tmax's blog

On November 17, 2008, it was announced that the SEC filed a civil suit against Mark Cuban relating to alleged insider trading in the shares of Mamma.com. A stock dilution occurred shortly after the trade, which gave off red flags of inside knowledge at the time of the trade, which is alleged to have saved Cuban from a loss of $750,000. Cuban is alleged to have ordered the sale of his holdings in Mamma.com after he was approached by the company on a confidential basis to participate in a transaction likely to be dilutive of current shareholders. On his blog, Cuban contended the facts were false and that the investigation was "a product of gross abuse of prosecutorial discretion."

Mark Cuban (born July 31, 1958 in Pittsburgh) is an American billionaire entrepreneur. He is the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, an NBA basketball team, and Chairman of HDNet, an HDTV cable network.

Wild fire at Montecito, California burned 100 homes and is still burning for the second day.

Number of Hollywood celebrities call Montecito their homes.

Sadly, Christopher Lloyd's house is destroyed (Doc from Back to the Future).
Kirk Douglas' house was in danger, but it's been spared.

Paula Goodspeed, whose Idol audition aired during season 5, was found dead outside Abdul's home on November 11, 2008. Police say she appeared to have died of a drug overdose. Abdul told Entertainment Tonight through her representative that she is "shocked and saddened" by the incident, adding that she had been aware of the woman for "several years" who "has issues."

In 2006, Paula Goodspeed sang Proud Mary at American Idol audition, which she received a strong criticism by Simon Cowel.

Obama’s maternal grandmother dies at 86
Madelyn Payne Dunham died on Sunday, 2 days before the election day.

Two white supremacist skinheads were arrested in Tennessee over plans to go on a killing spree and eventually shoot Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, court documents showed on Monday.

On October 24, 2008, Hudson's fifty-seven year old mother, Darnell, and twenty-nine year old brother, Jason, were found murdered inside Darnell's home in Chicago, Illinois. The victims were reportedly shot to death before 3 p.m. They were discovered by a family cousin. An AMBER Alert was also issued for Hudson's seven year old nephew, Julian King, after Hudson's sister, Julia, reported him missing. William Balfour, who is married to Julia, is a suspect in the double homicide, but has not been charged

Jennifer Kate Hudson (born September 12, 1981) is an American actress, singer and model. She first gained notice as one of the finalists on the third season of the FOX television series American Idol. She went on to star as Effie White in the 2006 motion picture adaptation of the musical Dreamgirls for which she won numerous awards including an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA and a SAG Award.

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Barack Obama's "gravely ill" grandmother might not live to see whether her grandson is elected to the White House, the U.S. Democratic presidential candidate said Friday as he took a break from the campaign to visit her in Hawaii.

Madelyn Dunham, 85, who helped raise Obama and is described by the Illinois senator as the "rock" of his family, recently broke her hip. She is also reported to have a heart condition, but Obama has refused to disclose more details of her condition.

"We weren't sure and I'm still not sure whether she makes it to election day," Obama told ABC's Good Morning America in an interview broadcast Friday.

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Just a quick trivia.
Did you know the actor Kirk Douglas is the oldest member in MySpace?

www.myspace.com/letsfaceitbook

Who is Kirk Douglas you ask?
He is Spartakus.

Bonny Jean Jacobs, 78, the mother-in-law of Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr., the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, died Sunday after a long illness, a spokesman for Mr. Biden said.

California authorities have confirmed that the wreckage of a plane they found is that of Steve Fossett.

• Steve Fosset disappeard on September 3, 2007
• Steve Fosset declared dead on November 26, 2007

On September 29, 2008, Preston Morrow, 43, a ski shop owner
hiking near Mammoth Lakes, California, about 80 miles (129 km) SSE of Fossett's take-off site, found three crumpled FAA-issued cards confirmed as Fossett's (a Soaring Society of America membership card with Fossett's name) and about 10 weathered $100 bills and one $5 bill. The following day near the same location the same hiker found a sweatshirt that he believed had both human and animal hair on it. On October 2, 2008, air search teams spotted wreckage on the ground within 10 miles (16 km) from where the personal items were found.]

Morrow said they also found "a black Nautica pullover fleece, size XL, in the same area, but left it in place after gathering GPS coordinates to turn over to investigators."

