Pamela Anderson splits with Kid Rock over Borat?
No… It’s not what you think. Pamela didn’t leave Kid Rock for Borat. After seeing him in that green unitard-g-string outfit, I personally don’t think he’ll get laid ever again…
Here’s the story…
Just when you thought it couldn't get any weirder, The New York Post is reporting that Pamela Anderson has split with Kid Rock over Borat?
While "male insecurity and major anger issues" were cited as primary issues, the final straw was a bellicose blowup Rock threw at Universal Studio chief Ron Meyer's Beverly Hills house two weeks ago.
"Ron Meyer held a screening of 'Borat' at his house for a bunch of people, including Pam and Bob," says an Anderson pal. "It was the first time Bob had seen the movie, and, well, he didn't like it."
Her friend tells Page Six, "Bob started screaming at Pam, saying she had humiliated herself and telling her, 'You're nothing but a whore! You're a slut! How could you do that movie?' - in front of everyone. It was very embarrassing.
"Pam thought he could have a sense of humor about the movie. She was in on the gag from the very beginning and loved doing the movie. And on the eve of what was supposed to be a very positive thing, he made it an awful night.
"Ever since that night, it has been icicles between them," the friend relates. "Bob is just a very unhappy and angry man. Pam is very disenchanted and sad. You know, there are reasons why she never married him before. Those reasons disappeared while they were together on a boat in St. Tropez, but she knows now that they never went away. The reality is he is an insecure, angry man."
Source:
Gambling911
Xmas Shopping Season kicks off with a bang
Black Friday sales up 6 percent from last year, national retailers report
NEW YORK - Retailers got what they wanted over the Thanksgiving weekend — a strong start to the 2006 holiday shopping season as consumers crowded stores in search of huge discounts on flat-screen TVs and other hot merchandise.
Stores and malls that opened as early as midnight on Friday drew a bigger-than-expected turnout, and robust sales for the first day of the season offset slower business as the weekend wore on, according to early reports.
The biggest winners appeared to be electronics chains such as Best Buy Co. Inc. and popular-priced department stores including J.C. Penney Co., which pulled in shoppers with good deals. Yet Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which promised the most aggressive discounting ever, was an exception, announcing Saturday that same-store sales for November will be slightly below its already lackluster forecast. Wal-Mart has struggled for months to appeal to both higher-income shoppers and low-price fans.
Online SalesEBay Inc. had the most Web traffic on Black Friday, one of retail’s busiest days, with 7.5 million unique visitors, according to the data.
Amazon.com was in second place, with 3.4 million unique visitors, followed by Wal-Mart Stores Inc. with 3.2 million. There is no way to determine what percentage of Internet users are actually making Web purchases.
The search for Mattel’s T.M.X. Elmo, this season’s most popular and hard-to-find toy, drove much of that online traffic in advance of Cyber Monday, the unofficial start of the online holiday shopping season.
EBay reported that 2,537 T.M.X. Elmos were sold Friday for an average price of $70.10. The toy retails at Wal-Mart for $39.97 and can be found on Shopping.com for as much as $150.
Other popular items on eBay included Sony’s PlayStation 3 — 14,675 have been sold on eBay for an average price of $1,186.39 from Nov. 17 to Nov. 24 — and the Nintendo Wii. Since that product debuted on Nov. 19, 26,708 have been sold for an average price of $412.53.
Read more
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here
10 survival tips for “Black Friday”
I guess it depends on what type of person you are. Some people love the mad frenzy of the-day-after-Thanksgiving shopping and hunting for bargains. Others would rather die than set foot close to the shops on Black Friday.
Whichever you are,
MSNBChas been so kind as to give us all tips on how to get through the ordeal, relatively unscathed and semi-sane.
1. It’s OK to do nothing. In fact, if you steer clear of stores entirely that day, you’ll have plenty of company. Many people shun most forms of shopping for the entire weekend, either because they can’t stand crowds or they’re turned off by the notion of people shopping from pre-dawn 'til after dark. Each year on Nov. 25, the funny and incisive Adbusters Magazine sponsors “Buy Nothing Day” in countries all over the globe. The 24-hour event is billed as a “festival of restraint.”
2. You can always shop on the Internet. Stop and think of the myriad benefits: no crowds, no lines, no need to change out of your pajamas. What’s more, many online retailers offer sales and special discounts on the Friday after Thanksgiving — and sometimes those sales kick in at midnight on the night before Black Friday. It might be a weird way to spend the wee hours of the morning, but you’re guaranteed not to get scratched, kicked or trampled.
