David Carradine death scene photo; Death not suicide?

After the David Carradine death scene photo was released by Thai Rath tabloid and created a rage from Carradine's family, what is this news circulating that David Carradine's death may not be a suicide afterall, as initially reported.

What caused Carradine's death? Forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden, a former chief medical examiner for New York City, who was hired by David Carradine's family, released the results of his forensic examination and said that it was not a suicide.

As indicated by the second autopsy, Dr. Michael Baden released a statement to The Associated Press that Carradine didn't kill himself.

"To reach a final determination as to the cause and the manner of death we must wait for further information from Thailand, as to the scene findings and the completion of the crime laboratory and toxicology studies that are still being performed."


There are speculations that he died while engaging in a dangerous sex practice called auto-erotic asphyxiation. Medical examiners in the United States and Canada generally classify auto-erotic asphyxiation deaths as accidental.

AT&T May Have Swayed ‘Idol’ Results

AT&T, one of the biggest corporate sponsors of “American Idol,” might have influenced the outcome of this year’s competition by providing phones for free text-messaging services and lessons in casting blocks of votes at parties organized by fans of Kris Allen, the Arkansas singer who was the winner of the show last week.

Representatives of AT&T, whose mobile phone network is the only one that can be used to cast “American Idol” votes via text message, provided the free text-messaging services at two parties in Arkansas after the final performance episode of “American Idol” last week, according to the company and people at the events.

There appear to have been no similar efforts to provide free texting services to supporters of Adam Lambert, who finished as the runner-up to Mr. Allen.

Since then, angry supporters of Mr. Lambert have flooded online chat boards with messages claiming irregularities in the competition’s voting.

Officials of Fox Broadcasting declined to discuss the situation. In a statement issued Tuesday, a spokesman for AT&T said, “In Arkansas, we were invited to attend the local watch parties organized by the community. A few local employees brought a small number of demo phones with them and provided texting tutorials to those who were interested.”

Details of the voting support were first reported last week in an article in The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Representatives of AT&T helped fans of Mr. Allen at the two Arkansas events by providing instructions on how to send 10 or more text messages at the press of a single button, known as power texts. Power texts have an exponentially greater effect on voting than do single text messages or calls to the show’s toll-free phone lines. The efforts appear to run afoul of “American Idol” voting rules in two ways. The show broadcasts an on-screen statement at the end of each episode warning that blocks of votes cast using “technical enhancements” that unfairly influence the outcome of voting can be thrown out.

And the show regularly states that text voting is open only to AT&T subscribers and is subject to normal rates.

Source: NYTimes

Scientists unveil fossil of Darwinius masillae

Missing link found? Scientists unveil fossil of 47 million-year-old primate, Darwinius masillae

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2009/05/19/2009-05-19_missing_link_found_fossil_of_47_millionyearold_primate_sheds_light_on_.html#ixzz0G2Yk1MNB&B

The Big Reveal: Carla Sosenko suffers Klippel Trenaunay Syndrome

Well known copy editor and freelance writer Carla Sosenko tells Marie Claire Magazine that she was born with a rare Klippel Trenaunay Syndrome.

In fact the story, published in Marie Claire, is written by Carla Sosenko herself where she tells what it means to live and date with Klippel Trenaunay Syndrome.

"I was born with the rare circulatory disorder Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (K-T), which translates differently for everyone who has it. For me, it means my right leg is larger than my left and trails slightly when I walk; my back is an uneven, fatty slab with a dense lump above the waist (which a guy in high school once called a meatball); and a gigantic port-wine stain reaches around my broad torso and down toward my right thigh. I know it could have been worse. I might have been blind; I might have needed amputation. I know that I'm lucky.

