"I felt like sending Michael Richards a note. I feel really badly for the guy. He was obviously in a state of stress. You don't need to be inebriated to be bent out of shape. But my heart went out to the guy. They [media] will probably torture him for a while and then let him go. I like him."
- Mel Gibson tells the new issue of Entertainment Weekly.
We hear that Billy Idol is releasing a Christmas CD this season in the UK. Happy Holidays from Billy Idol
A DeLeon Springs couple appeared in court on Wednesday, accused of cutting or trimming branches off more than 100 Magnolia trees along state roads to make holiday wreaths.
Kurt Cox, 40, and his wife, Rebecca, 30, were arrested Tuesday by the Florida Highway Patrol after a Department of Transportation maintenance engineer spotted several people loading tree limbs into a van on the side of state Road 9A near Baymeadows Road and called police.
The couple is accused of causing $230,000 worth of damage to trees.
A Florida DOT spokesman said at least 117 trees have been vandalized in the Jacksonville area since October.
"We had been aware of this problem for several months, and the difficulty is you literally have to catch somebody doing it. It's not for example that you can go by a wreath seller on the side of the road and say, 'Hey, I want to see where your leaves came from,'" said Mike Goldman, of the Department of Transportation.
The man and woman have been charged with criminal mischief in excess of $1,000 -- a third-degree felony that is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
"It's a very serious deal. You can't degrade or deface state property such as that, and we had a van load full of these clippings from these trees," said Jacksonville Sheriff's Office spokesman Ken Jefferson.
The theft is considered so serious that at their first-appearance hearing, a judge set bond for each at $15,000.
Anna Dooley, who runs a non-profit organization that plants trees, said some people take the "public" property tag too literally.
"They think they can help themselves, which is wrong and illegal," Dooley said.
We at Jacksonville Confidential would like for our readers to know what it is, exactly, that we do all day. So, we had a camera follow one of our employees around all day so everyone can see how dedicated we are to the blog.
Human rights groups will help decide whether Madonna is fit to adopt a Malawian toddler.
This comes after a Malawian judge ruled in favor of a coalition of 67 Malawian human rights and child advocacy groups who sued to be part of the process to determine Madonna's fitness as a mother.
They're concerned the government cut legal corners to "fast-track" the adoption. Madonna has said she met all the country's requirements.
The same judge last month gave Madonna and her husband an interim order allowing them to take initial custody of 14-month-old David Banda.
Malawian child welfare officers are expected to fly to London in May to make their first assessment in the Madonna case.
**Note to Madonna - If the adoption falls through, I am always available as a replacement
Have you been meaning to check out NBC's hottest, low-rated new drama, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, but haven't yet done so because you're not sure if you're in demographic sweet-spot the network invites into the series' exclusive viewership club each Monday night? This easy-to-understand flowchart should assist you in figuring out if you're an undiscovered member of the show's target audience. Enjoy.
We had a great staff meeting last night. Lots to talk about. First off, thanks to all the comments and support on the banishment of Jayme WHORE-ERRA, apparently we arent the only ones she has "THROWN SHADE" at. We also discussed next Wednesdays meeting, which will be taking place Downtown at the Art Walk. It should be a great time, the theme this month is Luminaria and all of the stops will have their holiday decor displayed. The Art Walk is free, so I hope you can all join us....its the last one this year!!! Here are the pics from La Nopalera, Park Place, and Kickbacks (we hate that place!!). We were only in Kickbacks for like 5 minutes before some byotch pissed us off, so we stood outside and watched all the patrons chew their "invisible gum".
Park Place & KickBacks
A Special Treat For Beff & Gregg
This British Television special called Before They Were Famous, profiles Sacha Baron Cohen from his early beginnings in the mid-90s as a cable access tv presenter and… yes, male model!
Part 2
Investigators warn that a toy on the top of the wish lists of children all over the country this holiday season could be loaded with inappropriate material.
The PlayStation Portable has already been one of the top sellers this holiday season, but many are now learning it has the potential for more than just games.
There have already been reported incidents of kids coming to school with pictures of naked women on the game's screen, according to Jacksonville TV station WJXT.
