Carl Bernstein Sarah Palin: Bernstein Says Palin Ignorant (video)

Carl Bernstein is completely flummoxed that Conservatives like Sarah Palin. He says Sarah Palin is ignorant. "She's a demagogue, she's ignorant, she's a flake." See video below. Bernstein says that if Liberals picked someone as unqualified as Sarah Palin [for the second highest office in the land,] Conservatives would have run her out of town...." I'd like Bernstein to write a book about how Conservatives can run a Liberal out-of-town, because, believe me, we tried with Barack Obama. If you want to talk about "unqualified," the conversation needs to shift to Barack Obama.

"John McCain really committed an unpatriotic act by choosing Palin as his running mate."

And let us not forget this one: [Palin] is "manifestly unqualified for high office. As for Carl Bernstein, this is the face of hate. It's also about unbridled stupidity - about acting stupidly. May Sarah Palin live long and speak loudly to continue to baffle Mr. Bernstein. Carl Bernstein - Sarah Palin Video

Billy Mays Dead: Billy Mays OxiClean Spokesman Dead at 50

Fox News is reporting that Billy Mays, the spokesman for many products, including OxiClean, has died at the age of 50. Little information is available but neighbors in his South Tampa neighborhood are reporting that Billy Mays is dead. Updated

Billy Mays

TMZ is reporting that May's wife, Deborah found him "unresponsive" at 7:45 a.m. EDT this morning. Mays returned from a trip to Philadelpha this past week on a plane that blew a tire on landing:

He told a local TV station, "All of a sudden as we hit you know it was just the hardest hit, all the things from the ceiling started dropping. It hit me on the head, but I got a hard head." We're told Mays was at his home around 6:00 PM last night, and according to a source Mays was "acting fine and normal ... he was talking business with his father-in-law." According to cops, there are no signs of forced entry to the residence and no foul play is suspected.

Pitching products like the Awesome Auger, Hercules Hook, Mighty Putty, Orange Glo, Samurai Shark and Kaboom, Mays was known for his infomericals that seemed to make you go-all-stupid, because you knew that Mighty Putty simply could not pull that truck weighing multiple tons. Mays, whose beard was soooooo very, very black, appeared on the Discovery Channel's "Pitchmen" along with fellow pitcher Sully Sullivan. The two looked for products they believed they could sell, taking the unknown inventor into the mighty fold of high intensity selling, in the hopes of hitting it big with Billy and Sully. Check out this "Turn Don't Burn" video for sun bathers (or Billies and Bikinis). I like this one. Hated Mighty Putty. BillyMays.TV:"Life's a Pitch, Then You Buy." Update 6-30-09: Mr. Mays' wife, Deborah, said that heart disease was the cause of Billy's death. Monday's autopsy showed that Mays had "hyertensive heart disease." Hypertensive heart disease would normally indicate high blood pressure. Read the entire article and see an excellent graphic. Billy Mays

Tami Farrell is Miss California USA: Tami Farrell New Miss California

Tami Farrell is named the new Miss California as the reigning title holder, Carrie Prejean, is fired. See photos and videos below.

Tami Farrell - New Miss California

Tami Farrell is the new Miss California, in the wake of pageant winner Carrie Prejean's firing. See background on Carrie Prejean at the end of this article. Miss California USA, Tami Farrell, has a long record of winning beauty and talent pageants. Her first title was Miss Oregon Teen USA in 2002.

She gave up that crown when she took the Miss Teen USA title in 2003. Miss Universe owns and runs the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA contests, where she was voted Miss Congeniality. All are owned by NBC Universal and Donald Trump. Farrell eventually moved to Los Angles and and became Miss Malibu USA 2009. With the Miss Malibu title, she competed in Miss California and was the first runner up to Carrie Prejean. As first runner up to Prejean, California appointed Tami "Beauty of California ambassador." Tami was born on October 5, 1984 in Oregon.

