Scandal Intrigue on Current
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Tech billionaire gone wild
Broadcom's co-founder was a drug fiend who trafficked in cocaine, ecstasy, and methamphetamine, spiked the drinks of business associates and employees, hired prostitutes for himself and others, and maintained several narcotics dens, including one in an underground lair at his Los Angeles mansion, prosecutors charge.
Henry T. Nicholas III is portrayed as an out-of-control wild man who scored drug caches for Super Bowl parties and rock festivals and had his dealer invoice him for these illicit purchases.
The 48-year-old Nicholas, who was charged with securities fraud in a separate U.S. District Court case, allegedly "used threats of physical violence and death and payments of money to attempt to conceal his unlawful conduct," according to the indictment. Prosecutors allege that, in June 2002, Nicholas and Broadcom entered into a $1 million settlement agreement with an employee who was aware of the executive's "unlawful narcotics activity." The hefty payout, which Broadcom covered, contractually prevented the employee from speaking about Nicholas's drug abuse.
The billionaire apparently did little to conceal his drug transactions. On one occasion, in the lobby of Broadcom's southern California headquarters, he directed an employee to provide cash to a courier "in exchange for an envelope containing controlled substances." On a drug-fueled 2001 private plane flight--during which Nicholas allegedly used and distributed narcotics--the pilot was forced to don an oxygen mask due to the "marijuana smoke and fumes." According to a March 2008 Forbes story, Nicholas, with an estimated net worth of $1.8 billion, is ranked 677 on the list of the world's wealthiest individuals. Broadcom's co-founder was a drug fiend who trafficked in cocaine, ecstasy, and methamphetamine, spiked the drinks of business ass... more -
Jackass Democratic party leaders acting like Republicans
The indictment of Puerto Rico Gov. Anibal S. Acevedo Vila brings the tally of Democratic super delegates facing criminal indictments, or threat of indictments, to four. (Make that five, if you count former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who was pledged to support Hillary Rodham Clinton, but resigned March 12 in a sex scandal and therefore lost his super delegate status.) The indictment of Puerto Rico Gov. Anibal S. Acevedo Vila brings the tally of Democratic super delegates facing criminal indictments, ... more
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Notorious social network hacker exposes Paris Hilton's Facebook
A security breach on Facebook allowed a Vancouver computer technician to find photos of a partying Paris Hilton and ones of her younger brother in private online albums intended to be accessible only to their friends.
Byron Ng, who last July cracked the security behind the then-unreleased novel Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, discovered the security hole when he was checking out an earlier breach that had been fixed by Facebook.
"It's just lazy programming I guess," Ng said of the glitch which allowed surfers to find people based on tags put on photographs.
While Facebook users can control access to their social networking sites, the practice of "tagging," or putting names to photos allowed Ng to access them. After Facebook closed the breach this week, the photos were only accessible if you had the URL.
Based on Ng's findings, The Vancouver Sun was able to access an album of clearly unedited and sometimes red-eyed, poorly lit snapshots tagged as Whitney Hilton - Paris's full name is Paris Whitney Hilton - from an album entitled Emmy Night. From there, it was possible to view the "friends" of Whitney Hilton A security breach on Facebook allowed a Vancouver computer technician to find photos of a partying Paris Hilton and ones of her younge... more -
Escorting, check! Sex scandal, check! Girls Gone Wild, check!
Stop that $1 million check: It turns out the call girl linked to Eliot Spitzer had already shed her clothes for "Girls Gone Wild" as an 18-year-old while partying in Miami, Florida, the video company's founder said Tuesday.
Joe Francis reached out to Ashley Alexandra Dupre, now 22, with an offer of $1 million to appear in a non-nude spread for his company's new magazine, plus a chance to join the "Girls Gone Wild" tour bus, his company announced Tuesday.
But Francis said someone had a revelation at the Tuesday morning staff meeting: Did anyone think to check the archives? Stop that $1 million check: It turns out the call girl linked to Eliot Spitzer had already shed her clothes for "Girls Gone Wild&... more -
Spitzer is linked to prostitution ring
New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer has been involved in a prostitution ring.
Mr. Spitzer spoke to the press at his Manhattan office yesterday afternoon where he apologized to his family and the people of New York, while avoiding actually saying that he was involved with a prostitute.
With pressure mounting, aides indicate he is likely to step down.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/11/nyregion/11cnd-spitze... New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer has been involved in a prostitution ring. ... more -
Scandal, Intrigue on Capitol Hill: Pregnant Moms, Drugs, Baby Zombie Uprising
A new law being considered in the U.S. Congress would attempt to prevent postpartum depression in new moms by allowing doctors to prescribe SSRI antidepressant drugs while they're still pregnant.
SSRI drugs have never been approved for use on newborns, yet this new MOTHERS Act will effectively drug unborn babies and newborns with drugs like Prozac. This will certainly have an impact on their developing brains, and the bulk of the research available today shows that the impact will be negative. Will these children be more prone to violent thoughts and behavior? Will they contemplate suicide at younger ages? And what will be the impact of the drugs on the mother?