The portable game system iscalled the PlayStation Portable, but a nickname used by many is the PlayStation "Porn-able."
Inside the hand-held gaming device is a high-powered computer with a Wi-Fi connection that allows access to the Internet, and the possibilities from there are endless.
"They're just getting on and downloading the content to PSP like a storage device and taking the video off," said Jeff Durfee, the assistant director of Information Technology at the University of North Florida.
Being portable, kids can take the game system and its contents anywhere.
A Minnesota boy got in trouble when he brought his PSP to school loaded with pictures of naked women he downloaded from the school's computer, WJXT reported.
"Once the pictures were on it, I turned it off right away after I did that," the boy said.
Durfee said the downloading is simple, and the manufacturers make it that way on purpose.
"If the kids can figure out how to hook up to the network, which is really easy because the manufacturers made it that way for online game playing, then they can browse, share video content and do whatever they would on a regular PC," Durfee said.
The difference, however, is that unlike a home computer, parents may not know what type of inappropriate web browsing is going on.
A Google search for PSP downloads yields dozens of sites devoted to downloadable porn made specifically for the gaming system, giving the system its nickname.
"Really, it's like any other thing you would do as a parent. You need to be aware of what your kids are doing online," Durfee said.
Technology experts warn the problem is not only a plaguing PSPs, saying other new gaming systems also allow for Internet access.
This post was left on a MetJax.com forum. We love Wife Swap. My name is Susie Losco and I am a Casting Producer for ABC's hit reality show 'Wife Swap'. I'm searching for families to be cast on the show. Perhaps yours?
If you are unfamiliar with the show, Wife Swap is a fascinating story of what happens when two married couples see themselves and their spouses in a whole new light. Time Magazine calls Wife Swap "a riveting examination of family values." The New York Post says, "It should be called 'Life Swap' because it's not just the wives who learn something here. It's the families."
Wife Swap is now looking for families for season three! We are looking for all sorts of families.. the more unique the better. So, if you have a fun hobby (horse raising, surfing, etc) or fun personalities (dad is wacky-- my bro is a star trek junkie) -- I want to meet you!!
The premise of Wife Swap is simple: for six days, two wives from two different families with very different values exchange husbands, children and lives (but not bedrooms) to discover what it's like to live a different woman's life.
Here at ‘Wife Swap’, families not only learn something, but they get to teach another family something about their own lives. We look for a two-parent home with at least one child between the ages of 6 and 17 living at home fulltime.
We are currently casting for our third season, so don't miss out on this amazing experience! Families that appear on the show receive $20,000 as a thank you. And if you refer a family that appears on the show you would receive $1000.
If you have a family and you are interested in applying for the show, or if you know of any great families that you would like to refer, please EMAIL: susie.losco@rdfusa.com.
Thanks! I look forward to hearing from you!
Susie Losco, ABC TV/RDF Media USA
E-Mail: susie.losco@rdfusa.edu
440 9th Avenue| 11th Floor| New York| NY 10001
Phone: 212-404-1429
I will be looking at houses from 4:45pm to around 6:30pm this evening. After that I plan on meeting the Jacksonville Confidential staff at La Nopalera for dinner.
From Jacksonville Confidential correspondent Beth (Beff) Luna,
"In case all of you haven't heard I am moving in late December to Reno Nevada. Crazy, I know, but I am moving to be closer to my best friend, Jackie, from Tennessee and practice law with her husband. The job is an amazing opportunity and I couldn't be more excited about it.
Of course, I am a basket of ongoing tears leaving all of my Jacksonville Confidential family. I hope that all of you will come visit (and I really mean this so don't hesitate). I will even give you a free place to stay and promise to ski and/or gamble with you!
Sooo, my going away party in Jacksonville will be on December 9th at 8 p.m. at my house. Chris Bath, Greg Foster and Jimmy Midyette are hosting."
**For more information, please e-mail JacksonvilleConfidential@comcast.net
Nearly two years after work began on College and Post Streets, the pair of one-way Riverside state-owned roadways should switch to two-way, City-owned roads this week. (December 2nd) by Liz Daube
The two-way conversion will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday and last most of the day, according to Florida Department of Transportation spokesman Mike Goldman. Workers will be uncovering traffic lights and signs and removing safety cones, starting with College Street first.