"But K-T definitely complicates things. Tonight Joel hasn't a clue. The dating site where he found me promised that my body type was Average, and as far as he can tell, it is. What else could I have chosen? There was no space for categorizing just my left leg as Slim and my back as Not At All Back-like. No casual way to mention K-T along with my taste for Middle Eastern food and mistrust of cats. I can conceal my body for a time, to a point, with clever dressing and maneuvering, so what Joel sees stacks up to the pictures I've posted: yoga arms, bony clavicle, long, graceful neck in full view. And my pretty face—my beautiful face, if I choose to indulge the flattery I've heard on occasion."

National Institute of Neurological Disorders And Stroke details more information about Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome.

Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS) is a congenital circulatory disorder characterized by hemangiomas (abnormal benign growths on the skin consisting of masses of blood vessels), arteriovenous abscesses, and varicose veins, usually on the limbs. The affected limbs may be enlarged and warmer than normal. Fused toes or fingers, or extra toes or fingers, may be present. Bleeding may occur, often as a result of a rectal or vaginal tumor. The cause of the disorder is unknown. A similar port-wine stain disorder in which individuals have vascular anomalies and limb enlargement is Sturge-Weber syndrome. These patients may experience seizures and mental deficiency.
Is there any treatment?

There is no cure for KTS. Treatment is symptomatic. Laser surgery can diminish or erase some skin lesions. Surgery may correct discrepancies in limb size, but orthopedic devices may be more appropriate.

What is the prognosis?

KTS is a progressive disorder, and complications may be life-threatening.

What research is being done?

The NINDS supports research on congenital disorders such as KTS with the goal of finding new means to treat and prevent them.

FDA Announces Recall of Diet Pill Hydroxycut

The popular weight loss pill Hydroxycut has been recalled. Hydroxycut is advertised as made from natural resources products, but who knows what the real hydroxycut ingredients include.t's a popular weight loss pill and now government health officials are issuing a recall for Hydroxycut.Government health officials are announcing the recall of popular weight loss pill Hydroxycut, after reports of liver damage and other health problems.

Hydroxycut is advertised as made from natural ingredients. It accounts for about 90 percent of the market for weight loss supplements. Now, the Food and Drug Administration says there have been reports of liver damage and other health problems. The FDA is warning customers to stop using the product immediately.Hydroxycut is advertised as made from natural ingredients. It accounts for about 90 percent of the market for weight loss supplements, with sales of about 1 million bottles a year.

Food and Drug Administration officials said Friday the manufacturer of Hydroxycut has launched a nationwide recall of the dietary supplement, used by people trying to shed pounds and by body builders to sharpen their muscles.Dietary supplements are not as tightly regulated by the government as medications. Manufacturers don't need FDA approval ahead of time before marketing their products.

Celtics Game 7 tickets on sale today

BOSTON -- Tickets for Saturday night's Game 7 battle between the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls will go on sale today at 11 a.m.

They are available at TD Banknorth Garden box office, on Celtics.com, or by calling 1-800-462-2849. The limit is four tickets per customer.

Your request is being processed... Sonia Sotomayor: Supreme Court Nominee? All You Need To Know

With the retirement of Supreme Court Justice David Souter, President Obama has a space on the high court to fill. One of the top prospects is Sonia Sotomayor.

A Puerto Rican woman with 16 years of court experience who currently sits on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, Sotomayor is a graduate of Yale Law and an editor of the Yale Law Review. She shares a biographical footnote with Souter: they both were appointed by George H. W. Bush -- Sotomayor to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in 1992. Sotomayor was elevated to the appeals court by President Clinton.

Sotomayor spent five years as a prosecutor with the Manhattan District Attorney before going into private practice as a commercial litigator. During that time she also served on the board of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, the New York City Campaign Finance Board, and State of New York Mortgage Agency, where she helped provide mortgage insurance coverage to low-income housing and AIDS hospices.

She left for the U.S. District Court in 1992. At the time, Sotomayor told the New York Times that she was inspired to become a judge by an episode of "Perry Mason."

