP party and silent auction for the last and deciding task.

"They're both tough, they're both smart and they both hate each other," Trump observed at the beginning of the show.

The apparent tension between Rivers and Duke continued in the final boardroom, part of which played out in front of a live audience, with both finalists bickering and interrupting each other repeatedly as Trump looked on.

In the end, Duke raised far more money at her event, but Rivers was able to attract more celebrities and provide a better overall experience for the guests at her party, and Trump declared her the winner of the competition.

"Your level of energy has been amazing," he told Rivers.

Joan Rivers on 'King'

Joan Rivers joins CNN's Larry King to talk about her "Celebrity Apprentice" win.
Tonight, 9 p.m. ET

see full schedule »

The victory means $250,000 for Rivers' charity: God's Love We Deliver.

If the series thrives on conflict, it got plenty of mileage out of Rivers. She blew up at country singer Clint Black, referred to another contestant as a "stupid blonde" and smashed a champagne glass out of frustration at one point.

But Rivers seemed to be especially infuriated by Duke, calling her a "despicable human being" -- the tamest of the insults she hurled in Duke's direction over the course of the series.

Rivers even walked out in a huff after her daughter, and fellow contestant, Melissa was fired from the show. The exit, complete with bleeped obscenities, was turned into a cliffhanger of sorts when it seemed like Rivers might not come back, but she returned to the show for the next task.

You might think a show that's best known for the phrase "You're fired" might not do so well in a bad economy when thousands of people have heard similar words for real at their workplaces, but the series averaged more than 8 million viewers a week, according to Entertainment Weekly. EW: Did the right one win?

Revived formula

"The Apprentice" made a splash when it debuted in 2004, making a reality television star out of Trump and contestants such as Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth. For several seasons, the series took ambitious young mogul wannabes, divided them into teams and had them compete in tasks that ranged from selling lemonade to creating advertising campaigns for major corporations.

Don't Miss

• Trump: Be bold and buy real estate now

The contestants vied for the chance to run one of Trump's companies for a year, and Trump fired someone from the losing team each week until he selected an apprentice. Over the years, ratings for the show gradually declined, but the formula was revived in early 2008 with the first season of "The Celebrity Apprentice."

The tasks, pressure-cooker atmosphere and boardroom bickering stayed the same, but the competition now featured contestants with varying degrees of fame and focused on raising money for charity.

The first "Celebrity Apprentice" top spot went to Piers Morgan, the prickly judge on "Britain's Got Talent" who made news this spring when he invited singing sensation Susan Boyle to dinner after her memorable performance on the show.

Morgan also made several appearances on this season's "Apprentice," sitting in as Trump's "eyes and ears" during one episode and interviewing the final four candidates in another.

Morgan's aggressive questioning seemed to annoy the celebrities, especially Jesse James, who glared icily at Morgan when he kept asking him why he did not turn to his wife, Sandra Bullock, for help in raising money during the various tasks.

Perhaps Bullock might be tempted to try competing on the show herself.

Liquid Zoo

The Liquid Zoo open mic is back open Monday nights, We have put up a stage and have a show room so the Zoo has changed! Join producers Joey Gold and Billy Batz, Sign up is at 9pm 


The Liquid Zoo
7214 Sepulveda Blvd
Van Nuys CA

bringers

Bringer shows, this is a topic that comics argue for and against nearly every night in this town. I'm opening this thread to see what the overwhelming consensus is with seemingly necessary evil. 

First of all, I understand the reason for bringer shows, and I sympathize with promoters and bar owners in this town but I have a major problem when it comes to the comedy clubs. Comedy clubs should be held responsible for packing their own rooms. Just as restaurants don't make the chefs find the patrons, comedy clubs shouldn't be asking the comics to find their own audience. I agree that comics should promote their own show, but this Pimp and Whore mentality of the clubs in this town is completely unacceptable. The talent pool has become greatly diluted in this town because anyone that can get ten people to show up will get stage time while a seasoned grinder has to continue to hump the open mics in the hope of getting a break. If the clubs did away with bringer rooms, stage time would become more scarce and more valuable, but it also would become higher quality.