City officials will be on hand to observe traffic and explain the change to the public for the first few days of the switchover, according to City Council President Michael Corrigan, who represents the Riverside neighborhood. He said the Sheriff’s Office and Public Works will have an increased presence.
Work on the streets, which originally began in January 2005, was scheduled to finish in early September. The switchover was delayed because of uneven paving and poor durability, according to Goldman – and Post and College residents have been parking on their lawns and navigating the roadwork in the meantime.
“It’s been difficult on the residents who had to live with orange cones in front of their houses for longer than anyone expected,” said Goldman. “(But) the work was deficient ... We’re not going to turn anything over to the City that they’re going to have to come back and fix several years from now.”
The $3.4 million state project aims to reduce high-speed traffic in the neighborhood and make the area safer, according to Goldman. The streets have been state-owned extensions of U.S. 17 for more than 50 years. FDOT agreed to make improvements to the streets before turning them over to the City, which will be responsible for the roads as soon as the two-way conversion is complete. Goldman said the state has charged the project’s contractor $2,400 a day in damages since he missed the September deadline.
Many residents of the Riverside area have argued over the need for and details of the two-way switch in the last year. Some have discussed the project on the MetroJax online message boards, amassing eight pages of comments and questions. One of their main concerns now is parking: The width of College and Post streets varies and, like several other residential Riverside streets, some areas don’t have enough space for two lanes of travel and parking on both sides.
“There’s no definite parking plan at this point,” said Corrigan. “Public Works will wait and see what the public does with the two-ways and make adjustments.”
Those adjustments could include no-parking signs in some areas if Public Works decides safety is an issue. Corrigan said he plans to organize a ceremony to celebrate the change.
“There won’t be a the-second-the-cones-come-down celebration,” he said. Corrigan plans to wait until a week or two after the two-way switch because of the previous delays.
"Throw Shade" v. phr. - to take a superior attitude; to criticize, demean, or insult; to diss or derogate. Etymological Note: Probably related to shade, v., which means “to defeat, to outdo” and dates to at least as early as 1925 and also to the far more common put in/throw in the shade with the same meaning. A mild form of the term was popularized during the late 1980s and early 1990s when the much-hyped dance and peformance style of “voguing” came to widespread attention.
Editorial Note: This term has is most often associated with Black English, but it is also said to be used among gay and cross-dressing performers and club-goers.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson is calling on the entertainment industry to stop using the racial slur, "Nigger", that Michael Richards used against hecklers in a Los Angeles comedy club.
Jackson and others told reporters Monday that they'll meet with television networks, film companies and musicians to talk about the n-word.
Jackson is also asking the public not to buy a DVD box set of the seventh season of "Seinfeld." The set was released last week, the same week that former Seinfeld star Richards was videotaped unleashing a racist rant against the black hecklers.
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Richards had made several apologies, including one Sunday on Jackson's syndicated radio show. He has said he's not a racist, and that he was motivated by anger.
A comedian attending Monday's news conference, Paul Mooney, said he's used the n-word numerous times during stand-up performances, but that he'll no longer do so after watching Richards' rant.
"He's my Dr. Phil," the black comedian said. "He's cured me."
Asked about free-speech issues, Jackson said the word is "unprotected."
Masi Oka shot to fame playing Hiro Nakamura on the NBC hit "Heroes," but the 31-year-old landed his first magazine cover when he was just 12.
Oka was on the cover of Time magazine in 1987 (he's the one in blue on the left) with the banner, "Those Asian-American Whiz Kids." He told Conan O'Brien that a parent of one of his childhood friends was the photographer, and "She was looking for smart Asian kids." Oka wasn't featured in the article, but he is something of a genius.
Masi worked for George Lucas' special effects company, Industrial Light & Magic, toiling on special effects for films like "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," "War of the Worlds" and the three "Star Wars" prequels. Oka says he still works for the company a couple of days a week.