On October 2nd, rescue crews on the ground located the wreckage of a small plane. The National Transportation Safety Board said in a statement that the small airplane first sighted from the air late the previous day "appears to be the aircraft piloted by Steve Fossett" but did not say anything about finding Fossett's remains

The statement released Saturday by Paul Newman's daughters, Susan, Stephanie, Elinor, Melissa and Clea:

Paul Newman played many unforgettable roles. But the ones for which he was proudest never had top billing on the marquee.

Devoted husband. Loving father. Adoring grandfather. Dedicated philanthropist.

Our father was a rare symbol of selfless humility, the last to acknowledge what he was doing was special. Intensely private, he quietly succeeded beyond measure in impacting the lives of so many with his generosity.

Always and to the end, Dad was incredibly grateful for his good fortune. In his own words: "It's been a privilege to be here."

He will be profoundly missed by those whose lives he touched, but he leaves us with extraordinary inspiration to draw upon.

During this difficult time, we ask for privacy for our family.

Buy from Amazon: Heath Ledger DVDs  

On 27 September 2008 Heath Ledger's father Kim stated that Matilda Rose would inherit the entire estate valued at 20 million U.S. Dollars. He is quoted as saying "There is no claim. Our family has gifted everything to Matilda."

Related story
- Death of Heath Ledger
- Heath Ledger's new movie reported "Oscar worthy"

Controversy over will
After Heath Ledger's death, in response to some press reports about his will, filed in New York City on 28 February 2008, and his daughter's access to his financial legacy, his father, Kim Ledger, said that he considered the financial well-being of his granddaughter Matilda Rose the Ledger family's "absolute priority" and her mother, Michelle Williams, "an integral part of our family," adding "They will be taken care of and that's how Heath would want it to be." Some relatives of Heath Ledger may be challenging the legal status of his will signed in 2003, prior to his involvement with Michelle Williams and the birth of their daughter and not updated to include them, which was filed in New York and divides half of his estate between his parents and half among his siblings; they claim that there is a second, unsigned will, which leaves most of that estate to Matilda Rose. Williams' father, Larry Williams, has also joined the controversy about Ledger's will as it was filed in New York City soon after his death.

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Locklear was arrested and released in Santa Barbara, California on September 27, 2008 on suspicion of driving while under the influence of prescription drugs.

Actor Ryan O'Neal, 67, and 23-year-old Redmond - his son with actress Farrah Fawcett - were busted Wednesday on felony drug charges.

Deputies found what is believed to be methamphetamine on them during a probation sweep of their Malibu home. Father and son were later released on $10,000 bail each.

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Former child star Gary Coleman was charged Wednesday with reckless driving and disorderly conduct following an argument in a bowling alley in Utah.

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Today (Friday September 12, 2008) Village People will receive 2,369th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Village People sang YMCA, Macho Man, In The Navy and other Dosco songs.

Taktser Rinpoche, the pro-independence eldest brother of the Dalai Lama, has died in his U.S. home, a family member and a Tibet advocacy group said on Saturday. He was 86.

Dalai Lama was recently hospitalized for 5 days (August 28, 2008 - September 2, 208).

Lindsay Lohan's father Michael confirmed the death of his dad Richard. Richard had been suffering from terminal colon cancer.

Dr. Dre's son Andre Young, Jr., 20, was found dead at 10:24 am on August 23, 2008. According to reports, Andre Jr. returned home early in the morning on Saturday and was later found unresponsive by his mother. The cause of death is deferred pending test results done by the Los Angeles County Coroner's office.

André Romelle Young (born February 18, 1965), better known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, and record executive. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records, also having produced albums for and overseeing the careers of many rappers signed to those record labels. As a producer he is credited as a key figure in the popularization of West Coast G-funk, a style of rap music characterized as synthesizer-based with slow, heavy beats.

Gladys Stokes Luxford Powers (May 10, 1899 – August 15, 2008) was, at age 109, the last female veteran of the First World War following the March 27, 2007 death of fellow 109-year-old Charlotte Winters from the US. She was also the last veteran living in Canada following the death of Dwight Wilson on May 9, 2007, the day before Powers' 108th birthday. The last Canadian-born veteran, 108-year-old John Babcock, lives in the US.