"I thought, what a wonderful occupation to have," Ms. Sotomayor said. "And I made the quantum leap: If that was the prosecutor's job, then the guy who made the decision to dismiss the case was the judge. That was what I was going to be."

Sotomayor has been considered as a potential Supreme Court Justice by both Republican and Democratic presidents.

Danny Gans Dies

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.

UPDATE: TMZ received the following statement from The Mirage, where Gans performed for years: "All of us in The Mirage family are deeply saddened to learn of Danny's passing. We all knew of his devotion to his family and our hearts and prayers are with his wife and children."

Details on Surrogate Mother Conceiving Sarah Jessica Parker's Twins Unveiled

It is reported by Star Magazine that the surrogate mother who conceives Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick's twins is a 26-year-old divorcee.

While there hasn't been any single information given by Sarah Jessica Parker or her people about the surrogate mother who conceives her just-announced twin daughters, Star Magazine has reported the woman is a 26-year-old divorcee. Moreover, it is said that she is nearly seven months pregnant with Sarah and husband Matthew Broderick's babies.

The celebrity couple are said deciding to seek help from a surrogate mother last year in the wake of mounting reports that Matthew cheated on Sarah with a 21-year-old youth counselor. And once they found the right person, they paid her for "tens of thousands" of dollars to carry the babies, which are due to be born in Sarah's home state of Ohio.

Star Magazine promises some details about the surrogate mother and her comment on carrying the famous couple's babies on its newest issue. Meanwhile, there hasn't been denial or confirmation from Sarah and her camp about the particular report.

Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, who have been married since 1997 and already had a 6-year-old son, had their representatives announcing on Tuesday, April 28 that they are expecting twin girls through a surrogate pregnancy. The babies are due to be born this summer.

Flash Flooding Prompts Closure of All Fort Bend ISD Schools

This was posted on the Fort Bend ISD web site:

"Fort Bend ISD is Closed Today, Tuesday, April 28, due to inclement weather conditions!Due to inclement weather conditions, all schools and support facilities in Fort Bend ISD are CLOSED today. Safety for students and staff is our main concern."

I did check the HISD inclement weather hotline (713-267-1704 ) and they are still open as of 7:11 am.

ACL Fest 2009 lineup announced

What: The lineup for the eighth annual Austin City Limits Music Festival was released today by concert promoters C3 Presents.

Confirmed: The worst-kept secret in the Austin music scene — headliners will be Pearl Jam, the Dave Matthews Band, the Beastie Boys, Kings of Leon, Ben Harper and Relentless7 , and Thievery Corporation.

When: Oct. 2 to 4 at Zilker Park

Tickets: Three-day passes are $185 at aclfestival.com.

What you get: More than 130 artists will play the three-day shindig, including Sonic Youth, Mos Def, Flogging Molly, Lily Allen and the Decemberists. The grids: Now we wait to see who’s playing against whom and who’s headlining when.

Breaking down the lineup a little, we find:

ACL first-timers: Pearl Jam, the Dave Matthews Band, the Beastie Boys, John Legend, the Dead Weather (Jack White’s new band), the Levon Helm Band, Sonic Youth

Austin-based highlights: Ghostland Observatory, Asleep at the Wheel (every festival and counting!), the Scabs, Reckless Kelly, Black Joe Lewis, Papa Mali, Heartless Bastards, Terri Hendrix, Leatherbag, Nelo

R&B and hip-hop: John Legend, Mos Def, the Knux, Michael Franti & Spearhead

Take precautions against swine flu, say county officials

County residents are being urged to take precautions against swine flu at schools, offices and other public places after a weekend of escalating infections triggered global concerns and prompted U.S. officials to declare a public health emergency.

No new local infections were reported, and the number of people sickened by the disease in the region remained at four.

But public health officials here and across the nation remained on high alert, predicting that more illnesses will be identified as testing of patients with flu symptoms intensifies. As of last night, they had confirmed 20 cases in California – including three in Imperial County – Kansas, New York, Ohio and Texas. None of the patients died, and most recovered quickly.