3. If you must brave the crowds, be prepared. You’re really going to head out there? Then this isn’t a time for messing around. This is a time for strategizing! Get the Thanksgiving Day newspaper in your area and flip through all of those ads. You might be surprised to notice how many of the ads are time-sensitive — as in, deeper discounts may apply if you shop before 10 or 11 a.m. or noon. Other ads will let you know what time certain stores plan to open and close.
4. Be a savvy shopper. You can rise above the Friday fray by doing some homework in advance about products that really interest you this year – especially if they’re big-ticket items. Visit sites such as ConsumerReports.org — (if you don’t have a subscription, get one … it’s worth it!) —and About.com to gather intelligence and read product reviews before the big day.
5. Distinguish between deals and duds. To ensure you’ll be getting an actual bargain rather than a ho-hum or too-high price, visit Web sites such as BizRate.com, Shopping.com and PriceGrabber.com as you’re doing your research to get a sense of how much items should cost.
6. Decide how early you’ll arrive, and plan accordingly. Can’t resist the urge to stand in line in the dark before your favorite store opens at 5 a.m.? Then remember to dress comfortably — warmly enough for the time you’ll spend outside, but with layers so you won’t collapse from heat stroke inside stuffy, crowded stores. Comfortable shoes are a must, and so are portable snacks and drinks. They’ll prevent you from having to endure low blood-sugar levels, dehydration or congested food courts.
7. Make friends with people in line. A spirit of camaraderie will not only make the long, dark wait more pleasant — it also could prove to be a godsend if you must give up your place in line so you can run to the bathroom. You could offer to hold a place in line for your newfound friend in return. Here’s a potential conversation starter for you: The term Black Friday comes from the idea that retailers spend most of the year in “red ink.” The day after Thanksgiving helps them begin to get back “in the black.”
8. Pick the right shopping buddy. Unless you want to bicker and feel frustrated all day, think hard about who would get into the spirit of a shopping day like this. As Yuri Baranovsky wrote in a hilarious survival guide to Black Friday, “Taking your lover is like taking a walking argument – just don’t.” It also might be wise to leave your kids at home.
Tips courtesy of
MSNBC
Best Thanksgiving movies
For me, Thanksgiving is all about getting stuffed (first the turkey, and then me FROM the turkey). Combine this with copious amounts of alcohol, some good online poker and lots of movie favorites, and you have my perfect Thanksgiving Day.
Here’s some Thanksgiving-themed movies to get you in the spirit…
1) “Home for the Holidays” If you think you've got family issues, then "Home for the Holidays" is exactly the sort of movie you should be able to relate to. Jodie Foster directs Holly Hunter in this biting comedy, which also stars Dylan McDermot, Robert Downey Jr., and Anne Bancroft. Gay marriage, sex with a much older boss, a teen daughter who may be losing her virginity over Thanksgiving, and a bizarre aunt who's in love with her sister's husband - "Home for the Holidays" has a little something for everyone.
2) “Pieces of April” Katie Holmes transitions from teen characters to a young woman on her own in "Pieces of April," the directorial debut of Peter Hedges. As April, Holmes wants to create the perfect Thanksgiving dinner for her estranged mother and the rest of her family. But with an oven that doesn't work, and a boyfriend who's jumped by thugs, April's perfect day seems to be turning out to be everything she hoped it wouldn't become.
3) “Planes, Trains, & Automobiles” This 1987 comedy stars Steve Martin and John Candy and is one of those movies that should be checked out at least once a year. Neal (Martin) just wants to make it home in time to spend the holidays with his family. With weather and the transportation system conspiring to keep him from reaching his loved ones, Neal finds himself stuck with a hyper-talkative shower curtain ring salesman (Candy).
4) “The Ice Storm” Simply an amazing film from director Ang Lee (I believe it's his best work to date), "The Ice Storm" is the tragic tale of middle class couples dealing with relationship problems and sexual infidelities. Definitely not for viewing when you're looking for lighter fare, "The Ice Storm" is a deeply moving, insightful look at middle America in the 1970s.
5) “The Myth of Fingerprints” Bart Freundlich directs Julianne Moore, Michael Vartan, Noah Wyle, Hope Davis, and Roy Scheider in this 1997 family drama. "The Myth of Fingerprints" follows four siblings who return to their parents' home for Thanksgiving weekend, knowing the time spent in each other's company is going to be brutally harsh.
