Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Justin Timberlake's Gift to You
Posted by John Branston on Tue, Dec 19, 2006 at 4:00 AM
You heard us right. Timberlake hosted Saturday Night Live over the weekend, and in an amazing display of holiday spirit, teamed up with Andy Samberg for another one of SNL's digital shorts. Not quite as funny as our other hometown boy Chris parnell's SNL digi-short "Lazy Sunday", but still quite inspired.
But we'll take what JT's wrapping over Parnell's rapping any day. You'll understand what we mean after watching it here.
David Gest Signs $1 Million Book Deal
Posted by John Branston on Tue, Dec 19, 2006 at 4:00 AM
The 53-year-old estranged husband of Liza Minnelli will lift the lid on all aspects of his life, including his high-profile marriage and split from Minnelli, his music industry success, and his close friendship with Michael Jackson, the site says.
A source says: "David's got no obvious talents. He can't sing or dance - but he is absolutely charming. The book will reveal what his secret is."
No word on whether Gest will finally reveal the whereabouts of his myterious Memphis maid, Vaginica Seaman.
Text Us
Posted by John Branston on Tue, Dec 19, 2006 at 4:00 AM
Now with FlyerMobile, you can text “flyer” to “27538” and sign up to have Flyer music listings sent straight to your cell phone. Once you’ve signed up, text the genre of music you’re interested in (like “classic rock,” “karaoke,” or “folk”), and you’ll receive listings in a reply message. The service will cost you — but only $2.50 a month. And the first month’s free! To sign up, go here.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Commercial Appeal Writer to Appear on Jeopardy
Posted by John Branston on Mon, Dec 18, 2006 at 4:00 AM
Callahan's Jeopardy Appearance is History
Posted by John Branston on Mon, Dec 18, 2006 at 4:00 AM
The good news: He won $4,600. The bad news: He came in third behind a woman from New Jersey and a woman from Maryland.
You can check out some video of JC here.
John Ford Indicted on OmniCare Charges
Posted by John Branston on Mon, Dec 18, 2006 at 4:00 AM
Ford is already under indictment on other federal charges in the Tennessee Waltz investigation for allegedly taking bribes from a phony company set up by the FBI.
The new indictments allege that from 2001-2005 Ford received more than $800,000 in payments from TennCare contractors. OmniCare is a subsidiary of United American Health Care. The other contractor named in the indictment is Doral Dental, a managed care organization that had TennCare's dental services contract.
Ford is charged with two counts of wire fraud and four counts of concealing his business interests in the TennCare contractors. He was chairman of the Senate's General Welfare, Health and Human Resources Committee and a member of the TennCare Oversight Committee.
OmniCare was run by former city of Memphis employees in the administration of Mayor Willie Herenton. The CEO was Osbie Howard, who was finance chairman of Herenton's reelection campaign in 1999. The COO was Stephanie Mebane Dowell, who was Herenton’s administrative assistant.
OmniCare enrolled more than 100,000 uninsured West Tennesseans in its managed care network. The indictment says Doral paid monthly payments to a company called Managed Care Services Group of which Ford was 40 percent owner. Ford also did numerous favors for OmniCare, according to the indictment.
"The facts alleged in this indictment reveal an appalling willingness to violate (his) duty by using his public position for personal gain," said U.S. Attorney Craig Morford.
The Flyer will update this story as developments warrant. — John Branston
Memphis City, Shelby County Schools Get Nearly $3 Million in Software Vouchers in Lawsuit
Posted by John Branston on Mon, Dec 18, 2006 at 4:00 AM
Each school district will receive $16.40 per student in vouchers. Shelby County Schools will get $755,000; Memphis City Schools will receive $1.9 million.
John Ford Indicted on OmniCare Charges
Former city treasurer, Herenton aide possibly implicated
Posted by John Branston on Mon, Dec 18, 2006 at 4:00 AM
Ford is already under indictment on other federal charges in the Tennessee Waltz investigation for allegedly taking bribes from a phony company set up by the FBI.
The new indictments allege that from 2001-2005 Ford received more than $800,000 in payments from TennCare contractors. TennCare started in 1994 as the replacement for the federal Medicaid program. ... For rest of story, go to "Political Beat".