Yesterday, epidemiologists also detected swine flu for the first time in Canada and confirmed more patients in Mexico, the epicenter of the outbreak with more than 1,600 possible infections and 103 deaths potentially linked to the disease.

“We expect the numbers to change. We expect additional states to identify this virus as we go forward,” said Dr. Ann Schuchat, director of respiratory diseases at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

She and other researchers still don't know why the U.S. cases have been milder than those in Mexico. But Schuchat warned that more serious infections were likely as the spectrum of patients widens.

“I do fear that we will have deaths here,” she said.

The federal government hasn't banned travel to Mexico, but it's asking travelers to follow preventive measures normally recommended for the common flu season. Those include canceling trips and not venturing into public places when sick. Everyone also should wash their hands frequently and avoid people who seem ill.

U.S. epidemiologists are in Mexico to help health officials there set up sophisticated labs capable of testing specimens for swine flu, Schuchat said.

Analyzing a specimen to determine whether it's a common form of influenza is a fairly routine process that can be done at many laboratories around the world. But when an unidentifiable sample turns up, specialized equipment is needed to decode its genetic makeup and match it to the known genetic fingerprint of swine flu.

Health officials in San Diego County are able to identify common strains of flu but must forward unidentifiable samples to the CDC's labs in Atlanta.

Mexico lacks swine-flu detection facilities. It initially sent samples of unidentifiable flu to Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, where the first seven cases from Mexico were identified.

On the domestic front, the White House's emergency declaration yesterday allows federal resources to flow to state and local health agencies investigating swine flu.

President Barack Obama's administration sought to reassure Americans by comparing the emergency declaration with preparing for an approaching hurricane.

“Really, that's what we're doing right now. We're preparing in an environment where we really don't know ultimately what the size or seriousness of this outbreak is going to be,” Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said during a news conference.

The public health emergency enables authorities to bypass regulations if they interfere with fighting the disease, such as a California law limiting how many patients each hospital nurse can treat, said Dr. Wilma Wooten, public health officer for San Diego County.

In addition, Napolitano said her agency would release 25 percent of the 50 million doses of Tamiflu and Relenza, prescription flu drugs that the federal government has stockpiled. States with confirmed cases of swine flu will receive priority distribution, she said.

An adequate supply is important because the antiviral medications work best when they're administered within 48 hours of symptoms appearing.

Wooten said the county has its own stockpile – enough to treat all first responders and still have 300 doses available for public distribution.

As a precaution, she said, local hospital staffers and public health workers who had direct contact with swine flu patients have received the treatment prophylacticly.

While the makers of Tamiflu and Relenza reported healthy inventories in the United States, supplies of Tamiflu had sold out by yesterday at some pharmacies along Avenida Revolución in Tijuana, where the medicine is sold over the counter.

Store workers said there had been a run on the drug, particularly from U.S. customers. They expected to restock the medication this week.

Worry about swine flu prompted the closure of several schools for today in New York City, San Antonio and suburban Sacramento, where a sick seventh grader was being tested for the disease.

No such action is being taken in San Diego County, where three youngsters have contracted the illness.

As they did last week, county health officials yesterday refused to identify the local high school, elementary school and day-care center where these patients attend classes.

Wooten said there was no need to take broader precautions because all of the youngsters have fully recovered from the flu and no other students at their schools have become ill.

“The principals and administrator at the three facilities are well aware of the situation,” she said.

It wasn't clear whether parents of other students at the schools were told about the infections.

At the U.S.-Mexico border crossings, U.S. customs agents have stepped up health screenings in hopes of blocking the spread of swine flu. They said the extra efforts shouldn't cause significant delays.

But taking time for medical surveys at the San Ysidro Port of Entry – the world's busiest border crossing – could create a logistical challenge during commute hours.