Comedy clubs are taking advantage of the dreams of comics. Currently there is a post on this site (no offense to the poster) for a spot in a show for the low, low, price of $100 dollars. This is ridiculous! Comedy clubs are trying to eliminate their own risk, under the guise of "you can sell the tickets for you OWN profit!". The behavior of clubs profiting off the comics and not the crowds is one of the main reasons that stand up comedy is in the state it is in today. The average weeknight bringer show in one of the established LA clubs is a painful two hour hodgepodge of first timers and friends of the club. Anyone who's spent anytime in comedy can recall playing a room where the entire audience is restlessly waiting for THEIR friend to get up and try out his 3 minute set of knock knock jokes and bad impressions. And the moment that comic leaves the stage the audience hits the door leaving the rest of the comics on the list doing their sets empty chairs and waitresses. 

My mission in dropping this note was not to *censored* and moan about not getting booked, but rather I'd like to know the opinions of other LA comics. When I speak face to face with comics their seems to be a sense of solidarity, but the bringer shows keep becoming more and more popular. My opinion is just say no, to bringers.
What's your opinion LA?

Matthew Sager

Ron White

They used to call him Tater Salad, but in North Dakota comedian Ron White now goes by another name -- suspect. 

It's all over something White did with his cigar during a show in Bismarck -- he lit it. Apparently the city has an ordinance against smoking in public places, and when some 55-year-old spoiler of fun tipped off the cops about White's routine, they decided to investigate.

According to the Bismark Tribune, a plain clothed officer rolled over to one of White's shows to document the alleged law-breaking. The report says White took all of three puffs during the show. 

Now, the cops have turned the report over to the city attorney, who will decide whether they want to pursue the case. 

White faces a $500 fine -- which he could probably just rustle up from underneath his couch cushions. 

dad

Todd Marcum, 41, said he did it "because he thought it was funny," Salem Police Lt. Dave Okada said.

The four children, ages 3, 6, 8 and 9, had been shocked while wearing the collar at least once, according to a statement from their father, Okada said.

Marcum told police that he would chase the 3-year-old boy around with the collar, making him cry at the thought of being shocked. Okada said that because of the boy's behavior, it is likely that the children were shocked more than once.

Oregon Department of Human Services workers on Tuesday summoned police to Marcum's Salem home.

Marcum was taken into custody on four charges of first-degree criminal mistreatment. He is in the Marion County jail.

The four children were left in the custody of their mother, Okada said. The case has been handed over to DHS.

Dog shock collars are used in training and to control barking, said John Seroczynski, the national sales manager for D.T. Systems.

The Dallas, Texas, company manufactures the electronic collars.

some cocks in his pants

Smuggler's Plot For The Birds

Two charged with illegal import of Asian magpies, robins, bul-buls

MAY 5--Two California men were indicted today on federal charges that they illegally smuggled Asian songbirds into the country, most recently last month when one of the defendants, returning from a trip to Vietnam, was found with 14 live birds strapped to his legs. As seen in the below evidence photo, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents at Los Angeles International Airport discovered the birds under the pants of Sony Dong. According to aDepartment of Justice press release, CBP agents inspected Dong and "found bird feathers and droppings on his socks, as well as birds' tail feathers visible under his pants." A subsequent search "discovered 14 live birds attached to two flat pieces of cloth that were wrapped around his calves. The birds included three red-whiskered bul-buls (which is listed as an injurious species under federal law), four magpie robins and six shama thrush." The birds each appear to have been placed in sleeves that were hooked on to the cloth around Dong's legs. A second man, Duc Le, 34, was later arrested in connection with the bird smuggling. According to a criminal complaint, Dong told investigators that he purchased birds for $50 each and re-sold them for $300-$400 apiece. (3 pages)

RIP

We've just learned that Dom DeLuise -- who starred in such classics as "The Cannonball Run" and "Blazing Saddles" and was the voice of Pizza the Hutt in "Spaceballs" -- died last night in a Los Angeles hospital.

