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Black History Month – Muhammad Ali

February 25, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Also known as: Cassius Marcellus Clay, Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr., Cassius Clay (1942- ) Professional boxer Personal Information Born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.; name changed to Muhammad Ali, 1963; born January 17, 1942, in Louisville, KY; son of Cassius (a piano player) and Odessa Clay (both deceased); first wife, Belinda; second wife, Aaisha; third wife, Veronica Porche; fourth (and current) wife, Yolanda Williams, married in 1986; children: nine (one with Yolanda). Religion: Muslim Addresses: Office: c/o The Muhammad Ali Center, One Riverfront Plaza, Suite 1702, Louisville, KY 40202. Career Former world heavyweight boxing champion. Began professional career, 1960; initially became heavyweight champ, 1964; stripped of title and boxing license over refusal to participate in the Vietnam War, 1966; retired from boxing, 1981. Appeared in film The Greatest, 1976, and television film Freedom Road. Awards Olympic Gold Medal in boxing, 1960; six Kentucky Golden Gloves titles; National Golden Gloves titles, 1959-60; World Heavyweight Championship, 1964-67, 1974-78, 1978-79; U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, inductee, 1983; named the greatest heavyweight champion of all time, Ring Magazine, 1987; International Boxing Hall of Fame, inductee, 1990; Jim Thorpe Pro Sports Award, Lifetime Achievement, 1992; Muhammad Ali Museum, Louisville Galleria, opened 1995; Essence Award, 1997, Arthur Ashe Award for Courage to All, ESPN (Espy) Award, 1997; Service to America Leadership Award, National Association of Broadcasters Foundation, 2001. Writings * (With Richard Durham) The Greatest: My Own Story, Random House, 1975. * Ali! Ali! The Words of Muhammad Ali, edited by Sultan Karim, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1979. * (With Thomas Hauser) Healing, Collins Publishers San Francisco, 1996. * I Am the Greatest: The Best Quotations from Muhammed Ali, Andrews McMeel, 2002. * (With Hana Yasmeen Ali) Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey, Simon & Schuster, 2004. Biographical Information Three-time world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali, known for his lyrical charm and boasts as much as for his powerful fists, has moved far beyond the boxing ring in both influence and purpose. Ali won an Olympic gold medal and later tossed it into a river because he was disgusted by racism in America. As a young man he was recruited by Malcolm X to join the Nation of Islam. He refused to serve in Vietnam — a professional fighter willing to serve time in jail for his pacifist ideals. He has contributed to countless, diverse charities, and causes. And his later years have found him interested in world politics as he has battled to keep Parkinson's disease at bay. Muhammad Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr., on January 17, 1942, and was raised in a clapboard house at 3302 Grand Avenue in middle-class Louisville, Kentucky. He began boxing at the age of 12. A white Louisville patrolman named Joe Martin, who had an early television show called "Tomorrow's … [Read more...]

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First Date Ideas

February 25, 2010 By 2 Comments
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Your first date is next Friday and you are trying your damnedest to prepare for it. Of all the things you must take care of -- what to wear, how to smell, choosing the right time, and so on -- what is the most important thing to remember? You need some first date ideas: As taught in every business class around the world, the most important thing to remember is location, location, location. where to go? No matter how much you try to look your best and spit shine your car for that extra gloss, you are only as good as what you have to offer. This means that the slickest and smoothest talker has to follow up with fun and original first date ideas. Remember the saying, "Actions speak louder than words?" Well, it couldn't be any truer in this situation. You might rant about how much you enjoy extreme sports and living life in the fast lane, but when the first date comes around, in-line skating starts to seem like a pretty tame and unoriginal idea. What does this say about your personality? It mainly shows that you are not who you claim to be, not to mention that you don't seem to be that much fun from the get-go. On a blind date, the stakes are even higher, as you will be judged from the word go. So, to make sure that all AskMen.com readers are equipped with a guide on places to go and things to do on a first date, we proudly present the bronze, silver and gold of the top 15 first date ideas. bronze first date ideas 1- The beach If you're the type who likes to see what she's all about right away, then take her to the beach. This is the perfect way to enjoy the sun, show off your new swimsuit and see what she looks like in a bikini. And if all else fails, there is still enough eye candy to keep you busy. 2- Billiards If you feel like you're the best thing to happen to billiards since the cue-stick after seeing Tom Cruise in The Color Of Money, why not invite her to play some pool with you? This is an interesting setup to secure a second date. You can raise the stakes by saying, "Whoever loses the game must cook supper for the other." And just like that, you've got yourself a second round of love. 3- Mini golf If you can't tell the difference between a wedge and an iron, maybe miniature golf is the way to go. A cheap and fairly easy "sport," it allows for some physical contact when you have to give her a crash course on how to hold the putter. 4- Concert Although first dates should emphasize conversation in order to get to know each other, some loud music and screaming people might be an alternative. Let's say your favorite band comes to town for one night only, which is incidentally the same night you are supposed to go on your first date with the girl, then take her to the show and kill two birds with one stone. 5- Amusement park Even if amusement parks are generally aimed at children, who says that grown adults can't engage in some childish fun? Take her for a spin on the Ferris wheel or win her a big ol' teddy bear, and she won't have a chance to … [Read more...]