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Concert Tonight to Benefit Ethiopian Orphans
Posted on Sat, Dec 16, 2006 at 4:00 AM
After reading in the Flyer about Tom Rand, a local teacher who biked across the country to raise $100,000 for Ethiopian orphans, Mays was moved to do something to help Food for the Hungry, the same organization Rand's bike mission supported.
For the past several months, she's been busy organizing musicians, dancers, and poets for a benefit to raise funds for Ethiopian orphans. The result -- KNOW Orphans -- will feature African dance by the Nubian Theatre Company and live music by Valerie June, hip-hop trio End of Circle, banjo-pickin' Richard Ford, and sax musician Lee Sharp. Also performing are spoken-word poet I.Q., belly dancer Renae Taylor, and dancers from the African Students Association.
A silent auction features theater and sporting-event tickets, art, and gift certificates to restaurants and liquor stores.
KNOw Orphans Benefit for Food for the Hungry, Newby's, 539 S. Highland, Saturday, December 16th, 8 p.m., $10. Call 487-1259 or e-mail flecktoness@yahoo.com.
More Ivory-Billed Woodpecker Sightings in Arkansas
Posted by John Branston on Sat, Dec 16, 2006 at 4:00 AM
Davis, the city planner for McCrory, Arkansas, and Robison, who works for the Arkansas Department of Economic Development, said Friday they were driving near Cotton Plant, Arkansas, when a female ivory-billed swooped in the sky behind an oncoming truck.
"I saw something come off the tree, like the truck has spooked it," Davis said in a telephone interview from his office in McCrory. "It came by again and it had its wing span out and it just kind of glided back into the woods, and I said 'Is that what I think it is?'"
Davis, who has attended workshops about identifying the ivory-billed woodpecker, said he and Robison believe it was a female because the bird had a black head and body with white wing-tipped feathers, but no red. The male ivory-billed has a red crest.
Connie Bruce, a spokeswoman for Cornell University's Lab of Ornithology, which is researching the possible re-appearance of the ivory-billed woodpecker, said the search continues despite no evidence being turned up last winter. Go
Friday, December 15, 2006
Timberlake's Movie to be Released
Posted by John Branston on Fri, Dec 15, 2006 at 4:00 AM
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Molly Ringwald and Sweet Charity Head to The Orpheum
Posted by John Branston on Thu, Dec 14, 2006 at 4:00 AM
With a book by Neil Simon, based on an original screenplay by Federico Fellini, Tullio Pinelli and Ennio Plaiano, Sweet Charity is billed as a "funny, poignant, and tender look at the misadventures of Charity Hope Valentine, a dance hall hostess who always gives her heart and earnings to the wrong man."
Molly Ringwald's screen success began with the romantic comedy Pretty In Pink. Other notable films include The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, The Pick-Up Artist and Betsy’s Wedding. Ringwald has returned to the stage in recent years and received rave reviews as Sally Bowles in another Bob Fosse masterpiece, Cabaret.
For ticket info and show times go The Orpheum Web site.
Give Somebody Gas for Christmas
Or lights, or water, or trash pickup.
Posted by John Branston on Thu, Dec 14, 2006 at 4:00 AM
David Gest Gets Off
Sexual harassment lawsuit dismissed
Posted by John Branston on Thu, Dec 14, 2006 at 4:00 AM
Charles Beyer alleged that during the four months he worked as Gest's assistant, the estranged husband of Liza Minnelli grabbed his butt, mocked his manhood, told people he was a transsexual and wrote directions in his calendar such as "shake my penis" and "dip it in chocolate."
But Judge Bernice Bouie Donald threw out his $300,000 sexual-harassment suit Friday, finding that Beyer didn't have standing to sue Gest because the producer doesn't employ more than 15 people.
In other news, Gest announced that "David's Chocolate-Covered Penis Tips" would be in candy stores early next year.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
My Harrison Lays an Egg (or Non-Egg) at Rotary Club
Posted by John Branston on Wed, Dec 13, 2006 at 4:00 AM
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