6) “Hannah and her Sisters” Woody Allen's 1986 drama about three sisters is one of his very best. The film's set piece is Thanksgiving, where Hannah's (Mia Farrow) clan gathers together in a tremendous Central Park West apartment for the holiday celebration. The black maid polishes the silver, Mia's mother drinks too much and plays the piano, hearts are broken and mended in startling ways. Barbara Hershey, Michael Caine, Diane Wiest, Carrie Fisher, and Woody Allen also star.
7) “The House of Yes” Indie film's first reigning queen Parker Posey won a Special Recognition award at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival for her all-out eccentric performance as Jackie-O. Mentally deranged but charming in her pill box hats, Parker flies into a menacing jealous rage when her adored older brother (Josh Hamilton) brings home a girlfriend (Tori Spelling) for Thanksgiving.
8) “Mighty Joe Young” What has this got to do with Thanksgiving? Nothing, except for the fact that Ernest B. Schoedsack 1949 classic film about a beautiful young woman (Terry Moore) and her beloved ape used to play every year on turkey day, and the two are forever linked in my mind. The film was remade in 1998 with Charlize Theron, but it's essential you view the original.
9) “Miracle on 34th Street” What is Thanksgiving for, if not to get hyped up about the coming of Christmas? Nowhere is that more joyously clear than in the 1947 classic "Miracle on 34th Street," starring Mareen O'Hara, John Payne and the super adorable, six-year-old Natalie Wood. The film starts at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and heads straight into the venerable department store. Let the shopping begin!
Source:
Worldfilm.comAbout.com
Is it a credit card? NO! It's a map....
Love New York, hate getting lost? Tired of looking like a confused tourist frantically paging through 5 different map books?
Relax, now you can ride the subway without getting lost thanks to the ultra-chic New York Subway Credit Card Map.
Ideal for locals, commuters and tourists who don't know their Broadways from their Bleeckers, the incredibly detailed Credit Card Map will help you negotiate the various lines of Manhattan's extensive subway network.
New York Subway Credit Card MapUnlike clumsy fold-out maps, this sleek credit card-like map sits unobtrusively in your wallet or purse.
Source:
Firebox.com[Via]
Online gambling sites see increased traffic since law passed
Following the passage of the "Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act" one would have expected an inevitable drop in traffic directing to online gambling sites from the US.
Quite the opposite has occurred however.
A report filed by the London Inquirer says that ScanSafe has observed a 40 per cent increase in US-based requests for online gambling sites, even after legislation was passed.
Read more:
Gambling911
A glimmer of hope for online gamblers
The mid-term elections in the US may just have provided a glimmer of hope to many stateside online gambling enthusiasts. According to CEO of MGM Mirage, Terry Lanni, the new Democratic leadership in the US Congress could provide a chance to explore the legislation of online gambling.
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act passed into law in October, makes it illegal for banks, credit card companies and online payment systems to process payments to online gambling companies. Speaking at a conference, Lanni declared that the bill “makes no sense whatsoever,” before adding that “the Republican party pandered to the religious right.”
Lanni also said that MGM would like to see a study commissioned to examine whether online gambling can be successfully regulated in the United States. The American Gaming Association, of which Lanni is the current chair, is expected to decide in December whether to pursue legislation calling for such a study.
That study could look into the success or otherwise of the UK’s attempt to regulate online gambling which comes into force next year. 'Britain wants to be second to none in regulation of Internet gambling. We firmly believe that the way forward is to regulate, rather than prohibit,' explained Peter Dean, chairman of Britain's Gaming Commission, who also spoke at the conference
Ssource:
Online Casino News
Web designers and site managers arrested in online gambling probe
SportsBetting is becoming way too hot to touch - even with a ten foot pole. Now it seems you can’t even do design work for them, or risk being arrested….
Criminal charges have been brought against more than two dozen individuals and corporations in four states in connection with a billion-dollar-a-year gambling Web site.
Gambling911.com quotes Kevin Ryan, a spokesman for Queens District Attorney Richard Brown, as saying that one of the corporations is an offshore Internet company with an American counterpart.
Ryan says the case is "one of the first times that a Web designer corporation and the companies that maintain the Web sites have been charged." He says arrests were made in four states, and "we have initiated a $500 million asset forfeiture case," one of the largest in state history.
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Paradise Poker continues to struggle
Been playing so much poker lately that I needed a change of scenery. Tried out some video slots at River Belle and it was surprisingly entertaining. Won some good money after taking up their Buy $55, Get $110 offer, so ended up quite well in the black.
If my plans to become Poker Goddess don't work out, I guess I could always become the Slots Slut or something...