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Stern On 'Idol'? 'No Way, José,' Sez PTC

February 25, 2010 By 3 Comments
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Pro-censorship group worried about Stern's effect on little boys' erections JESUSLAND—Whatever anyone may think of American Idol, one thing's for certain: It has its share of genuine characters, not the least of which is longtime judge Simon Cowell. According to his Wikipedia biography, "Many viewers of American Idol know Cowell best for his bitingly critical comments and attitude. He is so prominently identified with being blunt and harsh in commentary that audiences on American Idol can make it difficult for him to speak, sometimes booing him even before he makes his opinions known. Ryan Seacrest, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson tended to cut him off very quickly as well." So when Cowell announced that he would be leaving the show after the current season, rumors started flying as to who would replace him, and one name that was offered was that of radio personality Howard Stern ... which of course set off a flurry of indignation with the conservative religious types, most notably Brent Bozell's Parents Television Council (PTC). So of course, they've posted a petition to keep Stern off the show. "WHEREAS Howard Stern is one of the most profane, sexually-explicit and anti-family performers in the history of the broadcast medium," the petition reads in part, "and in discussing the possibility of becoming a judge on 'American Idol' on his radio program gave audiences a preview of what he would bring to the table as a judge, talking about 'getting little boys hard.' ... BE IT KNOWN that if the reports about Mr. Stern prove to be true, we will no longer watch the program; we will share our concern with our friends, family and others in our social circle; and we will contact every sponsor and urge them to consider whether they should associate their corporate image with a man who talks about 'getting little boys hard.'" Leaving aside the petition writer's obsession with "getting little boys hard," it's interesting to see PTC essentially defending a show which has featured so many people and things PTC doesn't like: A gay judge (Ellen DeGeneres), several gay singers—PTC got very upset at 'Idol' winner Adam Lambert's kinky production number for the recent American Music Awards— and the fact that a couple of the female contestants have appeared nude in magazines or on stage, with one actually making a sex tape of herself. But whatever previous differences PTC may have had with the show or its performers, they're now worried that if Stern takes Cowell's place, all the show's family-friendly sponsors—Coca-Cola, Ford and iTunes among them—will withdraw and the show will go the way of all bad television. "Given 'American Idol's' extreme popularity with family audiences, I hope that Fox will put the rumors to rest and announce that it has no intention of adding to the show one of the most profane, sexually-explicit and anti-family performers in the history of the broadcast medium—either as a guest or as a judge," PTC president Tim Winter stated … [Read more...]

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Apple Adds ‘Explicit’ App Category

February 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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LOS ANGELES — Signaling a potential shift in policy, Apple has added an "Explicit" category to its iTunes Connect App Store submission system. The additional submission category comes as a surprise, following Apple's recent removal of thousands of "overtly sexual" applications from the App Store, and is widely seen as a welcome measure — if yet another example of the company's oft inconsistent flirtations with market demand. "The reason for Apple's addition of the new category is unknown, although it seems possible that the company may have reconsidered its decision to remove the 'overtly sexual' applications in the face of backlash from developers and users and has decided to create a dedicated category in an attempt to find a middle ground in the controversy," Eric Slivka of MacRumors.com blogged. "The use of a dedicated category for explicit material could supplement the age-rating system used for all App Store applications to easily make the entire category invisible to certain users using Parental Controls." According to Matt Buchanan of Gizmodo.com, the new category hasn't yet shown up in the App Store, but its meaning is obvious: Apple has a home for explicit applications "We've been waiting for such a place since the App Store opened, actually getting excited when Parental Controls made their way into iPhone 3.0, hoping it would release a pent-up flood of apps like the long-lost South Park app, or Playboy for those so-inclined," Buchanan wrote. "An explicit category suggests that it could finally happen." Industry operators, however, are not convinced that the new designation will usher in a dramatic change in policy that opens the doors to adult. "While there's rampant speculation that Apple's new 'explicit' app category signals an impending return of adult apps to the App Store, I wouldn't jump to that conclusion just yet," Pink Visual Director of Public Relations, Q Boyer, told XBIZ. "To the extent that their stated rationales for the removal of the 'overtly explicit' apps make any sense at all, that modicum of sense would be truly obliterated by a subsequent return of those same apps, or even more explicit ones, to the App Store." "There's also nothing new about explicit ratings within the App Store, and no guarantee that anything Apple labels 'explicit' will actually be explicit as that word is defined by anybody else in the known universe," Boyer added. "Our recently booted Cutest Girls app was rated 17+ for 'explicit sexual content,' 'frequent nudity,' and 'frequent sexual themes,' and it had no nudity whatsoever." The discussion illustrates the challenges in developing for the iPhone market. "I don't know whether Apple is using an alternative dictionary, or just playing it loose with the definitions of common English terms, but perhaps their content policies would be clearer to developers if they picked up a copy of Webster's and called it a day," Boyer concluded. No word from Apple yet regarding any policy changes. … [Read more...]