She is reported to be Christian, and has recently recorded her first demo CD, working with Christian recording artists. She has recently performed on a Christian cruise. Farrell has modeled in campaigns for Everything But Water, Tadashi and Jovani. She has been photographed for YM, Teen Vogue and Allure magazines. She has also served as a Miss Teen USA judge.

Her fundraising skills are said to be quite something, raising $21 million for her charities during her time as Miss Teen USA Tami is the daughter of Tim and Stephani Farrell. She has two brothers, Shawn and Ricky. See photos below, including one of Tami and her grandmother, Glendorris Farrell.

Tami's engagement to Buddy Wyrick has just been announced on this blog. Here's a few words from Tami back in her Miss Teen USA days, writing for Pageantry magazine:

I must also mention that I would have not made it to this point in my life without the constant support of my parents, brothers, and friends. I want to thank them all for their confidence in me as I continue pursuing my dreams. Above all else, I send all my love and thanks to God, for it has been His will that has made this all possible. And, finally, to all of you who have cheered me on, thank you for your continued support, smiles, and comforting e-mails. They have been a source of personal strength from the beginning, and I will treasure the memories forever.

Tami Farrell and family

Here's Tami talking about her acting career:

During my year as Miss Teen USA, I traveled the world as a youth advocate. I walked the runways for New York Fashion Week, mastered the red carpet at premieres and parties, and became friends with celebrities! I signed autographs, made television appearances, and helped raise over $21 million for charity. I was trained by one of the most amazing acting schools in New York, and was blessed to get to record for the first time with a music master. I lived that entire year in a dream.

Farrell says her bank account has been "empty" more times than she would like to admit

While working full-time as a jewelry store salesperson, as a nanny, and a caterer, lunch breaks became an ideal time for auditions. I took acting classes at night and lessons on life during my days. I found what it meant to be "a work in progress." I was blessed and often humbled. I watched my former roommates climb the ladder toward success. While they landed hosting, modeling, and acting jobs, I continued to work on my "True Hollywood Story."

Until and unless a bevy of hit pieces come out about Miss Farrell, it sounds as though the new Miss California USA has her head on straight and is very excited about her coming pageant duties. Carrie Prejean Background: The controversial Miss California, Carrie Prejean, has lost her Miss California title, as well as her first runner-up status in the Miss USA contest. Prejean has been in the midst of a firestorm of gay rights issues. Miss USA judge, gay activist and celebrity reporter, Perez Hilton asked the competition question that is used to judge a contestant's performance. Hilton says God told him to ask Carrie her opinion on gay marriage.

Oh, and I spoke to God again today. She says that Carrie's title as Miss California should be taken away!"
Wait, God's a she?

Prejean offered her opinion that marriage should be between a man a woman. She placed second to the reigning Miss USA. The next morning, Hilton launched a vicious website attack against here, and the California pageant officials were less than enthusiastic about her answer. The co-director said he was "saddened and hurt" by her answer. I noted that he was not saddened and hurt that his state's representative was sabotaged with a question that would only promote the vile Perez Hilton, who says he was "the" YouTube moment of the pageant. You can see his video retort below - language warning. We have been reminded often that Carrie's answer is supported by President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. Of course, that is subject to the change we were promised during the campaign. Yesterday, amid claims that Carrie was not fulfilling her pageant duties - making appearances, etc., Trump said "you're fired." I'm wishing every good thing for Carrie as she goes forward and puts this whole ugly scene, none of which was her fault, behind her. Congratulations to Tami Farrell, the new Miss California USA. And just a word to Donald Trump, please rethink that decision to ask Perez Hilton back as a judge - who will just be looking for his own YouTube moment at the peril of these young women.
Tami Farrell Miss California Video Tammi Farrell Miss Malibu Video

Perez Hilton "YouTube Moment" Video

Others talking about Miss California USA: ChicagoRay Reports

Britain's Tax Hike: Andrew Lloyd Webber Predicts Exodus

Andrew Lloyd Webber, the famed British native and composer of some of the greatest works on Broadway, predicts the "wealth creators" will exodus Britain once a new tax code is implemented. See two great videos below.