This legislation is being aggressively pushed by pro-pharma front groups in an effort to expand the customer base for SSRI drugs by targeting pregnant women as new "customers" for the chemicals. A new law being considered in the U.S. Congress would attempt to prevent postpartum depression in new moms by allowing doctors to pres... more -
Scandal, Intrigue in Congress: Zombies and Lobbyists Eat Childrens' Brains
Drug companies are struggling because their products don´t work for preventive health and they can´t make money just using them for appropriate uses. Their main trade group spent $22 million in 2007 to buy favors from Congress.
Partly this money was spent trying to maintain a legal monopoly – such as blocking less expensive drug re-importation, preventing fair-price drug negotiations for Medicare, manipulating patent laws to extend drug profits, and ensuring direct to consumer ads continue.
Most of the increase in spending was to get Congress to reauthorize the State Children´s Health Insurance Program, a program to get and keep low-income kids on mind altering drugs – a cash cow worth billions for Big Pharma. These drugs cause permanent adverse alterations in the developing nervous system of children. There is a reason every school-related mass murder involves shooters that have been on psych drugs.
Proposals aimed at lowering drug prices and restricting industry advertising fell by the wayside in Congress. Drug companies are struggling because their products don´t work for preventive health and they can´t make money just using them for ap... more -
Scandal, Intrigue on Campus: Science and Drugs for Sale
The most prestigious universities have let themselves become prime candidates for doing the bidding of the pharmaceutical industry.
The dependence of Universities on biomedical research funding from big business is leading to a disastrous decline in scientific ethics and on the public perception of science. The most prestigious universities have let themselves become prime candidates for doing the bidding of the pharmaceutical industry. ... more -
Scandal, Intrigue on Drugs: Now More Uses Than Ever
The FDA seeks to broaden the range of use for drugs
The rules would allow drug and device makers to provide doctors with copies of medical journal articles that discuss product uses that have not been vetted or approved by the F.D.A. The rules also say that drug companies do not have to promise to adequately test the unapproved use discussed in the article.
But critics of the proposal say that drug and device companies have a long history of promoting unapproved drug and device uses that later proved dangerous and that allowing companies to talk about such unapproved uses removes incentives for companies to research adequately whether the new use is actually beneficial.
“People will die if they are getting drugs that don’t have clear evidence that the benefits outweigh the risks,” said Dr. Sidney Wolfe, director of Public Citizen’s health research group.
Representative Henry Waxman, Democrat of California, said the proposed rule “caters to the industry’s desire to market their products without adequate testing or review.” The FDA seeks to broaden the range of use for drugs ... more -
Scandal, Intrigue in the Housing Crisis: Countrywide under investigation
Federal authorities have opened a criminal inquiry into Countrywide Financial for suspected securities fraud as part of the continuing fallout over the mortgage crisis.
The Countrywide inquiry follows a broader investigation by the FBI into 14 companies as part of a review of the practices of the mortgage industry.
Countrywide already faces federal and state investigations of its lending practices, as well as several lawsuits by investors and mortgage holders.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is conducting about three dozen civil investigations into how subprime loans were made and how securities were valued Federal authorities have opened a criminal inquiry into Countrywide Financial for suspected securities fraud as part of the continuing... more -
Scandal, Intrigue in Bottled Water: Drugs, Drugs, and more Drugs
A vast array of pharmaceuticals — including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones — have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans, an Associated Press investigation shows.
Even users of bottled water and home filtration systems don't necessarily avoid exposure. Bottlers, some of which simply repackage tap water, do not typically treat or test for pharmaceuticals, according to the industry's main trade group. The same goes for the makers of home filtration systems.
The federal government doesn't require any testing and hasn't set safety limits for drugs in water. Of the 62 major water providers contacted, the drinking water for only 28 was tested.
Contamination is not confined to the United States. More than 100 different pharmaceuticals have been detected in lakes, rivers, reservoirs and streams throughout the world. Studies have detected pharmaceuticals in waters throughout Asia, Australia, Canada and Europe — even in Swiss lakes and the North Sea.
Pharmaceuticals also permeate aquifers deep underground, source of 40 percent of the nation's water supply. Federal scientists who drew water in 24 states from aquifers near contaminant sources such as landfills and animal feed lots found minuscule levels of hormones, antibiotics and other drugs.
Perhaps it's because Americans have been taking drugs — and flushing them unmetabolized or unused — in growing amounts. Over the past five years, the number of U.S. prescriptions rose 12 percent to a record 3.7 billion, while nonprescription drug purchases held steady around 3.3 billion, according to IMS Health and The Nielsen Co.
Also, pharmaceuticals in waterways are damaging wildlife across the nation and around the globe, research shows. Notably, male fish are being feminized, creating egg yolk proteins, a process usually restricted to females. Pharmaceuticals also are affecting sentinel species at the foundation of the pyramid of life — such as earth worms in the wild and zooplankton in the laboratory, studies show.
For several decades, federal environmental officials and nonprofit watchdog environmental groups have focused on regulated contaminants — pesticides, lead, PCBs — which are present in higher concentrations and clearly pose a health risk.