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AIDS Group Takes Shot at AIM, Says It Violates Privacy Rights

February 24, 2010 By 1 Comment
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LOS ANGELES — Calling the testing of adult performers a "fig leaf," the AIDS Healthcare Foundation has taken a shot at the industry's top adult-performer testing clinic, calling on federal, state and local authorities to look into patient disclosure practice and enforce patient privacy laws. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation, or AHF, in a letter to the authorities said the AIM Healthcare Foundation is "just a a ploy to deflect public scrutiny and government regulation — a ploy that is perpetrated at the expense of the actors’ privacy rights, which would not be violated if the industry simply required actors to use condoms.” "As we understand it, adult film producers have conferred on AIM a virtual monopoly with respect to STD testing," said Michael Weinstein, president of the Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation. "An actor who wants to work in the industry first needs to be tested at AIM." Weinstein said that before testing, AIM requires the actor to agree to waive all confidentiality with respect to his or her test results, which AIM then publishes on a website where the highly confidential test results can be viewed by producers. “AIM testing is a fig leaf that does not protect actors from the risks of unprotected sex during filming,” Weinstein said. “AIM’s hypocrisy is clear — AIM argues that patient privacy rights prevent it from cooperating with public health officials who seek to protect the health of adult film performers. But when profit is at stake, performer privacy seems no longer to be AIM’s concern.” But AIM shot back Wednesday afternoon, claiming AHF has lodged "an unfounded campaign" to attack the adult-performer testing clinic after previous failed legal maneuvers against it. "Our privacy policy does not only meet state and federal guidelines, but it exceeds them as well," AIM spokeswoman Brooke Hunter told XBIZ. AIM operates two clinics in the Los Angeles area, one in Sherman Oaks and another in Granada Hills, but it also has a presence nationwide. The AHF's letter was addressed to authorities of the federal Office for Civil Rights, a federal agency under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that enforces HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; the California Office of Health Information Integrity Enforcement Unit and Los Angeles County's Health Facilities Inspection Division. In the letter, AHF raises specific concerns regarding AIM’s use of a so-called Authorization to Release Test Results to obtain privacy waivers from actors. AHF contends the authorization does not appear to conform to the requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, California’s Confidentiality of Medical Information Act or AIDS testing laws. It further contends that it conditions testing on the receipt from the actor of "an overbroad, irrevocable consent to disclosure of the actor’s STD test results by AIM to whomever AIM feels appropriate, in perpetuity … [Read more...]

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U.S. Seeks to Have FSC's 2257 Suit Dismissed