Andrew Lloyd Webber
 

Webber fears an exodus of wealth and of talent: "The last thing this country needs is a pirate raid on the wealth creators who still dare navigate our stormy waters...." "Here's the truth," he says:

The proposed top rate of income tax is not 50 per cent. It is 50 per cent plus 1.5 per cent national insurance paid by employees plus 13.3 per cent paid by employers. That's not 50 per cent. Two years from now, Britain will have the highest tax rate on earned income of any developed country.
I write this article because I fear the inevitable exodus of the talent that can dig us out of the hole we find ourselves in. It is inevitable, given that other countries are bidding for entrepreneurs. The Government must modify its proposals.

Sounds familiar doesn't it. Here's more:

I give you this example. I have altered the details of the family I write about for obvious reasons. But the essentials are true.

Last Thursday I met with a thirtysomething guy. I absolutely depend on him in a highly technical area of theatrical production. For legal reasons he has to employ himself through his own company. Under the new tax regime, he will have to pay 13.3 per cent to employ himself before he pays himself anything. And then he will have to pay 51.5 per cent on what's left.

This is a guy at the cutting edge of his profession who works all over the world. He is in demand in every major territory where entertainment is produced. He has a young wife and two children. Last Thursday he told me that he and his wife had decided that the UK was no longer where they wanted to live.

His wife thinks the State education system is inadequate. And she fears that a bankrupt Britain will increasingly be a worse place in which to live as the horror of our present financial mess hits us all in the solar plexus.

He says that he is young enough to set up shop somewhere else. The new tax rates were the final straw. These talented young people know they will make it impossible for them to educate their kids privately in the UK.

So Britain plc loses not just the 40 per cent he would have paid in personal taxes under the old regime - plus NI and everything else - but... Come on, I don't need to explain the knock-on effect. It's obviously huge and immensely damaging - that's why I am writing this article quickly and probably with too much passion.

The following is an explanation from Forbes of President Obama's tax plan for those considered "high-earners. You might want to bookmark this Forbes piece. It is an easy to understand assessment of the tax code for all income levels.

But for high-earners, the biggest change will come from the tax increases the president proposed as part of his budget. (See "Who Will Pay for Obama's Plans?") Obama wants to allow the Bush tax cuts to expire at the end of 2010. If Obama gets Congress to cooperate, then beginning in 2011 single taxpayers earning more than $200,000 (more than $250,000 for couples) would see the top ordinary income tax rate rise to 39.6% from 35%.

Another tax code tweak unveiled in Obama's budget is a change to itemized deductions. Families earning more than $250,000 would take deductions against a 28% tax rate, instead of the tax rate they're actually paying. For many upper-income tax payers, this not only increases their tax burden but reduces their incentive to give to charities (see "Short-Changing Charities").

Lord Webber sees "pirate raids" on the homeland as well as on the high seas. It's an apt equivalent. Okay, nothing to do with taxes: take a few minutes to listen to two favorites from Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Andrew Lloyd Webber, Cats - "Memory"

Andrew Lloyd Webber - David Cook, American Idol 2008 interview with Webber singing Phantom's "The Music of the Night"

Peggy Noonan Figures Out How Most Americans Already Live

Cross posted from The Lonely Conservative

There are times I read Peggy Noonan’s columns and can barely believe she once worked for Ronald Reagan. It’s as if she’s been living in a bubble for far too long. She’s not the only one. I think the entire political class has been in that bubble with her.

Ms. Noonan’s column in this morning’s Wall Street Journal was a bit depressing when I read it.

More predictions. The cities and suburbs of America are about to get rougher-looking. This will not be all bad. There will be a certain authenticity chic. Storefronts, pristine buildings—all will spend less on upkeep, and gleam less. So will humans. People will be allowed to grow old again. There will be a certain liberation in this. There will be fewer facelifts and browlifts, less Botox, less dyed hair among both men and women.

They will look more like people used to look, before perfection came in. Middle-aged bodies will be thicker and softer, with more maternal and paternal give. There will be fewer gyms and fewer trainers, but more walking. Gym machines produced the pumped and cut look. They won’t be so affordable now.