In the meantime,
According to
Gambling911, the once largest US facing poker website - back in the days when there was not a PartyPoker - continues to struggle now that it has rid itself of US customers.
That move cut out nearly 80% of its player base, the negative impact of which is clearly observed at online poker monitoring websites such as PokerSiteScout where Paradise now ranks near the bottom of the Top 20 rooms just over World Sports Exchange and the Action Sports Network.
Read moreIf you feel like playing, go to
River Belle Online Casino.
Women empowered to “HollaBack” at pervy pedestrians
A growing number of women are standing up and letting men know that they don’t like being catcalled on the street. In fact, it can be viewed as a form of sexual harassment.
No woman likes hearing: “hey baby, what’s your name?” or “hey sexy” while they’re walking down the street on their own. Some women have even reported being groped in broad daylight by a men walking past.
A growing number of HollaBack blogs let women “holla back” by posting their stories of catcalls, propositions, gropes and indecent exposures, along with photos of their harassers if they happened to have a camera or camera phone handy.
HollaBackNYC, a blog started by a group of men and women in New York City last October, has inspired more than a dozen sister sites across the United States and Canada. Many women say street harassment is a national problem — and they’re not going to walk on and ignore it anymore.
Check it out:
Hollaback New York CityHollaback San FranciscoHollaback BostonHollaback Texas
Pamela Anderson gets out of online poker
What a shame…
Just four months after Pamela Anderson popped onto the poker scene with her own gaming site, the busty blonde says the whole thing was a, er, giant bust.
On her personal website, pamelaanderson.com, the actress blasts the endeavor in her online diary; "Poker site should have been shut down last month. I have nothing to do with it anymore. Too many shady areas ... I made a mistake getting involved in something I know nothing about for a quick buck! Yuck. So unlike me. Glad it's over."
The fiery statement comes just three days after Pam blamed the collapse of PamelaPoker.com on legal red tape. "Too bad my poker site fell apart--too many rules in USA. No fun." That's quite a change of heart.
Read the whole story on
Gambling911.
Google positioning for move into U.S. radio
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Web search leader Google Inc. is hiring scores of radio sales people and is spending heavily in a bid to expand its position in the $20 billion radio industry.
Google spokesman Michael Mayzel said this week that the company will begin a public test of Google Audio Ads by the end of the year. Advertisers will be able to go online and sign up for targeted radio ads using the same AdWords system they use to buy Web search ads.
Read moreBy the way, I've decided to take part in my first Rookie Freeroll at
River Belle Poker. The pot's a very tidy $5,000. Really excited... but nervous too! Keep your fingers crossed!
Ladbrokes eyeing Partygaming too?
TheBusinessOnline reports that MGM Mirage and Ladbrokes (a British gambling empire) have started exploratory takeover talks with a number of online gambling companies which have been hit hard by the recent anti-online gambling bill in the US.
MGM is the world's second-largest gambling group, and it is believed they have approached PartyGaming to discuss a possible takeover. Prior to the US legislation restricting the ability of US banking institutions to process transactions to online gambling companies, PartyGaming was the largest online gambling company worldwide. However, they were hit hard by the legislation and chose to withdraw from the US market, which provided up to 70% of their revenue.
Bankers linked with MGM Mirage have reportedly stated the talks are serious, albeit in an early stage. PartyGaming has also recently been linked to a possible merger with 888, another company hit hard by the US legislation.
Ladbrokes in Talks with 888
According to
iGamingBusiness, Ladbrokes, the UK's second-largest bookmaker, is in talks to buy the online poker and casino group 888 Holdings in a deal that could potentially be worth £470 million.
Executives of the betting shop group flew to Israel over the weekend to discuss a takeover deal with 888 founders and controlling shareholders Avi and Aharon Shaked. The Shaked brothers together control 51% of the company after floating it on the London stock exchange last year and each selling shares worth £52m.
The discussions are believed to have been brokered by 888's outgoing chief executive, John Anderson, who is also a former Ladbrokes director. Ladbrokes issued a statement yesterday confirming it was “in the early stages of reviewing a possible transaction involving 888. No decision has been made.” Reports over the weekend suggested 888 could fetch as much as £470m.
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Britain to regulate online gaming
Britain has unveiled plans to regulate Internet gambling and says it opposes the U.S. government's banning of the industry.
However, sports minister Richard Caborn told a news conference that the government would not protect UK online gaming executives from extradition requests if they took Internet bets from countries in which they were illegal.
Read more