Jayme Horrarah, the owner of Blu Hair Salon, has been banned from all future Jacksonville Confidential engagements!!! If you see him out, feel free to spit, fling cigarettes, throw rotten fruit, or whatever it is you do to those you dont like!
Listen people: You can do your drugs and drink all the liquor you want, but do NOT come up to any of the Jacksonville Confidential staff and throw shade! We are a force to be reckoned with.
**For a "SHADE FREE" haircut, please call Mark at Heads Up on Edgewood or Trevor with Kara and Co. off of Herschel.
Heads Up - (904)387-1986
Kara and Co. - (904)388-2400
Did anyone know that our girl Fergie was on the show Kids, Incorporated back in the 80's? I can't believe we remember her AND we cant believe that we found this..........on YouTube.
Here are a select few photos from this past 4-day Thanksgiving holiday. The Jacksonville Confidential crew packed a lot of partyin' into those 4-days!!!
The Jacksonville Confidential crew had a FANTASTIC weekend. Thanksgiving was wonderful, as always, and the JC field trip to Islands of Adventure was a blast. Im in the process of uploading the 350+ pictures that I have. I think we are just going to create a random slide show with highlights. We missed those of you who were unable to make the trek to Orlando. Be on the look-out....we are planning a field trip to Atlanta this weekend!!!
From the Florida Times Union - Teenage boys were enticed with drugs and alcohol, then videotaped and photographed while they performed sex acts with adult men, Jacksonville police said Wednesday.
Police said they found explicit videos and pictures of at least four boys who could be Jacksonville residents.
The evidence was found at the home of Wizard Knight Pendleton, a 43-year-old man who lives in the 10000 block of Delano Drive North in Mandarin. Authorities believe the sex acts may have also occurred in the suspect's home.
Duane Andrew Adams, a 33-year-old registered sex offender, is accused of appearing in the videos with the boys, believed to be ages 13 to late teens. Adams lives in the 2200 block of Fairway Villas Lane in Atlantic Beach.
Adams and Pendleton were arrested Tuesday. Adams was charged with use of a child in a sexual performance, and Pendleton was charged with possession of child pornography. Both men are being held at the Duval County jail.
Adam's bail is $500,000, and Pendleton's is $250,000.
If anyone has any information about this case or knows of a teenage boy who has been an acquaintance of either Adams or Pendleton, call the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office's sex crimes unit at (904) 630-2163
This pulsing two-hour special marks the first-ever broadcast network performance by the international pop superstar. Filmed at Wembley Stadium in London, UK during her worldwide sold-out 25-city "Confessions Tour", the special will feature songs from the artist's recent multi-platinum Warner Bros. Records release "Confessions On A Dance Floor," which debuted at No. 1 in 29 countries and has sold over eight million copies around the globe. The broadcast will also include some of Madonna's greatest hits from her legendary career.
In the course of an unparalleled career, the incandescent star has racked up a staggering 35 No. 1 hits on Billboard's Dance charts. The multi-Grammy winning artist, songwriter, producer, best selling children's book author, video visionary and cultural icon has sustained an unrivaled reputation for astonishing stage spectacles and has made musical history many times over including international record sales of over 200 million albums.
Okay, in true fashion I am going to have to skip La Nopalera to go look at a few houses with my realtor (house hunting comes first). Im hoping to get done with that in time to go see Casino Royale at the San Marco Theater at 7:15PM. Wish me luck with the hunting!
If a guy who’s– how do put this– gayish but not openly gay, covers your mouth on daytime TV and you later scold him for it, could that be considered homophobic? According to Rosie O’Donnell, the answer is yes. Today on The View, Rosie called Kelly Ripa out for the way she reacted to Clay’s manhandling on Regis & Kelly. Ripa didn’t take to kindly to the insinuation that she’s a homophobe, so she called in to The View this morning to give her side of the story. Here’s the full video. Start cringing now.
Do you think Downtown Jacksonville is safe? Im sure you have all heard about the recent crimes committed around Hemming Plaza the past few months. If not, here are some videos to catch you up. What can we do to help clean up downtown? Any suggestions?