I forgot about the column while I went about my day. We took the kids to a Syracuse Chiefs baseball game. We sat next to the man my son nicknamed “Robbie the Trash Talker.” My husband, his friends and my son started with the cat calls. It was such fun!

We talked to a guy who served in Afghanistan. He heard me say I was going to use my birthday money to buy a blackberry. He showed me his blackberry and somehow I found out it cost his girlfriend $600 to call him on Christmas Eve while he was in Afghanistan. If I had $600 in my pocket I probably would have given it to them.

Regardless, we had some laughs and I was thrilled to be sitting with someone who served our country. We always have a blast at the Chiefs games. The stadium is easy to get to and never too crowded. I prefer it over the big ball parks in New York City and Philadelphia. Other than paying $4 for a Diet Coke there were no complaints. Even our four year old, who normally has plenty of complaints, was all smiles all afternoon.

Which brings me back to Peggy Noonan. My family is a middle class family. Years ago we decided to stop vacationing if it meant incurring more debt. If we wanted to really stretch our budget we could probably afford a larger house, fancier cars and nicer clothes. But those things really don’t mean that much to us. An afternoon watching a farm team play baseball is good enough for us. Always has been and always will be. Welcome to America, Ms. Noonan. (By the way - the Chiefs won!)

Celebs PLEDGE: Short Memories - Ashton Kutcher gets Naughty!

You've probably seen this Hollywood "Presidential Pledge," but if not take a look. To give you a little incentive, Jason Bateman's pledge is to "flush only after a deuce and never after a single." An unknown young Black man (unknown to me - I'm sure he's wildly popular) pledges to consider himself an American and not an African American. Another pledges to sell a culture of intelligence instead of a culture of ignorance. Wife and Husband, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, pledge to fulfill the "200 year old promise to end slavery," "the abolition of 21st Century slavery" and "to free one million people from slavery in the next five years."

Demi Moore

Moore and Kutcher end the video with: I pledge to be a servant to all mankind and to our President. These are just a few of the pledges. I think some are excellent and worthy, some full of self-absorption, some predictable and at least one hilarious. The problem is, Hollywood doesn't realize that most of us practice the worthy ones every single day, and never give it a thought - would never considering making a "pledge,"...because it just isn't necessary. If you've seen this video, scroll down to find out what comes next, because something definitely comes next.



 

Ashton Kutcher
 

So Ashton is awakened one morning recently, about 7:30 a.m., somewhere in the Hollywood Hills, by construction from the repair of his neighbor's home. The following, says Big Hollywood, is some of Kutcher's tweeting:

“this SOB owl feces cougar placenta jack bone dick!” “Jack ass 7am building a goddamn fort next to my house f’in up my view and noise polluting the entire f’in neighborhood with pounding steal” “holy moly I’m gonna lose it!” “this ass clown has another thing coming!” “I’m gonna kill my neighbor”

Video seen here.

Big Hollywood tells an interesting story, coming from the LA Times: something about the house Kutcher lives in taking about 10-years to complete, and the neighbors just sucking it up. Read the entire store there's more.

Oh, yeah, I almost forgot: there's something about Demi referring to Kutcher as "calm and gentle baby." Can that possibly be true? Demi and Kutcher caught my attention with their mission to free slaves.

I know a little about bonded slavery around the world and it heartbreaking. I also know that Hollywood, and feminist organizations, have turned their backs on the slaves that we are most familiar with, at this moment in time. I'm speaking of the freeing of Muslim woman and girls, and boys too.

The fact that thousand of girls are now attending school in Iraq is one way we have freed the slaves of Saddam Hussein. Women everywhere in Muslim countries need our help...but that's a conservative issue - not at all attractive to these free and unencumbered American women. This idea of ending slavery, and I assume they mean around the world, is a good one. We need an "example," and I'll be watching Demi and Ashton to see exactly what they do about freeing 21st Century slaves. Maybe we can all follow their example.