February 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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PHILADELPHIA — Calling challenges to revised record-keeping rules "fruitless," government attorneys asked a federal court this week to dismiss the Free Speech Coalition's suit. The FSC and 14 other plaintiffs claim in a suit filed last year against the government at U.S. District Court in Philadelphia that the revised 18 U.S.C. § § 2257 and 2257A regulations are unconstitutional, as well as an unfair burden placed to producers to comply with the regulations. FSC Executive Director Diane Duke told XBIZ on Wednesday that the government's reply was expected. "We will have an opportunity to go before the court in March," she said. "We have a solid case and are extremely hopeful." So far, the suit has gained the attention of other groups defending free speech, including the ACLU and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which both will present amicus briefs in the case. Among other challenges to the FSC's suit, government attorneys this week said that placing burdens on producers for age-verification requirements "is a form of speech that receives no 1st Amendment protection at all" and that it is a "fact that producers remain free to create, publish, or distribute any images of adults engaged in sexual conduct as long as they adhere to the statutory and regulatory scheme designed to ensure that these performers are adults." "Rather than offering a plausible challenge to these requirements, plaintiffs primarily rely on the notion that the government must come forward with new evidence to support requirements that were enacted over two decades ago," government attorneys wrote. Government attorneys also honed in on the FSC's 4th Amendment challenge, over the fact that some plaintiffs operate businesses out of their homes and that records inspections would be burdensome. "Because plaintiffs do not claim that any inspection has yet occurred, they are limited to a facial Fourth Amendment challenge, and their imagined perception of how such inspections might be implemented in their individual circumstances cannot properly be part of the analysis," government attorneys wrote. "Plaintiffs cannot claim a reasonable expectation of privacy in these records. Government inspection of these records therefore does not qualify as a 'search' subject to 4th Amendment challenge." The U.S. has asked the court to dismiss the FSC's claim in the suit, as well as for a dismissal of its motion for preliminary injunction over 2257. Besides the FSC, the plaintiffs attached to the suit include the American Society of Media Photographers, which represents 7,000 members; Barbara Nitke, a teacher at the School of Visual Arts in New York and a commercial photographer; David Steinberg, a photographer and writer of sexual issues; Nina Hartley, a performer and website owner; and Michael Barone, a photographer. The plaintiffs list also includes Dave Cummings, an adult industry performer who owns numerous websites; Tom Hymes, an adult industry journalist who runs a website; … [Read more...]

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Poker Affiliate Offers Porn Access in VIP Section

February 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Credits eared playing poker can go toward purchasing porn and other items CYBERSPACE—Gambling and porn have always enjoyed a certain simpatico of sin, and now one online poker affiliate is codifying the relationship in a novel way that brings the two worlds closer while hopefully making some extra money for itself. CoinFlip.com announced Monday that it is the first poker affiliate to offer adult entertainment in its VIP store. “We call this new service XXXBack," says the company. "You can use your VIP points to buy one-month passes to some of the world's most popular adult entertainment web sites, like Bangbros or Reality Kings.” In addition to those two studios, XXXBack currently includes access to Pornstar Network, VideoBox, Ron Harris Studio and Pornstar Classics. Admitting that it is in “uncharted” territory, the site stresses the added benefits for consumers of being able to access porn sites anonymously. “After you have requested the pass with your Coins, our system will automatically deliver your registration code to your inbox (on the top right hand corner of the screen),” the company says. “Coinflip.com VIP store acts as the intermediary between you and the adult site. This way you won't have to give your credit card details or any other personal information to the adult sites. Buying adult entertainment passes and watching high-quality adult movies [have] never been easier and more carefree!” CoinFlip.com users can earn coins (or points) that can be used to purchase other items in their store, as well. A quick perusal found available items such as a 25 euro iTunes gift card, (40 coins), Ray-Ban aviator glasses (124 coins) and Apple TV with a 160 gig hard drive (259 coins), to name a few. “We realize that bringing adult entertainment to our VIP store is not the most conventional thing to do and it may amuse or even offend some of our members, but for us it's a natural step forward,” says the company. “Here at Coinflip.com we strive to be among the pathfinders in the affiliate world and always bring some extra value to our members, giving you a wide array of choices in how to use your valuable Coins.” According to Poker News Daily, CoinFlip.com was launched last year by a well-known poker player named Ziigmund. “Fresh off his runner-up finish in the Main Event of the Helsinki Freezeout, Ilari Sahamies, known to many in the poker world as Ziigmund, has launched his very own blog, Coinflip.com,” the site says. “The free online poker community will play host to videos and anecdotes from the popular Finnish player.” … [Read more...]

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Massachusetts House Acts to Close Sexting Loophole

February 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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New law updating the state’s obscenity code would apply to all electronic communication BOSTON—The Massachusetts House has voted to close a loophole in the law that allowed the sending to minors of sexually explicit images by electronic means (i.e. sexting). The bill, which was introduced in early February by State Rep. Bradley Jones (R-North Reading) and House Judiciary Chairman Eugene O’Flaherty (D-Chelsea), would close a loophole that last year forced the state’s Supreme Court to overturn the conviction of a man accused of sending explicit instant messages to a 13-year-old girl. According to wbztv.com, “The amendment unanimously approved on Wednesday would update the state’s obscenity laws to include all electronic communications such as e-mail and text messages. The measure … was tacked onto an unrelated crime bill that would create a new charge of assault and battery on a correctional officer by means of a bodily fluid.” The bill now heads to the Senate. … [Read more...]