Childhood
Mercado was born March 9 on board a ship travelling from Spain to Puerto Rico. His parents are José MarÃa Mercado and Aida Salinas, a native of Catalonia, Spain. Both of them motivated and influenced Mercado's interest in the Arts, Science, spirituality, and nature. He did very well in school, and was mostly an introverted child.
Allegedly, he learned to read the Tarot cards when he was a child. He is also noted to have performed small traditional Haitian voodoo ceremonies of which he had never been familiar. He believes he learned them from previous lives.
Studies and Artist Career
After finishing high school, Mercado studied at the University of Puerto Rico where he studied Pharmacy to please his parents. Then he studied Psychology, Theater, and Dance.
Mercado began his career as an actor in early Puerto Rican soap operas. He was one of the first Puerto Rican teen idols. He received much praise as a dancer and as a theater actor. In 1960 he won an award for his acting and performed in his final soap opera.
Astrologer Career
In the 1960s, Mercado moved to India, where he studied Astrology. On returning to Puerto Rico, he hosted a weekly Astrology television show. Although the channel went bankrupt, Mercado's show soon moved to Tele Once (channel 11).
He has had shows on American television as well. For a while during the late 1980s, he moved to Miami, Florida where he became better known to the American public and people of other English-speaking countries. At about that time he also tried to establish a dial-a-horoscope business in Brazil but his strong accent when trying to say "Call Now" in Portuguese (translated as "ligue já", which though gramatically correct is not the proper Brazilian usage) turned his only TV commercial there a perfect target for mockery. To this date many Brazilians still mimick his "ligue dja" to refer to something that comes from abroad and does not take proper account of the local language or culture.
In addition to his work for celebrities, Mercado also does mall tours where he gives out his predictions for free.
Jacksonville Confidential is asking YOU out on a date.....dinner and a movie TONIGHT. We will meet around 6:00PM at La Nopalera in San Marco and then we will check out Casino Royale at the San Marco Theater at 7:15PM. Dont be late!!!
The Heart of Riverside Festival was pretty interesting. The highlight of the evening was seeing Jacksonvilles Most Amazing Mullet Winner. The Jacksonville Confidential crew hung pretty close to the Cool Moose co-owned by one of our old friends Craig Musselwhite who treated us to some delicious Pumpkin Spice Ale. Thanks Craig and all of our friends at Cool Moose
Michael Richards is either a disgusting racist or a terrible comic without any sense of whats funny and how to keep an audience.
The Seinfeld alum was performing at Los Angeles' Laugh Factory on Friday went he went on a racial tirade that left the audience stunned and outraged.
Richards attacked one comedygoer that heckled him by calling him a "Nigger." He used the N word more than TWENTY times!!!
The unfunny man said, "Fifty years ago we'd have you upside down with a fucking fork up your ass."
Richards continued, "You can talk, you can talk, you're brave now motherfucker. Throw his ass out. He's a nigger! He's a nigger! He's a nigger! A nigger, look, there's a nigger!"
At the end of his three minute rant, pretty much the entire crowd walked out on him before he even finished his set.
Again, Jacksonville Confidential cannot express how much fun we had at last nights First Coast Fatales Roller Derby League final match of the season. The "Autumn Apocalypse" (Murder City Rat Pack vs. River City Kitties) started around 8pm at the Skate Station in Mandarin. The band "Grab Bag" jammed out half time as MC Veronica Vamp strutted around the rink in her skimpy robin hood-esque slut costume. Nothin like tits and ass!!! The match was over by 9:30pm and the Murder City Rat Pack dominated the River City Kitties in a 114 - 62 battle. Tons of "dumpster lovin'" eye candy (which we love at JC) was available. The girls of both teams deserve HUGE recognition for a job well done. Thanks for the entertainment!!
The Pics
Click Here For The Videos!!!Last night Jacksonville Confidential finally took our first ever field trip to watch the last match of the season for the First Coast Fatales Roller Derby League. It was AWESOME!!! I have tons of pictures and video that I am working on uploading right now. As soon as I can, I will post some as well as a link to all of the videos. The new season starts in March 2007, and we will be there for every match.
