03/27/06 by Mike Paul | Entertainment, Faith | No Comments »
”It tries to reduce Jesus to a great religious figure, one among many, rather than being a unique figure who is uniquely divine.” Biblical scholar Darrell Bock, author of Breaking The Da Vinci Code, commenting on the best-selling book, The Da Vinci Code.
The Da Vinci Code movie, directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks, is set for box office release by Columbia Pictures on May 19. The upcoming movie is seen by many Christians as an opportunity to both educate the masses regarding the truths within the bible and to best defend the reputation of Jesus Christ. In fact, Christians believe Jesus’ reputation is on the line if many of the assumptions within the best-selling book and upcoming movie are not debunked in the near future. However, the only way to truly debunk the myths within the book and the movie is to educate the masses regarding the historical reliability of the biblical gospels.
According to best-selling author Dan Brown’s Web site, The Da Vinci Code is a murder mystery. A cryptographer and symbologist join forces to gather clues that were left behind by the murder victim, but to some, it is not that simple. The book has sparked debates about the legitimacy of Western and Christian history. The central claim Brown’s novel makes about Christianity is that “almost everything our fathers taught us about Christ is false.”
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03/06/06 by Mike Paul | Entertainment | No Comments »
“Michael couldn’t survive one day in prison – he would commit suicide.” Comments from Jermaine Jackson regarding his younger brother, Michael Jackson.
Jermaine Jackson feared his kid brother Michael might be guilty of child molestation, but backed him at trial because he thought the pop star would commit suicide in prison, according to a bombshell book proposal obtained by the New York Daily News.
In a tell-all outline shopped to publishers just weeks after Michael’s arrest in November 2003, Jermaine described the Pop King as a sometimes out-of-control drug and booze abuser with a calculating mean streak and “a thing for young children.”
The eight-page proposal for “Legacy: Surviving the Best and the Worst,” lists Michael Jackson’s preferred substances as Vicodin, Demerol, codeine, Percocet, cocaine, Jack Daniels and wine.
“Does he really know what he does with these kids?” Jermaine wondered.
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02/13/06 by Mike Paul | Entertainment, Sports | No Comments »
“I’ve felt like the last three days I’ve defended myself over something that absolutely, unequivocally, I was not involved with.” Wayne Gretzky, reiterating that he never bet with the gambling ring allegedly financed by friend and Phoenix Coyotes assistant coach Rick Tocchet. Gretzky’s wife, Janet, allegedly made many bets in the gambling ring.
According to AP, Phoenix Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky will subject himself this afternoon to another round of questions from reporters about an alleged illegal gambling ring that police say was financed by his assistant coach, Rick Tocchet. The gambling ring had a connection with organized crime in Philadelphia and southern New Jersey. Gretzky, considered hockey’s greatest player, is in his first season coaching the Coyotes and is a part-owner of the team.
“First of all, my wife is my best friend,” Gretzky said in a recent interview. “My love for her is deeper than anything. The reality is, I’m not involved, I wasn’t involved and I’m not going to be involved. Am I concerned for both of them? Sure there’s concern from me. I’m more worried about them than me. … I’m trying to figure it all out.”
Gretzky, also the executive director of the Canadian men’s Olympic hockey team, is expected to join the team in Toronto this morning. But rather than lay low in an airport hotel, the Great One plans to attend the team’s practice, making himself available to the media for the third time since the Tocchet story broke last Tuesday.
His decision was made amid reports over the weekend that he was visited at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona, before the start of the Super Bowl on Feb. 5 by two New Jersey police officers and a local law enforcement official to discuss the alleged involvement of his wife, Janet, in the alleged betting ring.
Gretzky was speechless when police informed him of the allegation, the reports say, and he told them that he had no knowledge of the alleged gambling operation in a conversation last Monday. Later that day, it is believed, he telephoned Tocchet to see whether there was any way his wife could avoid being implicated. Sources have said the Gretzky-Tocchet conversation was recorded during a New Jersey state police wiretap, the day after Gretzky’s wife allegedly won money betting on the Super Bowl, sources said.
“Published reports that Gretzky had spoken to Rick Tocchet about his concern for his wife prior to police appearing at Gretzky’s house last Monday are completely ludicrous,” said Gretzky’s attorney, Ron Fujikawa. “It’s absolutely balderdash.”
The wife of hockey Hall-of-Famer Wayne Gretzky said she never placed bets for her husband, while her spokesman said she may have to testify about a $1.7 million sports-gambling ring with alleged ties to organized crime.
The NHL is also taking the allegations very seriously. “We understand that Mr. Tocchet’s conduct in no way involved betting on hockey,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said. “And, while betting on football or other sports may be the pervasive issue, it in no way justifies poor judgment or otherwise alleged inappropriate conduct.”
Gretzky’s wife, actress and dancer Janet Jones, said in a statement that “at no time did I ever place a wager” on behalf of Gretzky, the National Hockey League’s all-time scoring leader and now coach and part- owner of the Phoenix Coyotes. “Other than the occasional horse race, my husband does not bet on any sports,” Jones said in the statement, released by Evan Jenness, her Santa Monica, California-based attorney.
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01/09/06 by Mike Paul | Business, Entertainment, Politics | No Comments »
Below is a list of the top 5 reputations in crisis for the first week of January 2006:
1. WILBUR ROSS AND HIS INTERNATIONAL COAL GROUP’s SAGO MINE – the king of turning distressed companies into gold is in hot water. Billionaire Wilbur Ross is the man that owns the mine 12 miners 260 feet below ground were killed in last week in West Virginia. The real tragedy the entire world learned about was the owner of the mine knew for some time the mine was not safe. In the last year alone, the mine’s owner, International Coal Group (ICG), was issued 205 citations, including 46 during the most recent inspection of the Sago Mine from early October to late December 2005. Federal inspectors listed 96 citations as “serious and substantial,” i.e., those MSHA believes could cause an accident serious enough to injure or kill a miner. These included violations of approved roof control and mine ventilation plans intended to prevent the buildup of explosive methane gas. Bottom line: safety is a reputation and life-saving must.
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01/03/06 by Mike Paul | Entertainment, You & I | No Comments »
We see so many leaders, celebrities, business executives and average Americans today with reputations in crisis. When their reputations are in crisis, their lies, deceit and other wrong doings also greatly affect their kids.
Michael Jackson has three small children. Ken Lay has children that are now adults. Martha Stewart has a daughter. Kobe Bryant, Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds and Lance Armstrong all have kids. Various political leaders around the world in crisis also have children. What really happens to the children when one of their parents has a reputation in crisis? In two words: further damage.
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