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Wal-Mart Will Drop Porn in VUDU Deal

February 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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AVN says it is looking at other platforms on which to offer high-quality adult programming BENTONVILLE, Ark.—Retailer Wal-Mart, which announced Monday its intent to purchase online movie provider VUDU in a deal whose details remain secret, has indicated that it will discontinue adult programming on the service. Currently, VUDU offers adult movies on the AVN “After Dark” channel. An announcement posted late Monday to Wal-Mart’s website announced its intention to buy VUDU. “VUDU is a revolutionary service, built into a growing number of broadband-ready TVs and Blu-ray players, that delivers instant access to thousands of movies and TV shows directly through the television,” the retailer said. “Customers with broadband Internet access and an Internet-ready TV or Blu-ray player can rent or purchase movies, typically in high-definition, without needing a connected computer or cable/satellite service.” As of Monday morning, unnamed sources had already leaked the news that Hollywood studios were in the process of being informed about the change in ownership, but the question remained whether Wal-Mart was going to keep the adult channel. Some thought it might; most thought it would not. The mystery was soon cleared up. A VUDU spokesperson confirmed to AVN that Wal-Mart would no longer offer adult programming on the service and that customers who had bought adult movies, as opposed to renting them, would have those purchases automatically refunded. No calls to VUDU (or Wal-Mart) are necessary, the spokesperson said. “We’ve enjoyed working with VUDU over the past two years in the development of an online service that offers the highest-quality entertainment available to fans of adult content,” said AVN CEO Darren Roberts. "We're currently looking at other platforms that are suitable to carry out this vision." Wednesday, VUDU began emailing adult studios with the news that it is discontinuing adult programming. "As you may have recently heard, VUDU was acquired by Wal-Mart," the email reads. "In conjunction with this acquisition we will be discontinuing the 'After Dark' adult service over the coming days. Upon completion of the shutdown process, we will settle all accounts with you and ensure that you are paid the full amount you are owed under our existing agreement." The company is also requesting that studios sign a voluntary termination notice. According to The New York Times, the VUDU deal positions Wal-Mart in a market it needs if it wants to stay competitive in the delivery of mainstream digital content. “Wal-Mart, based in Bentonville, Ark., is one of the world’s largest retailers of DVDs,” reported the Times. “But it has so far lacked a way to deliver movies digitally to people’s homes—a glaring weakness as consumers shift from renting and buying physical discs to streaming movies over the Internet.” Wal-Mart has indicated that the deal is expected to be finalized within the next few weeks. … [Read more...]

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Another major winter storm has Northeast in bull's-eye

February 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Strong winds and heavy snow will produce white-out conditions and power outages in parts of New York and New England. STORY HIGHLIGHTS * Nor'easter expected to bring blizzard conditions, near-hurricane winds * Upstate New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine could get 30 inches of snow * Little snow expected in Boston; New York, Philadelphia and Washington may see more (CNN) -- A major nor'easter is expected to bring blizzard conditions to interior New England and heavy rain and near-hurricane-force wind gusts to Northeastern coastal areas Wednesday through Friday. Little, if any, snow will fall in Boston, Massachusetts, while Washington, New York and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, could see as much as 5 inches of snow with locally higher amounts, CNN meteorologist Sean Morris said. Record snowfall totals of 30 inches or more will be possible across upstate New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, Morris said. Very strong winds will combine with the heavy snow to produce dangerous white-out conditions and widespread power outages. Share your winter weather videos and pics Hurricane-force wind gusts combined with heavy rain are likely to cause significant flight delays and cancellations at all major airports along the Eastern Seaboard on Thursday and Friday, Morris said. Another storm was bringing heavy, wet snow Wednesday morning from Connecticut to Massachusetts. The National Weather Service predicted the weight of the snow would bring down tree limbs and power lines, causing scattered power outages. Video: Dog rescued from icy pond RELATED TOPICS * Winter Weather * National Weather Service * New England States * Texas Scattered outages already were being reported in parts of New Hampshire and Massachusetts, where snowfall totals in the Berkshire Mountains could reach 24 inches by Wednesday night, the weather service said. Meanwhile, central Texas was digging out from up to 4 inches of snow after setting records with more than a foot less than two weeks ago. Sunshine was predicted for Wednesday, but CNN iReport contributor Robert Huntington of Austin, Texas, said the snow was falling hard in his neighborhood Tuesday. "[They're] really big flakes, I mean, unusually large flakes," he said. "It's Texas. Everything's bigger in Texas." … [Read more...]

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