Dont forget, this coming Wednesday.....the concert event of the year. Madonna - The Confessions Tour on NBC
The Downtown Living Tour takes place tomorrow, November 18th, from 10am to 4pm. There is a VIP Premier Tour tonight from 5pm to 9pm. All of this is brought to you by the Downtown Council of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Vision, Inc. For more information...Click Here
New details have just arrived regarding the "Block Party" tonight. Its officially called The Heart of Riverside Festival and is taking place at the intersection of Park & King from 6:30PM to 9PM THIS EVENING. There will be Live Music (3 Bands), an Antique Car Show, Special Shopping Hours, Food and Refreshments (I dont know if that includes alcohol - we can only hope!). Most of the staff will be making an appearance, so be on the lookout for us - **Photos with the staff and autographs are free of charge at this event.** Many thanks to Joe with Fierce Graphics (Jacksonville Confidentials Official Graphic Arts Company) for getting us the additional information.
This is why we at Jacksonville Confidential love Jerry Springer. Racial wars, toothless strippers, and......MIDGET FIGHTS
The Editor has caught wind of a Riverside Block Party that is supposed to be happening this evening around Park and King. We hear that the streets are going to be blocked off. We are currently waiting for more information from the News Room Chief who just went out on assignment to get the scoop. If anyone else has any information, please email it to........ JacksonvilleConfidential@comcast.net.
The Jacksonville Confidential crew is planning a field trip to Universal Studios' Islands Of Adventure on Friday November, 24th (the Friday after Thanksgiving) click here to buy your tickets in advance....Islands of Adventure. The park is always a fantastic time and we hope that you can all join us.
In response to the news that her ex-husband will be starring in a "Survivor-like" reality show... "I hope he gets fucked by a kangaroo and eaten by crocs."
- Liza Minnelli, on ex-husband David Gest doing a Survivor-type reality show in Australia
Check out this awesome advertisement from London shop Marks & Spencer that just started showing in Europe. Very Bond-like with cameos from Twiggy and Shirley Bassey (who recorded several of the original Bond themes including Gold Finger).
An Iranian-American student at UCLA was tasered on Tuesday by campus police for failing to provide proper identification during a random security check at the school library.
The shocking incident was caught on videotape and has created quite quite a controversy in the Westwood campus.
Police tasered the student even after he was handcuffed and posed no threat to anyone.
I have some bad news.....my house that I was to close on yesterday has now been taken off the market. Mark the News Room Chief drove by the property this afternoon and noticed that the for sale sign has been removed. This is all after a horrendous day of back and forth with the seller yesterday. He was very irrational and irate regarding the repair list that developed from the home inspection. The last straw was when he (the seller)disputed our claim that the roof needed some repairs. The seller then sent HIS OWN contractor out to the property to review the damage. HIS contractor came back and said that the roof did not need repairs it NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. With this news, the seller backed out of the deal and took the house off the market. So, saddened, I must now start at the beginning.....the hunt continues.
Entertainment Tonight reports that Star Jones Reynolds will be executive producing and appearing on a new TV program.
"We are executive producing the first year ender on Black America," Star told us Wednesday night in Los Angeles. "We are doing a full look at the issues, the people, the conversations that were held in Black America, something that... has been a project that I've always wanted to do."
Star says that her show will air on TV One, a cable/satellite network geared towards African American adults.
**Many thanks to Todd for bringing this to our attention.
We were doing some online research this week and found a great little periodical that is based here in Jacskonville. Redneck World is a quarterly publication focusing on all things "Westside". I wish the website was more cohesive and descriptive, I guess we need to subscribe. If any of our readers have seen this magazine, let me know what you think. A review would be nice..........
Jacksonville Confidential just learned that the Roller Derby match this coming Sunday is the last of the season. So, if we are going to take a fieldtrip it will have to be then or we will have to wait for next season!
According to Us Weekly Kevin Federline took a sharpie to his dressing room door and the day after Britney Spears filed for divorce wrote the following message:
Today I'm a free man
Ladies look out
Fuck a wife
Give me my kids Bitch!