Powers was born in Lewisham, County of London, the daughter of Frederick Charles Stokes. During her childhood she lived in both Turkey and Australia. In 1915, she volunteered as a barracks waitress for the WAAC despite the minimum age being 17. Later she transferred to the WRAF. In 1920, she married Edward Luxford, a Canadian soldier.

2 persons with last name Allen died in about 24 hours period

Christie Allen (died August 12, 2008) was a pop singer in Australia
Sandy Allen (died August 13, 2008) was a world's tallest woman (lived in Indiana, USA).

Christie Allen (September 12, 1954 - August 12, 2008) was a pop singer who had a successful career as a recording artist in her adopted homeland of Australia.

Her first three singles from her debut album Magic Rhythm were substantial hits. The first single was a ballad "Falling In Love With Only You" reaching number 20 in 1979. Her next two singles were strongly influenced by the popular disco style - "Goosebumps" reached number 3 in 1979, and "He's My Number One" reached number 4 in 1980. With sales of 60,000, "Goosebumps" would be Allen's greatest success and was one of Mushroom Record's highest selling singles at that time.

Allen was voted the country's most popular female performer at the Countdown Awards in 1979 and 1980.

Christie Allen was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March 2008 and died at her home in country Western Australia on 12 August 2008.

Go to next page for death of Sandy Allen

There is a rumor going on in the WWW (among younger generation folks).

The rumor says the Hip Hop (rap) artist Lil Wayne's daughter Reginae is killed in a car accident Sunday, August 10, 2008.

But everyone related to Reginae says she's alive and well.

This is becomeing a news right now.

Richard Blackwell (AKA Mr. Blackwell), 85, has been in the hospital and unconscious since Tuesday, his partner, Robert Spencer, said from his home in Los Angeles. He is suffering from septic shock and is being treated with antibiotics. Doctors say his condition is stable.

Richard Blackwell (born August 29, 1922, Brooklyn, New York as Richard Sylvan Seltzer) is a fashion critic, journalist, television personality, artist, former child actor and former fashion designer, sometimes known just as Mr. Blackwell. He is the creator of the Ten Worst Dressed Women list, an annual awards presentation he unveils in January of each year.

On August 4, 2008, actor Morgan Freeman was listed in serious condition at Regional Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee, after a car accident the previous night around 11:30pm

Morgan Freeman was seriously injured in an automobile accident near Ruleville, Mississippi, on August 3, 2008. The vehicle in which he was traveling, a 1997 Nissan Maxima, flipped over several times. He and a female passenger were rescued from the vehicle using the "Jaws of Life". Freeman was evacuated via medical helicopter to a hospital in Memphis. Drugs or alcohol have not been ruled out

* Update: Morgan Freeman is in good spirits and is planning to have surgery. "He has a broken arm, broken elbow and minor shoulder damage but he is in good spirits."

Morgan Freeman (born June 1, 1937) is an Academy Award-winning American actor, film director and narrator. Noted for his reserved demeanor and authoritative speaking voice, Freeman has become one of Hollywood's most popular and respected actors

* Christina Applegate's on-again, off-again boyfriend died last month (July 1, 2008) 

On 3 August 2008, People Magazine reported that Applegate had been diagnosed with breast cancer. This was confirmed by her representative, who said in a statement: "Christina Applegate was diagnosed with an early form of breast cancer. Benefiting from early detection through a doctor ordered MRI, the cancer is not life threatening...Christina is following the recommended treatment of her doctors and will have a full recovery. No further statement will be issued at this time."

Christina Applegate (born November 25, 1971) is an Emmy Award winning American actress, known for playing Kelly Bundy on the long-running FOX Broadcasting Company sitcom Married... with Children. She has since established a film and television career, with major roles in several pictures, such as Farce of the Penguins, Anchorman, The Sweetest Thing, a Broadway revival of the musical Sweet Charity. She currently plays the lead character, Samantha Newly, in the ABC sitcom Samantha Who?

Bernie Mac’s publicist said the actor’s pneumonia was not related to his sarcoidosis, which has been in remission since 2005, according to the Chicago Sun Times.