However, some experts say medications may pose a unique danger because, unlike most pollutants, they were crafted to act on the human body.
"These are chemicals that are designed to have very specific effects at very low concentrations. That's what pharmaceuticals do. So when they get out to the environment, it should not be a shock to people that they have effects," says zoologist John Sumpter at Brunel University in London, who has studied trace hormones, heart medicine and other drugs. A vast array of pharmaceuticals — including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones — have been found in the ... more -
Scandal, Intrigue inside NYT v McCain: Skin, Smear, Sex, Cancer
For the third time in less than three weeks, The New York Times has swung its hatchet at Sen. John McCain, reporting Sunday on his winning bout with a deadly form of skin cancer eight years ago and speculating that it might somehow reappear despite medical opinions that a recurrence is unlikely.
"Mr. McCain, the story notes "is occasionally asked on the campaign trail about his age. But he is almost never asked about his health." For the third time in less than three weeks, The New York Times has swung its hatchet at Sen. John McCain, reporting Sunday on his win... more -
Scandal, Intrigue in Apple Land: Steve Jobs, Cancer, Disclosure
Should a public company have to tell its shareholders that its CEO has been diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening illness? In the case of Steve Jobs, a CEO who is arguably Apple's single most valuable asset, the answer was no.
Allegedly, Jobs and Apple's board knew about Jobs' cancer for 9 months before they disclosed it to Apple's shareholders.
Jobs decided to employ alternative methods to treat his pancreatic cancer, hoping to avoid the operation through a special diet - a course of action that hasn't been disclosed until now. Should a public company have to tell its shareholders that its CEO has been diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening illness? In ... more -
Scandal, Intrigue on the Internets: Clinton's 10.2 million hits
Many people believe the name “Clinton” is synonymous with “Corruption.” A google search of “Clintons” and “scandal” yields 10,200,000 hits. A search of “Obamas” and “scandal” yields 1,570,000 hits.
Desperate, after Senator Obama had won 11 states in a row and built his insurmountable delegates count, Senator Clinton decided to focus on sliming Obama. Now nothing is out of bounds.
Senator Clinton says she’s experienced having learned from her husband’s administration. Many people believe the name “Clinton” is synonymous with “Corruption.” A google search of “Clintons” and “scandal” yields 10,200,000 ... more -
Scandal, Intrigue Down Under: insert generic sheep/wolf cliche here
An Australian wool lobbyist has been caught on camera offering an alleged bribe to stop an anti-mulesing campaigner from appearing in a Swedish documentary on the Australian wool industry.
The issue of mulesing has angered many in Sweden, where 19 clothing retailers have banned Australian wool products over mulesing.
Mulesing is the practice of removing strips of skin from around a sheep's tail to prevent flystrike. An Australian wool lobbyist has been caught on camera offering an alleged bribe to stop an anti-mulesing campaigner from appearing in ... more -
Scandal, Intrigue on the golf course: K-Fed and Britney's Dad
The two were spotted on the links near Tarzana, CA. A family insider claims that the pair have been working closely together to enable Britney to spend time with her sons. The two were spotted on the links near Tarzana, CA. A family insider claims that the pair have been working closely together to enabl... more
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Update: Scandal, Intrigue on the YouTubes: Hot Hot Sex
YouTube is investigating a sudden surge in traffic that boosted a clip of a Brazilian pop band to the top of its most viewed video chart.
The clip called Music is My Hot Hot Sex is by the Brazilian electro band Cansei De Ser Sexy and it has been viewed by nearly 90 million people.
However, in just three weeks, it got 40 million views pushing it from tenth place to YouTube's top position and the surge has left YouTube fans wondering if the 'books have been cooked'.
Update:
The video's Italian creator, who uses the pseudonym Clarus Bartel, had described the video as "ugly" and "made on a whim"
In an unexpected twist, the Italian factory worker, blogger, and amateur photographer who uploaded the video last year, has deleted the clip which was listed as having been viewed a world record 114.3 million times. Evolution Of Dance ranked second with 78.6 million views.
story continued:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/general/youtube-mystery-over... YouTube is investigating a sudden surge in traffic that boosted a clip of a Brazilian pop band to the top of its most viewed video cha... more -
Scandal, intrigue on Real Time: delegates, pina coladas, technical difficulties
Clinton campaign chairman, Terry McAuliffe was abruptly cut off during an interview on HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher.
The satellite feed was lost after Maher's second attempt to identify McAuliffe's position on election brokering and highly controversial superdelegates. Maher expressed concern when Clinton's chief advisor failed to answer any of his questions directly.
McAuliffe's final words before the video feed dropped:"June 1st is Puerto Rico, which, Bill, you and I should go down and cover that. A couple of pina coladas down there at the Caribe Hilton to finish up the last primary"
Terry McAuliffe served as chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2001-05 and helped establish his party's current election guidelines Clinton campaign chairman, Terry McAuliffe was abruptly cut off during an interview on HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher. ... more
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