-Kevin Federline
SUPPORT JACKSONVILLE ROLLERDERBY! On Sunday, November 19th the River City Rat Pack vs. Murder City Kitties. Get your tickets now! Tickets available at...Nicotine (in 5 points), Skate Bomb (at the Beach), or from your favorite rollergirl. We need to take a Jacskonville Confidential fieldtrip to check it out. Who's in? Its this coming Sunday. I love rollerderby.
Undeterred by the onslaught of criticism she received for her recent adoption of a baby boy from Malawi, Madonna has revealed plans to adopt again!
This time, the Material Mom intends to welcome a girl from the same African country into her family.
"I'm going to adopt another Malawian child very quickly," she says. "A baby girl this time, in order to redress the balance."
The interview was for French mag Paris Match.
As most of you probably know, the closing on my house has been postponed until next week (no worries)...so we have decided to go ahead and have a Jacksonville Confidential staff meeting this evening at La Nopalera. Our staff meetings are always open to the general public, so feel free to pop on by and have a beer and a taco with us!
Thats right...the matriarch of Jacksonville Confidential, PArias Hilton, turns the big 4-8 today. So lets all wish her a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
Today the South African Parliament overwhelmingly approved legislation recognizing gay marriages — a first for a continent where homosexuality is largely taboo.
By a vote of 230-41 with three abstentions, the National Assembly passed the Civil Union Bill, a compromise that resulted from months of heated public discussion. Both traditionalists and gay activists have criticized the measure, and there have been warnings that it might be unconstitutional.
African National Congress veterans heralded the bill for extending basic freedoms to everyone and equated it with liberation from the shackles of apartheid.
“When we attained our democracy, we sought to distinguish ourselves from an unjust painful past, by declaring that never again shall it be that any South African will be discriminated against on the basis of color, creed culture and sex,”
-Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula told the National Assembly.
But a Christian lawmaker, Kenneth Meshoe, said it was the “saddest day in our 12 years of democracy” and warned that South Africa “was provoking God’s anger.”
One church leader in Nigeria denounced the move as “satanic,” reflecting the views on a deeply conservative continent where some countries are debating constitutional amendments to ban same sex marriages.
But gay rights groups in Europe hailed South Africa as a shining example of progressiveness.
*Associated Press
After our lovely trip into work this morning, we at Jacksonville Confidential have decided to post a refresher course for all of us on the First Coast on how to properly merge on to the expressway.
*Text and Diagram c/o The Florida Drivers Handbook available (for free) at your local DMV!!
Thanks to Entertainment Weekly for this comprehensive list of upcoming holiday movies.
The Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA) Barbeque, sponsored by the Jacksonville Bar Association (JBA) Young Lawyers Section, is this coming Saturday (November 18th). Tickets are $15.00 each or $200 for 20 - all earnings will be donated to JALA. Even if you can’t come, your purchase of a ticket would be greatly appreciated. You may purchase tickets by mailing Beth a check made out to JALA or email JacksonvilleConfidential@comcast.net for more options or if you have any questions. The barbeque starts at 2:00 at the Marsh Landing FOP. Directions are on the back of the tickets.
His signature clock oughta show that fame's fifteen minutes are up for reality show couple Flava Flav and the "winner" of "Flavor of Love," Deelishis.
The disastrously-clad duo appeared on the red carpet for BET's Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta, looking like they'd dressed for a Pimp and Ho Ball.
While they may have made 'good' television, Deelishis and Flava have seriously bad taste.