Agents are questioning border crossers about their health if they appear to have the flu. Anyone with symptoms could be pulled out of line for further questioning by health officials, and they might not be allowed to enter the United States.

Similar screenings are being done at San Diego's Lindbergh Field, which has three international flights – two from San José del Cabo in Mexico and one from Vancouver, Canada – according to its Web site.

Airport officials said they didn't expect the procedure to disrupt operations.

No cases of swine flu have been confirmed in Baja California, the state's health secretary, José Guadalupe Bustamante, said yesterday. But health authorities in that region were reviewing the case of a 7-month-old girl who died of pneumonia Friday in Tecate's Hospital General, he said.

While severe cases of flu can lead to pneumonia, the potentially dangerous lung infection can have other causes.

Source: signonsandiego.com

Dove Award Winners Announced!

Did you catch last night's Gospel Music Awards? I was all set to watch it, flipped on the TV, punched in channel 189, and got...a dark screen with some writing on it. The screen screamed at me "NOT AUTHORIZED". Suddenly, the Gospel Music Channel is no longer a part of the basic Comcast Digital service. Grrrrr. So, I had to settle for reading the Twitter updates from the artists, which was actually pretty neat to hear/see their live view. If you're curious to see the complete list of winners, GospelMusic.org has it. Here is the list of the "big category" winners:

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Steven Curtis Chapman

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Tenth Avenue North

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Steven Curtis Chapman

SONG OF THE YEAR
“Give Me Your Eyes”; Brandon Heath, Jason Ingram; Sitka 6 Music/Essential Music Publishing (ASCAP), Peertunes Ltd. (SESAC), Grange Hill Music (SESAC), Windsor Way (SESAC)

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Brandon Heath

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Natalie Grant

GROUP OF THE YEAR
Casting Crowns

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Bernie Herms

94 years of the Armenian Genocide

Today is April 24, 2009, 94th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide since april 24 1915. May the Souls of innocent victims may rest in peace and give light of enlightenment to the cowards.

The Armenian Genocide pictures are really moving so I am not posting them. Can be found all over the internet.

Timothy Wright, famed NY gospel singer, dies at 61

The Rev. Timothy Wright, the Grammy-nominated gospel singer and composer known for his up-tempo praise songs and powerful mass choir sound, has died. He was 61.

Wright, who was seriously injured in a car crash that killed his wife and grandson, died early Thursday at the Bronx Veterans Hospital, music agent Will Bogle said.

Timothy Wright was the pastor at Grace Tabernacle Christian Center Church of God in Christ, located in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn. He released more than a dozen gospel recordings, writing many of the songs. His latest album, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus," came out in 2007.

In 1994, his record "Come Thou Almighty King," with the New York Fellowship Mass Choir, made the Billboard Top 20 charts for gospel albums and was nominated for a Grammy for best traditional soul gospel album.

He got another nomination in that category in 1999 for "Been There Done That," recorded with the B/J Mass Choir and featuring Myrna Summers.

"Jesus, Jesus, Jesus" features the New York Fellowship Mass Choir. The title track, written by Wright and his wife and recorded live at a Church of God in Christ convocation, expresses the plight of a woman displaced during Hurricane Katrina: She encourages herself and others by calling the name of Jesus. Among the other songs on the album was "You Must Come In At the Door."

According to the book "Uncloudy Days: The Gospel Encyclopedia," by Bil Carpenter, the Brooklyn-born Wright began playing piano for his local church at age 12 and also began composing at a young age.

By his early 20s, he was music director at Brooklyn's Washington Temple Church of God in Christ.

He began writing songs for such fellow musicians as Mattie Moss Clark and the Rev. Isaac Douglas, according to Carpenter's book, and in 1976 formed the Timothy Wright Concert Choir. Among the choir's albums were "Who's on the Lord's Side?" and "Do You Know the Light?"