We're told he passed away peacefully in his sleep at around 6 PM.

He was 75. 

robert

Comedian Robert Schimmel arrested in assault case

May 3, 2009, 12:24 PM EST

CALABASAS, Calif. (AP) -- Standup comic Robert Schimmel has been arrested on suspicion of beating his wife.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Sgt. Jay Royal says the 59-year-old comedian was taken into custody early Saturday after an alleged fight at his home in Calabasas.

Schimmel was booked in the county jail for investigation of spousal assault. He was later released on $50,000 bail.

A call seeking comment from Schimmel's agent was not immediately returned.

The comedian has been a frequent guest on Conan O'Brien's TV show and on Howard Stern's radio program. His 2008 memoir "Cancer on $5 a Day" chronicles his battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The mother of New York Yankee pitcher Joba Chamberlain has been arrested for allegedly slinging hardcore drugs to an undercover cop.

Jacqueline Standley was popped at her Lincoln, Neb. apartment on Saturday night after allegedly selling ".6 gram of methamphetamine in a plastic bag" to a cop for $110 back in February. 

Once toxicology reports came back from the lab, Standley was arrested and charged with delivery of an exceptionally hazardous drug -- a felony -- and bond was set at $5000.

Just last month Joba was sentenced to nine months probation after pleading guilty to DUI.

Like mother, like son.

Comedian Robert Schimmel arrested in assault case

1 day ago

CALABASAS, Calif. (AP) — Standup comic Robert Schimmel has been arrested on suspicion of beating his wife.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Sgt. Jay Royal says the 59-year-old comedian was taken into custody early Saturday after an alleged fight at his home in Calabasas.

Schimmel was booked in the county jail for investigation of spousal assault. He was later released on $50,000 bail.

A call seeking comment from Schimmel's agent was not immediately returned.

The comedian has been a frequent guest on Conan O'Brien's TV show and on Howard Stern's radio program. His 2008 memoir "Cancer on $5 a Day" chronicles his battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

but we cant get a budget right?

SACRAMENTO—The state Assembly will consider a bill as early as Thursday that would require state prison officials to issue marijuana to gay and transsexual inmates. The bill by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, is supported by gay rights groups that cite studies showing that homosexual, bisexual or transgender inmates like to smoke pot before having sex with other inmates. It has cleared two committees with little opposition.

DANNY

Danny Gans Dies

Posted May 1st 2009 10:36AM by TMZ Staff

Danny Gans died early this morning, after a family member called 911 to say Danny was having trouble breathing. By the time paramedics arrived, he was dead.

A ticket rep at Steve Wynn's Encore hotel tells us they just got the call and the entire staff is "shocked and upset."

Gans is a legend in Las Vegas -- the self described "musical impressionist" signed a $150 million contract in 2000. 

We're told Gans died at 3:00 AM at his home in Vegas. There are reports his wife discovered his body and called for help. 

Gans was named "Las Vegas Entertainer of the Year" a record 11-times in a row. He did not perform last night.

Besides being a gifted entertainer, Gans was a pretty good athlete -- in fact, he was drafted by the KC Royals out of high school and played minor league ball.

UPDATE: TMZ has learned a 911 call was made by a family member at 3:44 AM for a 52-year-old man who was "having trouble breathing." By the time medics arrived, Gans had already passed away. 

 Swedish man and a Singaporean woman have been fined for strolling naked through a busy upscale bar and restaurant area for a stunt after a few drinks, local media reported Friday.

Jan Philip, 21, an exchange student with a local university, and Eng Kai Er, a 24-year-old Singaporean studying in Sweden, were each fined 2,000 Singapore dollars (1,300 US) for committing an obscene act, the Straits Times said.