"I think religion has always tried to turn hatred towards gay people. Religion promotes the hatred and spite against gays. But there are so many Christian people I know who are gay and love their religion. From my point of view I would ban religion completely, even though there are some wonderful things about it. I love the idea of the teachings of Jesus Christ and the beautiful stories about it, which I loved in Sunday school and I collected all the little stickers and put them in my book. But the reality is that organised religion doesn't seem to work. It turns people into hateful lemmings and it's not really compassionate. The world is near escalating to World War Three and where are the leaders of each religion? Why aren't they having a conclave; why aren't they coming together? I said this after 9/11 and people thought I was nuts: instead of more violence why isn't there a [meeting of religious leaders]. It's all got to be dialogue - that's the only way. Get everybody from each religion together and say 'Listen, this can't go on. Why do we have all this hatred?' We are all God's people; we have to get along and the [religious leaders] have to lead the way. If they don't do it, who else is going to do it? They're not going to do it and it's left to musicians or to someone else to deal with it. It's like the peace movement in the Sixties - musicians got through [to people] by getting out there and doing peace concerts but we don't seem to do them any more. We seem to be doing fundraisers for Africa and everything like that but I think peace is really important. If John Lennon were alive today he'd be leading it with a vengeance." - Elton John tells the Observer Music Monthly in this amazing new interview with Jake Shears from the Scissor Sisters
In case anyone missed this gem of a skit. Here is a link to watch the Brittney Spears skit from SNL this past weekend, pretty funny.
I have finally uploaded my pics from yesterdays football party. Too bad the Jags lost, now we're 1 and 3 for conference games. After Frank's we all loaded up the bus and headed over to the 616 (AKA 13) for a few pitchers and pool. Better luck next Monday night Jags....
Today Jacksonville Confidential will be partying at Frank's for the Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans game at 1PM. Unfortunately Josef (Mr. Slave) is in South Florida this weekend, so sorry YouTube-rs.* I will have pics and video's of the event including such stars as PArias Hilton, MikeMac, Steven & Gary, DB, and The Editor. Mark/The News Room Chief will be attending the game and will hopefully have some pictures and stories from Alltel Stadium for us.
**For those who dont know, Josef has become a hit on YouTube - DEMAND GROWS..
Rest In Peace Jack Palance. Yes, the man notorious for his 1 armed pushups at the Academy Awards passed away today at the young age of 87. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Jacksonville Confidential sent Mark the News Room Chief out on assignment to check out The Jacksonville Fair. Mark the News Room Chief reported great weather and tons of scenery. Our favorite thing about the fair is the wonderful "array of people" we see. The Jacksonville Fair ends tomorrow, so if you get a chance...go check it out! And enjoy a TURKEY LEG!
"What Madonna has done is great. Here is Madonna who has picked a son from a Malawian father who has lost a wife and nobody takes care of, and she says, 'I would like to educate and bring home that child.' I'm against whatever people are saying against Madonna, if there is credit to give, we should credit Madonna because she is saving the life of this young David. Why condemn Madonna? ... We should thank Madonna."
- Anna Kachikho, Education Minister of Malawi said on Thursday
From the same people who brought you the parody of Beyonces "Ring The Alarm" comes this funny Madonna parody.
Nobody was injured when a local man crashed his jeep into the carousel on North Ponce de Leon Boulevard late last night, police reported this morning.
The jeep plowed through a wall before crashing into the carousel at roughly 2:30 a.m. The driver, Michael Tiner, 24, fled on foot. He later reported the jeep stolen before confessing to being the driver.
John Mayer is scheduled to be back in Jacksonville in January at the Jacksonville Arena.
I received this Iraq - Culture Smart Card from a friend of mine who recently returned from Iraq. I found it pretty interesting and thought you guys would too...
SUPPORT JACKSONVILLE ROLLERDERBY! On Sunday, November 19th the River City Rat Pack vs. Murder City Kitties. Get your tickets now! Tickets available at...Nicotine (in 5 points), Skate Bomb (at the Beach), or from your favorite rollergirl. We need to take a Jacskonville Confidential fieldtrip someday to check it out. I love rollerderby.
I would like to appologize for not attending the Jacksonville Confidential Staff Meeting last night, but as I told [those of you who went] I had a surprise call from my mortgage broker asking that I be on a conference call at 7PM regarding my house - which Im supposed to close on November 15th. After the call I am still confident that the deal is still going to go through. I WILL NOT BE AT NEXT WEEKS STAFF MEETING. HOUSE CLOSING DATE. So if you guys want to meet up, correlate it amongst yourselves.
Sorry for my absence; I was really looking forward to some food from the homeland at The Casbah. Maybe we can plan to have another meeting there in 2 weeks.