Wright was critically injured July 4 in a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 80 near Loganton, Pa. Another car was going the wrong way when it struck Wright's car.

His wife, Betty Wright, 58, was killed in the crash, and their 14-year-old grandson, D.J. Wright, died later at a hospital.

The driver of the wrong-way car, John Pick, also was killed, while a passenger in a third car was injured.

The Wrights were returning from a Church of God in Christ conference in Detroit, said Leroy Johnson, a trustee at Grace Tabernacle.

Source: Philstar.com

Fire destroys homes near Myrtle Beach - Photos and Videos

A coastal wildfire spread early Thursday toward one of the busiest tourist stretches in South Carolina, burning dozens of homes and forcing hundreds to flee in the middle of the night. No injuries were reported.

Police banged on doors to awaken residents as strong winds pushed the blaze through a wooded swath toward the Barefoot Landing development, a sprawling complex of houses, condominiums and golf courses separated from the main route through Myrtle Beach by the Intracoastal Waterway.

Myrtle Beach Fire April 22 2009 3000 acres plus have already been burnt. This is a videoo from Grissom Pkwy intercoastal bridge.

Apple approves 'Baby Shaker' for App Store

If you needed any further proof that Apple's App Store approval process is horrifyingly out of whack, consider one of the latest additions to the App Store: Baby Shaker.

A company called Sikalosoft is currently selling a US$0.99 iPhone application called Baby Shaker, as of Monday. The object of Baby Shaker is to stop the incessant crying of an infant pictured on screen by violently shaking the iPhone, at which point two red "x" marks appear over the baby's eyes. "See how long you can endure his or her adorable cries before you just have to find a way to quiet the baby down!" reads the sales pitch for Baby Shaker.

Jennipher Dickens, who founded a non-profit organisation in 2007 after her son Christopher was injured from being shaken by his father, brought the new application to our attention after reading about it on Krapps, an iPhone application review site. I downloaded it from the App Store this morning to verify it existed and worked as described.

"As a mother of a child who was violently shaken at seven weeks old, causing a severe brain injury, and the founder of a US organisation for Shaken Baby Syndrome prevention (as well as the communications director for a national organisation helping children with brain injuries), I don't have to tell you how much this horrifies me!!!" she wrote in an email.

When the App Store was first announced in March 2008, Apple said it would vet every single application submitted to the App Store and approve or reject applications based on its internal standards. So, as Apple approaches the one billionth download of App Store applications, let's review what Apple has decided you're allowed to do, and what you're not allowed to do, with iPhone applications.

You are not allowed to have swear words in your application.

You are not allowed to develop applications that could potentially harm existing or future Apple businesses.

You are allowed to develop applications that break App Store rules if you work for one of the most important companies on the planet, whose CEO happens to sit on Apple's board of directors.

You are allowed to simulate infanticide.

Apple representatives did not respond to requests for comment on Baby Shaker.

David Hernandez: David Hernandez’s latest news

David Hernandez, was found in a NY gay bar by a writer for a website. Hernandez was asked if he thought his old gay stripper past ruined his chances in Season 7 of American Idol.

Hernandez said he felt it wasn’t his stripping work that cost him AI. Hernandez said it was because he was gay. Hernandez said he knew Adam Lambert from the scene. David Hernandez thought that Lambert might get voted off for being gay.

There are several differences between Hernandez and Lambert. The former was a closet gay stripper. The latter has openly posted his racy gay kissing photos online.

Craigslist Killer’s (Philip Markoff) Wedding Website Removed: Megan-Philip.com

Here are all of the screen grabs I captured from www.megan-philip.com before the site was taken down early this morning:

http://bcclist.com/2009/04/21/screen-grabs-from-megan-philip-dot-com/

Ouch - the wedding website for Megan McAllister and Philip Markoff:

www.megan-philip.com

The site has been yanked but I managed to get screen grabs of each page early this morning. Here’s the homepage - more to come when I get back in front of my home PC tonight…

Update 1: Here’s Megan not yet facing reality:

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090421/Craigslist_fiancee_090421/20090421?hub=World

Innocent until proven guilty but IP Addresses are like DNA - they don’t lie. I hope she can get through this difficult time in her life. Fortunately she’s still young and wasn’t harmed.

Update 2: Why did Phil need money so bad? The site had a honeymoon poll (again, more screenshots tonight) and there was an option to vote for Mohegan Sun Resort. Seriously - a casino in Connecticut for a honeymoon? Yeah, yeah - he was in med school so they were broke. The poll even indicated they would take a real honeymoon in 8 years. But, a casino in Connecticut made the list of 4? Gambling problem? We’ll see…

Update 3: Unbelievable…

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D97N0EVO0&show_article=1

“Prosecutors say they traced an e-mail address used to set up an appointment with masseuse Julissa Brisman of New York City to Markoff, who was on his way to Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut with his fiancee when he was arrested by Monday afternoon.”

Phish Fnway Park Tickets -- LiveNation.com Blows It Again

Error!

Sorry, we are having technical difficulty processing your request. Please try your request again. If the problem persists, please contact us. Thank you.

That was the message on LiveNation's website when I tried to login to get tickets for Phish's show at Fenway Park, set for May 31st, 2009. The message appeared only a couple of minutes past 10 a.m.

I kept trying for one hour and could not once even get the page to load. There are people posting tweets saying they scored tickets to see Phish at Fenway Park -- one guy with the user name Canada_Bound claimed to land eight tickets -- but lots of other people are saying they could not login to the LiveNation.com either.

TicketSnow.com already had a link posted for tickets to catch Phish at Fenway Park for the opener of their 2009 Summer Tour, although it was not displaying any for sale before the 10 a.m. on-sale time. Tickets already were listed for sale on StubHub, though, ranging from $113 to $3,400 per ticket. TicketLiquidator had tickets for sale before 10 a.m. with specific seat and row numbers attached to them, such as "Field Box 92, Row KK -- two seats available" for $194 apiece. VividSeats had specific tickets as well, like "Loge Box 14, Row JJ -- two tickets for $190 (each I believe, although it's not clear)." Likewise, you could buy four tickets at 7 a.m. EST (three hours before the general on sale time) in "Pavilion Box 6, Row B" for $203 each at CoastToCoastTickets. And, of course, on eBay and CraigsList Fenway Park ticket prices are off the chain.

One thing that is glaringly obvious is that the same seats are for sale across all four websites. Now, Fenway Park's primary purpose is as the Boston Red Sox home field. Fenway Park does host other events throughout the year (for instance, The Dave Matthews Band is playing two shows there before Phish on May 29th and 30th; both bands have the same management company these days.), but "season tickets" are not sold for these additional events -- just for Red Sox games.

Perhaps the Red Sox offer first dibs for tickets to other events inside Fenway Park to Red Sox season tickets holders, and the tickets currently available on all of the scalper sites are simply posted by some enterprising Red Sox fans who have read the news about demand for Phish tickets, or heard it through the grapevine and see an opportunity to pocket a few hundred bucks.

No matter how those tickets to Phish at Fenway Park on May 31st became available for purchase before the public on sale date and time, it is fucked up (insert your own personal rant on Ticketbastard, LiveNation.com and ticket scalpers here).

On a side note, I wanted to announce that The Wagger will no longer provide links to ticket re-sale websites; if you plan on buying tickets through those bastards you can link to them on your own. Not to sound rude, but I don't want to provide them with any help at all, no matter how minuscule it may be and no matter how insignificant this Blog may be in the grand scheme of Phish. Sure I mentioned them by name above, but that's only for the sake of posting an entirely accurate news story.

In related news, New York Sen. Charles Schumer unveiled plans for legislation that would ban the resale of concert and sports tickets until two days after they first go on sale to the public, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month.